Alternative Waves Music Festival in Medicine Hat this weekend. (Alternative Waves Music Festival - Facebook)

By Jesse Gill

Alternative Waves Music Festival hits the stage in Medicine Hat this weekend

Jun 14, 2024 | 4:45 PM

Heavy music is taking over the Mainliner Pub this weekend with the Alternative Waves Music Festival hosting its fifth event in Medicine Hat.

Taking the stage will be 38 bands over two days, narrowed down by organizers from 376 applicants.

Performers coming from from across North America to the city, with a few local bands included in the mix.

A large number of the pre-sales of tickets have come from out of town music lovers, helping bring people into the city for the weekend.

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Festival owner and organizer Keith Aucoin said the event has grown every year, and the outdoor stage on Friday will be more metal music.

“The indoor stage is punk centered and then Saturday we run a variety of bands,” Aucoin said.

“You have some hard rock bands, you have a jam rock band, you know, some punk bands, a band with some synths and then as the night goes on it gets progressively harder. So then we get into some heavier metal and the punk and stuff like that.”

Aucoin, grew up in Medicine Hat and wants to keep the festival in the city, but is hoping to be able to expand it to other cities to become a travelling festival.

The first band took the stage Friday at 4:35 p.m.

Day passes and weekend passes available for those looking to attend at the door, or through showpass.