Image from Facebook/Alternative Waves Music

By Chris Brown

'Some of the best in Medicine Hat'

Hat Pandemic After Party the city’s first music festival in a long time

Jul 13, 2021 | 3:09 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With most COVID public health restrictions lifted and sunny days upon us people are looking to get out and enjoy the sights and sounds of summer.

For some, the Hat Pandemic After Party will scratch that itch this Saturday.

“Basically there’s been nothing to do. I know myself I was going crazy with no shows and not being able to go and do stuff,” says organizer Keith Aucoin. “So being the first thing back from the pandemic that you can go and do, hopefully, creates a really good turnout. This is going to act as a fundraiser for the actual festival next year as well so hopefully, there’s a really good turnout and it seems like there’s going to be.”

In recent years Alternative Waves Music Festival has put on a two-day festival in Medicine Hat each summer with bands from all over. They’ve scaled back this year to one day and are only featuring local bands.

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When word first went out that they were looking for musicians, Aucoin says he and other organizers were inundated with requests to be a part of the festival. About 25 acts reached out and about a dozen made the final cut.

“They’re all really excited to get back on stage, they’re dying to,” Aucoin says.

He says it’s a multi-genre festival with everything from hip hop to alt-rock to folk musicians performing.

“It’s front to back a really diverse festival and features some of the best in Medicine Hat,” Aucoin says.

The festival is an 18-plus event and tickets are $20. It starts at 2 p.m. outside the Mainliner Pub.

For more information visit Alternative Waves Music Festival on Facebook.