A year before Rift Magazine put out it’s first issue, Paul Creager started the Square Lake Film and Music Festival. Now in its 13th year, it’s bigger and better then ever. Creager answered some questions for Rift about this years festival, and the future. Rift: What was the original inspiration for starting the festival?
Paul: I literally grew up on the festival grounds, so it’s part of me and my family. A big inspiration for the event is sharing this place with others on a day filled with the arts. I also lived in northern Japan for a while and brought some ideas back from what I experienced there at small, arts-focused, non-commercial festivals. The format (music with short films during stage transitions) is inspired by years watching the First Avenue screen roll down between sets. I firmly prescribe to the “Less is More” philosophy and that continues to inspire the event and sustain its focus.
Rift: Has it become easier, each year to set up and get the tickets sold?
Paul: Yes, the set up process became much easier since my father built a stage on the property out of recycled building materials. We used to build a new stage every year! We have a lot of return attendees, as well as a lot of new people attend the event each year, so tickets typically sell out in advance. Each year more and more performers and filmmakers are reaching out to us saying they want to be involved. Sponsors like Peace Coffee are major allies for us. This year will be our 13th anniversary.
Rift: What is going to be cool this year at The Festival?
Paul: Sonny Knight & The Lakers, Dosh’s film score, our incredible film festival program and Black Diet are some of the highlights for me. The whole day is full of great performances, but the schedule from 7-midnight is red hot and I’m really proud of it. We received twice as many film/animation submissions this year, so the film program is very strong. 20% of the film festival will consist of international experimental films. I’ve waited a long time to get Dosh on the stage.
Rift: Tell me more about Dosh’s film score? (For interview with Dosh, click here)
Paul: So each year I watch public domain silent films and also other types of short films, looking for something that would pair well with a local act for a film score. I found “Universe” last year when I was spelunking through the National Film Board of Canada archives. The film is visually stunning and has a great backstory as being an inspiration for Kubrick’s Space Odyssey, a film I watch again and again by a director I admire. I thought of Dosh right away cause he’s one of those musicians that could pull off something epic and vast as a film about space exploration.
Rift: What do you think makes the festival special?
Paul: Camaraderie, incredible sound in a natural amphitheater, and love. The intimacy of the venue removes the barriers that many other festivals have. Furthermore the location of other festivals are frequently designed around attendees arriving by car. The Square Lake Festival is different by design. More than 50% of our attendees bike, and that has a huge impact on our ability to host the event in an small, great sounding venue that complements the performer and attendee experience and boosts the chance of interaction. Big acts. Small crowd. New artistic collaborations and friendships are created at the event.
The hillside amphitheater! We’ve got a great audio system, but we get a big, warm, enticing sound experience for the crowd from the amphitheater. There isn’t a lot of light pollution out in the country, and during the music you can stare off into the starlit sky.
We put some love, heart and soul into the planning every year, trying to entertain and also enrich the local arts scene by creating new connections. That all adds up to something special.
Rift: Planning to do it, forever?
Paul: We’re just getting warmed up. Forever sounds great. You’re supposed to follow your bliss right?
Rift: If this is someone’s first time coming to the festival, what are some good tips?
Paul: Get the full experience and bring your tent. After the music ends let the Loons, Coyotes, Crickets and Tree Frogs sing for you as you drift off to sleep.
Rift: Anything else you would like to add?
Paul: I’d just like to heartily thank all the artists, attendees grant funders, sponsors and planning team that keep investing themselves in the event year after year.
This event is sold out but you can win two tickets – http://riftmagazine.com/win-two-tickets-to-the-sold-out-square-lake-festival/
Event Listing – http://riftmagazine.com/event/square-lake-film-and-music-festival-2015/
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