"I'll play every year!" - Backstage chats with the artists of Gateway

Bengough's latest Gateway Music Festival closed out this past weekend following an onslaught of skilled performances by Canadian musicians, many from right here in Saskatchewan. With lower numbers in attendance in the most recent years following the pandemic, both the organizers and acts were satisfied to see the campground full once again. An estimated 5,000 people made their way to Bengough to enjoy the lineup of new and returning performances.

Serena Ryder made her pilgrimage to the Big Muddy to experience the premier festival as a Headliner on Friday night. The entire crowd piled in to catch her first performance in the park, singing and dancing to her undeniable hits for the entire set. It was a warm Saskatchewan welcome, and hopefully the first of many to come for the Ontario-born artist.

On Saturday night, Headliners 54-40, Odds, and Sloan were set to rock the Main Stage, with special performances by Chixdiggit and Small City Blues closing out the evening on the Garden Stage to follow. Unfortunately, due to an encroaching storm and multiple tornado and lightning strike alerts, the night was cut short. Jake Vaadeland & the Sturgeon River Boys, 54-40, Chixdiggit, and Small City Blues were primed for action but never got the chance to play. Organizers were forced to cut Sloan's act early because of the impending storm, marking the end of that night's entertainment. 

Many artists were returning fondly to the Gateway Music Festival, looking forward to reconnecting with old friends from the other bands or welcoming new artists to the scene. It was common to see some musicians perform on stage with multiple acts, filling roles and lending a hand wherever they were needed to make sure the audience received the best show possible. 'It's so chill here,' 'loving the vibe,' and 'everybody's so nice,' were just a few of the commonly heard phrases from artists experiencing Gateway for the first time. They were absolutely right. 

Lyssa and the Try-Tones, Skye Wallace, and Chris Murphy from Sloan were all gracious enough to share on their Gateway experiences and answer a few of our questions. You can listen to these exclusive backstage interviews below. We have also included a short video with clips from some performances and a photo gallery of a few of the performing artists from the Festival for you to enjoy.