Lawnya Vawnya 14 Dispatch: Day 1 and 2

Contributor Tia Alandra recaps the first two days of LAWNYA VAWNYA 14 in St. John’s, NL/Ktaqmkuk.

DAY 1: 

4:30 am

The first thing I do upon stepping out the door at 4:24 AM is to take a spider web in the face. The Uber driver’s classical music taste makes up for it, though; it’s a nice palate cleanser for the weekend ahead. The much-anticipated Lawnya Vawnya 14 festival is upon us, and I couldn’t be more excited to visit St. John’s for this occasion.

I arrive at the airport energized by excitement alone. Thanks to yesterday’s neurosis, I make it through check-in and customs with an hour to spare. We depart on time, and I begin my journey to St. John’s, Newfoundland/Ktaqmkuk.

3:00 pm

We touchdown in St. John’s and are greeted by festival staff and volunteers (with above-average swag bags), which helps make up for my lost luggage. My connecting flights were smooth, and I had the opportunity to meet Annie of Nova Scotia’s Hotmail Summer and chat about her DJ process. From the sky to the rock, I’m ready to be shuttled to my accommodations by none other than Elsa from the local punk band Needle Crafts.

Stepping outside I immediately I notice the breathability of the air. Compared to the exhaust and rising temperatures already setting in for summer in Toronto/Tkaronto, it’s a refreshing change. Apparently, the residents of St. John’s have been riding out a long haul of rain and fog, which aligns perfectly well with my expectations. Arriving at my billet, I’m greeted by a very sweet pair of hosts and their two cats, who have graciously volunteered to open their home to me. After a long day in the sky, I’m grateful for their kindness, generosity, and the general ease they introduce to my travels.

I drop my things, take note of the beautiful old writing desk in my room, and head out for a bite to eat at Bannerman Brewery with my billet. We discuss the importance of arts, food sovereignty, and community and then I head over to Gower Street United for the festival’s first concert.

8:00 pm

I arrive just after local rising talent Bread Clip kicks off the concert series at Gower Street United. Bread Clip is a pop-punk outfit of young local musicians fronted by self-producing artist Max Steffen. If you’re looking for fresh talent, lo-fi production, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, I recommend checking out their album Wanna See You.

Next is local pop-punk band Needle Crafts, coming together to play their final show together. And what better way to close an era than on the Lawnya Vawnya stage? The group plays with passion and cohesion that will surely be missed.

Next is Taupe, a new guitar band from Montréal/Tiohtià:ke. For music nerds like myself, their set was full of fun time signatures, traded vocals, and guitar melodies that made it really easy to zone in and just listen.

Between bands, local drag artist and host Gravy kept the energy in the room flowing, creating a loving and lively atmosphere. Gravy also delivered a crowd-pleasing performance in impressively high heels.

To finish the night, best friend duo Ura Star & Fireball Kid delivered on the besties-making-music-the-most-fun-way-possible front. A joy to witness, the band embodied the spirit of entertainment in a way I’d like to see more of.

11:00 pm  

Back at my billet, I reflect on the spirit of Lawnya Vawnya 14 that has already infiltrated my headspace. It’s only day 1, and the festival has already reopened my eyes to the magic of the St. John’s music scene. From the diligence and warmth of the festival staff and volunteers to the talent of local and visiting bands and the enthusiasm of show-goers, the experience of the festival has been one of community and unadulterated love and appreciation for music.

DAY 2: 

3:00 pm

I’m coming to terms with the fact that I can’t be in two places at once, but wherever I can be, this weekend is bound to be packed with connection, discussion, and incredible music. After retrieving my lost belongings from the airport and sighing in relief, I make it just in time to catch the second half of M’LK’s Dintho workshop. 

In residency at Eastern Edge, the artists of M’LK collective have created a digital space for the documentation and expression of material culture that is otherwise pushed out of dominant narratives and lost to time. Their workshop encourages participants to share a personal object and speak to its lifecycle before preserving its digital form using 3D scanning. It’s the perfect opportunity to appreciate my ZOOM Handy Recorder for allowing me to capture snippets of my auditory experience here at Lawnya Vawnya.

[M’LK David Eguiguren]

5:00 pm 

I arrive at Bannerman Brewing‘s event space for the artist mixer, where I have the opportunity to put names to faces and sample a beautiful spread of appetizers. Once again, the Lawnya Vawnya festival team has put a lot of care into ensuring artists and delegates get the most out of the experience.

7:00 pm

At the First Light Centre for Performance & Creativity, singer-songwriter Valmy and band give a heartfelt performance full of feeling. The stories told through Valmy’s folk melodies are only amplified by the expressive gestures of the ASL interpreter, adding a layer of accessibility to the concert experience and translating the earnestness with which Valmy and band perform. Filling the room with even more voices, Valmy invites audience members to join in singing “home,” resulting in a collective call and response.

8:00

I arrive at The Rockhouse thinking I hadn’t been there before but am immediately hit in the face with a memory of attending this venue during my studies. It’s a fond memory full of music and friendship that I’m sure will be echoed tonight.

Canada-based Nigerian afro-beat artist DaMi gets the good vibes going, opening the evening and filling the stage with his captivating presence and bringing out a special feature, Thandi Marie, to finish off the set.

Made up of 6-11 members, NL Latin Band fills the stage with their infectious energy, dancing, and laughter. Featuring incredible vocalists and instrumentalists, all pieces (I counted nine or ten!!) move together in one big beautiful body of sound.

Keeping the people entertained between set changes, Misty Manifest impresses us all with elaborate choreography, complete with a flawlessly executed death drop. They worked the crowd and made the crowd work for them with a fierceness and grace to be celebrated.

After being fogged out for last year’s festival, the much anticipated Aquakulture from Halifax, NS, ended night 2 on a note of hopefulness and good vibes. Lead singer, rapper, and changemaker Lance Simpson, backed by a tight rhythm section, put his vocal talents to good use, spreading love and lessons of transformation.

12:00 am

Arriving back at my billet, I suspect the cats haven’t quite warmed up to me yet, but I hope to win them over before I go. I reflect on the culture of love and support for Canadian music that flows so freely in the St. John’s community and prepare to rest well, knowing I will experience even more incredible music tomorrow.