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VIDEO: Fan-pleasin’ George Canyon leads second wave of 2018’s Sunfest stars

The huge stage at Laketown Ranch is going to be awash in talent this coming summer.

Sunfest Country Music Festival has announced its second wave of acts.

Joining the fun with superstar Eric Church are George Canyon, Dallas Smith, Brett Young, Midland, Aaron Prtichett, the James Barker Band, JoJo Mason, and Meghan Patrick.

Canyon was a real crowd pleaser when he last appeared at Sunfest in 2014. At that time, everyone from kids through teens, adults, and old folks had nothing but good to say about his performance, and many mentioned his efforts to help members of the Canadian forces serving overseas.

Aaron Pritchett has Cowichan Valley connections and always draws a great crowd of fans to his shows here. This performer seems to be able to charm the ladies and belly up to the bar with the boys with equal ease, and it shows onstage.

Dallas Smith is a Vancouver-born country star who enjoys a great following in western Canada, where he tours often. He has also been involved in a lot of giving-back charity efforts throughout his career.

Brett Young took up singing and songwriting after his career as a scholarship-level baseball player at Ole Miss was derailed due to injury. He’s never looked back.

Midland’s members are an eclectic bunch, coming from diverse backgrounds, but they produce a sound that reminds listeners of George Strait, with harmonies like the Eagles. ‘Nuff said.

The James Barker Band are on the way up, with a debut EP, Game On, just released this spring.

Jojo Mason was another athlete/country singer; his junior hockey career ended in Victoria when he suffered a herniated disk in 2004. Since then, he’s moving up the country charts with songs like 2016’s ‘Red Dress’.

Meghan Patrick, from Ontario, is making her way up the charts as well. She lists her influences as Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, and Aretha Franklin, so get ready for a high-energy show.

Weekend and single day tickets are now on sale. Go to sunfestconcerts.com for more information.

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This will be the third time at Sunfest but first time at Laketown Ranch for Valley fave, Aaron Pritchett. (Lexi Bainas/Citizen file)
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Dallas Smith, another great Canadian country singer, makes his first appearance at Laketown Ranch in 2018. (Submitted)
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Country pop is what American Brett Young brings to the table at Sunfest 2018. (Submitted)
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American country band Midland harks back to the country style of the 1970s. (Submitted)