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HomeNewsBack-to-back Prince George music festivals "exactly what we hoped for:" Kyle Sampson

Back-to-back Prince George music festivals “exactly what we hoped for:” Kyle Sampson

“When you open the gates and you see thousands of smiling fans come through and enjoy themselves over a weekend of music, that’s what its all about.”

The bowl has been alive with the sounds of music this month, as Exhibition Park has played host to two major music festivals in the past two weeks.

Fans enjoying the show at the Best Damn Music Festival (Photo by
Kurt Flesher, My PG Now staff)

Cariboo Rocks the North, put on by Cariboo Brewing, and The Best Damn Music Festival (BDMF), held by Kyle Sampson Productions saw “thousands of northerners” come through the gates for some of the best live music the city has seen since the pandemic.

Kyle Sampson is the Marketing Manager of Northern BC with Cariboo Brewing, and owns and operates Kyle Sampson Productions. He has been a busy man.

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“I couldn’t even quantify how many hours have gone in over the past year,” Sampson said about the BDMF, mentioning staff, contractors, service providers, and volunteers.

“There is a lot of gratitude coming out of a weekend like this. I want to pass along our thanks and appreciation to everyone involved with the festival.”

Sampson said he was personally at the Exhibition grounds every day for the last two weeks for 12-16 hours, and that in the end it was all worth it.

Fans enjoying the show at the Best Damn Music Festival (Photo by
Kurt Flesher, My PG Now staff)

“It is about bringing people together and having fun, and building something in our community doesn’t have to be something you travel out of town for.” Sampson said. “It was the best reward for me, seeing people enjoy themselves,” and, “it was exactly what we hoped for.”

He also mentioned the artists loved the crowds and the volunteers at both events.

This year, the Best Damn Music Festival was not profitable.

“A festival of this nature takes a significant investment” Sampson said. “This festival will lose money this year.”

He says he is ok with that, pointing to the economic boom surrounding the event in hotels, restaurants, food trucks, service providers working on the event, and

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even clothing stores selling country gear at a higher rate.

“The goal is to build something bigger and better. You work towards that. Sometimes… you take a loss once, and you try to tweak and make it better.”

The BDMF had a troubled childhood, being canceled late into development in 2021 due to a renewal of COVID-19 restrictions close to the concert date.

Sampson said it is too soon to say what the future holds for the BDMF, but is hopeful it will return in some capacity in 2023.

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