Oh, it's my favourite season of the year. It's lots of fun, and it last for five months. And, since this is New Brunswick, you know I'm not talking about summer. No, it's the beginning of Music Festival Season. From now until September, there's practically one a weekend in New Brunswick, from the Foire Brayonne in Edmundston to Sappy Fest in Sackville. And nearly every one of them features music in some amount, and lots of outdoor activities. Technically, I guess you could say it really began a couple of weeks ago in Moncton with the ECMA's, and then last week with the Frye Literary Festival, since it now has a large and fun music component attached. But on my calender of events, I tend to see the kick-off of Festival Season at the beginning of May. And for many folks this weekend, that means a trip to St. Andrews, and Paddlefest.

Now, paddling doesn't exactly say music. It's not advisable to use one's MP3 player and headphones while canoeing and kayaking, and it's even less sensible to take your guitar along for the trip in our rushing waters. However, the idea of St. Andrews Paddlefest grew out a day-long paddling outing from some friends way back 18 years ago, that turned into a jam once they got back on land. Over the years, it grew, and moved past just the friends, into full concerts. Paddling sort of took a back seat, although there has been a bit of a push to get it back in prominance at the event, and there are still day adventures to be had, in one of the region's best waterways.

In the meantime, the music side has developed into a fine local festival, running from Thursday to Sunday. It showcases bands in local bars and such, plus a bigger concert Friday and Saturday in a downtent tent setting. Paddlefest is also one of the organizations that has discovered if you keep the emphesis on local talent, there's a big pay-back. First, it turns out we want our local stars and favourites at these events. A great loyalty has developed the past few years between festival crowds and their favourite Maritime performers. You also have returning locals who plan their vacations back home around them. When you're flying in for the extended weekend from say, the oil patch in Alberta, you want to see your old heroes from home, Also, tourists and outsiders want to go to these kind of events, and check out the local music scene. They can see Toronto bands anytime, but a Carmen Townsend for instance, doesn't travel outside that much.

I'm liking the looks of this year's lineup: Things kick off Thursday night with a couple of indoor shows. First off there's the fine Olympic Symphonium at Sunbury Shores, along with Clinton Charlton. That's the early show at 7. At 10:30, the action at the Red Herring pub heats up, with the venerable Fredericton jam band Grand Theft Bus back in action. Friday, the paddling begins in the morning with a pleasant tour up the Digdeguash at 11. Then the day gets jammed with music, with local performers in restaurants, the market, along the picturesque harbourfront, and back at the Red Herring with local favourite Kendra Gale. Now the big show of the night is quite something. You got blues act The Hupman Brothers, much-loved folkies Old Man Luedecke and Del Barber, and to top it all, the man himself, Matt Andersen. You know it's going to be packed. The late-night menu sees The Belle Comedians at the Red Herring.

Be careful Friday, as you don't want to be burned out for all the fun Saturday. There are workshops, free stuff all day in the main tent, lots of paddling, a race or two, music in all the bars and spots, and then another big concert in the evening. This time you get the Tom Fun Orchestra, Carmen Townsend and Andrew Hunter and The Gatherers. Sunday is the wind-down day with a big brunch, and a final paddle to enjoy. If you want, of course, paddling is optional. Having a great time is not.

Here's a link to the Paddlefest site: http://paddlefestnb.ca/wp/