Outdoor Concert Series
In a world where nothing comes for free, Whistler offers up a 10-day program of music concerts spanning a vast variety of genres to feed your soul and support your wallet. Stuff dreams are made of: an epic schedule of award-winning artists will be on hand to keep the party juices flowing for the entire 10 days of the Festival. Best of all it's free, free, free!
Main Stage located in Skier's Plaza, FREE Concerts....that's right, all of these are FREE!
Note: most live music on the main stage begins at 2:30pm and finishes at 5:30pm unless a specific time is stated.
The line-up for 2013:
FRIDAY APRIL 12TH
DiRTY RADiO, 4pm
One Bad Son, 2:30pm
SATURDAY APRIL 13TH
Nas, 8pm
Mat the Alien, 6:30pm
SUNDAY APRIL 14TH
Keller Williams, 4pm
Kim Churchill, 2:30pm
MONDAY APRIL 15TH
Anuhea, 4pm
Sidney York, 2:30pm
TUESDAY APRIL 16TH
CFOX Vancouver Seeds 2012 Winners, 2:30pm - 5:30pm:
We Hunt Buffalo
Static in the Stars
Fields of Green
WEDNESDAY APRIL 17TH
Yuca, 4pm
Longstride, 2:30pm
THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH
Beats Antique, 4pm
Whiskey Chief, 2:30pm
FRIDAY, APRIL 19TH
K-OS, 4pm
Rich Aucoin, 2.30pm
SATURDAY, APRIL 20TH
G. Love & Special Sauce, 4pm
Swollen Members (during Big Air)
SUNDAY, APRIL 21ST
Arkells, 4pm
No Sinner, 2:30pm
Live at the Festival
Your Comments
Share your thoughts with us! Enter your comments using the form to the right, and hit 'submit'. There will be a slight delay in posting as it is a moderated comment board.
Totally loving the music. Can't wait to order some of the music online! :)
Does the show go on even if it is raining?
Absolutely! Rain, hail, shine, snow :)
CAN ANY VERIFY FOR ME THAT RIFF RAFF IS PLAYING ON SATURDAY!!!!! THANK YOU!!!
Yes, they will be playing a short set in between semis and finals with Trouble Andrew
Will the shows still happen if it is raining?
#YOLO
Hey anyone know who will be preforming at the 2013 WSSF? I'm there for the week and was wondering if I would know any of the bands that would be playing.
Any idea what bands will be playing for the 2013 WSSF? Thinking of heading there and was wondering if anyone knew!!!!
Any ideas what time Cat Empire will be playing on Sunday? So excited!
Opener is 2:30, so Cat Empire will be on at 4ish.
Us too!
Any idea what time the Cat Empire will be on on Sunday?? Stoked!
Hey, what time are the Dudes playing tomorrow?
I'll be the guy rockin out the drum(s)!!!!!!!!!
I have attended wssf since the 2nd one, and have missed very few of the free concerts over that time. I can remember standing in front of the stage with a handful of other people watching "unknown" bands such as Nickleback, Default, Theory of a Dead Man, Xavier Rudd. Just because you are not familiar with the bands, people, doesn't mean they aren't worth a listen. Come on out and appreciate the awesomeness of this event. Great job as always with the line-up.
I always love walking around and enjoying free music during the telus fest. As far as I'm concerned some of the 'small name' acts are better suited for this kind of event. It's a great way to find some new music and hear bands we would never otherwise hear. It's a great event for locals and it looks like a great lineup.
Thanks Domenic - The new up and comer that I'm most stoked to see play is "Half Moon Run" on the 16th.
do you know what time the dudes might be on stage this Friday?
4pm. See you out there!
They are also playing at the Dublin at night - that is going to be insane - big band - small venue - sounds like an awesome night. They will probably be on stage there at 10ish but best be there early.
Big ups to the Watermark crew. You guys do a fantastic job year after year. It must get super frustrating when you work so hard and then clueless people chime in with their misinformed opinions about bringing bigger bands to town. I don't know of anywhere else that put on 10 days of FREE concerts and then have intimate side shows that again are FREE. People need to get that through their heads I think or pull their heads out and then just have a good time. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that sponsorship dollars only go so far. Its not the Olympics with money just being flushed down the toilet. Keep up the good work and see you at the Festival. I''ll be the one smiling and grooving in Skiers Plaza everyday!
Thanks Hater Hater, and all the others who've chimed in with the props.
The crew works hard, we're passionate about this event and this town.
One week, and the fun begins!
U FOLKS KNOW HOW!
I've got a questions about theTrouble Andrew Show. Your site says that Main Stage located in Skier's Plaza, has free concerts 2:30pm - 5:30pm, but this concert (any many others) are in the evening. Does that mean I neeed to buy a ticket? If so how do I do that? Don't want to miss this show!!!!
Hi,
This concert is held later due to it being the Monster Energy music component. It is a free event, held outdoors on the Mainstage, and open to everyone. It's an amazing vibe, watching the snowboarders on the Big Hip then rocking out to Trouble Andrew outdoors, at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. Make sure you're there early to catch all the action, including Swollen Members.
- Jess
All you naysayers coimplaining about the line-up this year and then suggesting bands that cost 1,000,000 ie Black Eyed Peas. Even Damien Marley is probably around 100k these days, If I could guess and an educated guess at that, because I'm in the music industry over here on the Island, Id say you guys have a budget of about 180k to 200k so for over 20 bands over 10 days and having Michael Franti, Cat Empire, Dragonette, The Sheepdogs both Juno award winners, and then little gems like Tea Leaf Green, whom I've seen open for Dave Mathews and totally kick ass, and then some extra Aussie flair with The Beautiful Girls and Ash, this FREE festival is spectacular, and people should haul; the head out of the you know what, and either become more experienced music fans before chiming in with stupid commenhts like...."this festival line-up sucks, you should have Rolling Stones, U2< Adele, and Pink Floyd, with a special appearance from Led Zeppelin, Dave Mathews, and Kanye West !!
Give it a rest people, if you knew anything about music, you'd know this is a diverse line-up and there is obviously a limited budget, so quit complaining, and better yet, show up, participate, and maybe the budget would get bigger and maybe just maybe, Mick Jagger and Keith Richradsd would show up one year :) Thanks guys, great line-up, I'm coming down for 6 nights with 4 other girls and we can't wait, its our yearly getwawy to Whistler and wouldn't miss it for the world !!
Thanks Island Girl, we really appreciate your comments, and your open-mindedness to the Outdoor Concert Series.
We're really glad you're happy with the line-up, and we know you speak on behalf of a lot of people, including ourselves, so thank you, and we know you'll have an absolute blast at the best season-ender party imaginable!
See you in Whistler!
Best, Jess
Any idea what time Franti will hit the stage on 4/20? And perhaps who his "friends" will be?
Michael Franti and Friends will be playing at 4pm on the Mainstage and comprise of many of his musical inspirations and affiliations.
- Jess
How do we get tickets for shows at Bills?
Trevor,
The Sheepdogs at Buffalo Bills is actually a free event, and not ticketed, so make sure you just get there early and you're guaranteed to have a blast!
- Jess
SO THRILLED about the Cat Empire!!!!! Thank you!!!
We're so glad you're stoked, and we heartily second your opinion. Guaranteed to be a GREAT show!
- Jess
Thanks again to Watermark, Sue, and all the sponsors for giving us FREE shows all week long. The talent level is extraordinary again this year once again!especially the aussie contigent,....have fun on the slopes, in the village, with friends, with family, and with everybody!!!!!!
Damon,
Thanks so much for the kind comments, and we know you'll have an amazing time this year along with us!
- Jess
Great respect for many of these artists. Still, the athletes (and the spectators), deserve more than one half of Team Canada DJs that saturday night. Something isn't right when you have big name sponsorship (Coke, Chevrolet, Telus, more) involved and your event is stagnant. Yes, support emerging or, more appropriately, under appreciated talent, but it would help to have one marquee name if purported to be "the biggest annual gathering of winter sports, music, arts and culture in North America." In all due respect to the organizers, learn to be more resourceful, because we want this to succeed.
Stoked to be able to see Dragonette! Nice work!
Trouble Andrew is also another act I am looking forward to seeing! The Trouble Gang always put on a good show!
I am as well - not seen them live but have heard its a great show - see you there!
The best ever was Toots & The Maytals, you guys should try to bring them back.
We had good chats with their management - just couldn't make it work this year - we try most years as they generally tour in the Spring to the west coast. I would also love to see them back, the Kokanee afterdark at MoeJoes has to be in the top three legendary bar shows in WSSF history.
Mad love to Sue and the Watermark crew! We love WSSF, and look forward to getting back there in the future! FK5's JonH will be doing a DJ Set with Kori K at Maxx Fish in Whistler on April 12th! Come dance!
Thanks Guys - count me in on Thursday - might not stay long - got this little event that starts the next day :)
Loved Marianas Trench last year ... any chance of getting them back next year?
They're a solid band - if they're touring around our time - we're interested in having them.
seems telus has really cut the funding for telus fest over the last couple years...the outdoor concert series lineup has gone downhill...from acts like de la soul...to now dj grandtheft headlining at the big air? is this just to save money? 3 years ago dj grandtheft wouldnt have opened for the opening act..now he is the main act?
Hi WSSF Regular,
Here's some history of Big Air Headliners:
2011: Funk Hunters
2010: Mat the Alien
2009: Lotus
2008: Ravi Drums and Dj Crooked
2007: Rahzel and & DJ JS-1
2006: Blackalicious
2005: Mat the alien, Grand Theft, Dr One
2004: Vinyl Ritchie, Lady P
2003: Amon Tobin, Kid Koala
2002: Ozomatili
2001: Mix Master Mike
I guess the main thing to share is our philosophy around the Big Air Stage Talent. The night belongs to the athletes, what we're trying to do with the stage and other entertainment on that evening is to provide the soundtrack for the athletic competition.
Always good to hear your feedback though, and maybe we need to look at some bigger name talent for those evenings... Grandtheft does continue to get bigger and he is certainly an artist that we like to support.
I also do appreciate your knowledge around sponsor money - some years we have more than others to spend, we work hard to put out the best line-up that our resources can afford. Music is always the toughest - subjective....
Thanks for being a WSSF regular - we'll keep striving to be better.
Hey we have been coming for years to Telus. You need to step up and get some Big Name Talent. Only one, doesn't cut it. It is not cheap coming to whistler for 10 days.
Fair enough Rusty - Throw some suggestions in this blog - we've often taken them into account. We don't have unlimited resources but we'll see what you suggest.
Thanks for coming to TELUS, hope this year isn't an exception - maybe not huge names but there is some great talent in this line-up.
Cheers,
Sue
Bummer...coming for the weekend and can't believe the Sheepdogs are a Sunday night concert. THEY SHOULD BE A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT SHOW
Hey Joanne - Catch them in Skiers Plaza on Sunday in the afternoon at 3:30pm - hopefully plenty of time to get home? Sorry you'll miss the night show - should be an awesome night at Buffalo Bills!
I would love to see Ben Howard!!!!