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Summer Kicks lineup features diverse group of touring pros and locals

Ten acts - all with their own unique sound - will make up the 2016 Summer Kicks lineup.
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The Static Shift will be performing in Spirit Square on July 20 as part of this year's Summer Kicks concert series.

Ten acts - each with their own unique sound and style - will make up this year’s Summer Kicks lineup, beginning on June 15 with the Celtic roots/rock foursome Cod Gone Wild and ending on Aug. 17 with classic blues artist Sugar Brown.

Among the local “tweener” acts this year are are Krista and the Krybabies, David L’Hirondelle, the Amuse Troupe and The PickUps.

As always, constructing the lineup came with its share of challenges for Kicking Horse Culture Executive Director Bill Usher, who has to figure out when artists are available and construct a diverse lineup of musicians from there.

“It’s just keeping my ears and eyes open. I start sooner now, in fact…I booked a band for next June already,” Usher said.

Among this year’s highlights are Static Shift, a three piece band out of Calgary whose teenaged members play music that would have fit in nicely with the classic rock artists of the 60s and 70s.

“It’s going back to the late 60s like Led Zeppelin, Yardbirds, all that kind of stuff,” Usher said.

Also performing will be Montreal-based Cecile Doo-Kingue, an artist of Cameroonian descent who has been making waves on the roots scene. With a commanding stage presence, the guitarist and singer brings a lot of energy to the stage, a necessity when playing at Spirit Square.

“She (played) at the Canmore Folk Fest and the Edmonton Folk Fest last year and both festivals are bringing her back she did so well,” Usher said. “She’s an incredible blues guitarist and singer/songwriter.”

Vox Sambou, also from Montreal, will also be among this year’s headliners as well. The sharp-witted Vox mixes rap beats with traditional Hatian music, while including Latin styles and jazz tunes aimed at getting the audience out of their seats and onto the dance floor.

“He’s got this whole world beat thing going on with the hip hop…He’s a very charismatic performer,” Usher said.

For a full list of this year’s lineup, turn to page 9.