Scott Roos,Special to the Herald
For five years, the Sunset Country Music Festival has been proving that great country music can do more than entertain… It can make a real difference.
The annual event returns to MacDowall on Aug. 22, bringing together a lineup of Saskatchewan talent, good food, fireworks and a relaxed country atmosphere. This year, as in previous years, every ticket sold carries even greater meaning.
Festival organizer and performer Josh Stumpf says every dollar raised will benefit Hope’s Home, an organization that provides inclusive support for children with complex medical needs.
“This year we’ve partnered with Hope’s Home,” Stumpf said. “All of the proceeds that we get will go to Hope’s Home. We did a tour and a walk around there and it was really wonderful to see. They’re looking to get some newer, updated equipment and different materials to use, and obviously they have staff to support too. It’s really great, the stuff that they do there.”
That commitment to community has become the defining characteristic of the festival.
“Me and my fiancée, Mercy (Glover), put on this festival every year,” Stumpf explained. “It’s a one-day event where we get a couple hundred people out to the farm. We try to raise as much money as we can that night. We do not save a dime. We do not profit on this. We give 100 per cent of the proceeds to charity. We pick a new local charity every year, we pick local Saskatchewan artists to give them more of an opportunity to be seen, and we just try to give back to the community that gave so much to us.”
This year’s lineup features Stumpf alongside Mercy Glover, Morgan Desjardins and Kieran Gardner, giving concertgoers a showcase of some of Saskatchewan’s emerging country talent.
The festival once again takes place on Stumpf’s grandparents’ farm outside MacDowall, a setting that has become part of its charm.
“We’ll have the beer garden set up, the food trucks come out, we’ll get some fireworks going. It’ll be a great time,” he said.
Buzfood is expected to return to satisfy hungry concertgoers, while the festival will once again operate the popular beer gardens.
Although the festival has grown steadily over the years, Stumpf says its purpose has never changed.
It’s about bringing people together, celebrating Saskatchewan music and creating something positive for the community.
The timing couldn’t be better for Stumpf, who recently returned from one of the biggest performances of his career at Big Valley Jamboree.
“We just got back,” he said. “It’s been one crazy weekend.”
Playing before one of the largest crowds he has ever faced was both exhilarating and intimidating.
“I was so nervous,” Stumpf admitted. “That was the most excited I’ve ever been for a show, but also the most terrified. I’d never played on a stage that big before or for that many people.”
Despite the nerves, the experience only reinforced how far his career has come, with CCMA nominations and regular songwriting trips to Nashville as well.
These accomplishments underscore why community events like Sunset Country Music Festival remain so important. The festival has always been about giving local artists an opportunity to perform close to home while giving audiences a chance to discover new favourites in an intimate setting. With affordable ticket prices, a family-friendly atmosphere and the knowledge that every dollar raised stays in Saskatchewan through Hope’s Home, organizers hope another strong crowd will gather in MacDowall later this month.
The fifth annual Sunset Country Music Festival takes place Aug. 22 on the Stumpf family farm near MacDowall. Advance tickets are $25 through Eventbrite or $30 at the gate (cash only).
Come for the music, stay for the atmosphere and leave knowing your evening helped make a difference.
