The High Times Cannabis Cup Canada took place at Laketown Ranch in Lake Cowichan Thursday August 24 to Sunday August 27, 2017.
In a music festival season full of turmoil from Beyonce cancelling out on Coachella to Pemberton going backrupt to Vancouver Island festivals Rock The Shores and Rock of The Woods taking hiatuses, the 2nd Legends Valley Music Festival was not immune to the logistical curveballs. The first wrench was thrown when featured headliner heavy metal band Body Count, fronted by rapper/actor Ice-T cancelled two weeks before the festival due to an injury sustained by their bass player. Mere hours after the band cancelled, it was announced that High Times, a marijuana magazine from the U.S. had purchased the music festival and would take over the marketing and booking and change the name to the High Times Cannabis Cup Canada.
A week later the festival announced the addition of Wyclef Jean to the lineup. Many, including media outlets, thought Wyclef was the replacement headliner, but it was then revealed that not only was Wyclef not performing on the Saturday, but would be opening for someone else on the final day Sunday. The night before the festival started, Lil’ Kim was announced as the Saturday headliner followed by a reveal the following night of Arrested Development as the Sunday headliner.
We were originally only planning to cover the Saturday, but after the additions we had to cover both Saturday and Sunday. We were unfortunately unable to cover Thursday and Friday’s performances which featured House of Pain, Magic!, Daniel Wesley, and locals Illvis Freshly, Kytami and Caleb Hart & The Royal Youths among others.
Unfortunately the last minute high-profile additions did not translate into big attendance numbers, but that did not stop the performers from putting on entertaining sets. Lil’ Kim played a short 30 minute set, but seemed to genuinely be enjoying her time on stage. Sloan played a set full of fan favourites and joked how they were just starting their North American tour opening for Lil’ Kim. Wyclef turned his set into a bit of a Brooklyn block party and joined the audience multiple times. Arrested Development performed a high energy set to close the festival and stayed out to greet fans afterward. From what we have heard, this year was more of a trial run of Laketown Ranch for High Times with their main sights on next year. Based on other High Times events in the U.S. and abroad, we’re very intrigued what 2018 may bring. If Wyclef can go from performing to 10,000 the night prior to performing at four in the afternoon on a week’s notice, just imagine what High Times might have in store with a full year to plan.
To view our full photo High Times Cannabis Cup galleries at our Facebook Page, click the following: Saturday | Sunday
Below are a few select highlights of our photo coverage.
High Times Cannabis Cup Canada: https://www.cannabiscup.com/canada
Saturday
Sunday
