An organic apple orchard turns into a sonic art and culture experiment as Sonic Orchard Festival launches its first season August 22, 23, 24 at Kimbercote Farm, in the Beaver Valley south of Thornbury.

Art installations, vendors, workshops, a Yoga jam with DJ Medicineman, kids activities, camping and organic food along with over 30 musical performers ranging from local favourites Aaron Garner, Whitey Somers, and The Funky Truth to the 20 piece Brazilian percussion band Samba Elegua to indie rock favourites The Fembots and Run with the Kittens round out this truly unique music, art and ecology festival.

"The music is reflective of somebody with really broad musical tastes making the best mixed tape they ever crafted, surfing channels and genres, something unexpected, something familiar, everything  meant to be danced to," says Artistic Director Allison Billings. "I guess saying mixed tape really dates my age doesn't it?" she laughs.

"The intent with the music chosen was to blend some of the music communities I know and love... indie rock for its acceptance and support of new music, the jambands scene for their visceral love of the live performance, alt-country for its comfort and lovely simplicity... and straight out southern rock for that summertime Wahoo! factor," she said.

Bands confirmed to play the festival are; Sun Parlour Players, The Fembots, run with The Kittens, Bullmoose, Samba Elegua, The Chameleon project, The Fat Cats, Diesel Dog, Bocce, Everything All the Time, Swiss Dice, Dave Lauzon, Scott Cook, Rural Alberta Advantage, Canteen Knockout, Nick Zubeck, Robert Hedge, Sean MacDonald Band, The Luckless, Mark Harris, Luke Nares, Jaime McClyment, Harmonic Tide, Mustashat, Suburban Smith and Jawbone.

The festivals intent is not just to entice the ears though - it also seeks to underline the necessity of incorporating environmentally responsible policies into event administration. From the outset the idea was to adhere to the most rigorous standard of best practices in greening a festival.

Free water, bus transportation, low paper waste marketing techniques, and organic vegan meals included in the ticket price were all some of the measures taken.

"Partnering with Kimbercote farm, an incredible environmental and social activism retreat, has allowed us to access their incredible wealth of knowledge on environmental subjects and also ensured that we stuck to what our environmental vision was, regardless of difficulties," said Billings.

"We have tried to involve the local eco community as much as possible, even to the degree that our ticket outlets locally are fabulous eco boutiques; Cathy Day's wonderful new shop Awear on Hurontario in Collingwood and the lovely Karen Farmilio's Grey Heron Natural Designs in Thornbury," Allison notes.

"Many of us have seen "after" photographs of big events or festival sites strewn with garbage, often most noticeably the ubiquitous plastic water bottle." Billings states.

"To reduce waste we felt it necessary to supply two of the things that can generate the most waste at an event; water bottles and food waste." Vegan, organic food made with NEOrganics produce, with Rising Sun Organic Bakery breads and goodies to accompany, as well as access to free potable water from drinking coolers are the answer to those problems."

"Having NEO grow the food a couple of hills over from the festival site also imbues the festival with a sense of place," says Billings. "This is an event taking place, in a particular area, with its own unique character, people, tastes and sounds. I think environmentalism is best taught not by lectures or preaching, but by underlining just how amazing our world is, and inciting the desire to protect it for its beauty and its wonder."

Exploration of that wonder is also apparent in the festival; Free Spirit Tours will offer attendees kayaking, canoeing, hiking and caving excursions from the site and Elephant Thoughts will be on hand to lead kids through earth centred science adventures.

Billings says "Just being able to camp with friends and family, to listen to music under the stars overlooking Georgian Bay, is an experience that can be transformative and, at the very least, restorative."

The festival website can be accessed by clicking the link provided and a group can also be found on Facebook.