Country/folk singer/songwriter Mark Koenig has crisscrossed North America over the past twenty-five years playing his special brand of original music. Koenig will be one of the headline performers at Cranbrook’s Idlewild Musicfest Saturday, August 22nd.

As concert-goers last year know, Mark Koenig voice is back richer and fuller than ever. The layoff allowed him to accumulate a lineup of great new songs, many of which appear on his beautiful new CD called Livin’ This Life.

Koenig has played with some of the biggest names in the music business like Garth Brooks, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Ian Tyson (for whom Mark acted as band leader for three years) and Dwight Yoakam.

He was nominated for Male Country Vocalists at the Juno Awards in 1992 for his album, “The Lonesome Kind.” He also won the “most promising artist and song of the year” at the Calgary Music Association awards. As mentioned Mark Koenig has just released his new album called Livin’ This Life and will be performing many of his new songs as well as his old favorites.

Earlier last spring Mark Koenig ended a self-imposed eight year break from live performances when he played at the Creston Blossom Festival. Koenig moved to Creston several years ago after having lived in the Columbia Valley near Invermere for over 10 years.

Mark Koenig is also bringing Elena Yeung, an exciting bluegrass performer who hails from Lister near Creston. He describes her as “a real fine songwriter, besides being a good banjo player…Elena has some real cool songs on her newly released CD.”

Also in the Idlewild Musicfest lineup will be headliner Ken Hamm, who bring his vast array of eclectic songs and tremendous guitar playing abilities to delight the audience. Ken Hamm is one of Canada’s foremost interpreters of traditional roots and blues music.

Cranbrook’s own redGirl, which consists of Michael and Annie Hepher as well as Steve Jones, all formerly of As the Crow Flies, are set to perform. They’ll bring their distinctive and charming Kootenay roots musical style to the stage.

Gates at Idlewild Park will open at 2:45 pm and music will start at 4:00. There will be food concessions, vendors, lots of fun and entertainment for the whole family. Tickets to the Idlewild Musicfest are only $20 per person (under 13 free by donation). The proceeds go toward supporting the Cranbrook Public Library’s efforts to enhance their book collection and develop more inviting green spaces around the library.

Tickets are now on sale at Lotus Books, Pages Used Books, the Cranbrook Public Library and the Kimberley Public Library. For more information about the Idlewild Musicfest call the Cranbrook Public Library at 250 426 4063