The Midsummer Music Festival marked its 40th anniversary this week, one of Northwest B.C.’s more prestigious and longest running concert gatherings. 

Over three days Mid summer offered some of the biggest headliners from the past 40 years, and a slice of home grown talent with the return of the world renown beatniks, the MIP Power Trio, and of course, Grammy award winner, and Smithers own, Alex Cuba. 

"The blood-life to this community is music," said Marian Rose, one of the original organisers of Midsummer. "Human beings need music, to move and dance, and you need to be exposed to it. I just want more and better of that kind of thing and i want to see that continue as an event that everyone looks forward to every year."

But after 40 years, what keeps the midsummer music festival hip and relevant? Where does it go from here and what mark has it left on Northern B.C. culture?

As the first generation of organisers pass the torch to those that grew up on Midsummer, how will the next forty years look for the Midsummer Music Festival, or as some simply and affectionately refer to as: Festival. 

Listen to the full episode on CICK News below.