Heading into the eighth year of Adstock, the alternative music festival happening Sunday in Memorial Peace Park, organizers, musicians, and volunteers talk about what Adstock is all about.

"To find a place for kids to see bands with other kids and hear original music is almost impossible," said musician Willie Navarro.

Navarro has "always" been playing in a band, in one way or another, with friend Jonny Aaron. The two expressed how much Adstock has done for them, while the event's founder Adam Rayburn said the same was true in reverse.

"I'm thankful for what these guys have done for Adstock," he said.

This year, Rayburn took a back seat in terms of the planning and organizing so that alternative music lover Matt Salvesen could take the reins.

"I'd been attending [Adstock] for three, four years now," Salvesen noted. "I had some ideas and approached Adam... he asked me to come on board."

The rest, as they say, is history with Rayburn giving Salvesen the majority of the tasks that make Adstock happen. Salvesen even designed the event's poster.

"It's the best poster ever," said Aaron.

Volunteer Polya Eroujenets rounds out the group of five as what the other four describe as, "volunteer extraordinaire."

She has been helping out with the event since 2008.

This group of young adults is nothing like what TV often portrays. They are exceptionally supportive of one another, polite, passionate, and motivated.

"In the push to keep the music scene alive [in Maple Ridge], it's these five [who make it happen]," commented Salvesen.

Continuing to support the alternative music scene is especially important to the group now, as rumours are abound the Hammond church is up for sale.

"We don't have space [to hold a concert]," Salvesen said.

Rayburn noted that there is also a drive to keep young and developing acts in the spotlight to ensure the traditions of Adstock continue in the future.

"We are consistently disappointed we're not getting the high school bands out," he said.

Growing local talent is part of the commitment of the Adstock team because they love the music and the atmosphere the event creates.

"It's a drug, alcohol, and swearingfree event," commented Navarro. "We sign contracts before we go on [stage] that we won't swear."

The poster for the event even states, "No alcohol, drugs, or jerks."

"It's really family friendly," said Aaron.

"I remember when I was 13, 14, the first show I was going to," said Eroujenets. "It's just not the same anymore. I want kids to have the same experience I did."

Adstock is an all-ages, free event from noon to 8 p.m. this Sunday at the Memorial Peace Park bandstand. More than nine bands will be performing alternative music including punk, ska, metal, and more.

When asked why he wanted to return to the event year after year, Rayburn said, "Because I love Adstock, because I love the music scene, because there is no better venue for music in the area."

editorial@mrtimes.com