"It takes more than a little rain to dampen the spirits of Metro Halifax music lovers. Close to 10,000 of them gathered on the western slope of Citadel Hill yesterday to enjoy the annual Great Big Picnic, the brainchild of St.John's, Nfld. Celtic pop quartet Great Big Sea, whose goal to give Atlantic Canada the concert event of the summer was accomplished once again, despite the ever-present threat of Mother Nature, intent on drowning her sorrows in a sea of soaking concertgoers. Less is more was the strategy behind this year's picnic, with a roster of fewer bands, but with longer sets and a higher guarantee of quality. Besides Great Big Sea, the bill
included Canadian favourites Blue Rodeo and Latino pop pioneers Los Lobos, along with up-and-coming Boston trio Guster and local alternative faves Arlibido.Overcast skies and a cool breeze greeted Arlibido as they took to the stage for a tight, energetic set of hormonally-driven tunes from their independent CD Safe 'n Sexy. The eager trio did their best to boost the energy level of the growing crowd, encouraging them to shake a tailfeather with a ska/punk cover of Unchained Melody and a song about Jello that included the suggestion they
dance like they've got so much Jello they don't know what to do with it. Boston pop trio, and Woodstock 99 survivors, Guster took to the stage next, playing songs from their soon-to-be-released album Lost and Gone Forever. Alternating between acoustic and electric instruments, and boasting beautiful harmonic intuitition between guitarists Adam Gardner and Ryan Miller, Guster serenaded the crowd with chiming tunes like What You Wish For and All the Way Up to Heaven, while showing their goofier side with a Bryan Adams medley that
won't do a whole lot for Canada/U.S. relations any time soon. Making their debut appearance in Halifax, Los Angeles's Los Lobos burned a hole in the clouds with their red hot Barrio beat, as a downpour greeted their entrance, but it made little difference. The mix of Mexican rhythms and garage rock riffs kept the crowd moving,while a raincoat-clad conga line snaked through the concert site. Songs from Los Lobos' latest CD, This Time, appeared alongside some choice covers like Traffic's Dear Mr. Fantasy and a blistering version of Neil Young's Down By the River before their finale La Bamba got the whole hillside moving. Blue Rodeo took the stage without fanfare as skies darkened, making their way through a perfunctory set that left little doubt as to their status as Canada's favourite roots rock band. By the time Great Big Sea took to the stage, the rain had stopped and spirits where high as ever. The four men from St. John's played with the same energy and gusto as they have at picnics past, as the Garrison Grounds became a sea of waving hands and jigging feet to the propulsive rhythms of Ordinary Day and Donkey Riding. It's amazing what one band can do with just a bit of stage smoke and lot of spunk. Gazing out over the happy faces on the hill, one hopes they can keep the momentum going until next year."

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