Surrey guitarist, 19, joins Arkells on stage at Barnside Harvest Festival, thrilling crowd of 25,500 in Delta, B.C.
Surrey teen’s big break: Jams with Arkells on festival stage
Festival weekend draws thousands
The third annual Barnside Harvest Festival turned Ladner’s Paterson Park into a hub of live music and family-friendly fun from September 12 to 14. Close to 25,500 attendees filled the Delta, B.C. venue across the three-day event, headlined by Walk Off the Earth, Arkells, and The Dead South.
A moment in the spotlight
Saturday night’s Arkells set took an unexpected turn when lead singer Max Kerman asked if anyone in the crowd could play the chords D, G and E minor for their hit “Private School.” From the front row, Surrey teen Jackson Newson, 19, raised his hand—and was invited on stage.
Dream come true for young musician
“It was probably the best moment of my life,” Newson said two days later. “That’s the sixth time I’ve seen them and obviously the best show yet.” Video captured him strumming confidently alongside the Hamilton-based rock band.
Family support from the crowd
Newson, who learned guitar from his father, was standing near the stage with his parents when he was chosen. “When Max asked who played guitar, I put up my hand and so did my dad,” he recalled. “Then Max pointed at me—and the crowd did, too.” His mother, Diana Leith, described the scene as surreal: “We’re still in shock. He was in his element.”
From basement band to big stage
Although Newson has only been playing guitar for about a year, music runs deep in the family. He and his father perform together under the name The Poor Neighbours, sharing drum-and-guitar covers on YouTube. “Playing in a band has always been my dream,” Newson said. “I felt like I belonged up there.”
Festival atmosphere and lineup
The Barnside Harvest Festival, hosted by a local craft brewery, featured a stacked lineup including Ruby Waters, Bedouin Soundclash, Shakey Graves, Said the Whale, Streetheart, Jesse Roper, The Boom Booms, Northern Pikes, and Tony Stevens. With sunny skies, a lively crowd, and a surprise stage debut, organizers are already calling it the most memorable edition yet.
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