Change is inevitable.
And, the Exploits Valley Salmon Festival in Grand Falls-Windsor is no exception.
In recent years, the anticipated festival had become more focused about putting on a big show at the Centennial Field complex while other parts of the event slipped out of focus.
That is about to change, and one of the scheduled performers is looking forward to seeing it unfold.
The 2019 version of the festival is scheduled to run from July 11 to 15 and feature a host of new activities aimed at fostering a sense of community spirit and showcasing everything Grand Falls-Windsor has to offer.
Gone is the big showcase concert with a high-profile act. In its place is a scheduled packed with musical acts and other activities.
"It is something that had to happen," said Grand Falls-Windsor native and performer Chris Feener. "It is a super transition for the festival.
"They're spreading it out across the town and it is going to be cool to see how it plays out."
The festival had been in financial turmoil for some time and those high-profile acts cost the town somewhere in the $100,000 range.
It was no longer feasible to continue throwing good money after bad, so to speak.
Feener and his Chis Feener Band — a working title if there ever was one according to the guitarist — will be a part of the stadium show at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium along with Rum Ragged, Earl and Coffin, Mallory Johnson and the Irish Descendants.
It is an eclectic group that is sure to appeal to a wide range of music goers.
However, the concert isn't the only thing officials want you to focus on. There is a wing night, pub crawl, paint night at Gorge Park, a song writer's circle and other events jammed into the short five-day window.
In all, there are 28 acts from across the province set to descend on the community, which is working with Music NL to make it happen.
While there are plans for Feener's band to come up with a different name in the future, right now it is just a stopgap for a group of musicians who have cut their teeth in groups around the province.
He has Fairgale vocalist Andrew Rodgers, guitarist Jason Sheppard and Sheavy drummer Jason Williams, along with bassist Jimmy Westcott in tow for this new edition of the salmon festival.
What this group is going to bring is something that has Feener excited to hit the stage. The plan is to put a spotlight on the arena rock tunes from the 1970s and 1980s that people don't normally get to hear from your everyday bar cover band.
Feener can probably hear the setlist in his head. Songs like Kansas' classic "Carry On Wayward Son" and Scorpions' "Rock You Like A Hurricane" are expected reverberate from the walls of the Joe Byrne Memorial Arena.
Of course, there will be the inclusion of some of Canada's top rock exports. Tunes from bands like April Wine and Triumph could also get their due this year, according to Feener.
"It is really going to be stuff that goes over better in an arena setting," he said. "It is going to be awesome paying tribute to that era of music."