Pontiac Bandits Earn Sunfest Main Stage Slot in Ladysmith

The six‑piece country band the Pontiac Bandits from Ladysmith, British Columbia, won Sun FM’s local artist contest and secured an opening performance on the main stage of Sunfest on Friday, July 31 at 5:20 p.m. The festival anticipates about 15,000 attendees, far larger than the band’s biggest previous audience of roughly 550 at Ladysmith Oktoberfest.

Band founder Griffin Russell, who sings and plays guitar, called the opportunity “the gift of a lifetime.” The current lineup has been together for about 15 months and draws on traditional and outlaw country influences, emphasizing storytelling. Russell built a home‑garage rehearsal space in Ladysmith after moving there.