The friction between Vancouver's live-music scene and the city is an ongoing headache. But according to Juno host committee member John Donnelly, potentially serious problems facing the WestJet Street Party—which covers the whole four days of Juno weekend—prompted maximum cooperation between all parties.

“It's been quite the project,” he told the Straight. “We've been working on it for close to a year, and I was there this morning and the tents are going up now.”

The tents will cover the 800 and 900 blocks of Granville Street, where there will be three stages, a beer garden, and more than 50 performances during the four-day party. But with Granville Street's reconstruction in full swing, the host committee's biggest project has been touch-and-go. “When they [the city] hired the contractor, Jacob Bros. Construction, they weren't thinking of us and our festival landing in the middle of it,” Donnelly said.

He noted that Jacob Bros. postponed digging up the blocks earmarked for the party. “Hats off to the City of Vancouver and Jacob Bros. for adjusting their schedule,” he said. “We actually have the last two little oases of asphalt in the middle of construction to throw our celebration.”

The WestJet Street Party kicks off with a free concert headlined by Hot Hot Heat. Donnelly said most tickets have been “snapped up”, but some will still be available at the door. More info is at www.junofest.ca.