Peter Baxter, or as he's known in the entertainment community Peter Montgomery, has put together what he describes as an exciting lineup of performers who are taking turns on the main stage of Arts Alive! on Saturday.

"I've got a lot of very good entertainment," said Montgomery, who's been helping organize the festival's main stage entertainment for the past seven years.

The Langley City resident is excited not only about the quality of performers in this year's lineup, but he's psyched about a new stage being constructed in McBurney Lane.

The covered stage will be twice the size of the past trailer top, will allow entertainers more room, organizers better ability to change out shows quickly, and ultimately spectators more space in McBurney Lane to sit, relax, and enjoy the show.

For his first years with Arts Alive!, Montgomery and musical partner Kathy Pattison (they make up the duo called Justus), performed. But in recent years, Montgomery has been fielding requests from upwards of a hundred entertainers a year wanting to be part of the show. Only able to select six, he said the calibre of each entry and the energy of the performances have become major deciding factors.

Once Arts Alive! 2009 was complete, Montgomery took what he calls a two-month breather, then was back to work organizing and booking this year's event.

Year after year, Montgomery brings back Tim Brecht. This multi-talented musician has an incredible ability to ramp up the show, get people charged, and draw hundreds of spectators into McBurney Lane, Montgomery explained.

In addition to Brecht, this year's lineup includes' Langley's own singer-songwriter Zack Sullivan.

"My parents claim that when I was around two years old I would request they play Papparatti, which was how I pronounced the famous Pavarotti. I loved the feeling of his music," Sullivan said. "It's a wonder I didn't end up singing opera. I began my music career with piano lessons around age six. At age 12, I was introduced to the acoustic guitar, and I never looked back."

Another Langley resident, Dick Cash, will have people up dancing with music from his rockabilly band.

Also on stage from Langley is the Blue VooDoo, a blues-rock band that has been performing in venues all over Western Canada since 2000.

And even a few of the band members from Some X 6 apparently hail from Langley, Montgomery said. This band originally started out as a heavy blues band influenced by artists such as Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Carlos Santanna. Over the years the band has developed into more of a rock influenced blues sound.

Also on the lineup is Rayne Check, a trio consisting of Lisa Hope, Donna Wall and Dale Unrau. Their unique harmonies offer a new twist on familiar old classics, as well as new songs from many genres.

And Surrey's Twice Shy will present an unforgettable musical review, by Colleen Durdon and Gail Hawksworth, that evokes the spirit of the 1950s and '60s through song and dance.

"Arts Alive!, I think it's something the artists, and I'm not just talking entertainers - look forward to every year," Montgomery said, noting he's among the most excited. "It's a huge day for everybody."

WHERE TO GO:

Main Stage

Located on McBurney Lane

10-10:30 a.m. - Zack Sullivan

10:45-11:30 a.m. - Rayne Check

11:50 a.m.-12:50 p.m. - Tim Brecht

1:15-2 p.m. - Blue VooDoo

2:15-3 p.m. - Dick Cash

3:15-4 p.m. - Some X 6

4:15-5 p.m. - Twice Shy