Friday night's audience was awed by the harmonica playing skills of Mike Stevens and Raymond McLain's talent with the fiddle and banjo. The cause was good, and so was the entertainment at the Kingfest Music Celebration, held Friday and Saturday night at the Performing Arts Centre at Country Day School.

The York Region chapter of Habitat for Humanity was the main beneficiary of the event, but organizers said they were looking at other goals aside for supporting this cause.

Kingfest President Leah Springford said they were also looking to establish a "really good, world-class music festival."

"Big dreams, big goals, you bet," she declared, adding they can be accomplished.

"We're building something very special here," she told the audience attending the reception before Friday's show, "and we want you to be a part of it."

Kingfest Executive Director Nancy Bodi predicted they were witnessing the birth of York Region's premier cultural festival, adding it's expected to get better as time goes by.

Next year's festival is set for June 23 and 24 at the King campus of Seneca College. Prairie Oyster is already lined up to perform, and more top acts will be announced closer to the event. She said that show will feature "multiple stages with non-stop music."

Back-to-back Juno award winning folk singer David Francey was accompanied by guitarist Shane Simpson in his performance Saturday, which included entertaining songs and stories. Several of the performers expressed admiration for the effort that went into bringing Kingfest about.

"I wish every community could do this," commented fiddler Ray McLain, who appeared in Friday night's

show with harmonica wizard Mike Stevens. "We have so much admiration for what you're doing here. We thank you for letting us be part of it."

"I think it's really important for Canadians to hear their own music where they live," remarked Sylvia Tyson, who appeared in Quartette.