Summer rocks: Sway’s guide to the hottest music festivals
RICHARD LAUTENS/TORONTO STAR
By Erica Phillips
Jazz, rock, blues, country: new school, old school, it’s music festival season; time to dance under the stars, in the sunshine, soaking up that heavy beat.
Don’t let festival names fool you. They tend to be driven by history; to draw new audiences they have expanded their offerings: Stevie Wonder and Joe Cocker have appeared at jazz festivals. The Funk Brothers and the Average White Band have played jazz and blues affairs— all put on high energy shows that leave you dancing long after the encore.
Music festivals are a great way to see bands normally off your radar. However some big stars can be seen at great prices. Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Macy Gray, and Trooper appeared at TD Toronto Jazz Fest, Luminato and the Port Colborne Canal Days festivals last year.
Go alone and make new friends— there’s something free-spirited about dancing with strangers, connecting over the familiar beats— or go with friends and create new memories. Pack a camera and extra batteries, you’ll be surprised at how close you can get to the stage at some of these shows— or how close the artists will get to you.
Indulge your sweet tooth: there are plenty of just-for-summer foods at the festivals: deep fried snacks, candy apples, cotton candy, corn dogs, or take a cooler with your favourite fruits and veggies and pack a picnic so you’ll have the energy to last longer.Wear comfortable shoes, platform sandals may look stylish, but you’ll regret them around midnight. Folding lawn chairs are handy too.
There are scores of festivals throughout Ontario and Quebec, so why not make it a road trip, driving along listening to some of the bands you’ll be enjoying.
Pull out your calendar
Until June 19 Luminato – Toronto
Luminato has dozens of free events and features a different theme each year: there’s also visual arts, theatre, film, food, dance, literature and fashion from around the world. Some of the acts scheduled this year include Ron Sexsmith, k.d. lang, and The Sultans of Swing. The venues are all over the city. Visit www.luminato.com.
June 13 to 19 NXNE –Toronto
The North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference focused on the indie music scene. Hundreds of performers and thousands of fans, plus industry representatives converge on Toronto. You may not recognize many of the acts now, but bands have to start somewhere. Artists such as K’Naan, Feist, Broken Social Scene and De La Soul, Blue Rodeo, have played at NXNE in the past. NXNE Film features music-themed films, plus the festival has parties, contests and panels.
For more information, visit nxne.com.
June 16 to 19 Sound of Music Festival Burlington
This festival takes place in downtown Burlington: bands play on the street and in the park, which is right on Lake Ontario. Some of the acts scheduled for this year: Bedouin Soundclash, The Nylons, Men Without Hats and Monkey Junk.
Visit www.soundofmusic.ca.
June 17 to 19 Mississauga Waterfront Festival
This festival in Port Credit will have Spirit of the West and Steven Page, The Beatles Experience, plus the Heritage and Multicultural stage and plenty of activities for children. Visit www.themwf.com.
June 24 to 29 TD Toronto Jazz Festival
One of the highlights this year will be the Aretha Franklin show on June 24 at the Toronto Star Stage in Metro Square— free. There are more than 30 venues including: bars, inns and concert halls with a variety of acts from around the corner and around the world at various price points: Bootsy Collins with Saidah Baba Talibah, Robert Cray Band, Average White Band plus Stax! featuring Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn & Eddie Floyd, Jackie Richardson with the Russ Little Trio, Branford Marsalis, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Jessye Norman, Quincy Bullen and Rob Christian and so many more. Visit www.torontojazz.com.
June 23 to July 3-Ottawa Jazz
Some of the artists scheduled to perform at this festival include: SHAD, Youssou N’Dour, Robert Plant & the Band of Joy, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, James Cotton, and Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. Visit ottawajazzfestival.com.
June 25 to July 4 – Montreal Jazz Festival
This is the 32nd edition of the festival, which takes place in downtown Montréal. The stellar line up includes: Sade with John Legend, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, Ben Harper, Miriam Makeba, Steel Pulse, Laila Biali Joshua Redman, Hugh Masekela, Kellylee Evans, Colin James, Return to Forever IV featuring Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Frank Gambale and Jean Luc Ponty and so many more legends, plus up and coming performers.
Visit www.montrealjazzfest.com.
July 1 Red White and Vinyl Festival – Toronto
This Canada Day party takes place in Woodbine Park and this year it will feature Dan Hill, Brass Transit, Alannah Myles, Andy Kim and Lighthouse. The evening finishes with a disco dance party and fireworks. Visit www.vinyl953.com/Events/RedWhiteVinyl.aspx.
July 5 to 17 Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest
Again, don’t let the name mislead you. Some of the acts scheduled to rock this festival are: Stephen Marley, Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin, Soundgarden, Tegan and Sara, Peter Frampton, John Fogerty, Joe Satriani and The Roots. Visit www.ottawabluesfest.ca.
July 15-24 Beaches International Jazz Festival- Toronto
Some of the acts you can see at the 23rd edition of the festival include: Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley, Marc Jordan and Amy Sky and the Rockit 88 Band. There will also be workshops and dance lessons, plus the Beaches Streetfest, July 21 to 23 from along Queen Street East between Woodbine Avenue and Beach Avenue. Visit www.beachesjazz.com.
July 21 to 24 Collingwood Elvis Festival 2011
Collingwood has quite the live music scene. This festival draws Elvis fans and impersonators from around the world. It features pub crawls, parties, a street dance, a gospel brunch competitions and other events. Visit www.collingwoodelvisfestival.com.
If you can’t see a band at one festival, fear not, it may be playing at another one on the circuit in the next city such as Ottawa or Montreal.
This list is by no means exhaustive. For more festivals visit www.ontariofestivalsvisited.ca/top_100.htm. You can stay abreast of these festivals by visiting artists’ and radio station websites.
So many bands so little time: enjoy the sweet sounds of summer.
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My ultimate favorite for this summer is Sade´s concert. I will definitely not miss a chance to see them perform live again at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
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