By Will McGuirk
With frost behind us and warm evenings on the horizon, thoughts turn once again to festival season yay!!. So many great memories of Mariposa, Hillside, River & Sky, and Springtide up in Uxbridge. There really is nothing like live music under the stars.
Springtide beckons first. It takes place in multiple venues in downtown Uxbridge, ON running June 6 through 8 2024. The festival leans into diversity in its programming and this year is exceptionally so and worth noting.
All kinds of hate, both subtle and overt exists everywhere. Small Town Ontario can be very small c conservative, patriarchal and wary of difference. Yet Uxbridge has embraced this festival which brings voices which are all kinds of difference to the streets and stages. It may be the town’s own heritage as outsiders, founded as it was by Quakers, which makes it, ah different.
JUNO winners Good Lovelies open Springtide with a performance at the Uxbridge Music Hall. Mimi O-Bonsawin and Alannah Kemp will open.
Begonia, and Carsie Blanton, the first American act to play the fest, now in its fifth year, are the headliners but it is stacked to the rack with fab acts, many of them from the town’s vibeful music scene; Adrian Sutherland, Aphrose, Arlene Paculan, Barbra Lica, Band of Weeds, Barn Cat, Ben Kunder, Beyond the Depth, Brian Wride, Brodie Bell, Conor Gains, David Owen, Dawna Marie & The Slim Pickins, deepsix, Em&Em, Else Langhans, EQUAL, Erin Blackstock, fxrrvst, Gravely, Heavy Head, Hollowsage & The Three Mile Islanders, Jerome Tucker Band, Jitensha joshua, Jude Veens, Julia Middleton, Julien Kelland, Kendall Lily, Land Heart Song, Larra Skye, Luke Wallace, Melissa Payne, Minuscule, Mip Power Trio, Moonfruits, Noise Hotel, Päter, Peter Clarke, Rebekah Hawker, RedFox, Rory Taillon, Rudi Urbach, Sarah Beatty, Stephen Stanley & Chris Bennett, Tamara Williamson, TBD (that’s the name), Tennyson King, The 12th Man, The Colton Sisters, The Wanted, Tiger Balme, Tom Hanley, VOODOO Pawn Shop, Wavy Dave Haines, and Whitney Ross-Barris.
Weekend and day passes are available now with free admission for children under 12 accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Passes are available for purchase here.