Hillside Music Festival 2015

Hillside 2015: Heat, humidity, ethno-chaos, and peace!

Photography by Robert Portnoff

 

The 32nd edition of the Hillside Music Festival went off without any problems and had plenty of good vibes, good weather, and great music. Located in a picturesque provincial park just outside Guelph, Ontario, the three-day festival featured performers from Canada and around the world.
 
Michael Franti & Spearhead closed out the first night with a lively show that saw Mr. Franti spending as much time among the fans as he was on stage. Day two was punctuated by more great music and hot humid weather. One of the many highlights of the day were the Constantines who put on an energized performance that most definitely amped the hometown crowd.
 
There were many surprises during the festival, like the Mongolian heavy metal band Hanggai, who were referred to as the Chinese Iron Maiden with their blend of rock and traditional Mongolian music. Continuing on the world tour of music, we went down under with Perch Creek, who brought their own blend of roots music all the way from Melbourne Australia. Representing Eastern Europe was the group DakhaBrakha, whose four members combined to make what they call, "ethno-chaos".
 
Last year's Hillside fest saw the Grateful Dead tribute entitled, "What a Long Strange Trip It's Been", and with The Dead celebrating their 50th Anniversary earlier this summer, it was nice to see a sequel to last year's tribute with a jam between The Ever Lovin' Jug Band and Poor Man's Whiskey. The bands joined forces for a show that was labeled "The Sky Was Yellow and the Sun Was Blue", which is a lyric from the Grateful Dead song "Scarlet Begonias". They did not play that song for some reason, but they had the audience singing along to "The Weight" by The Band, and they finished the concert with a stellar version the Grateful Dead song "Ripple".

There was even a minor miracle during the fest when, on an oppressive hot and humid Sunday afternoon, a Toronto band named The Battle of Santiago got the crowd up on their feet dancing to their mix of Canadian and Latin beats. Then Sunday night and the festival ended on a more tranquil note when the Great Lake Swimmers were joined by the Guelph Suzuki Concorde String Ensemble for an intimate evening of music.


The sound of two hands clapping, during BadBadNotGood.

Darren Eedens from Cardiff, Wales showcases his take on honky tonk roots music.

Poor Man's Whiskey getting down on the main stage.

What the world needs now is more accordion music, rock on TriBeCaStan.

From the Ukraine DakhaBrakha.

Steve Lambke of the Constantines.

Some fans dancing a jig with Suzanne Jarvie on the main stage.

Two cool dudes from the Algerian band Tamikrest.

Daniel Lanois on the slide guitar.

Hamilton Ontario's own Terra Lightfoot stirring up some soul and blues.

Some young fans join Michael Franti on stage.

I didn't know there are Chicago Cubs fans in Australia. I was thus informed by Camilla Hodgkins from the band Perch Creek.

Some young fans enjoying the sounds of the Ever Lovin' Jug Band and Poor Man's Whiskey.

J. Bowman from the band Michael Franti and Spearhead wales on the guitar.

One of the highlights of the festival was the Swedish banjopunk band Baskery which consists of three sisters Greta, Stella and Sunniva Bondesson.

I guess some things are universal and some things not, member from the Mongolian band Hanggai.

Some days you just can't decide which pair of sunglasses to wear. Natalie Prass wooing the Hillside crowd.

Some cool lighting during the Great Lake Swimmers set. Tony Dekker in foreground on guitar, Erick Arnesen right on banjo and Bret Higgins left on upright bass.

Miranda Mulholland of the Great Lake Swimmers joined by the Guelph Suzuki Concorde Strings.

Michael Franti greeting the audience during his concert.

 

- -Don't fret! Brave New Jams is on the air with your host Clifton Hanger every Saturday at 10 PM on CJLO 1690AM and cjlo.com.