Hamilton’s Festival of Friends announced its lineup for its 50th edition
The Festival of Friends started as a smaller hippie-ish event in Hamilton in 1976. Despite all the challenges facing music festivals–especially one that doesn’t charge admission!–the event has lasted half a century. And it just keeps going.
The 50th annual Festival of Friends will be held from July 31-August 2 (the Ontario August long weekend) at Gage Park in the east end of the city. Here’s what we can expect.
Friday:
- Dallas Smith (former frontman of Default who has gone country, but will also play material from his old band)
- Tomi Swick
- The Redhill Valleys
- More TBA
Satuday:
- Feist
- Suzie McNeil
- More TBA
Sunday:
- The Pintos
- Great Lake Swimmers
- Sharon of Sharon, Lois, and Bran
The finale: An all-star celebration running almost three hours, featuring Chantal Kreviazuk, Maestro Fresh Wes, Brad Roberts of Crash Test Dummies, Marc Jordan, Dan Hill, Elliott Brood, Teenage Head, Ashley MacIsaac, Harrison Kennedy–a total of 20 artists–with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings serving as everyone’s back-up band.
There will also be a 150 vendors onsite, a midway, and things for kids to do.
Tickets? What tickets? It’s all free.
