Best of the Fest’
MUSICwestport 2016 was a smash hit! Thanks to the musicians, our street festival vendors, sponsors, venues, the village, our volunteers and, of course, everyone who came out to enjoy the music. See you all next year!
MUSICwestport 2016
You’ve all been waiting…
MUSICwestport is back and the 2016 edition will rock your socks! With new bands and returning favourites, a fresh new venue, a street festival, kids zone, and a special kick-off event, the sky’s the limit for our 10th year of music.
19 August: Kick-Off Party featuring MonkeyJunk
Limited tickets $20 – The Cove
20 August: MUSICwestport Open Air Music Festival
FREE! – Two Outdoor Stages in Westport – Street Festival
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2014 MUSICwestport Festival Recap
Just before the rain, there was Montreal’s Sunfields.
What a weekend!
The MUSICwestport Open Air Festival showcased 8 bands on two stages and hosted visitors from the Philippines, Germany, France, New York, Boston, all across Canada and, of course, many proud locals.
The festival actually kicked off the night before at The Cove with a special performance from Montreal’s H’SAO to a sold out crowd. The award-winning African group set an energetic tone for the weekend with their enticing choreography and alluring vocal harmonies.
The morning started off in mother nature’s good graces as the sun shone for the finals of the VOICE of the Rideau singing competition where winners Stephanie Doornekamp, Luke Young, Madison Miernik and Jillian Texeira were crowed in their respective age categories.
Taking to The Cove stage sponsored by Jake By The Lake next was the crowd favourite of the weekend: Bob Burtch Bluegrass Band. The Canadian mandolin legend and his band played classic bluegrass under the sun while on the Artemesia Spring Street stage a few blocks over Mikey and The Reelers entertained crowds with their hilarious, high energy rock and roll.
In between the two stages, crowds were also treated to the ever-growing Spring Street Fair showcasing localartists and family friendly activities, including entertainment from interactive puppeteers. The live pottery demonstration was popular with the crowd, as was the return of the WAC bean bag toss challenge.
Hot electric jazz from Kevin Warren East West Project followed on Spring Street while, last minute additions to the line-up, Sunfields rocked The Cove stage with their quirky rock and catchy lyrics. As the dark clouds began to gather overhead, Drumhand‘s hypnotizing mix of Brazilian, African, Cuban and Indian rhythms kept the crowds entranced despite the drizzle but when the rain started to really pour audiences and bands alike began scattered to find shelter. A mass group effort from volunteers (including members of Sunfields, thanks guys!) helped move artists, amps, and audiences to alternate venues.
Plan B: Alex the Folk Band at Church Street Bakery.
For the first time in its eight year history, MUSICwestport continued indoors but no one missed a beat.
Crowded into the inviting Church Street Bakery with warm tea and cookies, Alex the Folk Band kept the music going while a drenched Miss Emily and her loyal listeners set up inside The Cove. For the first time in its eight year history, MUSICwestport proceeded indoors but no one seemed to miss a beat. The festival day closed with the building sounds of New Country Rehab who ended the day on energetic musical high.
Thanks goes out to all the rain-soaked volunteers who worked like a well-oiled machine to move artists and amps alike into dryer locations and the spectators who followed the music. Special thanks to all of our generous sponsors who made the festival possible and continue to believe in the arts and WAC.
For more photos, visit the WAC Facebook page.
All donations collected over the weekend will go towards the WAC youth initiative to bring artists of all mediums into our local schools.
2014 MUSICwestport Festival Line Up
Catch H’Sao at the Kick-Off Party, August 15 at The Cove.
Get ready! MUSICwestport is proud to announce the 2014 festival line up boasts a far ranging selection from bluegrass to country to rock and roll. Hosted on two outdoor stages in beautiful downtown Westport, the afternoon of free music runs from noon until 6pm on August 16. Don’t forget to join us for the kick-off party featuring Montreal-based H’SAO at The Cove on the evening of the 15th.
For more information or to listen to any of the bands, click the provided links.
H’SAO
Kick-Off Party, The Cove, August 15. Drawing from gospel, traditional African music, as well as their Chadian roots, Montreal-based H’sao display clear soul, pop, and R&B influences.
Kevin Warren Quartet
A November 2010 tour to France, Italy and Belgium with the Rafael Zaldivar Trio marked the trio’s establishment as rising Canadian Jazz artists. In 2011, Kevin was awarded the TD Grand Jazz Award at the 2011 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Alex The Folk Band
Alex the Folk Band is an eight-member, music-making cooperative that specializes in harmony vocals and fiddle-based instrumentals. The Orillia-based group has performed in concert for over 20 years. The band’s repertoire ranges from traditional tunes and songs to contemporary roots-based material, and their rousing gospel set has been featured twice at the John Arcand Fiddle Fest in Saskatoon.
Sunfields
“Sunfields sound like Wilco making out with Tom Petty in the back of Neil Yong’s van, while listening to Sparklehorse and dreaming of The Beatles.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Montreal based Sunfields came together in 2009 but three of their four members have been playing music on and off together since they were teenagers, romping through their parents’ vinyl collection. Their songs draw on dreamy lyrics, disarming melodies, moody instrumentation and sonic undercurrents with elements of folk, indie rock and psychedelic undertones. Watch out Westport, here comes the Sun…Bob Burtch Bluegrass
Despite spending much of the last 70+ 
years playing the mandolin, Newboro area native Bob Burtch hasn’t lost that gleam in his eye when it comes to music. Burtch was born in Elgin and grew up near Crosby where he got into music at an early age. By the time he was 10 he was playing in a country band and by the time he was 14 he had his own, The Pacesetters, and they lasted 20 years.
years playing the mandolin, Newboro area native Bob Burtch hasn’t lost that gleam in his eye when it comes to music. Burtch was born in Elgin and grew up near Crosby where he got into music at an early age. By the time he was 10 he was playing in a country band and by the time he was 14 he had his own, The Pacesetters, and they lasted 20 years.Burtch got to test his talents with some Nashville musicians when he met up with Jesse and Jim McReynolds of the Virginia Boys. They invited him to play at a wedding for Mike Scott, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and they stayed close after that. Their influence was part of the reason Burtch started playing more bluegrass along with the country staples.
Emily Fennell
Miss Emily is a truly gifted singer. Her voice is rich and soulful – she can slip from sweet and seductive to commanding and fierce and back again in the tradition of the finest blues and soul singers. –Rob Baker (The Tragically Hip)
In 2011 Kingston based ‘Miss Emily‘ received accolades from Gene Simmons (KISS) & Matt Wells (MuchMoreMusic), played to 25,000 people alongside The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts Band & The Trews in Bobcaygeon.
Mikey & The Reelers
What started out as a bit of fun four years ago has turned into more of the same for Westport’s Mike Cochrane and his fellow angler-musicians. Mikey and the Reelers, and their self-titled album of fun fishing songs, is the result of playing, angling and the occasional pint. The album’s contributors got to know each other through years of membership in the exclusive Gan Fishing Club and the impromptu group released their album last year. CBC Radio listeners will be familiar with Peter Elkas, who joins them on the album, and brings to the band and extensive music background. Ryan Myshrall, who also contributes on the album, is an accomplished professional bass player, studio and touring musician. Catch (get it?) a listen here.
Drumhand
Propelled by a steamroller of percussion and energized by jazz horns, Toronto’s Drumhand draws inspiration from the danceable circuitous rhythms of hot climates from Bahia, Brazil to Ghana, West Africa and from India to New Orleans. Listen here.
Westport Arts Council 