Another Success For Kemptville Live

Another successful and very fun Kemptville Live Music Festival is in the books. This festival just seems to get better each year.

It was a long wait from the time of lineup announcements to the actual opening of the festival. I looked forward to it after learning of the lineup. They certainly gave us some great moments this year!

The biggest thing you notice about this festival is the laid-back atmosphere. Everyone is happy and friendly and just having a good time. As you walk around the property, you run into people you met in previous years and you end up catching up just like old friends. There is a mix of all ages who attend and they’re all there for one reason……the music. The volunteers are a wonderful group of people who work tirelessly to help with the many details of running a great festival and deserve a huge shout out! Bob, Karen and the whole crew……. thank you!

Sadly, I missed the opening night on Thursday due to family obligations, but they tell me it went extremely well with Southbound and Dime Store Playboys opening the festival for David Wilcox and Kim Mitchell. Kim was scheduled to play last year but was forced to pull out due to health problems. He is feeling good now and it’s good that he is back onstage doing what he does best.

Friday was day 2 of the festival and was kicked off by a band called River City Junction and to say they impressed me would be an understatement. The band is made up of Caroline Addison on drums and vocals with her husband Jason Fryer on guitar and Tommy Joanisse on bass. Caroline’s ability to sing while playing the drums is rare, but she does it so well. Her voice is nothing short of amazing, with just enough gravel  and she sings with such feeling while making it look so effortless.

The biggest excitement in the crowd was for Steve Earle, the headliner for the evening. Steve has created a huge following with his music. Besides his own albums, he has written many songs that have been recorded by a long list of other artists. It’s funny but when an act like Steve comes onstage, you can see why they are where they are. The many years of experience in the business does indeed show up on the stage!

Saturday morning, day 3, we were looking at another hot day but there was also a possibility of rain. Rain isn’t the best news for an outdoor music festival, but you hope for the best, right? The lineup for the day had a couple of pleasant surprises for me. Pride Be Damned was one of them. They opened the day and kicked butt! They played a set with some covers of some great stuff including The Hip, what could be more fitting for a Canadian music festival? The lead singer, Dave McColloch is a great front man and even in the unbearable heat he gave us a show. At one point he even ventured into the audience and took a seat while doing a perfect version of The Hip’s Courage. What a way to start the day!

Another surprise was a band made up of teenagers called Five + None. Some might think a bunch of teenagers would be out of place in a festival like this……you would be extremely wrong. These kids know their stuff and blew people away! They play way beyond their years, not only covers but also their own music. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this amazing group of young people.

The only hiccup of the festival came part way through The Leslie Rohonczy Band’s set when mother nature decided to take over. It was announced that they were powering down due to a strong storm in the region. They tarped everything, shut up the front of house and instructed people to find shelter due to possible lightning and high winds. When doing outdoor festivals you must expect at least a little inclement weather, but this summer I have experienced more than my share.

After a relatively short period of rain, winds and some lightning, the music resumed with RedFox, a repeat performance in Kemptville after their great set last year. They were originally an acoustic folk act but have transformed into an interesting indie band. Their use of fiddle and banjo help to give them a more unique sound which allows Daphne Vandal’s powerful voice to shine.

What can you say about headliner George Thorogood that hasn’t already been said? His music is timeless, it’s just as good today as the day it was written. He mixes some old blues standards such as Move it on Over and House Renters Blues with his own originals, all with that one of a kind guitar sound that we know so well. George’s special boogie-blues style has been the soundtrack for the lives of so many since he came onto the scene in the mid seventies. Songs like I Drink Alone and Bad To The Bone and are staples for so many people. George is also one of the great showmen of this era, he knows how to work a crowd. From the moment he walks onstage, you just can’t take your eyes off him, he is one of the greats!

The last day of the festival, Sunday greeted us with sunny, clear skies but the heat was still hanging on. 40+ degree humidex was the norm for the weekend. When we weren’t shooting, we were hiding backstage in the shade drinking cold water. For the roasting crowds that couldn’t get out of the sun, the Fire Department brought a couple of ladder trucks round and were helping by providing a misting for folks to cool off a little. There were also stations located in the main field where people could fill water bottles free of charge. I watched some people fill their bottles and immediately pour it over themselves in the hope of cooling off.

This day was reserved for a trip down memory lane for the older fans. We were set to see The Stampeders, Chilliwack and April Wine. Canadian rock royalty! I might add in one more band if I could, but this was a great lineup. The Stampeders were the band that I hadn’t seen before. How did I grow up in Canada and never see this band? It was special photographing these legendary guys, the originals, Kim Berly, Rich Dodson and Ronnie King. The Stampeders were a household name in the seventies and were the biggest Canadian concert draw from ’71-’74. After a few lineup changes followed by a hiatus, they got back together in 1992 and have never looked back. It was great to see them after all these years.

Another piece of Canadian musical history was next to play. Chilliwack provided a string of hits after forming in 1969. There might be a lot more gray hair these days (myself included), but Bill Henderson still has it. He was known for his higher singing voice, something that still exists today. It was a pleasure to have the privilege to watch these guys work.

April wine was another important piece of the Canadian musical scene since the seventies. They have gone through a lot of lineup changes over the years, but Brian Greenway and Myles Goodwyn have been constants since 1977. Currently the lineup is completed with Richard Lanthier on bass and Roy Nichol on drums. These guys make it look easy as they walk through hit after hit, songs that you might have even forgotten about till you hear them again. The crowd in Kemptville was thrilled to hear April Wine and were singing along and dancing throughout the whole show. Even after all these years, music lives on.

Another wonderful weekend listening to some great music with friends in Kemptville! Thanks so much to all the staff. Bob, Karen and ALL the volunteers, you do it right.

Organizers of Kemptville Live are expanding with a second festival in August in Smiths Falls, Ontario! Live At The Falls runs August 16 and 17 and features some of the best live blues music around including a headlining performance from Colin James. Full details and tickets can be found here: https://latf.ca/

 

 

Five + None

Southbound

David Wilcox

Kim Mitchell

River City Junction

Steve Stacey

Fred Eaglesmith

Steve Earle

Leslie Rohonczy

RedFox

Steve Strongman

George Thorogood

The Stampeders

Cilliwack

April Wine