Summer Concert Guide for Eastern Ontario
Summer Concert Guide for Eastern Ontario
By Stuart “ Roadie” Roberts
If you’re planning a music festival escape, there is no finer place to head to than eastern Ontario. Our friends at The Photo Roadies have assembled a guide to some great Summer Festivals and concert destinations that’ll make your summer rock, leave your country heart filled and satisfied, with many music options and genres to consider.
It’s a short drive to Peterborough, where Music Fest hosts a free music series at McCrary Park in July and August with Serena Ryder, GOB, Choir Choir Choir scheduled to make an appearance. On your way east, and a short drive from Peterborough, you could consider the Warkworth Music Fest for some tribute fun or plan a stop in Hastings for country music at the Crooks Rapid Country Fest.
When you hit the turn for Belleville, you might consider the Empire RockFest on July 25 and 26 for a two day concert event in downtown Belleville with David Wilcox, Trooper, Arkells and Lights. Drive up Highway 37 ten minutes and take a right down Harmony Road to the Hollyrood Jamboree where they have two country festivals this year. If you venture north up Highway 62 to Stirling, Ontario – Millpond Music and Entertainment have two 50’s-60’s-70’s Music Festivals in the works (July and September) and a country music festival in August.
If you follow all the directions to hit the beach at the Sandbanks in Prince Edward County, you’ll undoubtedly hear about Base31, a fresh entertainment and cultural attraction in Picton. This year’s concert lineup features Blue Rodeo, Dean Brody, I Mother Earth, Mariannas Trench, and Charlotte Cardin are already on the venue schedule.
As you get closer to Kingston, The Voodoo Rockfest in Odessa has become an indie rock tradition for ten years running. This year they have One In The Chamber, Vivienne Wilder plus tributes to Alice In Chains and Jimi Hendrix. Fifteen minutes north of Kingston on Highway 38 with a quick right to Sydenham, you’ll find Line Spike Frontenac where this first time festival has Burton Cummings, Walk Off The Earth, Chantal Kreviazuk and Tom Green confirmed to appear. Taking highway two from Ktown towards Gananoque, it’s the Howe Island Rockin’ The Rock where The Box is this year’s headline artist. The 1000 Island Regatta in Brockville where you can cool off by the water watching hydroplane boat races has a music stage with Honeymoon Suite, Road Apples (Tragically Hip tribute) and Shania Twin (Shania tribute) ready to warm up the Canada Day long weekend.
The Ottawa Bluesfest returns in July with ten days of headline entertainment. This festival, now in its 41st year and located at LeBreton Flats, has Green Day, Def Leppard, Sean Paul, Shania Twain, Tom Morello and a list of touring music attractions and area entertainers too long to list here.
Up the Trans-Canada Highway 17, west of Ottawa, in a short 90 minute travel time it’s the debut of the Ottawa Valley Music Stomp in the Pembroke – Petawawa area. This new festival relives Ottawa Valley history with Lumberjack competitions, add in a Butter Tart contest, a “Hot Wheels” Classic Car show and some quality food vendors from Rib fests and Poutine Festivals. Music will be off the classic rock charts with Honeymoon Suite, The Box, and The Mudmen and others all ready to go!
Let’s face it! It’s time to break out of the metropolitan grind, explore some more of Canada, and eastern Ontario is just a couple of hours away on Google maps. Many of these festivals have camping available, and that’s how you plan an entertaining vacation tariff free!
For all the festival event links and more details, visit our friends at The Photo Roadies and their Summer Concert Guide at: https://www.thephotoroadies.ca/summer-concert-guide.html
