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Music

Hillside Festival

HILLSIDE FESTIVAL at Guelph Island, Friday to Sunday, July 22 to 24.


Toronto has never quite figured out how to throw a great multi-day outdoor music festival, but luckily, the good old reliable Hillside Festival is nearby in Guelph. We’ve become so accustomed to exorbitant beer prices and corporate branding that it’s a shock to experience a fest run on volunteers, reusable cups and dishes, sustainable energy and good vibes, man.

Crowds were sparse on Friday, but Karkwa (NNNN) impressed by punching up their harmony-laden francophone indie rock with surprisingly muscular arrangements. The night’s other veteran Montreal band, the Dears (NN), followed with a monotonous, soporific set that would’ve been a better soundtrack to a daytime nap. Former Jurassic 5 MC Chali 2na (NNNN) woke the crowd from its slumbers with an upbeat set of solo originals, Jurassic 5 hits and snippets of older classics from the Jackson 5 to the B-52s.

Hillside relies less on bona fide “names” than on overall quality experience, a principle that was in full effect on Saturday as three of the fest’s higher-profile acts – Vancouverites Dan Mangan, Hannah Georgas and Mother Mother – played a loose, collaborative afternoon set (NNNN) before their individual mainstage performances.

Karkwa

Graeme Phillips

Over at the spoken word stage, Hollerado followed suit with One Hundred Dollars (NNN), but that low-key performance was nothing compared to their later one (NNNN) in the sweaty Island Stage tent. Hollerado’s populist, endlessly energetic show included everything from an Amy Winehouse cover (too soon?) to confetti cannons.

Dancing toddlers were a familiar sight around the island, but when legendary children’s performer Fred Penner (NNNNN) took the Lake Stage on Sunday, he was playing for the adults. With a schtick that drew on nostalgia (who can forget The Cat Came Back?) and cameos by Serena Ryder and Mangan, the iconic entertainer delivered an intergenerational celebration of childlike glee.

Shad (NNNN) packed a tent full of engaged fans, a few of whom rapped every word alongside the underrated Canadian MC from their perches atop the stage. His lyrics are some of the best in the game (it was great to hear the crowd cheer at every punchline) and he has the flow to match.

Sloan‘s (NNN) headlining status was more a curse than a blessing. Many had already bolted from the island by then, and the Canrock lifers were just hitting their stride when curfew rules cut their set short.

music@nowtoronto.com

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