Springtide Music Festival: A community in celebration

Will McGuirk

A lineup of acts as strong as Springtide (there are over 70) necessitates some planning to ensure you don’t miss a note.

At the core of Springtide, a music festival which runs July 21 to 23 in the Township of Uxbridge, is a community; an arts and music community which, with this annual festival, celebrates first and foremost its local voices using intimate, locally owned venues throughout the downtown. Restaurants, pubs, parks, sidewalks, the Music Hall, and even a bookstore, will host events at this family-friendly festival.

Springtide Music Festival will welcome Bedouin Soundclash after a ten-year hiatus. The Indie rock reggae outfit are on the road again, creating new tunes and making a stop at the opening celebrations at Uxbridge Music Hall on Thursday, July 21, along with two-time Juno award nominee, Julian Taylor, and two-time Oshawa Music Award winner, Tania Joy.

Friday kicks off in the evening with a Youth Stage and an Author’s Stage at Blue Heron Books, featuring The Tragically Hip biographer, Michale Barclay, reading from his latest book, ‘Hearts on Fire’—a history of the early years of the Canadian Indie scene.

Woman wearing Springtide Music Festival t-shirt
Source: Springtide Music Festival

A lineup of acts as strong as Springtide (there are over 70) necessitates some planning to ensure you don’t miss a note. You could start with the early evening local acts at Wixan’s Bridge and Urban Pantry, and end with the fine storytelling of Spencer Burton at Blue Heron Books. Follow it up with the charming Danny Michel at the Uxbridge Legion for a fun and informative night out.

Saturday was made for camping out at the mainstage in Centennial Park. Originally, the Second Wedge Brewery was to host the outdoor mainstage as it was the music hub of the town. However, because of unremitting damage to the building due to the tornado in May, that stage was moved to accommodate performances by Ellevator, Goodnight Sunrise, Housewife, Jeremy Fisher, Skye Wallace, and Alysha Brilla. Next, I’d shift it over to the Legion for a showcase of two of this country’s finest singers and songwriters; Jerry Leger and the Situation, followed by Stephen Stanley, formerly of Lowest of the Low. Mic drop, goodnight!

You could devise an alternative list of to-be-seen performers, featuring I, The Mountain, Boy Golden, Elliott Brood, Abigail Lapell, Kingdom of Birds, and Lindy Vopnfjord. In fact, the Springtide lineup is of such quality that you won’t walk away disappointed, no matter which route you choose. As I know the town well, if you choose to return next week, next month or even in the winter, I guarantee you’ll experience all of the same vibes. Springtide is a single weekend event, but the celebration of local art, music, culture and community continues year-round in Uxbridge.

Learn more about the Springtide festival at their website: SpringtideMusicFestival.com