Thanks to all the fans and the musicians and artists who shared their thoughts, feelings and photographs on their social media accounts and through the Hagersville Rocks official social media accounts. Sounds like Hagersville Rocks was a fabulous event and everyone who attended had a wonderful time.
Photo by Paul Barrie For The Sachem (no copyright infringement intended)
'Hagersville Rocks lives up to its name' 28 July 2015, by Jen Nevans, The Sachem. (no copyright infringement intended)
The stage was set for some of the nation’s top musicians as thousands of spectators made their way to Hagersville.
“We’re really excited,” said Tanya Ribbink, co-chair of the Hagersville Rocks committee.
Music fans filled Grant Kett Memorial Park on July 25 for the second annual Hagersville Rocks music festival. This year’s festival celebrated Canadian talent, including a performance by Haldimand musician Mark LaForme, known for touring with the late Stompin’ Tom Connors.
LaForme warmed up the crowd early Saturday afternoon, as a sea of fans sang and danced to the music.
Some spectators set up lawn chairs close to the action, while others reserved shaded spots on a hill overlooking the concert field. Drinks were flowing, along with high spirits and, of course, music.
The festival also featured Ally Howatt from Caledonia, the McCartney Years, the Practically Hip, Dry County and headliners Alan Doyle and Tim Hicks.
The committee’s goal was to attract 5,000 concertgoers, an ambitious target for the second annual event. But the group definitely saw new faces in the crowd this year.
“We can monitor our sales online,” Ribbink said. “There has been a sale from Barrie and a sale from Sarnia. There are some people coming from Ottawa. Definitely we’ve reached out a little more and the hope is that it grows each year.”
With Tim Hicks from the St. Catharines area, Ribbink also expected many spectators from Niagara Region.
The second annual Hagersville Rocks festival is now over, but the concert committee, which consists of 15 local residents, is already looking to plan next year’s event.
“We’ll have a wrap-up meeting next week and then we’ll be starting again the following week,” Ribbink said.
‘Just an Ordinary Day’ for Alan Doyle: Great Big Sea frontman reflects on lifetime of music ahead of Hagersville Rocks Tuesday, July, 21, 2015, by Shawn Smith, The Sachem (no copyright infringement intended)
You might be lead to think that Alan Doyle’s life has slowed down since Great Big Sea’s last record in 2010.
You’d be wrong.
Things haven’t slowed down for the 46-year-old. In the five years since Great Big Sea, Doyle has released two solo albums, including January’s So Let’s Go. He’s also written a book, acted and toured extensively. On July 25, Doyle will bring his unique mix of Celtic, traditional rock to Hagersville Rocks as the event’s headlining act.
Doyle recently spoke to the Sachem from his Newfoundland cabin, where he was staying for a few days before embarking on the next leg of his tour.
“I was in Europe last week, playing festivals in Germany and France,” Doyle said. “I’m home for a few days, then off to Prince Edward Island. From there I head up your way in a few weeks.”
For nearly 20 years, Doyle enjoyed success as part of Great Big Sea, one of Canada’s most well-known acts. Their song “Ordinary Day” is a virtual Canadian anthem of sorts, and helped establish them as a must-see act across Canada and the world. Doyle says that even on his most recent tour of Europe, people were familiar with him.
“There is a built in folk music audience in lots of parts of Europe,” Doyle said. “They have an awareness of Celtic music, they know who I am over there.”
Doyle has been without the act that made him famous now for five years, something that has been both exciting and terrifying for the frontman.
“You go out with Great Big Sea, you have this wave of two decades behind you; when you go out on your own, you are trying to bring that with you as much as you can,” Doyle said. “You’re also bringing something new to people. It’s always thrilling to be out there without a net, sort of.”
Doyle isn’t afraid to tout being a small town boy from a fishing village in Newfoundland, but he’s also very much a rock star. It’s clear he likes the attention that comes with being one of Canada’s most recognizable voices. It doesn’t mean he’s egotistical or unfriendly, just that he’s aware of his abilities and the importance of what he’s doing.
“Everywhere I go is a big town to me,” Doyle said, laughing. “I have a big and deep respect for small places and for rolling into a town and being what’s going on in town that night. You can’t do that in a bigger city like New York or Toronto, there’s just too much going on. I love being the tour bus that rolls into town and everybody notices it.”
Today, Doyle’s live act is a mix of his new songs and hits from the Great Big Sea’s catalogue. Having started in clubs with his uncles at 13, Doyle’s ability to read a crowd is what sets him apart as a performer.
“Your job as a performer is to read what the night wants and give it to them, I love that part of it,” Doyle said. “Sometimes you’ll go on stage and have a set of barnburner drinking songs ready to go and you get out there and realize it’s more of a listening, folky audience. Other times you go out and realize it’s a rock and roll crowd and it is all barnburner songs.”
It might be ordinary day for Doyle, but it’ll be a special event when his bus pulls into town for Hagersville Rocks on July 25.
For more information or to get tickets, visit www.hagersvillerocks.com.
