Hillside Festival, Guelph

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The Hillside Festival is an annual three-day, five-stage summer festival occurring in Guelph, Ontario hosting musicians, spoken word artists, workshops and more. The Hillside Festival occurs in late July on an island in Guelph Lake.

1 History
2 Performers
3 Sponsors
4 External links

[edit] History

Hillside's first festival was on Saturday, July 14th, 1984. The Festival location moved from proposed Hillside farm site to Riverside Park Bandshell at the last minute. Admission was free and donations were taken. The Hillside Program was a single sheet photocopy folded in half, stating the event was an “11 hour music celebration for all ages Noon-11”

In 1985, fees were charged for the first time. The cost was only $5 advance, $6 at the gate, $4 unwaged. The event was held the same day as the Live Aid. The Guelph Food Co-op helped provide food to Hillside. The seven-act line-up included Common Ground, Tamarack, magician Tom Kubinek, The Reverbs, James Gordon and Aleod. All of the artisits performed “gratis”.

Billed as “small town integrity” including homegrown musical talent, craft display and wholesome foods the one day event was held on Saturday, July 19th, 1986. The music begins at 2pm so people had extra time to “get organized”. Workshops include topics like kayaking, angling and kite flying on the banks of the Speed River.

In 1987, The Hillside Festival moved to Guelph Lake Island and expanded from a one day event to a three-day event, with multiple stages, bands, and boths. Witht he move to Guelph Lake, camping became part of the experience. The first beer tent was also added ti the festival. With 110 volunteers, Hillside was incorporated as a non-profit group with a Board of Directors as well the festival joined the Ontario Coalition of Folk Festivals.

In 1988, Hillside turned 5, and the Main Stage is named Field Stage and Stages 1 and 2 become Brickhouse and Grove Stages. A Bus stop moved to the Stone Store from the Treanon, where this service started in 1987 and only costed $1 each way. The City of Guelph supplied Blue boxes for cans, glass and newsprint to make the festival environmentally responsible.

Hillside is labeled one of the reasons why Guelph is one of the “Top ten places to live in Canada” in 1989. The First Ontario Arts Council Grant and first City of Guelph Grant were givin to the festival this year as well. As well, Guelph Lake Park improved the water and electrical services to the island. Hillside membership was only $15.

The First sold-out Saturday night of Hillside happen in 1990. The Hillside Community Quilt, which was quilted during the festival, was raffled off onsite. The First map of how to get to Guelph Lake from out of town was also launched this year.

Poets were added in 1991 as well as putting the names in a hat and draw to see who plays together nicknamed "hat Bands". This was also the first time Hillside had something called the “Free for All” an after last performance (on Sunday) chance for festival-goers to share thoughts and ideas about the event.

In 1992, the lineup of bands become Notably larger. The Mainstage featcured “Drumming in Hillside at 11am on Saturday and Sunday”. The current Hillside logo was created in 1992 as well. The Solar Stage (Tree Stage) supplied by the Energy Action Council is now run on solar power. The Body, Mind and Spirit tent offers workshops.

Hillside celebrates its 10 year by adding an Environmental Expo. A Youth Committee, open to 16-to 20 year olds, is formed. They call themselves the “Tofu Love Punx”.

In 1994, the tickets include admission to the GRCA/Guelph Lake for the first time. There was over 400 volunteers a large increase from previous years. The program included food vendor menus. Youth bands chosen by peers perform short sets on Main Stage for first time.

Bike Lock-up and minor repairs offered by Speed River Bicycle in 1995. The price of pass was Early Birds $35, Advance $45. The festival had 450 volunteers and a $200,000.00 budget. This was also the first year the Hillside Survey was done to get feedback from patrons and volunteers on the festival.

Acoustic Guitar Magazine ranks Hillside as one of the top 25 festivals of North America in 1996 (with one of the smallest budgets in the business) Hillside adds aWatermelon-eating contest and Waste Management implements Guelph’s Wet/Dry program on the festival grounds.

In 1997, Fashion policeman O.J. Anderson walks around the Hillside site and hands out hilarious citations. Spoken Word and Hand Drumming are in the program and a Locksmith on site if keys get locked in car.

Website is launched in 1988. The cost for access to festival was Early Birds $45, Advance $55, $65 at gate. There was over 500 volunteers and over 40 acts.

Aboriginal Circle launched in 1999. The Evergreen Seniors Centre and Guelph-Wellington Seniors Associations celebrate the “International Year of the Older Person” by being at Hillside. A Major thunderstorm shuts down Main Stage forcing organizers to reschedule all Main Stage acts onto Island and Lake stages.

In 2000, the Hillside CD is released. It features a "musical snapshot” of live tracks from 1999 edition.. The Hillside T-shirt is unveiled and was made in Ontario from 100% organic cotton. The Hillside Youth Committee gets a tent to chill in for first time. There was over 800 volunteers.

In 2001, Performer’s merchandise is housed in a separate booth due to “unprecedented traffic and sales last year”. First year for hand drum check (lockup area)

Phase I of the permanent Hillside Community Stage is completed in 2002. All the weekend passes sold out this year and the number of volunteers goes 4 digits to over 1000.

20 years was celebrated in 2003 with a Year-round “Hillside presents…” events in the community. The Barenaked Ladies return to Hillside (first played in 1991) to inaugurate the Hillside Community Stage in a “Raise the Roof” fundraiser. The Roof goes up on the new permanent stage as well. Online ticket sales become a reality.

From 2004 to 2006 the festival had grown even more with more bands, boths and activities.

[edit] Performers

Musical guests in July, 2005 included:

Apostle of Hustle [1]
The Arcade Fire [2]
Les batinses [3]
The Be Good Tanyas [4]
Ridley Bent [5]
Geoff Berner [6]
Brinsley Forde, Jason Wilson & Sattalites [7]
Broken Social Scene
Buck 65 [8]
The Clumsy Lovers [9]
Crescent & Frost [10]
Cuff the Duke [11]
D.Rangers [12]
Dead Pete
Dya Singh [13]
Luke Doucet
FemBots [14]
Kevin Fox [15]
Gentleman Reg [16]
Eliza Gilkyson [17]
The Gruff [18]
Hamell on Trial [19]
The Hidden Cameras [20]
In Flight Safety [21]
John & The Sisters [22]
Michael Johnston [23]
the kramdens [24]
Jessica Leger
The Lowest of the Low [25]
Romi Mayes & The Temporarily Employed [26]
Erin McKeown [27]
The Most Serene Republic [28]
Nathan Coles Outfit [29]
Kelly Joe Phelps [30]
Ford Pier [31]
Po' Girl [32]
Lucía Pulido [33]
Paul Reddick [34]
Josh Ritter [35]
Sam Roberts [36]
Xavier Rudd [37]
The Salt Lick Kids [38]
Kate Schutt [39]
The Shiftless Rounders [40]
Sarah Slean [41]
Stars [42]
The Supers [43]
Ember Swift [44]
Tasa [45]
The Weakerthans [46]
Royal Wood [47]

Emcees for Hillside Festival 2005:

Michael Barclay of the CBC Radio show Brave New Waves
Chris Chanter of the Hillside Board and Artistic Committee
Carla Donnell of 1460 CJOY/Magic 106.1
Nicky Dread of CFRU 93.3FM
Jian Ghomeshi of CBC Radio
Helen Spitzer of CFRU 93.3FM
Bill Stunt CBC's Ontario Regional Music Producer
Jowi Taylor of CBC's radio show Global Village
Kevin Kelly of 1460 CJOY/Magic 106.1

Spoken word artists who performed in 2005:
Sandra Alland, Tunji Ashabo, Earth Medicine, Jen Evans, Feelix, Sarah Granskou, Mark Green, Dave Hudson, Michael Kleiza, James P. McAuliffe, Nancy Morrey, Sheila O'Hearn, Arun Pal, Robert Priest, Jason Schneider, Meghan Riley, Sheila M. Ross and Katherine van Lammeren.