The Next Generation
Issue 3 Volume 2
After a brief hiatus and a bad case of writer’s block, the Fredericton Word is back! (and as always, we are looking for different voices to join me in this forum to write about what you are passionate about in this city. Email me if interested.
FOMO and the Next Generation
I awoke from my writing slumber on September 1st with the excitement for something new. September always brings new starts, back to school, end of work vacations, the latest Toronto Blue Jays collapse and changing temperatures. But for me, September is Harvest Music Festival season, and it’s right around the corner.
Harvest Festival is in its 35th year, but to me it feels like it’s not the festival of yore, this is not your father’s Harvest Jazz and Blues. If possible, this might be the most exiciting festival yet, not because of the amazing acts and shows (which are first class as always) not because of the incredible free experiences they keep delivering year over year but because it appears Harvest is soley focused on being sustainable for years to come and to be THE can’t miss September concert experience in the Maritimes (F$%k Sommo, pick a new weekend).
Let’s take a look at what is new, different and exciting about the next generation of Harvest.
What’s New
Go big or go home
For the first time, Harvest is introducing its largest venue to date, a 5000-person giant tent in the spectacular Officers Square. In order to continue to attract world-class artists and performers, Harvest had to up its main venue game in order to compete with larger festivals that have popped up in the region.
Here’s the rub, Fredericton, if you want bigger acts you have to be able to fill a tent for the acts that are booked.
Call to Action
Harvest patrons want bigger acts. A bigger venue allows for bigger names. Here’s the rub Fredericton, if you want bigger acts you have to be able to fill a tent for the acts that are booked.
Melissa Etheridge and Indigo Girls sold out a 10000-seat venue in Bangor last week in a city with the same population as Fredericton. Yet for some reason, Harvest is yet to sell out the same show in a 5000 person venue. Put your money where your mouth is Fredericton and be a part of the next generation of Harvest shows.
Imagine 5000 people in the TD Tent in downtown Fredericton singing in unison to Closer to Fine
Rum! Vodka! Gin! Whisky!
The four major food groups are back at Harvest. Once again, Harvest listened to its patrons and their feedback and brought back liquor to its traditional bar offerings. Taking things one step further, they sourced a local craft distillery, Black Galley, to provide quality products in the TD Officers Square tent (another benefit of having one larger venue). See you at the bar.
Chit Chat
Talking during a concert performance is rude and is the biggest pet peeve from past festivals. This year, the new layout in Officers Square is designed to mitigate the hum of people catching up like it’s old home week. The bar tents, the merch tent, the token tents will be outside the main tent, which will hopefully reduce the background noise in the big performance area. (When in doubt, take your conversation outside and grab another beer)
Local Local Local
In addition to Black Galley Spirits, Harvest bars will be offering First Light seltzers, Graystone beer, Trailway beer all locally owned and brewed (in addition to its traditional Coors and Molson products)
Local and Free
As always, the things you love about Harvest haven’t changed; they have only gotten better. Check out the lineup of free shows focusing on New Brunswick talent. I recommend you check out Ella Campbell and Chickahominy Mountain Band. The entire Tannery series is legit. A music festival of its own with a big line up including a friend of The Fredericton Word, Waylon Napadogan; Kill Chicago, and Grand Theft Bus as must sees/listens
What’s the Same?
The free street experience, the Barracks tent, the Playhouse and Wilmot church will still offer the same eclectic mix of accessible and cost-effective shows.
The mix of genres, styles, and artists are too much to list here but take a look at the various options taking place this year from September 9th to 14th. Some tickets are as low as $15
The F Word Staff Picks
The Fredericton Word staff has listened to countless hours of music since March and has the following suggestions for can’t-miss acts (click the photos for details). You can thank us later.
Must must must see. They don’t come to Canada often (ever?). Their summer has included a 4-hour super set at Madison Square Garden (defying local concert rules in the process) and opening for Dave Matthews Band at the Gorge this past weekend.
Everyone knows their songs and their music but everyone doesn’t know the band. Thanks to their singles playing on many television series episodes, once you hear their lyrics and melodies, you will be “yeah I know that song!”.
Exhibit A: Rivers and Roads
The Revivalists (but also Grace Bowers)
There is a reason the Revivalists keep coming back. They are in my top 5 Harvest shows of all time). The big bonus is that Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge are opening this show which could be one of those, “were you there when guitar prodigy Grace Bowers blew the roof off the tent?”
I can’t begin to describe them other than vibes. All the vibes
Support your local music festival
Enjoy it! Invite a friend. Buy a ticket. This is our festival, let’s keep it around for another 35 years.
Great post. Solid, thoughtful look at Harvest. When you mentioned the Revivalists as one of your top 5 Harvest shows, it got me reflecting on my top 5. Without overthinking it: Larkin Poe, Royal Southern Brotherhood, Matt Andersen, Luke Nelson, and Ana Popovic. There were many others, including some absolutely great soul singers but names escape me. Be interesting to see who others consider their favourites. You know, if the conversation were to take that route.
Have loved the Revivalists since their first time at Harvest when nobody knew who they were.
Really, really wish patrons would shut the eff up during shows - it seems to be getting worse every year. It's a roar of background noise unless you are directly in front of the stage, and really impacts performers when they're not maxing the volume.