Matthew Good and Wintersleep might get the headlines, but they’re only a small fraction of the dozens and dozens of artists performing this weekend at Riverfest.
This year marks the eighth year for the Elora music festival. Artistic director Jon Ralston says the lineup includes representation from almost every province – although that’s just a coincidence.
“We didn’t set out trying to do that, but it is very cool that it worked out that way,” he said Saturday.
What was more intentional was signing up musicians with a wide range of styles. Ralston says this year’s “eclectic” lineup features everything from jazz to folk, and from hip hop to electro-funk.
“You’ve got all of these different styles happening, but none of them clash with each other,” he said.
Among Saturday’s performers was Alexandria Maillot, a singer-songwriter who travelled from Vancouver by train for Riverfest and other gigs in southern Ontario with her band.
It was a five-day trip, punctuated by three daily performances on the train.
“I would highly recommend it for any artists that want to get across the country,” she said.
The trip was part of Via Rail’s “Artist on Board” program, which is open to all Canadian professional musicians.
With reporting by Victoria Levy
