With January drawing to a close, it’s almost time to start looking ahead at the many Canadian music festivals that will be taking place in the warmer months.
Now it seems that there is much more large-scale festivals taking place in Canada than ever before with festivals becoming the perfect destination for music fans looking to see some of the world’s biggest names and even emerging stars.
From country, to blues, to hip hop, the options are endless. So in order to help you decide which grassy field you want to dance on, we’ve rounded up the must-see music festivals taking place across the country over the next few months.
British Columbia
Center Of Gravity
Location: Kelowna, BC.
Date: July 8th-10th
Dubbed as Canada’s hottest beach festival, Center of Gravity takes place in the middle of the beautiful Okanagan and is the biggest adrenaline fuelled sports and music festival and is back for its 9th year. Attendees can check out some of the biggest names in electronic music, then go watch some of the professional beach volleyball, basketball, wakeboarding, FMX, freestyle mountain biking, skateboarding, and BMX competitions.
Pemberton Music Festival
Location: Pemberton, BC.
Date: July 14th-17th
Pemberton Music Festival is four epic days filled with music, comedy shows, food and arts all at the base of beautiful Mt. Currie. While this year’s lineup hasn’t been released yet, we can only assume how incredible it will be. Last year attendees got to dance the weekend away to the sounds of Kendrick Lamar, The Black Keys, J. Cole, Tiesto, Missy Elliott and Weezer.
Squamish Valley Music Festival
Location: Squamish, BC.
Date: August 5th-7th
This is the biggest music festival to make its way into BC and because of that, the performers get better every year. While the lineup for this year has yet to be released, we can only assume that it’s going to be an epic weekend. Former headliners include: Drake, A$AP Rocky, Chance the Rapper, Schoolboy Q, Sam Smith, Mumford & Sons, Alabama Shakes, Death From Above 1979 and Mother Mother.
Calgary
Sled Island
Location: Calgary, AB.
Date: June 22nd-June 26th
Sled Island is a music and arts festival in Calgary that brings together bands, artists, comedians and film makers for an epic five day experience. Since 2007, Sled Island’s eclectic style and the city’s energy produces a one-of-a-kind festival experience.
Manitoba
Winnipeg Folk Festival
Location: Winnipeg, MB
Date: July 7th-10th
The Winnipeg Folk Festival is a culmination of everything great about Winnipeg’s local folk community. For four days every July, locals and travellers gather at Bird’s Hill Park to celebrate and enjoy exceptional music with friends and family. This year’s lineup has yet to be released but we can assure that this will be a cultural experience that you won’t want to miss.
Saskatchewan
Craven Country Jamboree
Location: Craven, SK.
Date: July 14th-17th
Self proclaimed as the “world’s greatest country music festival,” the Craven Country Jamboree brings together country music lovers from across North America. Located in Qu’Appelle Valley, this four day festival brings country music’s biggest and brightest stars to hit the stage. Over the years country music icons like Garth Brooks, Kenny Rogers, John Denver, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Kenny Chesney have performed.
Ontario
North By Northeast (NXNE)
Location: Toronto, ONT.
Date: June 15th-19th
NXNE is Toronto’s annual music and arts festival that focuses on music, film, comedy, art and digital media. This year will mark the 22nd annual NXNE and over the years Ludacris, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul, Billy Talent, Kid Kudi and Surfjan Stevens have been some of the talented acts to hit the downtown stages.
Escapade Music Festival
Location: Ottawa, ONT.
Date: June 25th-July 1st
Escapade Music Festival is Ottawa’s annual electronic dance festival that hosts some of the biggest names in the electronic dance music industry. World renowned DJs like Armin Van Buuren, Carl Cox, Ferry Corsten, Mark Knight and Borgeous have performed at Escapade in the past.
Ottawa Bluesfest
Location: Ottawa, ONT.
Date: July 7th-17th
Over the years, Bluesfest has evolved into a festival that attracts visitors from across the country. The festival was created to promote and sustain the evolving music industry. Each year some of the world’s greatest musical acts grace the stage, creating a life changing festival experience for all concert goers. Last year Kanye West, Jason Aldean, Iggy Azalea, The Tragically Hip, Keith Urban and Blue Rodeo were some of the guest performers.
Ottawa Tourism
Hillside Festival
Location: Guelph, ONT.
Date: July 22nd-24th
Hillside is a three day, five-stage event that focuses on diversity of culture, musical heritage and musical influence. This progressive festival features indie-rock, folk, hip-hop, blues, jazz, world, electronic, and reggae acts from across Canada and will be celebrating its 33rd anniversary this year.
WayHome Music Festival
Location: Oro-Medonte, ONT.
Date: July 22nd-24th
WayHome is a newer festival to make its way onto Canadian soil. WayHome focuses on bringing together the best musical talent, delicious food, and inspiring art and film, making it a place for people who love one or all of those things to come together. Last year rock legend Neil Young hit the stage, as well as notable performers Modest Mouse, Alt-J, Sam Smith, Hozier, and Vance Joy.
Boots And Hearts
Location: Oro-Medonte, ONT.
Date: August 4th-7th
Boots and Hearts is the largest country music festival of its kind to make its way into Canada. Country Veterans Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw,Dierks Bentley, and Diamond Rio will be hitting the stage. And country music hearth throbs Jake Owen, Sam Hunt, Chase Rice and Tim Hicks will also be making an appearance.
OVO Fest
Location: Toronto
Date: July (No specific dates confirmed yet)
Toronto’s very own Drake and music producer Noah “40” Shebib partnered up to bring Canada the biggest names in hip hop. The festival is held at the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre and has welcomed performances from such talent as Jay Z, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg and comedian Kevin Hart.
Quebec
Osheaga
Location: Montreal, QC.
Date: July 31st-August 2nd
With its numerous outdoor stages located at parc Jean-Drapeau on Montreal’s Saint Helen’s Island, Osheaga attracted more than 135, 000 music lovers from North America and Europe last year. Osheaga is dedicated to celebrating visual arts and music and has given itself the objective of discovering local and national emerging talent and offering them the opportunity to play alongside some of the biggest international artists in the business. According to Consequence of Sound, Radiohead will be making their debut performance at Osheaga and headlining the festival this year.
New Brunswick
Future Forrest
Location: Fredericton, NB.
Date: July 22nd-25th
Head deep into the woods and get lost as you enter a world of electronic music, art installations and make believe. When the party ends each night, don’t worry, the stages are set amongst the camping spaces so you can just stumble into bed.
Nova Scotia
Evolve Festival
Location: Antigonish, NS.
Date: July 8th-10th
This three-day festival is a celebration of music, culture and social awareness. Originally when the festival launched it featured local bands and performers, but now as the festival has grown, it attracts world-class performers from around the globe. Keys N Krates, Grand Theft, Grandmaster Flash, Classified, Pretty Lights and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are some of the performers that have hit the stage.
Pop Explosion
Location:
Date: Oct 18th-22nd
Halifax will host some of Canada’s biggest indie and alternative musicians, electronic DJs, and comics as part of the annual Halifax Pop Explosion. This festival is a showcase of local talent with national reach. Some of last years more notable performers included: Purity Ring, Travis Scott, Ryan Hemsworth, July Talk, Dear Rouge and Stars.
Prince Edward Island
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Location: Cavendish P.E.I
Date: July 8th-10th
Cavendish Beach Music Festival is P.E.I.’s hottest weekend of the summer. The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney and Old Dominion are some of the country acts that will be headlining, creating the perfect atmosphere to get you in the mood for some day drinking.
Newfoundland and Labrador
George Street Festival
Location: St. John, NL.
Date: July 28th-Aug 2nd
This year will mark the 32nd annual George Street Festival. This six day celebration invites Canadians to come check out the many restaurants and pubs that George Street is known for and then check out the amazing local and international performers. Last year City and Colour, Trooper, Classified and Blue Rodeo were some of the big names to make an appearance.
