Tourism Archives - Springtide Music Festival

Everything You Need To Know About Springtide Part 1!

We are one week away from Springtide Music Festival 2023 so here’s everything you need to know about this year’s festival–buckle up!

Springtide 2023 runs Friday, June 9th to Sunday, June 11th with multiple venues and stages across Downtown Uxbridge, featuring a wide range of Canadian musicians. This means you get access to tons of live music to choose from all weekend long!

Outdoor Main Stage
After their post-tornado rebuild, The Second Wedge Brewing Co. is back as the hosts of our Outdoor Main Stage. The full stage set up will be located next to the shiny, new brewery building and is where you will catch acts like festival headliners, The Sadies on Springtide Saturday, and viral TikTok star Billianne on festival Sunday.

Festival Trolley
If you’re from Uxbridge, you’ve likely seen the antique Town Trolley driving around town for special occasions and events! On Friday evening and Saturday evening from 6pm to Midnight the trolley will maintain a continuous loop around Uxbridge to making stops at local neighborhoods and festival venues for folks to catch all the music they want in a timely ‘hop on’ and ‘hop off’ fashion. This unique shuttle experience is the perfect way to get you around town, and save you the need to bring your car! Watch for the Trolley Signs along the festival route! The full route can be found on our website at springtidemusicfestival.com

Youth Stage, Kids Social and more!
Along with our awesome musical performances, Springtide is excited to share some exciting workshops and activities for kids!

Our young, budding talent will be sharing their musical skills on Springtide Saturday’s Youth Stage, located at the Uxbridge Legion from 1:30pm to 5 pm. You will hear 9 performances, from artists 18 and under, including one Youth Stage alumni, Else Langhans, and a special performance by young inspiration, Billianne from Milton, Ontario. Entry is included with a Saturday or Weekend Wristband and or is $10 at the door without one. Admission for Kids 12 and under is free when accompanied by a wristband holding adult.

At The Bridge Social from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday you can catch 3 workshops where you can get up close and personal with some of your favourite artists.

2:00pm Storytelling or I’m Not Telling hosted by The Pairs with panelists Aleksi Campagne, Dawna Marie, and Geoff Holt (Barn Cat). Do you want your listeners to know exactly what you are singing about, or do you prefer that the interpretation is completely open to their imagination? Let’s talk about songs that were misinterpreted and let’s talk about how much you want people to know.

3:00pm The One That Got Away hosted by Sarah Beatty with panelists, Bernadette Connors, Alannah Kemp and Rachel Hickey. There are so many great stories of songs that nearly got left off albums and then went on to become hits, but what about the other side of the coin? Let’s discuss artist instinct – when you know a song has completely delivered but maybe it didn’t garner the interest that you thought it would? How does it make you feel? Do You move on, do you imagine the time just hasn’t arrived yet for this particular song…?

Finally at 4:00pm Which Came First: The Song Or The Story, hosted by Stephen Stanley with panelists, NEFE, Mikhail Laxton and Burs. Each of the three artists on the panel will play a song that has a personal story meaning to them and will discuss fact vs. fiction, was it a melody that launched the narrative? Did the story completely drive the forming of the tune? Did you embellish, did you add, did you omit? Are there gaps left for the listener to fill in?

On Springtide Sunday, the fun continues with 3 family friendly workshops, hosted by our friends a Music Declares Emergency. Along with bucket drumming at 2pm, The Bridge Social will host Climate Care for the Young, an interactive musical workshop for families, with songs and stories, and resources for parents and caregivers to build knowledge around the power of singing to support children in a time of climate crisis.

At 3:00 pm at the Fig Kitchen & Market will feature Changing the Tune on Climate: the role of music in the transition to a culture of care and sustainability. Music Declares Emergency Canada’s co-ordinator Kim Fry will be joined by Springtide artists Braden Lam, Mimi O’Bonsawin and songwriter Tiiu Tutt of Land Heart Song for a panel discussion about the role of music and the music industry in taking climate action.

Where To Find The Springtide Festival Schedule So you’ve got your Springtide tickets, now what? Well, you can head over to our website to find our full festival schedule or pick up a printed version at local businesses across Uxbridge. Earmark the artists that you don’t want to miss and then, plan your festival route!

Springtide 101: The festival has a selection of FREE pop up acoustic performances that will be scheduled at Blue Heron Books, Fig Kitchen & Market, Mani Tea, and Woods Clothing on Saturday and Sunday.

Ticket Locations
This year, there are several locations where you can purchase tickets, and exchange for your wristbands.

You will have one last chance to catch Springtide at the Uxbridge Farmers’ Market ahead of festival weekend. We will be there on Sunday June 4th with local artist Whitney Ross-Barris, and Mattie Leon with ticket purchase available onsite!

Pre-sales will also be made available at The Bridge Social, at 64 Brock St West in downtown Uxbridge on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8 only from Noon until 3pm. Stop in and say Hi! We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

The Springtide Ticket Hub located at H. Bee Architecture, at 88 Brock Street West will be open during festival hours starting at noon on Springtide Friday and 9am on the Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets will also be available at the Uxbridge Tourism Trailer located at The Second Wedge Brewing Co. to purchase and exchange wristbands.

Finally, the Uxbridge Legion will be open for ticketing during festival hours. Friday 7pm to close, Saturday 1pm to close. Also note that Youth Stage Tickets will be $10, available at the door, or included with your Saturday or Weekend wristband.

The Countdown Is On!
Now, if you haven’t already, mark your calendars and start your countdown! We hope you are just as excited as we are. Keep an eye on our social media pages for Everything You Need to Know About Springtide Part 2 (because there is a lot!) and some Springtide 101s to help you enjoy and experience the festival to its fullest!

Another round of applause for Springtide 2022!

What an awesome weekend we had. Read on for a little trip down Springtide weekend memory lane…

Starting off with a bang, we kicked off the festival with the Thursday night Launch Party featuring killer headliner Bedouin Soundclash, along with folk musician Julian Taylor and local artist Tania Joy. People from near and far filled the music hall to dance, sing along, and enjoy live music together. We stayed up past our bedtime, enjoying local craft brews, cider, and great music in the historic Uxbridge Music Hall, and it felt great!

Friday afternoon, venues around Uxbridge filled up with musicians and music lovers alike. We also had the interactive youth Songwriting Workshop with Bernadette Connors and the Author’s Stage where former MuchMusic man Tim Deegan interviewed journalist Michael Barclay as he discussed his book Hearts on Fire: Six Years That Changed The Canadian Music Scene.

Through the evening and into the night musical sounds across all genres filled the Uxbridge streets. The soothing sounds of Hollowsage at the Uxbridge Legion, local pop star Carley Hope at Urban Pantry, folk band Wooly and local rocker Tamara Williamson at Wixan’s Bridge, and so many more. We close out the night with another awesome headliner at the Uxbridge Music Hall, Boy Golden “redefining jam band and stoner cultures by turning dead heads into lively brains.”

Saturday morning we woke up early to catch Yoga at Banjo Cider with Sun Dog Yoga and a sound bath from Inner Environmentalism. After catching our collective breaths, we were then ready for a final Springtide day full of music.

Interview Stage got us up close and personal with some of our favourite acts, curated by Tamara Williamson at The Bridge Social. The Interview Stage, offered in-depth interviews and workshops with a dazzling lineup of musicians including Emily Rockarts and Stephen Stanley, accompanied by some unforgettable freestyle jams.

Our Youth Stage highlighted six solo artists who played to a full house, and captivated the audience with their outstanding musicianship and range of styles. Thank you to Julia Middleton, Josh Takeda, Jillian Foote, Jude Veens, Harmony Meirik and Else Langhans for sharing your music with us! We finished off the afternoon with a performance from Youth Stage alumni, Nate Hobor who spoke of the importance of the youth stage on his musical journey and then capped off the afternoon with a mesmerizing set of covers and originals.

We also opened our Outdoor Main Stage, in it’s new Centennial Park location. Families gathered on picnic blankets to enjoy the warm weather, the fabulous music, and then a quick rain shower to let us cool off! As we danced in the bubble machine we enjoyed the sounds of musicians like local artist Matt Gunn, with his look-a-like band mates, Goodnight Sunrise with their rocking, interactive set, and awesome headliner Alysha Brilla to close out the evening.

As Springtide Saturday came to a close, we partied late, soaking up every last drop of live music and fun times together.

We would like to thank all of our fabulous volunteers, because seriously, without them, our festival wouldn’t be possible. Thank you to our sponsors that help make Springtide happen, and thank you to our artists and venues for putting on the shows we have so missed.

And that’s a wrap on the 2022 season. If you had a blast at this year’s festival, we’d love to hear from you! Leave us a review on our Facebook Page or on our Google listing. We can’t wait to relive all the memories!

Everything you need to know about Springtide 2022

Time to plan your festival weekend!We are less than one week away from Springtide 2022 and here’s everything you need to know about this year’s festival!

Springtide runs Thursday, July 21 – Saturday, July 23 with multiple venues and stages across Downtown Uxbridge. Kids 12 and under accompanied by an adult can enjoy the festival for free, on Friday and Saturday.

THURSDAY JULY 21
Springtide Launch Party

We will be kicking off our festival with a launch party concert at the Uxbridge Music Hall. A historic music venue in our town with killer headliner Bedouin Soundclash. The Launch Party will also feature performances by Julian Taylor and local Artist Tania Joy. This is a stand alone event meaning you will need a separate ticket from your weekend wristbands to attend. There are still a limited number of tickets available, which can be purchased through our website!

FRIDAY JULY 22
Specialty Stages

Along with over 70 awesome musical performances, Springtide is excited to share a few specialty stages curated for maximum enjoyment! On Friday July 22nd from 5pm-7pm we will have our Let’s Write a Song workshop, hosted by Bernadette Connors at The Bridge Social. This is a free interactive songwriting workshop for those of all ages and all song writing abilities and experience!

NEW to this year’s program, the Author’s Stage hosted by Blue Heron Books in their back studio – feat. Author Michael Barclay and his book “Hearts on Fire: Six Years That Changed The Canadian Music Scene” from 6pm-8pm on Friday July 22. hosted by former MuchMusic man Tim Deegan⁠.

There will be supper, compliments of the Tin Restaurant⁠, songs by Geoff Holt⁠, and drinks available at a cash bar!
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Tickets are $25 and include all of the above PLUS a $10 book coupon. If you have a Springtide wristband, tickets are a steal, at $20! Pick up your ticket at Blue Heron Books!

SATURDAY, JULY 23:
Specialty Stages

You can start your Saturday morning early with us outdoors at Banjo Cider located at 614 Sanford Rd. for Yoga Tune-Up with Jennifer Bradley of Sun Dog Yoga and Alannah Kemp of Inner Environmentalism. This session starts at 10am and is included with a Saturday Wristband which can be purchased on site at Banjo Cider Saturday morning.

Saturday, afternoon, will be the Interview Stage curated by Tamara Williamson at The Bridge Social. At 3pm we will have the Fire Songs session, a conversation all about community with Hollowsage, Allanah Kemp and Kevin Ker, hosted by Josh Veens. At 4pm, the Up Close And Too Personal session hosted by experienced host, Blair Packham. This session delves into the lives of our guests; including Gravley James and Joel Saunders, and Emily Rockarts. And at 5pm the One Song session, hosted by Tamara Williamson, where artists, Suitcase Sam, Stephen Stanley and Rebekah Hawker have chosen a favourite song that they have written and will dive into the process of writing it, their inspiration, and the story behind the lyrics. This event is open to all those with a festival wristband.

Let’s not forget the Youth Stage hosted by Uxbridge’s own Amy Peck! The 2022 Springtide Youth Stage will include performances by 6 solo acts as well as a special performance by Youth Stage alumni Nate Hobor. You won’t believe the talent, mad skills, and musicianship that these performers will bring to the Youth Stage.

These young shining stars will be performing at the Uxbridge Legion on Saturday July 22nd from 2pm to 5pm. Entry is free with a Saturday wristband or $10 at the door.

Centennial Park Outdoor Stage

Our Outdoor Main Stage has moved! Due to the damaging storm at the end of May and the temporary closing of our beloved Second Wedge Brewing Co., we needed to find a new location for Outdoor Main Stage. Luckily here in Uxbridge, the Trail Capital Of Canada, we were able to secure another beautiful green space to call home for the 2022 festival. Our Outdoor Main Stage will be in Centennial Park, at the bottom of Poplar Street, behind the Township of Uxbridge Building! Centennial Park is surrounded by mature trees and linked in with the Uxbridge trail system. We are excited to share one of our most beloved assets with our guests, along with a fantastic lineup!

Festival Trolley

If you’re from Uxbridge, you’ve likely seen the antique Town Trolley driving around town for special occasions and events! On Friday evening and Saturday evening from 7pm to Midnight the trolley will maintain a continuous loop around the downtown core, to make venues accessible for folks to catch all the music they want in a timely fashion for all who want to ‘hop on’ and ‘hop off’. This unique shuttle experience is the perfect way to get you around town so you can catch all your favorite acts! Watch for the Trolley Signs along the festival route! Thank you to Williamson’s Uxbridge Automotive for Sponsoring the Festival Trolley.

Where To Find The Springtide Festival Schedule

So you’ve got your Springtide wristband and Launch Party tickets, now what? Well, head over to our website to find our full festival schedule. Plan out the artists that you don’t want to miss and then, enjoy the music! We also have a selection of FREE pop up acoustic performances that will be happening around the downtown. In the coming days we will release a full list of our acoustic pop-up performances where you can catch some of your favourite artists completely unplugged.

Ticket Locations

This year, there are several locations where you can purchase tickets, and exchange for your wristbands.

The Uxbridge Music Hall located at 16 Main St. South will have the box office open on Tuesday July 19th and Wednesday July 20th from Noon to 6pm for pre-festival sales. As well as Thursday, Friday and Saturday from Noon until close.

The Ticket Hub at H. Bee Architecture, 88 Brock St. West. The Ticket Hub will be open during festival hours starting at Noon on Friday and 9am on the Saturday.

Tickets will also be available at the Uxbridge Tourism Trailer located on site at Centennial Park to purchase and exchange wristbands.

Finally, the Uxbridge Legion located at 109 Franklin Street will be open for ticketing during festival hours. Friday 7pm to close, Saturday 1pm to close. Also note that Youth Stage Tickets will be $10, available at the door, or included with your Saturday wristband.

Author’s Stage, Supper, Stories Sips and Songs, Tickets can be purchased online or in store through Blue Heron Books 62 Brock St. West.

The Countdown Is On!
Now, if you haven’t already, mark your calendars and start your countdown! We hope you are just as excited as we are. Our COVID hiatus has certainly built up the suspense for our 2022 come back! Keep an eye on our social media pages for some Springtide 101s to help you enjoy and experience the festival to its fullest!

We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR and the Government of Canada

Slowcity.ca 5 faves at Springtide, Uxbridge

July 3, 2022

By Will McGuirk

After the recent tornado destroyed a good chunk of Uxbridge, including the community hub, the Second Wedge Brewery, it was to the community itself to which those hit by nature’s wrath turned. It was local resilience against the global winds of climate change which has enabled the town to recover albeit slowly. We Shall Overcome could be the town’s motto, built as it is on its Quaker heritage and artists in residence present. It is a town full of makers, those who make things and those who make things better.

So after, not just two years of a pandemic and those associated shutdowns, but also the unexpected swirl of chaos which struck the town on Saturday May 21, the community of Uxbridge will be out in force for the we made it joys of Springtide Festival on July 21, 22, and 23.

There are several nationally known acts performing but the three day bill is heavier with local acts. Here are five for sure do not miss them acts:

Speaking of local resilience these Band of Weeds continue to pop-up around the town as the roots are strong and deep in this gathering of friends, which it would be fair to call a supergroup of Uxbridge musicians. Alannah Kemp as lead vocal, keys/guitar, Michael Hamilton (of M. H. Vernon) on bass/backup vocals, Thom Harvey (of STRNGR STRNGR) on lead guitar, Amy Peck (of Professors of Funk) on saxophone and Matt Gunn (of EightFiveTwo) on drums!

Geoff Holt is another local stalwart, a galvanizing force in the town. He has a couple of solo albums available. He also has Orangabang and Pawns on his resume but for me its his Musical Bingo nights which showcase his enthusiastic love of music and of community building.

Hollowsage is a transplant whose roots music have taken hold in Uxbridge. He is originally from the Soo but came south. There’s a darkness in his songs but also a deep humanity and empathy. Solo or with his band the Three Mile Islanders the songs of Hollowsage present truth as beauty but equally as beastly, and his music serves as a salve, his set at Springtide will no doubt be a tearful celebration.

Rory Taillon has gone north to Ottawa but his connection to the community along Reach Road is as strong as ever. He is returning to the spiritual home for Springtide but as has been written by some (ahem) the voice of Rory is such a force Uxbridge council could capitalize and weaponize his voice to be used against any future tornados.

Nerima are not of the Trail Capital but they are trekking to the town from the other side of the Oak Ridge. These young folks are of Whitby and Oshawa but their camaraderie and companionship would not be out of place. They are a band of seeds for a new generation of Springtide, one with civic pride at its core, but room to grow and gather.

Like music, community only gets stronger as it becomes more inclusive. Inclusivity is the secret to resiliency, a resiliency to ward off all manner of circumstances.

10 Ways to support Uxbridge this Summer

Recently, Uxbridge – The Trail Capital of Canada – was impacted by a significant weather event that has left behind widespread damage throughout the township. What was supposed to be a “return to normal” May long weekend in the province, quickly turned into a very scary and surreal situation. As businesses and tourist attractions opened with anticipation during the “summer of the staycation” in Ontario, yet another devastating impact was felt.

As the township continues the efforts to clean up and rebuild, we’ve put together this list of ten ways that you can help support the community by shopping local this summer.

Visit Downtown Uxbridge and check out the amazing shops, restaurants and attractions! Please be patient as some businesses may need a little more time to re-open.
Buy tickets for Springtide Music Festival in July to support the local music scene.
Visit the “2019 Farm Market of the Year” every Sunday during the Uxbridge Farmers’ Market, which has been temporarily moved to Herrema Fields at 85 Herrema Boulevard.
While The Second Wedge Brewery recovers from significant damage as a result of the storm, you can find your favourite Second Wedge brew at a local restaurant or retail outlet with their Beer Finder Map.
Support the York Durham Heritage Railway by shopping at one of their Wizards Emporium retail stores in Pickering, Oshawa and Newmarket. A Go Fund Me has also been launched in their effort to rebuild and restore the historic and beloved tourist attraction.
Sip local at these North Durham cideries.
Check out local artisans, farms, markets, live music, food and more on the Leaskdale Loop.
Step into the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery on the self-guided Anne and Maud Experience.
Immerse yourself in the Township’s history at the Uxbridge Historical Society.
Spend date night at the Roxy Theatre where you can catch the latest Hollywood movie releases.

Bonus: Go for dinner at Foundry Kitchen & Bar in Historic Downtown Port Perry while Foundry pi recovers from the storm.

Many businesses in North Durham and throughout Durham Region have been impacted as a result of COVID-19 and the recent storms. We invite you to plan a trip to one of the 14 downtowns, attend an event and shop the apparel and merchandise line from the Durham is Home collection to show your community pride!

Image is of a blue t shirt with an image of trees in yellow and red with a red stick figure walking on a trail. The text, Uxbridge, Ontario is included on the shirt in red text.

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Author – Durham Tourism

Everything You Need To Know About Springtide Part 1!

Another round of applause for Springtide 2022!