Kingfest promises to be one hot summer music festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
By Nancy Bodi

Get ready for the one of the hottest summer music festivals in Ontario, right in our own backyard!

Kingfest is ready to rock 'n roll, swing to rhythm and blues, kick up heels to country tunes, jig to bluegrass, celebrate gospel music and soak in some of the best musical artists Canada has to offer. The outdoor festival at Seneca College's serene King campus will feature more than 60 top musical artists on its four stages over its entire three days.

Here is what

you can expect

Non-stop music

all weekend

From the time the gate opens (10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5:30 p.m. Friday), until the time it closes (11 p.m.), you can stroll from stage to stage and experience a wide range of top quality music. You can party all day long in the Kingfest Pub, listening to great musicians from the likes of Russell deCarle of Prairie Oyster, country star Wendell Ferguson to even Sarah Harmer.

Yes indeed, musician extraordinaire Sarah Harmer will perform in the Kingfest pub Sunday (check out the performer schedule) while gracing the main stage with the great legendary Bruce Cockburn on Sunday night.

The Habitat Stage will showcase rising stars from our community, such as Jon Brooks (voted best singer/songwriter 2006), Grainne Ryan, Turn off the Stars, Dani Strong and James McKenty and The Spades. Also, you can check out the best of York Region's famed Celebration of the Arts and Seneca's Independent Music Program on the Habitat Stage. The Workshop stage (where artists jam together) will showcase artists such as DALA, who just completed a tour with Tom Cochrane, and bluegrass sensations Mike Stevens and Raymond McLain.

After enjoying the magnificence of the smaller stages throughout the day, you will revel in the sounds of the main stage, which kicks in after 6 p.m. Friday night. After watching The Salads in the Kingfest pub, you can take in the East Coast rockers Sloan, winners of multiple Junos; The Trews, Group of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards; and Joel Plaskett Emergency, three time East Coast Music Award winner. CFNY 102.1 (The Edge" is Emceeing the main stage. Come out and meet The Edge DJ celebrity Barry Taylor.

Saturday night you can take in the musical brilliance of Oh Susanna, Lynn Miles, Justin Rutledge, Jim Cuddy (of Blue Rodeo) and Prairie Oyster. Sunday night features the highly talented Susan Werner, Nidi Onokwulu (get ready to move to the blues!), Sarah Harmer and Bruce Cockburn. Expect zaniness and a pile of fun from the Saturday and Sunday main stage hosts Al Simmons and Wendell Ferguson.

And lo and behold - Kingfest has a special hour of gospel music on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the Juno award winning Toronto Mass Choir!

Artisan

village

Kingfest will feature more than 30 juried artisans from all over Ontario, including makers of jewelry, fine art, clothing, musical instruments and so much more. You can shop and browse through the artisan village at your leisure, and take in all the artistic beauty while savouring the lovely surroundings and great sounds.

Children's

area

Kingfest is excited that the Seneca King Day Camp staff will run the complimentary children's area, so it will be loaded with great activities and lots of fun. Al Simmons and Sho Mo & The Monkey Bunch are all set to entertain the kids and generate loads of laughter.

Great

food

There will be plenty of delicious food on site from Indian, to organic to great Canadian fare.

What you should bring

Kingfest is an outdoor event, so bring your lawn chair or mat to sit on. The festival will take place rain or shine, so bring your rain coat just in case. The festival site is wheelchair accessible and has ample free parking. You will be given wristbands at the gate, so you can come and go as you please, however, there is plenty to do on-site all day long.

Tickets can be purchased on line at Ticketmaster.ca (416) 870-8000, at one of our retail locations or at the gate. Log onto www.kingfestmusic.com for more information. Children 14 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.

Can't wait to see you at Kingfest! This large scale music festival is a first for King, a first for York Region and one of the very few outdoor musical festivals taking place in Ontario this summer that features such a stellar line-up.