Festival of Friends at Gage Park returns with weekend-long celebration
Bob Seger once said that rock and roll never forgets,' and the Festival of Friends has not forgotten how to do this."
To rock, that is. And to roll.
So says Rob Rakoczy, director of the Festival of Friends, which returned to Gage Park on Friday night for a free party celebrating local music, arts and the long civic holiday weekend.
The cancelled 2020 festival and a scaled-down pandemic version of the festival in 2021 left Hamiltonians jonesing for more than just one day of fun.
We are really excited and glad to be back after so much lockdown time. I have been a longtime fan of the festival; it's still free and I'm glad to be back," said attendee Jeff Wilson, who was enjoying the festival with a group of friends on the lawn.
Wilson & Co. were among several families and groups of friends who came to Gage prepared with lawn chairs and picnic blankets ready to spend the day soaking in the sun and enjoying dozens of rides, food trucks and local craft vendors. And music, naturally.
Friday's opening act, Goodnight Sunrise, with David Kochberg and Vanessa Vakharia, set the crowd on fire. Honestly, it was the best," Vakharia said. It's our second time at Festival of Friends and it's the best one since 2019. Everyone was singing along and a child even played my guitar and she killed it."
Hamilton's Golden Feather - Brad Germain on guitar and lead vocals, Ronson Armstrong providing foundation on bass, lead guitarist Chris Wheeler and Gareth Inkster on the keys - backed by Monster Truck drummer Steve Kiely, on a side project with the band, hit the stage in the afternoon.
The concert was so much fun, we had a blast," Germain said. We love playing a hometown free festival, the energy and the excitement on and offstage."
Singer Ryland James from Deseronto warmed up the stage for Serena Ryder with a setlist full of covers and his own songs.
It's been an amazing experience, beautiful day looking out the escarpment. It's my first Hamilton festival and the crowd was amazing and it was more than I could have asked for," James said.
One of the festival vendors, Hello MUKA, which sells pins, T-shirts and stickers, was glad to be back at the festival.
It's actually one of my favourite festivals in Hamilton. I love the music and the vibe. The weather was gorgeous and there was lots of good food, company and it's a great weekend hangout," said one of MUKA'S co-founders, Lisa Wang.
At the end of the night, Rakoczy went on stage to thank local businesses and volunteers who made the event possible and ticket-free.
They have been here since Tuesday and will be here until the last day and without them we couldn't do it," Rakoczy said.
The festival, founded in 1976, continues through Sunday at Gage Park. Other musical guests this weekend include Gord Bamford, the Snotty Nose Rez Kids and George Canyon.
Beatriz Baleeiro is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator bbaleeiro@torstar.ca