Press Releases

Sound of Music Brings Back Festival Favourites

May 29th, 2008

Burlington, Ontario (May29, 2008)  Burlington's Sound of Music Festival is celebrating the 29th Anniversary of their annual event by bringing back some favourite performers from the past several years. At the recent Festival launch, where the lineup for the entire weekend was released, there was one ‘Mystery Performer' whose identity was not announced, similar to the year 2000.
     And just like then, that performer is one of Canada's most celebrated songwriters and performers. The Festival is pleased to announce that THE JIM CUDDY BAND will be performing on Father's Day, Sunday afternoon June 15. Primarily associated with Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy has ventured out on his own to experience the freedom to experiment with his creativity. The diversity of his songs draws on the music that has influenced him over the years, from Country to full throttle rock. His first solo album All In Time achieved Gold status and his second album The Light That Guides You Home was released to critical acclaim - proving once more that his songwriting ranks with the best Canada has to offer. Joining Jim on tour as The Jim Cuddy Band are Colin Cripps, Brazil Donovan, Ann Lindsay, Bob Packwood and Joel Anderson.  During his appearance at the 2000 Festival, Jim paused between songs, looked out across a full moon glistening on the lake, with boats bobbing gently on the water and reflected to a packed audience, "It just doesn't get much better than this."
     Also appearing that year was a little known band from Hamilton, Park Row, who were the opening act for The Jim Cuddy Band. When the trio arrived to perform, they only knew they would be opening for the ‘mystery performer' and had no idea who that would be. One of the band members in particular, was ‘over the moon' when he found out that he would be sharing a stage with his ‘hero'. That young performer has now moved on to become a Juno award-winning Best New Artist with several #1 hits - TOMI SWICK. Tomi will also be performing at the
Festival this year, headlining on opening night, June 12.
     Returning to the Festival for an encore performance is Kingston musical comedy trio, THE ARROGANT WORMS. First appearing at the Festival in 1999, they took Burlington by storm. As their set began, the crowd was somewhat thin. But as people walked by, they were drawn into the tuneful and silly lyrics and expressive antics on the stage, until it was a capacity crowd and only the very lucky snagged a CD before they were sold out.
     Other returning guests include Canadian rock icon KIM MITCHELL; Canadian Country Music Ambassador, GEORGE FOX; Juno Top Country Male Artist of the Year, JOHN LANDRY; and traditional Newfoundland musicians SHANNEYGANOCK, along with a whole host of local bands and musicians returning to perform throughout the weekend.
     Over four days, artists will perform on five stages throughout Burlington's spectacular downtown and waterfront, as well as at street level among outdoor patios, vendor marketplaces and dance demonstrations at the Downtown Streetfest. Each year, the festival presents the Grande Festival Parade on Saturday morning, one of only a few existing marching band parades remaining in Canada, featuring over 20 marching bands.
     Thursday, June 12 - Sunday, June 15, 2008 will mark the Festival's 29th year of bringing "Four Fabulous Days of Music" to Spencer Smith Park, the city's beautiful waterfront park and downtown core. Through the generosity and support of sponsors and the dedication of over 400 volunteers, the event continues to be a FREE event for music lovers of all ages welcoming an estimated 190,000 visitors during 2007. For more information on this year's musical talent line up, bios and performance schedules or Festival information visit www.soundofmusic.ca or call the Festival Hotline 905-333-6364.
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Contact: Linda Goodrow, Communications Director
Phone: 905-580-4742 or email: linda@affirmative.com
OR Dave Miller, Executive Director
Phone: 905-333-6364 or email: executivedirector@soundofmusic.ca