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Concerts

Guelph, Ontario's Hillside Festival Gets Richard Thompson, Aysanabee, Patrick Watson for 2024 Edition

Running July 19-21, the Ontario summer favourite's eclectic lineup also featuresBry Webb, Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and Jim White.

Hillside Festival poster

Hillside Festival poster

Artwork by Alyah Holmes

Long one of the most popular Ontario summer music fests, Hillside returns to Guelph Lake Island, July 19-21. The just-announced lineup features artists from Australia, South Africa, Morocco, Benin and Cameroon as well as notable names from across Canada and the U.S.

Heading that list are British folk legend Richard Thompson, roots rock supertrio Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, with guests Daniel Lanois and Terra Lightfoot, the Polaris-winning Patrick Watson, Ashley MacIsaac, recent Juno winner Aysanabee, former Constantines frontman Bry Webb, long-running indie rock band Land of Talk, The Messthetics (which features Joe Lally and Brendan Canty from Fugazi) and American indie faves Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) and Jim White.


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Hillside’s core remains folk and roots acts, but this year’s lineup also includes Canadian rockers NOBRO, Golden Feather, Espanola and Dwayne Gretzky, and R&B artists Katie Tupper and Aquakulture.

Hillside has long been a favourite fest for acts to play, thanks in part to its picturesque setting in a conservation area, a lively backstage hospitality area and the intimate workshops that are a key part of the event. A camping-friendly fest, Hillside is also a now well-established audience-pleaser, with advance sell-outs now the norm.

Major acts who have played previous editions of Hillside include Bruce Cockburn, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Arkells, Arcade Fire, Barenaked Ladies, the Sadies, Jane Siberry, Sarah McLachlan, Feist, Gord Downie, Broken Social Scene, Burning Spear, Neko Case, City and Colour, Ani DiFranco, Cowboy Junkies, The Constantines, Sarah Harmer, Hayden, k-os, Los Lobos, Metric, The Lowest Of The Low, Sloan, Sam Roberts, Stars and The Weakerthans.

Tier 2 weekend passes are now available until April 30 for $179+HST and fees. This increases to $189+ May 1-June 30 sales, and $199+ (July 1-19 sales). Purchase passes here.

Listen to the official Hillside 2024 playlist here.

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EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

Record Labels

EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

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