Waterdown ArtsFest Aug. 18, 19

‘This is fine wine, food, art and great musicians’

Only entering its third year, the Waterdown ArtsFest has quickly evolved into one of Hamilton’s premier music and arts festivals.

The festival, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 18 and Sunday, Aug. 19, brought an impressive array of entertainment to downtown Waterdown and this summer’s lineup is bigger and better.

The musical lineup offers a dazzling level of quality in a variety of adult/family-oriented genres — jazz, blues, folk, country and world music — all for free.

This year ArtsFest expands onto Dundas Street East, adding a second stage and beverage area to the main music area on Griffin Street.

For jazz fans, the festival includes multiple Juno winner Matt Dusk & The Swing Shift Big Band, and the Cuban stylings of Grammy-nominated saxophonist Jane Bunnett and Maqueque.

Guitarist Michael Occhipinti will fuse jazz with Old World folk traditions with his Sicilian Jazz Project band and jazz-rock orchestra Lighthouse will perform their many hits from the 1970s.

Singer-guitarist Matt Andersen is known for his electrifying live performances and will anchor a blues contingent that also includes vocal powerhouse Rita Chiarelli, Juno winner Harrison Kennedy and the classic R&B of Jully Black.

Country fans will get a rare live appearance by award-winning singer George Fox, as well as local favourites Lori Yates and Redhill Valleys.

For more traditional folk and roots fans, there are singer-songwriter Barney Bentall, Old Man Luedecke, Leroy Stagger and Michael Jerome Brown.

For the child in all of us, Fred Penner will return to sing his hits, including “The Cat Came Back” and “I Love Sandwiches.”

There will also be street performers, artisan vendors and visual art exhibitions and cuisine offered up from the many local restaurants and a few specialty food trucks.

“We’re trying to position it as ‘festival refined,’” says Geoff Kulawick, festival board chair and owner of Waterdown-based True North Records, Canada’s largest independent record label. “This is not camping, this is not partying. This is fine wine, food, art and great musicians.”

Waterdown ArtsFest

Saturday, Aug. 18 Gallery Stage (Griffin & Franklin Streets)

11:40 a.m. — The White Pine Dancers

1:20 p.m. — Leeroy Stagger 3 p.m. — Sicilian Jazz Project 4:40 p.m. — Barney Bentall 6:20 p.m. Quartetto Gelato 8 p.m. — Matt Andersen 9:40 p.m. — Matt Dusk with the Swing Shift Big Band

Dundas Stage (Dundas East & Mill Streets)

11:40 a.m. — Miles From Nowhere

1:20 p.m. — Red Hill Valleys 3 p.m. — Alfie Smith

4:40 p.m. — Madison Violet 6:20 p.m. — Logan Staats 8 p.m. — George Fox

9:40 p.m. — Steve Hill Sunday, Aug. 18 Gallery Stage (Griffin & Franklin Streets)

11:40 a.m. — Kellie Loder 1:20 p.m. — Fred Penner

3 p.m. — Old Man Luedecke 4:40 p.m. — Vishten

6:20 p.m. — Jane Bunnett & Maqueque

8 p.m. — Lighthouse

Dundas Stage (Dundas East & Mill Streets)

11 a.m. — Spirit Bear Drummers

11:40 a.m. — Michael Jerome Browne

1:20 p.m. — Lori Yates

3 p.m. — Harrison Kennedy 4:40 p.m. — Myles Goodwyn 6:20 p.m. — Rita Chiarelli 8 p.m. — Jully Black