Hillside 2018: A compendium of posts - Concert Photos

Hillside has been around for thirty-five years. Unfortunately for me, this was only my second visit to the festival and my first full weekend. My Hillside 2016 coverage can be found right here if you want to take a peek. For 2018, I saw forty-two acts over the three days of the festival, and that wasn't everyone who performed.

The way I roll with this site, that has meant 42 individual posts on the 42 acts, each with photos, music and thoughts on the performance. Apologies since some of those are "capsule reviews" or even more brief, while some are more in-depth. However, I hope this coverage gives a flavour of what Hillside is, that it turns you on to some great artists, and that you'll join me at what is now a must-attend summer festival for me.

I also have to call out that 35 years is quite a milestone that should be recognized for the great achievement that it is. The music industry, and specifically the music festival industry, is a difficult one, where so many festivals can’t seem to make it work. Cheers to a wonderful festival, with an unbeatable chill and welcoming community vibe, and cheers to the next 35 years! Happy Hillside!

Please click through to the coverage of each artist that I was lucky enough to experience:

Day 1

Tim Baker

Hollerado

Busty and The Bass

Cadence Weapon

Iskwé

Adrian Underhill

Little Junior

The Slocan Ramblers

Daniel Champagne

Hyness
Doris Folkens

Day 2

Rhye
San Fermin
faUSt
Five Alarm Funk
U.S. Girls
Partner
Reverend Sekou and Dimpker Brothers
Megative
The Messthetics
Ladama
Anemone
Jeremy Fisher
The Huntress and Holder of Hands
Destroyer

Day 3
A Tribe Called Red
Birds of Bellwoods
Plants and Animals
Crown Lands
Narcy
Lido Pimienta
Cécile Doo-Kingué
Chad VanGaalen
Helena Deland
Haley Heynderickx
Jessicka
Lilly Hiatt
The Lil Smokies
Fortunate Ones
Nick Zubeck
The Kents
Annie Sumi

Hillside 2018: Day 1: Busty and The Bass - Concert Photos

Seems that it's been a couple of years since I've seen Montreal electrofunk band Busty and The Bass live. That seems like too long to me. It was back in 2016 at Riverfest Elora that I laid my ears on the funky sounds that this band makes for the first time. Check out those photos here.

Thanks to the fine folks at Hillside, I got to see the band again this summer. They graced the main stage and got everybody shaking to the funky sounds, graceful melodies and the horns. Oh, yeah, the horns!

Check out the amazingly easy on the ears, and funky, so funky tunes, and don't miss these guys next time they're performing near you.

"I Try" (Macy Gray cover)

"Common Ground"

"Memories and Melodies"

"Things Change"

Riverfest Elora 2016: Day 2: Band 10: Busty and The Bass - Concert Pictures

Nine-piece Montreal, Quebec electrofunk band Busty and The Bass was a band that I was looking forward to seeing live. They did not disappoint with their horns, funk, soul and groove during their set in the tent at Riverfest Elora. They are amazing musicians with fantastic songs. Their sound has a timeless quality that I didn't know I was missing until I heard them create it. They played an energetic set that included a cover of Macy Gray's "I Try". Busty and The Bass are a great live discovery for me that I'll be looking forward to seeing again in the future.

Give some of their music a listen:

"Tryna Find Myself"

"Miss Judge"

"Models"

"I Try"