Riverfest Elora 2023: A compendium of posts - Concert Photos

Riverfest Elora is my favourite summer music festival. It combines artists I love with new artists that I've never heard of that find a permanent spot in my music library. The vibe of the festival is chill and inviting, friendly and fun.

The 2023 edition of the festival is also their lucky 13th festival, and my sixth. And there wasn't a drop of rain during the festival!

Thanks to the Riverfest Elora team for curating and orchestrating an amazing weekend of music, fun, food and friends. And, of course, for granting me access to capture the images of the festival performers.

Follow the links below to individual posts on each artist that I covered.

Friday, August 18

The Reklaws

Matt Mays

Renforshort

Spoons

Shred Kelly

Adam Baldwin

Myst Milano.

Saturday, August 19

Metric

JJ Wilde

Talk

The Aggrolites

Rêve

Aviv

Fake Shark

Maestro Fresh Wes

Boogey the Beat

CJ Wiley

Vince the Messenger

Michael Costantini

Animal Boy

Sunday, August 20

Feist

Charlotte Cardin

Leif Vollebekk

Mobley

Kellie Loder

Skye Wallace

K-Man and the 45s

Shebad

Anna Padock & The Lay Awakes

Jiggity James

This was my sixth time covering Riverfest Elora. You can check out my coverage of previous years' through these links:

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

I'm already looking forward to next year... 

Riverfest Elora 2023: Matt Mays on the Main Stage - Concert Photos

A Matt Mays show is always a good time! This year, they were on the main stage of Riverfest Elora. I've seen the band quite a few times, but this was my first time at Riverfest.

They put on a rockin' set and the crowd loved it!

My coverage of previous Matt Mays shows are at these links: The Horseshoe in 2017, two sets at TURF 2016: at The Horseshoe and at the Festival, and at TURF in 2013.

All my Riverfest Elora 2023 coverage can be found in one post here.

And here's my favourite Matt Mays tune, "Take It On Faith"

The Horseshoe Tavern 70th Anniversary Party featuring Hey Stella, Matt Mays, Damhnait Doyle, Stephen Stanley, Peter Dreimanis of July Talk, Peter Elkas, Devin Cuddy, Justin Rutledge, Dallas Good of The Sadies and more - Concert Pictures

The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern has always had a special place in my heart, filled with great memories of concerts in my younger days like Lowest of the Low, Amanda Marshall, Tony Springer, Teenage Head and many, many more. That's continued right to this very day and the virtual pages of this site are filled with amazing concert experiences over the past several years. I know I'm not alone in holding so many great memories of those nights in Toronto, on the checkerboard floors.

Music industry leaders and music fans alike gathered last Tuesday night, December 5, for a private party celebrating the 70th anniversary of The Horseshoe Tavern, a local landmark for live music that continues to deliver great shows by amazing artists in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

On this night, Hey Stella provided the backbone. They were the house band for a number of fantastic Canadian musicians. We got to hear some great stories from the venue's past. Local politicians and the CBC came by, too. Performers included Matt Mays, Damhnait Doyle, Stephen Stanley, Peter Dreimanis of July Talk, Peter Elkas, Devin Cuddy, Justin Rutledge, and Dallas Good of The Sadies.

If you haven't been by to take in one of the amazing 70th anniversary shows at The Horseshoe, it's not too late. They run through the end of the year. Hopefully, I'll make it out to one or two more before 2017 comes to a close.

Thanks to the owners and staff at The Horseshoe for keeping emphasis on amazing music in Canada, for delivering great shows with a friendly vibe, and for letting me cover so much of the fun. All the best for the next 70 years!

TURF 2016: A compendium of posts - Concert Pictures

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Toronto Urban Roots Festival is my favourite festival of the concert season. It's got such a great vibe and fantastically curated line-up that brings me many of my favourites and several new discoveries each year. Not to say that many other festivals aren't super-enjoyable, well run and well curated, but TURF just has an energy that fits so well for me as a music fan.

This year's festival was no exception with highlights like The Hold Steady, Limblifter, The New Pornographers, Skinny Lister, The Hives and Matt Mays, plus new discoveries like John Moreland, Lee Harvey Osmond, Explosions in the Sky and Modern Space. The food is always a highlight and there are always eats I wish I'd had more room for. The site at Fort York Garrison Common is beautiful, historic and accessible, giving great spaces to see bands, eat meals and enjoy spectacular views.

One of the features that differentiates TURF from other festivals is the VIP access to the front-of-stage, front-of-the-barrier area typically known as the photo pit. Accredited photographers get access for the first three songs and then the VIP ticket-holders get to enjoy that view for the rest of each band's set. I think that this access is one of the best things about TURF and something that other festivals should adopt. It's a great VIP benefit that's well with paying extra for.

Here are links to every post on this year's festival, posts on each band at the outdoor festival and each band I caught during the Club Series. Photos by myself and Roy Cohen.

The Festival

Day 1

James Bay

Drive-by Truckers

Limblifter

Matt Mays

Dropkick Murphys

Modern Baseball

Explosions in the Sky

Jake Bugg

Dwayne Gretzky

Skinny Lister

The Hives

John Moreland

Modern Space

Margo Price

Simone Denny

Day 2

Guided by Voices

Ween

The Felice Brothers

Barenaked Ladies

Whitehorse

Okkervil River

The Sheepdogs

Julien Baker

Lush

The Deslondes

Lake Street Dive

Day 3

Death Cab for Cutie

The Mekons

Adam Baldwin

Rheostatics

Matthew Good

Wild Child

The Hold Steady

Julia Jacklin

Corb Lund

The New Pornographers

Sun K

Marlon Williams

The Belle Game

Club Shows

Limblifter

Overnight

Matt Mays

Modern Space

Okkervil River

Lee Harvey Osmond

The Deslondes

The New Pornographers