Mississauga Waterfront Festival (2011) Marks 15 years!
The Mississauga Waterfront Festival is celebrating its 15th year June 17, 18 and 19 at Port Credit Memorial Park. The organizers announced this year's line-up during a media conference at the newly renovated Port Credit Arena Monday, June 6. Mississauga News General Manager Rob Leuschner (left) MWF Event/Artistic Manager Patti Jannetta-Baker and Mississauga News Retail Sales Manager Keith Henderson introduced the MWF 15th Anniversary Edition Program produced by the Mississauga News. Staff photo by Fred Loek
The Mississauga Waterfront Festival is back this summer. And it’s pulling out all the stops to celebrate a milestone year.
The 15th annual music fest, taking place at Port Credit Memorial Park, opens on June 17, a Friday, with a concert featuring three acts, including headliner Spirit of the West. It continues Saturday and Sunday with daily events and activities capped off with nightly concerts. Spirit of the West began as a folk trio called Evesdropper in Vancouver nearly 30 years ago. Twelve albums later, with four gold and two platinum albums to its credit, the band, now a quintet, tours regularly in Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, playing to packed houses. Last year saw the group invited to the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) gala to be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “We’ve been trying to get them for about three years now, so we’re thrilled they’re able to be here this summer to help us mark our 15th anniversary,” said the festival's event/artistic director Patti Jannetta Baker.
Spirit of the West hits the stage at 9:45 p.m. Scarborough’s Steven Page, a co-founder of Barenaked Ladies who left the band in 2009 to pursue a solo career, performs at 8 p.m.
Kicking off the evening is Sean Sroka with his band, Seam. Sroka was a finalist at last year’s Future Star vocal competition. They hit the stage at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, Brian Howe performs at 9:50 p.m. Long regarded as one of rock’s legendary voices, Howe started his career in 1983 as lead vocalist for Ted Nugent. The next year, he replaced Paul Rodgers in the same role with Bad Company, and toured with the band for the next 10 years. Their hits include Holy Water, If You Needed Somebody, No Smoke Without A Fire, and How About That.
Howe is preceded by rockers Goddo at 8:30 p.m. and A Foot in Coldwater at 7 p.m. The music continues Sunday morning with the Future Star finals. The contest, in its eighth year, starts at 11 a.m. The winner will be crowned at about 1 p.m.
Beginning at 3 p.m., The Beatles Experience is a must for fans of the Fab Four. Set 1 traces the band’s early days from Liverpool to the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York City. Set 2 takes the audience from Sgt. Pepper (released June 1, 1967) to Abbey Road (1969).
But the festival isn’t just about music; for young families, there are shows throughout the weekend. Favourite characters such as Shrek, Po from Kung Fu Panda 2 and Dora the Explorer will make an appearance.
Justin Bieber lookalike Landon Holmes will also be there to pay tribute to the Canadian heartthrob. Other festival mainstays include a petting zoo and pony rides, climbing wall, sport zone, kids workshop, Busker Square, the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors skills challenge and a dog show.
To mark Mayor Hazel McCallion’s 90th birthday, the festival will unveil Hazel’s Lane, where visitors can read about her life, accomplishments and charities close to her heart. Daily passes cost $5 to $10. Weekend passes cost $10 to $15.
Mississauga News
By Joseph Chin
