LOLA Festival 2009 Schedule of Events

For recent parolees and those living under rocks a friendly reminder that London Ontario’s own LOLA Festival (London Ontario Living Arts) is taking place this coming weekend. Since its inception in 2006, LOLA Festival has built a reputation on innovative programming and constant growth. LOLA Fest 2009 takes a giant leap forward by adding the Heineken TransMedia second stage to the festivities.

Plan to attend. This one is a not miss!

LOLA Festival 2009 Schedule

Thursday, September 17:
6pm, McIntosh Gallery, University of Western Ontario
Opening Reception, Michael Snow, Condensation: A Cove Story, McIntosh Gallery, UWO

7pm: Grand Opening: artLAB, John Labatt Visual Arts Centre, UWO
Opening remarks and reception for Robert Youds, Jesus Green Tofino Sunset, with music by DJ Sope

8pm, Michael Gibson Gallery, 157 Carling Street
Opening Reception for Aganetha Dyck, Collaborating in the Darkness

9pm, Various Sites, Downtown London
Launch and walking tour of downtown art Installations by Gordon Monahan, Dave Dyment, Jesse Stewart, Kelly Mark, Thinkbox, Kevin Curtis Norcross, Robert Youds and Nicholas Longstaff. Starting in Victoria Park.

10pm, The Lounge at the Music Hall, 185 Queens Avenue
$10 cover, 19+

Featuring:
Invincible
Miz Korona
Thesis Sahib
Testament
Patrick The Bunny
DJ Freek

Friday, September 18:
Rogers Main Stage:
A Horse And His boy: 3:30 – 4:15
Bruce Peninsula: 5:00 – 5:45
Slaraffenland: 6:30 – 7:15
Kaki King: 8:00 – 9:00
Akron/Family: 10:00– 11:00

Heineken TransMedia Stage:
Cailen Dye: 4:15 – 5:00
Nihilist Spasm Band: 5:45 – 6:30
Michael Snow w/ Jesse Stewart: 7:15 – 8:00
Gordon Monahan: 9:00 – 10:00

Call The Office:
11:15pm – 2:00am
Stop Die Resuscitate
Colorlist
Riderless

Saturday, September 19:
Rogers Main Stage:
UWO Percussion Ensemble & The Collaborative Piano Ensemble 1:00 – 2:00
Canaille: 2:45 – 3:30
Elfin Saddle: 4:15 – 5:00
Polar Bear: 6:00 – 7:00
Final Fantasy: 8:00 – 9:00
NOMO: 10:00 – 11:00

Heineken TransMedia Stage:
Jesse Stewart: 2:00 – 2:45
Leafcutter John: 3:30 – 4:15
Thinkbox: 5:00 – 6:00
Growing: 7:00 – 8:00
Tim Hecker: 9:00 – 10:00

Call The Office:
10:00pm – 2:00am
Jonathon Coe
Rod Skimmins Makeshift

A Horse and His Boy Benefit Show

I received this concert invitation earlier today via the Facebooks and I would like to encourage interested local readers to attend. A worthy cause, please read below.

On July 23rd Yale St. was robbed of some very important equipment belonging to A HORSE AND HIS BOY, plus other members of Yale St. and Open House. Due to the theft, AHAHB had to cancel a show in Toronto and is now left having to replace the stolen gear themselves, which amounts to approximately $2000 to the band and another $1000 to other Yale Streeters and Open House members.

Please join us and help raise money for the band!

Friday August 7th at the Blackshire Pub - $5 Doors at 9 PM

Performing are:

ANDREW JAMES
AARON LOZYNSKY
BLAIR WHATMORE
OLENKA KRAKUS
SAM ALLEN
SHELSTAD & SZUMINSKI

Aside from the money raised at the door (as all of the performers are donating their time and talents), we will be having a raffle of donated items from such great places like: The Village Idiot, Grooves Records, The Black Shire Pub, and The Grand Theatre! (amazing!)

WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!

the stolen items include:
Roland SP-404
Boss SP-303
Behringer Mixer
Boss Digital Reverb RV-5
Electro Harmonix #1 Echo
Microphones, Cables, Adapters, 3 years worth of samples
In addition, James and Nathan's projector and Play Station 3 along with Paterson's SM58 microphone.

THANKS SO MUCH TO THE GREAT COMMUNITY FOR HELPING OUT SO SO MUCH!

Can't attend but you would like to help out a Horse and His Boy? Go here to visit their Paypal Donation site.

Again, a worthy cause for a terrific band. I urge you to come out and make a donation.

Home County Folk Festival 2009 Edition

Sunfest 2009 has come and gone now but the fine Forest City summer festival fun continues. This time it’s one of this city’s oldest music traditions, the Home County Folk Festival in downtown Victoria Park in London, Ontario.

This year organizers are inviting everyone to “Come Experience the Fusion” at London’s longest running FREE admission music festival. A summertime tradition for the past 35 years the festival brings together generations of music fans and performers whilst transforming the park into an exciting family celebration of music, dance and the arts. With over 132 performances, you’ll be energized by the fusion of sounds from regional, national and international talent in folk/rock, blues, bluegrass, Celtic and Acadian.

With an incredible line-up for 2009, professional artists and new styles of folk will be showcased at the park and at late night ticketed venues throughout downtown London. While at the park, take in the sounds and witness the dances that celebrate Canadian artistic roots. You can stroll between the performances and enjoy over 150 crafters and artisans while sampling a variety of foods. Come picnic with the family or visit the Small Folk Fun Area for a variety of free kids entertainment, games, crafts, music, and the Small Folk Fun Stage.

The festival runs from July 17 -19, 2009! I for one can’t wait for Elliot Brood; Always a concert highlight!

Full Artist Line up and schedules


Some of the artists performing at Victoria Park & Late Night Venues

Jill Barber www.jillbarber.com
Matthew Barber www.matthewbarber.com
Allison Brown www.allisonbrown.ca
Alistair Brown www.alistairbrown.com
Betty & The Bobs www.davidwoodhead.com/BettyandtheBobs
Elliott Brood www.elliottbrood.ca
Andrew Downing www.myspace.com/andrewdowningmusic
David Essig www.davidessig.com
The Dixie Flyers www.dixieflyers.ca/
Dust Poets www.dustpoets.com
Fraser www.myspace.com/listentofraser
Little Miss Higgins www.littlemisshiggins.com
Sam Hurrie www.myspace.com/samhurrie
Lindsay Jane www.myspace.com/lindsayjanemusic
Connie Kaldor www.conniekaldor.com
Paul Langille www.myspace.com/paullangille
David Leask www.davidleask.com
Emma Lee www.emma-lee.com
Anne Lindsay www.anne-lindsay.com
Good Lovelies www.goodlovelies.com
Troy MacGillivray www.troymacgillivray.com
Andy Magoffin www.myspace.com/andymagoffin
Murray McLauchlan www.myspace.com/murraymclauchlan
Danny Michel www.dannymichel.com
Luke Nares www.myspace.com/lukenares
Jory Nash www.jorynash.com
New Cumberland www.newcumberlandband.com
Joel Plaskett www.joelplaskett.com/
The Tim Posgate Hornband www.guildwoodrecords.com/
The Sadies www.myspace.com/thesadies
Mike Stevens www.mikestevensmusic.com
Rick Taylor www.ricktaylormusic.com
Madison Violet www.madisonviolet.com
The Undesirables www.myspace.com/undesirables

Tim Woodcock www.myspace.com/rocknbluesman

LOLA Festival Returns

Summer holidays can sometimes wreak havoc on a bloggers news cycle but I would be remiss if I were to leave this item unmentioned. In the better late than never department - some terrific London Ontario music news.

The artist listing for the fourth incarnation of the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) has been announced and as always it looks pretty fantastic. Final Fantasy, Akron/Family, Bruce Peninsula, Polar Bear, A Horse and His Boy, Canaille and Nihilist Spasm Band, NOMO, and the University Of Western Ontario New Music Ensemble are some of the musical acts that will play the London Ontario Live Arts Festival (LOLA) from Sept. 17th to 19th.

Free concerts and programming will once again be held in London's Victoria Park and over three days.

“By turning night into day, day into night – warping time and space metaphorically and psychologically – the artists of LOLA 2009 will generate visions of brilliance and darkness that will challenge the senses and ignite the imagination,” states Paul Walde, Artistic Director for LOLA.

LOLA 2009 will once again free concerts in Victoria Park, feature art exhibitions throughout the city's downtown area and the Forest City Gallery, along with a downtown light-based installation that will transform an entire city block.

More information about the festival is available on the LOLA website.