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Hamilton Spectator
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Officials offer crowd estimate from revived Home County folk festival
If you rebuild it, they will come. London's Home County Music and Art Festival – cancelled last summer on what would have been its 50th anniversary – was revived by organizers on Saturday in downtown's Victoria Park, with an unofficial estimate of at least 20,000 people stopping by. 'We are overwhelmingly pleased at the turnout,' said Darin Addison, its artistic director. 'We actually sold out of our merchandise shirts and basically took pre-orders to make a second run. So I don't know what that quantity was, but that's never happened in my time at Home County.' Expected rain held off and a cool breeze blew through the park as headliners Bedouin Soundclash started playing after sundown. The band's singer, Jay Malinowski, reflected on playing London during the band's heyday about 20 years ago – especially at Call The Office, a shuttered venue he noted is set to reopen. On Saturday, vendors lined the edges of pathways throughout the park. Addison said there were about 40 crafts vendors and about a dozen selling food. Unlike the past multi-day event, Home County was a one-day affair this year, with all performers playing on a south-facing stage that was set up in the grass near the park's northern edge. Donations were encouraged, but the day-long concert was free. Addison this weekend said post-pandemic editions of Home County had been drawing about 30,000 attendees annually. People who donated were given green stickers, and many of them wore them on their clothing. Julia Webb was among those who donned a green sticker. The 66-year-old retired high school teacher moved to British Columbia from London in November. She was back in the city for a wedding and said she has been attending Home County for decades, noting her first time was the inaugural year, 1974. She said she was glad to see the festival return to the park after its absence last year. 'I'm so happy to see that they're making an effort to make it happen, and it'll be really lovely to see if they can find a way to keep it going,' Webb said. 'It's got such a strong tradition, and this city has so much music history in it.' A former Home County board member, Paul Mills, 79, is a retired music producer who produced more than 200 albums, including by Sharon, Lois and Bram. He also said he was 'delighted' to see the festival return to Victoria Park. 'I think it's wise that they've decided to do just one day,' Mills said. 'Let's tiptoe our way back and make sure everything's working. It's a good comeback.' Does this mean the future is looking bright for Home County? Addison expressed optimism during a mid-festival interview on Saturday. 'There was a group of people who are passionate about the festival who want to keep it going,' Addison said. 'We'll have to do a total debrief and figure out what's the best way forward and go from there.' bwilliams@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Home County Folk League returns to London for 49th season
Preparations are underway for the return of the Home County Folk League this Saturday. (Lauren Stallone/CTV News London) Preparations were underway Friday morning at Victoria Park in London Ont., as the Home County Folk League is set to make its return this Saturday for its 49th season. The festival took a brief pause in 2024, due to rising costs. Iconic Canadian band, Bedouin Soundclash will take the stage, along with several other talented performers. 'I think there's a lot of people that are going to say they love them from Soundcloud or on the radio,' said Darin Addison, Home County artistic director. 'There's other people that are going to say 'I don't know that band' and then they're going to hear a song and say 'oh I know that song.'' Organizers said the festival will look a little different this year. 'We have one stage set up right in the middle of the park,' said Anna Donaldson, Home County chair. 'Its going to be a one-day festival here on one stage.' In addition to live music this year's event will feature a craft show featuring pottery, jewellery, fine art and gourmet food. Visitors are invited to explore the park and enjoy the music. 'We encourage everyone to BYOB,' said Addison. 'Bring your own blanket or chair because we are going to be in the grass in the centre of the park.' Since 1974, the festival has been a beloved fixture of London's cultural identity, celebrating Canadian music, art and craft in the heart of the city. 'We have all sorts of new and exciting ideas and we are looking for feedback from our visitors for future years,' said Donaldson. The festival kicks off at 1:30 p.m.
CBC
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Home County Music & Art Festival returns with Bedouin Soundclash headlining
The Home County Music & Art Festival is back at Victoria Park in London, Ont., this Saturday, promising a full day of live music, artisan vendors, and a laid-back summer vibe. This year marks the festival's 49th edition, although festival director Darin Addison said the team is still catching up after a few challenging years. "We did a small summer celebration last year, but we didn't call it a festival," Addison said on CBC London Morning. "We missed a couple of years with the pandemic and last year, so this year is kind of a step back. Fingers crossed we'll be back next year for our 50th edition with a three-day festival." A one-day event The festival will take place over a single day, with opening ceremonies set for 1 p.m. Addison said the decision to scale back to one day was primarily due to financial constraints and a lack of volunteer resources. "We lost our executive director and site coordinator, both volunteer positions, and people weren't stepping up," he said. "We had to sit back and regroup." More than 40 craft vendors will line Victoria Park, alongside a variety of food options and a beer garden hosted by London Brewing. The main stage will feature a mix of local and national performers, with Bedouin Soundclash headlining the lineup. Other acts include Ambiguous, Raised by Swans, Leanne Mayer, Fraser Teeple, The Marrieds, and bluegrass favourites New Cumberland. "People love the laid-back vibe of Home County," said Addison. "We're putting the stage in the middle of the park, inviting people to bring their own chairs or blankets and hang out." Admission by donation As always, the festival is admission by donation, and Addison emphasizes the importance of community support. "We rely on donations from patrons, but we want everyone to feel welcome," he said. The Home County Music & Art Festival runs all day Saturday at Victoria Park. More details, including the full performer lineup, can be found at
