Latest news with #Rakoczy
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
How Festival of Friends booked Sugarhill Gang
General manager Robert Rakoczy was on a layover from a vacation in Spain when he got the email confirming Sugarhill Gang would perform at Festival of Friends this year. But to add to his excitement, Rakoczy would soon receive another call from the agent asking if there was enough in the budget to add American rappers Melle Mel and Scorpio from The Furious Five, known for the legendary song 'The Message.' Since Sugarhill Gang was one of the first acts he booked, there was, he said. 'I was like 'Are you kidding me? I have Sugarhill Gang, but now I can add Grandmaster Flash's guys?'' said Rakoczy. They are hip hop legend drops in the bucket of performances set for Friday to Sunday , all viewed for free, at Gage Park (1000 Main St. E.) . Sister Sledge perform on the second day of Festival of Friends, Saturday, Aug. 2. Girl group Sister Sledge ('We Are Family'), Canadian country singer Brett Kissel, Canadian indie rock-folk artists Dan Mangan and the returning Hamilton rock band The Trews exemplify the festival's diverse lineups that continue to span across eras and genres. The event has featured Tanya Tucker ('Delta Dawn') and Village People ('YMCA') in 2024, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas in 2013 and Don McLean ('American Pie') in 2007. Getting Village People proved fruitful, as Rakoczy worked through the same agent to get Sugarhill Gang. After sorting through availabilities, receiving the final OK was thrilling, he said, but not unexpected. Rakoczy landed on Sister Sledge once he decided to follow an '80s theme. Booking them required some more discussion, with him negotiating accommodation for a growing number of bands. 'What gets the attention, what brings people to the park, what gets them excited is giving them something different,' said Rakoczy. 'If we want to grow, we have to expand and we have to include more people in the festival.' Despite the famous performances featured at the festival, it remains free, and Rakozcy said thanks is owed to the sponsors. The festival takes about $600,000 to run, about 10 per cent of which Rakoczy said goes to wages. More than half goes to setting up the stage and paying for performers. Tim Hortons, the presenting sponsor, and Second Shop are 90 per cent of the sponsorship money, he said. 'If you were to sum it up, it's money, timing and reputation of the festival,' said Rakoczy. Rakoczy's first concert was at Festival of Friends in 1979. He then brought his child to the festival in 1993. He hopes attendees can continue to show the same loyalty to the festival to keep it going. 'I think the key to that is to stick to our roots, while still expanding,' said Rakoczy. Even before the weekend, Rakoczy is thinking about next year's Festival of Friends, which will be its 50th anniversary. He said it will be the biggest Hamilton has seen. 'This is what gets me excited about the festival is like the next thing, what's next year? Can we do bigger, can we do more?' For the full lineup, timings and more information, go to . Weekend planner: Festival of Friends, Lucky Lion Night Market, Cardinals game this weekend Rock artist Kurt Tweedle plays Cat and Fiddle ( 174 John St. S. ) on Saturday Aug. 2 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event celebrates Tweedle's birthday, featuring a 'hot sauce challenge,' and other artists, such as Dean Fulton, Carl De Souza and Marlon Nicolle. Entry is pay what you can. An all-Canadian band of musicians perform a special concert to honour American singer-songerwriter and pianist Ray Charles. Shawn and Ed Brewing Co. ( 65 Hatt St. ) hosts the show on Friday Aug. 1 at 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Regular seats are $25, plus tax and a service fee, and guaranteed seats with backs are $27.50, plus tax and a service fee. Go to for more. Grab seats to Folk and Feelings before the 80 available tickets are gone. Juno Award-winner Frank Fiction hosts the live and intimate acoustic concert at the Crown and Press Gallery and Cafe ( 303 Ottawa St. N. ) on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Fiction is also the co-founder of the gallery and café. Singer Eric Brandon plays the event after touring with country star Owen Riegling. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Go to for tickets. Hamilton Public Library hosts another Noon Hour Concert on Friday Aug. 1 at its central branch ( 55 York Blvd. ). From noon to 1 p.m., singer and queer activist Lyla Miklos and pianist Juanita Maldonado share music, stories and images to honour Two Spirit and LGBTQIA-plus communities. Visit for more. Jazz Up Your Night at Synonym Shop ( 328 James St. N. ) returns Friday. One set plays from 7 to 8:15 p.m., followed by another from 8:45 to 10 p.m. The free event starts right after Happy Hour on tap beer, from 4 to 6 p.m. Lulu Lamontagne shares the stage with Sunshine Express, Hamilton-based The Checkerboards, and band Megasmegma on Wednesday Aug. 6. at Mills Hardware ( 95 King St. E. ) Advance tickets are $15, plus tax and fees. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Mattmac and City Builders perform at the venue on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $20, plus tax and fees. Go to for tickets. Start off August at Slye Fox ( 4057 New St. ) with John Restas on Friday Aug. 1 and Paul Mallard on Saturday Aug. 2 , both at 8:30 p.m. Brad Hailz returns to the Burlington venue on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. All the performances are free to watch. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Trews, Sister Sledge, Sugarhill Gang, Brett Kissel headline 49th annual Festival of Friends
The Festival of Friends isn't so much turning 50 next year as feeling forever young this year, its 49th, and on into the future. Forty-nine, 50 — the fun is just starting. Since 2017, Rob Rakoczy, as general manager, has been bringing up the baby, the late Bill Powell's 1976 love child of music and arts. And he and his team are keeping the treasured Hamilton summer celebration fresh, with lively mixtures of genre, generation and genuine musical gems. 'It's the 49th for the festival this year, and we're excited about our lineup and the plans for this year, which are going to lead us on into our first half century and a huge anniversary next year,' says Rakoczy. It's going to go like this — The Trews, the inimitable Hamilton-based rockers with multiple Juno nominations and a big following, are headlining on the Friday night (Aug. 1 at 9:30 p.m.), capping off an opening day with the musical tuning set at indie/rock. Saturday night sees a massive hip-hop/soul lineup with an appearance by no less an act than the historic Sugarhill Gang of 'Rapper's Delight' fame — the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on Billboard. They're coming to the stage to 'hip hop, the hippie to the hop and you don't stop the rockin' to the bang-bang boogie, say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat.' 'It's a big coup for us to get them' Rakoczy says of The Sugarhill Gang. 'We're very excited about it.' When Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3 Where Gage Park, 1000 Main St. East, Hamilton Who Performers include The Trews, Sister Sledge, The Sugarhill Gang, Brett Kissel, Peter Elkas Band, Dan Mangan, Honey Luck, The Wild High, Tep No, Chris Chambers Band, Alfie Smith, Florin Clonta, Max Paxton & The Pintos, Blood Roses, and Banned From Heaven. There will also be a kids stage, midway, pony rides, arts and crafts demonstrations, and more than 125 vendors. Tickets As always, admission is free. For more see The Sugarhill Gang will be joined by Melle Mel and Scorpio of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. But that's not even the biggest news yet. The headliner of headliners, on Saturday's main stage at 9:30 p.m. Is — wait for it, as they say — ready? — Sister Sledge. The Festival of Friends and … Fam-i-ly, as in 'We Are Family.' 'It's part of a whole idea we have,' says Rakoczy, 'of bringing to the people, to Festival of Friends, iconic songs and the artists who did them. We had the B-52s doing 'Love Shack' a few years ago, and also people like Eric Burdon, Don MacLean ('American Pie') and The Village People.' Sister Sledge's 'We Are Family' is certainly one of those songs. And not to be outdone, Sunday night brings what is probably equally good news for those with an ear under their cowboy hats for country music. Brett Kissel, one of Canada's biggest country music stars, will close out the festival at 9:30 p.m. on the main stage on Sunday, Aug. 3. Kissel says Rakoczy is the biggest country star the festival has hosted since Tanya Tucker, winner and nominee of several Juno and Canadian Country Music Association awards 'People are very excited about Brett Kissel coming,' says Rakoczy. 'I know a couple who always miss the Sunday because it's their daughter's birthday, but this year they're coming just for Brett Kissel.' Presumably, they'll bring their daughter along. Why not? The festival is not to be missed. And there are many other great acts on the main stage beyond the headliners. It all starts on Friday at 6 p.m. with the Peter Elkas Band, kicking off the indie/rock portion of the weekend. They will be followed at 7:30 p.m. on the Friday by two-time Juno winner Dan Mangan. Mangan's indie, folk alt-rock and experimental music has won widespread acclaim over more than two decades. 'They (Peter Elkas Band and Dan Mangan) are the perfect fit' for a night that culminates with The Trews, says Rakoczy. '(The Trews) headlined in 2019 (at Festival of Friends) and people loved it. The Trews have that effect — such an unstoppable train ride of energetic sound and variety.' On the Saturday, opening acts include Tep No, a Hamilton DJ/electronic artist who has appeared on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and who has millions of streams. On Sunday, Country Day, The Wild High (a new band from former Monster Truck lead singer Jon Harvey) will come on at 6:30 p.m., and will be followed at 8 p.m., before Kissel, by Honey Luck from Austin, Texas, back by popular demand after last year's smash show at the festival. One of Honey Luck's lead singers, says Rakoczy, was a contestant on 'The Voice' and ended up on Blake Shelton's team. The band just recorded with Christ Stapleton's people.
