| Now in its fourth year, the IRIE Music Festival moved its stage under the Special Events Tent at Ontario Place. This is a marked improvement over the open concrete expanse of Nathan Phillips Square, home to the stage in previous years.
The proximity of the lake and the tent top offered some welcome relief from the extreme heat we are experiencing this summer. Add to that a beer garden, food vendors (roasted yams and corn, chickpea and chicken rotis, etc.), picnic tables, a large open area in front of the stage … this music festival has found a nice home.
Over the four-day event we were able to hear internationally famed artists (Third World, Morgan Heritage, Brinsley Forde, David Rudder…) as well as some great local talent (The Sattalites, Jason Wilson and Tabarruk, Neu Jenurashun, Sonia Collymore…)
While some of the performances were attended by a rather sparse audience, the festival overall teemed with life and good vibes — we were IRIE!
We are looking forward to next year’s edition and wish this festival a healthy growth.
(Hopefully some attention will be given to improving the sound quality and perhaps to a redesign of the stage lighting).
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