By Will McGuirk

Not even a mid weekend torrential downpour could dampen the spirit of Mariposa 2025 and as Orillia has had more than its fair share of weather related incidents and other emergencies this year already its for sure this festival in this town wasn’t going to pack up its sodden tents and clothing and go home. Nope these folks are way bigger than that, and maybe that’s why Mariposa is celebrating 65 years! 65 years of resiliency, of speaking out, of people power, of finding common cause, and of kindness.

Cuff The Duke and Hayden before the storm, photo by Will

I was at the Cuff The Duke and Hayden workshop at the Bohemian Stage at the topmost of Tudehope Park where the festival is located when the rain fell and I booked it to my camping spot knowing, as the day had been so hot, I had left the flaps up but no two neighbouring campers had covered mine with a tarp and my gear, clothing, and bedding were fully protected.

But it was hot, and going to get hotter. Weather is a factor now for anyone working on any outdoor event, and while Mariposa does put people first, with water stations, shady areas, tented stages, and its on a swimmable lake, there is still a wide open area in front of the Gordon Lightfoot Stage which will be the subject of conversations moving forward.

But anyway looking back over the weekend of July 4, 5 and 6, well what an absolute joy. I had switched my usual Saturday and Sunday stay to Friday and Saturday to catch Oshawa’s alt-country stalwarts Cuff The Duke who were playing Friday in the Pub Tent. Happy I did so as it gave me a rare insight into those first hours which for me went very late into the night surfing between campsites and two night jams.

I have known Cuff almost since their inception in the early 00s and have seen them so many times but what made this one so special was the presence of their partners and children around the stage. That’s a family friendly festival for sure. And the band stepped up, perhaps to show the kids how Dad can really rock out.

Another family onsite were the Rotellas. Evan Rotella from Niagara Falls was a featured emerging artist and played on the Saturday on the Barnfield Stage as well as at workshops. Evan has been through Oshawa a few times working through bigger and bigger rooms so I know him quite well. It's a bigger stage at Mariposa not just in terms of the crowd but also the legacy; to play to people who have seen them all, Dylan, Cohen, Joni, Lightfoot and for one steeped in that tradition with some Springsteen to boot, young Evan Rotella took it in stride. He is a generous performer with his audience, chatting gregariously with them about his works, his hometown, and his heroes. He has taken the work of those heroes of his, learned from them, and crafted songs which echo but do not imitate, all those great iconic artists.

One of those iconic and unique Canadian artists, Jane Siberry, played the Estelle Klein stage and gave a sublime performance. Her artistry was on display as she invited members of Rock Plaza Central, who had played previously, and whom she did not know, to join her on stage for her closing numbers.

Rock Plaza Central are a Toronto based eclectic folk outfit also from the early 00s who had disbanded some time ago but had reconvened for this date at Mariposa. A treat to see them and nice to see this under appreciated act be included in the line-up.

Headlining the line-up on the Saturday night were American indie folkies Waxahatchee, and the Iron and Wine. Canadian rockers The Sheepdogs were the Friday night, and Blackie & the Rodeo Kings as well as Serena Ryder were Sunday's closers.

Waxahatchee is a combination of Carole King and Neko Case in craft and presentation. She sang solo with just a guitarist off behind her, working her way across her albums which are among my favourites and her Billie Joe jumped off the Tallahassee Bridge drawl.

Iron and Wine stilled the evening, singular and serene in profile.

And thus an early night for an early start derailed by a failed starter and dead car battery. But the kindness of strangers boosted it into life and once again that consideration of community was on show as it had been all weekend at Mariposa and in Orillia is part of its fabric.