Hillside Festival, which takes place July 19 -21 2024, in Guelph Lake Conservation Area, is truly a global village. The festival locates on an island in Guelph Lake creating a small annual community which draws repeat visitors and volunteers, many of whom have known each other for years. The site is a village, but it is on the stage where Hillside earns the Global aspect. Bands from all over the world gather alongside locally and nationally known Canadian artists across three stages for the three days. The 2024 edition of Hillside has several bands worth checking out of course, but the range of global sounds this year is intriguing and recommended.
Ticket info here.
Bab L’ Bluz (Moroccan singer/guitarist Yousra Mansour and the French guitarist / producer Brice Bottin of the Marrakesh Jazz Beat) create blues rock music from a fusion of Gnawa trance rhythms, Hassani songs from southern Morocco and Chaâbi polyrhythms.
BCUC: Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness from Soweto, South Africa, mix up Afro-funk, with hiphop consciousness and punk rock energy for a sound that has been described as afro-psych future pop.
The six piece BIM (Benin International Musical) peform a rock and voodoo ceremony. Their bio on France Rocks states “From gospel to blues via jazz and rock through to rap, all these so-called “modern”musical styles began in the city of Ouidah, on the slaves’ road. An impetus and a musical culture kept alive since through the voodoo convents, the celestial churches, the schools, the brass bands and the trendy clubs in Cotonou.” So yah BIM!
Described as the Sultan of Shred by music mag Noisey, Bombino (born Goumour Almoctar, also known as Oumara Moctar), is of the nomadic Tuareg encampment Tidene, just outside Agadez, Niger.
Canada-based Algonquin drum group Medicine Singers are joining with Yonatan Gat (Monotonix) and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) for what will be quite the experiment. Expect a blend of traditional powwow with psych, punk, jazz and electro-rock
Shauit are Métis from Mani-Utenam on Quebec’s North Shore, who bring Reggae north.
Valérie Ekoumè is a French Cameroonian Afro-pop artst based in France. She spent eight years with Manu Dibango in the Soul Makossa Gang. Miriam Makeba (Mama Africa) is also an inspiration.