Written By James Matthews

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Few things scream summer fun more than loud music, beer, and barbecue-seared meat.

The Bands, Brews, and BBQ event Aug. 6 at Fiddle Park in Shelburne fills each of those categories in one of the last chances to squeeze all the summer revelry you can just a month away from the dreaded start of the school year.

The Bands, Brews, and BBQ event is part of the Rotary Club of Shelburne's Heritage Music Festival Concert Series that was borne in answer to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The club has hosted an incarnation of the festival by way of the Canadian Open Old-Time Fiddle Championships for as many as 70 years. Then the pandemic brought the world to a stifled halt in 2020. So the club decided to move away from the traditional festival format to ensure the health and safety of patrons.

To that end, the HMF Concert Series was launched with several events having
been offered.

“Everybody is use to things changing because of the pandemic,” said Bobbi Ferguson, co-president of the Rotary Club.

All proceeds raised through the concert series is funnelled back into the community, she said.

Saturday's events are more relaxed and are imbued with a family-friendly
carnival-type atmosphere.

As almost a prelude on Friday, Dan Davidson will take to the stage for a concert to be opened by Jessie T. That show will be followed by an after party with DJ Rod West of Country 105 fame.

Saturday's offerings at Fiddle Park will have something for the whole family. Aside from the tunes, there'll be many vendors selling their services and wares, and things for children like face-painting and balloon-tying.

Gates open at 2 p.m. and children will be entertained by way of a Sharon, Lois, and Bram singalong to start 3 p.m. before magician Steve Baker blows everybody's hair back beginning 4:15 p.m.

Baker has performed across Ontario for 20 years. Countless audiences of all ages in that time have been mind-blown with family friendly prestidigitation, sleight of hand, and mind-reading illusions. His act blends character and comedy with magic. 

Baker has worked as a television and theatrical magic consultant and conducted workshops for businesses, government, health professionals, and thousands of children at schools, libraries and camps.

Visitors to the field will catch a glimpse of the region's entertainment future when winners of the recent Dufferin Rising Star Contest plug their instruments in at 5:30 p.m. Area bands who claimed attention as rising stars were The Matlockes in first place, Maddie in second, and The Black Atoms rounded out the trifecta.

Shelburne's Josh Oatman will tread the stage at 6 p.m. before Richie C. an hour later.

Michael Shotton and Pop Machine will close out the day starting 8 p.m.

Ferguson said there always the possibility of a return to the former traditional fiddle championships.

“If people who would come out aren't comfortable, then it doesn't make sense to have it,” she said.

The Rotary Club will consider the possibility in March for a 2023 fiddle championships.

“The hope is that the week-long fiddle contest will return,” Ferguson said.