After a three-year hiatus, Hillside Inside returns to its in-person iteration in downtown Guelph, from February 3-5, 2023, offering an abundance of free and ticketed musical shows for everyone’s delight.

Here’s a rundown of our plans:

      Friday:  The Ukrainian trio, Svjata Vatra, plays the University Centre at the University of Guelph for a noon-hour concert. And then at 8 PM, we welcome Kid Koala and Lealani with Skratch Bastid for an exciting dance party showcase at Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St.)

 Saturday:  Hillside offers road hockey in the Royal Bank parking lot (41 Quebec St.) with an Open Mic on Saturday morning, a Youth Showcase (11am-1pm) at Planet Bean at Wyndham & Carden, showcases Tiny Horse at 12:00 at Guelph Music on Carden followed by Alyssa McKenzie at Tomme Cheese on Carden and then Hillside’s Songwriting and Harmony students at Planet Bean (1:15pm). Then you can move to Royal Electric at 52 Macdonell St. for a reggae afternoon, “Lively Up Yourself,” with Kairo McLean (just 13 years old, and already a Juno Award winner!) and Kirk Diamond, and the day ends with the Sadies, Daniel Romano’s Outfit and Christina Hutt at Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St.).

       Sunday:  The festival morning starts at Miijida Café and Bistro (37 Quebec St.) with a Lit Music Brunch and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson who will read from her work and sing songs. Then at 1:30pm you can go to Royal Electric for the Sultans of String and finish the day with a “Women Life Freedom” concert in support of Iranian protesters (donations go to Amnesty International).

So that’s 19 local acts, comprised of 47 Guelphites who will perform at various showcases, and then there are local hockey players, chefs, shopkeepers, and wonderful volunteers. We hope you will join us at these events as we ease back into singing together, staying close, and galvanizing Guelph again!

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Organization Contact for Media Inquiries:
Marie Zimmerman, Executive Director Hillside Festival
519-831-1576

executivedirector@hillsidefestival.ca
hillsidefestival.ca