Vegstock plus Dandelion Festival! [General]

2009 May 11
Both Vegstock and The Dandelion Festival take place in Kemptville the weekend of May 30-31 2009. Now I know most of Ottawa doesn't know more than one or two names of towns south of the big city but I'm thinking that Kemptville is one of those that may be known and a few may even have passed through on their way to Merrickville and maybe someone even stopped in town, probably at the liquor store. All joshing aside, here's some news that may get a foodie or two to visit Kemptville (come before the WalMart gets built!). Pay special attention to the Beau's reference, the Texas-style BBQ and the last sentence re the cost of all the fun.

From the branch restaurant May newsletter:

"See that green stuff everywhere? That’s Spring, baby! That means VegStock! VegStock! VegStock! VegStock ’09 is on the way! Spring! The farmers are ready (mostly, anyway...) and you should be too! It’s that time again...time to dance away yer winter blues at the world’s greatest (Kemptville Kinsman’s Farmers’ Market season opening...) street party! the branch restaurant and Ken Johns productions are proud to once again be hosting not just one but two(!) fun-filled, musically exciting, days (May 30 and 31st) full of tunes that will take you on a musical journey as diverse as the soon to be bountiful fields we will be here to celebrate--everything from country, folk & rock to bluegrass, indie rock and the blues, a musical soup made from the finest of stocks...your VegStock will feature Kemptville and the Ottawa Valley’s finest songwriting, its fastest picking—all the way from it’s classic country heart to its loudest, proudest rock & roll soul!

This year’s lineup marks the return of some of last years highlights, along with a mix of new faces and some other old friends...Also new this year, Saturday will be a long party with outdoor lights and dancing until 11:00 pm! Confirmed so far are:

Day 1

12-12:45 Kansas City Shuffle

1-1:45 George Buys

2-2:45 Andy McGaw

3-3:45 Meredith Luce and the Mandates

4-4:45 The OhYeahs!

5-5:45 Loon Choir

6-6:45 Nukariik

7-7:45 Barn

8-8:45 Al Wood and the Woodsman

9-9:45 Roxzilla


Day 2:

11-11:45 Chef Bruce and the Loose and Juicy Acoustic Army

12-12:45 Grenville Grass

1-1:45 Shady Blue

2-2:45 Pat Moore

3-3:45 John Carroll

4-4:45 The Standby Brothers


Chef Bruce from the branch will also be your emcee, and plans to bring a little flavour of his own to the proceedings with a few words about local foods and farmers...

Beau’s Lug Tread beer will be flowing in a beer tent out in front of the restaurant (new this year,) with a full view of the stage—The Dandelion Festival—Kemptville’s premiere local art, craft and business showcase, will be centered around the downtown core with a slew of activities designed to include the whole family--participation has been confirmed for the following: belly dancing, a boot sale, a children’s village, clowns, a crafters’ market, a cricket match, hat making, Dandelion wine workshop, decorating contest, drumming, the farmers’ market (of course!), gardening, heritage walking tours, high tea, a karate demonstration, live music, an obstacle course, a petting zoo, a photo contest, a quilt show, recycled arts & crafts exhibition, rug hooking, a sidewalk sale, square dancing, storytelling, street performers, tai chi, yoga, train rides, and youth activities!

Also returning this year, the branch restaurant will be hosting the concession by the stage and featuring the best Texas style BBQ north of the I-35 corridor alongside a fine selection of slightly less Texas style veggie options for any and all, and, as always, in the finest branch tradition, all prepared with a selection of local, fresh, organic and handmade ingredients!

VegStock and the Dandelion Festival are green events—Your Mother (Earth, that is...) will thank you for your support and remembering not to bring in any disposable stuff unless it’s recyclable or compostable...

Carpooling is encouraged, and some parking will be available downtown, and park and ride options from the Municipal Center parking lot just North of the main intersection (at highways 43 & 44) will be available as well...

The cost for all this fun in the sun? A can of food that can be dropped of at Salvation Army truck that will be parked right beside the main stage."

Andy: Here's a link to a bit of info re The Dandelion Festival: www.northgrenville.ca

2009 May 29
bumping, grinding and shimmying to the sounds - that's my plan for the weekend. Looking forward to Meredith Luce and Al Wood while my wife is hot, no doubt, on Grenville Grass as she was in a grass band for years. If the branch's chef Bruce makes music anywhere near as good as the food he prepares that should be a good start to the Sunday morning schedule.
The lineup and times have recently been revised a bit according to the latest "branch restaurant" newsletter:

Day 1 - Saturday

12pm Kansas City Shuffle

1pm George Buys

2pm Andy McGaw

3pm Meredith Luce and the Mandates

4pm The OhYeahs!

5pm Loon Choir

6pm Nukariik

6:30pm Barn

7:30pm Al Wood and the Woodsman

8:30pm Roxzilla


Day 2 - Sunday

11am Chef Bruce and the Loose and Juicy Acoustic Army

11:30 pm Grenville Grass
12:30pm Shady Blue
1:30pm Pat Moore and the Vinyl Frontier
2:30pm Trevor Alguire & Gilles Leclerc
3:30pm John Carroll
4:30pm The Standby Brothers

*You're all invited*

Cheers! Andy
PS for a yummy taste of Al Wood hear this: www.myspace.com/alwoodmusic