Home County Music & Art Festival returns with Bedouin Soundclash headlining

The Home County Music & Art Festival is back at Victoria Park in London, Ont., this Saturday, promising a full day of live music, artisan vendors, and a laid-back summer vibe.

This year marks the festival's 49th edition, although festival director Darin Addison said the team is still catching up after a few challenging years.

"We did a small summer celebration last year, but we didn't call it a festival," Addison said on CBC London Morning. "We missed a couple of years with the pandemic and last year, so this year is kind of a step back. Fingers crossed we'll be back next year for our 50th edition with a three-day festival."

The festival will take place over a single day, with opening ceremonies set for 1 p.m. Addison said the decision to scale back to one day was primarily due to financial constraints and a lack of volunteer resources.

"We lost our executive director and site coordinator, both volunteer positions, and people weren't stepping up," he said. "We had to sit back and regroup."

More than 40 craft vendors will line Victoria Park, alongside a variety of food options and a beer garden hosted by London Brewing.

The main stage will feature a mix of local and national performers, with Bedouin Soundclash headlining the lineup. Other acts include Ambiguous, Raised by Swans, Leanne Mayer, Fraser Teeple, The Marrieds, and bluegrass favourites New Cumberland.

"People love the laid-back vibe of Home County," said Addison. "We're putting the stage in the middle of the park, inviting people to bring their own chairs or blankets and hang out."

As always, the festival is admission by donation, and Addison emphasizes the importance of community support.

"We rely on donations from patrons, but we want everyone to feel welcome," he said.

The Home County Music & Art Festival runs all day Saturday at Victoria Park. More details, including the full performer lineup, can be found at homecounty.ca.