LUCIDMEDIA

Previewing Cutting Edge Music Festival

Written by Andrew Skinner Friday, 10 July 2009 15:24

Heat, water, music, parties, friends, camping and lots of fun; the Cutting Edge Music Festival [CEMF] ‘Ontario’s largest rock, dance music camping event of the year,’ has it all. This year’s two day splash fest of endless music will be along the Grand River in Kitchener, Ontario, at Bingeman’s Fun Park camping resort. It’s a great venue timed for the August long weekend, with easy access from surrounding areas such as London and Guelph, and only a one hour drive from Toronto. Speaking with Lucid Forge, CEMF promoter Carey Kurtin calls it a “…total adventure package” which has something for everyone.

It promises much more than last year’s Grand Bend event with over 50 performers on two live rock stages and an indoor dance warehouse. Highlights are the jazzy, hip-hop Grammy Award winning band The Roots, in their exclusive Ontario appearance this summer. Recently announced as the surprise co-headliner are the cool reggae riffs of two-time Juno Award winners Bedouin Soundclash, along with ill Scarlett doing reggae-pop-punk. Others to look out for on stage Sunday are the rising Dinosaur Bones, Moneen, Rebel Emergency, Grand Analog, Stereos, Candy Coated Killahz, Johnny Alexander and Awakening State.

Featured on Saturday are young bloods The Bronx, a California hardcore punk band and Protest the Hero a Canadian progressive metal band. Andrew W.K., Ten Second Epic, Dead and Divine, The Artists Life, Keepin’6, Baptized in Blood, Kingdoms, Desperate Union, Good Times Band, and Dame round out the program.

In the Smirnoff Dance Warehouse, the event will be highlighted by turntablist Mixmaster Mike of the Beastie Boys on Saturday, along with the great beats of Canadian electro band Thunderheist, Lady Sovereign, Atomic Hooligan and Let’s Go To War. On Sunday we have Andy C the #1 drum & bass DJ from the UK who will do a three-hour set, as well as Jungle Drummer and DJ FU for live drum and bass, Marcus Visionary, Lush, and Everfresh.

If you would prefer something a little more laid back, but closer to your idols, a very unique feature is the Underground Operations [UO] lounge for activities like autograph signing, acoustic sets and barbecues. CEMF wants to bring fans closer to the bands and the bands closer to the fans.

It maybe the 40th anniversary of Woodstock this year, but you’d never know it because CEMF plans to be much more like the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, according to Kurtin. Woodstock can’t compete with a Big Splash Water Park and all-kinds of other comforts and facilities like Glow-in-the-Dark mini putt and a video arcade!

As for the festival itself, this year’s event will feature much more than just music; including lots of food vendors, go-karting, paintballing, beach volleyball and great camping facilities that include running water, flush toilets and showers. The closest you’ll get to Woodstock is if it pours rain and you’re camping out in the open.

You can buy one or two day tickets for the show and BYOB [no bottles] camp ground access tickets are also available but they must include concert tickets. You can buy these together as a Combo. Beware that although it is an all-ages show, you must be 16 years or older to camp and you must be 19 or over to drink in the licensed areas, so it wouldn’t hurt to bring ID. If you can check out the VIP tickets because they include just about everything; coming with a neck lanyard for special access to venues, express entry lines, VIP parking, better concert viewing areas, private bar, and “BBQ lunch with bands & extracurricular activities.”

Get your tickets soon from Ticketmaster outlets as they are more at the door. There is a shuttle bus service available from Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. Car pools are a great way too, as there is lots of parking. This years Cutting Edge Music Festival is sure to be a blast not to miss. And if you regret that there is no Woodstock 40th anniversary, I can’t think of a better way to make up for it.