LUCIDMEDIA

Cutting Edge Music Festival – Sunday Review

Written by Emily Santos Tuesday, 04 August 2009 11:03

Rain, rain, go away! That is what visitors to Kitchener’s Bingeman’s Camping Resort and musicians were humming at 11am in the hopes that the sun would make a second grand appearance for the long weekend.

Well, it worked!

With a morning of clouds and drizzle, the sunshine was out for lunch and just in the nick of time for the very eccentric opening act, Bocce. Warming up the crowd with some techno beats and record scratching, the boys weren’t afraid to kick the festival off by pushing the boundaries and encouraging the already intoxicated audience to take off their pants! An interesting, amusing and memorable start to the twelve-hour music-jammed day – that’s for certain!

Big Scen and Philadelphia’s Classic kept Bingeman’s Camping Resort on their feet during lunch. However, it was Mr. Nathan Down who stole the crowd. Fans lined up early to catch a glimpse of Down, sporting homemade fan Tees and tanks. Nathan and his boys definitely had the Budweiser stage moving and groovin’ to his progressive, country and rock jams along with a few popular covers.

Down and co. wrapped up their set at 2pm. Following the popular music man of all genres was Will Conquor, Mondays Fiction, Cordoroy, Street Pharmacy and Awaking State.

By the time Johnny Alexander and his smiling band hit the stage, I was forced to bust a move! Alexander, vocally similar to Jack Johnson, Sam Cooke with a bit of Justin Timberlake thrown in there, filled the air with catchy and danceable R&B/rock tunes. Johnny Alexander finished up his set up with a boom –my favourite track by far - “She’s as Smooth as a Lady,” a must-be-checked-out single.

Moneen, Rebel Emergency and Mississauga’s illScarlett were among the crowd favourites. Fans chanted “one more song,” at Moneen and crowd surfers rode the waves of hands during Rebel and ill. Moneen repeatedly told onlookers how happy they were to be on stage at Cutting Edge and how excited they were to be releasing a new album.

After waiting over eight hours it was time for my favourite duo: Bedouin Soundclash. There was a hush among the park after Dinosaur Bones left the stage, a hush that was full of anticipation and excitement. Returning from the United States after touring with No Doubt, Bedouin came back to Canada for the Cutting Edge Festival. The boys had everyone, including the non-dancers on their feet seconds into the opening number (just like they said they would!). It is no wonder why these fellas are Juno Award-winning. Ironically, “When the Night Feels My Song,” made a great a title track for this festival and CEMF staff, security and fans could all be heard chanting “hey beautiful day, hey beautiful day.” It is actually quite moving to see everyone come together during a song like that.

But to think that was the night’s climax, you are wrong. As Bedouin said goodnight, Kitchener awaited one more act. Grammy Award-winning hip hoppers and newly christened into the to late night family as the house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: the legendary Roots. Planting their roots in the early 90s this jazzy and electric group had the right stuff to keep the party going late into the night and fans partied for about two hours with them.

The 2009 Cutting Edge Music Festival was baptized “one of the most memorable” by the 102.1 The Edge on August 2nd. Whether you are a rocker, hip hopper or ska’er, the CEMF is the perfect summer party. I can’t wait to check it out again next year.