There had been no doubt in my mind that I would be nervous for the first festival I’ve shot for. Having multiple different bands and artists in a day – who wouldn’t be? I showed up at the festival grounds about three hours before the gates opened, just so I would be able to walk around and get a feel of what it was all about and where I had to go for shooting. I was especially excited to be able to photograph this event because it showcased local and non-local Canadian artists. Even though it was the end of May, with summer just around the corner, both days were very cold and windy. Dark clouds kept rolling in but luckily the rain held off for the weekend! 

The headliners for day one, May 30, were The Reklaws. They are a brother-and-sister country duo. They came on at about 10:00 p.m. and put on an amazing show, as the light production was phenomenal. Singing their hit songs, including “One Beer Away,” the crowd was excited, dancing and singing along all night.

THE REKLAWS | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

One of the other bands who performed on the main stage on day one were The Road Hammers. They’re a multi-genre group specializing in their country-rock sound. Their set was full of electric guitars, epic drums and amazing vocals – and again, amazing light production.

THE ROAD HAMMERS | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

The crowd at the two-day festival was having so much fun, singing and dancing along to all the music. There were also a few different food trucks with Canada’s famous poutine, perogies, lemonade stand and even an ice cream stand. There were also vendors lined up at the perimeter of the fairgrounds with kettle corn, hot sauce’s to buy, and even small artists with handmade stuff from 3D printed toys to handmade hair bandanas, scrunchies, and hair clips. There was even a huge lineup for fans to buy merch for their favourite performers. I would also like to mention the sponsors, Farm League Brewing, Cottage Springs Beverage Co., Strata Software Agency, Whiskey Road Hat Co., ampersand; print. Packing. Peace of mind., Macho Movers, Fergus Chrysler.

The Glorious Sons were the headliners for day two at Meadows Music Festival. They’re a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario. On day two, they also came out onto the stage at 10:00 p.m., as they were the last performers of the night – and what a show they put on. Fans came from far and wide to see them, and they did not disappoint. The very first song they sang was “The Union,” followed by “Mama” and “My Poor Heart.” As their set went on, they sang some of their biggest hits, including “SOS (Sawed off Shotgun),” “Everything is Alright,” and “Heavy.” 

THE GLORIOUS SONS | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

JJ Wilde was another amazing performer on the second day, coming out onto the stage to start her set at 6:15 p.m. Dressed in a peach and pink crop top, beautiful white pants with a stunning silver belt, and a long green fuzzy jacket. Running onto the stage full of energy and excitement, she started with “Mercy,” followed by “Off the Rails,” and the third song was “Best of Me.” JJ sang her hits, and even covered “You Oughta Know,” originally performed by Alanis Morissette. 

JJ WILDE | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

If you haven’t heard of Avalon Stone, I strongly recommend you look her up! She is a rock and roll beast when it comes to her performance and vocal skills. She isn’t afraid to give her all when she’s performing live, and that’s just what she did – singing her songs “Cliffhanger,” “Drag Me,” and “Harder.” Her power is absolutely jaw-dropping. 

AVALON STONE | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC

Needless to say, the festival was an absolute success, and I believe I’ve captured the artists and bands in a way that represents them and their performing aesthetic. My first festival was so much fun and I cannot wait until my next one!