Dan Mangan performs at Tall Pines 2024 on Day One.
Gravenhurst’s Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival returned for its third year after successful festivals in 2022 and 2023 featuring Stellar performances by Blue Rodeo, Mathew Good, Serena Ryder, Big Wreck, The Beaches, and many others. This year the event was moved from The Muskoka Wharf to beautiful Gull Lake Park for an all-Canadian line-up of musical talent headlined by amazing Toronto alt-rockers July Talk and musician, singer, songwriter, record producer Dallas Green, otherwise known as City and Colour. Also headlining was two-time Juno winner Dan Mangan from Vancouver BC and Kitchener Ontario’s wild child JJ Wilde.
The family-oriented festival featured live art, multiple local vendors, and food trucks featuring everything Canadian from poutine to Beaver Tails to lobster rolls that were amazingly delicious in the opinion of someone who has had many lobster rolls on the East Coast. There were refreshing beverage choices from Dillon’s Small Batch Distillery, Matt & Steve’s, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lake of Bays Brewing Co., Tequila Tromba and Coors Light. My favorite was Dillon’s Blackberry, Lemon & A Dash Of Elderflower cocktail which sold out on day two of the festival.
The setting was serene and provided plenty of shade under the trees to stroll and cool off between bands. There were craft and food vendors as well as a beautiful lakefront for relaxing. I can’t imagine a nicer setting for a festival and the people were so friendly and welcoming. I just happened to be sitting next to Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz who was enjoying the festival with her husband and you could see the pride she has for her community and the job they did putting this festival together. There were people from all over attending, and in fact, singer Ciara Roberts of the band Tiny Horse said her sister traveled from Bali to see her perform.
There were outstanding performances on both days of the festival, some of which really stood out such as Tiny Horse from Kingston Ontario. Their catchy songs and the energy and stage performance of Ciara Roberts burned into lasting memories for me. London’s Texas King always delivers a dynamic performance with frontman Jordan MacDonald leading the charge. The Vaniers, Feral Minks, Boston Levi, and Dan Mangan all gave memorable performances.
Spencer Burton stood out as the most country/folk entertainer of the festival. His charming sense of humor and affable personality went over big with the, by this time, large crowd in attendance. Dan Mangan joked about the size of the tall pines saying the pines in his native British Columbia were just a wee bit bigger.
The biggest performance by far was from Toronto’s July Talk. The chemistry between Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay Goldstein as well as the theatric element of their shows is something to experience and converts the uninitiated every time. Their music is outstanding but the live show takes it to another level.
JJ Wilde was another performer who really brought it to the stage. The sultry songstress literally bounced out and never slowed down for her nearly hour-long set. Her set included some new songs like Takes Me back and a cover of Janis Joplin’s Piece of My Heart. That girl can belt it out and is a big favorite of mine.
City and Colour, AKA Dallas Green had by far the biggest weekend crowd. The multi-talented performer, writer, and producer delivered a riveting performance accompanied by talented producer/collaborator Matt Kelly. The 17-song set which included a cover of The Tragically Hip’s Bobcaygeon during a four-song encore was a terrific finish to another outstanding festival for the small Muskoka town.
I wish I could understand why my hometown of Windsor Ontario can’t pull something like this together. We need more festivals like this, more support for Canadian music, and support for our local arts. Tall Pines is a testament to community spirit and love of arts and music that we should all embrace before it’s all gone. Congratulations Gravenhurst, well done!
All photos by Dan Boshart
Day One:
Day Two:
