Hillside ...... Inside

Cheers to Sam Baijal, Rachel Thompson and the tireless efforts of the staff members and the many 'We Make it Rock' Volunteers. Taking the summertime institution, held on the stellar Guelph Island for the last 24 years and bringing it indoors was an at once brave, yet much needed diversion from the doldrums that the Canadian winter can bring around the start of February. With Hillside really beginning to hit their market stride, selling out the last few years, it apparently seemed time to see if expanding out was a direction of choice, because expanding up was no longer an option. With Sam at the reigns, as always, the quality and diversity of talent was inevitable, with a sampling of the bands in photos in the following posts, part of the 10 hour marathon that also included Cuff the Duke, Shout Out Out Out Out and Zaki Abrahim. What peaked me was how they where going to pull off an arena show while retaining any of the warmth and spirit of the utopian July incarnation. Well I am happy to say that it's mission accomplished. Yes, there was no sun to numb the daydreams, no river to cool the senses, there was no achingly beautiful sunsets leaning against a dancing 'I', and I saw no full moon vistas walking across the causeway, but what I did feel was spirit. From the environmental tips-of-the-hat, to the soft green covering of the ice surface, which at times really resembled an organic summertime front of stage, with people laying, playing, loving and dreaming. Thank you Hillside, you did it...see you in the summer and can't wait until next February....

Sean