Just like many other festivals around the world cancelled due to COVID-19, London's Home County Music & Art Festival has bounced back with a virtual version of the beloved music event.
Festival organizers announced on Friday a digital edition that will run from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on July 16 and 17. Dubbed Stay Home County 46.5, the online music event will feature six performers (local and international) each night. It will be streamed through the festival's Facebook page and at homecounty.streaminginc.com.
"We're really excited to see people tune in on the 16th and 17th and we are hoping people will go to a local restaurant, get some takeout or do delivery and set-up a watch party in their house to have the same kind of vibe they would if we were in the park," said Festival Artistic Director Tim Fraser.
Tim Fraser, artistic director of the Home County Music and Art Festival. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn News)
Home County was among three downtown summertime festivals that announced the cancellation of their in-person events in late April after consulting with local public health and government officials. This year's festival in Victoria Park would have been Home County's 47th. As a way of reserving that number for next year's return to the park, Fraser said the decision was made to refer to the pared down digital event as 46.5.
He went on to note making the switch from a live, in-person festival to a virtual one has not been easy.
"It's basically like starting from scratch," said Fraser. "It has been super fun though and we have all been really happy that we are still able to present something this summer. But it has been a lot more work than I think people realize and what we originally thought when we planned on going virtual."
Organizers are still working to figure out a way to include in the online edition the more than 100 craft and artisan vendors who typically establish booths at the festival.
"We don't have anything currently set-up but it is something that we are trying to do to make sure all of the amazing crafters and artisans who support the festival still have a way to get their wears out to the public and give the public a place to shop local," said Fraser. "Right now it is super important to support local artisans and stores as much as possible."
Admission to the virtual festival is free, but donations can be made through Home County's website. All money raised goes to cover the costs of music programming and festival expenses.
The virtual festival lineup is as follows:
July 16:
Saidat Julian Taylor Megan Bonnell Alash Ensemble AHI The Small Glories
July 17:
The Marrieds Ken Yates Leela Gilday Wolf Saga Terra Lightfoot DJ NDN