Fun, family free: Lineup includes Freddie James, Carolyn Fe on the big outdoor stage at Dollard des Ormeaux Park
Contact Staff
Several big names o
n the Blues circuit will be on stage to help celebrate the 12th anniversary of the West Island Blues Festival on June 20. Among them are crowd pleasers such as Freddie James, Carolyn Fe, The Rusty Hip Shakers feat. Sarah Dagenais Hakim, Clarksdale Moan, Flirt and the always impressive, Mike Goudreau.
This year, the festival, which draws audiences from across Montreal and beyond, moves back to its home base at Parc Dollard-des-Ormeaux (Salaberry Boulevard in DDO) after venturing out to Pierrefonds last year.
According to founder and organizer, Errol Johnson, after 12 years the festival has established itself as an exciting part of the musical landscape of music lovers from far and wide who value the caliber of performers presented to them on a free outdoor stage.
Also, he says the West Island Blues Festival continues to define itself by continuously partnering with, and supporting community organizations, donating more than $80,000 to various charities since its launch in 2003.
The main beneficiaries over the years have been the West Island Black Community Association (WIBCA), which has received close to $40,000.
Johnson says their commitment to WIBCA is significant and on-going because much of the money goes towards helping the organization maintain the building that it owns on 4th Ave. in Roxboro.
“Look around the community and see how many community-owned businesses have been lost and you’ll understand our commitment to this cause.”
This year the festival has also forged a major partnership with the Alzheimer’s Group and will also make contributions to the Action Jeunesse de l’Ouest-de-l’Île.
But those who stand to benefit most are the thousands and thousands of music lovers from far and wide who will throng to Dollard Des Ormeaux Park to feed on the music and the wide variety of delicacies, Caribbean and otherwise, that are available for this family-oriented festival.
And no doubt, with performers such as Freddie James, Carolyn Fe and The Rusty Hip Shakers on the bill, there will be a lot of dancing.
Check out the West Island Blues Festival on June 20, from 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Dollard des Ormeaux Park. It’s free!
Info.: westislandbluesfest.com or
errol.johnson@sympatico.ca. Tel: 514-620-0554 or 514-781-0890.
