ROTARYFEST kicks off next week with musical performances

The Sault’s Summer Festival ROTARYFEST returns to Clergue Park next week. 

Free live music performances will run from July 14 to the evening of July 16.

Stage One will be marked with rock, country, jazz, and more. 

Singer and songwriter Julian Taylor from Toronto will also join the event and perform under the bandshell at 6 p.m. on the Saturday of ROTARYFEST. 

Stage Two, situated beside the Art Gallery of Algoma, will present original music by local artists on July 16, as well as a new “Friday Night Blues” evening offered by the Sault Blues Society. 

This year, the festival will also include a Northern Superior Brewing licensed area.

More information about the festival and dates can be found below: 

Next week, Clergue Park will once again be rocking, thanks to the return of ROTARYFEST, The Sault’s Summer Festival! Live music performances will begin Thursday, July 14, and continue late into the evening on Saturday, July 16. Admission to the entertainment is entirely free and is the Rotary Club of Sault’s Ste. Marie’s way of thanking the community for their continued support.

Stage One, presented by OLG and sponsored in part by Canadian Heritage, will feature rock, country, jazz, and more. 

“We are really excited to welcome everyone back to Clergue Park for three days of music and dancing!” shared Kt Antler, Stage one director. “The committee has a great line-up planned, full of very talented musicians! Make sure to stop by and enjoy.”

Thanks to the support of Evolugen, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Taylor will be playing under the bandshell at 6 p.m. on the Saturday of ROTARYFEST. Julian Taylor enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2020 when his solo acoustic album, The Ridge, gained millions of plays on Spotify and was nominated for two Juno awards. He has since earned Solo Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, best male artist in the International Acoustic Music Awards, and five Native American Music Award nominations.

SooToday Stage Two, located beside the Art Gallery of Algoma, will feature original music by local artists throughout Saturday, as well as a new “Friday Night Blues” evening presented by the Sault Blues Society. 

"I'm very excited about this year's Second Stage lineup. It will be a great showcase of the talent and creativity in our community, with both new and familiar faces,” shared SooToday Stage Two director Dustin Goodall. “We are lucky to have such exciting art being made locally, and these artists deserve your support!  Hope to see you out there!"

This year’s festival will include a Northern Superior Brewing licensed area. Attendees are asked to drink responsibly and to please arrange for transportation to and from the event if they plan on drinking.

A full line-up of music events can be found below, and more information about each band can be found here.

Stage One, presented by OLG

Thursday, July 14

6 p.m. - Northern Jazz Ensemble

7 p.m. - Flathead Ford

8 p.m. - Wyld Stallyns

9 p.m. - L!ME

Friday, July 15

5 p.m. - Ladies Sing The Blues

6 p.m. - RPM

7 p.m. - Obsession

8 p.m. - Mike Haggith

9 p.m. - Mustang Heart

10 p.m. - Angry Joe and the Growlers

Saturday, July 16

12 p.m. - Pegasus

1 p.m. - The Jeff and Jeff Show

2 p.m. - All The Tired Horses

3 p.m. - Fort Creek

4 p.m. - Kt Antler and Keith Conway

5 p.m. - Brendan Hodgson

6 p.m. - Julian Taylor, presented by Evolugen

7:10 p.m. - Mid Life Crysis

8:30 p.m. - Queen Flash - The Ultimate Queen Tribute

10:30 p.m. - Bone Yard

11:45 p.m. - ROTARYFEST Take Your Pick Draw (tickets available online here)

SooToday Stage Two

"Friday Night Blues" presented by the Sault Blues Society

5:30 p.m. - The Swamp Cats

6:30 p.m. - Big Wheel and The Spokes

7:30 p.m. - Smokehouse

8:30 p.m. - Rusty McCarthy

Saturday, July 16

12:30p.m. - These Magnificent Tentacles

1:30 p.m. - Sainte Marie

2:30 p.m. - Jupiter Marvelous

3:30 p.m. - Hollow Heads

4:30 p.m. - Planet Rock

5:30 p.m. - Handsome Sandwich

6:30 p.m. - Dynowaves

7:30 p.m. - The Uncanny Valley

8:30 p.m. - The Northwest

For over 100 years, the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie has fostered service, leadership, and good work in our community. Founded in 1918, the club’s mandate to support children with physical disabilities has been the heart behind the hard work of hundreds of Rotarians spanning generations. Rotary invests in the Sault’s youth through Rotary Youth Exchange, Algoma Rotary Science Fair, Rotary Sports Awards, scholarships, local projects such as the Rotary Adventure Playground, and partnerships with THRIVE Child Development Centre and Easter Seals Ontario.