The Hills are Alive
Words by Cara Williams
The stage is set for an incredible summer of live music at Blue Mountain with over 100 concerts leading up to the Guitar Trail Music Festival, headlined by Canadian rock legends, Trooper, September 9th.
FROM ROCK TO REGGAE AND AN ARRAY of local and national bands in between, Blue’s Mountain Music Series is a series of free, family-friendly concerts and offers something for everyone this summer. And what a better way to close out a season of grooving, than with a unique hiking and live music experience at the Guitar Trail Music Festival on September 9th. Discover dozens of musicians up the hiking trail, throughout the Village and on the Mill Pond, then get ready as headliner Trooper takes the stage!
“The Guitar Trail Music Festival is the pinnacle event of our Mountain Music Series,” says Patti Kendall, Director, Marketing and Events at Blue Mountain Village Association. “We have over 100 concerts leading up to the Guitar Trail Festival, including Opera Under the Stars, Reggae on the Mountain, Country Vibes and Blues @ Blue.”
What’s a guitar trail you ask? If you love live music and outdoor adventure, you’ll love this—grab your hiking boots and explore over five kilometres of trails that wind up the mountain, through the forest and across bridges and brooks—along the way you’ll discover dozens of musicians tucked into nature performing with the backdrop of spectacular views of Georgian Bay and the Escarpment. Once you reach the top, decide how you want to get back to the Village—you can choose to hike the full loop or take an Open-air Gondola ride to the bottom (keep in mind hiking trails require an Explore Pass, Play All Day Pass, Ikon Pass or a 5×7, but tickets are not required for Village performances).
Additional stages will be found around the Village, including a floating stage on the Mill Pond (which incidentally, is best viewed from a restaurant patio), featuring singer/songwriter Shane Cloutier. When the sun begins to set, head over to the Subaru Stage where headlining band, Canadian rock legends, Trooper will belt out their retro rock anthems!
“The Guitar Trail has always been a great way to welcome locals back to the Village after a busy summer,” says Patti. “The festival truly celebrates our culture, combining hiking, live music, outdoor adventure, patios, multiple stages and incredible vistas, all tied up in one day.”
For a full list of performers and updated schedule of Guitar Trail Music Festival events, please visit bluemountainvillage.ca
