That very special time of year is upon us, it’s time to pick up your Harvest tickets and passes! The Harvest retail store is now open, and tickets and passes are available for pick-up!
Our store is located in King’s Place Mall, at 440 King St., Fredericton NB, E3B 5H8.
Our hours are Monday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 12pm-5pm. The store will stay open until 10pm the week of the festival.
Run don’t walk to pick-up your tickets, passes, and this year’s merch! We can’t wait to see you there!
Tickets to The Record Company w/ Matt Mays presented by Cox & Palmer have now sold out!
Fredericton’s Harvest Music Festival today announced that The Jimmy Swift Band (The JSB) will reunite at the Festival on Thursday September 15th, replacing The Slip F. Joe Russo, who’ve been forced to cancel their scheduled Harvest appearance due to unforeseen circumstances.
Halifax’s The JSB stopped performing in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of 1,000+ live performances, numerous awards, and a dedicated fan base across Canada and beyond. They return to the stage at Harvest 2022 in support of their long-time sound technician Ron Anonsen, who was in a serious motorcycle accident in Los Angeles this past spring. Fans are encouraged to support the cause by donating in support of his recovery, or by picking up merchandise at the show.
“The Jimmy Swift Band’s tireless energy and audience-focused shows were a thing of legend around the Maritimes and beyond, consistently turning regular nights into unforgettable experiences,” said Brent Staeben, Harvest Music Programmer. “While we’re sad for all of us fans of The Slip, we knew right away that The JSB was the perfect group to round out this night of Big Fun with their old friends – and fellow Maritime legends – Grand Theft Bus.”
The JSB fills in on the Thursday schedule vacated by The Slip F. Joe Russo, returning to Harvest after performing at the 2002 and 2003 festivals. Tickets are $25.00 plus fees and HST, and will be on sale today as of 10:00am Atlantic, available here or by calling 1-888-311-9090. Ultimate, Wednesday – Thursday, and Big Fun in the Barracks Passholders can also access this show.
For those already holding The Slip tickets, nothing has changed and those tickets will be honored at the door. For those interested in a refund, they are available upon request up until Friday September 2nd. To request a refund, please contact Ticketpro at info@ticketpro.ca.
Every September, Harvest fills the streets of downtown Fredericton with music, everywhere you go. In addition to our mainstage shows, there are six free stages and four busker stages scattered throughout downtown, and over a dozen pubs & clubs that program special shows just for the occasion.
‘It’s not a concert – it’s a party,’ says Sugaray Rayford
By: Adam Bowie
Sugaray Rayford would like to get one thing straight: his headlining show at this year’s Harvest Music Festival is not a concert – it’s a party.
The 53-year-old Smith County, Texas native has been making music professionally for more than 20 years, mixing elements of blues, soul and maybe even a touch of gospel.
The former US marine has visited Canada several times before, but he believes this will be his New Brunswick debut. And he’s hoping to make an impression, suggesting that Harvest fans come prepared to have a good time.
“Our job is to provide 60-90 minutes that will erase – not erase – but to provide a salve to what’s going on outside the gates where you come in,” he said.
“I want them to dance. I want them to drink, be merry, enjoy themselves. Get all of their political affiliations, their religious affiliations and put them aside while they’re there. I’m going to do what I can to alleviate [their worries].”
In Too Deep, Rayford’s latest album, was released in March. His previous effort, Somebody Save Me, was nominated for a Grammy, and it feels like things are starting to pick up for the talented bluesman.
In addition to showcases in various parts of North America, he’s booked gigs in Trinidad and Denmark, with more being added every day.
As pandemic restrictions ease across North America, at least at this moment, Rayford is cautiously optimistic about getting back out on the road.
“Everything is slowly starting to come back,” he said. “That doesn’t mean COVID is gone. It rears its ugly head from time to time, I know.”
Each show is special, he said, and they have been over the course of his career. Rayford said he’s grateful for each audience, and that’s why he doesn’t try to pre-plan the party by drafting a set-list. Instead, he tries to take direction from each crowd.
“It’s like trying to wear running shoes on the beach or trying to swim in basketball shoes. Certain things are made for certain people at certain times,” he said.
“Set lists, to me, don’t really work. What works 100 miles down the road might not necessarily work at the next place. It’s a whole different experience. I pay attention to what’s going on all around, and I play off that with my songs.”
When COVID-19 forced the music business to slow down, many independent musicians struggled to deal with the loss of income and the sudden loss of momentum. Luckily, it was good timing for Rayford, who had other important business on his mind.
“The pandemic was actually good for me. Because I was able to be home with my wife, (Pam), who’s had cancer. Being home was good,” he said, explaining he felt it was important to return all the support she’s given him through the years.
Fortunately, Pam’s health is much better these days, he said.
“She’s doing pretty good now. She’s in remission. She’s strong. She’s pretty much back to being herself,” he said.
Rayford will share a stage with Maritime blues legend Theresa Malenfant at Harvest. He said it’ll be an opportunity to see some new musical talent.
Because he’s still in the midst of promoting In Too Deep, and he’s spending lots of time on the road, Rayford said he hasn’t been listening to any new music.
“At home, I don’t listen to very much music because that’s what I do all the time. Like right now, I’m watching Turner Classic Movies. Or I’m playing video games or doing things to unwind,” he said.
“There’s always a lot going on. Not very often am I just sitting down to listen to music. If I am, it’s usually old stuff – probably Earth, Wind and Fire. Bobby Womack. Bobby Bland.”
Tickets to the show are still available at https://harvestmusicfest.ticketpro.ca/en/pages/HARVEST2022.
Fredericton’s Harvest Music Festival today announced that Wiliam Prince’s performance would move from the evening of Friday September 16 to a matinee performance on Sunday September 18. The change comes as Prince was asked to pay tribute to Buffy Sainte-Marie at the National Arts Center on September 16.
“This may not be how we drew things up, but we recognize the significance of the opportunity for William, and were adamant that we’d do whatever possible to keep him in our schedule for this September,” said Brent Staeben, Harvest Music Programmer. “While there will undoubtedly be some disappointed folks unable to make the new date work, we know that Fredericton will pack the Playhouse for this phenomenal talent.”
The new show date for William Prince is Sunday September 18 at 3pm. Tickets are $49.50 plus fees and HST, and are on sale now, available here or by calling 1-888-311-9090.
For those already holding William Prince tickets, nothing has changed and those tickets will be honored at the door. For those interested in a refund, they are available upon request up until Friday August 26th. To request a refund, please contact Ticketpro at info@ticketpro.ca.
The 2022 Harvest Music Festival takes place this September 13-18, featuring The War On Drugs, Blue Rodeo, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, William Prince, The Record Company, Kathleen Edwards, Andy Frasco & The U.N., and more.
We recognize that the Harvest experience is about connection – as much about connecting with friends and neighbors as it is about connecting with the music on stage.
We’ve also heard from artists and patrons alike that there are issues with crowd noise in our venues over the years. We know how meaningful it is to get together in this COVID-19 period, and we want your feedback on what we can do to improve the festival experience for everyone involved.
Please fill out the Your Harvest Experience Survey here and/or send us an email with your feedback at noise@harvestmusicfest.ca!
We are looking to fill part-time and full-time retail assistant positions to work in the Harvest retail store. Please read below for more information.
Hot Shows You Don’t Want To Miss…
By: Adam Bowie
Well, friends, I’m happy to be back writing about Fredericton’s Harvest Music Festival.
As some of you may know, I covered the best festival on the East Coast of Canada for 14 years on behalf of the Daily Gleaner. It was a wonderful gig, and I was proud to write so many stories about the Harvest each September in Fredericton.
Even though I’ve moved on to a new career opportunity, I’m excited that I’ve been asked to give it another shot – this time for the festival itself.
With so many incredible acts in the lineup for the 2022 Harvest Music Festival, we thought it might be fun to pick a few hot shows you won’t want to miss. As most of you know, with Harvest, it’s pretty hard to go wrong, no matter which tent you enter. But here’s a few suggestions – some can’t-miss, sure-fire showcases that could become your next treasured Harvest memory.
Here we go, and, just to be clear, these picks are in no particular order:
Larkin Poe
Wednesday September 14 @ The Coors Light Blues Tent
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY PASSES
Who wouldn’t want to see two swaggering rock-star sisters with incredible musical chops tear up a stage?
After a couple of previous appearances at the Harvest Music Festival, Rebecca and Megan Lovell, otherwise known as Larkin Poe, are becoming local fan-favourites, thanks in large part to their incendiary fret-work and soaring, soulful vocals.
Think blues-rock riffs, like The Black Keys, paired with a Susan Tedeschi or young Bonnie Raitt-style voice behind the mic.
Just recently, these ladies released “Bad Spell,” the first track from Larkin Poe’s forthcoming LP Blood Harmony, which is due out in November. Hopefully, Harvest fans will get a little preview of the group’s new music at this year’s showcase.
Lately, they’ve been hitting the road hard, trying to make up for lost time during the pandemic. They’ve shared stages with everyone from Peter Frampton to Jack White recently, and by the time they roll into Fredericton they’ll be sharing a bill with The War On Drugs.
Trouble No More Band
Saturday September 17 @ The Coors Light Blues Tent
TICKETS & SATURDAY PASSES
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Allman Brothers Band’s seminal Eat A Peach album, a group of crack musicians was assembled to help this collection of blues and Southern rock songs take flight once again.
First things first, the lineup, which is led by guitarists Brandon “Taz” Niederauer and Daniel Donato and bassist Dylan Niederauer, and also features keyboardist Peter Levin, vocalist Lamar Williams Jr., pedal steel guitarist Roosevelt Collier and drummers Nikki Glaspie and Jack Ryan.
Harvest fans were stunned the first time they laid eyes on Taz back in 2017 – this young kid, this teenager who played like a monster, who seemed so poised for his young age, who could dazzle audiences with his musical abilities and his charisma.
Now, they get to see him pay homage to some of his heroes, the Allmans, at a festival that has always embraced that group’s lasting musical legacy, thanks to memorable showings by founding member John Lee “Jaimoe” Johnson and Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes.
This afterburner showcase should be special.
Hot Toddy
Saturday September 17 @ The Ginger Agency Barracks Tent
TICKETS & SATURDAY PASSES
Nothing like stepping back in time with an old friend, amirite?
One of the most popular bands in the history of Fredericton is Hot Toddy, a trio of super-skilled, super-nice guys named Joel LeBlanc, Thom Swift, and Tom Easley.
Each one is an absolute ace musician – from LeBlanc’s virtuosity and love of improvisational music to Swift’s deeply soulful guitar-playing and songwriting talents to Easley’s impeccable musicianship and leadership abilities.
When they came together in 1997, the music scene in New Brunswick’s capital had been a bit quiet. Aside from the popular folk group Modabo, music fans were often looking elsewhere for homegrown talent.
It was a musical partnership that established a deep connection between the band and Maritime music fans, and which extended beyond the region to earn them fans all over Canada and across the globe. Their music has obviously meant so much to so many that they’ve been forced to reunite a few times to quench that ongoing thirst for another Hot Toddy evening.
Better get your tickets for this one, as these guys don’t do this very often.
Kathleen Edwards
Thursday September 15 @ The Coors Light Blues Tent
TICKETS & WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY PASSES
If you’ve been keeping your options open for this year’s Harvest Music Festival, it may be time to pick up a couple of Kathleen Edwards tickets.
The talented Ottawa singer-songwriter has been nominated multiple times for awards from the Junos, the Canadian Country Music Association and the Polaris Music Prize, and she placed multiple singles on the Billboard Top 100 in the United States with her latest recording, 2020’s Total Freedom.
Edwards is always an entertaining performer, both with her stunning musical gifts and also her sharp-as-a-tack wit.
A favourite with Harvest crowds, it’ll be great to have her back in Fredericton.
When she’s not writing with Nashville star Maren Morris (like the catchy “Good Woman,” from 2019), she’s been touring sporadically the past few years.
After taking a multi-year break from the music biz to open a coffee shop (called Quitters) back home, she’s now re-embracing her musical career, adding new tour dates to her itinerary all the time. How lucky for us that she’s made time for a return trip to Harvest!
