Went to Hillside last weekend for an awesome-as-always time, with great bands, delicious food, environmental awareness, and friends.

Among my favourite acts were:

• The Burning Hell
  They’re from Peterborough and have a bunch of people from the Silverhearts! How could I not like them? Plus they’ve got weird lyrics about the moon being painted on, and dinosaurs.
• Akron/Family
  These guys put on an amazing live show — definitely one of the best live performances I’ve seen in a long time, though I think I suffered some permanent ear drum damage standing next to the amps. Can’t get into their recorded music as much, though.
• Jason Collet
  Also an amazing live act, with four or five guys on guitar rocking out some truly excellent jams
• The Magic
  Some Guelph natives, these guys were one of my favourite discoveries, and I bought their EP (releasing an LP in the fall). Some great retro keyboards and songs slightly reminiscent of the New Deal, before I stopped liking them (see below).
• Old Man Luedecke
  Got the CD of this Nova Scotia native a while ago, and was eager to hear him live, but only caught the end of his act (see below).
• Ron Sexsmith
  Not on the list of performers, Sexsmith, who is one of my faves, was a special guest of Stuart McLean. I wanted more Ron and less Stewie.