Live music lovers in London will have no shortage of shows to attend this fall as the Western Fair is offering an expanded lineup of musical acts ranging from ’90s nostalgia bands to emerging Ontario hip-hop artists.
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Tickets go on sale Friday for five shows in the Western Fair concert series that will feature a dozen music acts perform over five nights.
With a new arrival called The Ranch next to the fair’s agriculture and livestock display barnthe fair says this year’s lineup will have more live music than previous years.
Here’s what you need to know about some of the biggest acts coming to the Western Fair in September:
THE VENUES
The fair’s live music will span three different venues, including a new outdoor concert space called The Ranch and a free music venue called the OEV Music Garden. Indoor concerts will take place at the London Major Appliances Rink in the Western Fair District Sports Centre.
OUTDOOR SHOWS
Saturday, Sept. 7: Sugar Ray and Smash Mouth perform at The Ranch. Formed in 1986 in California, Sugar Ray became a household name in 1997 with the song Fly. Sugar Ray has released seven albums and shared the stage with the Rolling Stones and KISS.
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Also known as “the Shrek Band,” Smash Mouth ruled the airwaves between 1997 and 2002 when they had six top 20 hits. Their legacy was cemented when their track All Star was featured on the Shrek soundtrack in 2001.
Doors open at 5 pm and the show begins at 6 pm Tickets for the all-ages show are $85 and $95 (plus HST and fees)
Sunday, Sept. 8: Squeeze with The English Beat, The Box and Spoons take the stage at The Ranch. An English rock band that came into prominence during the New Wave era of the late 1970s, Squeeze crafted perceptive melodic songs such as Tempted and Another Nail in My Heart.
The English Beat was like no other band when they burst onto the scene in 1979. They released a string of hits including a cover of Tears of a Clown and Mirror in Bathroom.
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The Box and Spoons from Burlington round out a bill that will bring fans back to the ’80s.
Doors open at 3:30 pm and the show begins at 4:30 pm Tickets for the all-ages event are $85 and $95 (plus HST and fees).
INDOOR CONCERTS
Tuesday, Sept. 10: July Talk with OMBIIGIZI opens the three-night indoor concert series at the London Major Appliances Rink at the Western Fair District Sports Centre. Known for their live shows, July Talk has won four Juno Awards. OMBIIGIZI is a collaboration between two Anishnaabe artists who explore their cultural histories through sound.
Wednesday, Sept. 11: Alternative rock band Everclear and Treble Charger, a hard-driving band from Sault Ste. Marie, take the stage. Both bands got their start in the 1990s.
Thursday, Sept. 12: The youngest performers featured at the fair, AR Paisley and Ikky have roots in India. AR Paisley is an Indo-Canadian rapper who was raised in Mississauga. Ikwinder Singh aka Ikky is a 23-year-old artist who blends hip–hop, pop and Punjabi music.
Tickets for all concerts can be ordered online at westernfair.ca and include fair admission on the day of the concert. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 21 at 10 a.m.
The Western Fair runs Sept. 6 to 15 and organizers expect more than 100,000 people will go through the gates over the 10-day event.
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