The leaves turn golden as the summer heat slips away. The big white tents are going up and the wide-brimmed hats and flannel shirts are coming out in full force - it’s fall in the Fredericton Capital Region and the Harvest Music Festival is here! Regarded by many as the most wonderful time of the year in the Fredericton Capital Region, Harvest brings Downtown Fredericton to life with world-class music performances, outdoor beer gardens and colourful street experiences. Happening September 12-17, this year’s lineup positions Harvest Music Festival 2023 to be one for the books.
Performances will kick off at The Playhouse on Tuesday evening. String duo Pallmer will open for Canadian music producing legend/recording artist Daniel Lanois as he makes his Harvest debut. Having worked alongside everyone from Raffi to Bono, Lanois and his band will take you on a captivating tour of his extensive catalog of work.
Opening night at the Blues Tent, Wednesday will showcase the much-anticipated return of Phish frontman, Trey Anastasio. With support from Neal Francis and a White Denim afterburner, Trey and Classic TAB (Trey Anastasio Band) promise a brilliant and heady performance, sure to please Phishheads and jam band aficionados alike. As the standalone show of the evening, there is no question that this is the place to be on Wednesday.
Things really heat up on Thursday, with bumpin’ shows at the Barracks Tent, Blues Tent and opening night at the freshly resurrected Mojo Tent! Thursday evening also marks the kickoff of the Harvest Street Experience. Queen Street will be closed to all motor traffic between York and Regent, as food trucks, vendors, buskers and breweries set up their stands to provide a stellar street experience, open to the public and family friendly! Be sure to carve out some time between sets to enjoy the energy that the Harvest Street Experience radiates!
With three tents, The Playhouse sit-down shows and numerous downtown pubs and clubs rocking for the remainder of the weekend, you may be wondering how to make the most of your Harvest festival experience. With a varied and robust lineup, you really can’t go wrong… and you might even discover your next favourite band! If you want some tips on what not to miss, read on!
The Thursday Blues Tent Headliner show, Iceland’s Kaleo, has sold out - but you can still catch their set with the purchase of an Ultimate or Thursday night pass (Pro tip: these passes will also get you into the Thursday night Stars and Cory Wong shows!). See some local legends around other venues, with Kylie Fox and David Myles at the Mojo, and Weak Size Fish supporting Slowcoaster & Carmen Townsend at the Barracks.
Friday is all about soul. Matt Andersen & The Big Bottle of Joy return to the Blues Tent for the supper hour set, followed by Montreal’s Allison Russell, and what is sure to be an energetic show from New Orleans’ Trombone Shorty. Meanwhile at the Mojo, make sure you’re prepared to be blown away by maritime superstars as Keith Hallett and the Hookers open for the Joel Plaskett Emergency, and the Downtown Blues Band shut it down as the late-night afterburner. At the Barracks, you can expect a funky dance party with LA’s Thumpasaurus, followed by an afterburner with Gordon Gets Lost featuring Stephen Lewis!
And finally, Saturday presents the best kind of problem. With a sleigh of amazing talent performing across all venues, it’s time to put your Ultimate or Saturday Night Pass to work! Eat your dinner early - ideally on a downtown patio - so you can catch the opening notes of Broken Social Scene at 5:30pm in the Blues Tent. Then it’s time to choose your own Harvest adventure. Will you stay at the Blues Tent for the classic Harvest double bill of Big Sugar and Gov’t Mule? Or maybe take a load off at The Playhouse sit-down show, and see Juno-nominated, Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee, and Vancouver’s Laila Biali. Over at the Mojo, you can hear Shirley Jackson and her Good Rockin’ Daddies open the show, with Canadian icons Wide Mouth Mason closing out the night. And don’t sleep on Saturday night in the Barracks, where Mi’kmaq rapper/singer Wolf Castle will be backed by Fredericton’s own Olympic Symphonium, followed by Californian electric music sensation, Balkan Bump.
And that’s not all, this is but a glimpse into the Harvest 2023 Lineup! You can see the full schedule and secure your tickets and passes here. If you’re still not sure just what to get for tickets - keep your options open by treating yourself to an Ultimate Pass. Easily the most flexible option and best deal, the coveted Ultimate gives access to all shows in the Blues, Mojo and Barracks Tents Wednesday through Saturday, plus, Ultimate Pass holders are offered Playhouse show tickets at a discounted rate. These passes are known to sell out, so act now!
Once you’ve locked in your tickets, it’s time to book your stay! Staying at a downtown hotel like The Hilton Garden Inn, the Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook, or the Delta Fredericton will keep you in the heart of the excitement. A short walk to and from all festival venues, as well as dozens of pubs, breweries and restaurants, this option allows you to park for the weekend and enjoy Harvest to its fullest! If you’ve missed the opportunity to book a downtown stay, there are still plenty of rooms available in the city. Though you may not be within walking distance from the festivities, the Harvest ANBL Safe Ride program provides a free ride home from the festival anywhere within the Fredericton city limits! The ANBL Safe Ride will offer patrons safe rides home all night long, simply hop on a shuttle bus at a designated pick up spot, and let the driver know where you are resting your head.
Showcasing the best of Fredericton’s live music scene and vibrant community, there’s no doubt that Harvest 2023 is shaping up to be a festival to remember. Squeeze the most out of your Harvest by purchasing your tickets and booking your stay early and get ready to experience life well crafted in the Fredericton Capital Region.