The Hill Island Hootenanny

04/08/2024

01/08/2024

Last chance to get on board as a sponsor. Things are really rolling along now!!!

We'd like to welcome back Slate's Marine Construction to the sponsor team. They always come through in the clutch with some great ideas. Tim Millar at Elevation Imagery and Aerial Cinematography for a new reel/video to promote.

Posters, wrap up video, digital advertising, and custom graphic design individualized maps. If you'd like to more, please text 613-640-2486

01/08/2024

Our Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10 festival coincides with other events going on in the 1000 Islands.

Brockville Ribfest, a staple community fundraising event for Big Brothers, 1000 Islands Pirate Fest in Alexandria Bay, and the Poker Run in Kingston.

We are happy to share the weekend with these amazing events.

Are there any festival attendees of the Hootenanny who would like to chip in and order a massive amount of Ribs from the Brockville Ribfest?

I'm going to be leaving for a Celebration of Life for an old friend during the afternoon. I could stop and pick up a large bulk order of Ribs if anyone is interested.

Please send a DM to this page or text Chris at 613-640-2486 ... we will have to send an order in to the event ahead of time and work on a pick up order. I know we could do this. Good to support others.

30/07/2024

We are looking for a solo performer for Friday, August 9th. Paid gig. Also an open stage for an hr. Happy to announce Jake Baer as musical host.

If you have any suggestions for a solid performer who needs only an acoustic guitar or single instrument to perform … please tag them.

We want to add to our collective of musicians … so far it’s been all dudes so we’d like to even the gender balance featured on the bill.

Please help us find an easy going non diva person who likes adventure. This is not your typical stage.

The performance area this year is very small. Instead of a house boat and barge it will be a formula donated by Jessica Martin Fay Royal LePage.

30/07/2024

August 2024 Tourin' Schedule

One Brockville Show at Moose McGuire's Brockville a festival on the River with the The Hill Island Hootenanny (August 9-10), and then off to Wilderness Tours / National Whitewater Park to catch up with my River People Friends to enjoy some cabin, stand up paddle board fishing, and beach life!!! Might even go Lazy River Tubing

Who's coming????? Applications for looking after a 3 and 6 year old gladly accepted!!!! Great place for kids to have some fun!!! My kids talk about going to "Wilderness" all year round. For guests, it can be as economical as $70 (with breakfast) to stay overnight with a campsite.

Couple of weeks ago Ian Miller, Jay Miller, Ethan, Jackson, and Breck Gleason and Baron came to visit. Seeing Childhood friends and their spawn (Trent Gleason) def brought a smile to my soul.

Last month of Season 13!!!!

20/07/2024

Edit and update: The Dates are Friday, August 9 (7:00 Start) and Saturday, August 10 (Noon Start) … both ending around 10:00pm

After careful consideration we have decided to hurdle all of the hiccups that have gotten in the way of hosting the 2024 Hill Island Hootenanny. It’s on and FULL STEAM AHEAD!!!

Thanks to our generous sponsors whose encouragement and never give up attitude has pushed us forward. More details to come. This event was about a day from being cancelled. Thank you Jessica Martin, Ron Warwaruk, Matt VanderBaaren, Dylan Young, and the Realtors Cooperative, and especially Village Quay Marina (Glen Hunt). Let’s get the Landing on board officially. They’ve always been great supporters. Rain or shine. Here we go!!!

Just a save the date note today. All details to come. The 2024 Hill Island Hootenanny will be held Saturday, August 10 at noon-ish.

I almost cancelled because I have to attend a celebration of life for a childhood friend on the same day. He wouldn’t want me to quit either so I’m going to attend both. #88 lives forever in our hearts

24/08/2023

🛥️🛥️🛥️🎸🎤🎻🛥️🛥️🛥️

📸 Tim Millar

22/08/2023

https://youtu.be/xfr3tkchOVQ

The Hill Island Hootenanny 2023 “All Music in video from 2023 Hootenanny”What a epic weekend even with a few weather changes! Huge thank you to everyone who ...

18/08/2023

Amazeballs Video Alert

(By Tim Millar - Elevation Imagery Video and Drone Productions)

Finally, starting to return to my normal-ish routine.

Spent the day wrapping up administrative details, banking, email thanking, returning some borrowed items, prepping thank you notes, coffee drinking and stay at home dad kid chasing fun.

I can’t believe we experienced this magical moment.

Hopefully this footage will convince my non believer friends and network that I’m not full of s**+ and this event can run rain or shine.

For those who were a hardcore in their love for the festival on the river, showed up to stand tall agains the weatherman’s forewarning of bad weather, their dedication was rewarded with this magical entrance to the rainbow bridge.

It was surreal and cathartic to have experienced being in the middle of a rainbow in a United Nations World Site … Merci/Megwitch/Thank You Mother Nature for our spiritual encounter in the Manitouna last Saturday. 1000 Islands life!!! Whatever your belief in God, Gaia, The Great Spirit, or atheistic science … we were blessed.

https://fb.watch/mv6BYwLg28/?mibextid=cr9u03

12/08/2023

The wild ride continues 😎
Saturday night The Hill Island Hootenanny is about to go down 🎤 🌈

12/08/2023

Skies have cleared, The Hill Island Hootenanny
Saturday is full swing 😎

11/08/2023

We’re back!
The Hill Island Hootenanny kicks off tonight!
Weather looks perfect for a beautiful Friday evening.
Come on out for a night of great music and good times.

Stay tuned for updates on Saturday
- Weather can change, half the time it’s not right.
There’s a possibility of a Hoot on Sunday!

10/08/2023

Custom Decor Floor and Home Performance Roster Update and Additions

We would like to welcome Marco Rayes (Nectar and Cockadoodle Duo) and Donnie Leafloor to the festival roster. Our talented brood of musicians keeps growing!

Going to be such a great event. Welcome Donnie and Marco

PS - Rain Date is Sunday, August 13.

10/08/2023

Friday Entertainment Addition!!!

We welcome Donnie Leafloor (aka "The Rainman") who has been performing in the Ottawa region for the last 25 years. Donnie will be joining Ron Warwaruk on the Slate's Marine Construction Barge Stage. Donnie is a prolific piano and guitar player. As an award winning singer-song writer, The Rainman spent many nights performing at Ottawa Senators Games and at Marshie's.

We are very blessed to have him on the festival roster. Thank you, Donnie. This segment of the Show will be sponsored by Dylan's Appliance Plus, based out of Brockville and the 1000 Islands. Call Dylan for any home repair need - he's so good at what he does!!!

10/08/2023

Saturday Entertainer Profile: Jukebox George Turcotte

We would like to introduce, George Turcotte! Hailing from the hills of the Lanark Highlands (via Ottawa in his youth), George is possibly the most talented multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and talented human being I've ever met. George plays at least 10 Instruments and has self-produced more albums than he can remember :)

George wanted to write his own profile: "Goerge Turcotte can't decide what he wants to be when he grows up. He thought about being a great banjo player but he's not sure how many banjo players will be hired at that time! That time being a long long time from now because he grows up slow and Mars is not currently auditioning for Banjo Players. According to his tip jar, word is he's prolly pretty damned good, but he'll never say so. He's played with God, but he's met her a time or two!!!!"

Wait a sec ... is he mocking us??? Yes yes ... that he is. We love George and can't wait for him to blow your minds with his music!

We welcome George to the Slate's Marine Construction Barge Stage.

This segment of the show is sponsored by: SpencerCity Bar and Grill in Spencerville, ON.

10/08/2023

Hootenanny Artist Update: Benjamin Valenz

Ben is our resident fiddler. As a second year veteran of the The Hill Island Hootenanny, Ben helped us with his invaluable insights on stage set up and making sure stuff didn't get knocked into the River!!!

Ben is a talented musician who resides in the Toronto area. After spending the majority of the winter in Portugal, Ben has returned to our amazing 1000 Islands to partake in more river life and share his fiddle prowess with us. Welcome Back, Ben - we are excited to have you on the Slate's Marine Construction Barge Stage for both days.

This segment of the festival is sponsored by: ARBRU - Canada's 1st Solar Brewery and Destination Getaway in Mallorytown, Ontario.

09/08/2023

Friday and Saturday Live Music Host: The Island Shantyman (AKA Valley Shantyman - Chris Hum)

It's shocking that this guy can step up to the mic wearing shorts, flip flops, and an acoustic guitar and catapult people out of their seats onto any dance floor. He is always more than advertised 😉

The Island Shantyman plays music from the 1940s to the present day from 8 different musical genres developed over 2,500 shows.

Chris has shared concert stages with the Sheepdogs, Arkells, Classified, Bob Marley's Wailers, Stompin' Tom Connors band "Whiskey Jack", Tim Hicks, Tebey, Jason Blaine, Tim and the Glory Boys, Matt Andersen, and the list goes on. As a resident musician at Wilderness Tours and Canada's National Whitewater Park, The Island Shantyman is sure to get you movin' and groovin'.

He's our host and the creative director of the festival. The Hecklers and Hooligans Roadshow concept is something of a jam you'll not want to miss on the Slate’s Marine Construction barge stage!!!!

This show segment brought to you by The Village Quay Marina.

08/08/2023

Friday Night Performer: One of the most popular bands in the Ottawa Region, Sticks N Stones, is loaning us their lead singer on Friday. The Hooligans of the Hootenanny welcomes Ron Warwaruk and his unlimited energy to the Slate Marine Construction Limited Stage.

Show starts at 6:00. Come early and get your space. No reservations possible.

Can’t wait to see you all. One Love.

05/08/2023

Fen Racket is the indie-pop-folk project of "Loon Choir" (CBC Radio, Ottawa Bluesfest) frontman, Derek Atkinson.

As a solo artist, Atkinson's impassioned performances test creative boundaries with new original ballads on piano, guitar and voice - as well as numerous meticulously crafted instrumental ‘neo-classical’ compositions.

Fen Racket often performs cover sets including songs by Cohen, Lightfoot, Dylan, Radiohead, and other classics and contemporaries. Signed to Surkeus Records, Fen Racket has released a 7 song EP and performs in and around the Ottawa area.

Estimated Show Time: Sunset - Friday, August 11, 2023

See you out on the River!!! Thank you Jessica Fay for your support as featured sponsor for this segment of the Hootenanny.

Tim Millar, Jessica Martin, Derek Wayne Atkinson, Matt VanderBaaren, Ron Warwaruk, Dylan Young, Bryanna Trower, Tyler Slate, Tj Slate, Joe Moulton, George Turcotte, The Hill Island Hootenanny hum

05/08/2023

Now just 1 week away😎
Get your boats, floaties, paddle boards, kayaks, and good times ready!
The The Hill Island Hootenanny returns next weekend for a musically filled great time raft up with friends and fellow boaters from near and far!

See you then and let’s have a Hoot!

24/07/2023

21/07/2023

August 11 & 12 2023

14/07/2023

Photos of "The Hill Island Hootenanny" (2022) music festival and boaters raft up. Thanks to Tim Millar with Elevation Imagery for his fantastic photo and video drone work.

14/07/2023

Special thanks to fellow performer and sponsor, Matt VanderBaaren, owner of Custom Decor - Carpet One Floor & Home. Here's directions on how to get to the venue location in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. Head towards the Sky Deck in the 1000 Islands and you'll hear us!