Makin’ Waves wraps up with The Beaches, Greg MacPherson

As the sun sets on Thursday evening, the fourth annual Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves Music Festival will chime its final notes for 2018. With close to 8,000 attending the festival thus far, the concerts have been remarkable in bringing together residents and visitors of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for the Thursday evening events. Headlining the final concert on Thursday, August 2nd, will be 2018 Juno Award winners and current chart toppers The Beaches, with support from Cape Breton-born/Winnipeg-based songwriter Greg MacPherson and CBMIC Front Stage Contest winner Rudy Pace.

Loaded with killer guitar riffs and poignant lyrics, it’s no wonder that The Beaches are on the cusp of becoming Canada’s next big rock band. Their current single, “T Shirt”, just hit #1 on both Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts across Canada, while their debut album Late Show garnered them the 2018 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year. Combine those accomplishments with an opening spot for Foo Fighters in Toronto and their first headlining Canadian tour, and it’s been a great year to be The Beaches.

By day, Greg MacPherson is the Executive Director of Winnipeg’s West Broadway Community Organization. By night, he’s one of Canada’s most respected songwriters and one half of rock duo Figure Walking. The two are not mutually exclusive, however, as MacPherson often explores themes of social consciousness and life on the outside edge in his music. Born in Cape Breton with grandfathers who worked in the mine and the steel plant, this three-time Polaris prize nominated songwriter tells stories that resonate with so many of us. His songs border on the edge of Springsteen-esque rock combined with a more than a little edge. It is this energy that makes him one of Canada’s best performers.

CBMIC Front Stage Contest winner Rudy Pace is perhaps best known as the frontman for Cape Breton born touring rockers The Electric Spoonful. Take away some of the rock n’ roll though, and what you get is a strong folk storyteller who pours poignant lyrics to the page and thoughtful melodies to the masses. His songs pull no punches, and are reflective of the storytelling tradition of songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Kris Kristofferson, and Bob Dylan.

Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves Music Festival is held each Thursday evening from July 5th through August 2nd at Wentworth Park in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Concerts begin at 6pm and admission is free. The festival is supported by valuable Festival Partners 101.9 The Giant, Marine Atlantic, Marco Hearing Health Centre, Atlantic Lottery, Sound Source Pro Audio, FACTOR, Destination Cape Breton, and the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage. For more information, visit makinwavesfestival.ca.