Minglewood, The Beaches added to Makin’ Waves lineup

When the Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves Music Festival closes on August 2nd, the concerts will have presented 15 performers during five weekly concerts at Sydney’s Wentworth Park. In addition to the previously announced shows headlined by Ria Mae, Pretty Archie, and Hillsburn, the Festival today announced legendary Cape Breton songwriter Matt Minglewood and Toronto rock band The Beaches will headline Thursday night concerts as part of the Festival.

“Matt Minglewood is a legend,” says CBRM Recreation Program Coordinator Joe Costello. “Matt’s music is timeless and as relevant today as it was thirty years ago. He is the perfect artist to continue the Festival’s songwriting tradition that has had Ron Hynes, Laura Smith, Old Man Luedecke, and Ron Sexsmith perform over the last three years.”

Matt Minglewood’s tunes grapple with the universal feelings of passion, frustrations, hope, loneliness, love, disappointment and regret as well as his deep love of the Maritimes. For over 40 years, his name is synonymous with Cape Breton and its songwriting tradition. This year at the East Coast Music Awards, Minglewood received the Blues Recording of the Year award for his newest album Fly Like Desperados. He was also chosen as the Fan Choice Entertainer of the Year, an award voted on by the fans. Minglewood will perform a set of songs and stories at the Thursday, July 12th concert presented by Marine Atlantic, with an opening set from emerging local songwriter Billie Yvette. [From the archives: Matt Minglewood: Traveling Man Comes Home – WGO #30, December 1998]

Headlining the closing show on August 2nd is Toronto’s The Beaches, the four piece rock group that took home the 2018 Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year. The Beaches released their debut album, The Late Show, in 2017 and has since toured with Death From Above 1979 in the United States, headlined their own cross-Canada tour, and hit the stage at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre with Matt Mays and July Talk and the CBC Music Festival in Toronto.

“People continually ask about a rock show,” says Costello. “We look at every option locally and abroad, and we’re incredibly excited to land a band that is on the cusp of being Canada’s next big rock band.” The August 2nd concert is presented by Sound Source Pro Audio, the Cape Breton-owned company that has provided production for the festival since 2016.

Supporting The Beaches will be Cape Breton-born, Winnipeg based songwriter Greg Macpherson. Born in Cape Breton with grandfathers who worked in the mine and the steel plant, this three-time Polaris Music Prize nominated songwriter tells stories that resonate with so many of us. His songs border on the edge of Springsteen-esque rock combined with more than a little edge. It is this energy that has made him one of Canada’s best performers over his 20 year career. [WGO conversation with Greg MacPherson – May 2010]

Sydney Credit Union Makin’ Waves Music Festival is a free weekly concert series taking place at Sydney’s Wentworth Park from July 5th through August 2nd. The festival is presented by CBRM Recreation and CBMIC, with support from Sydney Credit Union, 101.9 The GIANT, Marine Atlantic, Marco Hearing Health Centre, Atlantic Lottery / Loto Atlantique, and Sound Source Pro Audio. Supporting performances are presented by The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR), with support from Canada’s private radio broadcasters. The Festival acknowledges the support of the Nova Scotia Government through the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage.