June 20-21 2026 – Burlington, Ontario
This past weekend, June 20th and 21st 2026, Burlington launched its newest festival and community event, The Lakeshore Music & Arts Festival (Lakeshore Fest) at Spencer Smith Park. This festival replaced the beloved Sound of Music Festival (SOM) which had a 40-year run and had to cancel due to financial hardships. Although the loss of SOM was devastating for the community, Lakeshore Fest is a promising replacement. Run by MRG Live, the two-day festival remains free and welcomed in the community for a fun weekend of live performances along the water and under the sun.
The festival featured two stages along the waterfront with alternating set times, spotlighting local Canadian artists and featuring headliners Walk off The Earth – performing their first hometown show in over ten years – and The Trews. The festival grounds also housed a number of carnival rides and games, along with food trucks and artisan booths.
Over two days of performances, the community was introduced to a variety of emerging artists. Here are some whose sets stood out to us:
Nardos Almaz: “Singer-songwriter Nardos Almaz blends clever guitar melodies with honest lyrics, she explores the many facets of her intersectional identity. Through electric performances and poignant songwriting, she’s carving out a space in the indie music scene.” Lakeshore fest was her first festival and the first time she’s played outside of Toronto. Almaz delivered a relaxed acoustic set which showcased the strength of her voice.
Hangul: “Toronto-based indie/alt-rock band, Hangul, led by Kashmiri singer-songwriter Mir Kashif Iqbal. Named after the endangered Hangul deer of Kashmir, the band blends alt/indie folk, prog, and jam rock.” They played their song “Inferno” during the set, which reflects on the climate crisis and rising temperatures. The band introduced it by saying “Earth gets hotter and hotter each year, and that’s what this song is about.”
Lost Faculty: “Hamilton four piece, Lost Faculty, are a band dealing in guitar-driven songs that hit with urgency and grit. What started with the polished edges of indie rock has given way to something rawer, more direct, and more alive.” Their set was full of energy, guitars, and everything you’d want from an indie rock band. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them playing larger stages in the near future.
Lakeshore Fest left us feeling hopeful for the future of live music in Burlington and the Greater Toronto Area. We hope it will continue on the legacy of SOM by providing the community with celebrations of live music for many years to come.
