Rhythmfest - City of Barrie

Barrie Rhythmfest is a one day celebration of the universal language of rhythm. It is Barrie's first truly interactive festival.

Barrie Rhythmfest is an annual presentation of an impressive roster of performers, vendors and artisans throughout the day and evening at Heritage Park in Downtown Barrie. Interactivity is a central theme of Barrie Rhythmfest and audiences, young and old, are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways.

Barrie Ryhthmfest 2010 was sponsored by the City of Barrie and Music Pro a local company making their mark supplying the instrument and instruction needs of Barrie and regional musicians and students. All audience members are encouraged to bring their percussion instruments to Barrie Rhythmfest. For those without, instruments provided onsite by Music Pro were made available to achieve the festival goal of being the most interactive festival in Canada. 2011 Barrie Rhythmfest will continue with our founding principle of maximum participation. Every visitor to Barrie Rhythmfest is encouraged to play one of the available instruments and to dance, sing or listen to the great music provided by our many talented instrumentalists.

The innovative programming is interspersed with engaging and informative workshops taught by experts, where all musicians and “want to be” musicians can participate regardless of their level of proficiency. This feature makes Barrie Rhythmfest the ideal family outing and one where parents and children can participate together.

Every year Barrie Rhythmfest honours a single individual who has made significant contribution to the area of rhythm. In 2010 we honoured jazz drummer and teacher extrordinaire Jim Blackley whose list of students reads like a who is who of Canadian music. Many of Canada’s greatest jazz drummers and their musical colleagues turned out to show Mr. Blackley the appreciation that he so truly deserves. Perhaps the highlight of the 2010 Barrie Rhythmfest was the tremendous jazz drum performance put on by the 83 year old legend.

Barrie Rhythmfest 2010 featured an exciting mix of performers skilled in the art of rhythm, including percussionists Cadre, Samba Squad, Baro Dununba, Humming Bird Tassa Drummers, Muhtadi International Drummers and dancers Lesley Waldron, Cassandra Fox and Simbo Camara. Ottawa Valley performer Stephanie Cadman showed the audience what it’s like to put it all together with her tremendous array of fiddling, tapping and singing skills, often done at the same time! 2011 promises to be even more exciting with some surprises for the audience.

Barrie Rhythmfest is yours to enjoy, bring an instrument or just come but be part of it!