Daniel Lanois, Emmylou Harris and Gord Downie Make Greenbelt Harvest Picnic a Hit

Posted on Aug 29th 2011 12:45AM by Jamie Drayton
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Jamie Drayton

Christie Lakes Conservation Area in Dundas, Ontario, about an hour outside of Toronto, was transformed tnhis past weekend into a family-friendly concert venue for the very first Greenbelt Harvest Picnic. The saturday concert was headlined by Emmylou Harris, Ray LaMontagne, Tragically Hip's Gord Downie, Sarah Harmer and Daniel Lanois, the acclaimed musician and producer (Neil Young, Brian Eno, U2) who grew up in nearby Hamilton.

The event was designed to raise awareness about the importance of the region's local conservation lands as well as local agriculture, home gardening and the arts. Venders selling everything from organic burritos and wood-fired pizza to fresh fruit and vegetables lined the outer edge of the concert area and kept fans well-fed and happily hydrated throughout the sunny afternoon and into the evening.

Hamilton's recent success story the Reason closed the afternoon portion of music with a rocking set. Sarah Harmer kicked off the evening showcase, her sweet, laid-back style a perfect fit to the festivities. Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles then provided a rollicking lead-up to Lanois, who centered his set around a heartfelt rendition of his classic track 'The Maker.'

Country sweetheart Emmylou Harris then came onstage and performed several songs backed by Lanois' band for an extended set that kept the crowd upbeat as the sun went down. Celebrated American singer-songwriter Ray Lamontagne capped off a fantastic festival with the final performance of the day. His raspy voice, full of character and authenticity, a fitting sound to fill the air on a late August night.

Based on how smoothly the event was orchestrated and how happy everyone onsite seemed to be, the inaugural Greenbelt Harvest Picnic will surely be crowned a success. Here's hoping we're back next year, same time, same place.

Watch Ray LaMontagne Perform at Greenbelt Harvest Picnic
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