A new music festival has been announced, and it promises to be one of the biggest musical events the Valley has seen. Organized by Twilla Barkhouse, Christine Bicks, and Kevin Bicks, Havelock Music Madness 2024 will take place at the Havelock fairgrounds on July 20.
As festival co-director and secretary, Barkhouse explains that “There are many, many talented musicians in Southern Quebec …There aren’t a lot of music-type festivals in this area. There are if you go into Valleyfield or into the city, but out in the country, in the middle of nowhere, we have no major music festivals.”
Everyone on the organizing team is a musician and understands the value of having a show like this happen so close to home. The committee for this event was formed in late 2023, with the goal of bringing musicians together and doing something for the community, especially for people who don’t like to leave the Valley.
Barkhouse grew up in the Maritimes and was used to music being all around. She was often a participant in kitchen parties, where musicians gather in someone’s home and share music. She hopes that they can create that same sort of feeling with Music Madness. For her, the music community is closely knit, but it can be hard to find each other sometimes. “If it’s not something you pursue as a career, sometimes people don’t know that you exist … But in the community, everybody is so supportive of everybody.”
The event organization has been a huge job. Barkhouse says that “It’s a lot of work and it’s been pretty overwhelming, but it’s something we’re really passionate about, and we’re excited to bring this to the Valley community and the music community as well.”
The day itself will start at noon, and have music going into the night, with Elvis impersonator Sylvain Leduc as the closing act. Barkhouse emphasizes that there will be “something for everyone,” with all different genres of music. There will be two stages going at the same time.
Barkhouse hopes that the festival can become an annual event, bringing in new acts each time. “Each new year we hope to showcase new artists … We hope to always have one big artist that everyone knows, to draw in people, but also smaller artists who have their own following to help introduce them to other people.”
Besides the music, there will also be refreshments available. Gigzz Musique Resto will be serving food, alongside a lemonade truck, an ice cream truck, and more. There will be vendors selling various artisanal goods, and a 50/50 draw. Attractions can take place in covered areas of the fairgrounds – meaning that the festival will happen on July 20, rain or shine.
This event is mainly being sponsored by the municipality of Havelock and the CAQ. Other sponsors include Les carrières Ducharme, Lestage Auto, Dépanneur Havelock, J.L. Priest Construction and Electricity, and Quincaillerie R. Gauthier INC.
Tickets can be purchased by calling Barkhouse (450-288-0626) or Christine Bicks (514-217-1465). They are also looking for more volunteers to help out on the day, and more vendors also; interested parties can contact Barkhouse or Bicks directly. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, or at the following Ormstown locations: Gigzz Musique Resto (31A Bridge Street), the Toit Vert restaurant (52 Church Street) or the Depanneur Express (38 Church Street).