Canada’s largest free music festival returns to Burlington

The Sound of Music Festival (SOM), billed as Canada’s largest free outdoor music events, returns this week with four straight days of concerts at Spencer Smith Park.

A diverse array of performers are scheduled to take part this year and it kicks off on Thursday (June 15) with a line-up straight out of the 80s including Men Without Hats, Burlington’s own Spoons, with retro stalwarts A Flock Of Seagulls.

Also on tap over the course of the four days will be Lee Aaron, Coney Hatch, Sven Gali, I Mother Earth, Tedy, The Darys, Luella, The Struts and several more bands who will be performing on two stages in the park and at locations throughout the city.

Opening night headliners A Flock Of Seagulls emerged from England in the post-punk days of the early 80s and was one of the first New Wave bands to score a global hit with I Ran (So Far Away) in 1982, a song that has since become a staple on retro radio and has made the band a continuing favourite at outdoor festivals.

And while the A Flock Of Seagulls has produced several successful records over the years, it was the unique look of frontman Mike Score that helped seal their status as pop culture icons.

With a gravity-defying hairstyle that was at the forefront of fashion back in the day, Score’s “look” continues to be a marker for those looking to reference the 80s when it comes to movies, television commercials, and artwork. Score doesn’t support that look anymore, but the music has withstood the test of time.

Originating in 1980, SOM is one of Burlington’s most welcomed summer events and takes place this year mostly at the lakefront park but also includes a parade and street festival.

For complete line-up, schedules and other info about SOM you can follow this link.