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The organization behind London’s Home County Music and Art Festival – cancelled this year, its would-be 50th anniversary – held an intimate one-day event on Saturday with the long-term status of the summertime staple unclear.
The Home County Folk League partnered with London Brewing at the latter’s brewery on Burbrook Place in east London for what was dubbed the Home County Summer Celebration. Like the popular annual Victoria Park festival, admission to the event was pay-what-you-can.
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“We’ve had a relationship with London Brewing for the past two festivals,” said Paul Tomlinson, the organization’s treasurer and acting board chair. “They’re marvelous people, wonderful to work with, and they suggested that we do something.”
The event featured 10 musical acts scheduled to perform between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. cycled on London Brewing’s outdoor patio stage and an indoor stage. More than 200 people were at the 400-person-capacity brewery at about 2 p.m. as the event was picking up steam.
Dominique Millette was at London Brewing and had attended every Home County festival held in Victoria Park since moving to London eight years ago. She called the 2024 event’s cancellation “devastating,” noting it was a “fixture of the London scene.”
Millette said she turned up on Saturday for the music and to support the organization. “I wanted to show my support and enjoy the music, because it’s just beautiful. The music is always top notch.”
Tomlinson said the organization aims to offer more events like the one at London Brewing that “hopefully grow into something” while the full-fledged festival remains on an indefinite hiatus.
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It’s unclear whether Home County will ever return to its multi-stage, multi-day roots in Victoria Park.
“The festival is on hold,” Tomlinson said. “Certainly cancelled for this year, probably almost certainly cancelled for next year.”
Drawing an estimated 50,000 people to Victoria Park annually since it debuted in 1974, Home County has featured performers such as Sylvia Tyson, Fred Penner and Steven Page since its inception.
Financial woes and a lull in volunteer recruitment resulted in the 2024 edition’s cancellation.
“Money is always an issue,” Tomlinson said. “Government grants aren’t what they used to be. Funds from private funders (are) not what they used to be either . . . we’re also having trouble getting volunteer leadership.”
Home County’s struggles date back several years.
The festival was revived in 2022 after the event was shuttered for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was smaller than usual and sustained a loss of about $7,000. At the 2023 edition – which returned to a full-scale event – financial losses were estimated to be between $27,000 and $30,000.
Tomlinson said there’s a desire to bring the festival back and didn’t rule out the possibility of a 2026 edition but was ultimately uncertain of its future. “The hope is perhaps one day a festival will be on the deck again, but we don’t know.”
bwilliams@postmedia.com
@BrianWatLFPress
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