Second edition of Spring Reverb runs June 1 to 4 in downtown Kingston

Next week, downtown Kingston will be bustling with concerts, panels, workshops, and other special events, as the second-annual Spring Reverb takes place from June 1 to 4, 2023. If last year’s event is any indication, the four-day festival will be a must-attend for local music enthusiasts. Organized by KPP Concerts, Spring Reverb 2023 is set to feature 18 concerts and a number of other special events. 

With a goal of showcasing Kingston’s vibrant music scene, organizers have lined up a wide variety of performances, with plenty of local acts, as well as some prominent national touring artists as well. The festival officially kicks off on Thursday, June 1, with three separate shows featuring local headliners Keaton, Oakridge Ave., and Lauren Carson. 

Things shift into high gear on Friday, June 2, with five different concerts on tap, including a performance at the Mansion (506 Princess Street) by Toronto punk band Fucked Up at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, if soulful pop music is more your speed, Tyendinaga’s Ryland James will perform at the Broom Factory (305 Rideau Street) alongside Noelle and Vikki Minor. 

Saturday, June 3, is easily the busiest day of Spring Reverb, with six shows lined up throughout the day, including a free all-ages afternoon show at Next Church with local acts Piner and The Gertrudes. One of the festival’s most talk-about concerts will take place on Saturday night, as Gord Sinclair— bassist from The Tragically Hip— performs at the Broom Factory with support from local singer Julia Finnegan. 

Spring Reverb 2023 officially comes to a close on Sunday, June 4 with three concerts, including a set by Canadian ‘skate-punk’ legends Belvedere at 2:30 p.m. at the Mansion. The final show of the festival sees Oshawa-based pop star Dizzy, playing alongside local musicians Luella and Taylor Adams at the Broom Factory. A full list of concerts, including venues at times can be found online.

“I don’t want to say [the festival] programmed itself… We said, so many times, ‘I think we’re really close, I think we’re really close,’ and then some [new] band [or] opportunity would present itself,” said Moira Demorest of KPP Concerts. “There’s a lot of bands that are touring during this time. There’s also… Canadian Music Week happening the next week [in Toronto], so we have lots of artists that are touring and in Ontario anyway. So, we’re tapping into that.”

By bringing a major four-day music festival to the Limestone City, organizers hope to create a showcase for some of Kingston’s emerging talent. “What we want to do is have the ability to give exclusion for some of the Spring Reverb artists, because we want to make sure that those people are being showcased for Kingston music lovers, as well as people in the ‘scene’,” Demorest noted. 

Aside from the over one-dozen concerts Demorest has planned for Spring Reverb 2023, the festival will also serve as a networking and professional development event for local artists. “The shows are a major component of the festival, and the performances are obviously a very fun part, but we also feel the professional development part is something we really want to make sure doesn’t get buried behind all the other [programming],” remarked Demorest.

In terms of professional development events, Spring Reverb 2023 will include a number of music industry panels, related to topics like album art, touring, A+R, and mental health.  “One of the things we learned from last year… [is that] Kingston artists really want to attend and ask questions at these panels, [which] are really helpful for them,” noted Demorest. Panels are free but do require pre-registration ahead of time. 

 As part of the festival’s commitment to professional development, Spring Reverb 2023 includes several networking events, allowing local artists to connect with insiders from the Canadian music industry. “We’ll have industry [experts], label reps, artists, and booking agents… people who are associated with the acts that are out there. They’re going to come and part of our panels and roundtables, and networking in general,” Demorest said. 

The Spring Reverb Kickoff on Thursday, Jun. 1, 2023, is a free event allowing musicians, industry representatives, and festival attendees to mix and mingle, ahead of the busy four-day festival. Festival pass holders will receive free admission to the kickoff event as well as a beverage, however, organizers have also opened up a number of free spots to the general public. Like the industry panels, pre-registration is required for networking events. 

On Friday, June 2, local musicians and filmmakers are invited to Outpost Media (12 Cataraqui Street) to hear the first details of this year’s Slaight Music Video Program. The official launch event for this year’s program takes place from 5 to 6 p.m. and will provide an opportunity for those interested to learn more about the program, which is now entering its third iteration. 

On top of the concerts, panels, and networking events, organizers of Spring Reverb have teamed up with downtown Kingston’s independent cinema The Screening Room, to host a special screening of David Byrne’s True Stories on Thursday, June 1, at 6 p.m.

In total, Spring Reverb 2023 features over 30 different events over four days. While some events are free, most concerts will require paid admission, with single tickets now available online and at Brian’s Record Option. With the festival just over a week away, tickets for some performances are limited; those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment. 

People looking to take in multiple performances and events may be interested in a festival pass, which grants holders access to all concerts and other events. Passes are $70 and can be purchased online. 

Kingstonist is pleased to be giving away a pair of Spring Reverb passes to a lucky Kingstonist subscriber, while a second subscriber will receive a pair of tickets to a Spring Reverb concert at the Ale House!

• Giveaway: Grand Prize – A pair of passes to Spring Reverb; Runner-up – A pair of tickets to one Spring Reverb show at the Ale House
• To enter the contest: Subscribers, please email your first and last name and phone number to [email protected], and make sure the subject line is “Spring Reverb 2023”
• Contest runs from Wednesday, May 24 to Tuesday, May 30, 2023
• Draw will take place on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, and the winners will be contacted by Kingstonist staff via email.
• Not yet a Kingstonist subscriber? Subscribe here!