Mechanical Bull Riding Contest!

The Mechanical bull riding competition is back! One of the great events from last years fair is making a return appearance. Come on out and cheer for your favorite cowboys and cowgirls as they take on the meanest bull around! Do you have what it takes to stay on? This will be a fabulous night of entertainment as teams of riders go head to head to see who gets bragging rights, and then we will open it up so that everyone gets a shot at taming this wild beast! While the bull riding is going on there will also be live entertainment by the awesome party band “Conterfit.”

Counterfit

COUNTERFIT are professional musicians, who deliver high energy live shows with up-beat popular Top-40 music, keeping crowds on the dance floor with a bit of boogie in their two step. The three members of COUNTERFIT have been playing music most their lives. It’s what makes them “tick”!All members grew up with different musical tastes, including rock, country, classic rock, pop, hip-hop, celtic and more. This allows COUNTERFIT to reach a wide audience with diverse tastes.

*Age of majority required

As one of the most popular bands of it time, April Wine continues to deliver an incredible live show. Come and join us for what promises to be a night to remember under the domes.

About the band

It all began in Nova Scotia late in 1969. The Henman brothers, David and Ritchie, got together with their cousin Jim Henman and fellow musician Myles Goodwyn to form a band called April Wine, a name chosen simply because they were two words that sounded good together. Fifteen studio albums, three live releases, numerous compilations, a boxed set and thousands of concerts later April Wine has become enormously popular in Canada, the United States and throughout the world.

In March of 2009, April Wine was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame during Canadian Music Week in Toronto. They also received The Lifetime Achievement Award for being part of Canadian Music History for 40 years.

Opening act “Catalyst”

“Catalyst” is a dynamic new “Party Band” forged from members of various well known and successful bands in the Ottawa area. “Catalyst” will make your public or private event a success by adding just the right mix of Classic Rock & Country hits for a night of dancing you’ll never forget. Versatility is the key when you’re looking for a band capable of entertaining multiple generations of guests who enjoy a variety of musical genres. We are a five-piece band with great vocals, guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards offering a fresh approach to old and new sounds. You can witness the passion for their craft during their performances which is always engaging, always inviting, and always fun. Remember, every event needs a “Catalyst”.

*Age of majority required

About the band

Johnnie Dee formed the first incarnation of Honeymoon Suite in Toronto in 1981, with original drummer Mike Lengyell, and established the nucleus of the band. They added 3 other players to roundout the lineup with bass, keyboards and guitar.They worked hard in that first year but the lineup was short lived and changes were already in the air. In 1982, Johnnie was introduced to Derry Grehan by manager Steve Prendergast.  Deciding to work together, they re-formed Honeymoon Suite adding Ray Coburn on keys and then Grehan’s former Steve Blimkie and the Reason bandmate Dave Betts on drums.

In 1983 they decided to enter the Homegrown Contest put on yearly by Toronto’s Q107-FM radio station so Prendergast approached his friend and producer Tom Treumuth to produce a song for them. Based on the buying public’s response, “New Girl Now” won the contest and Bob Roper at WEA Canada was so impressed with the song and response that he signed the band right away. The rest as they say is history as the band went on to become one of the most beloved Canadian acts of all time with such hits as New Girl Now, Feel It Again,  and a whole host of others.

Opening Act The John Seay Orchestra

The John Seay Orchestra is a four-piece dance hall band from Ottawa Ontario. They are recognized for their unique and diverse repertoire, strong lead vocals and the ability to both faithfully cover and creatively mash up the songs they play. The boys incorporate many musical genres into their show, including classic rock, rock & roll, soul, hip hop, new hits and vintage pop. The artists they cover include The Beatles, The Killers, CCR, Aerosmith, Elvis Presley, Franz Ferdinand, Queen, the Strokes, and Otis Redding. The John Seay Orchestra pride themselves on delivering a high-energy medley of hits that consistently packs the dance floor. The John Seay Orchestra have been performing at weddings, private parties, agricultural fairs and premier Ottawa bars since 2004.

Off The Menu

1-3pm

Off the Menu (offthemenu.ca) is a classic rock cover band that is quickly becoming a popular choice in the Ottawa area for any occasion requiring festive, full-sounding live music. With a repertoire of 60 songs and growing, the band can keep a crowd dancing for hours. Their list of songs consists mostly of 60’s and 70’s classic upbeat rock sprinkled with more contemporary ones. There is a strong focus on Canadian artists such as Blue Rodeo, The Guess Who, The Band, and April Wine. Off the Menu has experience playing a large variety of events including private parties, weddings, fairs, and bar shows. The band is fully equipped to provide sound and lighting for small and medium-sized venues.

Professionalism, passion, and variety are what define Off the Menu. Most of the band members participate in both backup and lead vocals, making each song distinct and memorable. The band consists of Mike Pastuch (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Bill Danic (keyboard, vocals), Dave Danic (bass, vocals), Dominic Macdonald (drums, vocals), Shawn Peters (lead guitar), and John Lang (guitar, lap steel).

Just as a restaurant needs to have a great menu, an event needs to have a great live band. Just make sure to order Off the Menu when the time comes to plan for your entertainment.

- Classic rock focused on 60’s, 70’s, and Canadian artists.
- Upbeat music for hours of dancing and fun.
- Six piece band providing a full, rich sound.
- Fully equipped (sound and lighting) for small and medium-sized venues.
- Large variety in vocals and instruments

Website: www.offthemenu.ca

High Valley

When it comes to illuminating simple truths and tapping into universal emotions, there’s nothing like a great song and country music has long been known for its rich legacy of powerful story songs. When a great collection of songs merges with a band of gifted communicators, the impact is considerable. It’s that one-two punch of powerful songs and potent performances that makes High Valley one of the most impressive new acts on today’s competitive country scene.

Ambush

Ambush, “Canada’s Rockin’ Country Band” has been delivering their own brand of high-octane country music since 1993. The trio of Mark McDonell, Riq Turner, and Jim Wright are a dynamic group of performers who share an unprecedented combination of talent, experience, and contagious enthusiasm.

Famous for their live shows, Ambush has built an intensely loyal fan base in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. The Ambush Army is a quarter of a million fans strong and still growing! Performing more than 200 shows per year, and having performed to over one million people in the past five years, Ambush continues to captivate crowds of all ages.

Searson

With talent that remains full of fierce energy, Searson continues to astound their audiences with unguarded sincerity in their vocals, raw fiddling and ferocious stepdancing. Searson has been taking North America and Europe by storm, performing an average of 150 shows a year. Growing up in the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, Canada, Erin, Heather and Colleen Searson began performing for audiences at a young age. Each sister was filled with an appreciation of music at an early age and from this, developed a contemporary style of high energy, roots, celtic, country and pop, a sound they are known and loved for.