April 22 2014

Singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn will close out this year’s Forest Festival with a performance on Aug. 17 at Bone Lake Amphitheatre. With 31 albums under his belt Cockburn has won 13 Juno awards a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002.

By Angelica Blenich

A diva an angel and a Canadian officer.

These are just some of the ways to describe the depth of talent coming to the Highlands this August to take part in the annual Forest Festival.
Set to take place from Aug. 12 to 17 for the first time since its inception the music festival will feature nine performances in six days said Forest Festival general manager Lesley English.

The line-up was officially announced on April 14 following some ambitious work on behalf of the seven-member advisory board said English.
“We do expect a couple of shows to sell out” she said.
Now in its seventh season the Forest Festival has become synonymous with raw musical talent set against the backdrop of breathtaking natural environment.
“The added show is a non-musical Sunday afternoon program that is truly expanding our range of offerings” said English. “This is our most ambitious season to date and we’re really excited about this year’s playbill. As always we attempt to bring artists to the Highlands that for the most part haven’t appeared here before. We try to remain as eclectic as possible and offer a wide variety of genres.”
Some of the big names coming to the county this summer include an acoustic performance from Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor a concert that sold more than 350 tickets in the first week of sales.

Opera singer Measha Bruggergosman is one of the nine acts performing in this year’s Forest Festival set to take place from Aug. 12 to 17 at the Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve. The line-up for this year’s event was announced on April 14 by general manager Lesley English. Bruggergosman is an acclaimed Canadian singer who has a Juno award and Grammy nomination to her name.

“This is a stripped down intimate show” said the general manager.

Canadian singer/songwriter Bruce Cockburn will close out the festival with a performance at Bone Lake Amphitheatre on Sunday Aug. 17.

With more than 30 albums to his name Cockburn has a multitude of accolades on his resume including 13 Juno awards an induction in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and in 1982 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

In 2002 that status was upgraded to Officer of the Order of Canada.

Apart from those concerts music lovers have a wide offering to choose from including international performers Canadian Brass operatic diva Measha Bruggergosman Montreal blues singer Angel Forrest funky phenomenon The Shuffle Demons and jazz-fusion band Manteca.

Like last year the festival will include a family show with Magoo entertaining audience members both young and old.

The performer teacher and entertainer will get the crowd on their feet with songs about school buses dinosaurs and messy rooms.

The final day of the festival will include three events starting with Magoo and ending with Cockburn.
In between festival organizers are delving into new territory by bringing Barbara Budd’s one woman speaking show to the stage.

A former CBC personality Budd is bringing her Stratford festival show to the Highlands complete with humour honesty and celebrity impersonations.

“She will be entertaining us with her skills as a raconteur and humorist and it’s going to be in a lovely intimate setting” said English.

Aside from expanding this year the festival has also revamped its website complete with event information musician bios and more.

Tickets to all shows are available for purchase online at www.theforestfestival.com or by calling the Haliburton Forest at 705-754-2198. Prices vary by show.