Beaches Musicfest to run for next five Sunday afternoons at Starbucks on Queen Street East

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

The Beach Starbucks will be hosting a five week-long music festival, dubbed the first annual Beaches Musicfest, at its Queen Street East location starting this Sunday.

The free music festival will run every Sunday afternoon from Oct. 5 until Nov. 2 and will exclusively feature acoustic based singer/songwriters from the Beach and East Toronto area. Start times for performances are 2:30 p.m.

Damon de Szegheo, head of Oak Artist Management and organizer of Beaches Musicfest, said the decision to feature local artists is what sets the event apart from other music festivals in the city.

“The Beaches has always been very supportive of music and culture and is such a special place to live and work. We felt that it is time for the people who live in this community see what exceptional musical talent is happening right here,” said de Szegheo in a news release.

Artists performing will include Beach native and Nashville singer songwriter Kate Gillespie (who has more than three million streams on Spotify); Latin Jazz fusion guitarist and vocalist Melanna Orr; sixth generation folk/Canadiana singer Mark Cassidy; indie rock performer Dan Hendrik; and sharp pop and alternative songstress Sam Casey.

All shows will be hosted by award winning singer/songwriter and Beach resident Kristy Hagerman.

For Hagerman, highlighting local talent is what makes the Beaches Musicfest special and significant.

“We will showcase a different music artist that lives, works, and plays right here in East Toronto. We have so much talent here that its time they had their own platform to let the community know,” said Hagerman.

The festival’s first concert this Sunday will feature Melanna Orr in performance.

The Beach Starbucks is located at 1960 Queen St. E.

For more information about the Beaches Musicfest, please visit https://www.instagram.com/beachesmusicfest