FORGE FEST
In 1825 George Tillson erected a forge and sawmill 50km southeast of London, Ontario. Around these two indispensable buildings, a community was established called Dereham Forge, now known as Tillsonburg, Ontario. It's 195 years later and here we are still shaping our community and doing our best to make a scene. The third installment of the Forge Fest festival showcasing and celebrating local, national and international artists, musicians & comedians will take place Saturday July 22nd 2023. Proceeds from 2023's Forge Fest concerts will be donated to the CMHA Oxford which helps offer programs and services to people experiencing mental health issues in our community. 2023 VENUES
THANK YOU TO FORGE FEST'S GENEROUS SPONSORS:
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Forge Fest would like to acknowledge the contribution by the Town of Tillsonburg's Cultural, Heritage and Special Awards Advisory Committee
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NEWS UPDATE FROM 2019
It’s been a week since the festival and we are still feeling the positive vibes from Forge Fest 2019. First off let’s get the exciting news out of the way…. after covering all festival expenses we are able to make a donation of $3676.26 to Canadian Mental Health Association - Oxford ! This wouldn’t have happened without the amazing attendees, bands, artists, comedians, venues, volunteers and sponsors. We’re strong as individuals but if we work together as a team with the goal of bettering our community then we can do anything!
In no particular order big thank you and high fives to all the performers that graced the Forge Fest stages this year. (A World In Pictures, Anubis, B.A. Johnston, Bird, Bike Thiefs, Billy Gibbons, Brent Jackson, Brenton Wilcox, Courtney De Decker, Cuda Highway, Eons Away, Fate's Got A Driver, Filthy Kitty, Forever Young's, From Waves To Shore, Glass Human, Glasslvng, The Homeless Gospel Choir, Huskie, Jaclyn Van Happen, Jesse Stewart, Mike Desj, Johnny & The G-Rays, Josh Rutter, The Lexington Cure, Marcy & Taylor, Megan Colley, The Moore Ave Underground, Rebel Cell, Redcoat, Seas, Small Town Leeches, Stompin' Del Schott, Quills, Zephler, Shawn Michael James Hughes, Mitch Gladney, Wally Warwick, Pat Tiffin, Ashley Grace, Gabe Koury & Jackson) All the participating venues including the wonderful owners & staff of Sammy Krenshaw’s, Boston Pizza, The Copper Mug, The Cup & Cake, The Station Arts Centre & Kelsey’s. Big hugs and high fives go out to our stage managers & sound techs. Without Brandon Hudson, Keith Beres, Marcy & Taylor, Bob Dunkin, Michele Hammond, Nathan Daniel, Nic Cartwright, Adam DeVoogdt, Nick Brown, Mark Donald & Rhonnda Beres this night would have been pure chaos. Thank you for helping hold it down. Another big thank you to Rhonnda Beres and Adam Bowen for making a personal donation to the festival by selling funds made from selling 3D printed rock n roll nic nacs! Even musicians not playing the festival made donations including Ollie from Port Dover & Thomas Palko from Waterford.
We would love to thank our radio sponsor London's Best Rock FM96 for presenting the event and helping get the word out. We would also like to thank the fine folks at CHRW 94.9 FM for helping spread the word as well too. We would also love to thank our print partners The Tillsonburg News, Coffee News Oxford, Exclaim!, The Village Voice & JC Graphics.
Forge fest would like to acknowledge the generous donations were made by local business including Degroote-Hill, Jen Thomson, Broker at Sutton Group, Ingersoll Music Academy, Definite Styles, Why Wait? Taxi, Velkow Lift Truck Service, Absolute Water Treatment & Plumbing, Fishin’ Musician, System Air Community Cares, Chesterman Power Products, Howard Johnson Tillsonburg, MagnetSigns Simcoe, Long & McQuade & Rockstar Energy Drink.
Forge Fest would like to acknowledge the contribution by the Town of Tillsonburg's Cultural, Heritage and Special Awards Advisory Committee.
I don’t believe we overlooked anyone but if we did please let us know so we can give credit where credit is due! Thank you a million times over again friends and we will see you July 25th 2020 for Forge Fest 3!
-Ben & The Forge Fest Committee
NEWS UPDATE FROM 2018
The Forge Fest dust has settled and there are a million people to say thank you to...but first....we are excited to say with closer to 300 festival attendees and all the generous donations from our sponsors we were able to donate $2357.18 to Canadian Mental Health Association - Oxford !!!
In no order we have to thank everyone that came out grabbed wristbands and supported the event, bands, comedians & cause. The 45+ bands, solo artists & comedians that performed at the festival and donated their time. Our stage managers, door people and sound enigneers ( Brett Kipp, Gerhard Bartsch, Mikey J Valladares, Joey Antonissen, Nathan Daniel, Kenny Barnes, Krusty Kp , Brandon Hudson& Shawn Michael James Hughes ) All the venues the participated ( Sammy Krenshaws, The Copper Mug, Boston Pizza, Broadway Laundry Mat & Town of Tillsonburg Oxford Parkette) All our media partners for spreading the word including Exclaim!, London's Best Rock FM96, Country 104, 94.9 CHRW Radio Western, CFRU 93.3 FM, 104.7 Heart FM, The Tillsonburg News, Coffee News Oxford, Magnetsigns Simcoe, Blacktop Records & Tillsonburg Scene ) Corey's Restaurant, Matteo's Pizza & Takeout & Hometown Brew Co. for keeping the acts fed and hydrated. Big thanks to all our generous sponsors that provided monetary donation including Degroote Hill Chevrolet Buick GMC, Digital Direction, Howard Johnson-Tillsonburg, Tillsonburg Glass & Mirror Ltd, Sunshine Restaurant, The Well Oiled Dog's doTERRA Essential Oils, Mount Elgin Golfers Club, The Foodhouse, Systemair, The 6 Day Zoo & Petro Canada Broadway.
I'm sure we might be forgetting some people and if we did please let us know! This was an amazing community event and everyone working together made these rock n roll whells runs smoothly!
Mark Saturday July 27th 2019 on your calendar. We're already planning the second installment of Forge Fest.
Thank you.
