This year will be the 8th consecutive year of the Music Westport and Arts Market. There’s so much to see and do you need the weekend to take it all in. The weekend starts off at The Cove in Westport on Friday, August 15th, with the Music Westport Kick Off Party, featuring H’Sao from Montreal, an African Acapella/Dance Group.

On Saturday, August 16th, enjoy our local arts and music scene by taking in an outdoor concert or shopping in the arts market. In the morning watch our 3rd Annual Voice of The Rideau, The Cove’s local amateur vocal competition where you can cast your vote for this year’s winner.

This music festival features two outdoor stages: behind The Cove and beside Artemisia where you can listen to great Canadian bands play everything from rock’n roll to today’s contemporary country music. All the outdoor events are free, so tell your neighbours and bring your kids to spend the weekend with us in Westport.

To audition for the Voice of the Rideau download and complete the form, then come with your talent on July 19th to the North Crosby Hall from 10am-4pm and show the Westport Arts Council what you’re made of. This competition is open to all ages, no voice is too small to compete.

Events List
Voice of the Rideau Audition – Saturday, July 19, 10am-4pm
H’Sao Concert and Dance – Friday, August 15, 8-11pm, Tickets $10
Outdoor Concerts – Saturday, August 16, 12-6pm, FREE!

The Wesport Arts Council is accepting entries for the photo contest from April 1 through to December 31. Get out there and start taking pictures of our lovely town and surrounding areas. Who knows, you might win a prize! You can email for more information at,  info@westportartscouncil.ca

MUSICwestport kicks off the party with Zal Sissokho (West African music from Montreal) on Friday August 16, 2013 from 8-11pm at the Cove. Cost is $10/person and 100% proceeds go to the Westport Arts Council. A master of the Kora, a 21 stringed harp instrument native to West Africa built from half of a large gourd covered by a cow skin, Zal plays this dreamy instrument while singing his gorgeous songs ranging in dynamic from energetic high life dance music to meditative ballads!

Join Westport Ontario music lovers the next day, August 17, 2013 for 9 acts, 2 stages, 1 festival!

Local to international talent performing all kinds of genres…This is a FREE festival from 11:30am-7pm!

FESTIVAL LINEUP
Beginners Guide to Endings (Kingston)
Crooked Wood (Perth Road Village/Kingston)
Shaun Riley Blues Band (Kingston)
The Heavyweights Brass Band (Toronto)
Trin-Can Steel Drum Band (Westport/Ottawa)
Amanda Rheaume Band (Ottawa)
Kingston Jazz Composers Collective (Kingston)
Foley Mountain Playboys (Westport/Kingston)
Henry Norwood & Friends (Perth/Westport)
The VOICE of the Rideau Amateur vocal competition at 10-11:30am. Auditions Sat.Jul.20 at North Crosby Recreation Centre.

Join the Voice of the Rideau Singing Competition and get a chance to perform during MUSICwestport!

Auditions will occur at North Crosby Community Centre, 875 Eighth Concession Rd, Westport on Saturday, July 28, 2012 between 11:00 am and 4 pm, depending on the amount of entries received.

The top scoring contestants in each of the two groups will compete in the finals on Saturday, August 18 at the Cove Inn, Westport during MUSICwestport.

For more information visit www.westportartscouncil.ca

The Westport Arts Council Presents the 5th Annual Music Festival in Westport Ontario. This year’s festival will be held Saturday August 13, 2011.

With three outdoor stages a The Cove, SOHO’s, and A Victorian Reflection you can enjoy a day full of music with some of the area’s most exciting talent.

Free Adminssion. Make sure you bring and chair and be prepared for rain or shine. If you wish to see “Miss Emily” at the Cove after-hours the cover is $5.00 and starts at 8pm.

For more information visit www.westportartscouncil.ca.

The Annual Kitchen Party features non-stop Live(ly), Toe-Tapping Music. Featuring Brock Zeman, Shawn McCulloch, Tom Savage, Brad Milner, Mike Cochrane, Gerald Van Halteren, and Jeff & Seamus Cowan.

This event will be taking place at the Westport Legion from 2-7pm on April 2nd, 2011. A “kitchen party” is a time-honored way for families, friends (old and new) and neighbours to enjoy each other’s company by sharing music, dance, stories and food, in part as a way to kick start spring and the arrival of sunnier days.

The Legion’s cash bar will be open during the day. A traditional meal of homemade Irish stew, bread and biscuits, a selection of deserts, and tea and coffee will be available from the kitchen later in the afternoon for just $7. Tickets are only $10 per person, and are available in Westport at The Cove Country Inn (2 Bedford Street) (613-273-3636) and at the door of the Westport Legion on County Road 10.

For more information visit the Westport Arts Council website.