Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Music event in Prince Edward Island, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cavendish Beach Music Festival is an annual country music festival held each July in the resort community of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada, approximately 39 kilometres (24 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, Charlottetown. Produced by Whitecap Entertainment,[1] the festival was established in 2009 and has since grown into one of Canada's leading music events. Attracting tens of thousands of attendees annually, the event regularly features top-tier international country artists, becoming a cornerstone in the local entertainment and economy.[2]
- 2009–2019
- 2022–present
| Cavendish Beach Music Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Country |
| Dates | Annually in July |
| Location | Cavendish, Prince Edward Island |
| Years active |
|
| Website | Official Site |
History
2009
In 2009, its inaugural year, the festival was a three-day event and featured major acts Rik Reese & Neon Highway, Tim McGraw, Big & Rich, and Reba McEntire. Additional acts included Paul Brandt, Doc Walker, and Deric Ruttan.[3]
2010s
2010
In 2010, the festival was extended to five days, and the site included the 2011 construction of a permanent stage and other supporting infrastructure.[4] New to the festival for 2010 was a day featuring local artists in a partnership with the East Coast Music Association named "ECMA at the Beach". Major acts in 2010 included Rik Reese & Neon Highway, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, and Lady Antebellum.[5] Additional acts included Emerson Drive, Gloriana, The Road Hammers, Shane Yellowbird, Dean Brody, Melanie Morgan, Gord Bamford, Tara Oram, Victoria Banks, and Ashley MacIsaac.
Country music superstar Taylor Swift took the stage on July 10, the third day of the festival, where approximately 35,000 people were in attendance.[5]
2011
In 2011, the festival was a four-day event with major acts Trace Adkins, Johnny Reid, Brad Paisley, and Toby Keith. Additional acts included Eric Church, George Canyon, Tanya Tucker, Aaron Lines, Chad Brownlee, Ricky Skaggs, Corb Lund, and Doc Walker.[6]
2012
In 2012, the festival included major acts Dierks Bentley, Alabama, and Rascal Flatts.[7]
2013
In 2013, the festival included major acts Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks. Additional acts included Little Big Town, Jason Blaine and Michelle Wright. The festival took place from July 5–7.[8]
2014
The 2014 event took place from July 4–6, with a lineup of Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Darius Rucker, Gord Bamford, and Brett Kissel.[9][10]
2015
For 2015, the event announced a headliners Eric Church, Keith Urban, Brantley Gilbert, Kira Isabella & The Mavericks taking place between July 10–12.[11]
2016
The 2016 Cavendish Beach Music Festival featured The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Bobby Wills and Emerson Drive from July 8–10.[12]
2017
The 2017 Cavendish Beach Music Festival was a three-day event, from July 7–9, whose lineup included Kip Moore, Zac Brown Band, Chad Brownlee, and Little Big Town.[13]
2018
The 2018 Festival expanded to a four-day event from July 6–9, whose lineup included Luke Bryan, Shawn Mendes, Chris Young, and Brett Eldredge. This is the first time in six years that the festival has become a four-day event.[14]
2019
The 2019 festival returned to a three-day format, whose lineup included Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Cam, and Russell Dickerson from July 5–7. [15]
2020s
2020 & 2021 Cancellations
The 2020 festival was scheduled to take place from July 10–12, with Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Brett Young, and Dallas Smith set to headline. [16] As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on April 28, 2020, that the festival was cancelled. [17]
The 2021 festival was set to take place from July 9–11; however, it was announced on April 20, 2021, that the festival would not return that year due to the ongoing health crisis. [18] On October 27, 2021, it was announced the festival would return the following year. [19]
2022 Return
After a two-year hiatus, the festival made its much-anticipated return from July 7–9, 2022. Headliners for the three-day festival included Luke Combs, Darius Rucker & Dustin Lynch.[20]
2023
In 2023, the festival returned July 6–8 with headliners Kane Brown, Jake Owen, and Chris Stapleton. [21]
2024
The 2024 festival featured Brothers Osborne, Tyler Childers, and Zac Brown Band as headliners from July 5–7.[22]
2025
In 2025, the festival was held from July 10–12, with Shania Twain, Tyler Hubbard, and Lainey Wilson headlining. [23]
Upcoming
The 2026 festival is scheduled to take place from July 9–11. [24] On August 12, 2025, it was announced that Hardy, Cody Johnson and Tucker Wetmore will headline. [25]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Award | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Canadian Country Music Association | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Nominated[26] |
| 2011 | East Coast Music Association | Event of the Year | Nominated[27] |
| 2014 | West Jet Fun N' Festivals Series | Best Festival on Prince Edward Island | Won[28] |
| 2015 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Nominated[29] |
| 2015 | East Coast Music Association | Event of the Year | Nominated |
| 2016 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Nominated[30] |
| 2016 | Tourism Industry Association PEI | Operator of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | Music PEI | Venue & Festival of the Year | Nominated |
| 2017 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Nominated |
| 2018 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Won[31] |
| 2019 | Canadian Country Music Awards | Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the Year | Won[32] |
| 2024 | Canadian Live Music Industry Awards | Major Festival of the Year | Nominated[33] |
See also
