BY MARK FITZGERALD
There was no way to escape the bluesy tunes and classic rock sound of the Preston Music Festival this year, as it could be heard for miles. The free, all-ages festival was held on Sept. 15 in Cambridge‘s Central Park and along Westminster Drive.
It was the fifth anniversary of the festival, and it was the biggest one yet. Organizers Matt and Gillian Storch have been at the helm of this event each year and continue to bring new additions to the show.
“We want to keep it local, but we are slowly growing each year,” said Matt.
They added a bike show to go along with the classic car show this year. Both modes of transportation were on display on Westminster Drive. Also new were two additional music stages which displayed local music talent such as Junkyard Delight, Fraser Daley and Black News Market.
The main stage was the gazebo in Central Park which featured local bands and artists all day long including the Grand River Orchestra, Johnny No Cash and the Cash Machines, and The Paul James Band. Matt Storch also played on the main stage with his band, Matt Storch & The Usual Suspects.
The event accepted food and money donations for the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank. It was also sponsored by local businesses and by the Preston Towne Centre Business Improvement Association.
The festival is about more than just the music and bringing the Preston community together. “It’s about promoting small businesses in the area,” said Matt.
A large colourful mural was painted on the side of Preston Cleaners in celebration of the festival. The mural was created by Dying Wish Tattoos, a business from the Hespeler part of Cambridge.
Most of the people at the event were from Cambridge, but there were also some people from as far as Brantford and Guelph.
Norm and Heather Wilson, from Cambridge, have come to the event every year and said that it is a great way to get the community together.
“It’s a place to come and see faces you haven’t seen in years,” said Heather.
“Matt really knows what the people want to hear. Always good music,” said Norm.
Another five-year veteran of the festival, Randy Chard, from Cambridge, would like to see the festival happen more often.
He said the event featured good music and it was “a nice place to have a beer, raise some money and help some people out.”
The crowd grew as the night went on and there was nothing but rocking music, dancing and smiles all around.
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