The West Island Blues Festival returns for its 21st year
Posted June 19, 2024 5:12 pm.
Last Updated June 19, 2024 6:38 pm.
The West Island Blues Festival has been around for 21 years. It’s an annual community event all over the West Island, celebrating the blues while helping local organizations financially.
Errol Johnson founded the West Island Blues Festival 21 years ago alongside the current Mayor of the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds, Jim Beis.
Johnson shares, “My favorite memory that I have over the years is that when we started in this park, we started really and literally on the ground. We did not have a stage, right, so when I see the big stage that it’s set up and the art is performing, I feel so good at least we have elevated the festival to be a real blues festival.”
Beis explains, “The whole mission behind West Island Blues Festival was not only to bring music, local talent, you know, international talent for that matter to the West Island, but it was also to raise awareness and funds to non-profit organizations where we have raised in the last 20 years close to half a million dollars.
“These are free events. We had our VIP event in Pierrefonds which is a paid event, which is really a big money-maker for us with the sponsors and everything, but also to have some intimate setting that we can perform, have a performer with us.
“But the outdoor festivals are free festivals. The only way we make money at these free festivals is either from the beer sales, the food sales or the donation boxes.
“So for me, the highlight is getting everybody together, keeping everybody local and having thousands of people come out and see this beautiful music that’s performed under the stars.”
Johnson shares, “Jim and I have been doing this from the beginning and we get excited every year.”
Beis shares, “We wanted to have a festival that would almost mirror what’s happening downtown and keep people local.
“And so what better way to do that on the West Island with now the addition of Dorval, keeping in that tradition of the West Island Blues Festival, we had a Dorval now along with Point Claire Dollard and Pierrefonds.
“And so for me, that’s really why people should come.
“Stay local, have the spin-off business of the local community, and also be close to home so that they can enjoy something in the park like we would when we go downtown.”
Johnson adds, “What we do in our overall performance with the Blues Festival, we add a little bit of, even though it’s a West Island Blues Festival, a little bit of reggae, you know, a little bit of steel pan to reach out more, a little bit of rock to get all the audience feeling that they get a little bit of taste of everything, even though we focus mainly on Blues.”
The West Island Blues Festival takes place on July 6th in DDO, August 10th in Dorval, and September 7th in Pointe-Claire. For more information head to WestIslandBluesFestival.com.
