Why? Because Beer, and also because music. The annual Hamilton event is billed as a "Craft Beer Festival" — but it's also quickly emerged as a staple music festival of the Ontario summer, attracting a stacked audience of rock bands across two days at Pier 4 Park.
In addition to libations from craft breweries, cideries and cocktail artisans, this year's event includes some throwback rock, catchy punk, and up-and-coming songwriters with huge hooks.
Below, see Exclaim!'s five must-see picks from this year's festival, running on July 11 and 12, and find ticket information over at Because Beer's website.
Down with Webster
Exclaim! called it last year — Down with Webster are so back. Having made their comeback, the Toronto rap rock band's song "Time to Win" became something of an anthem for Mark Carney's successful prime ministerial campaign, and he then danced to "Whoa Is Me" to celebrate the win.
The Dirty Nil
Hamilton's the Dirty Nil bring glitzy theatrics to gritty garage punk — so don't be surprised if the scorching riffs and titanic choruses from the upcoming The Lash are delivered with a side of sequins.
Terra Lightfoot
Hamilton's own singer-songwriter Terra Lightfoot is equally comfortable making catchy full-band rock and stripped-down singer-songwriter material, her classic pop chops shining through no matter what style she's working in.
Loviet
An alumnus of Exclaim's Class of 2023, Loviet graduated with flying colours, bringing the hooks of power pop together with the shimmering production of '80s new wave for anthems that sound like they're destined for arenas.
The Sheepdogs
JUNO Awards, platinum records and the cover of Rolling Stone — Saskatchewan's the Sheepdogs have taken their old-school Southern rock to some massive stages, proving that people like that old time rock 'n' roll, that kind of music just soothes the soul.
