George Street Festival

Featuring Baraka, Neon Dreams and Arkells

All Photo Credit: Tara Thompson

This year the George Street Festival celebrated 40 incredible years of music. Since its debut in 1985, this iconic festival has brought together local, Canadian and international acts, unifying all in music and culture during an unforgettable party on the street. Each year, the George Street Festival brings a variety of music, from indie to alternative to country to classic rock to EDM and dance, to the Rock. Along with these fantastic genres, there is always a good ol’ fashioned Irish-Newfoundland kitchen party that never disappoints.

This year’s George Street Festival began on July 31st (and ran until August 6th), with Newfoundland-based singer-songwriter Baraka. Originally from the coastal city of Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, Baraka has been performing and writing music since his early teens. He has had an impressive start so far. Baraka delivers a captivating one-man show full of charisma, infectious melodies, and clever lyrics. His songs are often written from the heart, exploring topics such as relationships, self-love, connection, and emotional resilience.

Baraka released his debut EP, Voicemail, in 2023. This release put him on the map, earning him plays on the airwaves through Spotify, with recognition through MusicNL and the ECMAs. The track ‘I Will Be There’ was released as a single from this album. This track, written during the pandemic, is an anthem of self-compassion and emotional support.

With his soulful style, a mixture of folk-pop and pop-rock vibes and his acoustic sound, you need to add Baraka to the list of shows you must see.

Next up was Neon Dreams. This Canadian alt-pop duo, hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, consists of vocalist Frank Kadillac and drummer Adrian Morris. Their sound can be described as a combination of elements including pop, rock, folk, EDM, hip-hop and reggae. The duo are known for their high-energy live shows with both members playing multiple instruments throughout the set.

Neon Dreams started their rise to fame in 2015 when the duo, along with guitarist Matt Gats and DJ/Vocalist Corey LeRue, began experimenting with different musical styles. In September of that year they released their first track ‘Love Experts’. This single was quickly picked up by the media, setting the scene for what was to come.

Neon Dreams released their debut EP, To You, in 2016. This included the single ‘Marching Band’, featuring Kardinal Offishall. The band became a duo in 2019, after LeRue and Gats left the band to work at their independent label Dreaming Out Loud. LeRue still continues to write and produce for the band. After their exit, Neon Dreams as we know them released their debut album, Sweet Dreams till Sunbeams (2019). This album featured the radio hit ‘High School Dropout’ and ‘About You’.

Neon Dreams are also known for hits such as ‘Marching Bands’, ‘Survive’, ‘High School Dropout’, ‘Life Without Fantasies’, and ‘Little Dance’. Many of these tracks made it into their set list at the George Street Festival, enticing fans to sing and dance along. They definitely brought the party to the street during their set.

Neon Dreams are a must-see. The energy they portray during their live shows will captivate any audience. Their songwriting focuses on personal storytelling with hints of positivity and emotional healing. They combine EDM elements with playing instruments live on stage to deliver a dynamic, high-energy performance that one will not soon forget. Neon Dreams are always here for a good time!

Arkells’ took the stage as the last band of the night. Arkells are a Canadian rock band from Hamilton, Ontario. They got their start in 2006 and have released nine albums to date. This is one band that never disappoints and this night was no exception.

Arkells released their debut album, Jackson Square, in 2008 and toured as the opening act for Matt Mays & El Torpedo that year. This album featured tracks such as ‘Oh, the Boss is Coming’ and ‘John Lennon’. They went on to release their second album Michigan Left in 2011, with the first single being ‘Whistleblower’.

The release of their third album, High Noon, saw a shift in the band. ‘Never Thought That This Would Happen’ was released as the first track from the album. However, ‘Come to Light’ was officially the first single from the album. This album earned the band the title of Group of the Year and the album won Rock Album of the Year at the 2015 Juno Awards. Other hits from this album include ‘Leather Jacket’ and ‘11:11’, two songs that always cause a cheer and sing-a-long from the audience.

Their fourth studio album, Morning Report, saw the first single, ‘Private School’, reach number 1. This album also included the viral hit, ‘Drake’s Dad’, ‘My Heart’s Always Yours’ and ‘Knocking at the Door’. The latter went to number 1 on the Canadian alt/rock charts and spent 14 weeks at number 1. The release of Rally Cry saw hits such as ‘People’s Champ’, ‘Relentless’, ‘Hand Me Downs’, and ‘Only for a Moment’.

Changing things up a bit, Arkells released a full-length acoustic album entitled Campfire Chords in 2020. This featured acoustic versions of earlier songs. Around the same time the group released two singles ‘Years in the Making’ and ‘Quitting You’. The release of albums Blink Once and Blink Twice saw the release of singles such as ‘You Can Get It’ featuring guest vocals by K. Flay, ‘All Roads’, ‘Reckoning’ and ‘Dance With You’. Arkells released their latest album in 2023, entitled Laundry Pile. This album featured pre-released singles ‘Skin’ and ‘Laundry Pile’. Since then, Arkells have also released singles ‘Big Feelings’ and ‘Come On, Teacher’.

Arkells focused their set on many of their well-known hits, including many of the singles from each album. They focused on the feel good, upbeat melodies to keep the party rollin’.

They invited Aaron Collis and Emilia Bartellas to join them on stage for ‘Book Club’ and ‘Quitting You’, along with their cover of the Oasis hit, ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ during their encore. Both Collis and Bartellas are known for both independent work and together as a part of The Dardanelles, playing the accordion and fiddle respectively. What a wonderful treat for those on George Street. The night ended with ‘Leather Jacket’. In all honesty, if you only know one song by Arkells, it is probably this one.

Concerts with the Arkells are one where you can feel the energy from the step on stage, from the first note that an instrument makes, from the first word that breaks out through the crowd. The banter and the enthusiasm from each band is second to none. Their interaction with the audience leaves everyone wanting more, especially as Kerman makes his way through the crowd for a sing-a-long. This is one band you do not want to miss and their set at the George Street Festival definitely solidified that.