I’m trying not to sound corny here but there was "magic" in the air for The Hip festival in Niagara On The Lake, Maybe it was just the vibe that comes with a festival with its triumphant music in the blazing sun. Maybe it was The Hip and that sense of occasion on the Canada Day weekend. Maybe it was crazy people painted and flying the red and white and the maple leaf. Maybe it was the fact that everywhere I looked everyone was smiling and having a great time, even the vendors bending over hot grills and wiping the sweat from their faces in the 30 degree plus heat. Maybe it was drinking ice cold beer with friends. Maybe it was the smoked brisket poutine, lobster sandwiches and bacon-brisket-maple donuts. Maybe it was the chorus of voices from the crowd that almost drowned out Gord Downie on most songs. Maybe it was because “Grace Too” had been playing in my head all week long and was the second song in the set. Maybe it was because The Hip themselves rose to the occcasion and were particularly fierce on this day. Maybe it was because the New Pornographers and Death Cab were really good.  Coulda been the Willie Nelson, coulda been the wine. Whatever it was – it was glorious day!

And see how the space tautens
Like there's something on
And you're never more hot then
When you've got something on

Leaving the concert on the shuttle buses was a disaster and one can only wonder why it wasn’t better organized. Earlier, wrist bands to drink booze were gone for people who arrived late and some people were caught holding a few unused $8 beer tickets when the bar closed down (early) when the Hip hit the stage. In the town of Niagara On The Lake, only one local curmudgeon complained about the beer bottles left on his lawn (forgetting that 200 years earlier that the soldiers that walked on his property didn’t pick up after themselves either ;). There was definitely room for improvement but the fact that N.O.T.L. pulled this festival off well is hope that it won’t be the last festival of this kind in the old town.