Cavendish Beach Music Festival

Last updated
Cavendish Beach Music Festival
Genre Country
DatesAnnually in July
Location(s) Cavendish, Prince Edward Island
Years active
  • 2009–2019
  • 2022–present
Website Official Site

The Cavendish Beach Music Festival is an annual country music festival held each July in the resort community of Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada, approximately 39 kilometres (24 miles) northwest of the provincial capital, Charlottetown. Produced by Whitecap Entertainment, [1] the festival was established in 2009 and has since grown into one of Canada’s leading music events. Attracting tens of thousands of attendees annually, the event regularly features top-tier international country artists, becoming a cornerstone in the local entertainment and economy. [2]

Contents

History

2009

In 2009, its inaugural year, the festival was a three-day event and featured major acts Rik Reese & Neon Highway, Tim McGraw, Big & Rich, and Reba McEntire. Additional acts included Paul Brandt, Doc Walker, and Deric Ruttan. [3]

2010s

2010

In 2010, the festival was extended to five days, and the site included the 2011 construction of a permanent stage and other supporting infrastructure. [4] New to the festival for 2010 was a day featuring local artists in a partnership with the East Coast Music Association named "ECMA at the Beach". Major acts in 2010 included Rik Reese & Neon Highway, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, and Lady Antebellum. [5] Additional acts included Emerson Drive, Gloriana, The Road Hammers, Shane Yellowbird, Dean Brody, Melanie Morgan, Gord Bamford, Tara Oram, Victoria Banks, and Ashley MacIsaac.

Taylor Swift performing on July 10, 2010, to a crowd of 35,000 people. Taylor Swift Cavendish.JPG
Taylor Swift performing on July 10, 2010, to a crowd of 35,000 people.

Country music superstar Taylor Swift took the stage on July 10, the third day of the festival, where approximately 35,000 people were in attendance. [5]

2011

In 2011, the festival was a four-day event with major acts Trace Adkins, Johnny Reid, Brad Paisley, and Toby Keith. Additional acts included Eric Church, George Canyon, Tanya Tucker, Aaron Lines, Chad Brownlee, Ricky Skaggs, Corb Lund, and Doc Walker. [6]

2012

In 2012, the festival included major acts Dierks Bentley, Alabama, and Rascal Flatts. [7]

2013

In 2013, the festival included major acts Dwight Yoakam, Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks. Additional acts included Little Big Town, Jason Blaine and Michelle Wright. The festival took place from July 5-7. [8]

2014

The 2014 event took place from July 4-6, with a lineup of Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Darius Rucker, Gord Bamford, and Brett Kissel. [9] [10]

2015

For 2015, the event announced a headliners Eric Church, Keith Urban, Brantley Gilbert, Kira Isabella & The Mavericks taking place between July 10-12. [11]

2016

The 2016 Cavendish Beach Music Festival featured The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Bobby Wills and Emerson Drive from July 8-10. [12]

2017

The 2017 Cavendish Beach Music Festival was a three-day event, from July 7-9, whose lineup included Kip Moore, Zac Brown Band, Chad Brownlee, and Little Big Town. [13]

2018

The 2018 Festival expanded to a four-day event from July 6-9, whose lineup included Luke Bryan, Shawn Mendes, Chris Young, and Brett Eldredge. This is the first time in six years that the festival has become a four-day event. [14]

2019

The 2019 festival returned to a three-day format, whose lineup included Eric Church, Carrie Underwood, Cam, and Russell Dickerson from July 5-7. [15]

2020s

2020 & 2021 Cancellations

The 2020 festival was scheduled to take place from July 10-12, with Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Brett Young, and Dallas Smith set to headline. [16] As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on April 28, 2020 that the festival was cancelled. [17]

The 2021 festival was set to take place from July 9-11; however, it was announced on April 20, 2021, that the festival would not return that year due to the ongoing health crisis. [18] On October 27, 2021 it was announced the festival would return the following year. [19]

2022 Return

After a two-year hiatus, the festival made its much-anticipated return from July 7-9, 2022. Headliners for the three-day festival included Luke Combs, Darius Rucker & Dustin Lynch. [20]

2023

In 2023, the festival returned July 6-8 with headliners Kane Brown, Jake Owen, and Chris Stapleton. [21]

2024

The 2024 festival featured Brothers Osborne, Tyler Childers, and Zac Brown Band as headliners from July 5-7. [22]

2025

In 2025, the festival was held from July 10-12, with Shania Twain, Tyler Hubbard, and Lainey Wilson headlining. [23]

Upcoming

The 2026 festival is scheduled to take place from July 9-11. [24] On August 12, 2025 it was announed that Hardy, Cody Johnson and Tucker Wetmore will headline. [25]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsAwardOutcome
2010 Canadian Country Music Association Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearNominated [26]
2011 East Coast Music Association Event of the YearNominated [27]
2014 West Jet Fun N' Festivals Series Best Festival on Prince Edward IslandWon [28]
2015 Canadian Country Music Awards Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearNominated [29]
2015 East Coast Music Association Event of the YearNominated
2016 Canadian Country Music Awards Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearNominated [30]
2016Tourism Industry Association PEIOperator of the YearWon
2017Music PEIVenue & Festival of the YearNominated
2017 Canadian Country Music Awards Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearNominated
2018 Canadian Country Music Awards Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearWon [31]
2019 Canadian Country Music Awards Festival, Fair, or Exhibition of the YearWon [32]
2024Canadian Live Music Industry AwardsMajor Festival of the YearNominated [33]

See also

References

  1. https://whitecapentertainment.com/
  2. Sarrouh, Maria. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival kicks off, bringing multi-million dollar boost to P.E.I." CTV News. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  3. "Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire & More - 2009 Cavendish Beach Music Festival". .tourismpei.com. Archived from the original on 10 February 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  4. Stewart, Dave. "Fans line up for world-class talent in Cavendish". .theguardian.pe.ca. The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  5. 1 2 MacLeod, Al (July 12, 2010). "Rain greets concertgoers on last day of festival". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  6. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2011". Concert Archives. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  7. "Cavendish Beach Festival 2012". Music Festival Wizard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  8. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2013 Setlists". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  9. Shea, Darlene. "Shelton and Lady Antebellum to headline Cavendish music fest". journalpioneer.com. The Journal Pioneer. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  10. Cavendish Beach Music Festival. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  11. "Cavendish Beach 2015". Music Festival Wizard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  12. "Cavendish Beach 2016". Music Festival Wizard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  13. "Cavendish Beach Festival 2017". Music Festival Wizard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  14. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2018". Concert Archives. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  15. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2019". Concert Archives. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  16. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2020 Lineup". Front Porch. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  17. Mckay, Millicent. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2020 has been cancelled". The Chronicle Herald. Saltwire. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  18. "P.E.I.'s Cavendish Beach Music Festival again cancelled over COVID-19 crisis". CBC. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  19. https://cbmf.prezly.com/cavendish-beach-music-festival-announces-2022-return-with-multi-platinum-award-winning-country-star-luke-combs
  20. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2022". JamBase. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  21. "Cavendish Beach Festival 2023". Music Festical Wizard. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  22. "Brothers Osborne announced as Third Headliner for Cavendish Beach Music Festival 2024". Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  23. "Your 2025 @bell Main Stage Lineup has arrived". Instagram. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  24. "Cavendish, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. See you at The Beach in 2026!". Instagram. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  25. Nguyen, Thinh. "HARDY, Cody Johnson to headline P.E.I. country music festival next summer". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  26. "2010 CCMA Awards Noms Announced". Celebrity Access. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  27. "ECMA - East Coast Music 2011 Award Nominations Announced". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
  28. "WestJet Fun 'n Festivals | Festivals en Fête". festivals.westjet.com. Archived from the original on February 20, 2014.
  29. "2015 CCMA Award Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  30. "2016 CCMA Awards Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  31. Cole, Sally. "Cavendish Beach Music Festival gets award from country music association". Saltwire. PNI Atlantic. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  32. "Cavendish country music festival in P.E.I. wins best festival award". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  33. "We are honoured to be nominated for 'Major Festival of the Year' at The Canadian Live Music Industry Awards!". Instagram. Retrieved 15 July 2025.

46°29′0.6″N63°23′24.76″W / 46.483500°N 63.3902111°W / 46.483500; -63.3902111