Arms raised to the sky, eyes closed, hips slowly swaying side to side, there was a nice vibe emanating from Sherry Hempstead as music filled the warm evening.
The Portlander traveled to Canby with two of her 50-something girlfriends over the weekend to get lost in the music that defined their youth.
At this year’s Harefest at the Clackamas County fairgrounds in Canby, this trio of ladies weren’t the only ones expressing their “get down” vibe.
If folks weren’t doing their own dance in front of the stage, they were leaning loudly into the lyrics of classic songs and having a good time with each other at the annual tribute band festival.
“I kind of discovered this thing (Harefest) a few years ago and it’s one of our ‘go to’ events during the summer,” Hempstead said. “We’re getting older, but this music played such an important part in our coming of age – these are more than songs, they kind of call back to those younger times. It’s music that’s kind of in our souls, so there’s a little deeper meaning to it all. It’s not nostalgia as much as just paying homage to a time that was very important in our lives – and the music was part of that.”
Dubbed “The Mother of all Tribute Band Festivals,” Harefest ran July 18-20 and isn’t a cover band festival. It delivers tribute bands – bands that not only sing the songs of the groups they have decided to emulate but try to bring that band’s experience to the stage.
With a new Thursday offering this year, there was even more to experience and enjoy. Jason Fellman, co-founder of Harefest, said things went well.
“The new Thursday night programming was a huge success,” he said. “(Overall) Attendees were in such great spirits despite the heat, and the friendly vibe for which the festival is known was in full effect once again. We are truly grateful for the support of the Harefest community.”
And at its core, Harefest’s performers pay tribute to the music and bands that continue to rock and roll all night. And yes, party every day. And for many, that dedication by the bands for this music means a lot.
“I like that they sing the songs faithfully to the originals and some of these bands are really good at delivering a very similar stage performance to the real bands,” said Sage Reynolds, who ventured to Canby from Beaverton with a couple friends, all of whom are in their late 50s. The music matters to these guys and they don’t mind showing it.
Bands at this year’s Harefest paid tribute to such classic acts as Hall & Oates, Foreigner, Black Sabbath, Blondie, CCR, Scorpions, Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, and more. It’s music that influenced a generation and just keeps on giving.
“This is my music, my generation’s music and it’s still incredibly good,” said Reynolds. “We spent the summer blaring this stuff from our stereos back in the day – with 8-tracks and cassettes – and just had this freedom from technology that this generation doesn’t have. So, music played a big part in keeping us occupied and entertained.
“And let’s face it, the music from the ‘70s and ‘80s is still far better than anything out today,” Reynolds added with a chuckle.
Hempstead and her friends, Leslie Jones and Maggie Lemone, would surely agree as they stood amidst a large crowd in front of the main stage listening to Lovedrive, a Scorpions tribute group, and singing the songs at the top of their lungs as they swayed back and forth. And at Harefest, they certainly weren’t alone.
“It’s just a blast to come here, listen again to these classic songs with a lot of people who have the same sensibilities and age range we do, and just let yourself rock out again like you did in your youth,” she said. “Talk about great therapy. It’s pretty cool – or should I say groovy?”
For Fellman, the three-day event is the culmination of a lot of work, a lot of volunteers and plenty of love. Seeing the crowds react and enjoy what Harefest has to offer is plenty rewarding.
“This was definitely our smoothest year to date,” Fellman said. “We’re always striving to improve the attendee experience, and we’re super proud of how hard our team works to deliver the best possible rock ’n roll party every summer.
“I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow the bands just keep leveling up every year,” he added. “So many stellar performances that it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite.”
In all, it takes nearly 400 volunteers and staff to put on Harefest each year. The 2025 Harefest will be held July 17-19 at the fairgrounds in Canby. For more information, go to harefest.com.
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