Daniel Lanois bridging urban and rural at Greenbelt Harvest Picnic

Click here for a video of Danile Lanois performing on the shores of Christie Lake.

Adam Carter · CBC News · Posted: Aug 21, 2012 5:28 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 21, 2012

Daniel Lanois

12 years ago

1:15

On getting back to nature for the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic

Daniel Lanios and the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic crew are setting out to host a more down to earth kind of music festival.

"We want things to be inventive and spontaneous," Lanois told CBC Hamilton, after a Tuesday afternoon news conference promoting the second Harvest Picnic.

The event is a celebration of agriculture and rural life — combined with a host of well-known songwriters.

It features a who's who of Canadian music like Feist, Sarah Harmer and Lanois — a world-renowned producer and performer in his own right.

"We have a pretty chill festival," Lanois said in the sunshine next to Christie Lake, where the concert is set to take place.

"There's no big security guys pushing you around, because people here are respectful. And if you let respect lead the way, people look after themselves."

So what else sets this festival apart aside from a wealth of local farms, visual artists and the absence of meathead security guards?

"A lot of portable toilets and a lot of beer," Lanois joked.

The festival was created for families and people with affordability in mind, says event organizer Jean-Paul Gauthier.

"There'll be no gouging for food or at the bar," he said.

Gauthier says they wanted the festival to stand alone — so aside from the music, there's healthy food and local farmers showing off their creations set against a pristine, natural venue.

"There'll also be activities like fishing, swimming and picknicking — or just being able to lie under a tree and make out," Gauthier laughed.

Gauthier said he expects at least as many people to make the trek to Flamborough this year as last year, when about 7,000 people came out for the show.

And Lanois said he really enjoyed playing for all of them last year.

"There's a lot of nice, honest people in this neck of the woods," Lanois said. "So lets just let the honestly and respect lead the way."

Tickets for the show run $69.50 for adults or $19.50 for ages 10 to 16. You can buy them at Dr. Disc, Picks and Sticks, or online at Ticketmaster.ca. Children nine and under get in for free.

For more information, visit http://www.harvestpicnic.ca.