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'It was fantastic': Virtual TD Sunfest a hit with home, watch party viewers

TD Sunfest Connected ’21 festival continues to draw views and donations.

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The second annual virtual version of the four-day festival, expected to return live and in person to Victoria Park next July, has drawn 110,000 views and counting on its Facebook page and YouTube channel.

World music fans enjoyed 16 international and 14 Canadian acts.

“Our audience has actually grown, especially in terms of our international audience tuning in, because we have so many streaming partners around the world,” said co-artistic director Mercedes Caxaj, daughter of founder Alfredo Caxaj.

“There were no glitches, everything went really well. We even had a last-minute watch party added at Covent Garden Market and the London Arts Council supported local live musicians on Dundas Street Friday and Saturday that carried over into our watch parties.”

Other official watch parties featuring local live music ahead of the streaming also helped draw support, including events at Anderson Craft Ales and Che RestoBar downtown the first three nights and London Brewing Co-operative hosting all four nights.

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“It was fantastic,” said Gavin Anderson, president of Anderson Craft Ales. “The local live music was great, but it was especially great with all these international acts. The response was fantastic. We were packed and got a lot of positive feedback.”

Caxaj said she’s excited about next year’s festival, which will host many of the live acts seen this year and last. She urged Londoners and others to continue viewing the acts online and to keep donating in the “virtual” pickle jar.

“The watch parties all had good audiences and many people were dancing in the street and on the patios,” said Caxaj. “The vibe was really good and everyone was happy to support all these artists, but people want to be together, live, in the park next year.”

Twitter.com/JoeBatLFPress

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