The Power of Positivity Musical Harvest has seemed like a gamble from the beginning.

Unlike most music festivals across the greater Kingston area that have been built around existing audiences or communities—from Howe Island Rockin' the Rock and Skeleton Park Arts Fest to Mackinnon Bros. Back to the Farm—the inaugural Line Spike music festival (web link) slated for June 28-29 in Harrowsmith, has not.

Instead, it's been built around one man's dream. But that doesn't make it any less legitimate.

Line Spike promoter and producer, Jeremy Campbell, who grew up in South Frontenac, has worked tirelessly for close to a year to make his vision of a world-class local summer music festival a reality. And this weekend it will become reality, with or without alcohol sales.

Statements in a media release Friday, June 27 claim that South Frontenac Township CAO, Louise Fragnito, has deemed the Line Spike festival unsafe, and revoked its liquor license. Apparently this was due to the absence of emergency medical services from the event, which the statement also claims were "…not a legal requirement."

"We have met every obligation for safety," explains Campbell in the release. "In fact, I have spent thousands over and above to ensure this event and venue is safe for people… most of my core team are certified Joint Health & Safety Committee leaders under the Ministry of Labour."

Campbell isn't new to large-scale events and music festivals. He's booked some of the biggest Canadian musical acts to play his inaugural event, including Walk Off The Earth, Burton Cummings and Chantal Kreviazuk, to name a few. As the saying goes, this ain't his first rodeo.

"I have built this over 9-months while battling cancer and spending upwards of half a million dollars with no corporate or government assistance," Campbell says. "A major component of how these events are funded is from the sale of alcohol (second to tickets, and merchandise). It is all an immense and terrifying gamble that I have taken because I believe the people of this region deserve better."

While the festival plans to move ahead without a liquor license, Campbell has called for Fragnito's resignation as CAO of South Frontenac Township. "Louise Fragnito's actions are direclty implicating the safety of this entire event," Campbell claims. "This single person is putting the safety of everyone at risk while we are doing everything to ensure everyone is safe."

Despite Campbell's frustration and the prospect of lost revenues, he remains positively optimistic about the festival's attendance and success.

"It has been an immense fight to get here. We are ready," says Campbell. "There will be several radio stations and coverage from both CBC and CTV. Line Spike Frontenac is going to go down as how Canadians can come together."

Details and festival passes are available here: web link Posted: Jun 27, 2025