Local Musician Reaches Milestone With Their First Big Gig

It was a surreal moment for local artist SJ Riley, performing her first large-audience show at the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series in the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on Friday.

Sarah-Jayne Riley better known by her stage name SJ Riley, had her latest song “Mansion of Broken Hearts” filmed at a haunted house in Lakefield. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Riley opened the show for country music star Chad Brownlee with a six-song set — five originals and one cover song — including her signature-titled songs, “Whoever This Was Written To” and “Mansion of Broken Hearts.”

The singer/songwriter had only performed two shows prior to this performance, one at The Black Horse Pub (July 11) and The Garnet (July 17) earlier in the month.

"When you think about gigs like this, until you’re on stage doing it, how absolutely fun it is,” she said. “I had a blast.”

SJ Riley with her band, the “SJ Riley Band” performing on an overcast evening on the Enbridge Energy Stage. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Playing live was a breath of fresh air and a sign the world was giving a sense of normalcy according to Riley.

“I think it’s the first step to a time where people come together again,” she said. “There’s nothing like coming together with a group of people and sharing an experience.”

During the pandemic, SJ Riley was doing acting gigs and filming music videos at Treblecock Studios located in downtown Peterborough.

Several of her music videos were produced by the local studio to occupy her time until live concerts were allowed again due to the pandemic.

“Peterborough is fantastic,” said Riley. “The people of the city are amazing, the artists in this city here are amazing, there’s so much here so I’m just absolutely honoured to be a part of it.

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Peterborough's First-Ever Drive N' Drag Show In the Books

Peterborough’s first-ever Drive N’ Drag show filled the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot where fans danced all night on Saturday.

A fan celebrates her birthday at Saturdays Drive N’ Drag show. Photo By Angela O’Grady

Despite on-and-off torrential downpours during the show, local drag performers Ms. Madge Enthat and Sahira Q were in the spotlight on the Enbridge Energy Stage. They joined other stars such as Tynomi Banks, BOA, Virgo, Tash Riot, Baby Bel Bel with host Dancing Phil.

Performers danced and lip-synced to music from famous artists like Whitney Houston and Beyonce during a night filled with expression and energy.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to express yourself and this is a form of expression or an outlet to release frustrations,” said Tynomi Banks.

Photo By Angela O’Grady

Fans were seemingly unbothered by the weather and danced along with the performers - some embracing the rain and some hiding under their umbrellas.

One on-scene security personnel speculated that the Drive N’ Drag show may have been one of the busiest PTBOLive performances to date.

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George Thorogood And The Destroyers Concert Announced For Peterborough

The Peterborough Memorial Centre has announced that George Thorogood And The Destroyers are coming to Peterborough for an in-person concert on May 14, 2022.

Since 1976 George Thorogood and the Destroyers have played over 8,000 live shows and sold over 15 million albums. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Tickets for the Good To Be Bad: 45 Years of Rock tour will go on sale Thursday and can be purchased on the Memorial Centre website, or by calling 705-743-3561.

PMC Scoop members will be eligible to purchase pre-sale tickets exclusively online on Wednesday.

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Local Band Returns to the Stage Opening for Big Wreck at PTBOLive Drive-In Concert

It was a long absence of playing live shows due to the pandemic for Heaps but they made a return in a big way, opening for Big Wreck on Friday.

(From left to right) Warren Frank (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Tanner Paré (drums), Freddy Kwon (lead guitar and backup vocals) and Nathan Truax (bass). Heaps had shared stages with bands like Hollerado, The Sheepdogs and The Trews. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Both bands performed at the PTBOLive drive-in concert series at the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on Friday.

The Peterborough/Lindsay-based band felt playing a live show again was a breath of fresh air since musicians and people had the urge for live concerts.

“It feels so great to be playing shows,” said Warren Frank, Heaps’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. “It’s been a really long time since September of 2020 when we last played.”

While Heaps has shared the stage with well-known bands like Hollerado, The Trews and The Sheepdogs, they have not taken for granted the opportunities they have been given.

“(It’s) Pretty great opening for bands bigger than us, giving us new exposure and a new audience,” said drummer Tanner Paré.

“Some nights you don’t want to play any shows but now that we’ve had a year where it was all taken away, we’re not taking it for granted for a minute,” said Frank.

The timing for the band performing live concerts could not be better since Heaps were promoting their latest album “What Is Heaps” released less than a year ago.

The album contains 11 songs with featured title tracks such as “You Were There” and “Get It Back”.

After the show, the band said they are booking shows and plan to play at Algonquin College later this month.

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Peterborough's First-Ever Summer Concert Series Debuts This Week With Updated Acts

The Peterborough Memorial Centre will host their first act of their PTBOLive Summer Concert Series with performances on three consecutive days starting on Friday.

Big Wreck has performed in Peterborough on numerous occasions at places such as The Venue and Del Crary Park for Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Opening the series is the Classic Albums Live night with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.

The Jim Cuddy Band with special guests and musical duo Express & Company follow the opening act on Saturday.

Splash’N Boots rounds out the three-day series opener for a more kid-oriented show on Sunday afternoon.

Classic Albums Live will be the opening act of the first-ever Summer Series held by the PMC. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

More acts added to the series is Peterborough’s first-ever drive and drag show featuring the Drive’N Queens scheduled for July 14.

A drive-in movie night of “The Father'“ about an aging man who must deal with his progressing memory loss will be one of two films featured for the PMC on July 19. Twelve Mighty Orphans will be the other featured drive-in movie for August 16.

The Father was nominated for six academy awards, winning two for best actor and best adapted screenplay in addition to countless other award wins and nominations. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The following is the current lineup of the series:

• June 25 Classic Albums Live performs Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

• June 26 The Jim Cuddy Band with special guest Express & Company

• June 27 Splash N Boots

• July 2 Big Wreck with special guest Heaps

• July 9 The Reklaws with special guest Jesse Slack

• July 10 The Trews with special guests Adam & Cale Gontier from Saint Asonia

• July 16 Classic Albums Live performs Led Zeppelin's Zeppelin II

• July 19 “The Father” Drive-in movie night

• July 23 Chad Brownlee with special guest SJ Riley

• July 24 Drive’N Queens, Peterborough’s first-ever drive ‘n drag show

• Aug 7 Shaun Majumder with Ali Hassan

• Aug 14 Sinatra with Matt Dusk

• Aug 15 Mini Pop Kids Live

• Aug 16 12 Mighty Orphans Drive-in movie night

• Aug 20 Classic Albums Live performs The Beatles' Abbey Road

• Aug 27 Jackson Delta with Emily Burgess & The Emburys

Tickets are on sale now at the PMC’s website or by phone at (705) 743-3561.

Tickets range from $100 per vehicle to $200 per vehicle plus fees (vehicle occupancy must be in accordance with the highway traffic act.) Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early as space is limited as stated in the press release.

Food is available on site but guests are permitted to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks for the event.

The series is a collaboration presented by Peterborough Memorial Centre, Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

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Peterborough Summer Concert Series Roundup of Updated Event Dates and Acts

The Peterborough Memorial Centre will begin the first act of their PTBOLive Summer Concert Series on June 25 after a number of additions and changes to this year’s lineup.

Big Wreck has performed in Peterborough on numerous occasions at places such as The Venue and Del Crary Park for Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The series is a collaboration presented by Peterborough Memorial Centre, Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

Actor and comedian Shaun Majumder — known for his work on YTV and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes” — with special guest and fellow comedian Ali Hassan has moved from the opening act to August 7.

Opening the series is the Classic Albums Live night with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album starting on Jun 25.

The Trews have performed concerts in Peterborough at venues such as Trent University and Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Rock bands such as The Trews and Big Wreck will headline two separate days of the concert series along with four other acts according to a press release.

“This will be our opening night of the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series and we couldn’t think of a better way to welcome everybody to the venue than setting them up for an evening full of fun and laughter,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC Facility Manager. “It has been a very hard year for everyone and this lineup of comedians will give fans something to finally smile about, we can’t wait.”

The Trews will have special guests and former frontman Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier and cousin Cale Gontier, bassist for Art of Dying. The previous date of June 5 has been rescheduled to July 10.

Country music duo Jenna and Stuart Walker of The Reklaws were a late addition to the lineup with special guest Jesse Slack will appear on July 9.

Siblings Jenna and Stuart Walker of The Reklaws were formed in 2012 based out of North Dumfries, Ontario. File Photo.

Country star Chad Brownlee will perform with special guest Sj Riley on July 23 as another late addition to the musical series lineup.

Other acts include Splash’N Boots, the Jim Cuddy Band, Sinatra with Matt Dusk, Mini Pop Kids Live, Jackson Delta with Emily Burgess & The Emburys and Classic Albums Live performing Led Zepplin’s Zeppelin II and The Beatles’ Abbey Road.

Brownlee was a former NHL draft pick in 2003 by the Vancouver Canucks. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The following is the current lineup of the series:

• June 25 Classic Albums Live performs Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon

• June 26 The Jim Cuddy Band with special guest Express & Company

• June 27 Splash N Boots

• July 2 Big Wreck with special guest Heaps

• July 9 The Reklaws with special guest Jesse Slack

• July 10 The Trews with special guests Adam & Cale Gontier from Saint Asonia

• July 16 Classic Albums Live performs Led Zeppelin's Zeppelin II

• July 23 Chad Brownlee with special guest SJ Riley

• Aug 7 Shaun Majumder with Ali Hassan

• Aug 14 Sinatra with Matt Dusk

• Aug 15 Mini Pop Kids Live

• Aug 20 Classic Albums Live performs The Beatles' Abbey Road

• Aug 27 Jackson Delta with Emily Burgess & The Emburys

Tickets are on sale now at the PMC’s website or by phone at (705) 743-3561.

Tickets range from $100 per vehicle to $200 per vehicle plus fees (vehicle occupancy must be in accordance with the highway traffic act.) Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early as space is limited as stated in the press release.

Food is available on site but guests are permitted to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks for the event.

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Additional Act Announced for Peterborough Summer Concert Series

Canadian Country Sensation Chad Brownlee will be playing the Enbridge Energy Stage at the Peterborough Memorial Centre for the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series on July 23.

Chad Brownlee is known for several hit songs such as “Dear Drunk Me”, “Forever’s Gotta Start Somewhere” and “The Way You Roll”. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Local artist SJ Riley willl perform on stage the same night as Brownlee.

The series will accompany other concert dates that feature acts such as The Trews and Big Wreck. The former will have special guests and former frontman Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier and cousin Cale Gontier, bassist for Art of Dying.

Actor and comedian Shaun Majumder — known for his work on YTV and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes — will kick off the first date for Jun. 4 with special guest and fellow comedian Ali Hassan.

Other acts include Splash’N Boots, Jim Cuddy Band and a Classic Albums Live night with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00 a.m. online or by phone at (705) 743-3561. The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Wednesday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is only available online.

Tickets range from $125 per vehicle to $225 per vehicle plus fees (vehicle occupancy must be in accordance with the highway traffic act).

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Six Acts Announced for Peterborough Summer Concert Series

The Peterborough Memorial Centre has announced a sizzling lineup of performances for this year’s PTBOLive Summer Concert Series on Monday.

The starting lineup for this summer’s PTBOLive Summer Concert Series. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Six dates from Jun. 4 to Jul. 2 have been announced with a variety of acts ranging from comedians to musicians will take centre stage this summer.

The series is a collaboration presented by Peterborough Memorial Centre, Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.

The Trews have performed concerts in Peterborough at venues such as Trent University and Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Actor and comedian Shaun Majumder — known for his work on YTV and “This Hour Has 22 Minutes — will kick off the first date for Jun. 4 with special guest and fellow comedian Ali Hassan.

“This will be our opening night of the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series and we couldn’t think of a better way to welcome everybody to the venue than setting them up for an evening full of fun and laughter,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC Facility Manager. “It has been a very hard year for everyone and this lineup of comedians will give fans something to finally smile about, we can’t wait.”

Rock bands such as The Trews and Big Wreck will headline two separate days of the concert series along with four other acts according to a press release. The Trews will have special guests and former frontman Three Days Grace, Adam Gontier and cousin Cale Gontier, bassist for Art of Dying.

Other acts include Splash’N Boots, Jim Cuddy Band and a Classic Albums Live night with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.

Big Wreck has performed in Peterborough on numerous occasions at places such as The Venue and Del Crary Park for Musicfest. Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Tickets go on sale Friday, Apr. 16 at 10:00 a.m. online at the PMC’s website or by phone at (705) 743-3561. The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Wednesday, Apr. 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and is only available online.

Tickets range from $100 per vehicle to $200 per vehicle plus fees (vehicle occupancy must be in accordance with the highway traffic act.) Fans are encouraged to get their tickets early as space is limited as stated in the press release.

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New Live Summer Concert Series Coming to Peterborough

The Peterborough Memorial Centre, Showplace Performance Centre and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre are excited to announce the creation of the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series on Monday.

The new venture is a three-month-long live concert series that promises to showcase and celebrate the local music scene of Peterborough as well as offer the community a variety of live entertainment options in a safe and fun format.

The coalition of live music venues is excited to be able to offer the return of live music and will be rolling out event announcements throughout the day on April 12 as well as further announcements throughout the coming months according to a press release.

Tickets for all events will be on a per car basis and will be sold through the PMC’s Grant Thornton Box Office or by phone at 705-743-3561.

PTBOLive is a unifying effort of the three major live entertainment venues in Peterborough and a project that came to fruition as a result of tireless teamwork and collective problem solving.

“We are so thrilled by the opportunity to offer the Peterborough community a chance to attend real, live entertainment once again. The mandate of our organizations (PMC, Showplace and Market Hall) has always been to bring the best entertainment to the City of Peterborough and being able to continue that work through the pandemic while giving event attendees a safe and fun space to come to is a great honour,” says PMC Facility Manager Jeremy Giles. “Working with our incredible partners at Showplace and Market Hall is really helping us engage the local music scene in a big way and we can’t wait to have everyone back on site this summer! For the first time since last fall, we can finally say, Live Entertainment is back in Peterborough!”

"Showplace is excited to be working with Market Hall and the Memorial Centre to help bring live performances back to Peterborough this summer,” states Showplace General Manager Emily Martin. “Thanks so much to the City of Peterborough for supporting this great initiative and inviting us to take part!"

“We are thrilled to be working with Showplace & The Memorial Centre to bring shows back to the community. It’s been a long year for everyone and we can’t wait to experience the pure joy that is live music,” adds Market Hall General Manager Chad Hogan.

Individual shows will be announced throughout the day on April 12 and throughout the summer as more show information becomes available. All tickets will be sold as a per vehicle price with no venue imposed restrictions on vehicle capacity. Ticket prices will vary per event.

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Peterborough Musicfest Adds New Tickets to Sold Out Show

After selling out their Live at Home, Peterborough Musicfest has opened up the show for more free tickets to the public on Wednesday.

The concert featuring The Reklaws and James Barker had sold out within 36 hours since they were released last week Tuesday.

The tickets will allow guests to view the hour-long performance but will not feature the 30-minute post-concert live conversation with the artists at the end of the show.

JENNA (LEFT) AND STUART WALKER (RIGHT), A SIBLING DUO, RELEASED THEIR FIRST ALBUM, “FRESHMAN YEAR” ON AUG. 27, 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETERBOROUGH MUSICFEST

Jenna and Stuart Walker of The Reklaws are a country duo based in North Dumfries, Ontario. They first signed to Universal Music in 2017. Their second single, “Long Live the Night” went on to win the 2019 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) for top-selling Canadian single of the year. It was selected as the theme song for the Canadian Football League’s Thursday Night Football for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

They've toured with Dean Brody and Dallas Smith and earned a JUNO nomination for “Country Album of The Year”. Their latest album, "Sophomore Slump", is out now.

JAMES BARKER OF THE “JAMES BARKER BAND” HAS RELEASED THREE ALBUMS AS OF AUGUST 2020 TITLED “GAME ON”, “SINGLES ONLY” AND “JBB-SIDES”. PHOTO COURTESY OF PETERBOROUGH MUSICFEST

James Barker is the namesake of the James Barker Band who first burst onto the scene when they won the Ontario-based Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase in 2015 and were signed to Universal Music Canada.

With over 185-million total global streams, the multi-award-winning James Barker Band has taken the country music scene by storm and continues to break records one release at a time.

The show will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 27. Click here to get your free ticket to the show.

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