Peterborough Memorial Centre Takes Blast to the Past With "The 80s Club" On Nov. 24

Bust out your neon scrunchies and get your acid wash jeans as the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) is hosting ‘The 80s Club’ featuring four bands bringing back the nostalgia for Nov. 24.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Honeymoon Suite, A Flock of Seagulls, Men Without Hats and Spoons are performing their massive hits at the PMC.

“This tour is exciting for us in so many ways,” said Gord Deppe of Spoons. “It's the first time we've toured the country from coast to coast in decades, performing some places we haven't been to since the 80s. On top of that, I get to play with my own group, Spoons, as well as with my new bandmates, A Flock of Seagulls.”

Honeymoon Suite lit Canadian radio on fire in the 80s with hits including ‘Stay in the Light,’ ‘New Girl Now,’ ‘Feel it Again,’ ‘Wave Babies,’ and ‘Burning in Love.’

England’s A Flock of Seagulls is led by singer Mike Score. The Grammy Award-winning new wave act had massive hits like ‘I Ran (So Far Away)’ and ‘Space Age Love Song.’

Bringing their iconic 80s pop songs are Men Without Hat’s ‘The Safety Dance’ and ‘Pop Goes the World!’ The band’s Ivan Doroschuk was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Formed in 1980, Spoons was an intrepid young band from Burlington that helped define the sound of Canadian 80s pop. Their album Arias & Symphonies was named one of the 20 Most Influential Albums of the 80s by The Chart Magazine. They have memorable hits such as ‘Romantic Traffic,’ ‘Old Emotions,’ and ‘Nova Heart.’ 

Tickets are available at the PMC’s website.

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Sarah McLachlan Kicks Off Canadian Tour Leg at the Peterborough Memorial Centre On Nov. 2

Grammy and Juno-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan has Peterborough and the Memorial Centre the first stop of her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th Anniversary Tour.

Photo courtesy of Live Nation Entertainment.

Joining her is the acoustic harmony trio Tiny Habits on their first tour of Canada.

“I think it’s interesting as an artist or as a human for that matter, to be able to go back and look at a postcard of a time in your life and reflect on it,” said McLachlan. “I think this tour is going to be a real walk down memory lane for me and I’m hoping that my audience, many of whom have been with me for 30 years, will also be able to go back in time with me.”

The tour celebrates McLachlan’s third studio album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, first released Oct. 22, 1993.

One dollar per ticket sale will be donated to the non-profit Sarah McLachlan School of Music which provides music education and mentorship free to children and youth facing barriers to access.

Tickets will be available starting with the artist presale on Tuesday. Additional presales will run throughout the week before the general on-sale begins May 31 at 10 a.m.

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I Mother Earth, David Wilcox and Dwayne Gretzky Announced For Peterborough Musicfest Lineup With Several Other Acts

I Mother Earth, David Wilcox and Dwayne Gretzky were some of the acts listed for this year’s Peterborough Musicfest lineup, announced at the Silver Bean Café on Tuesday morning.

TRACY CONDON, PETERBOROUGH MUSICFEST BOARD CHAIR (LEFT) WITH TRACEY RANDALL, GENERAL MANAGER (RIGHT) AS THE FREE CONCERT SERIES RELEASES THEIR LINEUP FOR THIS YEAR. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

This adds to acts Tenille Townes, Down With Webster and Metric who were announced before the full lineup release.

Three dates (July 10, July 27 and Aug. 10) will be announced later.

“There's something for everyone, there's so many acts that I want to check out and I just think it's going to be an incredible summer,” said Tracy Condon, Musicfest chair.

Statistics regarding the Musicfest’s economic impact, according to a study conducted by Community Futures Peterborough and PKED supported the Economic Impact Assessment, were released during the announcement.

They were surveyed at the park last summer and were evaluated by STEAM Pro (Sport Tourism Canada).

“The $4.3M Economic Impact was assessed by evaluating the amount of money generated by Festival activity which encompasses the local community, the county, province and even nationally,” said Raff Melito, Musicfest marketing and communications manager. “It includes not only fees paid out by the festival for its operations, but also the broader impacts on local businesses, increased employment and the multiplier effect of circulating money within the economy.”

“The $2.3M combined spending reflects the amount that people attending the festival spent last year,” explained Melito. “That would include accommodations, meals out, transport, spending in local shops, etc.”

The free concert series kicks off with country music star Tenille Townes on June 29. In its 37th season, Musicfest hopes to continue to draw crowds that has been supportive over the years.

“It's free, I think that's the most important thing. There's no barriers to people attending and I think that's so important in this day and age when everything is a little harder for people economically,” said Condon. “I think it's a place where you get to see such talent. Music brings everyone together, it's so good for community and for mental health so all of these things coupled together, you can't go wrong with that.”

The following is this year’s Musicfest schedule:

• June 29: Tenille Townes

• July 1: Road Apples (Tragically Hip Tribute Band)

• July 3: Aysanabee w/ Cale Crowe

• July 6: Tim Baker and the Great Lake Swimmers

• July 10: TBA

• July 13: I Mother Earth

• July 17: Metric

• July 20: Beau Dixon Band

• July 24: Rêve

• July 27: TBA

• July 31: Down With Webster

• Aug. 3: Elton Rohn (Elton John Tribute)

• Aug. 76: Dwayne Gretzky

• Aug. 10: TBA

• Aug. 14: Choir! Choir! Choir!

• Aug. 17: David Wilcox

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Blippi: Join the Band Tour Makes Peterborough Memorial Center a Stop On Oct. 23

Blippi: Join the Band Tour is making a stop in Peterborough to entertain kids and their families at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Oct. 23, announced on Tuesday.

Blippi on Tour has traveled the globe multiple times and has delighted millions of international fans throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, with plans to visit many more new countries in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The brand-new production features live musicians playing on stage in a never-before-seen show.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, with pre-sales beginning on Tuesday.

Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies and musicians. They’ll explore what makes music, including sounds, rhythms and instruments, with fan-favorite Blippi hits

“We are turning it up to 11 with the Blippi: Join the Band Tour this Fall,” said Stephen Shaw, Founder and Co-President of Round Room Live. “Blippi is a rockstar for today’s kids and has been delighting millions of children and families all over the world.  A brand new show that amps up the excitement to an even higher volume with a live band onstage was the next logical step in continuing Blippi touring around the world.”

“Following the success of previous tours, Blippi: Join the Band Tour will bring families to their feet across the country to dance and sing along to their favorite Blippi hits as well as some brand new songs.” said Susan Vargo, Head of Global Experiences at Moonbug Entertainment. “Parents and kids alike will share in making music the Blippi way, with curiosity and silliness center stage.”

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Country Music Star Tenille Townes Kicks Off Peterborough Musicfest For June 29

Five-time reigning Female Artist of the Year and country music star Tenille Townes is kicking off the 37th annual Peterborough Musicfest with a free concert at Del Crary Park on June 29.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Grande Prairie, Alb. native first fell in love with music from her parents’ influence at home. She then discovered her passion for songwriting at age 14.

“My grandparents gave me a guitar and I started learning the chords I needed to make songs out of what I was writing in my journal,” said Townes.

Towens has toured with well-known names within the music industry such as Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Reba, Zac Brown Band, and Dierks Bentley.

Townes has won two JUNO Awards, 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and two Academy Of Country Music Awards.

This is her first appearance in the Peterborough area. 

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Down With Webster Announced As Peterborough Musicfest's Second Concert of 2024 Season For July 31

Peterborough Musicfest is bringing the rap and rock stylings of Down With Webster as its second concert of the 2024 season to Del Crary Park on July 31.

The band first achieved commercial success with the release of the 2009 EP, Time to Win, Vol. I which consisted of the singles "Rich Girl$", "Your Man" and "Whoa Is Me." Their major-label debut album, Time to Win, Vol. II (2011) featured the track "She's Dope.” The 2014 follow-up album, Party for Your Life, included the songs "One in a Million" and "Chills." Down With Webster has been nominated for Juno Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards, and Canadian Radio Music Awards. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

Their songs have charted on Top 40 Radio, sold millions of singles and amassed hundreds of millions of streams. They have had performances at the Much Music Video Awards, Junos and festivals across Canada. 

This will be the band’s first appearance on the Fred Anderson stage. Down With Webster last played in Peterborough at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in 2013 alongside Marianas Trench and Anami Vice.

This is the 37th year Peterborough Musicfest has been providing free summer concerts in Del Crary Park. Peterborough Musicfest's 2024 season runs from June 29 to Aug. 17 every Wednesday and Saturday night.

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Country Music Legends Sawyer Brown to Rock Peterborough Memorial Centre on Oct. 30

Country Music legends Sawyer Brown, alongside Shenandoah and special guest George Fox, will stop at the Peterborough Memorial Centre as a tour stop on Oct. 30, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

“One of the unique things about the band is we don’t really have a lot of love songs. We have life songs,” said Mark Miller, Sawyer Brown lead singer and frontman.

Sawyer Brown delivers their blue-collar, grass-roots message through music.

Marty Raybon and Mike McGuire formed Shenandoah in 1984 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with bassist Ralph Ezell, keyboardist Stan Thorn and guitarist Jim Seales.

Legendary Canadian singer George Fox will open the show. Fox has a mantle of country music awards, has recorded 11 albums, opened for some of the biggest names in country music, and headlined sold-out shows coast to coast.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. online, by phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the PMC Box Office. Tickets prices range from $59.00 to $95.00 (plus applicable fees).

There is a venue presale for PMC Scoop members beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. – fans can sign up to receive the promo code online.

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'Metric' Announced As Peterborough Musicfest's First Act of 2024

The first act for the 37th-annual Peterborough Musicfest is bringing the musical stylings of Metric to town for July 17 at Del Crary Park, announced on Tuesday.

Metric has played Coachella, one of the world's largest and most famous music festivals.  Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

The band last appeared in Peterborough in 2010 at the Memorial Centre. Lead singer Emily Haines' brother Tim Haines operates the local record store Blue Streak Records on George Street in Downtown Peterborough. 

While this is the first act announced for Musicfest, more dates and a lineup reveal are occurring in May.

Peterborough Musicfest's 37th season runs from June 29 to August 17 with free concerts every Wednesday and Saturday night.

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Juno-Award Winning Rock Band Billy Talent to Take Centre Stage At the Peterborough Memorial Centre On Aug. 6

The Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) stage is going to be rocked as multi-Juno award-winning band Billy Talent is hitting the stage for Aug. 6, announced on Tuesday morning.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The Canadian punk quartet Billy Talent spent the latter part of the 1990s building a hard-won grassroots following before breaking out into mainstream success in 2003.

Their Juno Award-winning self-entitled debut album went quadruple-platinum,. As Subsequent albums such as Billy Talent II and III went multi-platinum and to the top of the Canadian Albums chart.

By the time of 2016's Afraid of Heights, the band had become a highly decorated rock act with an international fan base and years of hard touring to their credit. After a six-year gap, they returned with their sixth set, 2022's Crisis of Faith, which landed three consecutive number one songs at Canadian Rock Radio, leading to two Juno Nominations.

Bands Crown Lands and NOBRO are joining Billy Talent as opening acts. Crown Lands is a Juno Award winning rock duo from Oshawa as NOBRO is an all-female Canadian rock band from Quebec.

Tickets go on sale March 1 at 10 a.m. online, by phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the PMC Box Office. Tickets are priced at $60.99, $80.99 and $90.99 (plus applicable fees). One dollar from each ticket sold will be donated to War Child Canada to help to provide aid to children and families in war and conflict areas.

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Homelessness Benefit Concert Returns With 'Peterborough Performs IV' For United Way at Showplace On March 7

Sixteen acts are taking the stage at Showplace Performance Centre for United Way’s ‘Peterborough Performs IV: Musicians United to End Homelessness’ to fundraise for homelessness initiatives announced Thursday morning.

Musician Dan Hicks is one of 16 acts joining ‘Peterborough Performs IV."‘ Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The one-night event takes place on March 7 at Showplace (290 George St. N.) at 7 p.m. with tickets for $50.

The campaign is in its fourth year with the ultimate fundraising goal $1.45 million. The concert has raised over $84,000 to date, with 95 per cent of the proceeds going to local shelters according to Paul Rellinger, event organizer.

“We all feel homelessness is a big issue that we can't as individuals do anything about,” he said. “You can make a difference with this event.”

While the event averages over $28,000 annually in raised funds, Rellinger adds that no goal is set for this campaign's fourth edition.

“The first goal is to do better than the year before,” he said. “What I'm really excited about is the event is going to well pass $100,000 in money raised over four events and that's pretty good for something that was just an idea four years ago.”

Tiffany Arcari from ‘The Tiffany Show’ is the emcee for the event.

The following are the acts performing at this year’s concert:

• The Weber Brothers Band

• Emily Burgess

• SJ Riley

• The Austin Carson Band

• The Peterborough All-Star Band (featuring Rick and Gailie Young)

• The Cheryl Casselman Trio

• Irish Millie

• Tom Eastland

• Chris Collins

• Bread & Soul

• Phil Stephenson/Glen Cardus/Ron Kervin

• Jacques Graveline

• The Hippie Chicks

• Michaela Hetherington

• Dan Hick

• Tim Burnie (stand-up comedian)

An online auction with over 50 items runs until March 7 at 10 p.m. Local businesses, sponsors and organizations have donated all the lots for the auction.

Tickets to Peterborough Performs are available for purchase at the Showplace Box Office. The discount code ‘LoveLocal’ is available to purchase two tickets for $40 until next week Thursday.

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