Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival to Rock Out with The Johnnys June 25

The third annual Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) presents well-known Ontario rock band, The Johnnys on June 25 in the Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space at Trent University.

a performance from last year’s NIFF event. Photo courtesy of the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, Facebook.

Founded by spouses Veronica Johnny (lead vocals/ manager/ producer/ writer) and Dave Johnny (drums/producer/writer) the band is known for delivering rowdy, high-energy, humour-filled performances. They’ve played across Canada, been featured on TV and film and shared stages with such luminaries as Geordie Johnson, Bif Naked, Stevie Salas, Bruce Cockburn, Keith Secola & Crystal Shawanda. Veronica’s Cree heritage is reflected in the band’s lyric content, with indigenous influences on topics such as the environment, social justice and political change.

Wrapping up the 2023 Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival is this one night only, all ages welcome, rock show featuring the band. For a sample of their music, visit the link.

“Rock bands are not a traditional Fringe act, but NIFF is not a traditional Fringe, so when Veronica Johnny approached us about applying for a one-night-only slot, we said sure. What a great way to close the festival,” said NIFF general manager Lee Bolton.

As for all other NIFF shows, tickets for The Johnnys are only $12 with all sales going directly to the artist. They are available online now or by cash only at the door depending on availability.

The performance will take place in the Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space at Trent University (East Bank) at 9 p.m. on the 25th. Free parking is available in Lot X.

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Dwayne Gretzky, Glass Tiger and Melissa Payne Among Many Announced For 2023 Musicfest Lineup

Several recognizable acts such as Dwayne Gretzky, Glass Tiger and Melissa Payne have been added to Peterborough Musicfest announced at their lineup release event at the Silver Bean Café on Wednesday 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.

Five dates are listed as ‘to be announced’ as acts have been sought out are booked but require funding of roughly $125,000 to finalize everything, according to Tracey Randall, Musicfest general manager.

“Three bands are on hold until we see the funding and then we'll see how much extra I have because sponsorships are still coming in,” she said.

Randall anticipates funding from the provincial government as Musicfest typically receives $80,000 from them annually however the funding is usually given in June.

The concerts will remain at Del Crary Park despite being dismantled earlier this month. Musicfest will continue the temporary solution that was used last year according to Randall.

“We're still meeting with the City of Peterborough but they've rented the same temporary stage that we had last year,” she said.

The following is this year’s lineup for Musicfest:

• July 1: Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy

• July 5: Dwayne Gretzky

• July 8: Matt Andersen & The Big Bottle of Joy

• July 12: Five Alarm Funk

• July 15: TBA

• July 19: Jesse Cook

• July 22: TBA

• July 26: Little River Band

• July 29: Melissa Payne & Friends

• Aug. 2: TBA

• Aug. 5: British Legends Tribute (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney & Freddie Mercury)

• Aug. 9: Glass Tiger

• Aug. 12: TBA

• Aug. 16: TBA

• Aug. 19: Tim & The Glory Boys (with special guest TBA)

Peterborough Musicfest’s Diner’s Book is available to aid in providing funds for the concert series. The book has coupons for 56 restaurants for $25. It is a $600 value that allows the user to ‘buy one entrée, get the second half price.’

Diner’s Books cost $25 and are available at the customer service desk at Lansdowne Place, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism office on George St. or online.

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Country Superstars Paul Brandt and Terri Clark ‘Homecoming ’23’ Acoustic Tour Coming to Peterborough

Two of Canada’s most dynamic country music artists and award-winning entertainers Paul Brandt and Terri Clark announced they will embark on the co-headlining ‘Homecoming ’23 Tour,’ coming to the Peterborough Memorial Centre November 29.

photo courtesy of the peterborough memorial centre.

The multi-platinum selling Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, friends and accomplished performers known for their amazing live shows and vast number of hits will join each other on stage together for the first time in an intimate stripped back show, sharing the songs and stories that have shaped their illustrious careers.

“Since our careers launched in the late 90’s, Terri and I have had a special connection; two Alberta kids reaching for the stars,” shares Brandt. “What are the chances that we would have both made it? Through the years, we’ve always stayed in touch, and made a point to connect when our North American tours intersected, but now, our paths are leading us onto the same stage together for the very first time. Intentional, intimate sharing of the stories and songs of our lives, together, on the same stage for an amazing homecoming. I can’t wait!”

The 24-date tour kicks off November 1 in Yorkton, SK with back-to-back dates and will make stops in Winnipeg, Regina, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London and more, along with multiple dates in Red Deer, Calgary, and Kelowna before wrapping December 2 in Belleville, ON.

“Paul and I co-headlining a Canadian tour has always felt like a no-brainer to me. I am thrilled that we finally found the right time and the right way to do this together. We are so looking forward to getting on stage with our guitars in an intimate setting and playing our hits for our Canadian fans. I can’t wait to hit the road this Fall,” said Clark.

Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning May 18 at 10 a.m. local time. Artist pre-sales begin May 16, and local pre-sales begin May 17 at 10 a.m. local time until 10 p.m. local time.

For complete presale/on sale details visit https://www.paulbrandt.com/tour-dates or https://terriclark.com/tour.

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Hometown PTBO: The Memory of Gordon Lightfoot Told By Musicians The Weber Brothers and James McKenty

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with musicians The Weber Brothers and James McKenty about Gordon Lightfoot's recent passing and their memories of working and being with him.

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Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy To Open Peterborough Musicfest This Canada Day

Peterborough Musicfest lifts the curtain on its 36th season on Saturday, July 1, helping thousands celebrate Canada Day by presenting fiddle music duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy.

photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.

MacMaster, a native of Nova Scotia, and Leahy, lead fiddler for the famed musical family from Lakefield, married in 2002 and remain Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music. Often performing with their musical children, they have been awarded numerous honours including Juno and East Coast Music awards.

MacMaster and Leahy have recorded three albums together.

In 2015, their debut album ‘One,’ produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin, was released. The following year saw the release of ‘A Celtic Family Christmas.’ There things sat until earlier this year and the release of ‘Canvas,’ which introduced rock, pop, Latin and classical influences to their trademark Celtic sound, featuring guest support from Rhiannon Giddens, Yo-Yo Ma and Brian Finnegan.

“The fiddle was definitely common ground for us when we first got together,” reflects MacMaster, a member of the Order of Canada since 2006. “I was so in awe of Donnell’s family, of 11 siblings who could play and had a family band. And here I am now doing almost exactly the same thing. Well, kind of. This whole thing - first playing music by myself, then playing music with Donnell, then touring with Donnell and the children and all of us playing music together - has evolved in a very natural way. We feel incredibly lucky to be together as a family and to be letting our children develop their musical talent.”

“The only downside is that we can’t do all we’re asked to do and might like to do in other circumstances because we are parents first,” adds Leahy.

With Canadian jazz music great Moe Koffman headlining, Peterborough Musicfest debuted July 1, 1987 under the name Peterborough Festival of Lights with concert series founder Fred Anderson at the helm. Over the years since, artists representing practically every genre of music have headlined, bringing thousands to Peterborough’s Del Crary Park.

Peterborough Musicfest is funded by corporate sponsorships – most of those being locally owned businesses – multiple levels of government support, fundraising initiatives and private donations. As a result, Musicfest has been, and steadfastly remains, a uniquely free admission event. Dallas Green, Our Lady Peace, Serena Ryder, Gordon Lightfoot, 54-40 and Blue Rodeo are just a few of the sensational music acts that have appeared over the years.

Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall, staff and a board of directors, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.” In order to fulfill this mandate and keep attracting legendary musicians to our stage, Peterborough Musicfest encourages any individual or business interested in sponsoring the festival to reach out online or via phone at 705-755- 1111.

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Drum Legend Paul DeLong Returns to Peterborough for Three Shows This Spring

Best known for his work with singer Kim Mitchell, Canadian drum legend Paul DeLong is coming to Peterborough; performing three shows this spring.

photo courtesy of victoria yeh.

DeLong is said to still spend most of his time on tour with bands around the world to this day, feeding his soul through the music that inspired the drummer to become a musician in the first place - jazz fusion.

Fifty years ago, on May 4, 1973, DeLong saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra live in concert for the first time. They were a jazz-rock fusion band on the cutting edge of music. “My mind was blown, I had never heard anything like them before,” said DeLong from his home in Toronto. "It's still the heaviest experience of my life.”

On the 50th anniversary of the fateful concert that would go on to shape DeLong's career as one of North America's most prolific multi-platinum award winning drummers, Paul DeLong’s ONE WORD band will play at the Gordon Best Theatre on May 4, just weeks before he’s set to play Showplace Theatre with Brass Transit and Lighthouse. 

The show promises to be an "unforgettable night of fusion" with music from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Allan Holdsworth, Weather Report, Jeff, Beck, Jean-Luc Ponty and more.

Joining DeLong on stage will be Peterborough's own award winning electric violinist, Victoria Yeh, Grammy nominee Steve Lucas on bass, Michael Murray shredding on guitar and veteran Toronto keyboardist, Don Baird.

Advance tickets and VIP meet and greet backstage passes are available online.

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Harry Manx Presented by Folk Under The Clock and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

Folk Under The Clock and the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre have come together to present the musical stylings of Harry Manx ‘The Blues Man’ at Market Hall on April 14.

photo courtesy of folk under the clock.

Harry Manx has spent years fusing eastern musical traditions with the blues, switching between conventional guitars, harmonica and banjo and the decidedly different Mohan Veena, a 20-stringed instrument invented by Manx’ Indian mentor Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Manx is often referred to as the “Mysticssippi” Blues Man, because of his expertise in melding both East and West music together and therefore, “creating musical short stories that wed the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas.”

Over the last 10 years, Harry Manx released 11 Albums and has garnered a room full of awards including, “seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007. His most recent accomplishment was receiving yet another Juno Nomination for “Blues Album of the Year”, for his release “Bread and Buddha” in 2010.

For tickets and more information, visit the Market Hall website.

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Encouraging and Supporting Young Artists at the Heart of The Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award

The Peterborough Folk Festival is getting ready for their 2023 festival and the Emerging Artists program submissions are now open to the community.

photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.

This years’ Peterborough Folk Festival kicks off at Market Hall on Aug. 18 followed by two full days of live music, children's activities, food and artisan vendors on Aug. 19 and 20 on the hillside at Nicholls Oval Park (next to the Otonabee River.)

Now in its 34th year, Peterborough Folk Festival is among Canada’s longest-running, free-admission music festivals.

Each year the Peterborough Folk Festival welcomes more than 12,000 people to Peterborough and the surrounding region, making it the second-largest cultural event of the summer season.

Striving for gender parity, diversity and inclusivity in the performance line-up, there were 28 artists including 11 local performers in the 2022 festival lineup.

Submissions for 2023 Emerging Artist will be accepted until the end of May, and the winner of the award will be announced later in June. Interested candidates can find more information online here.

Successful candidates receive showcase performance spots at Peterborough Folk Festival to be held this Aug. 18-20, as well as an opportunity to attend the Folk Music Ontario Conference in October where they have the chance to perform and interact with artistic directors, agents, funders and other musicians.

Nathan Truax was awarded the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award for 2022.

“When they told me I was being honoured as Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist for 2022, I was blown away,” says Truax. “When you’re coming into your own as an artist it’s so important to know your community is behind you. Being the recipient of this award solidified everything I’ve been working towards for the past several years. It was like getting a comforting, warm hug from all of Peterborough.”

The 27-year-old artist joins a long list of celebrated Peterborough-area musicians who have received the Emerging Artist Award from PFF, starting with Millbrook’s Serena Ryder in 2001.

Recognizing young and emerging local talent, the annual award’s recipient is selected by a committee who assess applicants on skill, dedication and artistic merit. Applicants for the Emerging Artist Award may be solo artists, groups or bands and must live in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, including Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations. They must be under the age of 30.

“Receiving this kind of support is definitely a boost for an artist,” says Truax, who released his eight-song solo country music album Pickin’ the Label in March 2022.

Truax maintains performing at Cameron’s Pavilion Stage during Peterborough Folk Festival 2022 alongside local artists Benj Rowland and Kayla Mohamed, continues to be a career highlight. “Playing music with good friends, out in the open, surrounded by a community that supports you and you know is rooting for you – well, there’s nothing better,” he says.

For more information on how to get involved as an artist, sponsor, volunteer or vendor, at the Peterborough Folk Festival, visit the website.

To help ensure PFF remains a free festival for the City, County and region surrounding Peterborough, email sponsor@peterboroughfolkfest.com and find out how to make a contribution to the event.

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Kawartha Downs Announce Lineup For Kawartha Country Music Festival For July 1-2; Dean Brody to Headline

Kawartha Downs has announced its lineup for its annual Kawartha Country Music Festival, featuring several Canadian country artists for July 1 and 2 announced on Wednesday.

Facebook Photo.

Multi-platinum-selling artist Dean Brody is the headliner for the festival as he will be joined by The Reklaws, James Barker Band, Jade Eagleson and Sacha.

"We are thrilled to bring back our annual country music festival to Kawartha Downs," said Summer Nickerson-Hagen, marketing director. "This year's festival will be bigger and better than ever, with an amazing lineup of talented country artists at a great price. We look forward to bringing back our signature fireworks show on Canada Day Weekend as well."

Pre-sale tickets begin Wednesday morning and through Thursday at 10 p.m. with the pre-sale code KCMF2023.

General tickets are available on Friday at 10 a.m. and all tickets can be purchased through ticketweb.ca and direct links can be found at Kawartha Downs’s website in the ‘What’s On Calendar’ section.

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Local Musician Releases Song Highlighting Toronto Maple Leafs Fans' Woes

While the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to win a Stanley Cup in over 56 years, local musician Bobby McBain released a music video, singing about the NHL team’s troubles on Friday.

The video features Maple Leaf fans getting together to watch the game and then becoming frustrated after clips of heartbreaking moments of Toronto being played.

“March is always a tough time of year for Leaf fans,” said McBain in a Facebook post. “There is always a false sense of hope that this will be the year they finally make a run for the Stanley Cup and put an end to over half a century of losing. Then reality sets in and we realize we are going to play Tampa or Boston or some other team with more depth and better skillsets and the Leafs do what they always do and that's choke coming down the stretch.”

The song begins optimistically with stories of watching Leafs games when they were young. It highlights clips of the team during the 80s and beyond.

The song notes the team’s turning point involved an alleged missed high-sticking call on Wayne Gretzky to Doug Gilmore during Game 6 of the 1993 Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Kings and the Leafs. Toronto eventually lost the series. Clips of the fans lamented over the playoff woes the team has faced since that series loss.

The video ends with a message from McBain attempting to give hope to Leafs’ fans stating, “To all the Leaf fans across Canada and around the world… You are not alone. We are in this together.”

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