Holiday festivities are all over for another year, but excellent live music continues in Peterborough and area.
Here are a few of my picks for the first month of the new year.
Wax Mannequin, Nick Ferrio, and Lowlands at The Spill
You’ll get three times the great music with quirky folk artist Wax Mannequin, local country stalwart Nick Ferrio, and Guelph’s bluegrass/folk band Lowlands.
The show takes place on Thursday, January 9th at The Spill (414 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-748-6167) beginning around 9 p.m.
Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Wax Mannequin – End of Me
Nick Ferrio – Free Man, Switzerland
Lowlands – First Kill
The Muddy Hack at The Garnet
Rock and roll locals The Muddy Hack will bring their full-on sound to The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-8463) on Friday, January 10th.
There’ll be a cover charge of around $5 at the door.
The Muddy Hack – Revolution
The Strumbellas and I, The Mountain at the Red Dog
If you like lively music with great lyrics and hooks, check out this show. Juno-nominated group The Strumbellas and I, The Mountain are playing on Friday, January 10th at 10 p.m. at the Historic Red Dog (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710).
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
The Strumbellas – End of an Era
I, The Mountain – Land
Taxi Chain at The Spill
This month’s series will feature Taxi Chain on Saturday, January 11th at 8 p.m. sharp at The Spill (414 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-748-6167).
They’re an excellent group from Toronto that merges bagpipes and funk together, also mixing in more familiar Memphis blues into their sound as well. You will dance and celebrate and still get home at a reasonable hour!
Advance tickets are available at The Spill for $10; the cost at the door is $12.
Taxi Chain – Live at Griffins in Kensington Market, Toronto
Country music at Showplace
Get a healthy dose of country music early in 2014 with “Showplace Does Country 2” featuring: Crooked Furrow, Family Tyes, SweetGrass Band, Western Avenue, and Kait Dueck.
The show is on Sunday, January 12th at 7:30 p.m. at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough). Lots of excellent talent will be on display with enough twang for any country fan.
Tickets are $19 and are available at the Showplace Box Office, by phone at 705-742-7469 or toll free 1-866-444-2154, or online at www.showplace.org.
Western Avenue – Wherever You Are
Valdy at Showplace
Folk artist and troubadour Valdy returns to Peterborough on Tuesday, January 14th beginning at 8 p.m. in the Nexicom Studio (Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Valdy’s legend precedes him and his songs stand the test of time. He’s been crafting and singing greats songs since the ’60s and his talent continues to shine.
Tickets are $25 and are available at the Showplace Box Office, by phone at 705-742-7469 or toll free 1-866-444-2154, or online at www.showplace.org.
Valdy – Play Me a Rock and Roll Song
Tower of Power at Academy Theatre in Lindsay
Storied 10-piece soul, jazz, funk and rock band Tower of Power will be playing on Saturday, January 18th at 8 p.m. at the Academy Theatre (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay).
Tickets are $65 and are available at the Academy Theatre Box Office, by phone at 705-324-9111, or online at www.academytheatre.ca.
Tower of Power – What is Hip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt3CZQXfYtY
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings at Market Hall
BARK is made up of Stephen Fearing, Tom Wilson, and Colin Linden.
The group will be releasing their brand new acoustic album South.
Tickets are still available, though this show will surely sell out.
VIP seats are $38 and regular seats are $32. VIP and regular tickets are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, online at www.markethall.org.
Regular tickets (for rows B, E, and L) are available at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings – South
Charming Ruins at the Red Dog
Local two-piece rock/blues heroes Charming Ruins will be kicking out the jams on Friday, January 24th at 10 p.m. at the Historic Red Dog (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710).
Ticket price is to be announced, but will likely be between $5 and $10.
Charming Ruins – Feel It
Mayhemingways at the Pig’s Ear
Come and celebrate the new EP by alt-country/roots duo Mayhemingways at their first hometown show of 2014 on Saturday, January 25th at the Pig’s Ear Tavern (44 Brock St., Peterborough, 705-745-7255), beginning at 10 p.m..
Cover charge is only $3 and the music will last all night.
Mayhemingways – Wanderers
Sharron Matthews at Showplace
Music and comedy are the name of the game as Sharron Matthews hits Peterborough on Wednesday, January 29th at 8 p.m. in the Nexicom Studio (Showplace Performance Centre, 290 George St. N., Peterborough).
Her show is a tour de force in every way.
Tickets are $30 and are available at the Showplace Box Office, by phone at 705-742-7469 or toll free 1-866-444-2154, or online at www.showplace.org.
Sharon Matthews “Superstar”: The Love Child of Bette Midler and Jack Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfKWXJf5bAs
J.P. Cormier and Dave Gunning at Market Hall
J.P. Cormier is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Cape Breton whose impressive body of work has earned him a vast and loyal fan base around the world.
Nova Scotia born and bred singer-songwriter Dave Gunning just recently won Hockey Night in Canada’s Song Quest with his tune “A Game Going On”.
Tickets are $35 ($25 for students, available at the door only). Advance tickets are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, online at www.markethall.org. Advance tickets for Rows FF and D tickets are available at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
J.P. Cormier – House of Plywood
Dave Gunning – Four Marys
