Welcome to 2018, and here’s hoping it will be an excellent year for all of you! There is definitely some great music coming up this month in Peterborough and the surrounding area. What better way to make winter zip by then getting out and taking in some live music? Here are a few musical highlights for January.
Washboard Hank at The Garnet in Peterborough on January 1
Searching for a cure for the New Year’s Day hangover? The perfect antidote might just be local legend Washboard Hank, who will be presenting the New Year’s Day Leve at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) at 3 p.m. on Monday, January 1st.
Hank’s show is one part old country, one part wacky, and full to the brim with entertainment value. Just add the hair of the dog and there may be no better way to usher in a brand new year.
VIDEO: “Washboard Boogie” – Washboard Hank
Steve Holt and Howard Baer at The Natural in Warkworth on January 5
Things will get jazzy in Warkworth on Friday, January 5th as The Natural (18 Main St, Warkworth, 705-304-2270) launches the inagural Jazz Café from 7 to 8 p.m.
Performing will be Steve Holt on piano and Howard Baer on bass. Admission is free, but seating is very limited.
VIDEO: “Watch What Happens” – Steve Holt Jazz Trio
Live music at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene every Saturday afternoon with Lotus Wight on January 6
Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene, 705-295-4591 or 800-461-1940) will continue its recent tradition of hosting great music throughout the winter. In 2018, free concerts will take place every Saturday in January and February from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Wild Blue Yonder Pub.
First up on January 6th will be the inventive yet old-time music stylings of Lotus Wight. On January 13th you can check out the 2017 Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist Mary-Kate Edwards. The smooth blues and roots music of the Al Black Trio will fill the room on January 20th. And last but certainly not least, Evangeline Gentle will entertain with her fabulous voice and personal songs on January 27th.
VIDEO: “In the Morning” – Evangeline Gentle
Tara Williamson at The Garnet in Peterborough on January 7
Peterborough is in for a treat when Tara Williamson performs a 5 p.m. show at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Sunday, January 7th.
Williamson is a Winnipeg-based First Nations poet, provocateur, and musician, who has also spent a fair amount of time in Peterborough. Her tunes range from tongue-firmly-in-cheek to heartbreaking, and always offer something beyond the sum of their parts.
Her latest record Songs To Keep Us Warm was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards, she is editor of the online Indigenous media platform Indian & Cowboy, and she is currently working on a musical about murdered and missing Indigenous women under the mentorship of Tomson Highway.
VIDEO: “I Should Have Been A Tree” – Tara Williamson
MonkeyJunk at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 9
Award-winning blues act MonkeyJunk will take the stage at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Tuesday, January 9th at 8 p.m.
Comprised of Steve Marriner (vocals, harmonica, keyboards, baritone guitar), Tony D (lead guitar, background vocals), and Matt Sobb (drums, percussion, background vocals), the trio blurs genre lines as they continue to morph a little bit with each album. They recently released their fifth record on Stony Plain Records and it features an added element of swampy blues to their sound. The group formed in 2008 and have been wowing blues fans around the world ever since.
Tickets are only $20 and are available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Time To Roll” – MonkeyJunk
Cris Cuddy at The Garnet in Peterborough on January 18
I’ve written about lots of his shows in this column over the years and for very good reason: Cris Cuddy is a gem of a songwriter. In fact, I’d say he’s a songwriter’s songwriter, with turns of phrase that make you think long after they’ve been sung.
On Thursday, January 18th, Cuddy will perform at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107). If you have yet to see him, let this be the first time. Tickets will be available at the door and the show begins at 8 p.m.
VIDEO: “Rock on” – Cris Cuddy
Garnet Rogers with Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 21
Folk Under the Clock will present yet another excellent show on Sunday, January 21st at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) when Garnet Rogers along with Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman come to town.
Rogers, the younger brother of late folk legend Stan Rogers, has a silky smooth baritone voice that sits atop lush tunes that span his career. Savoca and Heitzman are a New York-based duo who have performed across North America and they even delved into production, having worked with Greg Brown and Garnet Rogers in that respect. These three have performed previously at Market Hall, but it’s been quite a few years and Peterborough will be happy to have them back.
The show is an early one beginning at 4 p.m. and tickets are $40.50 for adults and $28 for students. You can get them at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore” performed by Garnet Rogers
“Five Old Men” – Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman
Robert Burns Dinner and Dance in Cobourg on January 27
Something a little different than the average concert takes place on Saturday, January 27th at 4:30 p.m. in Cobourg: a traditional Robert Burns Dinner and Dance takes place at the LIUNA Local 183 Training Centre (560 Dodge St., Cobourg).
Haggis will be piped in and there will be Highland dancing by The Lindsay Rose Highland Dancers and Cobourg Legion Pipes. Cobourg’s own Madman’s Window and Bellville’s Fiddleheads will also be there to entertain with Scottish and Celtic music. Robbie Burns would be proud!
Tickets are available at Nessie’s Gift & British Fare (6 King St E, Cobourg, 905-372-7158) for $45 until January 13th and will go up to $50 until January 24th.
VIDEO: Madman’s Window
Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto at The Concert Hall in Cobourg on January 28
Jazz fans and fans of Italian music won’t want to miss Daniela Nardi’s Espresso Manifesto at The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg, 905-372-2210) on Sunday, January 28th at 2 p.m.
Nardi, an award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto, will be performing the tunes of Italian singer and composer Paolo Conte. She will talk about the music in English and then sing the songs in Italian.
General admission tickets for the show, presented by Port Hope’s All Canadian Jazz, are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. For advance tickets, call 905-372-2210 or 1-855-372-2210.
VIDEO: “Sotto le Stelle del Jazz” by Paolo Conte performed by Espresso Manifesto
Rose-Erin Stokes at The Garnet in Peterborough on January 31
Check out up-and-coming singer-songwriter Rose-Erin Stokes at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Wednesday, January 31st.
Stokes hails from Northern Ontario and has been nominated for several Northern Ontario Film and Music Awards. Her tunes, about “love lost and silver linings”, are vulnerable and real.
The show begins around 9 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.
VIDEO: “Not Alone” – Rose-Erin Stokes
