Happy New Year everyone! Although most of us (including musicians) need some time to recover after the holidays, there are still some excellent concerts coming up this month in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
Below are a few of the shows happening in January, so get out and support live music — it not only supports local and travelling artists but it’s also good for the soul.
Mudmen at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 12
I’ve written about before them in this space, and I’m sure I’ll tout them again down the road: go check out Mudmen at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Saturday, January 12th.
These guys have been combining bagpipes and rock music for a long time now (since the early 90s). It’s a high-energy show with a big blast of everything that makes Celtic music special.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $25 for cabaret seating, available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
Oh, and don’t forget to wear your plaid shirt …
VIDEO: “The Mason’s Apron” – Mudmen
OKAN at Bryan Jones Theatre at Lakefield College School on January 18
Although it’s freezing outside, it’ll be hot at Lakefield College School when Performing Arts Lakefield brings the women-led Afro-Cuban group OKAN to the intimate stage at Bryan Jones Theatre (4391 County Rd. 29., Lakefield, 705-652-3324) on Friday, January 18th.
Taking its name from the word for “heart” or “soul” in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, OKAN fuses Afro-Cuban and other global rhythms with jazz, folk, and classical forms. The band is led by multi-instrumentalists Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne, who seek to embraces genres that have been typically dominated by males.
Tickets are $35 ($10 for students) and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. For more details and to buy tickets, head to performingartslakefield.org.
VIDEO: “Bésame Mucho” – OKAN
The Arrogant Worms at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 18
Also on Friday, January 18th just down the road in Peterborough is something very different: Canadian musical comedy veterans The Arrogant Worms will be performing at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).
The comedy troupe (with current members Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson, and Trevor Strong) uses wit and satire and songs to make fun of “a big dumb world.” The family-friendly show is not to be missed, with classics like “Trees and Rocks”, “Carrot Juice is Murder”, “When Canada Rules the World”, and many more.
Growing up listening to CBC I remember hearing many a great performance by them.
Tickets are $28 for general admission and $33 for a cabaret seat. The show begins at 8 p.m. and you can get tickets now at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “When Canada Rules the World” – The Arrogant Worms
Sandro Perri with Saskia Crescentia at Sadleir House in Peterborough on January 19
Sadleir House (751 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-3686) continues to host interesting and unique live music events, including Toronto-based artist and producer Sandro Perri who comes to town on Saturday, January 19th.
Perri plays with sound and on his new record he experiments with the idea of “infinite” songwriting; for him this takes form in a pop mantra entitled “In Another Life”. The track features sequenced synth, piano, guitar, and voice. The flip side of the record is a track called “Everybody’s Paris”, a song cycle designed to accept any lyrical variation that’s fed into it. Pretty cool stuff.
The imitable and completely original Saskia Crescentia of Gore’s Landing opens the show with accordion, piano, and voice.
Tickets are $15 (only $5 for students) and are available at the door, which opens at 8 p.m. The concert begins at 9 p.m.
This show is the third of four concerts in the Navigable Straits series at Sadleir House (the final one is Mark Ribot with Kee Avil on Saturday, March 2nd).
VIDEO: “In Another Life” – Sandro Perri
Harry Manx with special guest Steve Marriner at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 20th
There’s a lot of music happening on the weekend of January 18th to 20th, which wraps up when Folk Under the Clock presents Harry Manx on Sunday, January 20th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) for a matinee show at 4 p.m.
Manx merges blues with East Indian drones and scales and resonance. It’s a beautiful combination. He has won numerous international awards and his shows are full of unique styling and great musicianship.
Speaking of blues, the special guest at this concert is Steve Marriner, the lead vocalist and harmonica and guitar player for the Juno award-winning rock blues band MonkeyJunk.
Manx and Marriner have just recorded a blues and gospel album called Hell Bound For Heaven and they’ll be be playing songs from the new record.
Tickets are $48, available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
Tip: kawarthaNOW.com will be giving away a pair of complimentary tickets for this concert. For your chance to win, sign up for our weekly e-news.
VIDEO: “Death Have Mercy” – Harry Manx
VIDEO: “Tijuana” by JJ Cale performed by Harry Manx and Steve Marriner
Lotus Wight at The Garnet in Peterborough on January 25
Get a dose of old-time music on Friday, January 25th when Lotus Wight of Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son performs at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).
With music steeped in vibes from the 1920s and ’30s, Wight is known for his soulful singing and inimitable playing of guitar and banjo. His live shows also always include something musically unusual, such as a jaw harp or a bass harmonica on a chest-rack.
Tickets are $10 or pay what you can and are available at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the show beginning shortly after.
VIDEO: “Skillet Good and Greasy” – Lotus Wight
