As we crawl slowly towards the end of winter, we can rejoice in knowing that soon the cold weather will shift towards spring. Although the weather will remain mostly frigid for the month, there is a lot of excellent live music in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Here are just a few of the shows happening this month.
TakeFive Ensemble at The Loft in Cobourg on February 3
Classical fans will love to take in the TakeFive Ensemble at The Loft (201 Division St., Cobourg, 905-372-2210) on Sunday, February 3rd.
Chamber classics by Beethoven, Schumann, Liszt, Brahms, Handel-Halvorsen, and Dvorák will be performed by violinist Lynn Kuo (assistant concertmaster of the NBC Orchestra), violinist Csaba Koczó (assistant principal second violin of the COC Orchestra), violist Theresa Rudolph, assistant principal viola of the TSO), cellist Emmanuelle Beaulieu Bergeron (associate principal cellist of the TSO), and Shoshana Telner (the renowned pianist who made her solo orchestral début with the National Arts Centre Orchestra at the age of 16).
Tickets are $25 plus fees and HST and the show begins at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are available at the Victoria Hall Box Office at 905-372-2210 on online at concerthallatvictoriahall.com.
VIDEO: Shoshana Telner plays Liszt
The Watched Pots at The Garnet in Peterborough on February 7
The Watched Pots bring their tunes to The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Thursday, February 7th.
This relatively new local project is described as “a three-piece female band from Nogojiwanong who have reclaimed the sounds and experiences of the kitchen to combine feminist topics with humour. The band strives to make music more accessible for those who typically consider themselves to be non-musicians.”
The group is debuting some new songs off of their upcoming album. Tickets are available at the door with a sliding scale of $5 to $10. The show begins at 8 p.m.
Pine Box String Band at The Garnet in Peterborough on February 8
Let me paint a picture for you: it’s Friday, you just finished the work week, you’ve got tickets for the Lee Harvey Osmond show, but you want something to do before dinner as a buffer from the week. Well, head to The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) for a happy hour show from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring Peterborough’s own Pine Box String Band.
You’ll hear old-timey blues tunes played with soul and a whole lot of good vibes. Bring some cash, as the show is a pass-the-hat gig, and get ready for some Friday fun.
VIDEO: “Bring Another Half Pint” – Pine Box String Band
Tom Wilson as Lee Harvey Osmond at the Market Hall in Peterborough on February 8
kawarthaNOW and Peterborough favourite Tom Wilson returns for an album release show of his new Lee Harvey Osmond record Mohawk on Friday, February 8th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).
Wilson may be best known for his role in Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and also as the frontman in ’90s Hamilton rock band Junkhouse, but Lee Harvey Osmond may be among his finest work. The tunes are moody and truthful and full of musical layers that bring the listener into Wilson’s world one note at a time. Each show is seething with a depth rarely found in live performance.
The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $33 for general admission and $38 for cabaret table seats (for an extra $15, you can get an autographed copy of Mohawk on vinyl), available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Forty Light Years” – Lee Harvey Osmond
Blue Valentine tribute to Willie P. Bennett at The Garnet in Peterborough on February 10
Folk music legend and former Peterborough resident, the late great Willie P. Bennett, will be honoured on Sunday, February 10th at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).
Blue Valentine is an annual show featuring some friends of Willie P. and other Peterborough musicians who love his music, paying tribute both with his songs and songs about the brilliant songwriter who passed away 11 years ago, on February 15, 2008.
Musical acts will include Pat Temple, Benj Rowland, Charlie Earle, David Berger, Sweet Muriel, Kim Doolittle, Dennis O’Toole, event host Washboard Hank, and many more.
This is always a very special event and admission first come, first served. Thee show runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and a musical appreciation bucket will be passed around.
VIDEO: “Blackie And The Rodeo King” – Willie P. Bennett (1977)
VIDEO: “Patience of a Working Man” – Willie P. Bennett (1993)
VIDEO: “Willie’s Diamond Joe” – Willie P. Bennett (2001)
Matt Mays at the Market Hall in Peterborough on February 15
Nova Scotia rock and roller Matt Mays brings old favourites and songs from his new record Twice Upon a Hell of a Time to Peterborough for a stripped-down show on Friday, February 15th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).
Mays is a Juno award-winning artist whose discography is acclaimed and numerous. For this show he will be touring with bandmates Adam Baldwin and Ryan Stanley. And the rumours are true: our vrey own Melissa Payne will be joining Mays onstage as part of his band for this concert.
The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 for general admission seats and $40 for a reserved spot at a cabaret table, available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Station Our of Range” – Matt Mays
Whitehorse at the Market Hall in Peterborough on February 21
It’s hard not to love husband-and wife-band Whitehorse. Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet have carved out a fabulous career together with numerous albums under their belt and a sound that is all their own.
On Thursday, February 21st, they return to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) to perform tunes from their latest record The Northern South Vol. 2, along with songs from their previous albums.
You can describe them many ways. Ethereal folk. Space cowboy twang. Intergalactic blues. There may not be enough adjectives to pull together a cohesive description of their chameleon-like musical vibes and brilliant on-stage chemistry. Oh, and the Juno Award winners were just nominated this month for another Juno: Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for their 2018 Christmas album A Whitehorse Winter Classic.
The show, which begins at 8 p.m., is almost sold out, with just a few general admission tickets remaining for $38. Get yours now at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Baby, Scratch My Back” – Whitehorse
Lunar Bloom, Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, and Mary-Kate Edwards at The Garnet in Peterborough on February 22
There will be a triple bill of excellent acts at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Friday, February 22nd as Toronto group Lunar Bloom and their lovely harmonies take the stage along with Newfoundland’s Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, with local Mary-Kate Edwards opening the show.
A mix of folky vibes with deep lyrics and a whole lot of fun will be on tap for the evening. Tickets are $10 or pay what you can at the door. The show begins at 9 p.m. sharp.
VIDEO: “Monster” – Lunar Bloom
VIDEO: “Cleaning Up My Mess” – Jessica Pearson and the East Wind
Russell deCarle at the Market Hall in Peterborough on February 23
Russell deCarle, best known as the lead singer and founding member of country-roots group Prairie Oyster, performs at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Saturday, February 23rd at 8 p.m.
deCarle is a talented singer-songwriter who’s latest album Alone in This Crowd has a certain vintage feel to it. It sits somewhere between country and soul, chock full of rich and compelling tunes all sung with his wonderful voice.
Joining deCarle for the evening will be guitarist Steve Briggs (Bebop Cowboys, Sylvia Tyson, Murray McLauchlan, Carroll Baker, Leon Redbone), pianist John Sheard (Vinyl Cafe, Rita MacNeil, Ian & Sylvia Tyson, Rita Coolidge, Olivia Newton-John, Celine Dion), and bassist John Dymond (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Bruce Cockburn, Lindi Ortega, k.d. lang, Colin Linden).
Tickets are $30 for general admission and $35 for cabaret-style seats. You can order tickets at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Shooting Star” – Russell deCarle with Steve Briggs and Denis Keldie
