With June comes the beginning of summer, and longer days and warm nights herald the beginning of the outdoor live music season, including the Peterborough Musicfest free concert series. Peterborough and the Kawarthas are full of excellent music in June, and there’s no better time of year to get out and take it all in. Here are just a few of the great shows happening in the area:
The Pine Saps and The X-Pollinators at The Garnet in Peterborough on June 1
The month begins on Saturday, June 1st with a feel-good show featuring The Pine Saps and The X-Pollinators, a pair of bands of veteran musicians performing at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).
The X-Pollinators (Curtis Driedger, Lachy Baro, Rodney Fuentes, David Berger, and Mark Paton) will musically travel all over the cultural map of the Americas and The Pine Saps (Andrew Bigg, David Berger, and Curtis Driedger) will perform toe-tapping gospel sounds. Both bands deliver a rootsy acoustic vibe that is sure to please.
The show begins nice and early at 7 p.m. and tickets are available at the door, for $10 or pay what you can.
VIDEO: The X Pollinators
WE Thursdays Concert Series at the Red Dog in Peterborough beginning with Lance Isaacs on June 6
Known for their own musical pursuits, The Weber Brothers are now also entering into the realm of promoting and assisting the careers of other artists. In June, Ryan and Sam Weber are presenting the WE Thursdays Concert Series, a month of concerts every Thursday night at The Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710) featuring their talented friends.
The series kicks off on June 6th with local songster Lance Isaacs. On June 13th, it’s talented singer and keyboard player Tony Silvestri. The series continues on June 20th with songwriter Brock Zeman and superb sideman and guitar player Brock Hogan. And last but not least on June 27th will be Juno award winner and critically acclaimed bluesman Paul Reddick.
The shows begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.
VIDEO: “Heart Shaped Box” by Nirvana performed by Lance Isaccs
Busker Festival in downtown Cobourg on June 8
Get out and enjoy the Busker Festival in downtown Cobourg on Saturday, June 8th.
The free, family-friendly event features a variety of buskers entertaining from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can expect music, magic, dancing, and much more. Acts include Bex in Motion (a hula hoop fire show), magician Nathaniel Rankin, and “The Funner Waiter” John Parks.
Red Dirt Skinners at the Bancroft Village Playhouse on June 8
Also on Saturday, June 8th, you can head to Bancroft for an exciting folk-roots show featuring the UK’s Red Dirt Skinners at the Bancroft Village Playhouse (5 Hastings St. S., Bancroft, 613-332-8014).
Described by Roots Music Canada as “The Pink Floyd of folk music,” Red Dirt Skinners is the multi-award winning husband-and-wife team of Rob and Sarah Skinner.
Lovely harmonies combined with Sarah’s soprano saxophone solos form their unique sound resulting in a highly entertaining and original show.
Tickets are $25 and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.boxofficebancroft.com
VIDEO: “Idabel Blues” – Red Dirt Skinners
Valdy at Showplace in Peterborough on June 9
Canadian folk legend Valdy returns to Peterborough to perform an “intimate” afternoon show at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469) on Sunday, June 9th at 3 p.m.
Valdy is best known for his hit “Rock and Roll Song” and has been making music for over four decades,one of the original figures in Canadian folk music. The show will feature great tunes and excellent stories from a brilliant career.
Tickets are $35 ($30 for students and seniors) and are available at the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org.
VIDEO: “A Good Song” – Valdy
This Frontier Needs Heroes at The Garnet in Peterborough on June 12
If you love music with Americana tinges, witty lyrics, and simple yet pleasing production, you will want to check out This Frontier Needs Heroes on Wednesday, June 12th at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).
This is the moniker of Brad Lauretti, who hails from Nashville, Tennessee. He will be performing solo and his tunes like “I Love Immigration” and “Colorado Camping Conspiracy” are sure to please. Check out his album Real Job and you will see what I mean. Great stuff!
Tickets are $10 at the door (or pay what you can) and the show begins around 8 p.m.
VIDEO: “Long Gone” – This Frontier Needs Heroes
Bruce McGregor Trio with Andy Sparling at the Concert Hall at Victoria Hall in Cobourg on June 18
With its breezy and warm days, June feels like a month made for jazz. Head to downtown in Cobourg on Tuesday, June 18th for a performance by The Bruce McGregor Trio, part of the Jazz in the Afternoon series at The Concert Hall at Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg, 905-372-2210).
The trio, featuring Bruce McGregor on piano, Daryl Knox on drums, and Howard Baer on bass, will be accompanied by Andy Sparling on trombone for a show called “Swing Gold from The Jazz Trombone”. You’ll hear smooth sounds from the days of the Big Bands and beyond.
The show begins at 2 p.m. and tickets are $18+HST for general admission seating. Advance tickets are available online.
Royal Wood at the Market Hall in Peterborough on June 20
Royal Wood is a stalwart of the Canadian music scene and the Lakefield-raised musician returns to Peterborough to perform at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 20th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).
His original pop and folk-rock songs featuring piano and guitar ring as true as any great ones out there. Royal is a two-time Juno Award winner and his latest record California Nights has been critically acclaimed since its release last year. The album musically sits in the classic styles of Tin Pan Alley and Laurel Canyon.
This show is a fundraiser for Christian Horizons and proceeds will support the needs of people who experience disabilities.
Tickets are $55 for a regular assigned seating and $60 for an assisgned cabaret table seat. Lots of good seats are still available for this show at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “Make Up Your Mind” – Royal Wood
The Ring Fingers at Academy Theatre in Lindsay on June 27
Expect an evening of eclectic music at the Academy Theatre (2 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay, 705-324-9111) on Thursday, June 27th as The Ring Fingers bring a mix of country-style ballads, toe tappers, and favourites from jazz to folk, classical to the blues with interpretations of classic songs.
Along with some original tunes, Stacy Anderson and Marc Novoselec will perform their interpretations of Joni Mitchell, Tragically Hip, Cole Porter, Burt Bacharach, Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, and more. There will be something for everybody.
The concert will take place upstairs in the Guild Room, with seating limited to 50 people.
The show begins at 7 p.m. and costs $20 plus service charges. Tickets available at the Box Office, by phone at 705-324-9111, or online at www.academytheatre.ca.
The Ring Fingers are Stacy Anderson and Marc Novoselec. (Photo: The Ring Fingers)
City and Colour at Del Crary Park in Peterborough on June 29
Peterborough MusicFest’s 2019 season opens in style on Saturday, June 29th at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough with City and Colour performing a solo acoustic show.
The stage name of Dallas Green, City and Colour is an indie alt-rocker who has earned three Juno Awards over the years and has topped charts across the country.
As always, Peterborough Musicfest shows are free thanks to sponsors. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
Tip: Musicfest sponsor kawarthaNOW.com will be giving away VIP seats to this and all other Musicfest concerts this summer. You are guaranteed a chair near to the stage for the best view. For your chance to win, sign up for our weekly e-news at k-n.ca/subscribe.
VIDEO: “Waiting” – City and Colour
