As the days get a little longer we can begin to see the light at the end of the winter tunnel. Help yourself get through whatever is left of the snowy season and get out to some of the great shows happening in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
As always, there are lots of great shows this month. Here are just a few of them that I recommend making it out to.
Bif Naked at the Market Hall in Peterborough on March 4
Beth Torbert, a.k.a. Bif Naked, made waves in the 1990s during the period when “alternative” music was all the rage. She achieved platinum and gold record status and has had a successful career in music while also surviving breast cancer at the age of 37.
Bif is performing at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Wednesday, March 4th. It’s a duo performance with her husband, guitarist Steve “Snake” Allen. Opening the show is Toronto singer-songwriter Frank Moyo.
Tickets are $30 including fees. Get them at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org. The show begins at 8 p.m.
VIDEO: “Jim” – Bif Naked
Golden Shoals at a house concert in Bancroft on March 5
Check out Americana duo Golden Shoals on Thursday, March 5th at a Home Routes House Concert in Bancroft.
Guitarist Mark Kilianski and fiddle player Amy Alvey, living in Asheville, North Carolina, perform old-time style tunes with warm harmonies and layered instrumental sensibilities. The duo just changed their name this year from Hoot and Holler.
Tickets are only $20 plus fees and the show begins at 7 p.m. For tickets, head to www.homeroutes.ca/shows/bancroft/ (you’ll find out the location when you order).
VIDEO: “Old Buffalo” – Golden Shoals
Peterborough Performs: Musicians Against Homelessness at Showplace in Peterborough on March 5
On Thursday, March 5th, there will be a United Way musical fundraiser for the ages at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469). Peterborough Performs: Musicians Against Homelessness features a star-studded roster of 16 local musical acts performing in both the Erica Cherney Theatre and the Nexicom Studio.
Musicians include The Weber Brothers Band, The Austin Carson Band, The Three Martinis, Melissa Payne and Kate Suhr, Danny Bronson, Rick and Gailie’s Peterborough All-Star Band, Hillary Dumoulin, James Higgins, Jacques Graveline, Elyse Saunders, Tami J Wilde, Phil Stephenson, Nick Ferrio, Victoria Peace with Mike Graham, Jake Dudas, and Michael Bell.
The four-hour show, which begins at 7 p.m., is emceed by Megan Murphy and Jordan Mercier. Tickets are $50, but with the musicians donating their time and talent, all proceeds go directly to United Way-funded agencies that provide housing and shelter to the marginalized. There’ll also be a silent auction to raise even more funds.
Enjoy a night of awesome local music while supporting a worthy cause by buying tickets at Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org.
VIDEO: “World of Isolation” – The Weber Brothers
Melissa Payne at the Market Hall in Peterborough on March 7
Ennismore’s Melissa Payne celebrates the release of her latest full-length record Darker Than Your Dark at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) on Saturday, March 7th.
Produced by Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, Darker Than Your Dark features nine tracks that detail Payne’s emotive and musical evolution.
Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for assigned cabaret table seats. The show begins at 8 p.m. Get your tickets at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org.
VIDEO: “September Skies” – Melissa Payne
Road Waves at the Keene Centre for the Arts on March 7
Check out the high-energy and eclectic show of rock jam band Road Waves at the Keene Centre for the Arts (12 1st St., Keene) on Saturday, March 7th.
From Niagara region, Road Waves bring their own approach and energy to funk, rock, soul, blues, jazz, and beyond. This band likes to explore genres and bring creative approaches to the stage. This should be a killer show!
The concert begins at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $15 for a regular ticket, and an additional $10 will secure you a spot on a shuttle that is making a return trip from The Only Cafe (216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough).
Tickets are available online at Eventbrite.
Other upcoming shows at Keene Centre for the Arts in March include Cellar Door (March 13), The Breezeway Band (March 14), Irish Millie and Mike MacCurdy (March 17), Austin Young (March 20), Checkmate (March 21), The Footnotes (March 27), and Ty Wilson (March 28).
VIDEO: “Hindsight” – Road Waves
A Tribe Called Red at The Venue in Peterborough on March 7
Another show in Peterborough on Saturday, March 7th is the return of A Tribe Called Red. The group will be live at The Venue (286 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-876-0008) in a show being presented by the Peterborough Folk Festival.
Their sound features the amazing merger of electronic music and indigenous samples, along with traditional dancers and stimulating film imagery. You’ll dance, you’ll sweat, you’ll have an amazing time.
The show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $34.50, available at peterboroughfolkfest.com.
VIDEO: “Electric Pow Wow Drum” – A Tribe Called Red
Basset, The Pairs, and Rebekeh Hawker at The Garnet in Peterborough on March 13
There’s an excellent triple bill of folk/indie/pop at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Friday, March 13th.
Old-time influenced duo Basset bring an eclectic sensibility to the stage. The Pairs are a talented trio of ladies with amazing harmonies and meaningful tunes. Also on the bill is songwriter Rebekeh Hawker.
Tickets are available at the door for $10. The show begins at 9 p.m.
VIDEO: “Everything I Call Home” – The Pairs
People You Meet Outside of Bars, Shirazi, Cold Eye, and Garbageface at Sadleir House in Peterborough on March 16
There will be an eclectic night of songwriting, hip hop, indie, and much more on Monday, March 16th at Sadleir House (751 George St. N., Peterborough) as People You Meet Outside of Bars, Shirazi, Cold Eye, and Garbageface take the stage.
Doors open at 7 p.m. with music starting around 8 p.m. The show is $10 or pay what you can (no one will be turned away for lack of funds).
VIDEO: “It’s Not Your Fault You Ruined My Life” – People You Meet Outside of Bars
Kim Barlow and Rae Spoon with Mohammad Sahraei at The Garnet in Peterborough on March 17
For those of you who can’t stand green beer and typical St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but who also enjoy excellent songs written by artists who operate differently from the norm, The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) has a show for you.
On Tuesday, March 17th, Yukon’s Kim Barlow and Alberta’s Rae Spoon join forces to bring their unique brands of songwriting to the stage. Rae Spoon has been nominated for Junos and a couple of Polaris Prizes, while Barlow returns to The Garnet with her often quirky yet well-crafted tunes. Joining them is newcomer Mohammad Sahraei, skilled with many traditional Persian instruments.
The eclectic trio performs arrangements of Kim and Rae’s songs for setar and banjo, guitar, keys, percussion and electronics. These new versions of indie pop songs, with traditional tunes peppered through the sets, make for a live performance that is vibrant, diverse, and beautiful.
You can reserve a spot for the show at The Garnet or pay for tickets at the door. The show begins at 8 p.m.
VIDEO: “Whitehorse” – Kim Barlow
VIDEO: “Do Whatever The Heck You Want” – Rae Spoon
Texas King at The Gordon Best in Peterborough on March 21
Rockers Texas King, who recently finished a tour supporting Big Wreck, take to the stage at the Gordon Best in Peterborough on Saturday, March 21.
Formed in 2013 by frontman and lead singer Jordan Macdonald in London, Ontario, the band has earned a reputation for their high-energy love performances. They released their debut album Circles in 2017, with the album’s lead single “Boomerang” receiving attention on Canadian radio. They released their latest single “Chandelier” last September.
The Jailbirds, The New Blue, and Fiasco (a new band from Lindsay) will also be performing.
Tickets are $15 plus fees, available at bestptbo.com/upcomingevents/texasking, or $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.
VIDEO: “Chandelier” – Texas King
Rob Phillips Trio with Marsala Lukianchuk at The Black Horse in Peterborough on March 26
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to mention the weekly Thursday jazz night at The Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-0633).
Hosted by the Rob Phillips Trio with singer Marsala Lukianchuk and featuring a wide-swath of great jazz players, and guests, the evening is always a excellent time for jazz fans and more.
If you’ve never been, why not head to the Black Horse on Thursday, March 26th to take in some excellent performances?
VIDEO: “Caravan” performed by Marsala Lukianchuk and the Rob Phillips Trio
