Peterborough Musicfest has announced two more free-admission concerts for its 36th summer season, both featuring Canadian musical acts: R&B and hip hop artist Shawn Desman will perform on Saturday, July 15th and classic rockers Honeymoon Suite will perform on Wednesday, August 2nd.
Known by his stage name Shawn Desman, Shawn Bosco Fernandes was born in Toronto in 1982. After discovering his passion for performing, Desman’s parents encouraged him to pursue a career in music and, from age nine to 16, he made four Portuguese albums under his legal name. He adopted the stage name Desman because, in his youth, his friends referred to him as “Dez, man” based on the ending of his last name.
Desman was just 18 years old when he was signed to BMG Music Canada and recorded his self-titled breakthrough album in 2002. With three top 10 singles — “Shook,” “Spread My Wings,” and “Get Ready” — the album went on to achieve gold certification in Canada. His follow-up album Back for More, featuring the single “Let’s Go,” earned him a Juno award for best R&B recording of the year.
After being dropped by BMG Music Canada and then signed to Universal Music Canada, Desman released 2010’s Fresh and 2013’s Alive. After he released the songs “Victoria” and “Obsession” in 2015, he was dropped by Universal Music. Believing his music career was over, he stepped away from the industry to spend time with his wife and their three children and to run his dance company.
That all changed in 2022 when, after performing at Drake’s All Canadian North Stars concert at OVO Fest, the 41-year-old Desman was approached by Drake, who praised him for his performance and encouraged him to continue making music.
In October last year, Desman released a new single called “Maniac,” his first single since 2015’s “Obsession”. The infectious tune quickly received critical acclaim and became a viral chart-topper, relaunching Desman’s musical career.
VIDEO: “Maniac” – Shawn Desman
Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite, who last performed at Peterborough Musicfest in 2013 to close out the season, was originally formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario — the band’s name reflects Niagara Falls’ reputation as the unofficial honeymoon capital of the world.
On the strength of their tune “New Girl Now” written by founding member Derry Grehan, which won them an unsigned band contest organized by Toronto radio station Q107, the band was signed by WEA Canada and released their self-titled debut album in 1984. The album featured four charting hits in Canada, including a completely re-recorded version of “New Girl Now” (which reached the top 50 in the U.S.), “Burning In Love,” “Wave Babies,” and “Stay In the Light.”
Their next album, 1985’s The Big Prize, produced four more hits: “Bad Attitude,” “Feel It Again,” “What Does It Take,” and “All Along You Knew.” Honeymoon Suite won the group of the year award at the 1986 Juno Awards. The band’s next releases were 1988’s Racing After Midnight, 1989’s The Singles greatest hits compilation, and 1991’s Monsters Under the Bed.
VIDEO: “New Girl Now” – Honeymoon Suite
While the band continued to tour throughout the 1990s, with many line-up changes except for founding members Johnnie Dee and Derry Grehan, it would be 11 years before they released their next album, 2001’s Lemon Tongue, which was released in Europe in 2002 as Dreamland with several track changes.
After another two greatest hits compilations, the band announced a reunited line-up of original members in 2007 and toured throughout Canada over the next two years, releasing Clifton Hill in 2008. In 2016, they released a nine-track EP called Hands Up, with their first new music in eight years. In 2019 and 2020, the band also released two new singles.
Over the last two decades, Honeymoon Suite has continued to tour with additional line-up changes. However, founding members Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan, and Dave Betts are featured in the band’s current configuration.
VIDEO: “Stay In The Light” – Honeymoon Suite
Here’s an updated list of all the upcoming concerts at Peterborough Musicfest. Still to be announced are the performers for the concerts on July 22, August 12, and August 16.
- Wednesday, July 5 – Dwayne Gretzky (pop rock)
- Saturday, July 8 – Matt Anderson & The Big Bottle of Joy (blues rock)
- Wednesday, July 12 – Five Alarm Funk (funk rock)
- Saturday, July 15 – Shawn Desman (R&B dance pop)
- Wednesday, July 19 – Jesse Cook (world music)
- Saturday, July 22 – To be announced
- Wednesday, July 26 – Little River Band (rock)
- Saturday, July 29 – Melissa Payne and Friends (folk-country)
- Wednesday, August 2 – Honeymoon Suite (pop rock)
- Saturday, August 5 – British Legends Tribute – Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Freddy Mercury (classic rock)
- Wednesday, August 9 – Glass Tiger (pop rock)
- Saturday, August 12 – To be announced
- Wednesday, August 16 – To be announced
- Saturday, August 19 – Tim & the Glory Boys with special guest (country)
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2023 season.
