As part of their reunion tour, Toronto-based rap rockers Down With Webster will be coming to Peterborough this summer to perform a free-admission outdoor concert, courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
On Wednesday (April 17), festival organizers announced Down With Webster will take to the stage at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31st.
Down With Webster was originally formed in 1998 by Patrick Gillett and Tyler Armes when they were in a Grade 8 music class, with the band named after the titular character from the ’80s sitcom Webster. After winning their school’s talent competition, they jammed in Armes’ father’s garage, performing music inspired by reggae, funk, and jazz, incorporating hip hop when Martin “Bucky” Seja joined the band.
Down With Webster independently released a six-track EP in 2003 that they sold primarily at concerts, where they soon built a following based on their own style of genre-bending rap and rock sounds and energetic performances. In 2008, they were named the best unsigned artist in Canada by Rogers Mobile and received a recording prize worth $25,000.
After years of rejection from music labels, they soon captured the attention of music executives including musicians Gene Simmons and Timbaland, both of whom wanted to sign the band to their respective labels, but they eventually signed with Universal/Motown and released their debut EP Time to Win, Vol. I in 2009, with the singles “Rich Girl$,” “Your Man,” and “Whoa Is Me.”
Down With Webster was nominated for new group of the year at the 2010 Juno Awards, losing to Arkells. After a cross-country tour in 2011, they were nominated again for group of the year as well as pop album of the year at the 2011 Juno Awards, where they performed. They also received four nominations at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards, with “Whoa Is Me” winning pop video of the year. Later that year, they released their second album, Time to Win, Vol. II, which included the singles “She’s Dope” and “Big Wheels”.
VIDEO: “Whoa Is Me” – Down With Webster
In 2014, Down With Webster released Party for Your Life, which included the singles “Party for Your Life” and “Chills” and was nominated for pop album of the year at the Juno Awards. While individual members were already pursuing other projects, the band released what would be their final album — V, which included the singles “Love Is Not Enough” and “Take Us Alive” — in 2021.
On April 1, 2024, Down With Webster announced they would be reuniting for a limited tour to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Time To Win Vol. I. While the band last performed in Peterborough at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in 2013, this is their first appearance at Peterborough Musicfest.
Down With Webster is the second concert to be announced by Peterborough Musicfest this summer, with Juno award-winning indie alt-rockers Metric performing on Wednesday, July 17th. Peterborough Musicfest takes place every Wednesday and Saturday night from June 29 to August 17. The full line-up of performers for the 37th season will be announced in May.
