A lot can go sideways when you’re organizing an outdoor live music event. From technical glitches to crowd control challenges to weather-related issues, potential headaches are a given. As such, there’s great comfort in hosting an act that is easy to work with, gives forth a stellar performance and assures a positive audience experience.
For Peterborough Musicfest, Dwayne Gretzky has proven to be that old pair of shoes that, while worn around the edges, still fit perfectly when pulled out of the closet.
On Wednesday (August 7), the Toronto-based pop-rock time machine headlines at Del Crary Park for the fifth time — its fourth festival appearance since 2018.
Formed in 2011 and self-promoted as “the reigning champs of nostalgia,” the multi-member ensemble has certainly lived up to that billing. Playing anywhere and everywhere, and at all points in between, Dwayne Gretzky has garnered a huge following by breathing new life into classic hits, its repertoire comprised of 700-plus songs and counting.
Drawing upon a shared love of the music that has defined decades past, each member brings to the table not only extraordinary talent but also a selfless willingness to allow any one of their number to grab the spotlight.
Yes, cover bands are a dime a dozen, but to label Dwayne Gretzky as simply such does a grave injustice to the boundless energy and sheer fun that it brings to every performance, whether in an intimate club setting or before thousands chomping at the bit for an outdoor dance party.
VIDEO: Dwayne Gretzky Highlight Reel 2024
Remarkably, none of this was planned, as Lindsay-raised band co-founder Nick Rose related in a July 2018 interview with Bill Bodkin of The Pop Break.
“Tyler (Kyte) and I were playing in a band call Sweet Things that was kind of winding down,” he recalled. “We were living in the same apartment building along with a few other musician friends of ours. We befriended the superintendent who gave us access to his top-secret jam space in the basement.”
“Most evenings, we’d go down there and watch hockey and muck around playing Tom Petty songs and such. Once we had learned enough songs for a set, we booked a couple shows just for the fun of it.”
A residency at Toronto’s famed Dakota Tavern really got the ball rolling. That was followed by a regular show at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, another of the big city’s live music landmarks. Word quickly spread and more gigs followed, both in and beyond the city.
Lindsay-raised Kyte, during a September 2019 chat with BeatRoute, said what became Dwayne Gretzky “grew naturally.”
“We didn’t plan to start a band with 10-plus band members, but one thing led to another and I think we’re stronger because of it,” he said.
Rose added “The whole point of the band is just celebrating the best songs, or at least our favourite songs. We started covering the songs we grew up listening to, sifting through albums that our parents had.”
VIDEO: “Listen To The Music” by The Doobie Brothers – Dwayne Gretzky
Just like no two snowflakes are alike, no two Dwayne Gretzky shows are the same, with the band drawing from a wealth of well-rehearsed material.
A review of the track list from the band’s 2019 self-titled album gives a pretty good indication of what to expect, from ABBA’s “S.O.S.” to The Cars’ “Just What I Needed” to ELO’s “Livin’ Thing” to The Beatles’ “Please Please Me.”
Rose said the band has faced some questions around their highlighting songs written and made famous by others, as opposed to performing original material.
“The archetypal cover band conjures up images of middle-aged men in fedoras and vests going through songs at a bar mitzvah, so it has an odour to it,” he noted.
Perhaps, but that doesn’t bother Dwayne Gretzky in the least — the audience joy they consistently see, hear, and experience providing full vindication that this group of friends hit on a very good thing.
“This band is based on nostalgia,” said Kyte. “When we play a song that someone has forgotten about, it maybe brings them back to that place before they grew up. It’s a powerful thing when it works.”
For those who have never caught a Dwayne Gretzky performance, Rose promises “You’ll see a lot of people on stage having fun celebrating the greatest songs.”
“We’re very fortunate that we get to do this as a full-time gig — play our favourite songs with our best buds. We’ve got a really great group of people in this band and I’m very grateful for that. They’re all a bunch of sweethearts and there’s never a shortage of dumb jokes to go around.”
VIDEO: “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon – Dwayne Gretzky
Of note, Dwayne Gretzky’s August 7th performance coincides with the festival’s annual “Invest in Musicfest” fundraising drive that supports the bringing of premier artists to Del Crary Park.
All donations will go the festival’s entertainment budget, helping ensure it remains what has been since day one back in 1987: free and, thusly, accessible to all.
Musicfest volunteers will be throughout the park on Wednesday night, accepting donations by cash, debit, or credit card.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 37th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 17th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2024 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.
