encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.
This week, Paul highlights the North of Nowhere Music Festival in Lindsay, In the Key of Blue at Peterborough’s Showplace, Barnful of Broadway at Westben in Campbellford, Matthew Good headlining Peterborough Musicfest, the River Time Blues Festival in Port Hope, and Globus Theatre’s staging of Leave it to Cleavage in Bobcaygeon.
North of Nowhere Music Festival back home at the Lindsay Fairgrounds
VIDEO: “S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun)” – The Glorius Sons (2019)
Many a success can be traced back to a humble beginning.
In the summer of 2022, the inaugural North of Nowhere Music Festival was held in Bancroft. Founded by Calvin Hyde as a post-COVID response to the preceding dark years, the one-day country music showcase drew about 100 people. Not great.
Unfazed, Hyde vowed to come back bigger and better, and did when North of Nowhere found a new home at the Lindsay Fairgrounds. There was some discussion around moving the festival to Windfield Farms in Oshawa but that went nowhere, so Lindsay it remains.
From Thursday, July 16 to Saturday, July 18, Hyde is expecting a crowd of 10,000 to take in the 2026 edition of the country music and camping festival at the fairgrounds.
North of Nowhere begins on Thursday with a kick-off party featuring performances by The Practically Hip and Ty Wilson. On Friday, headliners include Dallas Smith, with Tim Hicks, Nate Haller, and Sacha, with Saturday featuring headliners The Glorious Sons, The Strumbellas, Tebey, and Ethan Miller.
In addition, there’s action away from the stage in the form of team cornhole and tailgate pong tournaments on Friday and Saturday, with entry fees destined for charity.
There are almost as many ticket options as there are performers, including general weekend admission, single day admission and VIP tickets, parking passes, and tent and RV camping reservations.
For tickets and the complete performance schedule, visit northofnowheremusicfestival.com.
Blue Rodeo’s iconic music anchors new musical at Peterborough’s Showplace
VIDEO: “In the Key of Blue” excerpt
Every now and then, Peterborough’s Showplace Performance Centre scores a bona fide coup.
That will certainly be case on Friday (July 17) when In the Key of Blue checks in at the downtown venue for what’s billed as an “exclusive” performance of the “born and raised in Price Edward County” tale of dreams, love, and betrayal.
The new musical, which features the music of the quintessential Canadian rock band Blue Rodeo, premiered on July 3 at Picton’s Regent Theatre for three sold-out shows and was staged over three nights at Kingston’s Isabel Bader Centre this past weekend.
Written and directed by Mike Trites, a Blue Rodeo fan since he can remember, the story centres on a Canadian rock band given the opportunity to hit the big time, and the struggles encountered in the face of pressures brought on by success and celebrity.
A live band on stage, led by Prince Edward County-based musical director Daisy Box and featuring Juno-nominated and multi-Blues Canadian Award-winning singer-songwriter Miss Emily, will run through some of Blue Rodeo’s biggest hits, of which there are more than a few.
Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. performance are $75.45 (or $115 for VIP seating) and are available at www.showplace.org.
Broadway love is in the air at Westben in Campbellford
While a barrelful of monkeys typically delivers in a crunch, a barnful of Broadway would seem equally promising in terms of delivering full entertainment value.
That exactly what Campbellford’s Westben is banking on when it brings popular songs from Broadway musicals to The Barn starting Tuesday, July 22.
“Barnful of Broadway – Love Changes Everything” features the talents of Kim Dafoe, Adam Fisher, Lauren Lafayette Brooks, David Michael Moote, and Meher Pavri — the same ensemble that brought “Phantom of the Opera In Concert” and “Les Misérables In Concert” to Westben. They’ll help their audience experience the transformative power of love on Broadway in all its many forms.
The musical revue will feature songs from a number of beloved musicals, including Aspects of Love, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Hamilton, The Music Man, Dear Evan Hansen, West Side Story, and Wicked. Also featured will be classics by legendary composers such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Stephen Sondheim.
Curtain is 2 p.m. from July 22 to 25 and 28 to 30, with a 1:15 p.m. chat with Barb Hobart held before each show. Tickets are $68.50 adults, $65.25 seniors, and $13.50 youth under 18 and are available at www.westben.ca.
Matthew Good brings his extensive catalogue to Peterborough Musicfest
VIDEO: “Lost and Found Kids” – Matthew Good (2025)
To its credit, Peterborough Musicfest has a brought a number of Juno Award nominees and winners to Del Crary Park for its annual summer concert series.
That’s not unusual, and we do take it for granted, but rarely has a performer with 21 — that’s right, 21 — Juno nominations been featured. Well, that will be case on Wednesday, July 22 when Matthew Good headlines the free-admission music festival.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, the Burnaby BC native enjoyed success as the lead singer and songwriter for The Matthew Good Band. When that band broke up in 2002, Good still had fuel in the tank. A lot of fuel that resulted in 13 album releases from 2003 to 2020 and two Juno Awards to go along with two he won as a member of the band that carried his name.
Widely considered one of the most successful Canadian alt-rock bands ever, band hits written by Good such as “Hello Timebomb,” “Everything Is Automatic,” “Indestructible,” “Apparitions,” and “Load Me Up” still enjoy considerable radio airplay. As a solo artist, Good has built on those years of success to appeal to a new legion of fans.
This concert was one of the last announced by Musicfest, giving truth to the notion that some things are indeed well worth the wait.
Before Good takes to the stage at 8 p.m. for the free-admission show, Toronto-based Anishanaabe indie roots-rock artist and songwriter Graeme Jonez will perform at 6:30 p.m. on the Cogeco-presented Future Sound Series stage.
Paul Reddick among headliners at the River Time Blues Festival in Port Hope
VIDEO: “Mourning Dove” – Paul Reddick
You know what I love about summer? It’s not winter. On top of that, there’s music in the air. Not stuffy pub air but air of the fresh variety.
This bring us to yet another outdoor music festival that, while not as big an undertaking as the aforementioned North of Nowhere affair, is every bit worth the attention of those who love live music and maybe, just maybe, a heat-stifling breeze off of Lake Ontario.
Set for Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, the River Time Blues Festival will be held at the Ganaraska Brewing Company on Mill Street in Port Hope in partnership with Ontario Street Theatre. Featuring a mix of free and ticketed events on the schedule, there’s a lot to choose from.
Things kick off Friday at 7 p.m. with Camilo Restrepo performing, with the main event set for Saturday in the form of a 2 to 9 p.m. outdoor music showcase featuring Juno Award winner Paul Reddick, Bad Luck Woman and Her Misfortunes, Dave Mowat and the Curbside Shuffle (featuring Port Hope’s own Clayton Yates), The Fraser Melvin Band, and DJ Salinger.
That will be followed on Sunday by a blue open mic event from 2 to 5 p.m. It’s free for those wanting to take to the stage, but call 905-885-9029 in advance to reserve a spot.
Meanwhile, tickets for the outdoor showcase cost $40 at tickettailor.com/events/ontariostreettheatre/2219182.
Laugh your lashes off at Bocaygeon’s Globus Theatre
VIDEO: “Leave it to Cleavage” opening segment
Bobcaygeon’s Globus Theatre has made a habit of bringing period pieces to its stage, a programming strategy that has proven quite successful for the theatre company.
With Leave it to Cleavage opening on Thursday, July 30, Globus takes audiences back to the 1950s — specifically to two martini-loving housewives aiming to “bring back the good old days” via interactive audience participation and “a tipsy walk down memory lane.”
Written by and starring Diana Frances and Karen Parker (both were seen in the Globus season opener of Girls Nite Out), the show will see audiences help rewrite the two women’s “Helpful Housewife Hints” while enjoying their Welcome Wagon treats. The gals may even recreate a “day in the life” of a woman who has it all — a family and a job!
One thing we can count on here is lots of laughs, which is another staple of Globus stagings.
Curtain is 8 p.m. on July 30 and 31 and August 1, with an optional dinner available at 6 p.m. before all performances. Visit www.globustheatre.com/shows-all/leave-it-to-cleavage for tickets, which are $50 for the show only or $100 for dinner and the show.
Encore
- Are you itching at the chance to perform your talent before a live and appreciative audience? Well, Honky-Tonk Angel on Highway 7 near Clifford Line in Cavan is there for you, now holding an open mic night every Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. Hosted by local musician Ian Clement, an invited is extended to singers, musicians, poets, and comedians. All talent levels are welcome, with sign-up done upon arrival. The first open mic was held July 9 and was such a hit that it has been brought back for an indefinite run.
- My pal Dan Hick has released a new song co-written in collaboration with Rachel Spillane a.k.a. Not Good At Music. “Back In Time” is available on Spotify, but August 8 will present the chance to hear it live when Hick and Spillane perform Saturday, August 8 from 4 to 6 p.m, at The Pig’s Ear Tavern in downtown Peterborough. Dan is really good at music. I’m guessing Rachel, despite her choice for a stage name, is pretty good too.
