Peterborough Musicfest’s “Woven Stories: A Night of Indigenous Music, Culture and Celebration” returns to Del Crary Park for a second year on Saturday (July 18).
Beginning at 6:45 p.m., the free event will feature a traditional canoe arrival and welcoming ceremony, drumming, storytelling, dancing, and interactive community programming before award-winning singer-songwriter Julian Taylor performs on the Fred Anderson Stage just after 8 p.m.
Developed in collaboration with local community partners and launched in 2025, Woven Stories gives audiences an opportunity to experience Indigenous traditions while bringing people together through ceremony and celebration.
“Woven Stories has become an important part of the Peterborough Musicfest season,” said Musicfest executive director Tracey Randall in a media release.
“We’re proud to continue building this evening in collaboration with our local community partners. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous culture while bringing people together through music, learning, and shared experiences.”
The evening will begin along the shoreline of Little Lake at Del Crary Park with a traditional canoe arrival featuring the Curve Lake First Nation Women’s Hand Drum Group, led by Janet McCue.
At 7:15 p.m., McCue and Healing with Drums will present a collaborative acoustic performance featuring Indigenous music and storytelling. That will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by a big drum and traditional dance exhibition, featuring the Curve Lake Men’s Drum Group and traditional dancers.
At 8 p.m., McCue will lead an interactive community round dance with singers, drummers, and dancers before Taylor’s headlining performance begins 15 minutes later.
Of Caribbean and Mohawk ancestry, the Toronto singer-songwriter and guitarist has earned acclaim for music that blends rock, folk, soul, roots, and country. He first gained national attention as a founding member of the alternative rock band Staggered Crossing, whose song “Further Again” became one of the most-played songs on Canadian rock radio in the early 2000s.
Taylor’s largely acoustic 2020 album The Ridge, which draws upon his personal experiences and family history, received Juno Award nominations for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. It also earned Taylor the Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of the Year and a nomination for the Polaris Music Prize.
His 2022 album Beyond the Reservoir received a Juno nomination for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year, while his most recent studio album, Pathways, was released in 2024 and co-produced with Grammy Award winner Colin Linden.
Admission is free to both Woven Stories and Taylor’s concert, thanks in part to festival sponsors like kawarthaNOW.
VIDEO: “Seeds” – Julian Taylor (2022)
Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair, with VIP seating available for festival sponsors and their guests. Smoking, alcohol, and pets are not permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free concerts at Del Crary Park on Wednesday and Saturday nights during its 39th season, which continues until August 19.
For more information on this concert or the 2026 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or call the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2026 season.
