Back in August 2024, when his Peterborough Musicfest season-ending concert was cancelled due a severe weather-induced power outage, an upset David Wilcox vowed to return “as soon as possible to rock out.”
Four days later, Wilcox — who had last performed at Musicfest way back in 1999 — made good on his promise and all was again right in the world for his fans. In the end, if we learned anything about the longtime Canadian blues-rock singer and guitarist, he is a man of his word.
Now, two years on from that hastily organized season-ender, Wilcox is returning for his third Musicfest appearance, headlining Saturday (August 8) at Del Crary Park. As always, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free, thanks to the support of numerous sponsors including kawarthaNOW.
A native of Montreal, Wilcox has been doing what he does so well since 1970 when he, as a member of Ian and Sylvia Tyson’s band Great Speckled Bird, he backed up such music legends as Anne Murray, Carl Perkins, and Charlie Rich. Wilcox then played with a few other bands before going solo in 1977.
That year saw Wilcox record and release Out of the Woods, his debut album. Three singles — “Do the Bearcat,” “Bad Apple,” and “That Hypnotizin’ Boogie” — brought the album gold-certified status when it was re-released in 1982.
Wilcox’s follow-up album, 1983’s My Eyes Keep Me In Trouble, capitalized on that momentum, helped along by the hit singles “Downtown Came Uptown” and “Riverboat Fantasy.” The album was also certified gold and Wilcox toured extensively to share his music.
VIDEO: “Layin’ Pipe” – David Wilcox (1987)
Bad Reputation came forth in 1984, followed three years later by Breakfast at the Circus and its hit single “Layin’ Pipe.” Wilcox closed out the decade with 1989’s The Natural Edge, with the single “Lay Down in Your Arms” added to his arsenal of radio airplay standards.
Wilcox recorded four subsequent albums, the latest being 2015’s Guitar Heroes, and has also released five compilation discs over the past four decades. Album success aside, his live shows are a central component of his enduring popularity and his many years of touring have earned him a sizable and very loyal following that he continues to enjoy to this day.
Nominated for three Juno Awards, Wilcox came away a bridesmaid each time. First, Kim Mitchell got the nod in 1983 as Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year. Six years later, Wilcox watched on as Robbie Robertson received the award for Best Male Vocalist. Then, in 1990, nominated in the same category, Wilcox once more found himself in Mitchell’s shadow.
That said, Wilcox is enjoying rare air as one of just a few Canadian artists who, at age 77, is still delivering the goods in a big way. His vocals are only overshadowed by his superb electric guitar mastery, making him a popular draw.
In an April 2025 interview with Erin McCallum of Port Credit’s The Sound Cafe, Wilcox reflected on his first break when, at the age of 21, he replaced Amos Garrett of Great Speckled Bird and found himself on national television backing Ian Tyson.
“When I was about 20, I had a friend who had a pawn ticket on a Fender Telecaster,” recalled Wilcox, adding “He was going to lose this guitar, so I bought it, and that was my first electric guitar.”
“Shortly after that, I tracked down Ian Tyson’s phone number and wrangled an audition, and I got the job. It was a bit intimidating because, up until that point, I really hadn’t played much electric guitar, and I was on stage with some seriously good players, and now, I was making what, at the time, was an awful lot of money to me. ”
“Through my time on the Ian Tyson show, I learned a lot, being on stage with musicians that were older and more experienced than me. I was also discovering that the electric guitar was really fun and interesting … it was most definitely transformative.”
VIDEO: “That Hypnotizin’ Boogie” – David Wilcox (2016)
Wilcox noted that getting his first album picked up by a label was no picnic.
“Disco was what was big at the time, and nobody wanted the music that I was playing,” he said. “I approached lots of labels and asked them to listen. Some, I’m sure, did, and some, I’m sure, didn’t. Eventually, a small label signed it and it did well. It sold 25,000 copies, so that convinced a bigger label (Capitol Records) to sign us.”
As someone who has played professionally for almost 60 years, few are as authorized as Wilcox to comment on the music industry landscape and, in particular, the factors contributing to a musician’s longevity.
“I think the main one is to provide something that is unique from anyone else. If an artist has a quality that is unique unto them, that will keep their longevity.”
As for whether it’s easier for today’s musicians to break through than it was for him, Wilcox said that, while it’s not easier, there are more opportunities for musicians to be heard.
“There was a time when just a few record companies were the ones who had a lot of control over which artist’s music got heard or promoted,” he said. “Today, it’s not easier, but it’s not just a few people at a few companies deciding what gets heard and promoted.”
In terms of Wilcox’s motivation all these years on, his September 2020 chat with Ken Vantour of Let’s Rock told us all we really need to know about the man who made good on his Musicfest promise back in August 2024.
VIDEO: “Do The Bearcat” – David Wilcox (2025)
“I started out doing this for love,” Wilcox said. “One of the reasons I take sabbaticals (from touring) is to replenish that. You know, remind myself of how it felt when I was a kid … 11 years old, learning the guitar.”
“My love of music didn’t have any categories. There was no money factor. Just that feeling of being there for the love of the music and the joy of it.”
Prior to Wilcox taking the stage, the Cogeco-sponsored Future Sound Series will see Mohawk and French-Canadian singer-songwriter James N. Wilson perform from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., near the food trucks at the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 39th season, staged in Del Crary Park on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 19.
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 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.
