This month there are some interesting multidisciplinary shows at Artspace, as they partner with Trent University to bring us Lara Kramer’s ‘Phantom, stills & vibrations’ (opening on Saturday, March 3rd) and with Public Energy to bring us Jeneen Frei Njootli’s ‘I can’t make you those mitts because there is a hole in my heart and my hands hurt’, another performance-based exhibition.

The First Friday Art Crawl (March 2) in downtown Peterborough is once again bursting at the seams with art, music, and late-night markets at Watson & Lou and Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery. Salti Yoga (242 Hunter St. West) is joining in with a show of drawings by Anne Cavanagh from 6 to 9 p.m. and, at the same time, the new Creating Space art studio at 247 George St. North will add to the festivities with a drummer and belly-dance performance. These Friday night art-fests are great opportunities to meet artists and arts enthusiasts, as well as to get out and support the community.

March also features ‘Full circle’, a two-person exhibit at Christensen Fine Art showing recent work by Jane and Ron Eccles, ‘Vent’ by Laura Findlay at Evans Contemporary, painter John Climenhage at Star X Gallery, paintings by Holly Edwards at Acme Art and Sailboat Company, and an exhibit of new work by Andrew Cripps and artist-in-residence Connie Van Rijn at Coeur Nouveau. There will also be music and movie projections in the Banker’s Common adjoining Evans Contemporary.

Don’t miss out on the fun, and please remember there are a series of free events talks and workshops being hosted at Artspace and Trent during the first week of March.

‘Phantom, stills & vibrations’ by Lara Kramer at Artspace

An immersive installation by Lara Kramer entitled ‘Phantom, stills & vibrations’ is currently happening at Artspace. Trent University and Artspace have collaborated in making this show happen, as Kramer is the 2017-18 Ashley Fellow Artist In Residence at Trent.

Based in Montreal, Oji-Cree choreographer Lara Kramer is the artistic director of Lara Kramer Danse and her work often addresses political issues in Canada surrounding First Nations people. Accordingly, she has been recognised as a human rights advocate by the Montreal Holocaust Memorial Centre. Using strong visuals and narrative in combination with movement, she creates pieces often linked to her own memory and aboriginal roots.

There will be an opening reception and performance on Saturday, March 3rd at 12 noon, with performances at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and a reception to follow. The installation continues until Friday, March 9th, with a closing reception from 7 to 10 p.m. (including a performance at 7:30 p.m.

A series of events and workshops related to Kramer’s work are also taking place during the first week of March. See the schedule on the Public Energy website at publicenergy.ca.

Artspace is an accessible space located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.

Artspace presents ‘I can’t make you those mitts because there is a hole in my heart and my hands hurt’ by Jeneen Frei Njootli

Editor’s note: Njootli’s performance originally scheduled for March 16th has been rescheduled to March 15th. Also, the conversation between Njootli and Olivia Whetung originally scheduled for March 17th has been postponed until summer 2018 (a new date will be announced).

On Thursday, March 15th at 8 p.m., Artspace will present a special performance by Vuntut Gwitchin artist Jeneen Frei Njootli, marking the opening of her solo work ‘I can’t make you those mitts because there is a whole in my heart and my hands hurt’.

Engaging directly with Gwich’in territory and culture provides a radical grass roots methodology for Jeneen Frei Njootli.

Defined by the artist as ‘bushed theory’, the act of land-based living, and engaging in Gwich’in cultural traditions drives her practice.

In the gallery space, she uses sound, dust, grease and power tools, to represent this experience. Creating sonic landscapes and making marks, the artist leaves behind traces of labour, presence and motion.

The one-night-only performance is free, but space is limited. A reception will follow the performance. This show is presented in conjunction with Public Energy.

In other Artspace news, the annual 50/50 fundraiser is on the horizon. Look out for the call for artists to contribute and for ticket sales to begin. This event is always a lot of fun.

Artspace is an accessible space located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.

Christensen Fine Art presents ‘Full Circle’ by Jane and Ron Eccles

‘Full Circle’, an exhibition of works by Ron and Jane Eccles, opens from 6 to 8 p.m. during the First Friday Art Crawl at Christensen Fine Art in downtown Peterborough. The artists will be there in person and light refreshments will be served.

Both Ron and Jane have a long history of involvement in the arts both as visual artists and as art educators. After leaving Peterborough, where they were quite involved in the arts community and in the early days of Artspace, Ron taught intaglio printmaking at the Ontario College of Art, while Jane headed the arts program at Bowmanville High School. Now focusing entirely on their artistic practices, they live and work from their home in Bowmanville. This show marks their return to the Peterborough scene.

Ron is best known for his meticulously composed abstract work, and Jane for her paintings highlighting the accomplishments of Canadian women, most notably for a series of paintings of dresses worn by the likes of Margaret Atwood and Karen Kaine.

The show will be on display until Saturday, March 24th.

Christensen Fine Art is located at 432 George Street North in downtown Peterborough. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit www.christensenfineart.com.

Evans Contemporary presents ‘Vent’ by Laura Findlay

Laura Findlay’s ‘Vent’ is a new series of paintings inspired by the creation and destruction of land masses, such as mountains, over periods of time that we as humans find virtually incomprehensible.

Findlay uses both additive and subtractive processes, by painting on the surface and also scratching and scraping and in doing so removing paint, to explore these processes of creation and destruction.

Her process mimics creation of new, and the crumbling away of old structures.

The active volcano is a powerful symbol of something that creates as well as destroys, and also is a source of awe to us and a testament to the power of nature.

The exhibit’s opening reception will be held at Evans Contemporary from 6 to 11 p.m. during the First Friday Art Crawl (March 2). There will also be music and movie projection in the Banker’s Common, and a free listening party at the Sapphire Room (137 Hunter St. W., Peterborough).

‘Vent’ will remain on display until Saturday, March 31st.

Evans Contemporary is located at #2 Banker’s Common in downtown Peterborough. For more information, visit www.evanscontemporary.com or contact Paolo Fortin at evanscontemporary@gmail.com.

Acme Art & Sailboat Company features Holly Edwards

Acme Art & Sailboat Company presents ‘Figures Explored’, a series of paintings by Lakefield-based artist Holly Edwards.

“Acrylics are my main medium supporting experiments with mixed media, such as soft pastels, oil sticks, ink, and paper cut-outs,” Holly writes on her website. “I paint a variety of subjects, but I most enjoy painting people.

“For me figurative art offers the greatest challenge: How can I capture an emotion, the surrounding space, the changing light in a contemporary manner? Figures become the outlet to allow myself to push the acrylic medium as far as possible, by glazing and layering, using bold brushstrokes and mark-making (pallet knives, ends of paintbrushes, sticks), with bold and contrasting colours, at times intentionally distorting perspective or human form, and sometimes mixing media in the process — and the process is ever changing, and never fully known.”

Drop in during the First Friday Art Crawl (March 2) from 6 to 11 p.m. to meet the artist, and also to see Joe Stable’s latest work on display in the Copper Closet.

Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday from 12 until 3 p.m. or by appointment.

Star X presents paintings by John Climenhage

John Climenhage is a prolific painter based in Peterborough who is known for his striking depictions of landscapes, local scenes, and abstract compositions. You can be sure that this exhibition will provide a lot to see.

Don’t miss the opening from 6 to 11 p.m. during the First Friday Art Crawl (March 2).

Star X is located at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Regular hours of operation are Saturday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Coeur Nouveau presents Connie Van Rijn in studio and new work by Andrew Cripps

This March, Connie Van Rijn will take over the inner room of the Coeur Nouveau and use it as a studio. The public will be able to stop in and see the artist in residence at work on her latest project.

In the foyer, there will be an exhibition of new work by Andrew Cripps, with an opening reception during the First Friday Art Crawl (March 2) from 6 to 11 p.m

Coeur Nouveau is located on the 2nd floor of the Commerce Building at 129-1/2 Hunter St. West in downtown Peterborough.

What’s that saying about March? “In like a lamb, out like a lion” and other variations. Live music events are certainly in like a lion this month, and they go out like a lion too!

There are some big shows taking place in Peterborough, including several concerts presented by the Peterborough Folk Festival as part of their Peterborough Winter Folk Festival. a slightly different version of the previous February Folk Folly. The music festival takes place from March 2nd to 10th with events take place in various locations around the city, and there’s a little something for everyone.

Downchild Blues Band at the Market Hall in Peterborough on March 2

Get the blues real bad on Friday, March 2nd with the legendary Downchild Blues Band at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).

Originally formed in 1969, the sextet inspired the Blues Brothers (actor Dan Aykroyd is a huge fan) and has done just about everything a blues band can do, including recently releasing their 18th studio record.

Tickets are $50 in advance and $55 at the door, available at the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).

VIDEO: “Mississippi Woman, Mississauga Man” – Donwchild Blues Band

Fred Penner at Lansdowne Place Mall in Peterborough on March 3

On Saturday, March 3rd there’s a big treat in store for families and kids (including kids who never quite grew up).

Fred Penner will be performing a free show in the Lansdowne Place Mall (645 Lansdowne St, Peterborough) along with local songstresses Melissa Payne and Kate Suhr.

Penner is a hard-working children’s performer most famous for his television show from the 1980s, Fred Penner’s Place. The show runs from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the mall’s Centre Court.

VIDEO: “The Cat Came Back” – Fred Penner

The Sheepdogs at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on March 6

Saskatoon retro rock and rollers The Sheepdogs return to Peterborough on Tuesday, March 6th for a concert at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469).

The band is touring their new record Changing Colours, which features some new sonic territory for the band. The record still rocks, but also features some old-time/roots touches. It also features some great multi-instrumental playing by Bailieboro’s native son Jimmy Bowskill.

The show begins at 8 p.m. with openers Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs, a six-piece rock outfit from Toronto.

Tickets are $47.75 and are available at the Showplace Box Office or online.

VIDEO: “I’ve Got A Hole Where My Heart Should Be” – The Sheepdogs

VIDEO: “Nobody” – The Sheepdogs

VIDEO: “Talk 2 Her” – Sam Coffey & The Iron Lungs

Randy Bachman at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on March 7

Speaking of rock and rollers from the Prairies, Randy Bachman will be performing on Wednesday, March 7th at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469).

The former member of The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive will bring stories and songs to the stage from his illustrious career spanning five decades. He will also be playing songs from his new album By George By Bachman to be released on March 2, 2018.

The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $61.25 and are available at the Showplace Box Office or online.

VIDEO: “No Time” – Randy Bachman

VIDEO: “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” – Randy Bachman

Latchford & Greig at The Garnet in Peterborough on March 9

You will want to hear and see Latchford & Greig from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 9th at The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107).

Unlike the other shows mentioned so far, this one isn’t part of the Winter Folk Festival officially, but it’s a good chance to get out to a local pub and hear some beautiful music in the midst of the festival.

Diane Latchford and Jean Greig are a great local duo with beautiful harmonies and a wide selection of tunes from all over the musical map.

VIDEO: “Wishing Well” – Latchford & Greig

My Son The Hurricane at the Red Dog in Peterborough on March 9

It will be a high-octane dance-filled night at The Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710) on Friday, March 9th when My Son The Hurricane returns to town.

The 14-piece band is an amalgam of funk, hip-hop, New Orleans jazz, and rock and roll. Practice your dance moves and head on down to check them out.

Tickets are $10 at the door and the show beings around 9 p.m.

VIDEO: “Birthday Cake” – My Son The Hurricane

VIDEO: “Ain’t My Style” – My Son The Hurricane

Mayhemingways at The Mount in Peterborough on March 10

The last show of the Winter Folk Fest is the vinyl/CD release of Skip Land by my own band, fuzz-folk duo Mayhemingways, on Saturday, March 10th in the auditorium at The Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd, Peterborough).

Over the past year, Benj Rowland and I have toured across Canada several times, including with Joel and Bill Plaskett, and we also travelled to Europe for the first time. Skip Land is our second and latest full-length effort.

The show is all ages/licensed and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are only $10 in advance, available at The Mounty and at Bluestreak Records (444 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-6078), or you can purchase them online at www.ticketscene.ca/events/20308/.

VIDEO: “Frances the Truck Driver” – Mayheingways

The Real McKenzies at the Market Hall in Peterborough on March 11

Perhaps a great unofficial after-party for the Winter Folk Festival comes a day later, when Vancouver Celtic punkers The Real McKenzies roll through town on yet another tour. The show takes place on Sunday, March 11th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146).

The band has been around since 1992, with front man Paul McKenzie the last remaining original member. Described as a “ferocious troupe of insanely talented travelling minstrels”, this group goes beyond being a basic Celtic punk band.

The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Get them now through the Market Hall Box Office or online at markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).

VIDEO: “One Day” – The Real McKenzies

Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers at The Capitol in Port Hope on March 18

Celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day weekend with music and laughter when Newfoundland musical comedy heroes Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers plays the Cameco Capitol Arts Centre (20 Queen St., Port Hope, 905-885-1071) at 2 p.m.on Sunday, March 18th.

Wayne Chaulk, Kevin Blackmore, and Ray Johnson have been a staple of Canada’s music scene for decades, bringing their mix of traditional Newfoundland music and humorous live show with them. They’re on their farewell tour.

The trio is also performing at the Capitol on Saturday, March 17th, but that show sold out, so a Sunday matinee show was added.

Tickets are $45 and are available at the Capitol Box Office or online at www.capitoltheatre.com.

VIDEO: “Anti-Terrorism” – Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers

B.A. Johnston at the Red Dog in Peterborough on March 23

If you haven’t been to a B.A. Johnston show, then you’ve been missing out. Well, wait no more: on Friday, March 23rd, B.A. returns to Peterborough to perform at The Historic Red Dog Tavern (189 Hunter St. W, Peterborough, 705-750-1710).

B.A.’s songs tend to be full of characterizations about common societal things. Drive-thrus, tight pants, Nintendo metaphors … it’s like one of those retro flea markets that have all of the parts of your youth on a shelf. “Oh look, there’s a copy of Mario Bros. 2!” or “Hey, is that a pack of Dr. Pepper gum?” I haven’t even touched on his legendary encores in the bathroom at the end of his shows.

Guest bands will be Muddy Hack and Beef Boys. It’s only $4 to get in before 10 p.m. and $8 after.

VIDEO: “Gonna End Up Working in Fort McMurray” and more – B.A. Johnson

VIDEO: “Drivethru Beef” – B.A. Johnson

Karyn Ellis and and PK Tessmann at the Garnet on March 31

It will be a beautiful night of songs and stories when former Peterborough resident Karyn Ellis and PK Tessmann come to The Garnet (231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-0107) on Saturday, March 31st as part of their spring tour.

The two songwriters met at a songwriter’s workshop at a festival in B.C. and knew they would tour together at some point soon. Karyn is an engaging songwriter with hints of humour and a lot of smarts, and PK is a Vancouver Island artist whose work is described as “beguiling, potent, and unpretentious”.

The two will be trading songs and stories all night long. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

VIDEO: “Careful & Kind” – PK Tessmann

VIDEO: “Be My Girl” – Karyn Ellis

Stephen Fearing is not just a singer/songwriter — he’s also a philosopher. On his latest record Every Soul’s A Sailor, he continues his exploration of the journey being more important than the destination.

“The journey is this great metaphor and it’s been what I’ve been writing about for a long time and probably will be for a long time,” Fearing explains from his home in Victoria, B.C.. “Physically travelling and using it as a metaphor provides so many different ‘ins’ as a songwriter.”

That’s no surprise given that Fearing’s life is a story of travelling.

Born in Vancouver in 1963, when he was six years old he moved with his mother to Dublin, where his schoolmates included future members of U2.

In 1981, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and immersed himself in the music scene to learn the fundamentals of song writing and performing. He returned to Vancouver in 1984 to build his career as a professional musician.

In 1994, he moved to Guelph and then, in 2008, to Halifax, relocating to his current home in Victoria in 2015.

VIDEO: “Every Soul’s A Sailor” – Stephen Fearing

“There’s regret, you’re leaving things behind, you’re going towards something, and there’s what you’re observing on the way, which is a huge part of it,” he says. “Songwriters are observers. When you travel through somebody else’s turf, you see things that they don’t see.”

Fearing’s journey takes him back to Peterborough on Tuesday, April 17th for a solo concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, presented by kawarthaNOW.com and the Market Hall. He last performed solo in Peterborough at an intimate concert at The Spill in 2013. Since then, he also performed at the Market Hall with Irish singer-singer Andy White in February 2015, and most recently last October when he played at the Market Hall with bandmates Tom Wilson and Colin Linden (Blackie and The Rodeo Kings).

Known for his poetic storytelling, rich vocals, and masterful guitar playing, Fearing has released nine solo albums along with two collaborations with Andy White, as well as nine records with Blackie and The Rodeo Kings. He’s performed countless shows at intimate venues and on the concert stages of festivals and theatres across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe.

VIDEO: “Home” – Stephen Fearing

Along the way, he’s been named Traditional/Roots Performer of the Year at the 1991 West Coast Music Awards, received a Juno Award in 2000 for Best Roots & Traditional Album: Group for the Blackie and The Rodeo Kings’ record Kings of Love, was named Best Songwriter (English) at the 2006 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and received the Roots & Traditional Album of the Year: Solo Juno Award in 2007 for Yellowjacket.

In Fearing’s mind, being a touring musician is a “sacred job,” with rewards that go beyond tangible accomplishments.

“It’s not about a big award like a Juno or even being nominated for a Juno,” he says. “It’s really just about showing up every day and doing the work.”

VIDEO: “Wheel Of Love” – Stephen Fearing

It’s not only travelling that he waxes philosophic about, but he digs deep into his music as well. Fearing made his latest record with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings rhythm section Gary Craig (drums) and John Dymond (bass). Although he has worked with Craig and Dymond over the years, he explains how the process for Every Soul’s A Sailor was different.

“It was a big challenge. I’ve had records where I’ve had players come in, but to think ahead and know that I wanted to record it as a trio, I had to change my guitar parts and think about it differently.”

He boils it down to the nature of a trio being much different than solo arrangements or ensembles.

“The trio format is uniquely skeletal and odd,” Fearing says. “It’s like there’s a big hole in the middle that you’ve got to fill and so trying to do that has been really interesting.”

This adjustment led to a different approach with song selection in his recent shows, which have split evenly between trio and solo performances.

For his April run of shows, including Peterborough, Fearing will be touring solo. He spends a lot of time considering the best configurations for certain songs, and aims to be true to the songs as they were written.

“It’s an interesting thing to think about, rather than just play the same set with a band or without a band,” he says. “There are some songs like Blowhard Nation that are really important parts of the record, but it’s definitely a different version solo.”

Fearing’s process of writing has morphed over the years.

“In some ways it has become more truncated because I just don’t have the luxury of time anymore,” he says.

VIDEO: “These Golden Days” – Stephen Fearing

After a chaotic year in 2015, he looked ahead and knew that there was a window for creating a new record. Despite not having new tunes in hand, he booked the studio, looked towards a January 2017 release, and worked backwards to get it done. He went to a friend’s cabin in Wells, British Columbia for a week and wrote most of the tunes.

“I think all the years of doing this has given me the balls to say ‘Alright, I’m just going to go off and write and album in a week.’ It’s a little bit scary because you wonder, ‘What if I don’t get the songs? Then what?'”

Fearing’s favourite approach to writing is one that allows him to fully focus on the process.

“In my life it’s been hard to know if I’ve created the chaos or if the chaos has come, but one way or another I seem to have to have a bunch of things on the go. And I some point I need to thrust everything off the table and go ‘OK, I need to write songs!'”

One of those songs ended up being ‘Blowhard Nation’, the first single from the new record. It’s a tune about Donald Trump when he was running for the Republican nomination. Fearing saw a picture of the eventual U.S. President on the cover of one of the magazines in the candy section while he was shopping in Quesnel near Wells.

VIDEO: “Blowhard Nation” – Stephen Fearing

“There was such an arrogance,” he recalls. “A blowhard arrogance that really prompted the song.”

With inspiration from a few Merle Haggard records, he wrote it as a protest song injected with a little humour. Now, ever since Trump became president, Fearing says he’s been addicted to following coverage from the U.S.

“I have to stop myself from checking the phone in the middle of the night. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I don’t know if this is the new norm.”

Fearing believes there is a big role for songwriters in difficult political times. He suggests it’s important for songwriters to have the courage to write about important issues.

“I think the onus is to write stuff that’s actually coming up, rather than trying to avoid it.”

Fearing will be performing a solo concert at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $33 for general admission and assigned cabaret-style table seating, and are are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by calling 705-749-1146, or online at www.markethall.org.

Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).