Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, August 3 to Wednesday, August 9.

If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.

The summer is finally heating up and August is filled with excellent live music. I’ve a highlighted a few great shows, with an emphasis on some of the amazing free events taking place all month long in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Emilie-Claire Barlow at Westben in Campbellford on August 5

Juno-winning jazz singer Emilie-Claire Barlow will appear at the beautiful Westben Arts Festival Theatre (6698 County Road 30 North, Campbellford, 705-653-5508 or 877-883-5777) on Saturday, August 5th.

Barlow has released 11 albums full of fresh takes on standards and much, much more. This will be a classy show in a great setting. Accompanying Barlow will be pianist Amanda Tosoff and bassist Jon Maharaj.

Tickets are $41 for regular seats, $39 for 65+, $15 for students under 30, and $5 for youth 18 and under, available at www.westben.ca. It’s an early show beginning at 2 p.m.

VIDEO: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright by Bob Dylan” performed by Emilie-Claire Barlow

The Hootenanny on Hunter Street in Peterborough on August 12

One of Peterborough’s favourite summertime events returns once again on Saturday, August 12th. That’s right, it’s time once again for The Hootenanny on Hunter Streett. A full day and evening of music, vendors, and (hopefully) sunny patios in downtown Peterborough’s café district.

There is something so special when Hunter Street West is open for partying, and this year’s musical acts are just as diverse and exciting as any year.

Melissa Payne returns with her fiddle and emotive roots sound. Jordan Mac of The Birthday Boys plays a solo set full of swagger and good writing. The Bluegrass Menagerie bring the hoedown vibes. Sean Conway and his band go beyond rock and roots, bringing something fresh in between. Diamond Dave & The Smoke Eaters play country-rock.

Tarantuela reform with a rhythm-and-blues-meets-The Band-meets-garage-rock sound. Dylan Ireland brings some new songs forward with his great songwriting. Mokomokai play old-school metal. Well-known New York City DJ Jonathan Toubin spins classic soul.

Last but not least, headliners The Big Sound, a 25+-piece band playing hits of soul and Motown, will close the night.

The Hoot begins at 11 a.m. and goes on right until 1 a.m. The event is free to all.

VIDEO: “Nowhere to Run” by Martha and the Vandellas performed by The Big Sound

The Sheepdogs at Peterborough Musicfest on August 16

Saskatchewn-based rockers The Sheepdogs bring their retro-yet-new classic rock sound to Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on Wednesday, August 16th … and this time they’re going to have Bailieboro super talent Jimmy Bowskill with them as well.

Since 2007, The Sheepdogs have released five studio records and continue to tour behind their latest one, the aptly named Future Nostalgia. Del Crary Park will be rocking and you don’t want to miss it.

Music begins at 8 p.m. and, as always, it’s completely free.

VIDEO: “Right On” – The Sheepdogs featuring Jimmy Bowskill

Buffy Sainte-Marie at Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough on August 18

Another excellent free event in Peterborough is the Peterborough Folk Festival, which runs from August 18th to 20th. The three-day festival is one of the best of the summer and this year’s line-up is a diverse and exciting lineup throughout.

The Friday night gala on August 18th is the only ticketed part of the weekend, and this year it’s the absolutely iconic Buffy Sainte-Marie at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469). Saint-Marie is one of the most accomplished Canadian songwriters having won awards like Oscars, Golden Globes, Junos, and the Polaris Prize. Her protest songs in the 1960’s were a huge part of the civil rights movement, and her continuing career has been a legendary one.

Tickets for the show are $49.50 plus fees and are available exclusively online www.showplace.org. A portion of the proceeds from the show benefits the Folk Fest.

The show begins at 8 p.m. and will also feature the 2017 Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist: Mary-Kate Edwards who will open for Buffy Sainte-Marie.

VIDEO: “Starwalker” – Buffy Sainte-Marie

Peterborough Folk Festival at Nichols Oval in Peterborough on August 19 and 20

The rest of the Peterborough Folk Festival is free and runs on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th at the lovely Nicholls Oval in Peterborough. Artists who will play include The Sadies, Hannah Georgas, Hollerado, Donovan Woods, Jenn Grant, The Wooden Sky, Sharon & Bram, Fast Romantics, Delhi 2 Dublin, Cat Clyde, Kirty, Samito, and Mary-Kate Edwards.

There will also be live music workshops with these artists, as well as children’s activities, artisan and food vendors and, of course, delicious beer at the Pavilion. The Saturday and Sunday shows begin around 11 a.m. both days. Check out www.peterboroughfolkfest.com for all the details

VIDEO: Peterborough Folk Festival Promo (featuring music by Mayhemingways)

Pine Box String Band at Elmhirst’s Resort in Keene on August 22

Every Tuesday in August, you can check out some great music at the lovely Elmhirst’s Resort (1045 Settlers Line, Keene, 705-295-4591 or 800-461-1940) on their boardwalk as part of Tuned Up Tuesdays.

On August 22nd, musical entertainment will be provided by the excellent Pine Box String Band. The group plays low-down old-time blues songs. From stomping to howling to slow-burners, their music has a little something for everybody. Come early and get a great Texas-style smoked beef brisket buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to check out.

Other artists for the month include Mark Sepic at August 8th, Bridget Foley and Mike Graham on August 15th, Carling Stephen on August 29th.

VIDEO: “Bring Another Half Pint” – Pine Box String Band

Rheostatics at Peterborough Musicfest on August 23

One of Canada’s most influential and eclectic rock bands, Rheostatics will take the stage at Peterborough Musicfest at Del Crary Park on Wednesday, August 23rd.

The band was most prominent in the ’90s and early 2000s, calling it quits in 2007, until a reunion eight years later. The Rheos released 11 studio albums, toured with The Tragically Hip, and have made it to numerous all-time best Canadian Albums lists.

If you have never heard or seen the Rheostatics, this is a great chance to see an iconic Canadian band with their own sound. If you have been a fan for years, then you know exactly what you’re in for and I’m guessing you’re pretty excited.

As always at Musicfest, the show is free and music begins at 8 p.m. The Rheostatics show is sponsored by kawarthaNOW.com and we’ll have lots of free VIP seats to give away. For your chance to win, make sure you’re subscribed to kawarthaNOW’s weekly e-news.

VIDEO: Rheostatics Live at Massey Hall in 2016

Fin De Fiesta Flamenco at Catalina’s in Peterborough on August 26

Sometimes an event speaks for itself. On Saturday, August 26th, Fin De Fiesta Flamenco presents “Liåndola: An Electrifying Evening of Flamenco Music and Dance” at Catalina’s (131 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-874-5972).

This is a rare chance in Peterborough to take in the captivating essence of flamenco all the way from Seville, Spain. A beautiful way to spend an evening.

Tickets are $10 in advance, from Catalina’s or Union Studio, and $15 at the door. Call 705-874-5972 for more information.

VIDEO: Fin de Fiesta Flamenco 2016 National Tour Highlights

This August, take in some electronic and data-based conceptual arts, along with traditional drawing and painting.

The Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth will feature interactive electronic sculptures by Douglas Back, and Artspace in Peterborough is showing William Robinson’s “Pickard Quarry Transpose”, an installation based on site-specific information about the Mount Allison University Chapel.

Then you could stop in at the Art Gallery of Bancroft to see some abstract paintings, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio in Peterborough for a stroll down memory lane into the world of vintage Steam trains, or Galerie Q in Cavan for a retrospective of the late Armand Tatossian’s paintings.

Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth presents Douglas Back’s “(Noun) Pulse” series of interactive electronic sculptures

Doug Back works primarily in electronic and media arts, and was one of the pioneers of teaching physical computing at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Physical computing, in very basic terms, involves using sensors to translate analog input such as movement (for instance, a motion sensor) into a software system that can then control mechanical devices such as lights or motors.

In this show, we are presented with a series of interactive electronic sculptures. These sculptures will respond to the viewer’s presence in some way. I for one am definitely curious. This sounds like a show worth seeing — if you are interested in art, and also if you are interested in electronics and computers.

An opening reception will be held at the Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth on Saturday, August 5th at 7 p.m. On the same evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. there will be a live jazz performance featuring San Murata on volin and Steve Holt on piano.

Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth is located at 35 Church Street in downtown Warkworth. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For more information, please contact Rebecca Baptista, Arts Administrator, at info@ahcentre.ca or 705-925-4450.

Artspace presents “Pickard Quarry Transpose” by William Robinson

“Pickard Quarry Transpose” is an artistic investigation into the Mount Allison University Chapel and the Pickard Quarry where the rock was sourced. Artist William Robinson looks at the architectural design, materials used, and the industrial history involved in the building of the chapel. He explores these themes through sound, visual, and sculptural elements.

William has created an installation based on encoding and transposing site-specific data and historical information. As part of this, William overlaid architectural design plans for the chapel with a topographical map of the quarry where the rock was sourced.

He then mapped out the intersecting points in the drawings to create an abstracted image and gave them to musical collaborator Nicholas Veltmeyer.

Nicholas created a musical score for the pipe organ based on these markings and then recorded it in the chapel. This recording constitutes one audio part of the installation.

The other aspects involve images and sculptural/architectural configurations displayed in the gallery space. A hallmark of William’s work is that he creates site-specific sound and music, in that he uses information from a specific site, location or from cultural ephemera to create and conceptualise his work.

In this installation, William encodes and brings together information in different ways, resulting in new compositions that all reference the sites of his exploration, namely the Mount Allison University Chapel and the Pickard Quarry.

The show is on display now in both gallery spaces until Saturday, September 9th.

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.

Art Gallery of Bancroft presents “Four Seasons, Different Lens” by Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart’s abstract paintings are studies of light as it reflects and refracts on glass, water, and various surfaces and atmospheres.

Painting intuitively, Patrick uses the external world for inspiration, and his internal feelings and intuition to guide him as he decides where to put the next brush stroke.

Art and religious faith have helped him a lot in life, and today his aim is to benefit others. Patrick donates all proceeds from art sales to missions around the world that help poor and disadvantaged people.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, August 4th at 7:30 p.m., and the show will be on display from Wednesday, August 2nd until Saturday, August 26th. The exhibition is sponsored by Gertrud Sorensen.

The Art Gallery of Bancroft is located at 10 Flint Avenue in Bancroft. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, visit www.artgallerybancroft.ca.

Galerie Q presents oil paintings by the late Armand Tatossian

This August, a selection of paintings by the late Armand Tatossian will be on display at Galerie Q along with some works from the permanent collection of the Tatossian Foundation.

Armand was born in Egypt and then his family emigrated to Canada. He continued to call Canada home until his death in 2012. Early in his career, Armand became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and the term “Tatossianisme” was coined to describe his distinct painting style.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 12th during gallery hours (1 0a.m. until 6 p.m.). After the reception, the show will remain on display until Friday, September 22nd,

Galerie Q is located at 1521 County Road 10 in Cavan. Gallery hours are 10a.m. until 6 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.galerie-q.com or contact Kathryn Last at 705-944-8888 or at kl@galerie-q.com.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio presents Julia Carr-Wilson’s “Vintage Steam Trains” and “Faces and Figures” group show and sale

From Wednesday, August 2nd until Sunday, August 13th, the Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio will be showing a series of charcoal and mixed-media works based on vintage steam trains by local artist Julia Carr-Wilson.

The collection includes Julia’s impressions of The Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and Wolf of Badenoch.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 5th from 1 to 4 p.m.

Later in the month, the gallery will host a group show and sale of portraits and figurative work. “Faces and Figures” will run from Wednesday, August 16th until Saturday, September 10th, with an opening reception on Sunday, August 20th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio is a not-for-profit artist’s co-operative, located at 420 O’Connell Road in Peterborough. Hours of operation are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.kawarthaartists.org.