City's Summer Soundtrack Begins Saturday with Return of Peterborough Musicfest
/By Scott Arnold
Gowan headlines opening night of Peterborough Musicfest's 39th season Saturday at Del Crary Park, with local artist Irish Millie opening the evening on the side stage, as part of the Future Sound Series presented by Cogeco.
local musician irish millie will kick off the 39th season of peterborough musicfest with a 6:30pm performance on the side stage, followed by gowan on the main stage at 8pm (photo from facebook, via irish millie
A sure sign of summer in Peterborough is almost here.
The 39th season of Peterborough Musicfest kicks off Saturday night, June 27th, at Del Crary Park, bringing thousands back to the waterfront for another summer of free live music under the stars.
Canadian rock icon Gowan will headline opening night at 8 pm, marking his fourth appearance at Musicfest and the return of one of the festival's most requested performers.
Fans can expect to hear favourites including A Criminal Mind and Moonlight Desires when Gowan takes the stage Saturday night.
gowan will headline the opening night of peterborough musicfest on saturday, june 27th, at 8pm at del crary park (photo provided by peterborough music fest)
For Peterborough Musicfest Marketing and Communications Manager Raff Melito, opening night is the payoff after months of work happening behind the scenes.
"We're super excited," said Melito. "Opening night is just going to be incredible. We have Gowan coming back for his fourth appearance at Musicfest, so we're super excited to have him back and have everyone else back at the park too."
While concertgoers may only see the finished product, planning for each season begins almost as soon as the previous one ends. Fundraising, sponsorships, coordinating with the City of Peterborough and securing performers are all part of the year-round effort that helps make the festival possible.
raff melito and the entire peterborough musicfest crew have been working hard to get ready for the kickoff to the 39th season (photo by scott arnold)
Saturday's festivities will get underway well before Gowan takes the stage. Food vendors will be set up beginning around 5 pm, with happy hour specials available between 5 pm and 6 pm. The Cogeco Future Sound Series side stage follows at 6:30 pm, showcasing emerging talent before the main concert.
That stage will belong to local artist Irish Millie, who will have the honour of helping launch the 2026 season.
"It's just fantastic," she said. "I'm so honoured to be playing with a bunch of incredible artists. Just such a great lineup this year. I feel really honoured to be representing Peterborough at Peterborough Musicfest."
The performance comes during a busy stretch for the rising musician. Fresh off a trip to Europe, where she performed at Sweden's Lilla By Festivalen after winning the Breakthrough North2North artist challenge, Irish Millie is preparing to head out on an East Coast tour. Her Musicfest appearance will be her final local show before leaving for the month-long run of dates.
Growing up in Peterborough, Musicfest was a fixture every summer, making this opportunity especially meaningful.
"It feels like such an honour," she said. "The only reason I'm here is because Peterborough supported me so much. To be playing Musicfest in Peterborough is just so sentimental to me."
irish millie will perform in front of the hometown crowd to kickoff the new season of musicfest on saturday (photo from facebook, via irish millie)
Fans attending the side-stage performance can expect a high-energy mix of fiddle music, singing, storytelling and plenty of interaction with the crowd.
"There is definitely a comedy component to my act," she said. "There will be some banter with me and my dad, Murray. There will be tunes on the fiddle, but then I'm also going to be doing some singing, some storytelling and just trying to get people up dancing and having some fun."
The show also comes shortly after the release of her new single, Alison, a tribute to her first music teacher, Sally Pierce, who helped inspire her lifelong love of music.
For Musicfest, opening night is about more than just the artists on stage. It's about bringing the community together for another season along Little Lake.
the free musicfest concert series will begin on saturday at del crary park, right beside little lake in peterborough (photo by scott arnold)
