What Do The Beatles and Mathematics Have in Common? Trent Lecture Will Explore the Connection

By Scott Arnold

A little mathematics and a lot of music will come together at Market Hall as Trent University welcomes a Dalhousie professor known for uncovering the mathematical secrets behind The Beatles.

Dr. Jason I. Brown will bring mathematics and music together at Trent University's free public lecture, exploring the surprising mathematical connections behind some of The Beatles' most familiar songs. (photo courtesy of the national museum of mathematics)

What makes a Beatles song work so well? It might be more mathematical than you think.

Trent University's 2026 David Poole Lecture will explore the unexpected connections between mathematics and music when Dr. Jason I. Brown, a professor of mathematics and statistics at Dalhousie University, visits Peterborough on Thursday, November 12th.

Titled A Hard Days' Math: The Connections Between Mathematics and Music, the free public lecture will use familiar Beatles songs and live musical examples to make mathematics come alive.

A group of Trent alumni blues musicians will join Dr. Brown throughout the evening, including as he explores why the bridge in The Beatles' I Want to Hold Your Hand works so well.

Dr. Brown has gained international recognition for applying mathematics to the music of The Beatles, with his research attracting attention from CBC, BBC, The Wall Street Journal and Wired.

The lecture is part of Trent University's Community Speaker Series and takes place from 7pm to 8pm at Market Hall in downtown Peterborough.

Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Matty Buller Releases First Solo Single “Sundresses & Cowboy Boots”

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough-area musician and radio personality Matty Buller has released his first solo single, giving listeners a first taste of his upcoming debut solo EP.

Matty Buller, known locally for his work in radio, music and as the public address announcer for Peterborough Lakers home games, has released “Sundresses & Cowboy Boots,” the first single from his upcoming solo EP. (photo via facebook @matty.buller)

“Sundresses & Cowboy Boots” is out today, September 25th, marking Buller’s first release as a solo artist.

Based in the Peterborough area, Buller is known locally as a musician, MC and on-air personality with KX 105 New Country FM. He’s also a familiar voice at the Memorial Centre as the public address announcer for Peterborough Lakers home games.

For the new single, Buller handles the guitars, bass and vocals himself, with Callan Brown adding organ to the track.

“Sundresses & Cowboy Boots” is also the title track of Buller’s debut solo EP, which will be released on November 21st. The EP is also being pressed on vinyl.

You can listen to “Sundresses & Cowboy Boots” on YouTube or find it on your preferred music platform.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Ennismore Musician Melissa Payne Bringing Her Fiddle to France in 2027

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough musician Melissa Payne is inviting fans to join her for a week in France next spring, where she’ll perform aboard an Avalon Waterways river cruise through Paris, Normandy and the French countryside.

Peterborough musician Melissa Payne is inviting fans to join her for a week in France next spring, where she’ll perform aboard an Avalon Waterways river cruise through Paris, Normandy and the French countryside. (photo via facebook @melissapaynemusic)

Payne will be bringing her fiddle along for the May 4th to 11th, 2027 adventure and will perform onboard throughout the week.

The cruise will travel along the Seine, giving passengers the chance to experience Paris, Normandy and smaller towns throughout the French countryside while enjoying live music along the way.

Payne says the trip will combine music, food, sightseeing and a week of cruising through France, and she’d love to have some familiar faces join her.

Those interested in learning more about the trip can find the full details here.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Free Summer Soiree Brings Local Artists Together at Traill College

By Scott Arnold

A lineup of local artists will take over Traill College’s Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre next Thursday for the first-ever Summer Soiree, a free outdoor evening celebrating local talent.

The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre at Trent University’s Traill College will host the first-ever Summer Soiree on August 20th (photo via instagram @newstagestheatre)

The Summer Soiree takes place Thursday, August 20th at 7pm as the closing event of the William and Nona Heaslip Summer Festival.

The evening will feature short new works for the stage, with a mix of theatre, dance, musical theatre, sketch comedy and spoken word.

The lineup includes Kate Story, Dreda Blow, Beau Dixon, Susan Newman, Rob Fortin, Bill Coleman, Marc Rico Ludwig, Kerry Griffin, Marty Adams, Kate Suhr, Andrew Fitzpatrick and Ziy Sah von Bieberstein.

Admission is free, and the runtime is approximately 80 to 90 minutes.

The Jalynn Bennett Amphitheatre is located at Traill College in downtown Peterborough, east of Reid Street between London and Dublin streets.

If rain forces the event indoors, it will move to Scott House 105, next to the amphitheatre.

The Summer Soiree is sponsored by Mather and Bell IDA Pharmacy.

For more information, visit Trent University’s Summer Festival website or contact traill@trentu.ca.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.