Peterborough Musicfest 50/50 Goes Year-Round Ahead of Milestone 40th Season

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough Musicfest is keeping its 50/50 going through the off-season, giving supporters another chance to win while helping bring free summer concerts back to Del Crary Park in 2027.

Peterborough Musicfest is keeping the excitement going with its 50/50 draw now running year-round, with proceeds helping support the festival’s free summer concert series. (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

The festival has launched its first-ever off-season 50/50 draw following a successful summer that saw more than $120,000 in tickets sold.

During Musicfest's 39th season, 50/50 ticket sales reached $120,930, generating $60,465 in prize money for winning ticket holders.

That success has prompted Musicfest to introduce monthly off-season draws as it begins building toward its milestone 40th season in 2027.

“Our supporters made the 50/50 an incredible success this summer,” says Peterborough Musicfest Executive Director Tracey Randall. “Their enthusiasm helped us reach $120,930 in sales and award more than $60,000 to winners. We’re excited to keep that momentum going as we begin working toward a milestone 40th season.”

There is also some unfinished business from this summer.

Three winning 50/50 tickets have yet to be claimed from draws held during concerts featuring:

• July 15th: Tyler Joe Miller #100050036

• July 18th: Julian Taylor #70120011

• July 22nd: Matthew Good and His Band #80150049

Anyone who purchased tickets for those draws is encouraged to check their numbers.

The first off-season jackpot begins growing September 1st, with tickets available throughout the year.

For Musicfest, the 50/50 is more than just a chance to take home a prize. The festival's share of the proceeds helps support the free-admission summer concert series at the Fred Anderson Stage in Del Crary Park.

Musicfest brings nationally recognized artists and emerging performers to the waterfront each summer, drawing tens of thousands of music fans to Little Lake.

As a non-profit organization, the festival relies on fundraising, sponsorships, grants and community support to keep those concerts free and accessible.

With the 39th season now in the books, the year-round 50/50 gives Musicfest supporters a way to stay involved while the organization works toward its next big milestone.

Tickets for the first off-season draw are available at Musicfest5050.ca, where purchasers can also find complete ticket and draw information.

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

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A Fitting Peterborough Detour for the Trans-Canada Highwaymen

By Scott Arnold

The Trans-Canada Highwaymen brought their music to Peterborough Musicfest on Wednesday, but while they were in town, the Canadian supergroup found a particularly fitting way to explore the city.

trans-Canada Highwaymen members Chris Murphy, Steven Page, Craig Northey and Moe Berg took a walk along Peterborough’s Trans Canada Trail during their visit to Peterborough for Wednesday night’s Musicfest performance (photo via instagram @ptbomusicfest)

Steven Page, Chris Murphy, Moe Berg and Craig Northey, whose combined careers include Barenaked Ladies, Sloan, The Pursuit of Happiness and Odds, took a walk along Peterborough’s Trans Canada Trail from Del Crary Park toward downtown.

The destination was the Silver Bean Cafe, a popular stop along the trail, where the four musicians stopped for a photo before continuing their Peterborough adventure. Along the way, they also posed at one of the Trans Canada Trail signs, making for a pretty fitting backdrop for a group called the Trans-Canada Highwaymen.

steven Page, Chris Murphy, Moe Berg and Craig Northey of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen stop for a photo outside the Silverbean Cafe after making their way along Peterborough’s Trans Canada Trail (photo via instagram @ptbomusicfest)

The timing made even more sense given where they had just come from.

The group took the Fred Anderson Stage at Musicfest Wednesday night, bringing four of Canadian rock’s most recognizable songwriters together for a set packed with familiar hits from their respective catalogues, along with other Canadian favourites.

And judging by the reaction in the park, the Highwaymen delivered.

The performance has already earned plenty of praise from Musicfest fans, with many calling it one of the best shows they have seen at the festival. Between the musicianship, the four distinct voices and the sheer number of songs people knew, it was a night that lived up to the considerable anticipation surrounding the supergroup’s Peterborough appearance.

Of course, there is still more music to come.

Peterborough Musicfest returns to Del Crary Park on Saturday, August 15th, for its second-last show of the summer, with Crystal Faith bringing the music of Styx and Bon Jovi to the Fred Anderson Stage at 8pm. The Colton Sisters will get the evening started on the Future Sound Series side stage at 6:30pm.

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

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Matthew Good and My Son the Hurricane to Headline Musicfest This Week

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough Musicfest is coming off another successful week and is getting ready for two more nights of live music, with Matthew Good and His Band taking the stage Wednesday before My Son the Hurricane closes out the week on Saturday. Emerging artists Graeme Jonez and Alycia Hebert will open the evening shows on the Cogeco Future Sound Series stage.

Peterborough musicfest continue this week with Matthew Good and His Band taking the stage Wednesday and My Son the Hurricane closing out the week on Saturday (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

Peterborough Musicfest is heading into another busy week after thousands of music fans filled Del Crary Park for two very different, but equally memorable, nights of entertainment.

Last Wednesday, country star Tyler Joe Miller drew a packed crowd to the waterfront, with fans singing along throughout the night. Musicfest Marketing and Communications Manager Raff Melito said the show was a great way to kick off the week.

a huge crowd packed del crary park last wednesday to see country star tyler joe miller perform at peterborough musicfest (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

"He was so well received," Melito said. "There were sing-alongs, and I'd say every country fan in Peterborough that attended had an excellent evening."

Saturday brought a different atmosphere as Musicfest hosted its Woven Stories event ahead of Julian Taylor's headline performance. The evening featured cultural programming that included the Curve Lake Men's Big Drum Group, traditional dancing and a welcome ceremony by Healing with Drums.

julian taylor took to the fred anderson stage on saturday as part of peterborough musicfest at del crary park (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

While a planned canoe crossing from the Canadian Canoe Museum had to be cancelled because of a severe thunderstorm watch, organizers adapted by bringing the canoe drum to the entrance of the park, where visitors were invited to take part in an interactive drumming experience before the show.

visitors to del crary park on saturday were greeted with a large canoe drum, with community members invited to partipate in an interactive drumming experience (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

"It was just such a beautiful start to the evening," Melito said.

Now, attention turns to another pair of concerts this week.

Matthew Good and His Band will take the main stage on Wednesday, July 22, with the iconic Canadian alternative rock artist performing a mix of songs from his solo career along with fan favourites from his Matthew Good Band days.

canadian icon Matthew good and his band will perform at peterborough musicfest on wednesday, july 22 (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)

Melito expects it to be one of the biggest nights of the summer.

"I think everyone's going to be up and they're going to be singing along," she said. "I think it's just going to be an incredible performance."

The weekend brings another energetic show as My Son the Hurricane takes over the stage on Saturday. Known for its horn-driven brass funk sound, the large ensemble is expected to bring around a dozen musicians to Del Crary Park.

"I think everyone's going to be up and dancing," Melito said. "If you don't know who My Son the Hurricane is, just come on out because you will want to know who they are."

The evening begins before each headline act with the Cogeco Future Sound Series, which returns at 6:30 pm. Toronto-based Indigenous artist Graeme Jonez will perform Wednesday, while Whitby's Alycia Hebert opens Saturday's show.

Toronto-based Indigenous artist Graeme Jonez will perform Wednesday, while Whitby's Alycia Hebert opens Saturday's show

Melito said the expanded side stage series continues to give concertgoers the chance to discover emerging artists before the main performances begin.

Beyond the music, visitors can enjoy food vendors, purchase 50-50 tickets, browse official Peterborough Musicfest merchandise and try the festival's interactive gamification app by scanning QR codes throughout the park for a chance to win prizes.

As always, admission to all Peterborough Musicfest concerts is free, with Wednesday and Saturday evening shows continuing at Del Crary Park throughout the summer, wrapping up on August 16th.

Want to enjoy one of this week's concerts from some of the best seats in the park? We're giving away a pair of VIP tickets. The winner will receive two reserved seats in the VIP section directly in front of the stage. Visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for contest details and your chance to win.

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

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Joanna Bronson Excited to Continue Family Legacy at Peterborough Musicfest

By Scott Arnold

For Joanna Bronson, performing at Peterborough Musicfest is more than another show. It’s a full-circle moment years in the making, bringing together her own musical journey, her father’s legacy in the local music scene, and a chance to share her sound with the Peterborough community at Del Crary Park.

local artist joanna bronson has making making a name for herself in the local music scene and on wednesday she’ll be performing at peterborough musicfest, kicking the night off at 6:30pm on the side stage (photo by scott arnold)

Bronson will take the side stage at Del Crary Park on Wednesday, July 15 as part of the Peterborough Musicfest Future Sound Series presented by Cogeco, opening the night before country artist Tyler Joe Miller takes the main stage.

For the local singer-songwriter, the opportunity represents a goal she has been working toward for years.

“I’m just so excited to kind of continue that legacy,” Bronson said. “It’s been a goal of mine to get here, so I’m just happy that I was invited this year.”

Music has always been part of Bronson’s life, thanks in large part to her father, longtime local musician Danny Bronson. Growing up, she spent years around stages and performances before eventually taking her own path away from music.

When she returned to it later in life, Bronson said music became an important part of finding her way back.

“It was a really healing place for me,” she said.

Her father played a major role in helping her reconnect with the local music scene, quickly welcoming her to join him for performances and encouraging her to build confidence as an artist in her own right.

“He’s really been pivotal for me getting back into the music scene,” Bronson said. “But also just finding my own way and meeting new people and working with different people too.”

While she has deep roots in the local music community, Bronson has been carving out her own identity as an artist.

“It’s different, but it’s good,” she said. “I’m enjoying it.”

Wednesday’s performance will also be a special one for her family. With friends and relatives travelling from near and far to watch, including some making the trip from Ottawa, Bronson expects plenty of familiar faces in the crowd.

For her father, who has performed at venues throughout the region and was cemented on the Peterborough Pathway of Fame at Crary Park in 1999, seeing his daughter take the Musicfest stage will be another memorable chapter in the family’s musical story.

“It’s kind of like that full-circle moment,” Bronson said. “Every summer kind of comes back to the park in some way.”

Bronson has also leaned on the many musicians who have helped shape Peterborough’s vibrant music scene. She pointed to artists like Kevin Foster and Ty Wilson as people who have supported and inspired her, while also looking to the legacy of local music icon Colleen Peterson.

“Colleen Peterson is a huge inspiration,” Bronson said. “Her legacy lives on in just doing her own thing, going down to Nashville and then coming back up here and making a name for herself as well.”

“Peterborough is incredibly blessed with musical talent,” Bronson added. “You don’t have to go far to find the next person.”

Bronson will kick off the night at 6:30 p.m. from the Future Sound Series stage, followed by Tyler Joe Miller’s Peterborough Musicfest debut on the main stage at 8 p.m.

Admission is free, with concertgoers encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy an evening of live music on the shores of Little Lake.

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

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Peterborough Musicfest Named One of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals and Events

Peterborough Musicfest has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario by Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO).

Peterborough Musicfest is Canada’s longest-running free outdoor concert series. Each summer at Del Crary Park, over 100,000 people gather along the waterfront to experience music performances in a barrier-free, family-friendly setting. Photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.

For nearly four decades, Peterborough Musicfest has operated, bringing music to Downtown Peterborough during the summer. FEO’s recognition highlights the calibre of performances presented each season, as well as the collective effort of volunteers, sponsors, artists, donors and audiences who make the series possible.

The FEO Top 100 designation is awarded by an independent panel of judges and recognizes innovation, economic impact, community engagement and overall excellence.

“This recognition belongs to our volunteers, our sponsors, our artists, our donors and every single person who brings a lawn chair down to Del Crary Park on a Wednesday or Saturday night,” said Tracey Randall, Peterborough Musicfest executive director. “Musicfest has always been about access, energy and community and this honour reflects the strength and spirit of our supporters.”

“Congratulations to Peterborough Musicfest on being named one of the Top 100 Festivals by Festivals and Events Ontario,” said City Councillors and Community Services Co-Chairs Lesley Parnell and Alex Bierk in a joint statement. “As we look forward to the 39th season beginning on June 27, we recognize the work of Musicfest's staff, board and volunteers in creating one of Peterborough's most beloved summer traditions: a celebration of culture, creativity, and community along the historic Trent-Severn Waterway, one of Ontario’s most beautiful settings.”

Concerts for this year’s festival start June 27 and continue through to Aug.19.

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Peterborough Musicfest Announces Concert Dates For Its 39th Season

Peterborough Musicfest has announced the dates for its 39th season as a summer of free live music returns to Del Crary Park from June 27 to Aug. 19.

file photo.

As Canada’s longest-running free admission music festival, Peterborough Musicfest has become a  summer tradition that welcomes audiences of all ages and showcases a mix of Canadian and international artists every Wednesday and Saturday nights.

“Musicfest has always been about bringing people together,” said Executive Director of Peterborough Musicfest Tracey Randall. “There’s something incredibly special about sharing live music by the lake, it creates connection, joy and lasting memories. We’re thrilled to welcome everyone back to Del Crary Park for another summer of free concerts and community celebration.”

Planning for the 2026 season is underway, with artist bookings, partnerships and community collaborations taking shape behind the scenes. Lineup announcements and season highlights are said to roll out in the months ahead.

Returning this season is the 50/50 Raffle Draw, Invest In Musicfest donation drive, food vending and pre-show activities. 

For updates and more information, visit the website.

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Monowhales to Open For Glass Tiger For Peterborough Musicfest On Aug. 17

UPDATED: 12:12 p.m. 08/08/23

Alt-rock sensation Monowhales is opening for Canadian rock band Glass Tiger on Aug. 17 at the Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park. 

Monowhales formed in 2017 with multiple top-10 singles and a 2022 Juno Award recipient for Breakthrough Group of the Year.

The band is fresh off a national tour in support of Mother Mother. They are enjoying continued success with its latest single CTRL^^^ from its February 2002 album Tunnel Vision according to a press release.

Back in 2019, their breakout single RWLYD (Really Wanna Let You Down) made history, charting at number two on the Mediabase Canada Alternative Rock Chart – the only independent, self-managed band to attain that ranking. 

During the pandemic, the Monowhales released top 10 singles All Or Nothing and Out With The Old prior to the March 2021 release of its debut album Daytona Beach.

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Peterborough Musicfest Presents Jesse Cook July 19

Peterborough Musicfest continues its 36th summer season on Wednesday, July 19, welcoming internationally acclaimed Canadian acoustic guitarist Jesse Cook to Del Crary Park.

photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.

Cook has a resumé of musical milestones and achievements that includes the coveted Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award, 11 Juno Award nominations and win for 2001’s Free Fall, a Gemini Awar and ten platinum and gold studio albums. 

Born in Paris and educated at Toronto’s Eli Kassner Guitar Academy, the Royal Conservatory of Music, York University and the esteemed Berklee College in Boston, Cook’s critically heralded 1995 Billboard charting debut album, Tempest, set him on a trajectory that continues to climb. 

Having last appeared at Peterborough Musicfest in 2017, Cook has most recently toured Europe.  

For more information on Peterborough Musicfest visit the website.

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The Big Bottle of Joy and Five Alarm Funk To Join the Peterborough Musicfest Concert Line Up

Peterborough Musicfest announces that the 36th summer season of music will include Matt Andersen, fronting his band The Big Bottle of Joy, and Five alarm Funk taking the stage on July 8 and 12 at Del Crary Park.

Multi award-winning Canadian blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Matt Andersen will take the Musicfest stage with his band The Big Bottle of Joy.

The New Brunswick native embarked on his music career more than 20 years ago and has since headlined at major festivals, clubs and theatres across North America, and in Europe and Australia. Along the way, he has shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, Greg Allman, Serena Ryder and more.

Since self-­releasing his debut album One Size Never Fits in 2004, Andersen hasn’t stopped writing and recording new music, amassing more 26 million YouTube streams and more than 23 million Spotify listens. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, which he’s touring extensively across North American this year, features songs “infused with raw blues-­‐rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk and ecstatic gospel.”

Described as a “sonic and visual assault,” Five Alarm Funk will be coming to Del Crary Park.  

Horn powered and percussion fuelled, the two-time Juno Award nominated band is led by singer and drummer Tayo Branston. Five Alarm Funk brings to its live audiences what he terms ‘punk funk’ – a raucous sound accompanied by an equally frenetic stage presence that is near impossible to somehow sit still to. 

Dozens of North American tours and hundreds of festival appearances stand as a testament to Five Alarm Funk’s enduring appeal as it marks two decades doing what it does uniquely and so very well.

Check out Matt Andersen and The Big Bottle of Joy and Five Alarm Funk for free on July 8 and July 12 at 8 p.m. at Del Crary Park.

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Peterborough Musicfest Announces Joel Plaskett Fundraiser Performance at Market Hall

Peterborough Musicfest announces that Canadian singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett will be performing at Market Hall on Feb. 23 as a fundraiser for the 2023 summer concert season. 

photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.

The Nova Scotia native gained traction in the early 1990’s as a member of the alt-rock band Thrush Hermit. Come the new millennium, he started touring under own name back by his band The Emergency. All the while, he has been busy in studio on his many self-produced albums. 

Plaskett’s latest recorded project, 44, is described as his “most detailed musical weave” to date. A box set comprised of four 11-song albums connected visually and thematically, the collection serves up an imaginative rumination on slowing down; but still growing up in a rapidly accelerating world.

Plaskett also oversees the console at his New Scotland Yard recording studio in Dartmouth, where he has partnered with Halifax mainstay Taz Records to offer a curated selection of records for music fans. 

Accolades have numbered many for Plaskett, a Juno Award recipient who has also been honoured by the East Coast Music Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia. He’s also been shortlisted twice for nomination for a Polaris Music Prize.

Ticket’s for Plaskett’s Market Hall performance can be purchased for $45 at the box office, or ordered online. Proceeds from this event will go directly to Peterborough Musicfest’s 36th season this coming summer in Del Crary Park.

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