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.
Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Musicfest Launches 2026 Diner's Book to Be Available Friday
/Peterborough Musicfest has released the 2026 version of their Diner’s Book, available on Friday, for food lovers to support free live music in the community.
Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
The $30 book features 85 dining offers deals from restaurants, cafés, pubs and other food establishments across Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and the surrounding region.
All proceeds support Peterborough Musicfest.
“This year’s Diner’s Book isn’t just a way to save on incredible dining experiences; it’s a way to give back and help keep free admission music alive for everyone to enjoy,” says Tracey Randall, Executive Director of Peterborough Musicfest. “It’s also the perfect gift for the foodie in your life or that hard-to-buy-for person on your list. ”
The 2026 Diner’s Book will be available for purchase at:
Lansdowne Place (Customer Service Desk)
Cogeco Customer Centre- 1111 Goodfellow Rd.
Online
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Peterborough Musicfest Recipient of SOCAN's Licensed To Play Award
/Peterborough Musicfest has received the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada’s (SOCAN) Licensed To Play Award, presented at the 35th SOCAN Awards Gala in Toronto as part of SOCAN’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
(From left to right) Matt Williams, Tracey Randall and Raff Melito of Peterborough Musicfest. The 35th SOCAN Awards Gala in Toronto is part of SOCAN’s 100th anniversary celebration. Peterborough Musicfest Photo Courtesy of Brad Ardely.
The Award is presented to a Canadian business or organization that consistently demonstrates legal and ethical use of music by ensuring proper music licensing for the public performance of music.
“On behalf of everyone at Peterborough Musicfest, we are deeply honoured to accept this award,” said Tracey Randall, Musicfest executive director. “To be recognized by SOCAN during its centennial year, and in the same evening as Canadian icons like Joni Mitchell, Drake, and Boi-1da, is truly special. This award is a tribute to our founder Fred Anderson’s vision, our volunteers, staff, sponsors, funders, and above all, our community. Together, we have sustained what is now Canada’s Longest Running Free Admission Music Festival, operating as a not-for-profit dedicated to bringing world-class music to our region, barrier-free.”
Peterborough Musicfest was founded in 1987 (formerly known as the Festival of Lights and Little Lae Musicfest). According to a press release, they have had audiences totalling over 100,000 each season at Del Crary Park. The festival has had more than 700 artists on its stage.
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Photos: Gob Takes Centre Stage With Their Punk Rock Antics at Peterborough Musicfest
/The Vancouver punk rock stylings of Gob hit the Musicfest stage to rock out with the Peterborough crowd at Del Crary Park on Saturday night.
The band consists of Tom Thacker (vocals and lead guitar), Theo Goutzinakis (rhythm guitar and vocals), Gabe Mantle (drummer) and Steven Fairweather (bassist).
@ptbo_canada Tom Thacker) (left) and Theo Goutzinakis (right) of Gob rock out at Peterborough Musicfest before a huge crowd at Del Crary Park. #ptbocanada #ptbo #peterborough #journalism #journalist #news #fyp #ptbomusicfest ♬ Punk rock for sports, battles, OPs(1407616) - Cheng Lee
Preston Pablo, The Spades & Weber Brothers and More Round Out Peterborough Musicfest Lineup
/The stage is set for the 38th season of Peterborough Musicfest as the rest of the lineup has been filled, announced on Wednesday morning.
(from left to right) Vince Bierworth, event emcee; Brian Ellis, MUSICFEST BOARD CHAIR and TRACEY RANDALL, Musicfest Executive Director, showing off this year’s lineup of acts. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
Rounding out the rest of the lineup include Preston Pablo with special guest Noelle on July 5; The Jim Cuddy Band on July 9; The Spades & The Weber Brothers on July 26 and country music star Jess Moskaluke on July 30.
This year also features a special Canada Day concert on July 1 featuring Neon Nostalgic with a live retro video dance party, followed by fireworks over Little Lake provided by The City of Peterborough.
“We’re so excited to bring another vibrant summer of barrier-free live music to the community” said Tracey Randall, Musicfest executive director. “With new programming, exciting performers, and more reasons to come early, this season has something for everyone.”
New this year is a second stage showcasing emerging local artists starting at either 6:15 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. on select nights, with a full schedule to be released.
With support from the Government of Canada’s Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Musicfest brings ‘Woven Stories: A Night of Indigenous Music, Culture, and Celebration.’
This year also features expanded food vending, with many vendors offering Happy Hour specials from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Peterborough Musicfest 50/50 Raffle also returns for another season.
The following is this year’s Musicfest schedule:
June 28: Serena Ryder
July 1: Neon Nostalgic (Retro Rock Tribute)
July 2: William Prince
July 5: Preston Pablo with special guest noelle
July 9: The Jim Cuddy Band
July 12: Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies)
July 16: Sloan
July 19: Gob
July 23 ABBAMania + Night Fever (Bee Gees)
July 26: The Spades & The Weber Brothers
July 30: Jess Moskaluke
Aug. 2: Acrobat (U2 Tribute)
Aug. 6: Mudmen w/ Irish Millie
Aug. 9: The Celtic Tenors
Aug. 13: Choir! Choir! Choir!
Aug. 16: Kim Mitchell
Peterborough Musicfest Announces Steven Page, Sloan and More Added to 2025 Lineup
/Barenaked Ladies’s Steven Page, Sloan and more were some of the acts added to this year’s Peterborough Musicfest lineup, announced at the Silver Bean Café on Thursday morning.
(from left to right) Vince Bierworth, event emcee; Brian Ellis, MUSICFEST BOARD CHAIR and TRACEY RANDALL, Musicfest Executive Director, showing off this year’s lineup of acts. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.
Millbrook’s Serena Ryder, Kim Mitchell and Gob were acts announced before the full lineup release.
With a wide array of acts, the lineup caters to all music tastes but is looking to diversify it even more. With four dates (July 5, 9, 26 and 29) to be announced later, those spots will help round out all genres according to Tracey Randall, Musicfest executive director.
“We've already covered classic rock so we now need to cover country,” she explained. “We know that two of the four are going to be country.”
Musicfest is discussing adding acts to the vacant dates but cannot release details until next month. The free-concert series has secured roughly 83 per cent of its funding and needs an additional $80,000 to finalize the lineup. Randall says once sponsorships and other funding can reach that amount, the full lineup can eventually be released.
“I've got a couple bands that are playing in other festivals, selling tickets right now so we're not allowed to announce until June,” she said. “Hopefully we'll do that as soon as we can in a couple weeks.”
New this year is a second stage to showcase more local talent as opening acts, a trial for Peterborough Musicfest that will span roughly eight to nine shows, according to Randall.
“We just found that a lot of the local bands weren't getting picked up,” she explained. “We're moving ahead with a second stage on some nights. We're going to try it for now.”
The following is this year’s Musicfest schedule:
June 28: Serena Ryder
July 1: Neon Nostalgic (Retro Rock Tribute)
July 2: William Prince
July 5: TBA
July 9: TBA
July 12: Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies)
July 16: Sloan
July 19: Gob
July 23 ABBAMania + Night Fever (Bee Gees)
July 26: TBA
July 30: TBA
Aug. 2: Acrobat (U2 Tribute)
Aug. 6: Mudmen w/ Irish Millie
Aug. 9: The Celtic Tenors
Aug. 13: Choir! Choir! Choir!
Aug. 16: Kim Mitchell
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Canadian Punk Band Gob Makes Peterborough Musicfest Debut On July 19
/Legendary Canadian punk band Gob is making their Peterborough Musicfest debut as they are hitting Del Crary Park’s Fred Anderson Stage on July 19 at 8 p.m., announced on Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
Formed in 1993, Gob saw early success with albums such as Gob and Too Late... No Friends before releasing How Far Shallow Takes You in 1998. The punk rock band consists of Tom Thacker (vocals), Theo Goutzinakis (guitar/vocals), Gabe Mantle (drums), and Craig Wood (bass).
Their 2001 album, The World According to Gob, earned a JUNO nomination for Best New Group and achieved Gold status, with hits like ‘That’s The Way,’ ‘For The Moment’ and ‘No Regrets.’ The standout single ‘I Hear You Calling’ earned a JUNO nomination for Best Video in 2002.
Gamers may recognize Gob from the video game NHL 2004 as ‘I’ve Been Up These Steps’ was on the in-game soundtrack.
Bassist Steven Fairweather (formerly of By A Thread) was an addition to the band and helped deliver the album ‘Apt. 13.’
Beyond Gob, Thacker has also made his mark as the co-lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist for the multi-platinum rock group Sum 41.
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Canadian Rocker Kim Mitchell to Close Out Peterborough Musicfest On Aug. 16
/Canadian rock icon Kim Mitchell returns to Peterborough Musicfest as the closer for the 2025 season, taking the stage on Aug. 16 at 8 p.m. at Del Crary Park, announced on Thursday.
Mitchell was known as the lead singer and guitarist for the band Max Webster before pursuing a solo music career. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
This is Mitchell’s fifth appearance on the Fred Anderson Stage for Musicfest. He made appearances in 1997, 2002, 2012 and a special 2017 performance celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday.
“I’m all about customer service. People are coming out to hear certain songs and hear me playing them,” said Mitchell. “But they have been morphing and going through some changes. So ‘Go For A Soda’ sounds a little different the way we play it on a given night. And we will start to jam out on some of the songs and be a little freer with the arrangements. I like to give people what they want.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Kim Mitchell back to Musicfest for our closing night, said Tracey Randall, Musicfest executive director. “He’s a Canadian rock legend, and we know this will be an incredible show. In times when the news is often heavy, it’s great to have something like Musicfest to look forward to. Being able to offer world-class live music to our community—completely free of charge thanks to our sponsors—is something we are incredibly proud of.”
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Millbrook's Serena Ryder to Headline 2025 Musicfest Opening Night
/Millbrook-born Serena Ryder has been named to headline Peterborough Musicfest’s opening night for its 38th season scheduled for June 28 at Del Crary Park, announced on Thursday.
Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
The singer-songwriter has headlined the opening night of Peterborough Musicfest in 2016. This is her fifth appearance on the Fred Anderson stage and her seventh performance for Peterborough Musicfest.
Ryder graduated from Peterborough Collegiate’s Integrated Arts Program She gained national acclaim with her ballad Weak in the Knees in 2007. She won the first of her seven Juno Awards the following year, taking home Best New Artist of the Year in April 2008. By July 2010, she was performing at the Lilith Fair. In February 2011, she toured across Canada with none other than Melissa Etheridge.
Peterborough Musicfest Seeks Volunteer Treasurer On Board of Directors
/Peterborough Musicfest is seeking a volunteer to join its Board of Directors as a treasurer, announced on Thursday.
Since its inception in 1987, Peterborough Musicfest has become a summer classic in the region, drawing over 118,000 attendees annually to its free-admission concerts. The festival has generated over $4.3 million in local activity each year. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
