Crash Test Dummies and David Wilcox Headline Peterborough Musicfest This Week
/By Scott Arnold
Crash Test Dummies return to Del Crary Park on Wednesday before Canadian music icon David Wilcox takes the stage Saturday, as Peterborough Musicfest rolls into another packed week after drawing a record crowd of 11,200 fans last Wednesday.
With one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian music history, Crash Test Dummies are a three-time Grammy-nominated, JUNO Award-winning band best known for 1990s hits “Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm” and “Superman’s Song” (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)
Peterborough Musicfest heads into another week of free live music after two memorable nights at Del Crary Park that kept the momentum of the festival's 39th season rolling.
Last Wednesday, Dwayne Gretzky lived up to its reputation as "Canada's Greatest Party Band," drawing a record crowd of 11,200 people to the park.
"The whole park was up and dancing," said Peterborough Musicfest Executive Director Raff Melito. "Many of the people there had seen Dwayne Gretzky before, but it was a new band for some, and I'm sure everyone went home singing songs that they love on the way home."
The impressive attendance even included one fan who travelled from Atlanta, Georgia specifically to see the band perform at Del Crary Park.
Saturday kept the energy going with tribute performances celebrating Shania Twain and Garth Brooks.
Melito said the timing couldn't have been better for the Shania Twain tribute, with the Canadian country superstar recently back in the spotlight. The evening concluded with a strong turnout for the Garth Brooks tribute before many concertgoers stayed to enjoy the City of Peterborough's fireworks display.
The busy weekend also produced Peterborough Musicfest's largest 50-50 jackpot of the season, with the winner taking home $6,500.
it’s another big week for peterborough musicfest at del crary park with crash test dummies set to headline on wednesday, august 5th, and david wilcox on saturday, august 8th (photo by scott arnold)
This week, attention turns to two more Canadian favourites.
Crash Test Dummies return to the Fred Anderson Stage on Wednesday, marking their first Peterborough Musicfest appearance since 2019.
Known for hits including Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm, Superman's Song, Afternoons & Coffeespoons and The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, the Grammy-nominated and JUNO Award-winning band reunited in 2018 after a 20-year hiatus and has continued touring across Canada and beyond.
"The last time they were on our stage was 2019," said Melito. "Great turnout, great response. So we decided to book them again."
A superb entertainer, master guitarist, with his signature soulful voice, David Wilcox has inhabited the Canadian musical landscape for decades with his blend of rock, blues, country, ragtime and other roots styles and will be treating the Musicfest stage to his unique brand of Canadiana (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)
Saturday night welcomes the return of David Wilcox, whose blend of blues, rock, country and roots music has made him one of Canada's most recognizable performers.
While this marks Wilcox's third Musicfest performance, it will actually be his fourth scheduled appearance. He was originally booked in 2024 before a citywide power outage forced the concert to be cancelled. Musicfest quickly rescheduled the performance four days later to close out last year's season.
"He's always a fan favourite," said Melito.
The music gets underway before each headline performance with the Future Sound Series presented by Cogeco.
Port Hope musician Jeff Biggar opens Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., while Indigenous singer-songwriter James N. Wilson takes the side stage Saturday. Wilson's performance is supported through the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.
a new program call First Note, Peterborough Musicfest's new free music instruction program for children and youth, debuted at del crary park last on SAturday and will return wednesday and saturday this week (photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest)
