British Music Tribute Becomes Theme For Crime Stoppers Benefit Concert

Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers will host a benefit tribute concert on Feb. 5, 2022 at the Stonehouse Hall-Peterborough Curling Club announced on Thursday.

Crime Stoppers has been serving the community since 1987. Photo Courtesy of Crime Stoppers.

The show is called “The British Legends”, featuring tributes to David Bowie, Rod Stewart and Adele.

This event is presented in partnership with Connect Marketing and will benefit Peterborough Northumberland Crime Stoppers.

Tickets are available at the door while they last for $38. Discounts available in advance. Advance tickets are available at www.BenefitShow.net or by calling or Event & Ticket Line 1-800-516-5810

Crime Stoppers’ mandate is to assist the police in solving crimes. The program encourages members of the community to call anonymously with information that assists in solving or preventing crimes.

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Country Rock Band Blue Rodeo Makes Return to Peterborough Memorial Centre

Canadian country rock band Blue Rodeo is returning to the stage at the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) for a concert for Dec. 27 announced on Monday.

The show date is exactly two years since their last performance at the PMC. Image courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

In 2019 before they walked off the stage after performing in front of a near-capacity crowd for more than two hours, Greg Keelor, singer of Blue Rodeo, announced to the fans, “We’ll see you next year Peterborough.”

“This annual holiday Blue Rodeo show has become a highlight in our event calendar, for obvious reasons we weren’t able to do the show last year but we are so excited to be in a position to be welcoming the guys back for another unforgettable December night in 2021,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC Facility Manager.

Since forming 30 years ago, Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million albums, won countless Juno awards, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and have been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

"Blue Rodeo is truly one of Canada's great treasures, our community has formed such a special bond with this band, Blue Rodeo’s sound and energy is like a warm familiar blanket that can keep us all warm and comfortable on a cold December night after a hard couple of years,” said Giles. “This will be our third time having Jim Cuddy at the venue in the last 15 months and he just continues to amaze us with his talent and storytelling, we encourage fans to buy their tickets early. This is one show you will not want to miss.”

Tickets are on sale Friday in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office inside the PMC, by phone at 705-743-3561 and online at www.memorialcentre.ca. The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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The Peterborough Memorial Centre Celebrates a Successful Summer Concert Series

As summer comes to an end the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) is celebrating the success of their PTBOLive Summer Concert Series, hosted at the Enbrige Energy Stage.

Giles says that the Mini Pop Kids concert on August 15 had the highest attendance. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Jeremy Giles, Facility Manager at The Peterborough Memorial Centre said that while restrictions made it difficult to gather, the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it the need to do just that.

“Our whole existence is to be a meeting place for the community and for the city of Peterborough and for the people who live there,” he said. “Our industry is an escape, it’s something for people to do and come together and celebrate and have fun and let loose a little bit.”

Throughout the summer the PMC hosted 18 events with thousands of attendees passing through the venue safely.

Giles said through PTBOLive summer series, the project was able to support ten local businesses.

Companies involved included Porter Sound, That’s A Wrap Catering, Til Death BBQ, Peterburgers, The Entertainment Group, Market Hall, Showplace, Peterborough Museum and Archives, Peterborough MusicFest and Don on the Job.

By collection donations through ticket sales PTBOLive donated $580 to Peterborough Arts Alive Fund, which provides financial assistance to charitable arts organizations.

The PMC is now transitioning back to indoor events as COVID-19 restrictions lift. Giles says he hopes that next summer is business as usual at the PMC, but the success of this summers concert series proved that they can adapt as needed.

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New Foundation Music For Minds to Host Fundraiser at The Venue

Local musician Maxwell McWilliams is launching his new mental health foundation, Music for Minds, with a live performance at The Venue on Sept. 11.

Photo courtesy of Maxwell McWilliams

McWilliams started his journey as a local musician when he was 11 years old. He played in local bars and at Market Hall, opening for Max Gomez from Taos, NM.

In February 2020, McWilliams launched his solo headline campaign ‘The Maxwell McWilliams Music Administration for Mental Health Awareness’ which sold out Market Hall.

After his success in last year, McWilliams plans to continue fundraising for mental health.

“Mental health doesn’t stop regardless of what is going on in the world,” he said.

On Sept.11 at 7:30 p.m. McWilliams will perform at The Venue to kickstart his new foundation.

Music for Minds aims to improve the lives of young people suffering from mental illness through the power of music, says McWilliams.

“We just saw the tip of the iceberg with community support and raising awareness last year when we ran our campaign,” he explained. “We can’t stop at one show and one donation when there are so many seeking support in our local communities.”

This is an all-ages event with limited ticket sales due to COVID-19 restrictions.

To purchase tickets call the ticket hotline number at (705) 768-7036.

There are event sponsorship opportunities available, call the ticket hotline to inquire.

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Peterborough Memorial Centre to Host “A Celtic Family Christmas”

The Peterborough Memorial Centre will host “A Celtic Family Christmas” featuring Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy for the PMC announced on Monday.

Photo Courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The performance is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 17 for one night only.

MacMaster and Leahy are joined with their seven children for their acts as they will play music, show their unique way of life with Christmas traditions still honoured and celebrated.

This show will feature some traditional and original music with the family, special numbers with their own incredible band as well as a few personal stories and candid moments from the MacMaster/Leahy setting.

“Last year, the Leahy family invited us into their home for a virtual Christmas experience. Fans fell in love with the music and traditions that this exceptional family displayed,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC facility manager. “We are so excited to be able to welcome fans back to the facility this December to experience the love, the family and the magic of the holiday season that only the Leahy’s can provide.”

Tickets for A Celtic Family Christmas at the Peterborough Memorial Centre are on sale Thursday, Aug. 19, in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office inside the PMC, by phone at 705-743-3561 and online at www.memorialcentre.ca.

The exclusive pre-sale for PMC Scoop members happens Monday, Aug 16 at 12:00 p.m. Tickets are $45.00, $65.00 and $75.00 (plus applicable fees).

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Stony Lake Private Island Concert Raises $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charity

A local couple, Bruce and Susan Hodges hosted Spoons, a JUNO award winning band, and Images in Vogue, at their island property on Stony Lake to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House charity on Saturday.

Spoons and Images in Vogue pose with Bruce and Susan Hodges. Photo by Andrew Clowater.

The Spoons perform at an annual concert for the Ronald McDonald House Charity (RMHC) but had to cancel in 2020 due to COVID.

“They needed to raise money for Ronald McDonald House and couldn’t. So we wanted to help out,” said Hodges.

RMHC gives families with sick children a place to stay closer to the hospital their child is receiving care at. According to their website over 26,000 families received assistance last year.

A recent study found that RMHC programs saved families a total of $48.3 million in out-of-pocket expenses like lodging, food, and other essentials in 2019.

In 2020 Hodges contacted the band and hosted them at their island on Stony Lake. Due to COVID restrictions at the time it was a small event and they were able to raise a few thousand dollars, according to Hodges.

Because of the success of last years concert the Spoons returned for a second concert this year.

“People had a great time, so this year we decided to do it again - make it the second annual,” Hodges said.

In hopes to make this years concert bigger and better Hodges brought in an opening band, Images in Vogue. He also invited guests to watch from a second island while both bands played on a barge in the lake. This allowed more ticket sales, while still complying with the provinces COVID restrictions.

Hodges announced on Saturday that this will be an annual event, and has already booked the band Honeymoon Suite for next year.

This years concert raised $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charity and Hodges hopes that they are able to maintain that donation every year.

Spoons pose with Bruce and Sandy at Saturdays concert. Photo by Andrew Clowater.

“As you get older you want to do things that matter, and this seemed to be a really good cause,” said Gord Deppe, lead singer of Spoons.

Both Deppe and Sandy Horne, vocalist and bass player in the band, said last years event was the first show they have played on an island and they were happy to be back.

Spoons also used Saturday night to celebrate their 40th anniversary and a new album release.

‘Echoes’ features different bands covering classic Spoons hits. The funds generated from this album will be donated to the Unison Fund, an organization that provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community.

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Local Musician Reaches Milestone With Their First Big Gig

It was a surreal moment for local artist SJ Riley, performing her first large-audience show at the PTBOLive Summer Concert Series in the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on Friday.

Sarah-Jayne Riley better known by her stage name SJ Riley, had her latest song “Mansion of Broken Hearts” filmed at a haunted house in Lakefield. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Riley opened the show for country music star Chad Brownlee with a six-song set — five originals and one cover song — including her signature-titled songs, “Whoever This Was Written To” and “Mansion of Broken Hearts.”

The singer/songwriter had only performed two shows prior to this performance, one at The Black Horse Pub (July 11) and The Garnet (July 17) earlier in the month.

"When you think about gigs like this, until you’re on stage doing it, how absolutely fun it is,” she said. “I had a blast.”

SJ Riley with her band, the “SJ Riley Band” performing on an overcast evening on the Enbridge Energy Stage. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Playing live was a breath of fresh air and a sign the world was giving a sense of normalcy according to Riley.

“I think it’s the first step to a time where people come together again,” she said. “There’s nothing like coming together with a group of people and sharing an experience.”

During the pandemic, SJ Riley was doing acting gigs and filming music videos at Treblecock Studios located in downtown Peterborough.

Several of her music videos were produced by the local studio to occupy her time until live concerts were allowed again due to the pandemic.

“Peterborough is fantastic,” said Riley. “The people of the city are amazing, the artists in this city here are amazing, there’s so much here so I’m just absolutely honoured to be a part of it.

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Peterborough's First-Ever Drive N' Drag Show In the Books

Peterborough’s first-ever Drive N’ Drag show filled the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot where fans danced all night on Saturday.

A fan celebrates her birthday at Saturdays Drive N’ Drag show. Photo By Angela O’Grady

Despite on-and-off torrential downpours during the show, local drag performers Ms. Madge Enthat and Sahira Q were in the spotlight on the Enbridge Energy Stage. They joined other stars such as Tynomi Banks, BOA, Virgo, Tash Riot, Baby Bel Bel with host Dancing Phil.

Performers danced and lip-synced to music from famous artists like Whitney Houston and Beyonce during a night filled with expression and energy.

“Sometimes it’s really hard to express yourself and this is a form of expression or an outlet to release frustrations,” said Tynomi Banks.

Photo By Angela O’Grady

Fans were seemingly unbothered by the weather and danced along with the performers - some embracing the rain and some hiding under their umbrellas.

One on-scene security personnel speculated that the Drive N’ Drag show may have been one of the busiest PTBOLive performances to date.

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George Thorogood And The Destroyers Concert Announced For Peterborough

The Peterborough Memorial Centre has announced that George Thorogood And The Destroyers are coming to Peterborough for an in-person concert on May 14, 2022.

Since 1976 George Thorogood and the Destroyers have played over 8,000 live shows and sold over 15 million albums. Photo Courtesy of Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Tickets for the Good To Be Bad: 45 Years of Rock tour will go on sale Thursday and can be purchased on the Memorial Centre website, or by calling 705-743-3561.

PMC Scoop members will be eligible to purchase pre-sale tickets exclusively online on Wednesday.

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Local Band Returns to the Stage Opening for Big Wreck at PTBOLive Drive-In Concert

It was a long absence of playing live shows due to the pandemic for Heaps but they made a return in a big way, opening for Big Wreck on Friday.

(From left to right) Warren Frank (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Tanner Paré (drums), Freddy Kwon (lead guitar and backup vocals) and Nathan Truax (bass). Heaps had shared stages with bands like Hollerado, The Sheepdogs and The Trews. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Both bands performed at the PTBOLive drive-in concert series at the Peterborough Memorial Centre parking lot on Friday.

The Peterborough/Lindsay-based band felt playing a live show again was a breath of fresh air since musicians and people had the urge for live concerts.

“It feels so great to be playing shows,” said Warren Frank, Heaps’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist. “It’s been a really long time since September of 2020 when we last played.”

While Heaps has shared the stage with well-known bands like Hollerado, The Trews and The Sheepdogs, they have not taken for granted the opportunities they have been given.

“(It’s) Pretty great opening for bands bigger than us, giving us new exposure and a new audience,” said drummer Tanner Paré.

“Some nights you don’t want to play any shows but now that we’ve had a year where it was all taken away, we’re not taking it for granted for a minute,” said Frank.

The timing for the band performing live concerts could not be better since Heaps were promoting their latest album “What Is Heaps” released less than a year ago.

The album contains 11 songs with featured title tracks such as “You Were There” and “Get It Back”.

After the show, the band said they are booking shows and plan to play at Algonquin College later this month.

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