In the first part of this interview with Canadian folk singer-songwriter Stephen Fearing (from Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) after a recent gig at PCVS, Fearing speaks fondly of all of the old buildings in Peterborough. He marvels at the old PCVS auditorium in particular, calling it "easily one of the best venues I've ever played."
And here's video from Fearing's performance at PCVS:
Public Energy and O'Kaadenigan Wiingashk bring the third annual Ode'min Giizis (The Strawberry Moon Festival)—see promo video above—to Peterborough's downtown and Del Crary Park from June 16 to 21, with more than 200 Indigenous artists participating.
The city of Peterborough lies on the traditionally lands of the Anishinaabe. These lands have been long known as a meeting place among the rapids where ideas and knowledge were exchanged. Hence, it’s the perfect home base for a cultural festival like Ode'min Giizis.
The festival takes its name from the sweet and generous strawberry, which is harvested at this time of year. It is said to also represent the human heart. As well, the festival falls on the longest day of the year: the summer solstice.
Ode'min Giizis is a diverse six-day festival of indigenous art which marks the beginning of summer. The festival takes its shape via a selection of multi-disciplinary arts spread out across multiple venues (Historic Red Dog, Artspace, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Gordon Best Theatre, Kubo Lounge and Confederation Park, to name a few) in the downtown area. Featured is a cross section of disciplines, including visual art, dance, film, storytelling, music and theatre.
Opening ceremonies on Wednesday, June 16th, kick off with a traditional gathering and Powwow at Del Crary Park. One of the featured performers there will be Mihirangi, otherwise known as the “Queen of Loops”. Singing in both Maori and English, Mihirangi blends sultry jazz, ska and rap with her incredible vocal range. Mihirangi’s music has taken her around the world, and that experience, and energy, will be ours to witness during this festival.
Among the other artists taking part include the likes of musician Lester Alfonso, artist Jason Baerg, musician Samantha Crain and local musical personality Sean Conway.
On the Saturday night (June 19th), the stars come out to Del Crary for a night of music and dance. Featured performers include local musician Missy Knott and world renowned throat singer Tanya Tagaq.
The event comes to an end with a wonderful Powwow on June 21st at Del Crary Park. This gathering takes the form of a procession which makes its way from City Hall down George Street to Del Crary Park for more music and festivities. The parade will feature many dancers, large puppets and music.
[If you are interested in volunteering for the festival, call 705.740.9189 or email volunteer@okw-arts.ca. The festival headquarters are located at 400 Hunter St.]
Singer-songwriter Andrea Gauster, who attended St. Peter's Secondary School in Peterborough, is now recording her first full length album—it's due out early August—and an Eastern Canada tour will follow in August, along with a CD Release Party at Supermarket in Toronto on August 26th.
Gauster, who is also in med school at Queen's University, explains to PtboCanada how her music career got started:
"I always played guitar and sang but rarely did so publicly (major stage fright)... until my sister asked me to sing at her wedding, for which I wrote my first song, 'I Knew', in 2008. The recording studio Euphonic Sound in Toronto was offering free studio time... I went in to record 'I Knew' so my sister could have a tangible copy of the song.
I met James Pew (my producer) at the studio and he liked what he heard, asked for more, and encouraged me to do an EP with him. My first album Reverie was born! The rest is history."
Gauster, who's back in Peterborough for the summer (when not recording or touring), says it's tricky juggling her music career with school but plans to continue to pursue both. In September, she returns to Kingston to begin her second year of med school but hopes to continue playing live shows within Ontario until next summer when she can tour again.
Here's a promo video that looks at the making of the new album:
And here's this cute song, "Follow Me", Gauster wrote about Twitter that we're totally digging:
Intimate shows are a real treat for fans, especially when they happen as a warm-up to a bigger tour. It's a sneak peak which affords fans the chance to see new songs performed, old songs rekindled and personal connections to be formed between artist and fan.
Last night, Canadian roots-rocker Sarah Harmer took the stage with a full band for the first of two live shows at the Gordon Best Theatre, just days before the release of her new album Oh Little Fire. Since this was Harmer's first live gig in a while, the night was a chance for presenting all her new songs in a live setting. And I can tell you, the new songs didn't sound the least bit unpolished.
The lively lead single from the new album, "Captive", was very well received. Other new songs of note from last night's show included the brooding "The Marble In Your Eye" and the self-confessed most political new track on the collection, "Washington".
New songs might have been the order of the day, but it was the older songs generously peppered throughout the two-hour long set that garnered the best response from the enthusiastic crowd.
Harmer opened the show with "The Hideout," a gem of a song culled from her early album You Were Here. Others which seemed to pull people from their seats included the bluegrass flavoured "I'm A Mountain" and fan favourite "Basement Apartment".
The closing of the main set had the entire centre portion of the floor filled with couples sashaying to the lovely and lilting song "Open Window". It was a summertime moment to behold and one I will cherish.
Harmer wasn't going to go out so sweetly though. A bang was in order. Responding to what had to be the most requested song of the night, Harmer and her band launched into a smoldering take of her classic track "Lodestar", finishing the show in real rock and roll style.
Sarah Harmer's new album Oh Little Fire is coming out June 22, and she's starting her new tour in—where else!?—Peterborough, with gigs here this Friday and Saturday (June 11 and 12th) at the sold-out Gordon Best Theatre.
For those lucky enough to have tickets to hear her play her new and old material, enjoy!
Here's an excellent YouTube video where she talks about the making of Oh Little Fire:
Could it be that "The East Wind" will be this year's summer anthem? We're going to go out on a limb and say... Yes! Certainly The Wolf has been playing it a lot, and it is a pretty darn infectious tune.
Agree? Disagree? If you have other suggestions or predictions, fire away in our comments section below!
Bear Trees are a new local pop band, spreading their collective wings across the local music scene. The band is lead by Mike Duguay, a multifaceted scenester who seems to display an unending energy to explore all facets of his creativity. On any given night, you might find him and his band opening for any number of touring musical acts passing through town. Then again, you might find him taking the stage for a play or performance piece as part of a local, improvised theatre troop.
It’s people like Mike Duguay, and projects like Bear Trees, which are forever springing out of the local arts scene. The lush arts community we are blessed to witness here in Peterborough on a daily basis would be nothing without people like Duguay and dozens just like him.
This town is ripe with folks wanting to collaborate, organize, promote and spread the gospel of the talented folks who create here. Peterborough's vibrant arts scene is a known calling card across this country. This town has long been a draw for artists of all disciplines, bringing great music, leading edge visuals and dynamic performance to venues across the city.
Renowned painter David Bierk and a team of like minds put Peterborough on the visual arts map when they initiated Artspace in the mid-seventies. Artspace was and remains a cutting edge nest of creativity where local and touring visual ideas brew. Recently, the much lauded debut album by roots-centric band Evening Hymns was born from a series of recording sessions within those same art covered walls.
You needn’t look very hard to discover music in this town. The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, choral groups, and singer-songwriters alongside punk and metal bands carry on a thriving existence here. Welcoming venues are peppered throughout the city, hosting live music on a nightly basis.
It’s this tangible, communal, supportive nature which benefits both the artists and performers as well as the audiences who have witnessed the spoils of this for decades.
