Drum Legend Paul DeLong Returns to Peterborough for Three Shows This Spring

Best known for his work with singer Kim Mitchell, Canadian drum legend Paul DeLong is coming to Peterborough; performing three shows this spring.

photo courtesy of victoria yeh.

DeLong is said to still spend most of his time on tour with bands around the world to this day, feeding his soul through the music that inspired the drummer to become a musician in the first place - jazz fusion.

Fifty years ago, on May 4, 1973, DeLong saw the Mahavishnu Orchestra live in concert for the first time. They were a jazz-rock fusion band on the cutting edge of music. “My mind was blown, I had never heard anything like them before,” said DeLong from his home in Toronto. "It's still the heaviest experience of my life.”

On the 50th anniversary of the fateful concert that would go on to shape DeLong's career as one of North America's most prolific multi-platinum award winning drummers, Paul DeLong’s ONE WORD band will play at the Gordon Best Theatre on May 4, just weeks before he’s set to play Showplace Theatre with Brass Transit and Lighthouse. 

The show promises to be an "unforgettable night of fusion" with music from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, Allan Holdsworth, Weather Report, Jeff, Beck, Jean-Luc Ponty and more.

Joining DeLong on stage will be Peterborough's own award winning electric violinist, Victoria Yeh, Grammy nominee Steve Lucas on bass, Michael Murray shredding on guitar and veteran Toronto keyboardist, Don Baird.

Advance tickets and VIP meet and greet backstage passes are available online.

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Harry Manx Presented by Folk Under The Clock and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

Folk Under The Clock and the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre have come together to present the musical stylings of Harry Manx ‘The Blues Man’ at Market Hall on April 14.

photo courtesy of folk under the clock.

Harry Manx has spent years fusing eastern musical traditions with the blues, switching between conventional guitars, harmonica and banjo and the decidedly different Mohan Veena, a 20-stringed instrument invented by Manx’ Indian mentor Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Manx is often referred to as the “Mysticssippi” Blues Man, because of his expertise in melding both East and West music together and therefore, “creating musical short stories that wed the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas.”

Over the last 10 years, Harry Manx released 11 Albums and has garnered a room full of awards including, “seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007. His most recent accomplishment was receiving yet another Juno Nomination for “Blues Album of the Year”, for his release “Bread and Buddha” in 2010.

For tickets and more information, visit the Market Hall website.

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Encouraging and Supporting Young Artists at the Heart of The Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award

The Peterborough Folk Festival is getting ready for their 2023 festival and the Emerging Artists program submissions are now open to the community.

photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.

This years’ Peterborough Folk Festival kicks off at Market Hall on Aug. 18 followed by two full days of live music, children's activities, food and artisan vendors on Aug. 19 and 20 on the hillside at Nicholls Oval Park (next to the Otonabee River.)

Now in its 34th year, Peterborough Folk Festival is among Canada’s longest-running, free-admission music festivals.

Each year the Peterborough Folk Festival welcomes more than 12,000 people to Peterborough and the surrounding region, making it the second-largest cultural event of the summer season.

Striving for gender parity, diversity and inclusivity in the performance line-up, there were 28 artists including 11 local performers in the 2022 festival lineup.

Submissions for 2023 Emerging Artist will be accepted until the end of May, and the winner of the award will be announced later in June. Interested candidates can find more information online here.

Successful candidates receive showcase performance spots at Peterborough Folk Festival to be held this Aug. 18-20, as well as an opportunity to attend the Folk Music Ontario Conference in October where they have the chance to perform and interact with artistic directors, agents, funders and other musicians.

Nathan Truax was awarded the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award for 2022.

“When they told me I was being honoured as Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist for 2022, I was blown away,” says Truax. “When you’re coming into your own as an artist it’s so important to know your community is behind you. Being the recipient of this award solidified everything I’ve been working towards for the past several years. It was like getting a comforting, warm hug from all of Peterborough.”

The 27-year-old artist joins a long list of celebrated Peterborough-area musicians who have received the Emerging Artist Award from PFF, starting with Millbrook’s Serena Ryder in 2001.

Recognizing young and emerging local talent, the annual award’s recipient is selected by a committee who assess applicants on skill, dedication and artistic merit. Applicants for the Emerging Artist Award may be solo artists, groups or bands and must live in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, including Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations. They must be under the age of 30.

“Receiving this kind of support is definitely a boost for an artist,” says Truax, who released his eight-song solo country music album Pickin’ the Label in March 2022.

Truax maintains performing at Cameron’s Pavilion Stage during Peterborough Folk Festival 2022 alongside local artists Benj Rowland and Kayla Mohamed, continues to be a career highlight. “Playing music with good friends, out in the open, surrounded by a community that supports you and you know is rooting for you – well, there’s nothing better,” he says.

For more information on how to get involved as an artist, sponsor, volunteer or vendor, at the Peterborough Folk Festival, visit the website.

To help ensure PFF remains a free festival for the City, County and region surrounding Peterborough, email sponsor@peterboroughfolkfest.com and find out how to make a contribution to the event.

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Kawartha Downs Announce Lineup For Kawartha Country Music Festival For July 1-2; Dean Brody to Headline

Kawartha Downs has announced its lineup for its annual Kawartha Country Music Festival, featuring several Canadian country artists for July 1 and 2 announced on Wednesday.

Facebook Photo.

Multi-platinum-selling artist Dean Brody is the headliner for the festival as he will be joined by The Reklaws, James Barker Band, Jade Eagleson and Sacha.

"We are thrilled to bring back our annual country music festival to Kawartha Downs," said Summer Nickerson-Hagen, marketing director. "This year's festival will be bigger and better than ever, with an amazing lineup of talented country artists at a great price. We look forward to bringing back our signature fireworks show on Canada Day Weekend as well."

Pre-sale tickets begin Wednesday morning and through Thursday at 10 p.m. with the pre-sale code KCMF2023.

General tickets are available on Friday at 10 a.m. and all tickets can be purchased through ticketweb.ca and direct links can be found at Kawartha Downs’s website in the ‘What’s On Calendar’ section.

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Local Musician Releases Song Highlighting Toronto Maple Leafs Fans' Woes

While the Toronto Maple Leafs have yet to win a Stanley Cup in over 56 years, local musician Bobby McBain released a music video, singing about the NHL team’s troubles on Friday.

The video features Maple Leaf fans getting together to watch the game and then becoming frustrated after clips of heartbreaking moments of Toronto being played.

“March is always a tough time of year for Leaf fans,” said McBain in a Facebook post. “There is always a false sense of hope that this will be the year they finally make a run for the Stanley Cup and put an end to over half a century of losing. Then reality sets in and we realize we are going to play Tampa or Boston or some other team with more depth and better skillsets and the Leafs do what they always do and that's choke coming down the stretch.”

The song begins optimistically with stories of watching Leafs games when they were young. It highlights clips of the team during the 80s and beyond.

The song notes the team’s turning point involved an alleged missed high-sticking call on Wayne Gretzky to Doug Gilmore during Game 6 of the 1993 Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Kings and the Leafs. Toronto eventually lost the series. Clips of the fans lamented over the playoff woes the team has faced since that series loss.

The video ends with a message from McBain attempting to give hope to Leafs’ fans stating, “To all the Leaf fans across Canada and around the world… You are not alone. We are in this together.”

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'Peppa Pig's Adventure' Musical to Hit the Peterborough Memorial Centre on July 25

A live musical of ‘Peppa Pig’s Adventure’ is hitting the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on July 25, announced on Monday.

Online Image.

The performance is about Peppa Pig going on an exciting camping trip in the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. Lunchboxes are packed and Daddy Pig is driving the bus, Peppa and her friends are excited about their outdoor adventures, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises. 

After the show, the Peppa Pig's Adventure Photo Experience is available for ticketholders to ‘jump in a mud puddle’ alongside Peppa Pig & Friends. Children aged 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Tickets go on sale on March 17 at 10 a.m. with presales beginning Tuesday at 10 a.m. exclusively online. PMC Scoop members can purchase tickets starting Tuesday, at 10 a.m. to March 16 at 10 p.m. 

When tickets go on sale, they can be purchased online, over the phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the Grant Thornton Box Office. 

For group sales of nine or more, the PMC asks you contact First Class Group tickets at lori@firstclassgrouptickets.com or 647-201-3349.

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Dwayne Gretzky Returns to Musicfest for July 5

Peterborough Musicfest is bringing back Dwayne Gretzky for its 36th summer season in Del Crary Park as the Canadian group is scheduled to play on July 5 announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

The group first headlined Musicfest in 2018 and is making their fourth appearance on the Fred Anderson Stage this summer.

They formed in 2011 in Toronto with some members hailing from Downeyville. The nine-member ensemble performs unique renditions of beloved classic pop and rock songs. Dwayne Gretzky is widely hailed as ‘Canada’s reigning champs of nostalgia,’ with performances of more than 700 classic songs in their catalogue. 

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Séan McCann Celebrates 30 Years of Great Big Sea Band With Market Hall Performance

Séan McCann will be celebrating three decades of Canadian folk rock band ‘Great Big Sea’ with a Canada-wide tour; singing the Great Big Songbook at Peterborough’s Market Hall on March 19.

Photo by Dave Howells.

The The Great Big Songbook show is expected to be a nostalgic tip of the hat to the shared history of an iconic Canadian band.

Known as co-founder of Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea, Séan McCann has since released six successful solo albums, including his latest SHANTYMAN. This new album features sing-along songs that honour both the recent and the ancient musical past by blending two of McCann’s favourite genres.

Singalong with ‘The Shantyman’ as he sails back in time through stories, foot stomping and traditional favourites at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre at 7 p.m. March 19.

Tickets are available online using the link.

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‘Full of the Blarney’ Songs and Storytelling St. Patrick’s Day Event With Megan Murphy and Kate Suhr

Shake the winter blues and embrace the St. Paddy’s Day green with an original show of Irish themed stories and songs from storyteller Megan Murphy and singer/songwriter Kate Suhr on March 17 at the Showplace Performance Centre.

photo courtesy of the verandah society.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with two shows in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Suhr and Murphy will be joined by fiddlers Melissa Payne and Saskia Tomkins for the event, presented by The Verandah Society.

Tickets are $39 adults and $25 for youth, available online or by calling the box office.

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Theory of a Deadman Making a Concert Stop At the Peterborough Memorial Centre For April 28

Theory of a Deadman is coming to rock the Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) on April 28 as part of The Dinosaur Tour announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Theory of a Deadman.

The night will also feature ‘special guests’ to be named at a later date.

Tickets to Theory of a Deadman: The Dinosaur Tour go on sale on Friday at 10:00 a.m. online, by phone at 705-743-3561 or in person at the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office.

PMC SCOOP members’ presale starts on Thursday from noon until 10 p.m. online.

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