Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Musicfest Adds Shawn Desman and Honeymoon Suite to the Summer Concert Lineup
/Peterborough Musicfest has announced that Shawn Desman and Honeymoon Suite will be joining the lineup of free concerts at Del Crary Park this summer.
Shawn Desman, the chart-topping, multi-platinum selling, award winning artist will be coming to Peterborough Musicfest Saturday, July 15 Del Crary Park. His hit single ‘Maniac’ marked his return to the charts last October.
The Canadian Classic Rock band Honeymoon Suite began performing together in 1982, releasing chart topping hits New Girl Now, Stay In The Light and Feel It Again. Their most recent album Hands Up came out in 2017.
Musicfest will host Honeymoon Suite on Wednesday, August 2. Both shows are set to begin at 8 p.m.
For more information and full lineup details, visit the website.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Peterborough Musicfest Approaching Final Phases Of Preparation For 2023 Season
/The 36th Annual Peterborough Musicfest has less than 11 days before its first concert as the organization provided updates regarding the new stage, funding and administrative affairs at a sponsorship appreciation luncheon at Del Crary Park on Tuesday afternoon.
There are ten new sponsors that are involved in this year’s Musicfest. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The Fred Anderson stage was demolished in late April/early May earlier this year. Musicfest is meeting with The City of Peterborough on Wednesday to discuss the design of this year’s stage. Construction is beginning next week according to Tracey Randall, Musicfest general manager.
“We're meeting with them tomorrow (Wednesday) just to discuss what the new stage is going to look like, how far it's going from the backstage, make sure we have the fencing all set up and then of course, our sponsor signage has to go up,” she explained.
The stage’s removal caused minor issues but Randall says she was pleased with the process and work that went into preparing for the new stage.
“They removed a lot of the sawdust that was in the ground so we had a bit of an issue organically,” she said. “They took out all the cement and the humps and lumps around the stage so we're hoping the sod will go in any day and then we'll bring in our trailers in next week.”
There are some acts yet to be announced but funding is required in order to fill up the timeslots according to Randall. Musicfest has typically seen provincial funding every year though an announcement has not been made yet. Randall says they are asking for $125,000 for this year.
“With Havelock Jamboree folding, we're thinking some of those funds were dispersed amongst other festivals in the area so we're hoping on getting some of that chunk,” she said.
Natalie McMaster and Donald Leahy are set to open this year’s Musicfest on Canada Day, starting at 8 p.m.
The following is this year’s lineup for Musicfest:
July 1: Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
July 5: Dwayne Gretzky
July 8: Matt Andersen & The Big Bottle of Joy
July 12: Five Alarm Funk
July 15: TBA
July 19: Jesse Cook
July 22: TBA
July 26: Little River Band
July 29: Melissa Payne & Friends
Aug. 2: TBA
Aug. 5: British Legends Tribute (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney & Freddie Mercury)
Aug. 9: Glass Tiger
Aug. 12: TBA
Aug. 16: TBA
Aug. 19: Tim & The Glory Boys (with special guest TBA)
Musicfest is still seeking volunteers for this year and is still accepting sponsors until mid-July. Potential applicants can go to Musicfest’s website to register.
Dwayne Gretzky, Glass Tiger and Melissa Payne Among Many Announced For 2023 Musicfest Lineup
/Several recognizable acts such as Dwayne Gretzky, Glass Tiger and Melissa Payne have been added to Peterborough Musicfest announced at their lineup release event at the Silver Bean Café on Wednesday morning.
Tracy Condon, Peterborough Musicfest board chair (left) with Tracey Randall, general manager (right) as the free concert series releases their lineup for this year. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
Five dates are listed as ‘to be announced’ as acts have been sought out are booked but require funding of roughly $125,000 to finalize everything, according to Tracey Randall, Musicfest general manager.
“Three bands are on hold until we see the funding and then we'll see how much extra I have because sponsorships are still coming in,” she said.
Randall anticipates funding from the provincial government as Musicfest typically receives $80,000 from them annually however the funding is usually given in June.
The concerts will remain at Del Crary Park despite being dismantled earlier this month. Musicfest will continue the temporary solution that was used last year according to Randall.
“We're still meeting with the City of Peterborough but they've rented the same temporary stage that we had last year,” she said.
The following is this year’s lineup for Musicfest:
July 1: Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy
July 5: Dwayne Gretzky
July 8: Matt Andersen & The Big Bottle of Joy
July 12: Five Alarm Funk
July 15: TBA
July 19: Jesse Cook
July 22: TBA
July 26: Little River Band
July 29: Melissa Payne & Friends
Aug. 2: TBA
Aug. 5: British Legends Tribute (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney & Freddie Mercury)
Aug. 9: Glass Tiger
Aug. 12: TBA
Aug. 16: TBA
Aug. 19: Tim & The Glory Boys (with special guest TBA)
Peterborough Musicfest’s Diner’s Book is available to aid in providing funds for the concert series. The book has coupons for 56 restaurants for $25. It is a $600 value that allows the user to ‘buy one entrée, get the second half price.’
Diner’s Books cost $25 and are available at the customer service desk at Lansdowne Place, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism office on George St. or online.
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy To Open Peterborough Musicfest This Canada Day
/Peterborough Musicfest lifts the curtain on its 36th season on Saturday, July 1, helping thousands celebrate Canada Day by presenting fiddle music duo Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy.
photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.
MacMaster, a native of Nova Scotia, and Leahy, lead fiddler for the famed musical family from Lakefield, married in 2002 and remain Canada’s reigning couple of Celtic music. Often performing with their musical children, they have been awarded numerous honours including Juno and East Coast Music awards.
MacMaster and Leahy have recorded three albums together.
In 2015, their debut album ‘One,’ produced by the legendary Bob Ezrin, was released. The following year saw the release of ‘A Celtic Family Christmas.’ There things sat until earlier this year and the release of ‘Canvas,’ which introduced rock, pop, Latin and classical influences to their trademark Celtic sound, featuring guest support from Rhiannon Giddens, Yo-Yo Ma and Brian Finnegan.
“The fiddle was definitely common ground for us when we first got together,” reflects MacMaster, a member of the Order of Canada since 2006. “I was so in awe of Donnell’s family, of 11 siblings who could play and had a family band. And here I am now doing almost exactly the same thing. Well, kind of. This whole thing - first playing music by myself, then playing music with Donnell, then touring with Donnell and the children and all of us playing music together - has evolved in a very natural way. We feel incredibly lucky to be together as a family and to be letting our children develop their musical talent.”
“The only downside is that we can’t do all we’re asked to do and might like to do in other circumstances because we are parents first,” adds Leahy.
With Canadian jazz music great Moe Koffman headlining, Peterborough Musicfest debuted July 1, 1987 under the name Peterborough Festival of Lights with concert series founder Fred Anderson at the helm. Over the years since, artists representing practically every genre of music have headlined, bringing thousands to Peterborough’s Del Crary Park.
Peterborough Musicfest is funded by corporate sponsorships – most of those being locally owned businesses – multiple levels of government support, fundraising initiatives and private donations. As a result, Musicfest has been, and steadfastly remains, a uniquely free admission event. Dallas Green, Our Lady Peace, Serena Ryder, Gordon Lightfoot, 54-40 and Blue Rodeo are just a few of the sensational music acts that have appeared over the years.
Overseen by general manager Tracey Randall, staff and a board of directors, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission is to “provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.” In order to fulfill this mandate and keep attracting legendary musicians to our stage, Peterborough Musicfest encourages any individual or business interested in sponsoring the festival to reach out online or via phone at 705-755- 1111.
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.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Peterborough Musicfest Announces Joel Plaskett Fundraiser Performance at Market Hall
/Peterborough Musicfest announces that Canadian singer-songwriter Joel Plaskett will be performing at Market Hall on Feb. 23 as a fundraiser for the 2023 summer concert season.
photo courtesy of peterborough musicfest.
The Nova Scotia native gained traction in the early 1990’s as a member of the alt-rock band Thrush Hermit. Come the new millennium, he started touring under own name back by his band The Emergency. All the while, he has been busy in studio on his many self-produced albums.
Plaskett’s latest recorded project, 44, is described as his “most detailed musical weave” to date. A box set comprised of four 11-song albums connected visually and thematically, the collection serves up an imaginative rumination on slowing down; but still growing up in a rapidly accelerating world.
Plaskett also oversees the console at his New Scotland Yard recording studio in Dartmouth, where he has partnered with Halifax mainstay Taz Records to offer a curated selection of records for music fans.
Accolades have numbered many for Plaskett, a Juno Award recipient who has also been honoured by the East Coast Music Awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia. He’s also been shortlisted twice for nomination for a Polaris Music Prize.
Ticket’s for Plaskett’s Market Hall performance can be purchased for $45 at the box office, or ordered online. Proceeds from this event will go directly to Peterborough Musicfest’s 36th season this coming summer in Del Crary Park.
Little River Band Announced as First Performance in Peterborough Musicfest Lineup
/Peterborough Musicfest announces the first date of the 36th summer season in Del Crary Park, welcoming Little River Band to the Fred Anderson Stage on July 26.
photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.
Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, Little River Band has recorded 16 studio albums, accumulating worldwide sales in excess of 30 million. Ten singles, including Grammy-nominated Lonesome Loser, made it into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. Their single Reminiscing later attained the number three spot in 1978.
Little River Band continues to draw upon the success of a number of other signature hits such as Help Is On Its Way, The Other Guy, Lady, Cool Change and Take It Easy On Me, remaining not only a fan-favourite concert draw but also garnering 1.7 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
In 1982, Little River Band was the first band to achieve a Top 10 hit for six consecutive years.
Now based in the United States, Little River Band continues an extensive tour schedule, including the Peterborough Musicfest appearance as its lone Canadian stop currently scheduled for 2023.
Over the years, the Peterborough Musicfest stage has seen the likes of many artists and bands representing virtually every genre. Dallas Green, Our Lady Peace, Serena Ryder, Gordon Lightfoot, 54-40 and Blue Rodeo are just a few of the big names Musicfest has hosted.
The diverse lineup of music for 35 summers brings thousands to Del Crary Park, providing an economic boost for Peterborough’s downtown and area tourist attractions.
The Peterborough Musicfest is funded by corporate sponsorships; including many locally owned businesses, support from multiple levels of government, fundraising initiatives and private donations. As a result, Musicfest steadfastly remains a free admission event.
Those interested in sponsoring the festival can email sales@ptbomusicfest.ca or call 705-755-1111.
Peterborough Musicfest Launches Diner's Book of Restaurant Coupons
/Saving at local restaurants has become easier with the return of Peterborough Musicfest’s Diner’s Book announced on Friday.
File photo.
The book is available immediately and has coupons for 56 restaurants for $25. It is a $600 value that allows the user to ‘buy one entrée, get the second half price’ according to a press release. Musicfest is offering a special of buying four booklets for the price of three.
Diner’s Books cost $25 and are available at the customer service desk at Lansdowne Place, Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism office on George St. or online.
Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.
Shawn Austin And Elyse Saunders Will Close Out Peterborough Musicfest On Saturday
/Peterborough Musicfest presents a Canadian country music double spin on Saturday, ending their 2022 season with Shawn Austin and Elyse Saunders.
Photo by Luke Best.
