Country-Pop Sensation Lindsay Ell Hitting the Peterborough Musicfest Stage On Aug. 10

Calgary-born country-pop sensation Lindsay Ell was named the Aug. 10 act for Peterborough Musicfest in her first-ever appearence, announced on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

Famed Canadian musician Randy Bachman discovered Ell at the age of 15 and she has been an award-winning singer, songwriter and philanthropist since then. She has been playing guitar since age eight and songwriting since age ten.

Ell has been nominated for numerous awards including:

  • ACM Award for New Female Vocalist (2019)

  • New Female Vocalist (2020)

  • Music Event of the Year (2020)

  • CMT Awards (Social Superstar (2015)

  • Collaborative Video of the Year (2019)

  • CMA Awards (Musical Event of the Year (2019)

  • JUNO Awards (Country Album of the Year (2021)

  • 20 CCMA Awards

Lindsay reached the Top 5 on the US Billboard charts with her hit duet with Brantley Gilbert, ‘What Happens in a Small Town.’ Last year, she earned her first Canadian Screen Award nomination (Best Host or Presenter, Factual or Reality/Competition) for her role as host of Canada's highest-rated reality TV program, Canada's Got Talent.

In December 2013, her first official single, ‘Trippin' on Us,’ debuted as the most-added song on country music radio in Canada and the United States, with over 50 first-week adds.

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I Mother Earth, David Wilcox and Dwayne Gretzky Announced For Peterborough Musicfest Lineup With Several Other Acts

I Mother Earth, David Wilcox and Dwayne Gretzky were some of the acts listed for this year’s Peterborough Musicfest lineup, announced at the Silver Bean Café on Tuesday 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.

This adds to acts Tenille Townes, Down With Webster and Metric who were announced before the full lineup release.

Three dates (July 10, July 27 and Aug. 10) will be announced later.

“There's something for everyone, there's so many acts that I want to check out and I just think it's going to be an incredible summer,” said Tracy Condon, Musicfest chair.

Statistics regarding the Musicfest’s economic impact, according to a study conducted by Community Futures Peterborough and PKED supported the Economic Impact Assessment, were released during the announcement.

They were surveyed at the park last summer and were evaluated by STEAM Pro (Sport Tourism Canada).

“The $4.3M Economic Impact was assessed by evaluating the amount of money generated by Festival activity which encompasses the local community, the county, province and even nationally,” said Raff Melito, Musicfest marketing and communications manager. “It includes not only fees paid out by the festival for its operations, but also the broader impacts on local businesses, increased employment and the multiplier effect of circulating money within the economy.”

“The $2.3M combined spending reflects the amount that people attending the festival spent last year,” explained Melito. “That would include accommodations, meals out, transport, spending in local shops, etc.”

The free concert series kicks off with country music star Tenille Townes on June 29. In its 37th season, Musicfest hopes to continue to draw crowds that has been supportive over the years.

“It's free, I think that's the most important thing. There's no barriers to people attending and I think that's so important in this day and age when everything is a little harder for people economically,” said Condon. “I think it's a place where you get to see such talent. Music brings everyone together, it's so good for community and for mental health so all of these things coupled together, you can't go wrong with that.”

The following is this year’s Musicfest schedule:

  • June 29: Tenille Townes

  • July 1: Road Apples (Tragically Hip Tribute Band)

  • July 3: Aysanabee w/ Cale Crowe

  • July 6: Tim Baker and the Great Lake Swimmers

  • July 10: TBA

  • July 13: I Mother Earth

  • July 17: Metric

  • July 20: Beau Dixon Band

  • July 24: Rêve

  • July 27: TBA

  • July 31: Down With Webster

  • Aug. 3: Elton Rohn (Elton John Tribute)

  • Aug. 76: Dwayne Gretzky

  • Aug. 10: TBA

  • Aug. 14: Choir! Choir! Choir!

  • Aug. 17: David Wilcox

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Country Music Star Tenille Townes Kicks Off Peterborough Musicfest For June 29

Five-time reigning Female Artist of the Year and country music star Tenille Townes is kicking off the 37th annual Peterborough Musicfest with a free concert at Del Crary Park on June 29.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Grande Prairie, Alb. native first fell in love with music from her parents’ influence at home. She then discovered her passion for songwriting at age 14.

“My grandparents gave me a guitar and I started learning the chords I needed to make songs out of what I was writing in my journal,” said Townes.

Towens has toured with well-known names within the music industry such as Stevie Nicks, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain, Keith Urban, Reba, Zac Brown Band, and Dierks Bentley.

Townes has won two JUNO Awards, 17 Canadian Country Music Association Awards and two Academy Of Country Music Awards.

This is her first appearance in the Peterborough area. 

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Down With Webster Announced As Peterborough Musicfest's Second Concert of 2024 Season For July 31

Peterborough Musicfest is bringing the rap and rock stylings of Down With Webster as its second concert of the 2024 season to Del Crary Park on July 31.

The band first achieved commercial success with the release of the 2009 EP, Time to Win, Vol. I which consisted of the singles "Rich Girl$", "Your Man" and "Whoa Is Me." Their major-label debut album, Time to Win, Vol. II (2011) featured the track "She's Dope.” The 2014 follow-up album, Party for Your Life, included the songs "One in a Million" and "Chills." Down With Webster has been nominated for Juno Awards, MuchMusic Video Awards, and Canadian Radio Music Awards. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

Their songs have charted on Top 40 Radio, sold millions of singles and amassed hundreds of millions of streams. They have had performances at the Much Music Video Awards, Junos and festivals across Canada. 

This will be the band’s first appearance on the Fred Anderson stage. Down With Webster last played in Peterborough at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in 2013 alongside Marianas Trench and Anami Vice.

This is the 37th year Peterborough Musicfest has been providing free summer concerts in Del Crary Park. Peterborough Musicfest's 2024 season runs from June 29 to Aug. 17 every Wednesday and Saturday night.

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'Metric' Announced As Peterborough Musicfest's First Act of 2024

The first act for the 37th-annual Peterborough Musicfest is bringing the musical stylings of Metric to town for July 17 at Del Crary Park, announced on Tuesday.

Metric has played Coachella, one of the world's largest and most famous music festivals.  Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

The band last appeared in Peterborough in 2010 at the Memorial Centre. Lead singer Emily Haines' brother Tim Haines operates the local record store Blue Streak Records on George Street in Downtown Peterborough. 

While this is the first act announced for Musicfest, more dates and a lineup reveal are occurring in May.

Peterborough Musicfest's 37th season runs from June 29 to August 17 with free concerts every Wednesday and Saturday night.

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Photos: Big Wreck Returns to Peterborough Musicfest To Rock Del Crary Park

After five years since their last performance at Peterborough Musicfest, Big Wreck returned to town to rock a full Del Crary Park on Wednesday night.

Big Wreck frontman and guitarist Ian Thornley joked with the audience after their opening song about rocking and seating preference.

“These people want to rock and the rest want to just… Chill. And if I had the choice, I would pick… The chair. But I respect your choice,” joked Thornley.

The band played fan favourites such as That Song, Ghosts and Bombs Away. They even played Come Again from other band ‘Thornley’ after the Big Wreck split up in 2003. The band returned after receiving chants of an encore from the elated crowd and finished off their set with The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted).

An autographed acoustic guitar by Ian Thornley was put up for raffle during the concert and was given to a lucky winner at the end of the night.

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Peterborough Musicfest Postpones Glass Tiger/Monowhales Concert to Aug. 17 Due to Band Member Illness

Headlined Glass Tiger with opening act Monowhales for Wednesday’s Peterborough Musicfest has been postponed to Aug. 17 due to an illness from Glass Tiger’s lead singer Alan Frew, announced on Tuesday morning.

Glass Tiger. Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

As a result of the illness, there is no Musicfest concert this Wednesday.

Peterborough Musicfest released the following statement regarding the postponed concert:

“We wish Alan a speedy recovery and look forward to having Glass Tiger on stage with us next Thursday. Monowhales will open for Glass Tiger on the new concert date of Thursday, August 17th. Showtime is 8 p.m., at Del Crary Park.”

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Canadian Rapper Classified To Hit Peterborough Musicfest For This Saturday

Peterborough Musicfest is bringing the rap scene into its music lineup as multi-awarded Canadian rapper Classified is scheduled to perform at Del Crary Park this Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Musicfest.

Classified hit the music scene in 1995. The Nova Scotia-born rapper has 18 studio albums. He has worked with some of the world’s most prominent hip hop artists, including Snoop Dogg, Raekwon and Maestro Fresh Wes. His music has amassed more than 200 million streams globally.

The artist has received 24 major award nominations, with eight wins between the Juno Awards, East Coast Music Awards and MuchMusic Video Awards.

His 2013 self-titled album debuted at number one on the Canadian Nielsen Soundscan Chart with the single ‘Inner Ninja’ earning a Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.

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Big Wreck Returns to Peterborough For Musicfest on August 16

Five years from their last performance at Peterborough Musicfest, Big Wreck is headlining the 36th edition of the free-concert series on August 16 at Del Crary Park, announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Musicfest.

The band last played Musicfest in 2018. Big Wreck was originally formed in Boston in 1982, adapting its name in 1994 and releasing its debut album ‘In Loving Memory Of…’ three years later. Six albums have followed that initial recording, the latest being seven released just this year.

Big Wreck has been nominated for four Junos (Rock Album of the Year for Albatross, Ghosts, Grace Street and …But For The Sun) and is known for singles such as The Oaf (My Luck Is Wasted), That Song, Blown Wide Open and Lighthouse. 

In 2011, Big Wreck had charting singles such as Albatross, Wolves, A Million Days and Ghosts. Later hits, One Good Piece Of Me and Middle of Nowhere kept Big Wreck relevant and played within mainstream media.

Original member Brian Doherty passed in 2019 but fellow band founder, singer and guitarist Ian Thornley, has kept Big Wreck relevant and on top of its game as a touring act.

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The Big Bottle of Joy and Five Alarm Funk To Join the Peterborough Musicfest Concert Line Up

Peterborough Musicfest announces that the 36th summer season of music will include Matt Andersen, fronting his band The Big Bottle of Joy, and Five alarm Funk taking the stage on July 8 and 12 at Del Crary Park.

Multi award-winning Canadian blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Matt Andersen will take the Musicfest stage with his band The Big Bottle of Joy.

The New Brunswick native embarked on his music career more than 20 years ago and has since headlined at major festivals, clubs and theatres across North America, and in Europe and Australia. Along the way, he has shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, Greg Allman, Serena Ryder and more.

Since self-­releasing his debut album One Size Never Fits in 2004, Andersen hasn’t stopped writing and recording new music, amassing more 26 million YouTube streams and more than 23 million Spotify listens. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, which he’s touring extensively across North American this year, features songs “infused with raw blues-­‐rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk and ecstatic gospel.”

Described as a “sonic and visual assault,” Five Alarm Funk will be coming to Del Crary Park.  

Horn powered and percussion fuelled, the two-time Juno Award nominated band is led by singer and drummer Tayo Branston. Five Alarm Funk brings to its live audiences what he terms ‘punk funk’ – a raucous sound accompanied by an equally frenetic stage presence that is near impossible to somehow sit still to. 

Dozens of North American tours and hundreds of festival appearances stand as a testament to Five Alarm Funk’s enduring appeal as it marks two decades doing what it does uniquely and so very well.

Check out Matt Andersen and The Big Bottle of Joy and Five Alarm Funk for free on July 8 and July 12 at 8 p.m. at Del Crary Park.

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