Latest news with #AmandaKeeles
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Visa delay turns London, Ont. singer-songwriter's big break in the U.S. to heartbreak
A local singer-songwriter had to cancel her New York state performance due to delays obtaining a visa. With more, here's CTV London's Daryl Newcombe. Rather than opening for a multi-platinum band in upstate New York, a local singer-songwriter stayed in London because of recent delays processing visas to perform in the United States. 'Today was the day, and we are going to miss out,' country singer and songwriter Amanda Keeles told CTV News. On Friday, Keeles was scheduled to perform with her band immediately before headliner Parmalee takes the stage at HarborFest 2025 in Oswego, New York. 'This was our first step into the U.S.,' she explained. 'We could have had an incredible band like Parmalee on our resume, that we opened for them at a music festival in the United States.' However, the P-2 Visa application for Keeles and her band to perform in the U.S. is stuck in a processing backlog. 'We sent the applications in plenty of time,' she explained. 'The fee was processed, [but] we kept getting notifications that there were delays.' Amanda Keeles London-based country singer-songwriter Amanda Keeles. (Source: Submitted) Musical artists across Canada have recently experienced much longer delays getting the required visa from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A three-to-six-month processing period for Canadian artists has recently jumped to a year. 'Wait times have increased in both service centers in the U.S. now,' said Liana White, executive director – Canadian Office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. 'The Vermont Service Center that we deal with, they just increased their processing times last month. So, it was quite a blindside for us.' Keeles was recently told she could try expediting her visa application for $2,800 dollars U.S.—but there was no guarantee. Instead, she had to cancel her first opportunity to perform songs to an American audience. 'This is the world we're living in, unfortunately,' she said. 'Artists are getting caught up in this red tape of politics and delays.' White says a lobbying effort is underway to convince U.S. officials to address the backlog facing Canadian artists. 'The message that is being delivered back to us is that we need examples and data from the U.S. venues, which are impacted by these last minute cancellations,' she said. Keeles added, 'It is so unfortunate because musicians just love to play their music. And this is what is happening.' Undeterred by the setback, Keeles is choosing to cowgirl up— focusing on her current tour including stops in Collingwood, Thunder Bay, and Canada's east coast.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Visa delays turn London, Ont. singer-songwriter's big break in the U.S. to heartbreak
A local singer-songwriter had to cancel her New York state performance due to delays obtaining a visa. With more, here's CTV London's Daryl Newcombe. A local singer-songwriter had to cancel her New York state performance due to delays obtaining a visa. With more, here's CTV London's Daryl Newcombe. Rather than opening for a multi-platinum band in upstate New York, a local singer-songwriter stayed in London because of recent delays processing visas to perform in the United States. 'Today was the day, and we are going to miss out,' country singer and songwriter Amanda Keeles told CTV News. On Friday, Keeles was scheduled to perform with her band immediately before headliner Parmalee takes the stage at HarborFest 2025 in Oswego, New York. 'This was our first step into the U.S.,' she explained. 'We could have had an incredible band like Parmalee on our resume, that we opened for them at a music festival in the United States.' However, the P-2 Visa application for Keeles and her band to perform in the U.S. is stuck in a processing backlog. 'We sent the applications in plenty of time,' she explained. 'The fee was processed, [but] we kept getting notifications that there were delays.' Amanda Keeles London-based country singer-songwriter Amanda Keeles. (Source: Submitted) Musical artists across Canada have recently experienced much longer delays getting the required visa from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A three-to-six-month processing period for Canadian artists has recently jumped to a year. 'Wait times have increased in both service centers in the U.S. now,' said Liana White, executive director – Canadian Office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. 'The Vermont Service Center that we deal with, they just increased their processing times last month. So, it was quite a blindside for us.' Keeles was recently told she could try expediting her visa application for $2,800 dollars U.S.—but there was no guarantee. Instead, she had to cancel her first opportunity to perform songs to an American audience. 'This is the world we're living in, unfortunately,' she said. 'Artists are getting caught up in this red tape of politics and delays.' White says a lobbying effort is underway to convince U.S. officials to address the backlog facing Canadian artists. 'The message that is being delivered back to us is that we need examples and data from the U.S. venues, which are impacted by these last minute cancellations,' she said. Keeles added, 'It is so unfortunate because musicians just love to play their music. And this is what is happening.' Undeterred by the setback, Keeles is choosing to cowgirl up— focusing on her current tour including stops in Collingwood, Thunder Bay, and Canada's east coast.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kate's 5 fun things to do in and around Waterloo region: July 18 to 20
This is one of the busiest weekends of the summer so far when it comes to events happening in this area. The Kitchener Ribfest and Craft Beer Show starts at noon Friday and runs afternoons and evenings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the event in Kitchener's Victoria Park is free, but donations are accepted for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Elora Community Theatre will present Shakespeare in the Park starting Friday night with The Merry Wives of Windsor. Performances are in the yard at the Elora Centre for the Arts. In Guelph at McCrae House, it's Backyard Theatre season. We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow is the title of the performance by Mike Ford, who is described by the museum as a solo troubadour opera. The piece was commissioned by Guelph Museums to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation in Europe. If you can't make it this weekend, the show also runs July 24 to 26 with afternoon and evening performances. Sunset Sessions in Vogelsang Green is a free concert in downtown Kitchener. Music starts at 7 p.m. and you won't know who is performing until they step up to the mic. The Scotland Yard Hockey Classic to support kids cancer care will be held at The Boardwalk in Waterloo with 96 teams taking part. People can show up and cheer on their favourite teams and just enjoy a day of street hockey. The day benefits the Waterloo Region Health Network Foundation. Latin Music on Main happens in Galt on Saturday evening. Beginner dance lessons are at 6 p.m. with dancing from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Kitchener Panthers are on the road this weekend. They're in Welland Friday and Barrie on Saturday. The Guelph Royals are home Saturday night and host the Brantford Red Sox. If you need to drive, here are some local gas prices: Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival Friday 3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 12:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Uptown Waterloo This free, outdoor festival in uptown Waterloo has everything a jazz music lover would want, plus community vendors and food. Headlining Friday night is Monkey House and on Saturday it's Travis Knights. Plus check out the youth ensemble, Freddie's Freeloaders, the Christine Jensen Quartet and much more. Bonus: Hillside Festival Friday 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Guelph Lake Conservation Area This annual festival is back and along with a very long list of musicians on three different stages, there are workshops, vendors, food, children's area and activity areas. LISTEN | : Amanda Keeles Sunday at 7 p.m. Forbes Park, 16 Kribs St., Cambridge Cambridge is holding a number of Summer Live events and this weekend, it's a free concert from London, Ont., country singer-songwriter Amanda Keeles. Bring a lawn chair, some snacks and be prepared to enjoy an evening of music. AfroVibes Festival Friday 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m and 10 p.m. to late Deb 1880 in Waterloo, Carl Zehr Square in front of Kitchener's city hall, Rare Nightclub in Waterloo This festival kicks off Friday night with a panel discussion talking about business and the creative economy locally. On Saturday, the festival takes over the space in front of Kitchener's city hall with a free day of music, workshops, food, fashion, games and lots of interactive activities for people of all ages. There's also an after party with DJ Neptune later in the evening, which requires tickets. WATCH | : Cambridge Scottish Festival Friday 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Churchill Park, Cambridge The festival gets underway with the Celtic sip and shop Friday night, which has vendors set up, there's live music and watch swords clash in a battle performance. Saturday will see various pipe, drum, band and dancing competitions and performances, a children's glen, the heritage area and live music in the beer tent. Fitness in the Forest Saturday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Stanley Park Conservation Area, Kitchener This is a resident-led project that is supported through the City of Kitchener's Love My Hood program. The trail through the park now has signs that offer some additional suggestions on exercises that can be done to get even more out of an evening stroll. A grand opening celebration takes place Saturday with some refreshments and giveaways, but the trail is now open to anyone who wants to use it. LISTEN |
