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Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Festival of Friends, Lucky Lion Night Market, Cardinals game this weekend
The Civic Holiday long weekend is here, ushering in the Festival of Friends. Unlike the previous weekend, Saturday and Sunday are expected to remain below 30 C, according to Environment Canada forecasts . The weekend will be sunny, with a high of 27 C on Saturday and 28 C on Sunday. Here is what you can do this weekend in Hamilton and area: What's On Hamilton One of Hamilton's biggest festivals is back for its 49th year with acts, such as Sugarhill Gang, Sister Sledge, Brett Kissel, Dan Mangan and The Trews. The free festival, with more than 135 vendors, takes over Gage Park ( 1000 Main St. E. ) from Friday, Aug. 1, to Sunday, Aug. 3. For the full lineup, go to . Noodle pull from a vendor at the lucky lion night market. Chinese culture comes to Bayfront Park ( 200 Harbour Front Dr. ) this weekend for Lucky Lion Night Market. From Friday to Sunday, the market will feature more than 100 vendors, merchants, Chinese lion dances, claw machines, bar tents and family friendly entertainment. Go to for more information. Bill King hosts a two-hour walking tour in downtown Hamilton on Sunday. The tour explores 18th-century pioneer farms that evolved into today's Hess Village and Durand neighbourhood. The group meets at King and John streets at 10 a.m. and goes to Redchurch after the tour for coffee and chit-chats. Bill Lamond, a past president of the Hamilton Naturalists' Club, leads a free guided nature walk at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden in Centennial Park ( 71 Cootes Dr. ). On Saturday at 10 a.m., the one-hour walk is about moths and butterflies. Lamond is available after the walk for questions. Bring a chair. Visit for more. Westfield Heritage Village ( 1049 Kirkwall Rd. ) hosts Dairy Delicious on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The village partners with Summit Station Dairy to explore the history, science and technology of dairy products made in Ontario from the mid-1800s to the early 20th century. The event includes exhibits, games and hands-on activities, including historical cooking and baking demonstrations, a milking demonstration, butter churning and ice cream making. Reservations must be made and are slotted for two-hour stays. Admission is free for members of the village, or $5.50 per person. Children five and under are free. The reservation fee is $10 and the vehicle fee is $11. More information at . On Friday, Hamilton Civic Museums hosts an Emancipation Day event at Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum ( 64 Sulphur Springs Rd. ) from 2 to 6 p.m. Then at Hamilton City Hall ( 71 Main St. W. ), there is a ceremony, speakers and live performances from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Go to for more info. Hamilton Cardinals play the Guelph Royals on Friday at 7:35 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Bernie Arbour Stadium ( 1100 Mohawk Rd. E. ) hosts the game night, dedicated to 'inclusivity, diversity and the love of the game.' Tickets are $13.56 on . Go to for more. Catch a Canadian Premier League soccer game on Saturday at 7 p.m. Forge FC plays versus Valour FC at Hamilton Stadium ( 64 Melrose Ave. N. ). Tickets start at $25 on . Visit for more. Catch 60-minutes candlelit performances from a Listeso String Quartet on Saturday at the Westdale ( 1014 King St. W. ) At 6:30 p.m., there is a tribute to Queen and The Beatles. Tickets ranges from $42.50 to $70.50. At 8:45 p.m. is the Best of Metal show, featuring songs from AC/DC, Metallica and Black Sabbath. Tickets range from $31 to $64.50. Go to for tickets. The City of Brantford is hosting its first Brantford Beats and Eats festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free festival is set at Mohawk Park ( 51 Lynnwood Dr. ) and Harmony Square ( 89 Dalhousie St. ) with food trucks, more than 10 performers, live art demonstrations and entertainment. The Washboard Union (Juno Award and Canadian Country Music Award winners) ends off the festival with a ticketed performance at Sanderson Centre . Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $58.75 at . Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where and how to celebrate Canada Day 2025 in Calgary
Whether Canada Day comes at the end of a relaxing four-day weekend, or oddly breaks up your work week after a single day back in the office, Calgarians looking to mark the occasion have plenty of options to choose from on Tuesday. A variety of venues, particularly in downtown Calgary and surrounding neighbourhoods, are hosting day-long events to celebrate the country's 158th birthday. Here's a brief look at what's planned for the holiday, and what Calgarians need to know. Top of mind for most people on Canada Day is simply where and when to catch the fireworks. This year's display is scheduled to begin around 11 p.m. MT, with fireworks launched from Stampede Park. The City of Calgary advises that the best viewing location will be from The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland. On-site viewing won't be available at the Stampede Grounds, as setup continues for the Calgary Stampede that starts later this week. Several renowned Canadian artists will grace stages across the city. The city's main stage evening show, the most noteworthy concert lineup of the day, will be held at The Confluence. The Sam Roberts Band is set to cap off a lineup that features artists like Aysanabee, Big Sugar and Lu Kala. The Confluence is also offering free admission to its cultural centre, Canadian History Trivia at Burnswest Theatre, and a walking tour highlighting the diverse people involved in Calgary's development. At Spruce Meadows, in the city's southwest, country musician Brett Kissel will play an outdoor show as part of a day-long event that also includes a horse race, corgi races and a kids' zone with mini-animals, pony rides and arcade games. Studio Bell, the King Eddy and a pair of outdoor stages at St. Patrick's Island will also feature concerts throughout the day. Pop-up performances of instruments from the National Music Centre's collection will be part of Studio Bell's event, too. Along with its live music, St. Patrick's Island will have food vendors, face painting and airbrush tattoos. Nearby, the East Village Street Fair will run from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with more than 50 vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. Canada Day festivities are also scheduled with afternoon tea at Heritage Park, a station offering pins and flags at Calaway Park, and a lineup at the Chinese Cultural Centre that includes dances, martial arts, vendors, a kids' area and more. Buses and CTrains will operate on a Sunday level of service for the holiday, and Calgary Transit's call centre and customer service centres will be closed. The city will offer free parking in on-street ParkPlus zones and Calgary Parking parkades, except for the parkade at Arts Commons and at surface lots where weekend rates will apply. In the East Village, the following roads will be closed from 6 a.m. until midnight, due to Canada Day events: 8th Avenue S.E., from 4th Street S.E. to 6th Street S.E. 5th Street S.E., from 7th Avenue S.E. to 9th Avenue S.E. 6th Street S.E., from 8th Avenue S.E. to 9th Avenue S.E. Calgary's Central Library will hold free activities and programs throughout the afternoon, including a storytime, Indigenous dancing demonstrations and a citizenship ceremony for new Canadians. All of the city's other library locations will be closed for the day, except in Rocky Ridge, which will be open for YMCA holiday hours. Many city facilities will be closed for Canada Day, including all arenas, indoor pools and fitness centres, the Southland and Village Square leisure centres, the Calgary Soccer Centre, the North Mount Pleasant and Wildflower arts centres and the animal services centres. All registered programs, swimming lessons and drop-in programs typically scheduled for Tuesdays will not run on Canada Day. Many communities around Calgary are planning Canada Day events of their own. Airdrie is hosting a parade, rodeo and fireworks display. Okotoks is planning a mobile obstacle course, a lineup of dance performances and its own fireworks show. Cochrane will host live entertainment and activities at Mitford Park, ending with fireworks. Further west in Banff, Canada Day typically marks one of the town's busiest days of the year. Its celebration includes a parade, a farmers' market running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a lineup for musicians and dancers, as well as lawn games and circus workshops. In Canmore, the town's Nordic Ski Club is organizing a fun run and walk, while the town's annual parade will celebrate the area's plants and animals this year.
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
The Trews, Sister Sledge, Sugarhill Gang, Brett Kissel headline 49th annual Festival of Friends
The Festival of Friends isn't so much turning 50 next year as feeling forever young this year, its 49th, and on into the future. Forty-nine, 50 — the fun is just starting. Since 2017, Rob Rakoczy, as general manager, has been bringing up the baby, the late Bill Powell's 1976 love child of music and arts. And he and his team are keeping the treasured Hamilton summer celebration fresh, with lively mixtures of genre, generation and genuine musical gems. 'It's the 49th for the festival this year, and we're excited about our lineup and the plans for this year, which are going to lead us on into our first half century and a huge anniversary next year,' says Rakoczy. It's going to go like this — The Trews, the inimitable Hamilton-based rockers with multiple Juno nominations and a big following, are headlining on the Friday night (Aug. 1 at 9:30 p.m.), capping off an opening day with the musical tuning set at indie/rock. Saturday night sees a massive hip-hop/soul lineup with an appearance by no less an act than the historic Sugarhill Gang of 'Rapper's Delight' fame — the first rap single to become a Top 40 hit on Billboard. They're coming to the stage to 'hip hop, the hippie to the hop and you don't stop the rockin' to the bang-bang boogie, say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat.' 'It's a big coup for us to get them' Rakoczy says of The Sugarhill Gang. 'We're very excited about it.' When Friday, Aug. 1 to Sunday, Aug. 3 Where Gage Park, 1000 Main St. East, Hamilton Who Performers include The Trews, Sister Sledge, The Sugarhill Gang, Brett Kissel, Peter Elkas Band, Dan Mangan, Honey Luck, The Wild High, Tep No, Chris Chambers Band, Alfie Smith, Florin Clonta, Max Paxton & The Pintos, Blood Roses, and Banned From Heaven. There will also be a kids stage, midway, pony rides, arts and crafts demonstrations, and more than 125 vendors. Tickets As always, admission is free. For more see The Sugarhill Gang will be joined by Melle Mel and Scorpio of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. But that's not even the biggest news yet. The headliner of headliners, on Saturday's main stage at 9:30 p.m. Is — wait for it, as they say — ready? — Sister Sledge. The Festival of Friends and … Fam-i-ly, as in 'We Are Family.' 'It's part of a whole idea we have,' says Rakoczy, 'of bringing to the people, to Festival of Friends, iconic songs and the artists who did them. We had the B-52s doing 'Love Shack' a few years ago, and also people like Eric Burdon, Don MacLean ('American Pie') and The Village People.' Sister Sledge's 'We Are Family' is certainly one of those songs. And not to be outdone, Sunday night brings what is probably equally good news for those with an ear under their cowboy hats for country music. Brett Kissel, one of Canada's biggest country music stars, will close out the festival at 9:30 p.m. on the main stage on Sunday, Aug. 3. Kissel says Rakoczy is the biggest country star the festival has hosted since Tanya Tucker, winner and nominee of several Juno and Canadian Country Music Association awards 'People are very excited about Brett Kissel coming,' says Rakoczy. 'I know a couple who always miss the Sunday because it's their daughter's birthday, but this year they're coming just for Brett Kissel.' Presumably, they'll bring their daughter along. Why not? The festival is not to be missed. And there are many other great acts on the main stage beyond the headliners. It all starts on Friday at 6 p.m. with the Peter Elkas Band, kicking off the indie/rock portion of the weekend. They will be followed at 7:30 p.m. on the Friday by two-time Juno winner Dan Mangan. Mangan's indie, folk alt-rock and experimental music has won widespread acclaim over more than two decades. 'They (Peter Elkas Band and Dan Mangan) are the perfect fit' for a night that culminates with The Trews, says Rakoczy. '(The Trews) headlined in 2019 (at Festival of Friends) and people loved it. The Trews have that effect — such an unstoppable train ride of energetic sound and variety.' On the Saturday, opening acts include Tep No, a Hamilton DJ/electronic artist who has appeared on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and who has millions of streams. On Sunday, Country Day, The Wild High (a new band from former Monster Truck lead singer Jon Harvey) will come on at 6:30 p.m., and will be followed at 8 p.m., before Kissel, by Honey Luck from Austin, Texas, back by popular demand after last year's smash show at the festival. One of Honey Luck's lead singers, says Rakoczy, was a contestant on 'The Voice' and ended up on Blake Shelton's team. The band just recorded with Christ Stapleton's people.
Global News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Global News
‘Grit and Gratitude': Brett Kissel's Journey to Greatness on the Canadian Country Music Scene
Back in 2020, when Brett Kissel was referred to as Canadian country music royalty, he had a very modest response: 'I've got a long ways to go!' He then listed the greats as Paul Brandt, Shania Twain, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson. 'I'm just some young guy tryna make it!' Today, he's a multi-platinum artist, Juno and CCMA winner. He has four number-one hits on the Canadian country charts, seven full-length albums, and is currently wrapping up a 35-date tour. His résumé indicates that he has, in fact, made it. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy His song 'That's Country Music' was an opportunity for him to express his profound gratitude for the music itself. He says, 'It was an opportunity for me to write a song and thank the genre and thank anybody whose ever had a hand in building up the greatest genre in the world – as far as I'm concerned.' To him, that's not just great artists like Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and George Strait—it's also all the producers, industry people, and everybody at radio. Story continues below advertisement With a career marked by humility, talent, and heartfelt appreciation for his craft, Brett Kissel has carved out a place among the legends he once looked up to.
CTV News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Star-studded concert series comes to Barrie
Downtown Barrie will be rocking this summer with star-studded performances as part of the Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series, a four-part celebration of live music at Meridian Place, presented by CTV Barrie, Pure Country 106, BOUNCE 104.1, and the Downtown Barrie BIA. The series features 18-time CCMA award winner Dean Brody, the high-energy, eight-piece supergroup The 99s, critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and multiple Juno award-winner Hawksley Workman, and multi-award-winning country music star Brett Kissel as headliners. The Local Opener Series will showcase emerging regional talent, including Elmvale's powerhouse vocalist Dayna Reid, who says she's excited to perform in front of a hometown crowd. Reid will be the opening act for Kissel. 'My little town of Elmvale has always supported me,' Reid said. 'I would say it's a very small town with a big heart, and just seeing familiar faces, but also connecting with new people and Brett's fans, that just kind of makes it full circle for me.' Submissions for the Local Opener Series open on May 8 and close on May 23. There are multiple categories: Youth Under 18, House Band, plus three opening spots for each event day. Dayna Reid 'Events like the Troubadour Festival and Open Air Dunlop are what define our city's spirit. They connect people, energize local businesses, and draw thousands to our beautiful waterfront and downtown core. These experiences help put Barrie on the map—not only as a great place to live, but as a vibrant destination to visit, celebrate, and be inspired,' said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. CTV Barrie news director Justin Rydell added, 'The Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series promises to be a vibrant celebration of music and community, drawing fans from across Barrie and the surrounding region. A key part of our mission at CTV Barrie, BOUNCE 104.1, and Pure Country 106 is to inform and entertain audiences across this great community each and every day, and this concert series perfectly embodies that spirit.' The events are free and open to all.
