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Glasgow Times
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow In The City 2025 music festival cancelled
In The City 2025 was described as Glasgow's ultimate open-air block party. However, the lack of ticket sales and challenges with hospitality saw the set of gigs cancelled a week before it was due to kick off. READ MORE: Popular alternative-pop musician coming to famous Glasgow venue The two-day festival was set to take place at Glasgow Green on August 23 and 24, with acts such as Huey Morgan, Don Letts, the Sugarhill Gang, and the Furious Five set to take to the stage. Bosses have promised that a new date will be announced and that they are "committed" to hosting the festival in Glasgow. READ MORE: Music legend reveals love for iconic & 'historic' Glasgow venue Organisers posted a statement announcing the cancellation: "We regret to announce the postponement of In The City 2025. "Despite our best efforts, ticket sales haven't reached the level needed to deliver the experience our audience and artists deserve. "Coupled with ongoing challenges in live events and hospitality, proceeding this year is no longer viable. "We understand how disappointing this news is and offer our sincere apologies to everyone who planned to join us at Glasgow Green on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August. "We remain committed to In The City Glasgow and are working hard to reschedule a date that works for all artists that were due to perform. "We will share this information with you very shortly, at which point you will be able to roll your ticket over to the rescheduled date or obtain a full refund. "Thank you for your patience and continued support. "The In The City Team." Once the new date is confirmed, tickets will remain valid, and refunds will be available for those unable to attend the rescheduled event.
CBC
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
What's on in Hamilton this August long weekend?
Social Sharing Somehow, it's August. It may feel like summer is slipping away but there are still plenty of activities in the city to help you make the most of the season. Here's some of what's on the go this August long weekend. Marking Emancipation Day At Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum, the City of Hamilton will mark Emancipation Day — honouring the abolition of slavery across the British Empire. The event will take place by the Griffin House National Historic Site Friday afternoon. Festival of Friends The annual free live music festival Festival of Friends runs Friday through Sunday in Gage Park, rain or shine. Headliners include Sister Sledge, the group best known for dance anthem We Are Family, U.S. hip hop group Sugarhill Gang, known for their 1979 track, Rapper's Delight, Juno-winning singer-songwriter Dan Mangan, who recently released a new album Natural Light, and Brett Kissel, from Northern Alberta, who has won several Canadian Country Music Association Awards. It's free to go to the event and there will be food for sale. Night Market at Bayfront From Friday through Sunday, Bayfront Park will be host to the Lucky Lion Night Market. Admission is free. Organizers say the event will include hundreds of food items, merchants, nightly Chinese Lion Dance performances, a bar tent, music and claw machines. Symphony by the lake At noon on Saturday, the Brott Music Festival and National Academy Of Canada Orchestra are putting on a free one-hour concert at Pier 8. Organizers say to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Swing Dancing at Pier 8 Also by the waterfront, Sunday swing dancing continues at Pier 8 through to the end of August. There will be a free lesson at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with dancing starting at 7 p.m. The dance floor is concrete and organizers recommend wearing comfortable shoes, a hat and packing water. You don't have to bring a dance partner. Children's activities at Dundurn National Historic Site Hamilton Children's Museum will be holding a pop up at Dundurn National Historic Site on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say there will be free nature-based activities in the Historic Kitchen Garden, allowing children to explore plants, animals and insects. Making milky memories Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, a dairy themed event will take over the Westfield Heritage Village Conservation Area. Dairy Delicious will feature exhibits, games and hands-on activities about the history of dairy farming in Ontario from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Advance registration is required.
Hamilton Spectator
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
How Festival of Friends booked Sugarhill Gang
General manager Robert Rakoczy was on a layover from a vacation in Spain when he got the email confirming Sugarhill Gang would perform at Festival of Friends this year. But to add to his excitement, Rakoczy would soon receive another call from the agent asking if there was enough in the budget to add American rappers Melle Mel and Scorpio from The Furious Five, known for the legendary song 'The Message.' Since Sugarhill Gang was one of the first acts he booked, there was, he said. 'I was like 'Are you kidding me? I have Sugarhill Gang, but now I can add Grandmaster Flash's guys?'' said Rakoczy. They are hip hop legend drops in the bucket of performances set for Friday to Sunday , all viewed for free, at Gage Park (1000 Main St. E.) . Sister Sledge perform on the second day of Festival of Friends, Saturday, Aug. 2. Girl group Sister Sledge ('We Are Family'), Canadian country singer Brett Kissel, Canadian indie rock-folk artists Dan Mangan and the returning Hamilton rock band The Trews exemplify the festival's diverse lineups that continue to span across eras and genres. The event has featured Tanya Tucker ('Delta Dawn') and Village People ('YMCA') in 2024, Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas in 2013 and Don McLean ('American Pie') in 2007. Getting Village People proved fruitful, as Rakoczy worked through the same agent to get Sugarhill Gang. After sorting through availabilities, receiving the final OK was thrilling, he said, but not unexpected. Rakoczy landed on Sister Sledge once he decided to follow an '80s theme. Booking them required some more discussion, with him negotiating accommodation for a growing number of bands. 'What gets the attention, what brings people to the park, what gets them excited is giving them something different,' said Rakoczy. 'If we want to grow, we have to expand and we have to include more people in the festival.' Despite the famous performances featured at the festival, it remains free, and Rakozcy said thanks is owed to the sponsors. The festival takes about $600,000 to run, about 10 per cent of which Rakoczy said goes to wages. More than half goes to setting up the stage and paying for performers. Tim Hortons, the presenting sponsor, and Second Shop are 90 per cent of the sponsorship money, he said. 'If you were to sum it up, it's money, timing and reputation of the festival,' said Rakoczy. Rakoczy's first concert was at Festival of Friends in 1979. He then brought his child to the festival in 1993. He hopes attendees can continue to show the same loyalty to the festival to keep it going. 'I think the key to that is to stick to our roots, while still expanding,' said Rakoczy. Even before the weekend, Rakoczy is thinking about next year's Festival of Friends, which will be its 50th anniversary. He said it will be the biggest Hamilton has seen. 'This is what gets me excited about the festival is like the next thing, what's next year? Can we do bigger, can we do more?' For the full lineup, timings and more information, go to . Weekend planner: Festival of Friends, Lucky Lion Night Market, Cardinals game this weekend Rock artist Kurt Tweedle plays Cat and Fiddle ( 174 John St. S. ) on Saturday Aug. 2 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event celebrates Tweedle's birthday, featuring a 'hot sauce challenge,' and other artists, such as Dean Fulton, Carl De Souza and Marlon Nicolle. Entry is pay what you can. An all-Canadian band of musicians perform a special concert to honour American singer-songerwriter and pianist Ray Charles. Shawn and Ed Brewing Co. ( 65 Hatt St. ) hosts the show on Friday Aug. 1 at 8 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Regular seats are $25, plus tax and a service fee, and guaranteed seats with backs are $27.50, plus tax and a service fee. Go to for more. Grab seats to Folk and Feelings before the 80 available tickets are gone. Juno Award-winner Frank Fiction hosts the live and intimate acoustic concert at the Crown and Press Gallery and Cafe ( 303 Ottawa St. N. ) on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Fiction is also the co-founder of the gallery and café. Singer Eric Brandon plays the event after touring with country star Owen Riegling. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Go to for tickets. Hamilton Public Library hosts another Noon Hour Concert on Friday Aug. 1 at its central branch ( 55 York Blvd. ). From noon to 1 p.m., singer and queer activist Lyla Miklos and pianist Juanita Maldonado share music, stories and images to honour Two Spirit and LGBTQIA-plus communities. Visit for more. Jazz Up Your Night at Synonym Shop ( 328 James St. N. ) returns Friday. One set plays from 7 to 8:15 p.m., followed by another from 8:45 to 10 p.m. The free event starts right after Happy Hour on tap beer, from 4 to 6 p.m. Lulu Lamontagne shares the stage with Sunshine Express, Hamilton-based The Checkerboards, and band Megasmegma on Wednesday Aug. 6. at Mills Hardware ( 95 King St. E. ) Advance tickets are $15, plus tax and fees. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Mattmac and City Builders perform at the venue on Thursday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $20, plus tax and fees. Go to for tickets. Start off August at Slye Fox ( 4057 New St. ) with John Restas on Friday Aug. 1 and Paul Mallard on Saturday Aug. 2 , both at 8:30 p.m. Brad Hailz returns to the Burlington venue on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. All the performances are free to watch. Cheyenne Bholla is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. cbholla@
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 .
Hamilton Spectator
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Budget-friendly beats: Your guide to free music festivals in Hamilton
The best live music doesn't always have to cost you a pretty penny. While Paul McCartney's tickets for his latest concert are reaching astronomical levels , local groups are hosting free music events in Hamilton. While we're in the midst of music festival season, there are more than enough events festivalgoers can attend at no cost before the summer is over. A handful of free festivals have already passed in summer's opening month, but the city has saved the biggest and best for last. Hamilton's historic, outdoor music festival, Festival of Friends is hosting its 49th annual outing in Gage Park from Aug. 1 to 3. The festival also features over 135 arts, crafts and food venders but the main feature is the music. On three stages over three days, this year's headline performances will be the Trews, Sister Sledge and the Sugarhill Gang. Other performers on the docket are Billy Rogers, Brett Kissel and Melle Mel and Scorpio of the Furious 5. Sugarhill Gang and Melle Mel are part of a growing contingent of hip-hop acts that are gracing Festival of Friends stages; award-winning duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids played Festival of Friends in 2022. The Festival of Friends has been held annually since 1976. Hamilton's award-winning multi-arts festival, Supercrawl, will be coming back on Sept. 12 Hamilton's award-winning multi-arts festival, Supercrawl, will be coming back on Sept. 12, lasting until Sept. 14. This year will feature another live addition to the Hamilton City Centre mural alongside a massive musical lineup. Artists like: Tobi, Born Ruffians, Steve Strongman, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Donovan Woods are headlining the festival. Other artists on the ticket include: Classified, Hua Li, The Darcys, Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Cadence Weapon, Da Bomb, Neil Haverty, CJ Wiley and a plethora more. Supercrawl is a multidisciplinary festival which fuses art, fashion, literature, theatre and music into a massive pedestrian-only creative space for creators to create and spectators to gawk at. With the ethos of platforming local, emerging artists with their national and international peers, Supercrawl has been able to foster a vibrancy, turning a free one-day, 3,000-attendee event into a free, 250,000-plus person, three-day fête. Founded by the late Boris Brott, one of Canada's most internationally recognized conductors, Brott Music Festival is bringing a classical arts explosion to Hamilton. On Saturday, July 5 and Aug. 2 at noon, the National Academy Orchestra will be exhibiting its talents on Waterfront Stage Pier 8. Set against the backdrop of Hamilton's waterfront, the orchestra will be performing in an effort to help attendees unwind from their troubles. It's a breathtaking combination of classical music and classic views in the city. There are other shows around the city that are part of the festival: Broadway Dreams at Theatre Aquarius, or Postcard from the Sky (which is by candlelight), but those will cost $25 to $70 depending on the event and seating. Démar Grant is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. Reach him at dgrant@ . 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 .
