It might be September but the days are just as warm as they were last month, and our line up of events is just as hot. Clear your calendar for the Multicultural Arts Festival’s 10th-anniversary celebration, Kingston WritersFest, the 6th Annual Kingston Family Fun Fest, and arguably the concert of the year — Rockin’ the Big House featuring some of Canada’s favourite artists.
Do you have a Kingston event you’d like featured on our monthly list? Add it to our events calendar for consideration!
Kingston can’t always decide if it’s a city for beers or bands—truth is, it’s both.
The street signs tick off pubs and bars, crammed with regional beers, and play host to the musical acts rocking the city’s weekends. For beer connoisseurs doubling as music fans, there’s no better town for a pub crawl and a sampling of the city’s music offerings. Here’s a list of signature local drinks to kick off your musical journey and pub crawl in the Limestone City.
By the waterfront, there’s the Merchant Tap House, a classic lamplight pub with dark, lacquered floors. The house stage in the corner was a launching pad for luminaries like The Glorious Sons, who cut their teeth honing their timeless sound in the pub.
It’s best to start the night right with a Skeleton Park Amber. The titular brewing company’s signature beer, a pint of Skeleton Park is hoppy, caramel chaser and a perfect introduction to bar-hopping live stages in the city.
A weathered staple, The Toucan’s famous for two things: pints of Guinness and the stage near the back. The latter is where student bands aim when they want to reach the city’s long-term residents; the former is what brings the crowd, in addition to seeing fresh musical talent, of course. However, Kingston’s breweries stack-up against any import.
For example, local brewer MacKinnon Brothers Crosscut is darker than most lagers, slipping past dad-beer status to reveal a more refined taste than you initially bargained for. What better way to celebrate a stalwart stage that continues to serve musical surprises while keeping a loyal base of music fans. It’s a community, music, and a brewery’s best all in a single bar.
Musiikki Café, meanwhile, is less bar, more experience. There are old books on the shelf, a stage buried in its storefront window, and a face-to-face intimacy that means a change of pace. Its open mic nights are famous and host next to every genre, from folk to jazz. It’s a cultural nerve centre. And, whether it’s a professional or an amateur on stage, it can be a spell-binding experience.
At the bar, it’s a chance to sample Waupoos Cider from the County Cider Company, which is a short drive south of the city in Prince Edward County. It’s crisp, light, refreshing and matches the energy on stage.
The Mansion is a crossroads for a city that blends together styles and genres to create something unique to itself.
Students mill around with long-term residents; emerging artists open for touring acts on their from Montreal to Toronto and multiple rooms cater to a town that fell in love with its bands. Close-off your night catching a headliner at this landmark establishment, and then grab a Kingstonian tribute to a Canadian musical icon.
Celebrate future Juno winners taking the stage with a collaboration between Sam Roberts Band and Kingston’s Spearhead Breweries. The Sam Roberts Band Ale is a combination of American and British ales and a much-needed, hop-filled conclusion to any musical tour of the city.
There’s nothing more complementary to watching a local band on stage than a pint from a local brewery.
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the Kingston Pride festival and this year’s theme—Remember the Past, Create the Future—celebrated its legacy with record-breaking attendance.
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
From its humble and stressful beginnings as a ‘sidewalk stroll’ in 1989 (they couldn’t get a parade permit) to this year’s parade of over 450 people, Kingston Pride has come a long way in 30 years. Ruth Wood—who’s served as chair of the board for 2 years now—spoke to a community member who was at the first Kingston Pride. “They said it was a very small group of people quite nervous, kind of rushing down the sidewalk.”
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
Wood says the festival continues to grow each year: “We have more involvement from the Kingston community, people who support us in a number of ways, and the growing level of acceptance makes us [the LGBTQ2S+ community] more of an entity to the wider community.” She continues, “it’s become more attractive to people visiting Kingston from other places.”
Though the festival has grown, it’s not as wild as pride celebrations in larger cities which gives it a uniquely grassroots vibe. “It’s a different experience,” says Wood. “It’s smaller so it’s not as crowded and the parade doesn’t take as long to go by.” Wood encourages people from other cities to attend Kingston Pride for its friendliness: “When you visit Kingston for Pride, you’re coming into an area where people will welcome you.”
In no way does this mean the celebration is dialled back, as even the Mayor was in attendance to re-sign the Kingston Pride Month Proclamation. “It’s wonderful to be in a large group of people walking down Princess Street.” Wood Continues, “it grows every year: more floats, more people watching the parade go by, cheering us on—just a lot of fun.”
From left to right; Treasurer Anne-Marie Kooiman, Chair Ruth Wood, and 2019 Festival Director Ted Robinson. Photo by Wihse Green, Green Touch Photography.
There’s also the community fair where various organizations and vendors set up booths on the Saturday in Confederation Basin. Treasurer Anne-Marie Kooiman says, “seeing the influx of happy people, proudly bringing their colours into the park and the general positivity this creates is an amazing experience.”
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
The festival is organized annually by Kingston Pride Inc. (KPI), a not-for-profit organization that is governed by a volunteer board of directors, currently with 6 members. The board is responsible for the orchestration of the parade and community fair, but other members of the community contribute events to the schedule as well. Kooiman says it’s no small task: “It takes a full year to plan and work up to the festivities.”
Photos by Mary Ann Wamboldt
Wood says, “the festival is wide-open to anyone who wants to be there.” Inclusivity is always a key factor for any pride event, so it’s important to the board as much as possible to have a wide variety of events in physically accessible spaces. They also make sure to feature events with and without alcohol in order to include people of all ages in the festival.
Photo by Mary Ann Wamboldt
“Kingston Pride is a focal point for the [LGBTQ2S+] community,” says Wood. “We don’t speak for the whole community—it’s extremely diverse—but we try to be there and advocate for everybody in the community.” There is room on the board for up to 10 people, and members change often, so the board encourages people who are interested in helping with next year’s festival to register to volunteer at kingstonpride.ca.
The board’s vision for the future is to continue to improve the festival to better reflect the diversity of Kingston’s LGBTQ2S+ community. “We hope to engage with our local indigenous communities to strengthen our ties and recognize the contributions of two-spirited people,” says Kooiman.
For someone like marathon swimmer Vicki Keith Munro, who in 1988 swam across all the Great Lakes, was the first person in 1987 to do a 104 kilometre double crossing of Lake Ontario, the first person to swim across the English channel with the difficult butterfly stroke and still the world record holder for the longest butterfly swim of 80.2 kilometres the word “impossible” is not part of her vocabulary.
“I truly don’t believe that anything is impossible, said Keith Munro during a recent interview at the Kingston YMCA. “I think there’s a way to achieve everything and I think as soon as we put a restriction on ourselves that we’re not going to be able to achieve great things and I think it’s easier to get rid of that word completely and try to figure out ways we can do it. We may not do it the exact same way as we were originally inspired to achieve it but we will be successful if we believe it’s possible.”
Keith brings that attitude everyday she works at the YMCA pool with the Kingston Y Penguins, an enthusiastic group of swimmers with physical disabilities and able-bodied siblings that she’s been coaching for almost two decades.
As a marathon swimmer Keith had a never-quit attitude and tries to bring that thought process to her swimmers as well.
“I spend a lot of time thinking about what quitting means and we always talk about quitting but I don’t think people realize how easy it is to quit,” she said.
Marathon Swimmer Vicki Keith begins her 82-kilometre coastal swim early Monday morning from Point Petre, near Picton, to Kingston.
“The first time we say that’s good enough we’re quitting on ourselves, the first time we say that’s enough for the day, we’re quitting on ourselves.”
Many of her swimmers have won Canadian championships and competed on the world Paralympics stage so her attitude rubs off on her athletes as well.
Over the course of her swimming and coaching career she has won many awards and accolades such as being inducted into the Kingston and District Sports Hall of Fame, the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, the Terry Fox Hall of Fame, has an honourary degree and was recently inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame with another Kingston athlete, hockey player Jayna Hefford.
Keith Munro was also honoured in December of 2009 by carrying the Olympic torch through downtown Kingston on its way to Vancouver.
“It’s pretty exciting to be selected to go into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame but it’s also inspiring to see the other athletes that I’m going in with,” she said.
Olympic torch bearer Vicki Keith runs through a crowd of over 2,000 people in Springer Market Square last night for the Kingston portion of the torch relay last night in Kingston.
She was impressed with the story of former Team Canada water polo player Waneek Horne-Miller who was a child during the Oka Crisis in 1990 and was injured during a melee and later suffered through the traumatic incident.
“The fierceness she had and this desire to always stand up for the underdog.”
Keith Munro said the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame just doesn’t honour athletes for what they can do during their sport but athletes who have given back to their community.
Keith Munro has done that too raising about $800,000 for Toronto’s Variety Village from her swims among other fundraising events she’s been involved in over the years.
Keith Munro, who still holds 16 world records in marathon swimming, was asked what’s more difficult; swimming across a large lake or coaching another athlete in a marathon swim?
“They’re both challenging for different reasons but I think you have the opportunity to lose control of the situation when you’re coaching somebody else. You have to guess what’s going on sometimes, you have to put yourself in someone’s shoes to try and figure out what’s going on sometimes and that being there and not having complete control is more challenging.”
She said the most important thing to teach a young person is independence.
“To believe in themselves and then be able to take ownership of what activity they’re doing and to move it along to the best of their ability and I think if we give them the ability to believe in themselves, give themthe independence to work by themselves we’re giving them an opportunity to achieve great levels,” she said.
Keith Munro was born in Winnipeg and has lived in Ottawa, Pointe Claire, Quebec and Kingston when she moved here with her family while in high school.
He favourite thing to do is Kingston is to walk around downtown with her husband John.
“We love to walk Princess Street and just window shop, we love to go to Fort Henry. and be part of some of the ceremonies there and love to go to the waterfront and just spend time down by the water.”
And Lake Ontario is a body of water Keith Munro is quite familiar with.
Kingston’s Jayna Hefford is one of Canada’s most decorated hockey players, male or female.
It’s hard to beat five Olympic medals, four of them gold and in 12 World Championship appearances. She’s won seven gold medals and five silvers. In an 18-year career she has 157 goals and 291 points in 267 international games.
Retired from playing since 2015, Hefford has stayed in the game as a coach, league administrator, hockey camp director and once in a while, a hockey mom.
Hefford was born in Trenton but moved to Kingston with her family when she was young.
As a child she was wanted to play hockey but the opportunities for girls and women in Kingston in the late 1980s and 1990s were few and far between. So Hefford played both boys and girls hockey and eventually her dominant skill led her to Olympic glory and all those world championship medals.
In women’s professional hockey she led the Brampton Thunder of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League to three straight Clarkson Cup appearances and in 2008-09 she won the Angela James Bowl as the CWHL’s leading scorer. The CWHL now awards the Jayna Hefford Trophy to the league’s most outstanding player as voted on by the players.
Hefford is currently the commissioner of the CWHL which is currently on hiatus while Hefford and other board members try to make the women’s game more sustainable.
“It’s been a really good learning process I’d like to see the game from a lot of different angles and it’s been an interesting transition and I’m grateful to still be part of the game and I’m obviously passionate about it,” Hefford said during an interview about the various chapters of her hockey life.
“It’s been a big learning process but I can also say I’ve never been more optimistic for the future of the women’s game.” She said of the CWHL issues. “It’s been a challenging time certainly and difficult in certain ways but at the same time it’s a time for change for the sport.”
Women’s professional sports including women’s hockey needs more infrastructure and financial support behind it for it to be viable.
Hefford was only the sixth female hockey player to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame and recently was also inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame with another Kingston athlete, marathon swimmer Vicki Keith Munro.
Hefford said making the hockey hall in 2018 is the pinnacle of her hockey career and being named to the Canada Sports Hall of Fame is satisfying because she’s being honoured outside of her sport.
She calls the evolution of girls and women’s hockey over the last few years as incredible and with that many more women will be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame as Hefford was.
When she started playing there were only three three girls teams is Kingston. Now, at the INVISTA Centre, the Kingston Ice Wolves organization has hundreds of girls playing hockey in Kingston and an ice pad to call their own.
“Now to be walking into an arena on a weekend and see the place full of girls playing hockey,” she said. “It’s just nice to see how the game has grown and the most important thing it’s normal for girls to play, nobody thinks twice about it.”
“Women that came before me weren’t even allowed to play the game and now it’s completely normal.”
Hefford wouldn’t mind her three young children, Isla, 6 Lachlan 4 and Arwen, 2 to play hockey but Hefford said it’ll be up to them if they want to stay in the game.
“I want them to experience it, I consider it very Canadian, I consider skating much like riding a bike, It’s something I want them to learn to do.Whether they take it on as a sport they love or not is obviously something that’s totally up to them.”
Another mark Hefford has made on Kingston is her popular girls-only hockey school she runs at the Invista Centre with former Team Canada teammate Lori Dupuis.
The camp has sold out almost every of their 21 summers.
Hefford said it’s the only camp in Eastern Ontario where young girls can learn and experience being on the ice with national team players.
“Hopefully for them to get some really good instructions from women who play the game at a high level,” she said. “We wanted them to learn a little bit about hockey but it’s really about having some fun with the game and get a little bit better.”
“I love to come back to Kingston and give back a little bit in a small way to the community that I grew up and to see the girls there and the support I’ve had over the years is really nice. As long as there’s a demand there we’ll continue to run it.”
I’m a Kingstonian born and raised. I’ve always lived downtown, although my definition of downtown has definitely changed since I was a child. I run Mio Gelato and love being able to bring something fun and different to the Kingston dessert scene as well as spending time supporting many local causes. I keep a positive attitude, and more often than not you’ll see me with a smile on my face. I never thought I’d settle in Kingston, but now I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Read on to discover 10 of my favourite things in Kingston.
The beer garden at Amadeus. I consider this one of the best-hidden gems in Kingston. With a patio in the rear, you are hidden from the street, which is a nice change. Another bonus: it’s covered in beautiful green vines giving it a less city-centre feel.
Of all the markets in Kingston, this one is my go-to. I love the range of items available on any given Sunday. Plus, to my knowledge, there are no re-sellers here meaning everything is produced by those selling it!
I have the privilege of living in the McBurney Park neighbourhood and the community is always putting on wonderful things in the park. From smaller neighbourhood events like a parade on Halloween, or an egg hunt on Easter to larger events like the Skeleton Park Arts Festival, there is an amazing community feel surrounding our Park.
Another favourite is hanging out in Springer Market Square. During the summer, on non-market days, there are tables and chairs set up in the square. It’s the perfect place to sit and eat lunch or knit while I’m on break from work.
This is my group’s go-to location for any type of celebration, from birthdays to engagement announcements, we do it all at Tango! The Carne Picante is by far my favourite dish there and I would eat it every day if I could.
My favourite spa in Kingston is tucked behind the Scotiabank. This is my place for massages, shellac manicures and pedicures. The beautiful exposed limestone — pretty much a Kingston staple — and amazing service has me going back again and again.
Growing up in Kingston, I hated that I couldn’t go anywhere without running into some I knew. Now, I love it! It’s such a little thing that really makes Kingston home. Even if you don’t specifically run into someone, you can see others bumping into each other and stopping to chat on the city sidewalk.
68 Princess Street Easily my favourite sandwich in Kingston. It doesn’t hurt that they also have an amazing patio in the summer and make different feature cocktails depending on the season.
1-39 Montreal Street Kingston has an AMAZING scene of local makers and it’s delightful to be able to browse a selection of them in one location. Open Studio also does pop-up clothing shops where you can find a curated selection of second-hand clothes. As someone who loves the sustainability of second-hand but hates the time commitment of thrifting, these events are made for me!
Describe Kingston in 3 Words: Historic, Friendly, Creative What’s Kingston’s Theme Song:Blow at High Dough – The Tragically Hip Complete the sentence: Kingston makes me… grow.
As the weather warms in Kingston, we’re looking forward to summer months full of events! From Pickleball Championships to the Football Canada Cup and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CORK, read on to learn about the top five Summer sport events in YGK.
Kingston will play host to the 2019 and 2020 Pickleball National Championships; welcoming almost 1,000 participants from across Canada to the Invista Centre. “Pickleball is among Canada’s fastest growing sports and we see its popularity here in Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “We look forward to these exciting events growing the awareness and popularity of this great sport.” The tournament is expected to have an economic impact of $2 million to the city over two years.
The season will kick off in early July in Kingston at Queen’s University’s Richardson Stadium. Eight provincial teams from coast to coast – Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and host Ontario will play in Kingston to compete for gold in the national championships. The competition also showcases the top players in the country, and is the main recruiting event for USports programs.
Drop by Portsmouth Olympic Harbour for the 2019 World Sailing – ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships. This year, we’re expecting at least 200 participants from 29 countries. Athletes will have qualified in their own country to compete in this championship. Racing starts every day a noon with up to eight races per day. If you’re looking for a location to spectate, CORK recommends the waterfront pathway between Portsmouth Olympic Harbour to the Kingston Yacht Club and even on Wolfe Island.
Kingston will welcome at least 160 athletes from 31 confirmed countries around the world in August. Similar to the ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships, athletes will be in the younger age range of 13-17 years old. Many of the sailors return to Kingston year after year and have significant family ties to the sport. Keep your eye out for a few Kingston athletes representing Canada at this competition!
The Chess’n Math Association, the Chess Federation of Canada and the World Chess Federation will be hosting the 16th Annual North American Youth Chess Championships at Queen’s University. This will be the first time Kingston hosts a FIDE event and the fourth Canadian city to host this international 9 round tournament. Kingston will welcome players from Canada, United States and Mexico during the 6-day competition.
All Canadian music fans can trace some of their favourite acts back to the Limestone City. For local band Enrights, that history starts with a case of beer two years ago.
After their respective earlier bands shared a stage, Enrights guitarist Andrew Wright and frontman Jack McAvoy split some drinks and planned their next project—a high-energy indie act dedicated to their Canadian music heroes. Both students, they holed up in a free recording space over Reading Week, writing their first EP in “a couple of days” with no producer or label. The result was their first release, Dad Beers Vol. 1.
The record is a love letter to student life, filled with beer-soaked, party-ready indie rock tunes. Their next EP, Six Pack, followed later that year and the band’s voice came into sharper focus—heartfelt tracks crammed with references to local geography and real-life relationships.
Photo via Enrights Facebook
It’s a familiar story in Kingston’s music scene, where national acts often start with little more than a DIY attitude and some free time from school or work. For this city, catching a band like Enrights at local establishments like The Toucan or The Mansion is a bet on the future of country’s music scene.
For McAvoy, Kingston music fans’ support has been vital for the band. The city’s small enough for a community to form and nurture new artists, connecting the live acts and the promoters that make the city the home of Canadian music.
In the Enrights case, that support helped them share a stage with The Sam Roberts Band, Theory of a Deadman and The Trews within a couple of years of forming.
“Someone one will ask a local band to play a show and that local band can’t play it. They’ll say, ‘check out the Enrights; they’re good guys,’” McAvoy said.
Photo via Enrights Facebook
The band’s early success as a live act is a direct result of their bubbly energy on stage, channelling the spirit and improvised dance moves of a house party into the crowd-pleasing indie on their records. Since releasing their debut full-length album, Marathon, the band’s set their sights on expanding their fanbase, planning to tour Ontario on their way to releasing their sophomore LP.
Benefitting from a longer production timeline, their debut album is a more mature offering that retains the husky vocal delivery of earlier efforts while adding eye-watering harmonies. Lyrically, the beer and house parties of past records have taken a backseat to a newfound vulnerability. Album standouts like “Marathon” and “Dancing in the Rain” mine personal relationships for a relatable, surprisingly confessional record.
For a band raised on Canadian rock, it’s another step toward joining their influences on stages across the country. While other acts might only appear in Toronto or Vancouver, Wright said “We’re just surrounded by [Canadian music] … you can see your favourite bands for 10 or 15 bucks. That’s a treat.”
On that front, Kingston has built a reputation for a reason. Churning out great live acts is one thing, but all of them playing within a few blocks of each other is another. For Wright, following Gord Downie passing away—and more of the city’s musicians gaining traction—the musical hub is getting more attention.
With another album on the way and shows lined up for the summer, Enrights are just one of the acts building on the town’s legacy.
“We’ve gotten so lucky with the Kingston music scene,” McAvoy said.
As always, July has some heavy festival hitters this year, including Artfest and the Buskers Rendezvous at the beginning of the month and Taste of Kingston at the end. In between are three theatre festivals and Fort Henry’s annual tattoo.
Canada Day in Kingston
Sunday, June 30 – Monday, July 1, 2019
Downtown and Grass Creek Park
The Canada Day good times start on Sunday evening with a concert in Confederation Park headlined by Mauricio Montecinos & The Latin Beat Band. On Monday, seven artists play Confederation Park too, including local indie rockers The Wilderness at 9 pm. Elsewhere downtown, the Limestone Mile footrace returns, as does the People Parade. Out at Grass Creek Park, expect family-friendly activities like carnival games, a kite festival, and a DJ. Or you can just hang at the beach and build sandcastles. At 10 pm, head back to Confederation Park for the city’s biggest fireworks show of the year.
Free
Artfest Kingston
Until Monday July 1, 2019, 10 am – 6 pm
City Park
Canada Day also marks the last day of this weekend fest featuring over 200 artists from across Ontario and Quebec. Browse and buy their pottery, glass, wood, jewellery, and other creations, and then check out some live theatre and the 100-foot art mural. A few bands and poets are also expected, as is a First Nations art pavilion, a craft beer and wine tent, and programming for the kids.
Free
Kingston Buskers Rendezvous
Thursday, July 4 – Sunday, July 7, 2019
Downtown
The acrobats, contortionists, and fire-breathers return to Kingston for the 31st time this year. Catch them in four downtown areas: Market Square, Confederation Park, Princess Street, and Ontario Street. No doubt one of the big draws will be Denmark’s DynaMike, whose comedy show includes ninja-grade machete manipulations, a ten-foot unicycle, and chainsaw juggling. Whoever you see, though, remember to fill the hat — that’s how performers get paid.
Donation
One-Act Play Festival
Friday, July 5 – Saturday, July 6, 2019
Domino Theatre
This yearly juried theatre fest includes five short plays over two nights written and performed by local talent. Three judges choose which play goes on to the Eastern Ontario One-Act Festival in November in Perth, though you can help them decide if you see all five shows. The lineup this year includes three comedies, an improvised farce, and a family drama.
The second theatre fest this month really tries to push the boundaries of what theatre is, or could be. As an audience member, for instance, you might find yourself in a living room or even in a basketball game onstage. None of it’s kitschy, though. This is a professionally run three-week festival featuring award-winning Canadian performers and original, internationally award-winning works.
Prices vary
Storefront Fringe Festival
Friday, July 19 – Saturday, July 27, 2019
Downtown
Like other fringe fests around the world, this one is all about un-curated and uncensored experimental theatre. Eighteen shows are on the lineup this year, and they’ll happen over eight days in three empty downtown storefronts. Some of the theatre companies are from Kingston, but others are from elsewhere in Canada, the U.S., and England. One is San Diego’s Intrepid Theatre Company, which will perform “The Thousandth Night”, about an actor who gets arrested in occupied France in 1943.
$12 per show, plus a one-time $3 payment for a Fringe Pin
Fort Henry Annual Tattoo
Saturday, July 27, 2019, 7:30 pm
Fort Henry
Tattoos were once known as evening drum or bugle signals recalling soldiers to their quarters, but now they’re big musical and drill showcases open to the public. This annual one at Fort Henry’s Parade Square features various fife, brass, pipe, and drum acts, including the HMCS Ontario Band, The Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada, and The Commissioner’s Own Pipes and Drums of the Ontario Provincial Police. The evening will culminate in a massed band grand finale with fireworks.
$17 – $25 (free for kids 4 and under)
Taste of Kingston
Sunday, July 28, 2019, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
Confederation Park
Here’s your most efficient way to get a taste of Kingston’s award-winning food scene. Dozens of food vendors will be at this annual food fest offering up bite-sized creations that have, in the past, included everything from grilled cheese paninis to butter chicken to roasted garlic bruschetta. Tasting tickets are $1 each, but samples could require multiple tickets. All proceeds go to sending kids living with diabetes to Diabetes Canada’s D-Camps.
If you’re a fan of singer-songwriters, you’re definitely covered this month, as recent Indigenous Music Award-winner Mimi O’Bonsawin plays Musiikki, local up-and-comer Alexa Goldie is at The Mansion, and New York legend Willie Nile is on the Blu Martini stage.
Luscious
Friday, July 5, 2019, 10 pm
The Merchant Tap House
What was once The Brielle LeBlanc Band is now Luscious, a pop-rock cover band that plays everything from Led Zeppelin to Bruno Mars. The group packs some serious Kingston talent, including the always captivating LeBlanc, so it’s no wonder they’re becoming known as one of the most captivating and consistently fun cover bands in the city.
Free
Dave McGrath
Saturday, July 6, 2019, 2 pm
Spearhead Brewing Company
Every Saturday afternoon, Spearhead hosts different local musicians in its taproom, and this week its acoustic troubadour Dave McGrath. Born in Kingston and now living in Rochester, New York, McGrath plays a mix of blues, rock, and country covers and originals. If you like what you hear, you’ll have plenty of chances to see him again, as he plays over 200 shows a year throughout the region.
Free
Buckcherry
Tuesday, July 9, 2019, 8 pm
The Ale House
Can you believe that Buckcherry has released eight studio albums? It seems like yesterday the high-energy California rockers were hitting it big with the album “15”, which included early hits “Crazy Bitch” and “Sorry”. But that was over 12 years ago, and since then they’ve released four more albums, including this year’s “Warpaint”, which some are saying is their best since “15”.
$39.99
The Angelina Hunter Trio
Saturday, July 13, 2019, 9 pm
RCHA Club
This Ottawa-based trio is all about soul-infused blues rock punctuated by screaming guitar solos from Angelina Hunter. They released their first album last year, but they’ve been playing together for years, and you can hear that familiarity in the power of Hunter’s voice and the tightness of bassist Adam Bell and drummer Sandy Hunter. It’s no wonder they won the Ottawa Blues Society’s Road to Memphis competition in 2017.
$10
The Lionyls
Wednesday, July 17, 2019, 9 pm
The Mansion
The second Ottawa band on this list is the four-piece rock and soul outfit The Lionyls. They’ve been making crowds get up and groove all over the Ottawa Valley for over five years now, and have supported artists like Sam Roberts, Serena Ryder, and The Trews. This fall they’ll release their second album, which mixes elements from afrobeat, jazz, and hip hop with the band’s funk, soul, and rock roots.
$10 adv/$12 door
Mimi O’Bonsawin
Thursday, July 18, 2019, 8 pm
Musiikki Café
Contemporary roots songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin is coming off a big win at the Indigenous Music Awards this spring for Best Pop Album. Now the Northern Ontario-born artist is touring all over the province with her soulful voice and rich stories that often touch on her Abénakis and French-Canadian heritage. She says she writes songs with the intention of giving back and spreading the word about the merging of those two communities.
Pay what you can
Alexa Goldie
Friday, July 19, 2019, 7 pm
The Mansion
Kingston singer-songwriter Alexa Goldie has been writing her own music and performing around town since she was 12. Now the rising 20-year-old is set to release her debut country single “Take the Blame” at this all-ages Mansion show. She’ll also be playing other pop-country originals and covers with a full backing band.
$15 adv/$20 door
North Easton
Friday, July 19, 2019, 8 pm
Musiikki Café
North Easton is an award-winning songwriter from Ottawa with more than 1,000 songs to his name. You may have heard some of those tunes on radio, TV, and in independent films across the country over the past 20 years, but you’ll definitely want to hear them live, as the man has a gift for coupling thought-provoking lyrics with powerful, heartfelt vocals. Think Cat Stevens, Adam Duritz, and Don McLean.
Pay what you can
Willie Nile
Friday, July 26, 2019, 9:30 pm
Blu Martini
Willie Nile is a giant of American folk and rock, and may be one of the most underappreciated singer-songwriters of his generation. Soon after he began playing in the late 1970s in Greenwich Village, the New York Times called him “the most gifted songwriter to emerge from the New York folk scene in some while.” Today, his fans include Bruce Springsteen and Bono, and though he’s now 70 years old, he and his band still know how to blow the roof off any venue they play.
$20
Lotus Shaker
Friday, July 26, 2019, 10:30 pm
The Toucan
This four-piece Kingston rock band has been taking the city by storm for over a year with a mix of funky, dark covers and now original tunes, too. As they put it: “We play a variety of gut-wrenching, soul searching, rough-around-the-edges kind of music.” In other words, the perfect fit for a sweaty summer show at the intimate and gritty Toucan.
Free
Get the inside scoop on Kingston’s live music scene and check out the latest music festivals and events on our music site.
Kingston Live is a monthly podcast that offers up behind-the-scenes insight into the Kingston music scene. If you’re looking to learn more about the city’s emerging artists and where to see them play live, you’ll find it here! If you’re a resident music lover or visitor looking for the inside scoop on Kingston’s local music scene, it’s a perfect fit for you, too.
John and Riley mix it up this week by sitting down with members from two hard-hitting rock bands. They chat with Patrick and Tara of Hallowood as well as Mike of Days of Thieves. Hallowood has been performing in Kingston for five years and recently won 2018 Juvenis Festival Battle of the Bands. Days of Thieves is a hard rock band that shares the powerful spirit of bands like Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine despite only having two members: Guitarist and vocalist Mike Brown and drummer Kyle Cochrane.
Talking from the unique perspectives of performing hard rock to audiences in the limestone city, they discuss the culture behind the music they make, get very introspective about life in general and discuss how they represent their fans through music. “We see their problems and want to bring their plight to the forefront,” says Patrick. They also touch on how they use their websites for marketing. As with all Kingston Live guests, they share advice to any aspiring musicians.
The incredibly talented and loved, Miss Emily, has graced crowds around the world with her charm and mixture of pop, rock and blues. She touches on what it’s been like to work in a male-dominated industry and offers her advice to women, she shares how she became a full-time musician, who she’s met and worked with along the way (The Hip’s Rob Baker and Gord Sinclair!) and her new philanthropic initiative, M.I.K.E.S. (Music Industry Kingston Emergency Support). She also discusses what makes Kingston such a special town to work in as a musician, “I couldn’t be a full-time musician in Toronto and have a mortgage,” she says.
As always, your hosts list the latest live shows and where to catch them in the YGK.
Look out for new podcasts every month to stay up to date on the Kingston music scene! The Kingston Live podcast is syndicated to all major podcast platforms. Find them wherever you get your podcasts and make sure to subscribe: Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, TuneIn and Stitcher. You can also follow them on Instagram.
Home in the space once occupied by Stone City Ales, Something in the Water Brewing thrives on curiosity, creating drinks that are as inviting and delicious as they are unexpected. They started brewing in Toronto and expanded to Kingston in 2022, bringing their curious beverages to the limestone city. Their brand is centred around supporting swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water, as five cents from every can purchased goes to clean water initiatives across Canada, and all their beers are named after their favourite bodies of water.
What to try:Painted Lake Peach Crisp Berliner Weisse:sweet peaches meet classic sour wheat beer for a taste of gently tart peach juice.
The brews available at Riverhead walk the line between traditional and adventurous, with varieties that offer something for everyone’s palate. Seasonal brews round out Riverhead’s offerings, often echoing the local climate and the time of the year. The restaurant side is as thoughtfully curated as their beer selections, with shareables and “Brew Pizza” reflecting the company slogan, “Adventurously Brewed.”
What to try:the Tropical IPA: this well-balanced IPA is layered with multiple hop additions to achieve the desired citrus and tropical fruit characteristics.
Founded in 2011, Spearhead’s mantra is “Beer without Boundaries” and it’s reflected with their mainstay brews including a New England IPA, Big Kahuna Imperial IPA, Queen of Wheat, and Hawaiian Style Pale Ale. During the year, they play host to events like live music, trivia, and open mic nights, comedy shows, and happy hour. Stop by their patio during the summer for sips with friends.
What to try: Hawaiian Style Pale Ale. As the name suggests, this bold, hoppy West Coast pale ale is brewed Hawaiian style – with pineapple. It’s naturally carbonated, unfiltered and dry-hopped to provide delicate carbonation and complex flavour.
Housed in an 1800s telegraph office, Kingston Brewing Company is packed to the rafters with assorted beer memorabilia. It’s best known for its beer, its laid-back vibe, and the gorgeous, private patio in the old carriageway beside the pub. Established in 1986, the Kingston Brewing Company is Ontario’s oldest brewpub. The food is pub standard with unique twists and beer used in many of the recipes. Visit their Bottle Shop next door to purchase your favourite brews to go.
What to try: The Whitetail Cream Ale, golden in colour using malts and hops to make it a clean, crisp, full-bodied ale. Pair it with the KBC Royale with Cheese – a 6oz beef burger with bacon, American cheese, Royale sauce, lettuce, onions, and pickles.
Skeleton Park Brewery’s owner and brewmaster comes from a family of brewers and bootleggers that goes back three generations. The current generation of brothers have over 45 years of brewing experience. The name (and playful dog logo) pay homage to Kingston’s Skeleton Park. Their brews are based on tradition and reimagine long-lost brews from Kingston’s past.
What to try: the Amber 6.6, a well-balanced European-style amber ale. This style of big-bodied, high- ABV ale was popular among the hard-working men and women of Kingston’s past.
Just down the road in historic Bath, the MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company brews on the 1,400-acre farm that has been in the family since 1784. Brothers Ivan and Daniel renovated century-old barns to house the equipment and planted hops and malting barley in the surrounding fields. The character and history of the place shines through in every glass. In the summer, they host the popular festival Back to the Farm; a day-long celebration with beer, food trucks, and live music!
What to try: the Red Fox Summer Ale, an easy drinking ale with a distinct colour and flavour from the addition of beets. The Citra hops deliver a foxy, citrus bitterness.
The Daft Brewing team started this project with the hope of creating something great – transforming an old car garage into a West-coast style taproom/brewery. Its mission is to create an ever-changing array of beer, maintain a steady stream of collaborations, and cultivate a community gathering spot in the Williamsville neighbourhood. Visit the taproom or check out the new Daft Wandering Bar at events in Kingston for some damned good beer.
What to try: Lemongrab, a mint lemonade sour beer made with lemon zest, fresh mint, and lactose milk sugar. It is a tart and creamy beer for easy drinking.
This brewery was founded on the philosophy that life and beer require balance to be at their best. And finding that balance is as personal as finding a beer you love. That’s why they’re constantly brewing new releases made with carefully sourced high-quality ingredients to pour pints that are as unique as the people who drink their beer. Visit their taproom on the weekend for a tour of the brewery – just ask at the bar.
What to try: any of theGelato Sours. Their vision for the Gelato Sour series was to make a creamy, lightly soured, fruit-forward beer that is both thirst-quenching and as satisfying as gelato in the August sun.
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