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Canadian music’s next generation finds a home

Kingston’s up-and-comers and hidden gems talk live shows and community.

The state of Kingston’s local music scene is a preview of the Junos a few years later — this city sets the course for Canadian music, year-in and year-out.
The Limestone City isn’t just known for its prisons and its university — this is where Bryan Adams was born, and Gord Downie strummed his first guitar. Any given night, there’s enough up-and-coming live shows in a three block radius to guarantee a pub-crawl.

The Wilderness

One of those bands is The Wilderness, who formed three years ago in the cramped doorway of a café following an open mic night. The band’s spent years hopping between the city’s pubs before piling into a van and crisscrossing North America.

Despite all the traction, their lead singer, Jonas Lewis-Anthony couldn’t play at their last show: the crowd had put down their beers to sing the bridge to The Wilderness’ “81 South”.

“I had to stop playing. I just said, ‘you guys do this. This is the best moment of my life.’”

Written while Lewis-Anthony was completely “miserable” on tour in Atlanta, the song is the final track on the band’s debut album. “81 South” and the other tunes making up Saxton’s River are the kind of danceable anthems that soundtrack break-ups and road trips in equal measure.

The band channels all that urgency into their live-show, putting on concerts that add up to three-hour marathon sessions for bar crowds. In these shows, the band pushes itself to match the crowd’s energy as keyboard player Liam Neale makes improvised percussion solos on everything from bar stools to empty kegs to Lewis-Anthony’s chest.

In moments like this, a local band starts to climb to the next level of their career.

“Maybe we’re big fishes in small ponds,” Lewis-Anthony said. “But when you see bands do good things in Kingston and start [to] take them way further, it gives you that sense, ‘It’s totally achievable.’”

Kasador

That extends to stadium shows at the K-Rock Centre, where local band and Juno winners The Glorious Sons headlined their hometown arena for the first time.

In that show, local openers Kasador didn’t seem too far behind.  Formed at Queen’s University, the band offers powerfully relatable stories told over melodic, radio-ready choruses.

For one, their latest single, “Skelton Park”, takes its name from a local park but throws it together with an earworm hook that the audience picks up on close to immediately. It’s music you sing along to, whether you’re having a drink at a pub or crowd surfing in the K-Rock Centre.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJZ3a3e6nsY

“Something about this city has a better depth of creativity that gets smothered in a bigger city,” guitarist Cam Wyatt said. “[There’s] something freeing about being in a smaller city.”

According to him, part of that’s the lack of traffic. The show he played opening for The Glorious Sons was walking distance from where he lived — along with all the other venues and pubs offering live music. It’s that closeness that makes the music scene so supportive of young musicians who are just beginning their careers.

While the music community benefits from its big-city neighbours’ influence, it’s the tight-knit community that lets live music thrive in Kingston, according to Wyatt.

It all comes down to four words: “I can walk there,” he said.

Kris and Dee

Folk musicians Kris and Dee are one of those community members that make the music scene what it is. They’re established artists that sing intimate, evocative folk songs.

Recording their music at the Tragically Hip’s Bathhouse recording studio, they write intricately woven harmonies that can make a crowd go quiet.

“Our music is so intimate that it needs a certain kind of audience and a certain kind of place,” Dee McNeil said.

While the city can still play to raucous university crowds, Kris and Dee find a home in quieter, more personal spaces. Their music can be dark but it lives off a sense of community, grounded in the city around them.

“There’s an underlying current of hope. And not just hope but a little bit of kick-ass,” Kris Abbot said about the duo’s music.

That goes double for the city’s up-and-coming musicians.

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The Limestone Roots of Canadian Music

Ask anyone: the history of Canadian music starts every chapter on a stage in Kingston, Ontario.  
In a vast country, spread out with distant cities and a range of sounds and people, Kingston’s the glue. It’s a town where Celtic-punk bands share a home address with understated folk singers, and music legends hit a pub to catch up-and-coming artists.
It punches above its weight and shapes our national music scene, whether its being the birthplace of Bryan Adams or where the Tragically Hip’s members first met.
In The Hip’s early years Gord Downie said as much to Queen’s University’s campus paper, The Queen’s Journal.
“This place shaped who and what we’ve become,” he said. “We learned how to perform in front of students and locals alike in campus pubs and local dives. We saw early on how music has the power to move people and bring them together.” 
What Downie called The Hip’s “high-energy dance music” was only one highlight for city making live music history. For every stadium headlining rock band, there’s another artist ready to leave their mark.

Photo by Adam Correia

After the Tragically Hip introduced themselves on the national stage in the ‘80s, alternative rockers The Headstones signed to MCA in 1993 and brought their own intense, hard-rocking chops front and centre.
Songs like “Smile and Wave” reflected a harder, grungier element to the Canadian music scene while retaining the solid song writing the country’s music was known for. Contemporaries The Mahones likewise impacted the country’s music scene as their punk influences meshed with traditional Celtic music.
Others followed: in 1994, Canadian singer songwriter Sarah Harmer began her music career in earnest as a student at Queen’s University. Six short years later her sophomore solo album, You Were Here, went platinum in Canada — three more albums featuring Harmer’s parse, elegantly melodies followed, solidifying her position as a world-class musician.
Fellow Queen’s students Bedouin Soundclash met while attending the school in 2001. Soon after the band’s unique blend of ska, reggae and alternative rock was sound tracking college radio stations and dorms rooms across the country.
Now, the Glorious Sons have followed in the city tradition of local acts becoming national bands. They raked in the 2018 Juno award for Best Rock Album — proving their hometown hasn’t lost its knack for churning out great musicians.
Dave Mcnmarra, owner of live music fixture the Merchant Taphouse, was one of the locals who helped the band get underway.
He says the sheer amount of Kingston bands make it easy to host live music.
“Kingston has it really great because we can stay local. I must [book] 90 to 95 per cent local bands,” he said. “Not many cities can do what we do here, and that’s because there’s so many good bands here in Kingston. A lot of touring bands ask, ‘Why can’t you hire us?’”
He only has one answer. While the Merchant has seen plenty of bankable Canadian artists come through its doors, Kingston has a ready supply of up-and-comers to take the stage on any given night.

“We have so much local talent and they have a following. We come from one of the best live music cities in Canada — I believe — with [this] amount of talent. Bands from other cities don’t get that,” he said.
“They’re not from Kingston. They don’t understand how many great bands we have here.”
Travis Blackmore, the owner of The Embassy, agrees. He opened the pop-up music café on Saturday nights in St. Georges Cathedral so music fans and those living on the margins could enjoy the best of Kingston’s artists together.
“One thing in common with everybody: whether you’re poor, whether you’re rich, whether you don’t even speak English. Music is in every language. It’s universal,” he said.

According to him, much of the venue’s success comes from it staying competitive with other, more traditional venues in Kingston. While remaining a dry venue, The Embassy opens early enough so other attendees can watch hometown favorites before hitting the bars and the rest of the city.
It’s just another step for a music scene that has repeatedly set the terms for Canada’s music history — while rocking a live venue.
“Kingston in general already has a reputation for being a music hub. The Tragically Hip are from here. Bryan Adams was born here. You got new bands just smashing it: The Glorious Sons are killing it,” Blackmore said.
For Kingstonians, it’s not a secret: music history is written in the careers of the city’s live musicians. Each generation takes it a step further than its predecessors — all with a great live show.

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Kingston’s Finest, Ranked

Artist performs at Tir Nan Og

A stroll through Kingston is the story of Canadian music with the director’s commentary on—it’s a city with history.

When they step on stage, Kingston’s up-and-coming musicians know who they’ll be measured against: stadium-filling rock stars, respected singer-songwriters and national icons.

For most, it’s not pressure—it’s a promise of what the city can offer.

A main drag like Princess Street is an informal musical hall of fame and you can’t help but pick favourites.

 

6. Bryan Adams

Bringing up the rear, Adams brought Canadian music to the world stage in the ‘80s. Hits like “Run to You” and “Summer of ’69” were inescapable when they topped charts and are a still radio staples.

Doubters may say he was only born in Kingston—don’t buy it. Bryan Adams is as interwoven with his birthplace’s music scene as the limestone buildings.

When he takes the stage in town and changes the lyrics of “Alberta Bound” to be about Kingston, it’s clear where the song belongs. A long-running career like this doesn’t happen by accident, or without Kingston roots.

Track to check out: Summer of ’69

5. The Headstones

These hard rockers may have never had Bryan Adams’ ticket sales, but outsiders like them are the reason Kingston left its mark on music.

The Headstones are right out of a garage rock fantasy: punchy electric guitars crackle alongside stand out performances from charismatic frontman Hugh Dillon. Their songs may not have had other Kingston artists’ reach, but they’re the reason a legion of teenagers picked up guitars and formed bands.

With controversial and taboo lyrics backed up by serious musical chops, The Headstones belong on any list of Canada’s best.

Track to check out: When Something Stands For Nothing

4. Bedouin Soundclash

When the laidback groove of “When The Night Feels My Songs” hit the radio over a decade ago it meant one thing: you had a new favourite song.

Bedouin Soundclash, formed at Queen’s University, is a lesson in the big returns of a little experimentation. Their combination of ska, reggae and indie introduced a new generation to the city and redefined what the local music scene was capable of.

Infectious melodies and choruses meant they became a fixture for the country’s music fans and an easy example of what some university students could do, given the chance and the instruments.

Track to check out: Walls Fall Down

3. Sarah Harmer

When she plucks the first notes of one of her swelling folk ballads, there’s no competition. With flares of inspiration, Sarah Harmer established her self as one of the country’s preeminent singer-songwriters by mastering the fundamentals.

She writes evocative, plaintive melodies that can quiet a room. These songs can be confessional but they never come off stale. Harmer’s hit a difficult balance between innovating and her roots, playing songs that lighten a hard time without losing any of her signature gravitas.

It’s lyricism that leaves an impact.

Track to check out: I Am Aglow

2. The Glorious Sons

With a Juno in tow and a gig opening for the Rolling Stones, it’s clear The Glorious Sons are following in the steps of their hometown predecessors.

They have stirring choruses but they’re paired with confessional lyrics that tell the listener this means something. These songs have the strength of a classic rock tune with the crowd-pleasing accessibility of a contemporary hit.

A Glorious Sons song feels important. It’s not painted-on affectation. It’s genuine: this is what a great band sounds like for the 21st century.

Track to check out: Everything Is Alright

1. The Tragically Hip

We all knew who had the top spot.

They’ve inspired generation after generation of Canadian musicians. They grew from campus act to local heroes to national icons. They did it here.

A walk through Kingston is a walk through the Hip’s catalogue: the city is covered in their fingerprints. Everything from the Skeleton Park to a wall of graffiti to the waterfront has inspired the Hip and re-established what being a great Canadian artist means, time and again.

The Tragically Hip carried their hometown with them on every tour, and now Kingston’s returning the favour.

Track to check out: Bobcaygeon

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Kingston’s up-and-coming artists hit downtown

Kingston Live Music

If there’s one thing to remember about Kingston, it’s live music.

It’s the kind of town where nearly everyone can tell you their first encounter with an up-and-coming artist who turned into a cross-country headliner. For one, a city that produces The Tragically Hip never forgets its local bands.

Kingston Live Music

Here’s a list of next year’s award nominees and best of list contenders — and when a city of music fans picks a winner, the rest of Canada takes note.

Julia Finnegan

While singer-songwriters abound, Julia Finnegan is different.

She writes richly composed folk songs, filled with nods to her influences — icons like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.

Her 2015 EP, Thoughts Collide enjoyed significant play on CBC Radio on its release and Kingston music fans have been keen to support her ever since.

They’re evocative tunes that only a young artist is capable of pulling off.  The melodies balance earnest, confessional lyrics with playful melodies strummed out on an acoustic guitar and backed by the occasional band.

It’s the kind of talent that quiets the room and leaves you asking when the second EP comes out.

Julia Finnegan
Photo via Julia Finnegan Facebook

Paper Ladies

The first chords of “Promises” tell you everything you need to know. 

Low-fi guitars reverberate over a droning bass riff and it still manages to be the catchiest thing you’ve heard in the last few months.

Paper Ladies write danceable grooves behind a wall of sound. The band oozes festival-ready jams, perfect for a hazy summer day on a smaller stage before music nerds snatch their tunes up for a “best-of” playlist.

Track to check out: Promises

Paper Ladies Band
Photo via Paper Ladies Facebook

JIMBO

Behind the driving blues licks, jam band experimentation and guitar hero solos, JIMBO is a gateway drug into hard rock.

Formed as a campus band, they’ve spent every week playing gigs in Kingston. They alternate between The Brooklyn, The Toucan and The Mansion and friends’ backyards — on top of playing every other venue they can find.

Their shows are unpredictable: the bandmates constantly improvise riffs and solos, bouncing off each other and the audience to make a unique live experience.

The band tends to balance their noise-filled, hard-driving sound with on-stage banter. They’ll ask for tips so they can go out for ice cream or launch into long but quirky anecdotes describing the band’s sound.

JIMBO’s a throwback, thriving off an open-minded music scene and their classic rock heroes.

JIMBO
Photo via JIMBO Facebook

The Meringues

If anyone’s on their phone at a Meringues gig, they won’t be for long.

The tension and release as the band’s two lead singers, Ted Evans and Amanda MacLean, trade-off vocal duties can almost seem like a fight. Their performance demands attention from their audience, almost off pure energy.

Luckily, the band’s punk attitude blends with tightly written hooks to make for a wild live show.

With their debut album to be released this Fall, it’s the perfect time to catch the Meringues in their hometown, at least to remind everyone you heard them first.

The Meringues
Photo via The Meringues Facebook
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13 Can’t-Miss Concerts in Kingston This September

Frank Turner

From Shaggy to Chicago, Cancer Bats to Cadence Weapon, September’s concert lineup is one of the most diverse so far this year.

 

Shaggy – Kingston Family Fun Fest

Saturday, September 8, 2018, 7 pm

Base Gym, CFB Kingston

Since bursting onto the dancehall reggae scene in the 90s, Shaggy went on to become one of the genre’s most commercially successful artists. His 1995 album “Bombastic” won Best Reggae Album of the Year at the Grammys, and in 2000, “Hot Shot,” which features the singles “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel,” was certified platinum six times in the U.S. All of which is to say that the man knows how to craft party anthems and pop hooks that will stay in your hips and your head long after the curtain falls.

Tickets are $20

Shaggy
Photo via Wiki Creative Commons

Chicago

Tuesday, September 11, 2018, 8 pm

Leon’s Centre

You’d think that after selling more than 100 million records, crafting 21 Top 10 singles and having five consecutive number one albums, Chicago might slow down a bit. But no. The “rock and roll band with horns,” as they describe themselves, have been touring for 51 consecutive years without missing a single concert date. And in Kingston, don’t be surprised if the nine-member band brings almost as much energy and roof-blowing rock they did in their first years of touring.   

Tickets are $59.50 – $99.50

Chicago at the Leon's Centre
Photo via Chicago Facebook

Joel Quarrington and The Isabel String Quartet

Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7 pm

The Isabel

First up in a six-concert series is one of the finest double bass players in the world. Quarrington has been the principal double bassist with the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the famous London Symphony Orchestra. Starting with Bach and Beethoven, he’ll join the Isabel String Quartet and move to Dvorak’s String Quartet, Opus 77.

Tickets are $10 – $28

Joel Quarrington
Photo via Fred Cattroll

Cancer Bats

Thursday, September 20, 2018, 7 pm

The Mansion

In just 13 years, this widely acclaimed hardcore punk band from Toronto has released five studio albums, been nominated for three Juno Awards and toured the globe a number of times. This fall they’re touring Canada and Europe in support of their sixth studio release, The Spark That Moves. You’ll likely hear a variety of heavy metal subgenres in their music and even a few elements of Southern rock.     

Tickets are $25

Cancer Bats
Photo via FlickrCC

Sam Weber

Thursday, September 20, 2018, 7 pm

The Toucan

This Vancouver Island singer-songwriter has a sound that mixes driving rock, dream pop and roots influences. He’s been touring independently and internationally since 2013, though he was turning heads well before that. In a 2012 Guitar Player magazine feature, his guitar work was described as “killer, full of nuance, soul and a truly unique voice.” His live shows combine heartfelt songwriting, world-class musicianship and three-part harmony.

Ticket price TBD

Sam Weber
Photo via Sam Weber Facebook

The Barr Brothers

Friday, September 21, 2018, 7:30 pm

The Grand Theatre

Though this Montreal outfit is clearly rooted in Delta blues, Celtic and Appalachian folk, their melodies and hooks fit right in with modern bands like My Morning Jacket and The War on Drugs. Their popularity has soared since 2011, and they’ve ridden it to sold-out theatre shows across North America and Europe. Their guitars and banjos and stand-up bass should sound like gold on The Grand’s mainstage.     

Tickets are $23.50 – $28.50

The Barr Brothers
Photo via Mike Bouchard FlickrCC

OKAN

Friday, September 21, 2018

The Grad Club

The word “okan” means “soul” in the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, and this Toronto duo will bring heaps of it to The Grad Club’s tiny stage. Blending jazz, Afro-Cuban and world rhythms, singer Elizabeth Rodriguez and drummer Magdelys Savigne say their music looks to the roots of Cuban music “with a modern and fresh touch.” They were both born in Cuba and were classically trained, later winning Juno Awards with other groups.  

Ticket price TBD

OKAN

Ken Yates – Live Wire Music Series

Friday, September 21, 2018, 7:30 pm

The Octave Theatre

The bi-annual Live Wire Music Series is back, and emerging singer-songwriter Ken Yates is kicking things off. Since winning Songwriter of the Year at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Yates has become one of the more talked about folk artists in the country. And like any good folkie, his sound is all about good melodies, emotional lyrics and strong guitar chops. His latest album, Huntsville, was produced by Jim Bryson at Kingston’s North of Princess Recording Studio.       

Tickets are $25

Ken Yates
Photo via Josh Bruder

McGill Symphony Orchestra

Sunday, September 23, 2018, 2:30 pm

The Isabel

This special concert will give you a sneak listen of some of the top young classical musicians in the country. Often heard on CBC, the McGill Symphony Orchestra has played Carnegie Hall, Koerner Hall and regularly performs at the Montreal Nouvelle Musique Festival. In Kingston, their repertoire will include Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op. 92; Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11; and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98.

Ticket price TBD

McGill Symphony
Photo via Tam Lan Truong

Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls

Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 7 pm

Ale House

The star of UK folk rocker Frank Turner has been rising ever since 2008, when he led a now-famous sing-along at the Reading Festival. He and his backing band have gone to headline shows all over the world with their earnest folk songwriting, catchy melodies and punk passion. No doubt he’ll be leading anthemic sing-alongs at Ale House of older hits like “Recovery” and “If I Ever Stray,” and new ones like “1933,” from his recent album Be More Kind.

Tickets are $35

Frank Turner
Photo via Wiki Creative Commons

Michael C. Duguay

Thursday, September 27, 2018, 8:30 pm

The Mansion

Thankfully this former globetrotting multi-instrumentalist has made Kingston his new home because his sound is a breath of fresh air for the local indie scene. It’s tough to pin down that sound, but it’s deeply textured, at times bordering on old folk, at others on fist-pumping rock, with electronic elements, horns and strings thrown in to create a lush sonic landscape. The intimate Mansion should be a great venue to let those sonics wash over you.   

Tickets are $12/advance, $15/door

Michael C Duguay
Photo via Michael Duguay Facebook

Cadence Weapon

Friday, September 28, 2018, 10 pm

The Grad Club

National Post once called Cadence Weapon Canada’s “most creative” rapper, and it’s easy to hear why.  The former Edmonton poet laureate is known for his dense and tricky productions that incorporate heavy techno and electronic beats. His new self-titled album combines trap, funk, electro, techno and grime, while his words explore individuality, race, technology, and existentialism.   

Tickets are $15/advance, $18/door

Cadence Weapon
Photo via Martin Carthrae FlickrCC

Busty & The Bass – Fall for Kingston

Saturday, September 29, 2018

City Park

Fall for Kingston is a Hospice Kingston fundraiser with all-day music, craft beer, local food and local artisans. Montreal’s Busty and the Bass will headline with their unique mix of electro-soul and hip hop. The nine-piece band started by playing packed house parties and have moved on to live shows across North America and Europe. With two vocalists, a horn section and plenty of solid beats, you’ll definitely want to dance at this one.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate entrance

Fall For Kingston
Photo via Busty and the Bass

Experience the sights, sounds and colours of fall in Kingston with perfect accommodation packages, so you can stay and play in style. Check out our Packages page for more details or to book your fall getaway now.

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Kingston’s Beautiful Breakwater Park

Gord Downie Pier and the beach at Breakwater Park have been closed and will remain closed for the remainder of the 2020 season. The rest of Breakwater Park is open for use. Learn more.

When you walk along King Street’s waterfront on a beautiful summer day, you will see a crowd of summer-loving beachgoers of all ages shaking out their towels, jumping into Lake Ontario, holding their toddler’s hands as they wade and splash into the shallow pebble beach, friends digging into their box lunches from Juniper Cafe (it’s just around the corner) or walking hand-in-hand over the pedestrian bridge towards Gord Edgar Downie Pier. It’s a sight that truly encompasses the spirit of summer in a city that values its access to Lake Ontario.

Today, Breakwater Park can be used by just about anyone for anything. There are grassy hills to enjoy a picnic, lots of sand for the full Kingston beach experience, a pier to make cannonballs off of over and over again as well as a shallow area perfect for young kids who might still need water wings. If you’re not much of a swimmer but like long walks or like to walk your dog with a view, you can do that here with the soothing sound of the waves crashing on the rocks in the background. It’s exactly what Kingston needs. A place for everyone to enjoy — from parasailers to sunbathers and everything in between.

In 2017, the “Great Lakes Challenge” encouraged communities to restore the lakes and that led to a $500,000 donation from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to the Gord Edgar Downie Pier (located across the pedestrian bridge.) Once this donation was made, further funding from the City of Kingston and the provincial and federal governments helped broaden the scope of park improvements. This redevelopment is part of the Kingston Waterfront Master Plan and puts Kingston on the map as Canada’s first urban natural swimming pier.

If you’re wondering how the pier earned its name, The Tragically Hip’s late lead singer, Gord Downie, lived across from the original pier and was a board member and Swim Drink Fish ambassador. Swim Drink Fish is an organization that strives to sustain swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for everyone. They educate to empower people to safeguard their waters. Their efforts through Lake Ontario Waterkeeper launched in June 2001.  Sixteen years later once the Breakwater Park project was underway, Kingston City Council voted unanimously to name the renovated dock after Downie. The name “Edgar” was included in the naming of the pier to honour Downie’s father. His brother, Patrick, explained to reporters that it was a fitting tribute and that the park “has been the backdrop of our entire family life and the one constant through the good times and the bad. When we think of home, this beautiful piece of shoreline is what we think of.”

Thanks to all of the incredible efforts in restoring this site and making it a leader in swimmable, drinkable, fishable water, restoration, this shoreline will continue to be the backdrop to amazing memories for Kingstonians and visitors for years to come. 

Check out more Kingston beaches to add to your list!

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Behind the Iron Bars: Exploring Kingston Penitentiary

Kingston Penitentiary Tours

When I think of the Kingston Penitentiary, I think of all of the stories it must house of some of Canada’s most dangerous minds. As the saying goes, “if the walls could talk.” If only! But seven years after closing its doors, the Kingston Pen Tours offer the next best thing to knowing the in and outs of the former maximum security facility. With access to knowledgeable employees who worked at the Kingston Pen for most of their careers, those who are curious about the Kingston Pen can get the lowdown on the experience of inmates and employees.

© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg

When I arrive 15 minutes before my scheduled tour, I fill out a quick waiver and review the safety procedures for 2020, which include a health self-assessment, mandatory face covering when indoors, and physical distancing throughout the tour. Our guide Emily greets our group of 10 people and leads us to the first stop, the Private Family Visit room which has been preserved — minus the bolted down tables that were there when inmates still occupied the facility. Actually, on almost every stop of the tour, they’ve preserved each space to be as close to what it was like when inmates lived at the Pen as possible — right down to the graffiti that remains on the walls.

Along with the authentic ambience, we are filled in with fun facts from the mid-1800s. For example, the bell in the tower rung at the beginning of the prisoner’s work day and at the end and if it rang anytime in between it meant that someone escaped. But did you know that employees had to live within earshot of the bell to be hired at the Kingston Pen?

© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg

Part way through our tour, retired Recreation Officer, Garth, who spent 20 years working at the Pen takes us on the extended tour. The bonus of the extended tour is the personal insight that former employees like Garth can add to the experience. For example, are you familiar with Ty Conn? He was the last inmate to escape the Kingston Pen in 1999. Guess who was working there at the time? Garth, of course. Garth can paint a picture in almost every room of what it was like to work behind the iron bars, from the performers that would grace the Gymnasium stage like Tommy Hunter and Rich Little to the crafts and artwork the inmates would create (wallets, jewellery, paintings, etc). The empty spaces are filled with Garth’s anecdotes as we walk from room-to-room and he has a unique take on his experience, “It’s like watching history through the prison system,” he says. Adding that most people don’t believe the stories he’s shared of his time at Kingston Pen.

© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg
© 2016 Lars Hagberg

I have to admit that this was my second time on the Kingston Pen tour but the first time on the extended tour and I really appreciated the intimate access the extended tour offers. The main tour is awesome but the larger group restricts the candid conversations and while the tour guides are incredibly informed, they can’t speak from personal experience.

Besides the anecdotes and conversations with Garth, I really enjoyed taking in the beautiful architecture of the Pen. The vaulted, brick-laid ceilings and exposed limestone are truly remarkable to see. After years and years of being closed to the general public, it’s a privilege to have access to such a historical sight!

The 2020 Kingston Pen Tours season runs until October 31. Tickets and packages are on sale now.

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Touring the Kingston Pen: What to Expect

Kingston Penitentiary

For close to 200 years, it has loomed on the Canadian waterfront, dark and mysterious — the stuff of legends. Home to some of the country’s most notorious criminals, it housed thieves and murderers whose names were splashed across every newspaper in the country. People who pass by whisper about the secrets held within its impressive architecture, but rarely would law-abiding citizens understand what life was really like on the inside. All that has now changed, and today a fascinating tour will give you a glimpse down the infamous halls of Kingston Penitentiary.

A 1.5-hour journey through the inner workings of Canada’s oldest maximum security prison, including cell ranges, solitary confinement, and the recreation yard awaits you on the tour. So much more than just a walk-through, the Kingston Pen is a must-see for anyone interested in criminology, Canadian history, or just unusual places and experiences.

Inside Kingston Penitentiary
The Pen tour gives guests an inside look at life behind bars.
Photographer Lars Hagberg

Tales of riots and daring escapes will enthrall you, as your eyes take in the vast magnificence of the stone construction. Former correctional officers, along with a knowledgeable guide, paint a vibrant picture of daily prison life. The Pen officially closed its doors as a working prison in 2013, so as you wander the sprawling complex you’ll be able to imagine what it was like for prisoners who resided here less than a decade ago.

For the true crime enthusiast, the extended tour is a full 2.5 hours with a smaller tour group and includes visits to never-before-seen areas such as the laundry room and prison hospital. Guests requiring additional accessibility can now choose from tours with special services to accommodate those with limited mobility, hearing loss, and blindness or partial sight. French-language options are also available.

Kingston Penitentiary – Sample Cell

Whether you choose the standard or extended experience, this walking tour is sure to work up an appetite. In keeping with the prison theme, indulge in a decadent “last meal”, such as steak frites at Chez Piggy, or seafood poutine at Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse. Downtown Kingston – with a huge variety of tasty, locally sourced eateries — is a mere 8-minute drive from the doors of the Pen.

To guarantee your entry to KP, it’s best to plan ahead. Tickets for both versions of the tour are available online. For maximum comfort during your experience, make sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring a water bottle, and stash a hat or some sunscreen for the outdoor portion of the tour.

With so much to see and do in Kingston, a day trip to visit the Pen can easily be transformed into a whirlwind stay of memorable sights and delicious bites. If you’re interested in the historical, mysterious side of the Limestone City, a stay at the Secret Garden Inn or Hotel Belvedere will complement your activities perfectly.

Kingston Penitentiary gate
Conveniently located on Kingston’s historic waterfront, the Pen can be the centrepiece of an amazing trip! Photographer Lars Hagberg

Know a history or crime buff who deserves the ultimate in immersive experiences? Consider pairing a Pen tour with a visit to back to 1867 at Fort Henry, or one of Kingston’s heart-pounding escape rooms, such as Improbable Escapes or Sherlock’s Escapes to live out your very own prison break! And for fans of all things mysterious and macabre, the Haunted Walk of Kingston is an excellent way to keep things spooky after visiting the Pen.

Whatever your areas of interest, walking the famed halls of Canada’s most notorious prison will capture the imagination and provide a new perspective on our national history. Landmarks of this size and calibre are often found in far-flung areas, requiring special transport and expensive admission in order to experience them. However, admission to the Kingston Pen is not only affordably priced and easily accessible, it’s located smack-dab in the centre of a lively, exciting city that’s an experience all its own.

Kingston Pen Tours run until October 31. Visit Kingston Pen Tour for more information and to book your visit.

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9 Can’t-Miss Concerts This August in Kingston

This month’s hottest tickets include Cold Creek County at Springer Market Square, Yukon Blonde at Wolfe Island Music Festival, and The Rural Alberta Advantage at MacKinnon Brothers Brewing’s annual field party.

Cold Creek County – Rockin’ The Square

Friday, August 3, 2018, 8 pm

Springer Market Square

Kick off the August long weekend with a good helping of country rock at this free show in Springer Market Square. Formed in 2013, Brighton’s Ontario’s Cold Creek County is quickly making a name for themselves, earning four Canadian Country Music Association Award nominations and winning 2017 Group of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Rising country star — and Kingston native — Abby Stewart will open the show.

Free

Cold Creek Country

Seaway

Friday, August 3, 2018

The Mansion

In just seven years, Seaway has emerged as one of Toronto’s most important pop-punk bands. And they’ve paid their dues to get here, touring extensively in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan alongside Neck Deep, Knuckle Puck, Silverstein and others. Their newest album, “Vacation,” shows a growing maturity, but it still gives listeners the high-energy and well-crafted hooks the band is known for.

$20

Seaway

 

Trio Taco

Thursday, August 9, 2018, 12:15 pm

St. George’s Cathedral

Known for curating concerts written entirely by Canadian composers, this flute trio from Victoria, B.C. aims to increase accessibility to contemporary music. They’ve done that by using everything from blindfolds to no chairs for the audience to too many chairs onstage to giant flutes to saxophones. As for the name, they say tacos are guaranteed at every concert.

Donation

Trio Taco

 

Yukon Blonde – Wolfe Island Music Festival

Saturday, August 11, 2018, 10 pm

Wolfe Island Community Centre

With 20 acts over two days, Wolfe Island Music Fest offers some tough choices this year, but definitely stick around for Saturday’s headliner — indie rockers Yukon Blonde. They always bring a ton of energy to their brand of guitar- and synth-driven pop-rock, but on songs from their new album, “Critical Hit,” you’ll hear them leaning more heavily on pop and electronic elements than ever before.

$65/day, $100/weekend, $150/weekend with camping

Yukon Blonde

 

Ginger St. James – Ameripolitan Music Festival

Saturday, August 11, 2018, 10 pm

Blu Martini

Hamilton’s Ginger St. James follows the tradition of country songbirds such as Loretta Lynn, writing from real experiences like growing up on the family farm, being broke and love gone wrong. Her sound blends country, rockabilly and blues, and as The Toronto Sar’s Nick Krewen rightly put it, she is “sassy and dynamic … with some slightly cheeky music and a captivating charisma fueled by her roaring voice and model beauty.”

$10/night, $15/two nights

Ginger James

 

The Steadies

Friday, August 17, 2018, 10 pm and Saturday, August 18, 2018, 10 pm

The Merchant Tap House

Led by Wide Mouth Mason co-founder Earl Pereira, this Saskatoon three-piece dubs their music “island rock,” meaning they take a top 40 sound and mix it with rocksteady and reggae influences. So although these two shows will happen at the cavernous Merchant, expect beach vibes and a full dance floor.

Price not available

The Steadies

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Back to the Farm Beer and Music Festival

Sunday, August 19, 2018

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, Bath

The MacKinnon bros’ annual field party attracts a stellar range of musicians usually leaning toward indie rock, folk and alternative persuasions. The 12-act lineup this year will be headlined by percussive folk rockers The Rural Alberta Advantage. Nominated for two Juno Awards in 2012 and longlisted for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize, the trio was awarded the CBC Music Prize for Best Independent Artist in 2014.

$30/advance, $35/gate

mackinnonbrewing.com

Rural Alberta Advantage

 

Victor Wainwright and The Train – Limestone City Blues Festival

Saturday, August 25, 2018, 8:45 pm

Springer Market Square

Blues Fest’s big Saturday night headliner this year is Memphis, Tennessee’s Victor Wainwright and The Train, a band that brings power-house blues, Memphis soul and roots rock ‘n’ roll to audiences all over the world. Among a long list of accolades, Wainwright has twice won the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year award at the Blues Music Awards. As one music writer put it, Wainwright’s playing is “simply beautiful madness.”

$15/all-access bracelet

Victor Wainwright

 

Rory Taillon

Friday, August 31, 2018, 8 pm

Musiikki Café

Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Rory Taillon has been crisscrossing the country for months now in support of his third full-length album, “Only Whispers,” a dark, alternative-rock gem. Armed only with an acoustic guitar and classically-trained vocals, he manages to channel a raw, layered sound that hints at Wintersleep, Tea Party and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings.

Price not available

Rory Taillon

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Your Kingston August Festival Guide

Five music festivals will keep the groove alive this month, while mainstays like the Princess Street Promenade, the 1000 Islands Poker Run and the Kingston Women’s Art Festival return.

Sunset Ceremony

Every Wednesday, 7:30 pm

Fort Henry

You have five chances this month to catch Fort Henry’s summer throwback show to 1860s military life. Happening inside Parade Square, these interactive displays feature the Fort’s own Guard Drums, Drill Squad and Artillery Detachments, plus a lot of cannon fire and state-of-the-art narrative elements. There’s usually a point where kids can get involved, and as always that blazing sunset provides the backdrop.

$13 – $20 (free for kids 4 and under)

Sunset Ceremony in Kingston

The Kick & Push Festival

Until Sunday, August 12, 2018

Downtown

This genre-pushing theatre fest continues this month with performances happening at multiple downtown venues. One can’t-miss play should be “Akogwe – Unplugged,” which explores unrequited love between teenage boys from neighbouring reserves. Another is “Space Hippo,” a shadow-puppet show that follows the story of a hippopotamus launched into outer space in order to save the world.

Various prices

Kick & Push Festival

CORK Sailing Regatta

Ongoing

Portsmouth Olympic Harbour

Multiple competitions are set this month for the Canadian Olympic-training Regatta, Kingston (CORK). Most of them will include sailors from around the world who are here to compete and train in some of the best fresh-water sailing conditions on the planet. Hit the website to see when competition begins, and then head to the waterfront to see who wins.

Free

Cork Sailing Regatta

Princess Street Promenade

Saturday, August 4, 2018, 10 am – 5 pm

Princess Street – Ontario Street to Division Street

This annual street festival sees Kingston’s main drag closed to traffic between Ontario and Division streets. Local businesses and community groups will replace all of those wheels with activities that have ranged from a climbing a wall to concerts to robot demonstrations to chalk drawings to pop-up food events.

Free  

Princes Promenade

Wolfe Island Music Festival

Friday, August 10, 2018 – Saturday, August 11, 2018

Wolfe Island

The region’s premiere indie music festival returns to Wolfe Island with 20 acts this year. On Friday evening, take your pick from four venues and 11 bands that will include Plants and Animals, Charlotte Day Wilson, and The Weather Station. On Saturday, between 2 pm and 10 pm, head to the ball diamond outside the Community Centre for Justin Rutledge, Mappe Of, Weaves, Yukon Blonde, and more.

$65/day, $100/weekend, $150/weekend with camping

Wolfe Island Music Festival

Emerald Music Festival

Friday, August 10, 2018 – Sunday, August 12, 2018

Amherst Island

The other island-based music fest of the month takes place on Amherst Island on a 100-acre beef farm with 600 feet of waterfront. Expect a range of music styles at this one including country, Celtic, bluegrass and 50s rock ‘n’ roll. About a dozen bands will be there this year along with headliners The Western Swing Authority, Beartracks and The Reasons.

$15/Friday, $30/Saturday, $15/Sunday, $50/weekend with rough camping

Ameripolitan Music Festival

Friday, August 10, 2018 – Saturday, August 11, 2018

Blu Martini

This two-night fest is all about Ameripolitan music, a genre that encompasses Western swing, honky-tonk, rockabilly and outlaw. Eight acts are expected including GT Harris & The Gunslingers, Solomon Woodland, Clem Chesterfield and Ginger St. James (pictured).

$10/night, $15/two nights

Ameripolitan Music Festival

1000 Islands Poker Run

Friday, August 17, 2018 – Saturday, August 18, 2018

Confederation Basin

More than 50 powerboats from across North America will be in Kingston for this annual competition. Tour the docs on Friday night, and then be there for the flag drop at 10 am on Saturday when the fleet will follow a course up the St. Lawrence and back to Kingston. Drivers will stop at five checkpoints along the way and draw a playing card at each. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run. Evening events will include live music.

Free

Poker Run Kingston

Back to the Farm Beer and Music Festival

Sunday, August 19, 2018, 11 am – 10 pm

MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, Bath

Back for the fourth year, this big ol’ field party is all about live music, craft beer, food trucks and good times. Twelve bands are on the lineup this year including headliners The Rural Alberta Advantage and local darlings Miss Emily and Lost Cousins. You can also take a brewery tour while there and imbibe in a little local wine and cider too.

$30/advance, $35/gate

MacKinnon Festival

Kingston Women’s Art Festival

Sunday, August 19, 2018, 10 am – 5 pm

City Park

Though it started with just 50 female artists in the 1970s, the Kingston Women’s Art Festival now features over 200 artists, a full day of women’s music and dance, a silent auction, a children’s activity area, local food vendors, and over 4,000 visitors. Original art on display will include painting, printmaking, sculpture, pottery, jewellery, drawing, photography and more.

Free

Kingston Women's Art Festival

Limestone City Blues Festival

Thursday, August 23, 2018 – Sunday, August 26, 2018

Downtown

Get ready for over 100 hours of blues music over four days and nights in downtown parks, clubs and street stages. The big headliner is multiple Blues Music Award winner Victor Wainwright & The Train (pictured), who will take to Springer Market Square on Saturday night. If you can, also check out “blues evangelist” Harpdog Brown in Confederation Park on Thursday night and Memphis, Tennessee’s Ghost Town Blues Band on the Princess Street Stage on Friday night.

$15/all-access bracelet

Limestone City Blue Fest

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The Ultimate Kingston Ice Cream Bucket List

Ice cream. The quintessential summer food. As a true ice cream connoisseur once said, “ice cream season is any season.” (Yes, that connoisseur may have been me, stubbornly holding my mint chip cone in the middle of winter, but let’s carry on.) While this may be true; there’s nothing better than a cool, sweet ice cream cone while the sun continues to shine past 8 pm.

Lucky for us, Kingston has been gifted with some of the hottest ice cream joints making the summer sweeter than ever. Here’s where to go to find the best frozen treats that the city has to offer. Enjoy!

Mile and a Quarter Ice Cream

772 Blackburn Mews

Tucked behind the back of Coffee Trends, this is truly the hidden gem of Kingston’s ice cream scene. Not just your typical soft serve joint; Mile And A Quarter Ice Cream offer 55 flavours ranging from the adventurous rum and eggnog to classic vanilla. Our favourite part? You can mix and match any of these soft serve flavours to create your own summer treat. We love the delicious chocolate peanut butter milkshake — but we’re always open to testing more to sway our opinion!

White Mountain Homemade Ice Cream

176 Ontario Street

A true ice cream connoisseur knows that this is the spot to be in Kingston in the summer. Even with their huge variety of flavours, White Mountain still found a way to make every single one as delicious as the next. Maybe it’s the fact they make all their ice cream themselves, but you’d better head down there and test it out for yourself.

General Brock’s Commissary

55 Brock St

Bringing the taste of Upper Canada to Kingston, General Brock’s Commissary serves up some of the best locally produced specialty foods just steps from the original War of 1812 commissary. And best of all, that includes crowd-favourite Kawartha Dairy ice cream like Maple Sugar Shack. Classic flavours keep in line with the shop’s historical theme. Grab a cone and walk the two blocks east to enjoy it lakeside at Confederation Park. 

Mio Gelato

178 Ontario Street

It wouldn’t be a true Kingston ice cream list without including the crowd favourite — Mio Gelato! Ever since it opened its doors in 2010, Mio Gelato has been the go-to place for authentic Italian Gelato, sorbetto, ice cream, and frozen yogurt. With a chef mixing all the beautiful flavours in-house, this homemade treat is guaranteed to be a highlight of any summer night!

 

Alana’s Ice Cream

1046 Princess Street

Head over to Alana’s for some fudge, candy, and, of course, delicious ice cream. Standout flavours include banana cream pie –a creamy, nostalgic banana ice cream mixed with buttery, salty pie crust pieces. Another must-try is their monster cookie–a vibrant blue, cookies, and cream ice cream with a hint of vanilla. They change out their flavours seasonally, so make sure you ask what’s new on the menu!

Cook. E’S

27 Princess Street

Visit this family-owned ice cream and cookie shop located at 27 Princess St. Whether you are looking for ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, edible cookie dough, cookies, or other dessert treats, they have it all. Try some of their new ice cream flavours like lemon cookie and strawberry cheesecake!  

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Ultimate Guide to The Kick & Push Festival

Marc J Chalifoux Photography

Get the inside scoop on the Kick and Push, this summer’s most unique theatre festival, running from July 19 to August 12.

Swordplay at the Kick and Push Festival
SwordPlay

July 19th at 8:30 pm

The Grand Theatre

Tickets $10 plus fees

A potent combination of parody and pop culture make this a can’t-miss production. Performed by Sex T-Rex, Toronto’s most acclaimed physical comedy troupe, SwordPlay invites viewers to look away from their screens and enjoy an homage to classic video games and swashbuckling bravado.

The Flick at the Kick and Push Festival
The Flick

July 24, 25, and 26 at 8:30 pm
July 27 and 28 at 7:30 pm
July 29 at 6:30 pm

The Screening Room

Tickets $20 plus fees

As audiences file into their seats at The Screening Room, downtown Kingston’s independent movie theatre, they may expect this production to be shown on the screen. Instead, they’ll find themselves fly-on-the-wall observers of the drama and discord that develops amongst the theatre’s employees in this clever immersive experience.

Space Hippo at the Kick and Push Festival
Space Hippo

August 1, 2, and 3 at 7:30 pm
August 4 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

The Grand Theatre

Tickets $20 plus fees

“Space Hippo is a delightful, touching, beautiful show that the whole family can enjoy,” says Tricia Knowles, festival marketing director. This spectacle of light and shapes, featuring over 200 intricate shadow puppets, is brought to you by an award-winning team and set to a magical musical score.

Agokwe at the Kick and Push Festival
Photographer: Marc J Chalifoux
Agokwe — Unplugged

August 2, 3, and 4 at 8 pm

Location: 274 Princess Street

Tickets $20 plus fees

This tale of love that blossoms between two boys on neighbouring reserves is tender and tragic, told against a backdrop of lost Anishnaabe traditions. The winner of six Dora Mavor Moore awards, this production explores serious social and cultural issues in a visually stunning way.

 

Rosalynde at the Kick and Push Festival
Rosalynde (or, As You Like It)

August 7 at 7:30 pm

Battery Park

Pay What You Can  (accepting cash, debit, or credit at the door)

Fans of clever comedy will enjoy this fantastically fun “Shakespearience”. The bard’s classic As You Like It has been given an empowering feminist edge, and a more modern, Canadian-centric setting. The titular character finds herself lost in a forest of mixed messages, and along the way, she’ll encounter love, whiskey, and puppets.

 

Betas Baby at the Kick and Push Festival
Beta’s Baby

August 10, 6 pm
August 11, 10 am and August 12, 2 pm

Location:  274 Princess Street

Tickets $10 plus fees

For those who seek out the exciting and unusual side of theatre, this production is not to be missed! Instead of a set start time, the show is open from 10 am to 6 pm, and audiences can drop in at their leisure. You’ll enter a retro video rental storefront, receive a videotape to watch, and what follows is an interactive, engaging experience like no other. There are over a dozen different versions of the story, so you may want to come back over and over… and over again!

Flashing Lights at the Kick and Push Festival
Flashing Lights

August 8, 9, and 10 at 8:00 pm
August 11 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm

The Grand Theatre

Tickets $20 plus fees

The final production of this year’s Kick & Push festival, which was nominated for 8 Dora awards in 2018, must be seen to be believed. The story finds antihero Peter navigating the lines between fame and obscurity, and the digital and “real” world. Surreal props and effects combine with a thought-provoking message to concoct a story that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.

 

Bonus Features

 

Don’t miss these exciting events and programs taking place alongside The Kick & Push!

 

The Storefront Fringe Festival

See what’s on the fringe of The Kick & Push! Like a regular Fringe fest, only slightly cooler, the Storefront Fringe Festival takes place in unusual venues: various empty storefronts in downtown Kingston. Expect to see compelling comedy, mysterious melodrama, a cardboard game show, and more – running from July 20 to 28.

TKids at The Kick & Push Theatre Camp

From July 3 to August 31, TKids, in association with Theatre Kingston, offers exciting and engaging theatre camp programs at The Grand Theatre. Children will learn about all aspects of theatrical production, both behind and in front of the curtain, culminating with an end-of-session performance for family and friends. Two-week sessions are available for ages 9-12, and one-week slots for ages 6-9, running from 8 am to 4 pm each weekday. Learn more.