ROCKY’S BEST BETS

RENAISSANCE 4.0

The fourth annual Renaissance Music festival takes place Saturday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at McLaren Park ( John St. North, near Cannon), features performances by Kojo “Easy” Damptey (with Canadian Winter, Nasr Beny and Mother Tareka), Hailee Rose, Shanika Maria, Jordan Aexander and DJ Brett Klassen. $10 admission. $5 for children.

STUART LAUGHTON

As a former member of both the Canadian Brass and the Porkbelly Blues Band, Stuart Laughton has his feet in a kaleidoscope of musical styles. Laughton brings his Radio Dial band to Ancaster perform at free concert Sunday, Aug. 13, at the bandshell behind Ancaster’s Fieldcote Museum, 64 Sulphur Springs Rd. Admission is free (donations encouraged).

JANE BUNNETT

Four-time Juno winning saxophonist Jane Bunnett brings her all-female Cuban band sextet Maqueque to the Burlington Downtown Jazz Fest Friday, Aug. 11, 7 to 9 p.m. on the plaza outside the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St. Admission is free. Also see jazz singers Laila Biali Saturday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m., and Kellylee Evans Saturday at 3 p.m.

MADISON VIOLET

Multi-instrumentalists Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac make up Madison Violet, a group that can call both Kincardine and Creignish, N.S., home. The duo harmonizes wonderfully crafted original songs that have won it a Canadian Folk Award and multiple East Coast Music Awards. Madison Violet performs Tuesday, Aug. 15, in Hendrie Park at the RBG, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Blues guitar prodigy Spencer MacKenzie performs the same time and location on Wednesday. Free for RBG members.

JEROME GODBOO

Master Toronto harmonica player Jerome Godboo joins Brant Parker Bay City Blues Band for the weekly Sunday afternoon blues jam, 2 to 6 p.m., Aug 13, at the Bay City Music Hall., 50 Leander Dr., on the waterfront. Admission is $7. You may also want to get advance tickets for the Aug. 19 double bill at the venue, featuring Smoke Wagon Blues Band and TG Swampbusters ($10).