Bachman, The Sheepdogs to headline folk festival
Randy Bachman and The Sheepdogs will headline the fourth annual Winter Downtown Folk Festival, organizers announced Monday.
The expanded five-day festival organized by the Peterborough Folk Festival will take place from March 6 to 10.
Canadian rockers The Sheepdogs – who performed Aug. 16 as part of Peterborough Musicfest 2017 – will kick off the festival with a March 6 show at Showplace Performance Centre with Bachman set to perform at the same venue the following night.
More artists and venues will be announced in the coming months, including the lineup for March 10, which features free pop-up shows at various downtown businesses, sponsored by the Downtown Business Improvement Area, organizers stated.
“It’s really exciting to have two of Canada’s biggest artists perform at this years winter festival and support the downtown businesses at the same time,” winter festival artistic director, vice chairman and organizer Ryan Kemp stated. “We (the board) are always trying to find ways to improve Peterborough culturally, economically and socially. Supporting our local musicians, music venues, restaurants and businesses is very important.”
The winter festival aims to raise the profile of the event and show how the organization’s efforts are beneficial to the city, he stated.
The Sheepdogs, featuring Jimmy Bowskill of Bailieboro, are set to release their sixth studio album Changing Colours on Feb 2.
Tickets go on sale for $40 plus service fees on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. at www.showplace.org or in person at the box office at 290 George St. N. The show is all-ages each ticket includes a download of the new album.
Bachman, a founding member of 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, has sold more than 40 million records with more than 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards from around the world for performing and producing.
Tickets are available at www. showplace.org or the box office. Further information, such as ticket pricing, was not immediately available.
Call 1-866-444-2154 or 705-742SHOW for more information.
The festival has presented more than 120 artists in the last three years, including Juno Award winners and nominees such as Buffy Sainte Marie, Bahamas, Matt Andersen, Fred Penner, Sharon and Bram, Dan Mangan, Joel Plaskett, Hollerado and Hannah Georgas.
Organizers pointed out how the festival has grown since 2015, including expanding to two days at Nicholls Oval, with a larger childrens area, more than 50 artisan vendors and several kickoff concerts at venues including Showplace and Market Hall.
It has also hosted a conference for folk festivals across Ontario and a room at the Folk Music Ontario Conference, with 12 local musicians, organizers said.
The 2018 summer edition will take place from Aug. 17 to 19.
Visit www.peterboroughfolkfest.com for more information.