Wanna Please Your Ears?
Do you ever get a song stuck in your head; it just won’t go away? Maybe the melodic sound of an R&B single, with its smooth and sexy saxophone, the theme song beat of an old television classic (Fresh Prince perhaps?), or the beautiful words vocalized through a rock, pop, hip-hop, indie, country, reggae or any other backdrop imaginable.
Music carries me away, and can dampen or intensify any emotion. Whether happy, sad, mellow or pumped, I know my playlist of songs that will get me out of a rut, keep me in the zone, pump me up or calm me down. That said I believe live music has an even longer lasting effect on humans. With the addition of specific and sometimes unique sights, smells, tastes and perceptions, the added associations that come with live music end up creating a memorable experience.
Music is no different in the Hammer. Check out these cool events occurring, some of which can be hit up every week, others which you GOTTA check out now, because they won’t be coming back for a while. With your headphones in or your speakers on – your volume pumping – get to the live music destination and unplug. Enjoy some live resonating ecstasy:
Festival of Friends – The Festival of Friends is an annual three-day free, outdoor summer music festival held on the second weekend of August (August 10, 11, 12) at Ancaster Fairgrounds. This free admission event has a ton of musical talent jam packed in three days. Last year’s headline performers included City and Colour and Shad. This year headline performers include performers Chatal Kreviazuk, Leon Russel and Lights, to name only a few.
Tranquil Tuesdays @ RBG & Red-Hot Jazz & Cool Blues @ Hendrie Park – A RBG tradition continues at Hendrie Park as another stunning lineup of entertainment returns to the Hendrie Park stage. Enjoy a cold drink and some BBQ and get set for some award winning jazz and blues musicians in our lovely garden setting. Rain or Shine.
Irish Music Sessions @ Corktown – Straight up self-explanatory. Every Tuesday at 9pm. 175 Young Street, Hamilton, ON L8N 1V7.
Annex Unplugged @ AGH Design Annex – AGH Annex Unplugges is an innovative series of acoustic world music performances at the new AGH Design Annex. On Friday, June 29, enjoy Kae Sun, Christopher Charles with mc Word Mason. On Friday, August 17, Samantha Martin and Terra Lightfoot perform. On Friday, October 19, listen to Louis Simao, Evaristo and Michael St. George. Design Annex, 118 James Street North. Tickets: AGH Members $18, Students & Seniors: $20, General $22. Visit http://www.artgalleryofhamilton.com or call 905.527.6610, ext. 232.
Old-Timey Night, w. Onion Honey @ Artword Artbar – Wednesday July 11 at 8 pm, cover $5. The Onion Honey duo from Waterloo play banjos and other things. Esther Wheaton and David Pike started playing music together around the same time they started cooking together and watching dozens of astronomy documentaries together; the result is a deliciously stellar blend of old-time and jug-band music that will tug at heartstrings and set feet a-tappin’. Both Esther and Dave are also part of Banjos and Bellows, and Dave is also in A Yellow Field. Listen to Onion Honey.
Boon’s Blues and Soul Festival @ Boon’s House ($15) – This event is a full scale afternoon and evening of of musical entertainment (12pm – 2am), food and fun. As a first come first serve event that fills up like crazy, don’t be late on getting into this if you are interested.
For more listings of music, along with other forms of entertainment and events, please check out ‘CBC, Things to Do’.
