Friday, August 21, 2026

Music Listings: August 22-23, 2026

August 22-23, 2026

We try our best to make sure these listings are as accurate as possible. If you spot any errors or omissions, please email us at blueshamilton@gmail.com.

Aug 22-23/ Aug 24-30 / Aug 31-Sep 6

Saturday, August 22



---- Before 2:00pm ----

9:30am-10pm: Dundas Cactus Festival (Aug 21-23)
  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 3.00 pm  The Six Nations Smoke Dancers, 4.00 pm  Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, 5.30 pm  Doctor Tongue, 7.00 pm  LEASH A tribute to Pearl Jam, 9.00 pm  Red Astro Chili Peppers
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 12.00 pm  PICAH Dancers (Philippine Islanders Cultural Assoc. of Hamilton), 1.00 pm  Suzuran Odori (Canadian Japanese Cultural Centre of Hamilton), 2.00 pm  Ghana Association Hospitality Group, 2.30 pm  Hayley Verrall Band, 4.30 pm  Mike Woods, 6.30 pm  Two Families Band, 8.00 pm  Warden & The Inmates, 9.30 pm  Stone the Radio


  • 1pm, 2:15pm: Darren Hancock Band
  • 5pm: Evan Rotella Band
  • 6pm: Kristin Nicholls Band
  • 7pm: Chuck Coles
  • 8pm: Jess and Tay
  • 9pm: Tomi Swick
  • 10pm: Classic Troubadours, Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits
12-4pm: Canada Southern @ 13th Street Winery (St. Catharines)



1-4pm: Acoustic Jam @ Briskit BBQ (Georgetown) (Weekly)



1-4pm: Lucas Stagg @ Flux Brewing (Scotland)

1-6pm: Schneider Creek Porch Party (Kitchener)



---- 2:00pm-3:59pm ----

  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 3.00 pm  The Six Nations Smoke Dancers, 4.00 pm  Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, 5.30 pm  Doctor Tongue, 7.00 pm  LEASH A tribute to Pearl Jam, 9.00 pm  Red Astro Chili Peppers
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 2.00 pm  Ghana Association Hospitality Group, 2.30 pm  Hayley Verrall Band, 4.30 pm  Mike Woods, 6.30 pm  Two Families Band, 8.00 pm  Warden & The Inmates, 9.30 pm  Stone the Radio
2-5pm: Ken Musson @ Battlefield Legion (Stoney Creek) $10


2-5pm: Mike Branton & Friends @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $10 (Weekly) 




2-5pm: Liam Greer @ Block 3 Brewing (St. Jacobs)

2pm: Nashville Music City @ Hamilton Family Theatre (Cambridge) $? (Aug 13-30)

  • 2:15pm: Darren Hancock Band
  • 5pm: Evan Rotella Band
  • 6pm: Kristin Nicholls Band
  • 7pm: Chuck Coles
  • 8pm: Jess and Tay
  • 9pm: Tomi Swick
  • 10pm: Classic Troubadours, Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits


3-6pm: Open Mic @ Sessions on the River (Fort Erie) (Weekly)

---- 4:00-7:59pm ----


  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 4.00 pm  Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, 5.30 pm  Doctor Tongue, 7.00 pm  LEASH A tribute to Pearl Jam, 9.00 pm  Red Astro Chili Peppers
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 4.30 pm  Mike Woods, 6.30 pm  Two Families Band, 8.00 pm  Warden & The Inmates, 9.30 pm  Stone the Radio
  • 5pm: Evan Rotella Band
  • 6pm: Kristin Nicholls Band
  • 7pm: Chuck Coles
  • 8pm: Jess and Tay
  • 9pm: Tomi Swick
  • 10pm: Classic Troubadours, Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits
5-8pm: Start Run @ 13th Street Winery (St. Catharines)

6pm: James Anthony @ Oggi Bistro (Grimsby) (Weekly)

6-8pm: The Cynics @ Puddy's (St. Catharines) 

6-10pm: Ricardo Barboza Band & Samba Dancers @ Brasa (Niagara Falls) (Weekly Fri & Sat) 

6-9pm: Dan Walsh @ Flux Brewing (Scotland)

7-10pm: Open Mic @ The Gate (Hamilton) (Weekly)



7-11pm: Chuck Jackson @ Briskit BBQ (Georgetown) 



7-10pm:
Tracy Lee
@ Manhattans (Guelph)


7:30-8:30pm: U2 - Desire @ Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm (Halton Hills) $?


7:30pm: Disney's Frozen (Musical) @ Huron Country Playhouse (Grand Bend) $? (Aug 5-30)

7:30pm: Nashville Music City @ Hamilton Family Theatre (Cambridge) $? (Aug 13-30)

---- 8:00-8:59pm ----








  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 9.00 pm  Red Astro Chili Peppers
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 8.00 pm  Warden & The Inmates, 9.30 pm  Stone the Radio
  • 8pm: Jess and Tay
  • 9pm: Tomi Swick
  • 10pm: Classic Troubadours, Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits



8-11pm: Jacob Ludwig @ Teddy's (Grimsby)







8:30-11:30pm: Jackson Sheridan @ Forge BBQ (Ancaster) 



8:30pm: Blank Cassettes @ Pump & Patio (Oakville) 

8:30-11:30pm: Patsy & the Muscle @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

---- After 9:00pm ----


  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 9.00 pm  Red Astro Chili Peppers
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 9.30 pm  Stone the Radio
  • 9pm: Tomi Swick
  • 10pm: Classic Troubadours, Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Dire Straits
9pm: Slider @ Cat's Caboose (St. Catharines) 

9-11:45pm: Everest Rock Band @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls)



9pm-1am: Stonewall @ Chip N Charlie's (Niagara Falls) 

9pm: Brad Hailz @ 211 Main (Port Dover) 


9:30-10:30pm: U2 - Desire @ Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm (Halton Hills) $? 

9:30pm-1am: Butler's Backyard @ Olde Angel Inn (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 

10pm: Jammr @ B-Side Social (Hamilton)

10pm: Fiction @ Powerhouse (Stoney Creek) 

10pm: Rewind @ BLK Swan, Brant St (Burlington) 

10pm: Sunday Noise @ The Dickens (Burlington) 

10pm-2am: Brad James @ Whiskey Dawgs (St. Catharines)

Sunday, August 23

Barton Village Sunday Market (with live music) @ Barton & Birch (Hamilton) (2nd & 4th Sun - June-Oct)

Burlington Latin Festival @ Central Park FREE (Aug 22-23)

Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow and Traditional Gathering @ 2789 Mississauga Road (Hagersville)(Aug 22-23)

---- Before 3:00pm ----


11am-5pm: Dundas Cactus Festival (Aug 21-23)
  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 1.00 pm  Lily Sazz + Rob Lamothe), 3.00 pm  Canadian Orpheus Male Choir
  • Stage 2 (King Street & Albert Street): 12.00 pm  Brandon Dean, 2.00 pm  Bonfire Boys





1-4pm: Evan Rotella @ AMO Estate Winery (Niagara-on-the-Lake)








2-5pm: Open Mic @ Harbourfront Inn (Port Colbourne)(Weekly)

2-5pm: Twelve Mile Duo @ Olde Angel Inn (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

2-5pm: Patt Matthews Duo @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

2pm: Nashville Music City @ Hamilton Family Theatre (Cambridge) $? (Aug 13-30)




---- After 3:00pm ----

  • Stage 1 (Hatt Street & Memorial Square): 3.00 pm  Canadian Orpheus Male Choir
3-5pm: Acaiawood @ Nickelbrook Brewing (Burlington) 



3:30-6:30pm: ANAT @ Duke of Wellington (Waterloo) (Weekly)

4pm: Glenn Groves @ Black Bull (Burlington) (Weekly)






7pm: Jam @ Henry’s on James (Hamilton) (Weekly)


7:30pm: Open Mic @ Golden Brothers (Welland) (Weekly)

7:30-10:30pm: Chris Chambers @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 


Aug 20-23/ Aug 24-30 / Aug 31-Sep 6


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Thursday, August 20, 2026

The Lowdown Dirty Mojos Take You Thru Salvation & Sin On 'Lucky 7'

Mini-Review: Lucky 7, the high-octane album from Hamilton's Lowdown Dirty Mojos is not your typical covers collection. These ain't the same songs you've heard a million times - they're revved up versions of  hidden gems from the likes of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mavis Staples, Huey Piano Smith, The Velvet Underground, Barbra Lynn as well as Ike & Tina Turner. These tracks'll take you on a wonderful, soulful journey through salvation and sin.

Guests: 

Available: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Their Live Shows (CD)

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Poet's Day Videos by Tom Shea, Seryna, Aaliyah

Update of 2021 Post 







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Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Throwback Thursday - Mark McNeil: Greetings From Hamilton


Original Post: August 12, 2009

Updated Post: August 20, 2026

Update: This album is not available on streaming services and is now hard to find on CD.

Spectator reporter and musician, Mark McNeil recently released his third recording: Greetings from Hamilton.

The six songs on the EP showcase Mark's expressive voice, and his amazing talent with various instruments: guitar (acoustic, electric, Hawaiian, slide), bass, ukulele, banjo and mandolin.

The music is an incredible combination of folk, country, pop and many other styles. There is even a little reggae-esque feeling on the first track, Early Bird.

Lyrically, the album is a wonderful look at the many facets of Hamilton. Mark writes about his experiences in his adopted city (he's originally from Ottawa but has lived here for over 25 years).

"It's kind of a postcard to friends from long ago - to say I'm having a good time and I don't think I'll be moving back to Ottawa any time soon." Mark wrote in the the liner notes.

Joining in his celebration of Hamilton are a few local players such as Steve Sinnicks, Aaron Goldstein, Ray Lyell, Troy Dowding, and more. The disc is produced by Mark and Dan Medakovic and Engineered by Dan Medakovic and Rob Lamothe

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Sunday, August 16, 2026

Support Local Charities


From their website: Food for Life holds a unique niche among Canadian food relief charities in that we focus on redistributing fresh, nutritious food as opposed to traditional food bank fare such as canned goods. Our clients tell us that they are often not able to afford fresh food and that having access to this healthy food allows them to focus on obtaining other life essentials as they work towards no longer relying on our services.

The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) want to showcase a deserving local charity every week.  HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.

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Friday, August 14, 2026

Bill Durst Wins 2026 Mel Brown Award


Stratford Bluesman Bill Durst the 2026 winner of the Mel Brown Blues Award. It is named in honour of the late, legendary Kitchener musician.

From the Kitchener Blues Festival Facebook page:

MAY 12TH 2021 – MEL BROWN BLUES AWARD

Bill Durst, our 2026 winner of the Mel Brown Award, and always an audience favourite, is a Canadian Blues- Rock- Roots guitarist, singer, songwriter, entertainer who has written and recorded over 125 songs on 12 albums with 7 national radio chart hits. Bill has opened for or shared the stage with Rush, Aerosmith, BTO, Yardbirds, John Mayall, Savoy Brown, Bobby Rush, Little Feat, George Thorogood, Bad Company, Loverboy, Edgar Winter Group, Jeff Healey, Burton Cummings, Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Jack de Keyser, April Wine, L.A. Guns, David Wilcox, Bob Seger, Sly And The Family Stone and more. Mr. Durst has toured across North America and in Europe and tours extensively in Canada.

As a kid growing up in Wingham and then London, Ontario (which is halfway between Toronto and Detroit), Bill was heavily influenced by Motown, R&B, Toronto Psychedelic Soul music as well as the British Blues Invasion and Jimi Hendrix.

Bill’s entrance on the national/international stage was with his classic rock band Thundermug formed from London R&B groups in 1969. By the summer of 1972 the band had a number one hit and a fan following in Eastern Canada. The band went on to record a total of 5 albums, (3 albums in the early/mid 1970s and two CDs in the mid 1990s) releasing records in the US and Europe. Bill put out his first two solo releases in the mid eighties but it wasn’t until the early 2000s that Durst got some real career momentum. In 2004 he proclaimed his intention to start up a “little, fuzzy, psychedelic blues band” and since then Bill and his co-writer Joe DeAngelis have produced 5 full length CDs: The Wharncliffe Sessions (’05), The Great Willy Mammoth (’09), Bill Durst Live (‘12) and Hard And Heavy (’13) Good Good Lovin ('15).

Links: Bill Durst, More Bill Durst Stories, Video above courtesy of Bill Durst - Topic

Previous Years' Winners

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Thursday, August 13, 2026

Expressive Vocals & Great Songwriting on Dunlop Brothers Album

Mini-Review: Expressive vocals and great songwriting permeate the latest relase from Hamilton's Dunlop Brothers. Vol. 2 picks up where they left off on their splendid debut. It's roots meets alternative wrapped in striking production.

Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music

Personnel


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Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Throwback Thursday - Festival of Friends 2009

From August 7, 2009 Hamilton Spectator

Original Posts: August 9, 10, 14, 2009

Merged Post: August 13, 2026

Here's a look at the 2009 Festival of Friends.

Click here to read the August 6 Hamilton Spectator story

August 8, 2009

Lovers & Other Strangers Workshop

Good Lovin' Gone Bad Workshop
Guinness Book of World Records Attempt

Click pictures to make them larger



Guitars were raised high after a performance of Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water at the Festival of Friends on August 8, 2009. Hamilton musician Christopher Charles and his band were joined by a legion of guitarists scattered across Gage Park.

This was an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for most guitars in a jam performance.

According to the Spectator, the record wasn't broken (we were 77 short) but we did beat Toronto's recent attempt)

Below is a video of the event. We apologize for the extreme close-ups (the camera was stuck on zoom)

Links: Deep Purple, More Deep Purple Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

August 9, 2009 

Memories of Jackie Washington Workshop

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