Summer isn’t over, but you’re running out of time to scratch everything off your Summer 2017 bucket list. If seeing more live music was one of your goals — don’t worry. There are still many more opportunities to see music of all kinds at the following FREE music series happening all across the city.
Songs From The Bishop
Tucked in the Stinson neighbourhood, Bishop’s Park is located at the corner of East Avenue and Hunter Street East. For seven years, the small park has been home to Songs from the Bishop, a music series that has featured Terra Lightfoot, Dan Edmonds, Emay, and dozens of other local musicians in an intimate, kid-friendly setting.
You have two more chances to check out Songs from the Bishop:
Thursday, July 20: Coszmos Quartette
Thursday, July 27: Dan Edmonds + Adrian Underhill
Bishop’s Park
91 East Avenue South
Wednesdays at Whitehern
Do you work or live downtown? Take a break on Wednesdays between noon and 2 p.m. to bring your lunch to Whitehern, the historic garden located right beside City Hall. Wednesdays at Whitehern is one of the best deals in town, featuring free music and all-you-can-drink tea (in actual teacups) or lemonade for only $1. Limited tables and chairs are provided.
Wednesday, July 26: Mountain Road Irish Band
Wednesday, August 2: Ragwax, 1920’ & 30’s Style
Wednesday, August 9: Henry Strong Duo, Jazz Standards
Wednesday, August 16: Aubrey Wilson Quartet, 1930’s Jazz Standards
Wednesday, August 23: Mike & Jill Daley, 1920’s Guitar & Violin Duo
Wednesday, August 30: Ruth Sutherland, Celtic Harp
Whitehern Historic House and Garden
41 Jackson Street West
Seven Sundays in Gage Park
Gage Park’s bandshell fell mostly quiet after Festival of Friends left the core for Ancaster (We’re so happy that it’s coming back!). Thankfully, Seven Sundays in Gage Park has been filling that void since 2013. Now in it’s 5th season, this free concert series takes place between July and September at the George R. Robinson Bandshell. Featuring live music, movie screenings, and food trucks, Seven Sundays in Gage Park has quickly become a Hamilton family tradition.
Sunday, July 30: Spleit Strings Orchestra
Sunday, August 20: Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra w/ special guests (followed by a movie screening)
Sunday, August 27: The Silver Swing Big Band w/ openers The George Arnone Big Band, (followed by a movie screening)
Sunday, September 3: Performers will be announced shortly (followed by a movie screening)
Music runs roughly 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Film screenings begin after sundown.
Gage Park
1000 Main Street East
Gore Park Summer Promenade
Running between May and September, the Gore Park Summer Promenade takes places Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring live acts between noon and 2 p.m. This year, the entertainment line-up includes not only music, but also comedy and a lip sync battle (which will take place Wednesday, August 23).
Click here to see the complete entertainment schedule.
Click here for the food truck schedule.
Gore Park
King Street East
Music at Fieldcote
Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum is “a cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history.” What some people don’t know is that it has also been home to a music series for more than 15 years. The Music at Fieldcote series “celebrates a high calibre of talent with musicians holding local, national and international reputations.” While this event is free, donations are accepted to the Fieldcote Memorial Park and Museum. Shows start at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 23: Ensemble Vivant
Sunday, July 30: Alex Pangman & Her Alley Cats
Sunday, August 6: Johannes Linstead
Sunday, August 13: Stuart Laughton’s Radio Dial
Sunday, August 20: Caroline Wiles with Bob Doidge and Mike McCurlie
Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum
64 Sulphur Springs Rd, Ancaster
Dr. Disc Rooftop
Next time you’re wandering James Street North’s Art Crawl, pause and look up at the corner of James and York. The Dr. Disc rooftop show, aptly called Raise the Roof, has quickly become a staple of summer art crawls, bringing acts like the Dirty Nil, The Medicine Hat, and Jessy Lanza over the years. This music series is co-presented by I Heart Hamilton, Hamilton Magazine, and the Hamilton Music Collective. The next installment happens during the August Art Crawl on August 11.
Dr. Disc
20 Wilson Street
Sidewalk Sounds
Between May and September, the 2nd annual Sidewalk Sounds takes places between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the third Friday of every month. The series offers a “sampling of Hamilton’s local music community along Concession Street.” The next installment takes place Friday, July 21.
Friday, July 21st Music Line-Up:
526 Concession – The Zoetic: Acoustic Soul Cats
565 Concession – Between RBC and the Library: The Vaudevillian
569 Concession – CAP gardens: Hell Bent Rockers
593 Concession – Mt Tire: Ginger St. James
625 Concession – St. Stephens on the Mount: Robin Benedict
798 Concession – Big Bee Plaza: TG Swampbusters
Music on the Waterfront (Pier 8)
Bring a lawn chair and spend your Thursday evenings at Pier 8, enjoying Hamilton’s waterfront and local music. Music on the Waterfront is a free concert series that takes place until August 31 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (weather permitting).
Thursday, July 20: The Personics
Thursday, July 27: TUBA 4 Trio
Thursday, August 3: Jack de Keyser
Thursday, August 10: High Rendition Jazz
Thursday, August 17: Miles from Nowhere
Thursday, August 24: Karen Thornton Jazz Trio
Thursday, August 31: The George Arnone Big Band
Pier 8
47 Discovery Drive
