#localmusic — Public Fediverse posts

Chicago Reader: Is the Internet panopticon going to ruin live music too? . “Our experience of culture is shaped by social media, streaming services, and other Web-based platforms that mine our data (and may eventually send us $35 checks after settling a class-action lawsuit). But how do those platforms influence how we experience live music? Spotify famously collects vast troves of data, only […]

THE LOCALIST: MAY 2026 WRAP UP

Milhowse—Turntables

(Single)

Release Date: May. 1, 2026

City: Kitchener

Genre: Pop Punk

Milhowse returns with their first single release of the year—a relentlessly high-tempo pop punk anthem with memorable moments of Midwest emo inspiration. Originally written by band member Ian Willcock in 2021, “Turntables” is a deeply personal song which reflects internal struggles with negative […]

THE LOCALIST: APRIL 2026 WRAP-UP

A Horse Named Friday—The Marriage of Loneliness and Continental Bliss

(LP)

Release Date: Apr. 14, 2026

City: Kitchener

Genre: Chamber Folk

The long-awaited debut album from A Horse Named Friday is the product of their gradual evolution over the last two years. The band experiments with a wide variety of instruments such as banjo, mandolin, violin, cello and harmonica, fulfilling a […]

A HORSE NAMED FRIDAY LAUNCH ANTICIPATED DEBUT ALBUM

On Apr. 14, 2026, the Kitchener-based chamber-folk band A Horse Named Friday released their debut album, The Marriage of Loneliness and Continental Bliss, marking a milestone for a project that was years in the making.  

The band kicked off their supporting tour this month at Kitchener’s Queen St. Commons Cafe, bringing a sound shaped by diverse instrumentation and a strong sense of […]

KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

THE LOCALIST: NOVEMBER 2025

Maiden Lane— BEDOUIN MEDICINE (LP)

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Garage Rock, Punk

Two years in the making, Maiden Lane presents their loudest and most intense performance to date. BEDOUIN MEDICINE draws its thematic inspiration from the band’s attempt to capture the feeling of modern-day chaos in an album. Blending the raw energy of punk with the simplicity of garage rock and the sonic experimentation of psychedelia, the band has truly hit their stride.

Sega Saturn the Console — Expansion Pak (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Punk Rock

Expansion Pak is the debut EP from three-piece punk rockers Sega Saturn the Console. Their EP includes seven electrifyingly loud and fast punk tracks about life and the inevitability of death.  

The project packs a punch, flying through the track list in the span of just ten minutes. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records. 

Arcade Allstars—Destined for Disaster (LP) 

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Ska, Punk

Arcade Allstars follow up on their 2023 EP Insert Coin with their debut full length album Destined for Disaster. Originally formed during the tail end of the pandemic, the group sounds more cohesive than ever. Their album is loaded with catchy, energetic hooks that will invoke an irresistible urge to get up and dance. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records.

Frankie Teardrop — Black Grasshopper Stew (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 28, 2025

City: Kitchener-Waterloo

Genre: No Wave

The experimental no wave duo Frankie Teardrop, known for their unique live performances, have recorded their thought-provoking sound on their debut EP Black Grasshopper Stew. Driven by hypnotizing metronomic drum machines paired alongside guitars and vocals soaked in noise, distortion and feedback, the album is abrasive and anarchic, prioritizing an exploration of musical texture in exchange of traditional melodies. The album is available exclusively on Bandcamp.

Red Carpet Revival — “Bang Bang!” (Single) 

Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

City: Waterloo

Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop Punk

The female fronted rock band Red Carpet Revival returns with their newest single, “Bang Bang!” which features high energy riffs, anthemic vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. The song draws influence from the early 2000s alternative and emo scene, adding a modern twist to a nostalgic sound and assuring the track will find fans amongst the youth and elder emos alike.

Album artwork sourced from Bandcamp. 

#Accessible #alternativeRock #altnerative #Bandcamp #BirdDaniels #Column #ep #GarageRock #kitchener #LocalArt #localArtists #localMusic #localMusicians #Localist #lp #newReleases #noWave #popPunk #Punk #single #ska

THE LOCALIST: NOVEMBER 2025

Maiden Lane— BEDOUIN MEDICINE (LP)

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Garage Rock, Punk

Two years in the making, Maiden Lane presents their loudest and most intense performance to date. BEDOUIN MEDICINE draws its thematic inspiration from the band’s attempt to capture the feeling of modern-day chaos in an album. Blending the raw energy of punk with the simplicity of garage rock and the sonic experimentation of psychedelia, the band has truly hit their stride.

Sega Saturn the Console — Expansion Pak (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Punk Rock

Expansion Pak is the debut EP from three-piece punk rockers Sega Saturn the Console. Their EP includes seven electrifyingly loud and fast punk tracks about life and the inevitability of death.  

The project packs a punch, flying through the track list in the span of just ten minutes. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records. 

Arcade Allstars—Destined for Disaster (LP) 

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Ska, Punk

Arcade Allstars follow up on their 2023 EP Insert Coin with their debut full length album Destined for Disaster. Originally formed during the tail end of the pandemic, the group sounds more cohesive than ever. Their album is loaded with catchy, energetic hooks that will invoke an irresistible urge to get up and dance. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records.

Frankie Teardrop — Black Grasshopper Stew (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 28, 2025

City: Kitchener-Waterloo

Genre: No Wave

The experimental no wave duo Frankie Teardrop, known for their unique live performances, have recorded their thought-provoking sound on their debut EP Black Grasshopper Stew. Driven by hypnotizing metronomic drum machines paired alongside guitars and vocals soaked in noise, distortion and feedback, the album is abrasive and anarchic, prioritizing an exploration of musical texture in exchange of traditional melodies. The album is available exclusively on Bandcamp.

Red Carpet Revival — “Bang Bang!” (Single) 

Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

City: Waterloo

Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop Punk

The female fronted rock band Red Carpet Revival returns with their newest single, “Bang Bang!” which features high energy riffs, anthemic vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. The song draws influence from the early 2000s alternative and emo scene, adding a modern twist to a nostalgic sound and assuring the track will find fans amongst the youth and elder emos alike.

Album artwork sourced from Bandcamp. 

#Accessible #alternativeRock #altnerative #Bandcamp #BirdDaniels #Column #ep #GarageRock #kitchener #LocalArt #localArtists #localMusic #localMusicians #Localist #lp #newReleases #noWave #popPunk #Punk #single #ska

I brokered a deal with the Dealbreakers

https://scoot2hoot.com/2025/12/08/i-brokered-a-deal-with-the-dealbreakers/

OCTOBER 2025 WRAP UP

3boats— shoot (LP)

Release Date: Oct. 1, 2025

City: Cambridge 

Genre: Folk

3boats’ debut album shoot is a collection of lo-fi songs and recordings that are quaint and intimate. Listening through the project from beginning to end feels like floating through a dream, with many of the songs intertwining modest acoustic guitar, soft blurry soundscapes and the occasional charming sound bite.  

Space Kitchen— “It’s My Passion” (Single) 

Release Date: Oct. 8, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Art Rock

Drawing inspiration from 1970s art and progressive rock icons such as Rush, Yes, King Crimson and Electric Light Orchestra, Space Kitchen presents a familiar sound infused with their own unique DIY aesthetic. “It’s My Passion” features both keys and lead guitars that work playfully together to create a captivating theatrical performance. 

Arcade Allstars—“Fare Thee Well” (Single)

Release Date: Oct. 17, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Ska, Punk

With a blisteringly fast pace, an infectious groove and some spotlight-stealing brass and saxophone, “Fare Thee Well” is guaranteed to get listeners up and dancing. This is the latest single off Arcade Allstars’ forthcoming sophomore full length album Destined 4 Disaster which is set to release Nov. 7, 2025, on Pink Lemonade Records. 

Frank Dux—“She Said, He Said”  (Single) 

Release Date: Oct. 22, 2025

City: Kitchener

Genre: Grunge, Shoegaze

Deeply personal and unapologetically vulnerable, “She Said, He Said” is a song about believing survivors of assault. The chaotically hazy and loud distorted instrumentation perfectly complements the band’s lyrical message which attempts to raise awareness about the problematic culture of misogynistic skepticism. 

Courtney Wolfe—“Wild Card “(Singles) 

Release Date: Oct. 24, 2025

City: Kitchener

Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Indie Pop

Delicately balancing on the line between airy pop and bold indie rock, “Wild Card” is a captivating lyrical exploration of temptation inspired by Courtney Wolfe’s personal experiences while remaining deliberately ambiguous. Wolfe puts forth a message of ownership and hopes for her listeners regardless of the vice they may be struggling with. 

Album artwork sourced from Bandcamp. 

#accessible #altnerative #avroArrows #bandcamp #birdDaniels #chamberFolk #column #eletronic #emo #ep #folk #hipHop2 #indieFolk #indiePop #indieRock #kitchener #localMusic #localMusicians #localist #lp #movingFast #newReleases #pop #popPunk #postPunk #psychedelic #rock #single #skatePunk2 #surfRock #theLocalist

Looking forward to catching Los Pajaritos again. Emotion, rhythm, and a whole lot of talent.

#WestAlmondStomp #LocalMusic #LiveMusic #WesternNY #Appalacia

Catmospheric was a wonderful way to kick off my first day of my first #WestAlmondStomp.

If anyone knows the socials for any of these group members, please give 'em a tag for me!

📷 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III

#WesternNY #Appalacia #Music #LocalMusic #Harp #Guitar #Drums #Barn #Concerts

TURNING IT UP UNDER THE BRIDGE WITH JESS NUNES

The most recent Under the Bridge (UtB) event took place on Aug. 5, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The community-driven event series is free, with suggested donations of $10 per person, and is open to attendees of all ages. Local DJ’s play energetic sets in a variety of genres, from house to trance to afrobeats.  

UtB is organised by Jess Nunes, a DJ and musician. Nunes began putting on the events in May 2023, inviting her Instagram followers to the free event.   

“There were only nine attendees that showed up,” Nunes said. “And then it just grew and grew. Even the following dance, we had twenty or so.”   

By August of that year, they had almost two hundred attendees.  

Nunes is an avid cyclist, first discovering the bridge while cycling a popular trail. The natural beauty of the surroundings—and a striking piece of graffiti, reading “Live Unlike Another”, inspired Nunes.  

“I just sort of felt that, you know, we are living unlike another. We’re going to do something outside of the mould of this Southern Ontario grind that we all feel stuck in,” she said.  

Nunes credits the space with giving UtB its unique energy and spirit.   

“If it’s raining, we’re still protected by the bridge. The bridge itself is symbolic, it’s protection of the community,” she said.  

The renegade, inclusive component of putting on donation-based dance events under a public bridge undoubtedly informs UtB’s communal atmosphere.   

Nunes draws comparison with the original notion of raves in the 80s and 90s, grassroots events held in abandoned factories and open fields that encouraged free expression. This exciting, alternative use of public space has been central for UtB’s appeal.  

Initially Nunes did not apply for a permit for UtB, believing that Kitchener council would not allow the events to go forward.   

“They don’t want us to express ourselves in these ways. This is me sticking it to the man and saying: look what I can do,” she said.  

Nunes has a deep appreciation of the transformative effect of music—she originally moved to Kitchener in 2014 to study Music Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier University. Coming from Thunder Bay, Nunes was initially surprised by the cultural conformity of the music scene in KW.  

Gradually however—especially since the pandemic—she has seen community-driven events, with alternative forms of music, become more active and popular.  

Nunes has been overwhelmed by the impact of the UtB and believes the positive energy the event series has brought to the community has been brought back.  

“I just want to inspire people, even though you feel down and out—our culture here is just so fast paced, and we’re not really taking time to break out of moods, think for ourselves. I use Under the Bridge as propulsion towards this, getting through the adversity—we’re reaching for the stars,” Nunes said.  

“Some amazing things have happened since I created Under the Bridge…I found my father after 35 years of not knowing who he was…He came to his first Under the Bridge last August,” she continued.   

The Aug. 5 event landed on Nune’s son birthday—attendees are invited to dress up in animal costumes for the event.   

“It’s just an opportunity to get silly,” Nunes said. “I usually like circus acts and stuff like that for the kids. And like, I would like to celebrate my son’s birthday, and he likes to be an astronaut every year…I love to see people get dressed up.”  

Beginning with a Magic Show, the DJ lineup includes Nunes, Jonny Rocha, Robin Green, Jacobilly, Uncle Doobie and Arsh. A sound installation from local artist Important Hair, titled Used Classical Records, will be played in full, while vendors showcase and sell their artwork.   

For more information, visit @Underthebridge_dance on Instagram.  

#arshA #astronaut #inspiration #jacobilly #jessNunes #jonnyRocha #JoshMiltonBell #liveUnlikeAnother #LocalArt #localDjs #localMusic #magicShow #robinGreen #SouthernOntario #uncleDoobie #underTheBridge #usedClassicalRecords #UtB