logo
Summer concert series returns to downtown Barrie with some hometown high notes

Summer concert series returns to downtown Barrie with some hometown high notes

CTV News16 hours ago
After Dean Brody took over Meridian Place last month, the Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series is set to return to downtown Barrie with another emerging artist showcase headlined by The 99s.
The emerging artist showcase will feature three bands including Goofus, Sydney Riley, and Dorene.
David Bechard, guitarist for Goofus, is excited to open the showcase and pumped the crowd.
'We range from very soft, melodic songs to high energy, loud, heavier songs or heavier rock songs,' said Bechard. 'So, there's going to be a bit of diversity in our set, but I think, honestly with that said, there's something there for everyone.'
As a band, this is Goofus' first outdoor festival and are excited for the challenge.
'Just to get that exposure within the community is incredible because I find so much of our fan base is coming from that smaller music community or that local community,' said Goofus drummer James Reich. 'We get to see each other play live and everything, it's just it's incredible, so the fact that we get to support it and be a part of it this weekend is incredible.'
Sydney Riley will also be featured in the showcase and is looking forward to performing for the crowd.
'We don't get to perform in public a lot for our hometown like this, so it's going to be really fun to engage with the community in that sort of way and represent what local music has to offer,' said Riley, adding the downtown location is the ultimate outdoor venue.
'Meridian Place is honestly one of the best live venues that we get to play in, so it's the perfect location,' said Riley. 'It's the middle of downtown, if you're going to get dinner beforehand, you can just walk on by, and you'll be able to see us.'
Riley said the band's music offers something for everyone.
'We try to be as engaging as possible, so it's going to be lots of big bangers and just lots of excitement,' said Riley. 'Not very much sad songs.'
Punk rock band Dorene will also take the stage and is ready for the big moment. '[The audience] can expect some loud guitars and loud drums. A bit of pop, a bit of blues, a bit of rock,' said drummer Gray Laine.
'A fair bit of original, some classic Canadian covers as well, keep people happy and mix of that,' added guitarist Vincent Eagan, who also sings in the band.
Headlining this week's festival is The 99s, with vocalist Carleigh Aikins, a Barrie native.
'That's the place where I kind of cut my teeth performing, right on that strip on Dunlop at all the venues and bars,' said Aikins. 'So, you know, it's always feels like a full circle moment to get to come home and have a good time with friends and family.'
The 99s bring a throwback vibe where the audience can sing along and enjoy the nostalgia of older music.
'Saturday will feel like going to the town square and putting a coin in the jukebox and you kind of don't know what you're going to get,' said Aikins. 'But that's kind of the joy of it, like a radio dial. It's a nostalgic kind of trip down memory lane and It's always fun to watch the crowd experience these songs that maybe they forgot they loved or that they have a core memory with.'
Open Air Dunlop will once again close Dunlop Street Saturday at 10 a.m. with Classics in the Park on display along downtown leading up to the emerging showcase.
CTV News Barrie, Pure Country and Bounce 104.1 are proud sponsors of Troubadour Festival Summer Concert Series.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

OC Transpo touts strong O-Train ridership during Ottawa Bluesfest
OC Transpo touts strong O-Train ridership during Ottawa Bluesfest

CTV News

timean hour ago

  • CTV News

OC Transpo touts strong O-Train ridership during Ottawa Bluesfest

OC Transpo is reporting strong ridership on all O-Train lines during Ottawa Bluesfest this summer. This year's edition of the popular music festival marks the first time that the north-south Line 2 and the Line 4 airport spur have been in operation alongside the east-west Line 1, which stops right outside the festival grounds at LeBreton Flats. 'Strong ridership was observed throughout the festival with an estimated 650,000 customer trips on Line 1 and 87,000 customer trips on Line 2,' said acting general manager of Transit Services Troy Charter in a media release Tuesday. Charter says the busiest day was July 18, when Green Day was the headliner, which had a combined 112,000 customers trips on Lines 1 and 2. 'Strong usage of the new Park & Rides connecting customers with Line 2 was also observed,' Charter wrote, though no specific numbers were included in the release. Festivalgoers could board an OC Transpo bus, an O-Train, or take Para Transpo using their Bluefest tickets during the festival. 'Transit service performed as planned. Signage was placed at various locations to help customers during the festival. Staff were at key locations to support customers throughout the festival, and announcements were made in and around stations,' Charter said. There was one hiccup with signage, when some people spotted mistranslated signs for eastbound travellers that said 'vers l'ouest' in French, which means 'westbound.' OC Transpo said the signs were quickly replaced. Charter said OC Transpo will continue to review operations to capture lessons learned and improve the customer experience at future major events. More than 250,000 people attended Ottawa Bluesfest this year.

TransLink parodies Wicked musical in chirpy introduction to new SkyTrain model
TransLink parodies Wicked musical in chirpy introduction to new SkyTrain model

CTV News

time11 hours ago

  • CTV News

TransLink parodies Wicked musical in chirpy introduction to new SkyTrain model

More engaging than a social media post and far more memorable than a tiresome written release, TransLink has opted for an all-singing, all-dancing spectacle to announce the latest addition to its SkyTrain fleet. Those at the transit agency, ever the wallflowers, have launched the new Mark V model with a music video parody based on the Broadway-musical-turned-movie Wicked. A staff member, decked out in a long blonde wig and various Glinda-worthy ensembles, prances through the stations and in and out of SkyTrain cars while singing a rejigged version of the catchy number 'What Is This Feeling?' The song leads with the question 'Why is that SkyTrain so shiny and new?' before journeying into lyrics that merrily applaud the car's new features, including the wider aisles, ample bike space and new LCD screens. TransLink Spokesperson Thor Diakow says the video was produced completely in-house by chirpy staff from TransLink and the B.C. Rapid Transit Company, who figured the earworm tune of the Broadway hit was the only appropriate way to unveil a new transport system. 'We wanted to connect it with some current pop culture that is relevant for all ages, and Wicked felt like the perfect choice,' he says. Rehearsals for the video took about 90 minutes, and the recording of the video lasted just over two hours. Diakow says there were numerous spectators who attended the Waterfront Station customer appreciation event when the Mark V launched, who were equally as enthralled to watch the video come together in real time. 'The production team got some enthusiastic applause after the dance sequences,' he says. Since being posted to TransLink's Youtube page on Friday, the response to the video has been nothing but 'overwhelmingly positive,' Diakow adds. 'We've received many comments from people outside Vancouver and even outside of Canada, with some asking where this transit system is located,' he says. The video currently has over 150,000 views on TransLink's Instagram account. The first Mark V model officially entered service on the Expo Line July 10 as one of 47 new trains set to hit the tracks.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store