Wednesdays from July 8 - August 26, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE - virtual Live on the Waterfront for 2020

In response to Provincial orders and physical distancing mandates, the City’s Live on the Waterfront series will be delivered virtually this summer. With public safety being top priority, event staff are planning innovative ways of delivering events without encouraging the large gatherings that typically occur with events of this scale.

Anticipated virtual event components will include a performing arts series, showcasing the best local talent alongside some of Canada's finest artists.

2020 Virtual Live Line Up

July 8, 2020

Jocelyn Alice

Jocelyn Alice is a platinum-selling Canadian singer and songwriter with a fiercely powerful voice, heartfelt lyrics, and magnetic style. She rose to fame with her 2015 breakout summer song, “Jackpot.” Jocelyn received a 2016 SOCAN Pop/Rock Music Award for Jackpot and was nominated for the 2016 Canadian Radio Music Awards and Canadian Music Week Indie Awards for Solo Artist. Jocelyn co-wrote Mother Mother’s hit single ‘The Drugs’, which spent two weeks at #1 on the Media base Canada Alt Rock chart in February 2017 and received a SOCAN #1 Song Award in November 2017.

Morning Light Acoustic Quartet

Morning Light Acoustic Quartet is a group of musicians that have been playing music together in some capacity for as long as they can remember. They hope to bring an energy to their performances that will have the audience singing and dancing right along with them!

 

July 15, 2020

Tami Neilson

No one forgets the first time they saw Tami Neilson. She can hush a room with an original song that channels the hurting spirit of Patsy Cline or the sensuality of Peggy Lee, or bring the audience to its feet on a rockabilly raver. She’s an artist with real range, whose powerful voice can take on big ballads, golden-age country, heartfelt Gospel, soul-infused R&B, Western swing, even old-style rock ‘n’ roll. Tami grew up performing across North America with the Neilson Family Band, working alongside greats such as Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, and Kitty Wells. Awards for albums that added breadth to her “country singer” label: Best Female Artist, Best Country Album, Best Country Song, an APRA Silver Scroll (songwriting) award and Album of the Year nominations. Tami’s songs appeared on the Netflix series Wanted and the terrestrial TV series Nashville.

Cartwrights

Cartwrights are a 3-piece Rock and Roll band. They have been playing their brand of Garage rock since 2014, drawing as much inspiration from John Prine and Townes Van Zandt as they do The Replacements and Reigning Sound. With a rhythm section sure to get your feet stomping along to the finger-picked guitars and vocal harmonies, their live show often features humorous and insightful anecdotes that expand upon the characters and themes found in the songs on their debut self titled record. Their set will leave you humming songs you didn't know you loved. Cartwrights; North Shore Rock and Roll!

The Hoolies

The Hoolies have been performing together for 15 years and play mostly Canadian content like April Wine, Trooper, Harliquin and the likes of The Hip. The band has performed in Casino’s, at Car Shows, and festivals.

 

July 22, 2020

Sharon Musgrave's Soulcake

Sharon Musgrave is a Canadian soul singer songwriter with an acidjazzfunk fusion band. You will hear hints of blues, funk, acidjazz, chillhop, soul and a dab of reggae. As well as their catchy originals, you will also hear funky classic cover songs. Sharon, a singer that has been wowing the crowds with her voice for years. Sharon Musgrave had a hit record in the 90’s called “Fascinating Rhythm”. She then went on to work with Jazz musician Julian Joseph, a beautiful performance on his single “The Other Side Of Town", by Curtis Mayfield. She’s proved herself as a professional entertainer time and time again.

Sunday Wilde & 1 Eyed Jacks

Sunday Wilde is based out of Thunder Bay and has been found singing everywhere from small logging towns and blues joints to large festivals. She is a powerful and intense vocalist, a rare voice that speaks from the primal soul. Her lyrics and delivery make it abundantly clear that she speaks from experience and authority.

Anna Torontow with Mood Indigo

Award winning Mood Indigo has been Thunder Bay’s premier jazz band for over two decades. Starting out as an indie pop vocalist, Anna Torontow has performed at many venues, including the legendary Blacksheep Inn and Hughes Room, and recorded two full-length studio albums before making the move into the jazz music scene. She has been working steadily as a jazz vocalist in Thunder Bay since 2018 with some of the most sought after musicians in the city.

 

July 29, 2020

Ragged Road

What do a maintenance manager, math teacher, map-maker, lawyer, and public relations expert have in common? Ragged Road. The band’s music has been described as “a fun blend of rock and folk music with a touch of Celtic Influenced Sound”. After bursting onto Northwestern Ontario’s music scene in December 2018, the band has released an EP album, had music featured on Acadia and Goldenwest Radio networks, have played gigs in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and were finalists in Sunset Country Spotlight.

Cold Lake Sun

Originally a solo project created by UK-born songwriter multi-instrumentalist Robin E. Moss, Cold Lake Sun has evolved into a five piece-Anglo-Canadian-indie-alternative-pop-rock band with a uniquely transatlantic feel. Cold Lake Sun specialize in tightly crafted-upbeat-melodic-happy/sad-guitary-synthy-reverb-drenched songs with a distinctively new wave and dreampop flavour. Since formation in 2014, CLS has become a permanent fixture on the Thunder Bay music scene and has appeared at a number of high profile shows across the Northwest.

Gibson Martin & I 

Gibson Martin & I is a Canadian Bluegrass band based in Thunder Bay. The band consists of four players and has been around in one form or another since 1986 and was awarded a “Certificate of Recognition for Musical Achievement” by the Minister of Canadian Heritage in 1995.

 

August 5, 2020

Tenille Arts

Born and raised in the small prairie town of Weyburn Saskatchewan, Tenille Arts picked the guitar and penned her first song at age 13. Her music has tallied over 31 million streams. Rolling Stone named Tenille one of their “10 New Country Artist You Need To Know,” calling her “An edgy, Fearless-era Taylor Swift with crystalline vocals; ideal for hopeless romantics who are fire signs”. Tenille made her Grand Ole Opry debut in September 2019.

Chris Talarico

Chris is an eclectic mix of sounds and genres, with a distinctly Canadian sound. Focusing on an engaging, high energy performance, Chris has performed for years all over Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. 2019 was a big year for Chris as he opened for Jade Eagleson and The Redhill Valleys at Live on the Waterfront, as well as being named the Walleye's best country band. Chris brings with him a full band composed of guitar, piano, bass and drums, giving Chris the flexibility to play across many genres with a full sound.

Tim Albertson

Growing up in the small town of Hurkett, Ontario, Tim Albertson was inspired to perform music by his grandmother. Having opened for Gord Bamford's Honkey Tonks and Dive Bars Tour, Aaron Pritchett's Out On The Town Tour, and Tebey's Good One's Tour, Tim is just getting started and it's full speed ahead!

  

August 12, 2020

Riit

From the land that never melts comes a sound that radiates life, youth and promise. Riit, from majestic Panniqtuq, Nunavut, is a new artist making space for herself in the electropop world with Inuktitut lyrics and deep rhythmic vocals layered over gemological synth cuts and sticky, staticky electronic textures. Riit’s music emerges from very distinct circumstances of place, language and experience. Throughout her debut full-length album, produced by Graham Walsh and recorded in Iqaluit, Nunavut and Toronto, Riit sings about the clarity of forgiveness, the imprint of the past on the present, and personal disconnection. In Inuktitut, Riit’s songs explore family, life and love. Riit also nods to Nunavut’s rich yet underappreciated legacy of songwriters, with covers of Inuktitut classics included on the record.

Sam Louis

When an artist is worth the hype, they are usually worth a lot more and Sam Louis is proving that he is worth it all. This Thunder Bay – Toronto based singer/songwriter first released the infectiously hypnotic single “This Love”, signalling to music lovers that there is a bold new music maker on the scene. The Humber graduate of the Contemporary Music Degree program inspires live on stage while demonstrating his technical skill.

Christina Martin

Christina Martin is a powerhouse. She has won numerous awards and critical acclaim for her soaring vocals, masterful lyrics and electric performances. Her music blurs the lines between pop, rock and roots. It is both cinematic grandeur and intimate refuge. Christina began recording her own music while slogging it out on the Austin, Texas bar scene. She has been relentlessly recording and touring in Canada and in the UK and Europe, building connections at venues big and small, singing songs about loss, love and perseverance. Her songs have been featured in films and television, and she’s performed at music festivals around the world.

  

August 19, 2020

Big Sugar

Universal Music recording artist Big Sugar’s brand-new studio album Eternity Now has Grammy-nominated Gordie Johnson applying his signature 1970s thump and psycho-acoustic dub effects throughout.  Big Sugar first emerged clad in Hugo Boss suits as the antithesis to the grunge esthetic with a unique combination of Jamaican rhythms, blues tonality and heavy rock aggression. They have dominated the airwaves and highways with songs like “Diggin A Hole,” “The Scene,” “Turn The Lights On” and “Roads Ahead.” Their roots-rock-reggae style has built a loyal following, earning Big Sugar a Road Gold Award with Gordie Johnson’s guitar playing influencing a new generation of young guitarists as well as peers.

“Eternity Now was written and recorded in the aftermath of many tragic life-changing events both within and beyond our control,” explain Gordie and Alex Johnson. With the present-day challenges posed by the pandemic, it is our wish that people will be able to enjoy our new music but also connect with the universal themes within. Whether it helps you to heal, to hope, to grieve or just groove, we share with you Eternity Now.” With the band under shelter-in-place orders, Johnson will be in his studio playing and singing live to the album tracks along with classic hits to create an intimate and complete musical show.

James Boraski & Momentary Evolution

James Boraski & Momentary Evolution always delivers tight, professional musicianship with their award-winning original music and popular cover songs. James has performed internationally at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee and was also inducted into the American Heritage Blues Hall of Fame in the USA.

Blood Red Moon

The Blood Red Moon band will captivate you with their talent and sound. With an ever-evolving repertoire, the band continues to cover classic and modern rock hits that range from the 50’s to today.

The band is based in Thunder Bay, four friends with a passion and drive for providing Thunder Bay with “Nothing But A Good Time”.

 

August 26, 2020

Haviah Mighty

Haviah Mighty didn’t need to change her birth name when she decided to dedicate her career to music. In fact, Mighty couldn’t be more accurate a word to describe the 26-year-old artist, named one of XXL’s 15 Toronto Rappers You Should Know in 2019. Raised in a musical household in Brampton, Ontario, Mighty started singing at the age of 4, rapping at 11, and producing at 15. To date, Mighty recently released Polaris Prize-winning album, ‘13th Floor’, her most fully-realized project to date. Garnering overwhelming praise from the likes of Pitchfork, Hot New Hip Hop, and Lyrical Lemonade to name a few, Haviah continues to carve out spaces that boldly defy gendered expectations for women in hip hop.

Tourist Bureau

The Tourist Bureau formed in 2011, and released a debut EP in 2012 entitled Autumn Song, which featured four songs that can be best described as guitar-driven folk/alt country highlighted by three part harmony vocals. Recently, the band released a full-length album, follow-up to The Tourist Bureau's debut EP. The new album features a new musical direction, following in the artistic paths of bands such as U2, The Killers, and 80's New Wave, while drawing from modern artists.

LockyerBoys

LockyerBoys are local brothers who have impressed crowds with their multi-instrumental talent, incredible vocal harmonies and stage presence beyond their years. They have recently completed their debut album with songs co-written with Jeff Dawson and Daniel Powter.

 

Award-Winning Festival

Thousands of events are held every year in Ontario but only a select few are named to the 'Top 100 Ontario Festivals' list. Live on the Waterfront has been named to this prestigious list three times - most recently in 2020. Live on the Waterfront has also won Best New Festival/Event Achievement Award in 2018, Best Promotional Campaign Achievement Award in 2019 and Sponsor of the Year Achievement Awards in 2017 and 2019!

 

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor: Ontario Power Generation

Volunteer Program Sponsor: Giant Tiger

Signature Sponsors: Porter Airlines, 99.9 The Bay, Country 105, ROCK 94, 91.5 CKPR, tbnewswatch.com

Featured Sponsors: TD Bank

Patron Sponsors: Maverick Entertainment Group, The Waterfront BIA, National Car Rental, Prince Arthur Waterfront Hotel & Suites

Contributing Sponsors: Destination Thunder Bay, Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay, OLG

 

Make an impact in our community - consider sponsoring the region's most popular and well-attended special events. If your company is interested in participating as a sponsor for this award-winning event, contact email our Cultural Development & Events Supervisor or call 807-628-5250.       

 

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