Music Corner

Over the last few years, we’ve lost some great music venues and performance spaces including Stonewalls, Casbah, The Masque, Absinthe (again) and others. But with loss, sometimes comes rebirth.

We’ve recently had places bring music back (King George), rebrand (Selo Café where the Masque once was) and rebirth (Ridiculous where Fever once existed) One of my favourite restaurants sold, but the Gate of India has come back as The Gate, and now has live music to go with Indian food. Stonewalls is reopening and will have music, though not sure of the direction. Burlington has its version of the Capitol Bar, Block Co which is now booked by Brodie and his gang at The Friends of Casbah. The King George, thanks to Lori the manager and customers who kept asking, has brought back music to Saturdays…and now Fridays too. The Bright Room at the Staircase has live shows, and is a great “listening room”. And now the Capitol has opened a second premise on Locke St, called Avro. When you add these rooms to the already numerous live music venues in the City you’ll realize Hamilton is truly Canada’s music city.

So, get out there and support your favourite venue, big or small, that have live music. Support the bands that work hard to make sure you have a good time and ask yourself, if I tip my waitstaff, why wouldn’t I tip the performers and if nothing else make sure you tell them how much their music means to you. Hammer On!

BWAF and TRICKBAG
Sunday May 17^th @ 3pm
Boiler & Whistle

Usually Blues With A Feeling, the annual tribute to King Biscuit Boy, takes place in May, but this year it’s moving from May to June, and from the Leander to the Corktown. For the June show you’ll see numerous guests perform with Hamiltons own favourite blues band ... Trickbag. Details will be announced soon as to who’s joining them on stage for this year’s show. But you don’t have to wait to see Trickbag, as they’ll be hitting the Boiler and Whistle on Sunday May 17th at 3pm for a great afternoon of great blues. If you’re in town for the long weekend, this is a great way to spend your Sunday afternoon.

RUCKUS MAXIMUS
Saturday May 2^nd
Bridgeworks

Like a phoenix from the ashes, Ruckus Maximus rises for its XL Edition at Bridgeworks. Bands to move your body and have a laugh with. Live painting. Live drag. Hotdogs. A multisensory event dedicated to all the things making a ruckus in Hamilton these days. Comedy. Music. Hotdogs. Bridgeworks has got it all on May 2 and YOU are cordially invited. If you love Hamilton and getting a little weird, Ruckus Maximus XL is the ONLY island to be on/atoll to visit on May 2. Hosted by the inimitable Seán Cullen, the night will feature appearances from Dodge's Point, The Poobs, Miserable Weekend, Clear Eyes Collective, and House of Adam and Steve, with more artists to be confirmed!

JACOB MOON
Friday May 8^th
Tabone Academy
Experience Jacob Moon’s electrifying solo tribute to progressive rock as he reimagines iconic anthems from Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, & Peter Gabriel with his signature looping & soaring vocals. Jacob can often be found in and around Hamilton and plays regularly at the Westdale Theatre. He is a versatile musician who can play many of the greats, but there is no doubt about his fondness, and pedigree, for playing Rush. You will absolutely love his takes. This is your chance to see him at the intimate Tabone Academy on Upper Ottawa. Get your tickets early before they sell out.

ELLIOTT BROOD WITH GUESTS THE PINTOS!
Saturday May 9^th
Bridgeworks
Elliott Brood is a three-piece Canadian alternative country band formed in Toronto in 2002 but now calling Hamilton home. The band consists of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, harmonica and kazoo, Casey Laforet on guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele, and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals. The band's style has been categorized as "death country", "frontier rock" or "revival music".. Their live show, a maelstrom of frenetic energy and fuzz, has brought them back and forth across continents countless times on bills with The Sadies, Wilco, The Black Crowes, and many more. For over 20 years they’ve been going at it and entertaining audiences across the continent.
Opening for them are The Pintos. Formerly known as Matt Paxton & the Pintos, the Hamilton, Ontario-based group evolved into a collaborative band known as The Pintos earlier this year. The band plays a style described as "high and lonesome" alt-country, often compared to Blue Rodeo, Neil Young, and Wilco. They released a debut EP in 2023 titled Tornado, featuring songs like "Brother" and "Southside Of The West Town". The Pintos have shared stages with the likes of Corb Lund, Cuff the Duke, Jeremie Albino, Joel Plaskett, The Pink Stones, and more. The band is actively recording new music in their hometown with producer Stephen Pitkin of Elliott BROOD, and The Flashing Lights. The Pintos are Carrie Clark, Chris Altmann, Matt Paxton, and Robin Pirson.

LIVE & LOCAL: MOTHER'S DAY EDITION
Sunday May 10^th @ 4pm
BPAC (Studio Theatre)
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre provides up and coming musicians an opportunity to showcase their talents in the Studio Theatre as part of the Live and Local Series. This month is the Mothers’ Day edition of Live and Local and features Bojana Nikolovska, Andrea Florian, and Talia Hijazi.
Bojana Nikolovska is a professional piano performer with a BSc in Piano performance. Her artistic focus is centered on classical piano music, which is thoughtfully combined with well-known pieces from film scores and popular music. She is particularly interested in performing as a soloist, and her repertoire is well-suited for entrance music, background ambiance, and cocktail-style events. All she requires is a piano and an appreciative audience. Learn more about Bojana at https://nikolovskamusic.art
Andrea Florian is a Burlington-based singer-songwriter and lifelong creative. Classically trained in piano and a Fine Arts graduate of York University, she has released five albums, toured internationally, and showcased in New York, Australia, and the UK. Supported by Ontario and Canada Council grants, MuchMusic video funding, and a Billboard feature, her music has touched audiences worldwide. After over a 10-year hiatus to focus on family and career, Andrea has recently returned to the studio and stage with renewed inspiration—sharing songs and stories that celebrate creativity, resilience, and hoping to encourage others to find their voice. Learn more about Andrea at andreaflorian.com
Talia Hijazi was born in Montreal, Canada but grew up as an expatriate in Saudi Arabia. She now lives in Burlington with her parents and her cat Lulu. Talia’s been singing, dancing, and acting since she was in middle school. She trained at Randolph College for the Performing Arts, a rigorous 2 year performing arts program in Toronto. Some of her notable performances include dancing in the ensemble in grease and playing Juror #7 in 12 angry jurors. While at school, she also discovered her ability to compose music and is now pursuing her interest in composing by studying music at McMaster University.

ELFRIDA WITH GUEST BERNADETTE CONNORS
Saturday May 23^rd
Bridgeworks
ELFRIDA ALBUM RELEASE SHOW — TWO SETS!
Elfrida is an indie pop rock band from Hamilton and the GTA, blending the warmth of vintage rock with the sharp edges and melodies of modern indie pop. Their sound balances nostalgia and momentum—hooks that feel familiar, lyrics that feel lived-in, and grooves that linger longer than expected. What began as a few recordings between guitarists, singers, and songwriters Sandro Mastromatteo and Matt Kristan slowly turned into something undeniable. After cycling through early lineups, they found the pieces they didn’t know they were missing—bass player Gordon Bosiljevac from Mississauga, whose rhythmic instincts don’t just hold the floor, they elevate it. Guitarist Matt Del Conte followed, bringing a melodic bite, songwriting finesse, and harmonies that cracked the band wide open. The final spark came from Hamilton native Adam Filice, whose rock-and-roll-driven drums shaped the pulse of their debut album, Cold, Drunk, and Stoned, and cemented who Elfrida really is.The band’s name is a nod to Elfrida—the place where three of them grew up and where this whole thing quietly began. Every show, every song, is still tied to that past—but the music is written with eyes forward.
Bernadette Connors is a Hamilton-based singer-songwriter whose voice feels both powerful and deeply personal — the kind that doesn’t just perform a song, but lives inside it. Raised in her family’s small-town music store in Georgina, Ontario, Bernadette grew up surrounded by instruments, lessons, and community. Music wasn’t a dream she chased later in life — it was woven into her everyday rhythm from childhood. She learned early that songs are more than entertainment; they’re a way of processing life, connecting to others, and finding your way home. Her songs move through love, partnership, doubt, growth, and grounded devotion — the real, human chapters that shape us all. In every setting, she invites listeners into something honest and connective — not just a performance, but a shared experience. Her album Monarch, produced by John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews, became a creative milestone during the pandemic, celebrating small-town life and community. Her 2024 single “History” showcased a bold new chapter in her artistry, leading to “White Magnolia”, co-written with MacDonald and Stu Weinberg. With performances alongside Suzie McNeil and The Trews (including a duet with Colin MacDonald), Bernadette continues to make her mark on the Canadian music scene. Her music tells stories of resilience, love, and life’s journey, making her an artist to watch.

C & C SURF FACTORY
Thursday May 28^th
Ridiculous
Hamilton/T.O. Surf-rock Supergroup make their debut performance at Ridiculous, 38 King William's Lower Level in downtown Hamilton. C & C Surf Factory filters the best of 60s surf style – think wet reverb, Fender amps and a stable of electric guitars – through the modern-day guitar wizardry and unimpeachable cool of founding members Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards) and Champagne James Robertson (Dwayne Gretzky, Lindi Ortega, New Country Rehab). The two began working on instrumental guitar pieces in 2012, and took the project in a direction sharply away from the world of roots, country and blues of their main gigs, that being Surf Rock. “Ultimately, the direction was a byproduct of our love for low-end twang and a common interest in wanting to play songs without words,” says Champagne James Robertson, who you can see monthly at The Capitol. C & C Surf Factory has grown to include Sly Juhas on drums, Ryan Gavel on bass (P Bass, naturally), and Chris Stringer on keys and percussion. If you like guitar rock, then you should make sure to make this show as the band only plays shows in between their busy touring and recording schedules. I last saw them a few years ago at the Casbah, before it shut down. That night was a packed house which included most musicians I knew who didn’t have a gig that night. An absolutely fantastic show that you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets early.

FEMME RISING VOLUME 4
Sunday May 31^st
Millworks

Volume 4 of Femme Rising features MELISSA DUTCH, AOIFE , JOCELYN JUNE, and GIGI NOCHE

Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, Melissa Dutch is an active and powerful soul/folk/rock artist from sound to sight to sentiment. Her performing presence, skillful storytelling, and soulful voice have been compared to artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Adele, Alanis Morisette, and Florence Welch. Her work is an observation and an anthem for the outcast, and a beacon for the weird and wonderful. She has performed her original music for Juno Week 2026, Under the Blue Moon at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, headlined for Take Back the Night at Hamilton City Hall with SACHA, and Hamilton Pride 2025. She is the creator and promoter of the Femme Rising Showcase Series at Mills Hardware, in association with Women in Music Canada Hamilton/Halton, facilitating community and development for Femme and Queer artists, and she was selected by the City of Hamilton for the Canadian Music Incubator’s Groundwork program for 2026.

Meet AOIFE, the moniker of Irish-born, Hamilton-based singer-songwriter Aoife-Louise Doyle. A mixture of folk ethos, rock inflection and pop melodicism influences AOIFE’s musical makeup. Her passion can be traced to an upbringing filled with family acapellas, later to be followed by a postsecondary trajectory as a vocal major. Amidst her musical colleagues, AOIFE drew ambition to document her own world through songwriting. The foundation of her efforts solidified as she deconstructed lines between themes of love, heartbreak, despondency, isolation, independence and solace. AOIFE best utilizes her voice to release subjugated emotions through a flurry of melodies, aiming to project an internal release through her message. AOIFE’s EP when all is said and done available for streaming now.
Jocelyn June hails from Hamilton, Ontario with a natural talent in music. Her sound is a Janis Joplin meets Amy Winehouse, sprinkled with Alanis Morissette. Over the years Jocelyn has studied privately in classical and jazz vocals, guitar with Gord Lewis, piano with various private teachers and now teaches music to students of all ages. She has fronted the Hamilton All Star Jr. Jazz Band, funk band Skirtcheck, classic rock band The Falcons, and Black Rose. Jocelyn June has grown her solo career, releasing two singles and now extends her work with her own band, Jocelyn June & The Bugs. Jocelyn has a vast variety of material in most genres along with her originals. Jocelyn June continues to pursue her music career taking on all opportunities presented
Gigi Noche was born in Cuba in 1993 and immigrated to Canada at the age of 8 when she first heard the timeless Pop Era of the 2000's on the radio. It was through those bangers that Gigi not only taught herself to sing, but also to speak English through looking up lyrics on the dictionary. Performing live since age 16, Gigi's musical tastes evolved, fronting local Latin, classic rock, and pop cover bands. Now in her 30s, Gigi finally defined her own sound as a void in the current pop landscape with a voice that is raw, bright, and nostalgic, having deeply studied her influences like Michael Jackson, Jojo, Drake, Britney Spears, John Mayer, and Mariah Carrey. Gigi majored as a vocalist at Metalworks Institute of Sound & Music Production where she was first introduced to the demands of the music industry. Later joining Instagram in 2017 as a plus-model, Gigi has since collaborated with various creatives within the body positivity movement – amassing a healthy influencer following. Despite facing familial and financial struggles and being a one-woman team, in 2024 Gigi officially kicked off her recording career with her own take on Drake & Michael Jackson's 2018 record "Don't Matter to Me" - which is a testament of her ability to make cover songs uniquely her own, as she often does at her live shows. An undeniable sensation in the making, Gigi Noche plans to record more timeless songs, and spread her infectious energy of unity, love, and sincerity.

Women in Music Canada (WIMC) is a registered non-profit organization and one of the largest music industry associations in Canada. Through programming, community building, and online resources our goal is to strengthen the social-economic balance of the music industry. WIMC believes that the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome and is working to make the music industry a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community for all.

THIRD DEGREE BLUES
EBS 3^rd Anniversary
Tuesday May 26^th
Ancaster Memorial Arts

Turn up the heat for a night of world-class blues as the Escarpment Blues Society celebrates its 3rd Anniversary with the electrifying 3rd Degree Blues Gala Concert! Backed by the powerhouse EBS Allstars, Dave King (drums), Colin Lapsley (bass), and Jesse O’Brien (keys), this unforgettable evening features an all-star cast of blues heavyweights: Steve Strongman, Morgan Davis, Miss Angel Brown, Shawn Kellerman, Kim Doolittle, Lily Sazz, Chris Ayries, and Roly Platt. It’s a rare gathering of top-tier talent, bringing deep grooves, soulful vocals, and blazing musicianship to one stage for one incredible night.

The Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre
357 Wilson St. East, Ancaster, ON
May 26^th, 2026

Don’t miss this high-voltage celebration of blues at its finest: three years strong and getting hotter every year! This show has sold out the past couple of years, so don't hesitate, get your tickets early!

THE MUSIC CORNER