Live Music in Every Corner this August

While many communities will pull their musical acts and assets together to attract visitors for one or two weekends over the summer, Oshawa has a constant flow of music every night of the week, regardless of season. Even though some of the larger venues are dark, the pubs and clubs are still providing top-class entertainment in all genres and descriptions.

This is not just in the private settings; the public stages are hopping, too. The Oshawa Civic Band’s (OBC) Concert in the Park series continues at the R.S. McLaughlin Bandshell in Memorial Park at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 7, and Wednesday, August 28. August 7 is Song and Dance night, and the theme for August 28 is At the Movies. The OBC will be celebrating Oshawa’s centennial at each event.

Every Thursday, the City hosts musicians at the newly opened Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park at Harbour Road and Simcoe Street South from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and every Tuesday at the Memorial Park Bandshell. 

Come for the cars but stay for the music! Kars on King is back on August 23.

Live music will also be on tap at one of the City’s pre-eminent events, Kars on King, which will take place on King Street, Downtown Oshawa, on Friday, August 23. 

Catch the hottest local acts at the Two Two Two on August 6 and 20.

Bond Street Events Centre is filling its calendar with a regular lineup of events, including its bi-weekly all-ages showcase of emerging talent on Tuesdays in the TwoTwoTwo ( August 6 and 20), Country Thursdays also in TwoTwoTwo and Acoustic Fridays in the Local Lounge. On Friday, August 23, 80s retro act The Bomb, along with Madhaus, will be on the Main Stage, a fine way to close up the Kars on King event should one seek a recommendation. That's at 9 p.m. 

School's Out at KOPs Records! Drop by the shop this August to live performances all summer long.

Kops on King continues its School’s Out series on Wednesday afternoons throughout August. There are also early evening in-stores; Whitby indie rockers Hileah launches their new album on Friday, August 2, and Ottawa-based singer/songwriter Rory Taillon will perform tracks from his new independent album, ‘Hatchet’ on Saturday, August 17. 

Aaron John hosts an early evening open mic at Cork and Bean on Sundays. The sets start at 5:30 p.m. on both August 11 and August 25. 

Fionn MacCool’s, 214 Ritson Road North at Adelaide, has live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Shows roll out August 3 with The Howlers, and the month continues with Terry Maxwell August 8, Erin Marie August 9, The Irelands August 10,  Homestead Elite August 15, Jon Kerr August 22, Jellie August 23, ThreeBeard August 24, Amanda & Steve August 30 and Those Guys August 31.

One of the more recent additions to the Shwarock City music scene is Nookies Soul Kitchen and Bar, located at 1330 Ritson Road North at Taunton. There are various options with music most nights and an open mic on Thursdays with Greg Cave. Also, on Thursdays, one of the longest-running open mics in the city takes place at The General, 21 Celina St. in downtown Oshawa, with host Emerson Ireland. Emerson and his partner Cheryl play regularly around the city at various clubs and bars, even farms, as their band, known as the Irelands, plays Pingles Pumpkin Farm at 1205 Taunton Rd on Sunday, August 11. 

Yes, the music in Oshawa flows continuously on farms, fields, bars, clubs, theatres, arenas, backyards, and side streets!