About: Ron Pettitt

Thursday, July 20th, The Kemptville Live Music Festival officially roared back to life and we were there for it. The headliner for the night was Canadian blues/rock legend, Colin James and what a time he gave us! Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Colin many times and I really think he just keeps getting better each time. Thursday night in Kemptville, he was in top form and that always translates into a good time for the crowd too.

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Sharing the stage with Colin James are some of the finest musicians in the business. Longtime guitarist Chris Caddell, with Jesse O’Brien on keyboards, Geoff Hicks on drums and Steve Marriner on bass and harmonicas. Al seasoned pros in their own rights but together they form one of the tightest bands in the business.

Other notable acts for the evening were, Bent Up Good, Jenie Thai and The Commotions. Jeni Thai has been taking the blues world be storm of late and last week was no exception. With her talented abilities on piano and her clear, beautiful voice, she had no trouble winning over the crowd!

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions were a power-house too, with their 11 piece band including a horn section, bringing some funk, soul and R & B that just blew people away. The vocals were taken care of by their triple threat lead singers, Jeff Rogers, Rebecca Noelle and MacKenzie DiMillo and what a dynamic group they are. They can handle just about whatever you throw at them. The talent didn’t stop with the vocals either, this band is for real.

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

As the night drew to a close, I looked back on the events of the opening day of the festival and thought how great it was to be experiencing live music with some of the best people. Kemptville Live was back.

For more information about any of these performers, check out their websites.

Colin James

Bent Up Good

Jenie Thai

The Commotions

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Commotions, July 21, 2023. Kemptville. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Jenie Thai, Kemptville Live, July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Bent Up Good, Kemptville Live. July 20, 2023. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Colin James, July 20, Kemptville Live. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Roll On 2 North America Tour

with special guest The Bellamy Brothers

Thursday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. – Canadian Tire Centre

Tickets are available Friday, June 2, at 10 a.m.

Tickets On Sale Starting Friday, January 27th at 10AM Local on LiveNation.com

Last Saturday evening, Serena Ryder finished off the Ontario leg of her tour at Kingston’s Grand Theatre and she was a huge hit!

What do you get when The Northern Pikes and The Pursuit Of Happiness get together? You get the Northern Happiness Tour and they rolled through Kingston last night at The Grand Theatre.

34 years ago, The Northern Pikes started their journey together. Over the years there have been a couple of personnel changes, but they have remained pretty much intact since the mid eighties with the exception of adding Kevin Kane to the lineup on guitar and vocals.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

The Pikes are one of those bands who I think you have to see live to appreciate. With hits like She Ain’t Pretty or Girl With A Problem, we’ve heard them before but until you hear them play live I don’t think you get the idea of just how hard these guys rock. This is no light weight band, they rock with the best of them!

The band resurrected their recording career in 2019 after 16 years with the release of Forest of Love after Kevin Kane joined and it seemed to breathe new life into the Pikes. Another new album was in the works but had to be sidelined with travel and COVID restrictions during the pandemic, I’m sure this project will be available soon for fans.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

After a short intermission, we were treated to a performance by The Pursuit of Happiness, another great Canadian Band from about the same era. Moe Berg and company are always a good time and their anthem I’m An Adult Now is remembered by all rock’n’roll fans who also remember the mid eighties. The band has obviously gone through changes but have had a stable lineup since 1997 when singer Renee Suchy joined.

When you see a band like The Pursuit Of Happiness, it is partially nostalgic, you hear those old songs and it brings unlocks memories of different times in your life. It was the glory days of MuchMusic and that video we all remember of a young Moe Berg proclaiming to be an adult now.

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The current lineup of the band are amazing in their own right. Moe and drummer Dave Gilby are the only remaining original members but Kingston’s own Kris Abbott was a popular attraction at last night’s performance for sure. Her guitar and singing talents did not go unnoticed. The other singer in the show was Renee Suchy, with a voice of an angel. Rounding out the lineup was bassist Brad Barker doing a tremendous job as well.

This tour was a great idea. Two bands from a similar era in Canadian rock music on one bill like this works very well. It was a night for people to reminisce over some songs they may not have heard in a long time, hear some new stuff and just have a good time again. We needed that.

Check out more info about these great Canadian Bands here:

The Pursuit Of Happiness

The Northern Pikes

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

The Pursuit Of Happiness, Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

Northern Pikes. Kingston Grand Theatre. October 27, 2022.

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The Pursuit of Happiness, Shenkman Arts Center, Orleans. Photo by Robert Clairmont

Kemptville Live Music Festival was absent from the musical landscape for the last two years due to pandemic restrictions, and they were missed very much. This volunteer run festival has become a must-see event in eastern Ontario. Over the years, they have brought us some of the biggest names in music, both Canadian and International.

Saturday June 25th, Serena Ryder headlined the Ottawa Dragonboat Festival at Mooney’s Bay. The concerts at the festival are free events, making for a great way to entertain the whole family without breaking the bank. It was a great show by one of Canada’s greatest singers!

Grand OnStage will be welcoming over 50 diverse and enthralling performances from across Canada and around the world. With an eclectic mix of artists representing dance, theatre, music, comedy, and circus, all of us involved with the Grand OnStage program look forward to seeing you at Kingston Grand this fall.

Recently, Kingston’s own Sarah Harmer and her band brought the show home. Sarah had just released her sixth album, Are You Gone, when the world shut down and is just now able to tour with her new music. Sarah is also working with a new band with Kelly McMichael on keyboards and vocals, Dani Nash on Drums and vocals, Zach Bines on Bass and Gord Tough on Guitar.

New single “When I Fly” out now

Just announced, Jessica Lavallee will be opening for, fellow coaster, turned Ontarian, Séan McCann at this summer’s Tall Ships Festival being held in her home town of Brockville, Ontario.