From Walk of Fame to Live Stage

The historic Regent Theatre is one of the landmarks visitors will find while exploring the Oshawa Walk of Fame.

The Oshawa Walk of Fame features plaques on all four corners of the King and Simcoe St intersection and there are a series of plaques in front of the historic Regent Theatre. Should you attend any of the many shows the Regent hosts or any of the shows the many venues in the downtown core presents take the time to look down. Note the names Glen Bensley and June Eikard located on the north-east and south-east side of King St at Simcoe. Both of these inductees were musicians who had a major impact on Oshawa’s music scene both on a national as well as local level. 

Cuff the Duke's Oshawa roots reflect the lasting impact of Glen Bensley's Open Stage.

Juno award nominees Cuff The Duke have a song ‘Rossland Square.’ on their album ‘Sidelines of the City’ which features the line “But I’ll be at the Bensley Open Stage”. That open stage was a training ground for so many of Oshawa musicians including not only the members of Cuff The Duke but others such Brad and Maryanne Stella the country act The Stellas and their daughters Lennon and Maisey of the TV show Nashville fame. Glen Bensley died in 2008. Local musicians held an open mic at the Memorial Park bandshell in his honour. So many musicians showed up to play the tribute it ran over four weekends. It is fitting that Bensley’s plaque is at the four corners as he was very much the cornerstone for Oshawa’s music community for decades.

Glen Bensley, Oshawa Walk of Fame inductee whose passion for music shaped generations of local artists.

On the south side of King is the plaque for June Eikhard, known as the First Lady of the Canadian Fiddle’ but also mum to her two musician children Brett and Shirley Eikhard who is a member of the Canadian Songwriting Hall of Fame, a multiple Juno winner, and wrote international hits including ‘Let’s Give Them Something to Talk About’ sung by Bonnie Raitt which hit number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991. June Eikhard was the first woman to compete in the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddlers' Contest. 

June Eikhard, known as First Lady of the Canadian Fiddle.

Eikhard’s legacy can be seen in the still vital bluegrass/folk music scene in and around Oshawa. On Tuesday July 7 2026 indie folk singer/songwriter Northcote from B.C. will play the Biltmore Theatre mezzanine level. Opening will be Spirit Josh, a band with strong connections to Oshawa. Spirit Josh play a very loose alt-country sound and on their latest single they brought in another Oshawa roots player, fiddler Alanna Jenish, herself a Canadian Folk Music Award winner. Northcote (aka Matt Goud) has toured with Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner, and has played Oshawa before, when the members of Spirit Josh were among the audience members. 

Spirit Josh continues Oshawa's rich folk and roots music tradition.