It's a many-faceted mixed bag of music this March in 'Shwa Rock City. From legendary Cancon at the Regent Theatre to more modern Canadian acts and of course, St Patrick's Day celebrations, Downtown Oshawa, the music city of Durham Region, is block to block packed this month.
Punkers move into Bond|St, the historic home of alternative rock in Oshawa, at the beginning of the month. Luke Bentham of the Dirty Nil, Peter van Helvoort of The Glorious Sons and Teenage Kicks, and Drew Thomson of Single Mothers will be performing acoustically for the opening of the Local Lounge inside Bond|St on Sunday, March 3. This is a matinee performance, so doors open at 2 p.m.
The night before, Saturday, March 2, Australia/Canada rockers The Lazys, who are anything but, play at The Biltmore Theatre. Opening are two locals, Nitetime Drive from Cobourg and My Own Addiction of Oshawa.
Those contemplating a musical March Break could consider the great line-up running at the Biltmore, starting with hardcore punk/metal act the Cancer Bats on Monday, March 11. Opening the night is local post-hardcore act Judgement. The theatre has a double hit of the Sheepdogs on Wednesday, March 13 and Thursday, March 14. That's two nights of their own brand of rock 'n roll, which got them on the cover of Rolling Stone! The opening act, the Dan Romano Outfit, is currently one of the best live acts on the road. The D.R.O. just keeps getting better and better, leaning into stylish psych country rock from all angles.
And happily, it doesn’t end there for the music, but sadly, it will end for one of Oshawa’s best trios, The Doozies, who, after 15 years, are shutting it down with a St Paddy's Day party at The Biltmore Sunday, March 17. For both residents and visitors, this is one not to be missed.
The Doozie’s take on the Maritime kitchen party tradition really speaks to the heritage of the East Coast and Oshawa, as so many have moved to the city to work in the factories here. Many stayed, including the late great ‘First Lady of the Fiddle’ June Eikhard, who raised her own musical family in the city, which included her daughter, the late singer/songwriter Shirley Eikhard, who penned ‘Let's Give Them Something to Talk About’ a hit for American country and blues star Bonnie Raitt. The Doozies will give everyone something to talk about, of that I am sure.
Speaking of talking about, the Regent Theatre has its own trio of Classic Canadian artists people have been talking about for decades. David Wilcox goes downtown on Saturday, March 9, Kim Mitchell brings his wild party in on Thursday, March 14, and the legendary folk singer/songwriter Valdy has a gig on Thursday, March 21. Plus, the extraordinarily legendary Chubby Checker returns once again to the Regent on Sunday, March 10 and from classic to classical, the Ontario Philharmonic performs on Saturday, March 2, with works by Hadyn and Mendelssohn focusing on those inspired by the renowned composers’ visits to Britain.
The Regent Theatre continues its very successful and popular run of tribute acts from promoters Blackrose Entertainment. There is a Doors tribute on March Friday 22, the music of Woodstock on Saturday, March 23, and on Saturday, March 30, ‘Grace to Gloryland’ features Elvis Presley’s passionate embrace of gospel music.
Friday, March 29, rocker Evan Rotella plays an acoustic set at the Bond|St. Local Lounge. Rotella is from the Niagara Region and is getting some traction in the industry. He is coming off a recent residency at the Cameron House in Toronto and has previously played shows in Oshawa at Kops Records.