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| April | |
| April 6 | Wendell & Wheat ride again. Down in Niagara-on-the-Lake at The Old Winery Restaurant. This is Steve Goldberger’s weekly gig and we’ll make it 'very weakly'. It’s Country Fried Friday’s and Wheat and I will do a myriad of songs. Not our standard folk repertoire but lots of fun and rocking’ tunes ... because we’ve got Steve, Dave and Mike backing us up. It starts around 9:00 or 9:30 and the food is AMAZING! Italian all the way. No cover either. Here’s their site: http://www.theoldwineryrestaurant.com |
| April 11 | I’m filling in for Mike McCurlie at the Coach and Lantern in Ancaster Ontario. It’s a lovely little English-style pub with fantastic pub food, great scotch's and a friendly staff. The entertainment is... The Audience! They all get up and guest star with the band for a number. The host is Judy Marsales and we start at 8:30 and go until 11:00PM. No cover and lots of fun guaranteed. http://www.coachandlantern.ca |
| April 19 | I’m filling in again for Mike McCurlie but this time at King’s Landing in Hamilton. 1900 King St E, Hamilton, ON L8K 1W1. I’ve never been there so I’m not sure what kind of gig it is? This gig also starts at 8:30 and we go to 11:00PM. I looked for an official web site but all I could find was a YELP one: https://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Ontario/Hamilton/Kings-Landing/101379870.html |
| April 20 | Myself and my good friend Steve Briggs are doing a duo. We always love playing together and tonight we get to do a set in front of an appreciative audience as part of Bob Bales, Springfling in Sudbury Ontario. Also on the show are the fantastic Traveling Mabels (three amazing gals and a few tag-along guys) and the band Union Duke. Details will be available in the spring. |
| April 22 | If you were going to head down to the Horseshoe Tavern to catch Ed Smith and the Even Squares. Rethink that! Unfortunately we've been canceled! But not because they don't love us... someone in the music industry just passed away and they're holding a memorial service for them that evening. (Sad for whoever that was?) But the good news is they've renewed us for three more dates. I'll post those just as soon as we confirm them. Sorry for the inconvenience and cheers to all you real country fans! |
| April 29 | I’m back with Mulligan’s Stew at Mulligan’s. Kevin Phillips and the boys are up to their weekly shenanigans and I join them sporadically. This is a fun gig with great songs played with verve by awesome musicians. We start around 4:00pm and go until around 8:00. There’s no cover and the drinks are reasonable. The soup is either “Where’s the Beef Barley?” or Turtle Soup and make it snappy!” (No, hold the Turtle and make it pee.) Here’s the web site: https://www.mulliganspub.ca |
| May | |
| May 2 to 8 | I’m heading west to Kelowna to work on the CCMA Hall of Fame Recording Project, 'Now and Then’. We’ve taken the Hall of Fame artists like Sylvia Tyson, Russell deCarle, Murray McLauchlan, Ian Tyson, Michelle Wright, The Good Brothers and many more (including yours truly) and paired them with today’s radio-active acts like Brett Kissel, Jess Moskaluke, Chad Brownlee, The Washboard Union and many others to recreate the Hall of Famers classic songs. We already cut the tracks back in February and this session will be capturing the vocals. We hope to release it in the fall in time for Country Music Week. It is sounding fantastic. I’m so excited about this. |
| May 11 | I'm joining Kevin Phillips at Cavan's Alley Bar in Mississauga. 'Alley Bar' you say? It's a little club that is actually hidden in a strip mall. And you have to walk down an alley to a small nondescript door, all the while thinking, 'Where am I going and what could possibly be behind this door?' But when you open it up you're greeted by a really nice, secret little spot. The band starts at 8:00 and with Kevin at the helm who knows what we'll play? But it'll be good. No cover. 585 Lakeshore Blvd in Mississauga. (West of Cawthra Road.) Here's their Facebook website:https://m.facebook.com/Cavens-Alley-352169684931188/ |
| May 12 | I'm doing my bass playing shakedown gig before my big European tour with the Good Brothers. If you want to hear some uncomfortable feels, some questionable grooves and a few blatant mistakes on the bass, THIS is the gig you should attend! It takes place in Rockwood at the Rockmosa Community Centre. It's all in aid of 'Conquer Cancer' and presented by the Rockwood Lioness's. The evening gets underway at 5:30pm with a good buffet dinner. Then we start after that. Here's some info: https://www.southwesternontario.ca/events/8393099--the-11th-annual-good-brothers-dinne/ |
| May 14 to 30 | I’m heading over to Europe to play bass (Yes you read that right) BASS for the Good Brothers. We’ve been friends forever and they thought it would be fun touring the continent with me along. The gigs are in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. I might have to check into de-tox for a week after this tour. Here’s hoping our days off are in Amsterdam. Haha! |
| June | |
| June 1 | It's CMAO (Country Music Association Ontario) this year in London and I'm hosting a Songwriters-in-the Round evening at Rum Runners. Along with me and my stupid songs we'll feature some real writers including Jason Blaine, Dan Davidson, Ryan Langton, Marie Bottrell, myself and several others. For tickets and info visit the CMAOntario site: https://cmaontario.ca/awards/about/ |
| June 3 | It's the annual awards show for the CMAO. I'll be playing with the Western Swing Authority as we back up several of the performing acts. Plus there's a Legacy Revival Show (2:00-4:00pm) in the afternoon making for a full day of amazing entertainment. For full details check out the web site: https://cmaontario.ca/awards/about/ |
| June 8 | I'm doing a private concert for a retirement party out in the Stratford area. But unless you're a policeman... I won't be seeing you. Again all 'hush-hush'. (And now the retiree is eating 'mush-mush'.) |
| June 10 | Once more I'm the special guest with Mulligans Stew at Mulligans in Mississauga. We start at 4:00 and got until about 8:00. Always fun and always a different repertoire. Keeps me on my toes. In fact, last time a guest got up and sang Bad Company's 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love'! I hadn't played that since 1977! It rocked! Here's their website: https://www.mulliganspub.ca/ |
| June 16 | I'm doing a private party in Waterdown. I must be the 'retirement king'? Like Elton John was the 'death king'... I'll have to write a generic retirement song. Again, 'hush-hush'. |
| June 22 - 24 | I’m heading back to northern Alberta to play the North Country Fair. It’s been taking place since 1978. This is an excellent festival in an idyllic spot called Driftpile. This is where all the old hippies ended up. Not only was the site beautiful… the crowd made use of the many trash, recycle and compost bins around the grounds and the place looked just as spotless Sunday night as it did on Friday morning. Mighty responsible and environment conscious people out there. And four smells rocked my world. Wood smoke, cannabis, sweat and patchouli oil. It was Woodstock all over again. Or maybe just an acid flashback? Either way you’ll love this festival. Great people and a great vibe. Here’s their site: http://lslncca.ca/current/ |
| June 24 | I'm still out west in northern Alberta but Ed Smith and the Even Squares resume their residency at the Horseshoe Tavern. I believe young Graham Young will be filling in for yours truly. If you want to hear some classic country music, well played, head over. They start at 8:30. Here's the website: https://www.horseshoetavern.com/ |
| July | |
| July 6, 7, 8 | Apparently I’m going to be performing at Mariposa Folk Festival again this year. This festival is one of Ontario's finest and I had a run where I did it 7 years in a row! They must’ve got tired of seeing this old face because I haven’t been asked back in ten years. But the wheel turns slow and I’m heading back up there. Details and a full line-up will be available on their website. http://www.mariposafolk.com |
| July 13, 14, 15 | I'm at the Canterbury Folk Festival in Ingersoll all weekend but I just wanted to let you know about what I have lined up for closing the main-stage on Saturday night. I do a gig with two fantastic tele-pickers, Steve Piticco and Lou Moore and we're backed up by three awesome accompanists, John Dymond on the bass, Al Cross on drums and Wade Foster on the fiddle. It's pure country music with a little bluegrass, a little folk, a little folk and a few fiddle tunes thrown in. Everyone is a virtuoso so there'll be more notes than you've ever heard before. In this configuration we call ourselves 'Guitar Mayhem' and mayhem it is! And best of all it's totally free! This is Canterbury's 19th annual festival and it just keeps getting better and better. It's held in Yvonne Mott Holmes Memorial Park right downtown. For a full line-up of the weekend visit the Canterbury site at: https://festivalnet.com/31169/Ingersoll-Ontario/Folk-Music-Festivals/Canterbury-Folk-Festival |
| July 22 | I'm back at the Horseshoe Tavern with Ed Smith and the Even Squares to play some blistering traditional country music. If you like Merle, Johnny, Willie, Lefty, Waylon and all those guys you'll love this. We start at 8:30 and do two 1 hours sets. No cover but we may pass the hat. And it's a 10-gallon hat! Here's their website:https://www.horseshoetavern.com/ |
| July 28-August 1 | It’s my 14th time hosting the Songwriter’s Circle in Manitoba at Dauphin’s Countryfest. This festival attracts about 35,000 people with all the top names in modern and traditional country. I get the MainStage for about 90 minutes on Saturday afternoon to showcase some of the finest songwriters in the world. And I also host and often join the after hours acts appearing in the VIP Lounge. This year some of the announced headliners include Paul Brandt, Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church, Dallas Smith, Lindsay Ell, Aaron Pritchett, The Road Hammers and many more. Here’s their website: http://countryfest.ca/page.php?id=72 |
| July 29 | I'm probably back (or maybe not?) with Kevin Phillips and the Stew at Mulligans Pub in Mississauga. But then again the bar may stop entertainment for the summer, depending on the crowds (or lack thereof?) Check back closer to the date to see if this gig is happening... https://www.mulliganspub.ca/ |
| July 30-August 3 | I’ll be back teaching another course at the Haliburton School for Art & Design in Haliburton Village for Fleming College’s Summer Program. The course is called ‘Songwriting for the Guitarists- Concepts and Chords’. I’ll show the students the standard chord progressions and how to understand them and utilize them in your songwriting. We’ll have plenty of examples and they’ll all learn a lot of new songs as well as write their own. For full details email askus@hsad.ca, call them at: (705) 457-1680 and to enroll visit their website at: https://flemingcollege.ca/school/haliburton-school-of-art-and-design/course-calendar |
| August | |
| August 4 | I'm once again playing with Isabel Fryszberg, this time at Relish. It's a fun band with John Switzer on bass, Rebecca Campbell on vocals, Paul Brennan on drums and Isabel on acoustic and vocals. Oh, and me on electric. Her music contains country, folk, gypsy, and Appalachian influences. No cover, but they do pass the hat. So bring big bills! Gig goes from 7:00-9:00pm. Relish: http://www.relishbarandgrill.com/ |
| August 10 | Wendell and Wheat ride again at the Old Winery Restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake (2228 Niagara Stone Road NOTL). Katherine Wheatley and I have toured extensively throughout Canada and the US and it's always good to get together with her again. And supporting us is 'The Old Winos' led by Steve Goldberger. This is a fun, loose gig at an excellent Italian restaurant. We start around 9 and go until midnight. No cover. Come hungry and you won't be disappointed. Here's their website: http://www.theoldwineryrestaurant.com/ |
| August 19 | Ed Smith and The Even Squares ('even squares can have a ball') are back at the Horseshoe. This is our 7th time back there and it's a real treat to bring traditional country music back to this venerable, old establishment. We start at 8:30 and bring your cowboy hat and boots....but no six guns please. https://www.horseshoetavern.com/ |
| August 24 | I'm playing with my pal Lou Moore at the Newmarket Music Festival. We've been booked for this gig before but last time Lou was recovering from his surgery so he came but didn't play. This time he's raring to go. I believe we just do a one hour set. Details on their site: http://www.newmarket.ca/ThingsToDo/Pages/Recreation%20and%20Culture/Events/Newmarket-Music-Festival.aspx |
| August 25 | I'm the opening act for Tianna Woods, a dynamic young country singer with a new single and video just released. I do my show, she does hers and then I come up and guest for a duet and the finale. Sounds like a plan doesn't it? It takes place at the Backstage Capitol Theatre in Delhi. Ticket and time info on her website: http://www.tiannawoods.com/ |
| September | |
| September 1 | I’m heading up to White Lake in the Kawartha’s to do a show for a cottager’s association. Details when they’re ready. |
| September 6-9 | I’m heading to the CCMAs. The Canadian Country Music Awards. And this year it’s nice and close. Hamilton. No flying and paying for extra baggage. Ahhh. That feels nice already. More details on what I’ll be doing as we get closer to the event. https://www.ccma.org |
| October | |
| October 5 | I’ll be heading over to Burlington Ontario to the Black Bull British Pub to do a show of my stupid songs and fancy finger-style. Opening is the Niagara whiz kid, Evan Rotella. I’m not sure if this is an evening or an afternoon show but check back closer to the gig and I should know. 2475 Mountainside Drive, Burlington. Here’s their web-site: http://www.blackbull.ca |
| November | |
| December | |
| December 2 | I'm Playing with my dear old friend Marie Bottrell in a package show in Wingham. No details at this time. |
| December 4 | Marie Bottrell and I donut all over again but this time in Niagara Falls. Details as they become available. |
| E-mail: wendell@wendellferguson.com |
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