Weekends full of music have started in Downtown Guelph as part of Music Weekends, bringing live performers to local businesses.
A lineup of performances will happen every weekend from January to March this year in different businesses downtown. The last performance is March 12.
The performances have a pay-what-you-can model and all the money goes back to the local performers.
“We want to be inclusive. We want this to be accessible to every kind of person. If you’ve faced financial barriers to attending, we want you to be able to attend,” said Sam Jewell, manager of operations for the Downtown Guelph Business Association.
“This year in particular, after the hiatus, we already started last weekend. People are so ready, they are so ready for something to do,” said Jewell.
The last Music Weekends was March 2020 before the pandemic officially began.
“It’s a lovely opportunity to do something and get home before the sun goes down,” said Jewell.
People have said they are happy to be out, eating again in the restaurants, supporting local businesses and the music industry, she said.
“Our interest is to boost the local economy, as well as give people a fun time,” said Jewell.
The genres of music span everywhere from Celtic, raunchy blues, and indie rock. Jewell said to stay tuned to their Facebook page to learn more about the artists and music genres.
“There’s a lot of good things about this time of year, and the time of day. So many music bands start 10 o’clock at night. And there gets a point in your life where perhaps that’s not a time when you’d want to be going out anymore and you don’t get that experience in people's lives music wise,” said Jewell.
There have been performers, who have been doing this for years whose children or parents have never seen them perform live, she said. The Music Weekends performance times are in the afternoon.
This weekend Catl. performs with Anthony Schmanthony at Frank & Steins Saturday at 2:30 p.m. On Sunday, Jan. 15 Loviet and Josh Ritchie perform at Onyx at 2:45 p.m.
To see a full list of performances in the coming weeks visit the website.