This winter, Hamilton Music Collective is holding a series of concerts to fundraise for An Instrument for Every Child, a program that provides free music lessons to children
The Hamilton Music Collective will be hosting a series of local jazz concerts this winter from Feb.1-Apr. 25 at their downtown jazz lounge to support their An Instrument For Every Child program.
The concert series will feature the performances of Dave Young Quintet, “Getz/Gilberto” Revisited, Tim Clarke Quintet and Diana Panton Trio.
The Hamilton Music Collective has been around since 2008 and their mandate is to enrich our community through performances and educational opportunities. AIFEC is their most well-known program. Ever since AIFEC was started in 2010, the program has reached over 9,000 children, working with around 800 children annually. They provide elementary school children in challenged neighbourhoods the opportunity to play an instrument on a free-loan basis.
The Hamilton Music Collective is partnered with all Hamilton school boards and they are currently operating in 16 schools. Not only do they provide instruments to children at these schools, but they also provide free instrumental lessons. The lessons are taught by highly skilled music instructors, paid by the program. Much of their fundraising, then, goes towards paying these instructors.
Astrid Hepner, the CEO and founder of Hamilton Music Collective, mentioned that many programs exist to make recreation and sports accessible to all children but that not as many programs exist in the arts.
“We are using music as a medium of social change, for providing opportunities to children [who] otherwise would not have certain opportunities,” said Hepner.
Attending these concerts is a great way for McMaster students to destress during midterm season, while contributing towards a great cause in their community.
By hosting this series of jazz concerts, Hepner hopes to increase arts opportunities for local children while also sharing a love for jazz and for music with the community. Hepner hopes that concert attendees will be blown away by the concert performances.
“We just hope that they walk away sort of enlightened, just loving it, which often is the case––they just say, “Wow, this was absolutely stunning,”” said Hepner.
In the future, Hamilton Music Collective hopes to continue what they are doing: growing and reaching out to more children to produce great concerts and be a main player in the cultural scene. Tickets to the upcoming jazz concerts can be purchased from their website. The next show will be on Mar. 28 featuring the Tim Clarke Quintet!
From heavy blues to cinematic soundscapes, Hamilton's music scene offers something for every music enthusiast, no matter the genre
As an amateur music connoisseur, I love discovering artists from all over the world. Be it Britpop, Latin or K-POP, each one has drawn me in as a listener with their distinctive styles and sound. But I've recently realized that I've become more in touch with foreign music scenes than ones more local to me. So in my quest to familiarize myself more with Hamiltonian musicians, I compiled this list of some of my favourites thus far with high hopes that other students may consider checking out their work as well.
JUNO nominee and McMaster University alumni Terra Lightfoot is a musician and singer-songwriter from Hamilton. With raspy, mezzo-soprano vocals and guitar skills that have been compared to the likes of Van Morrison, Lightfoot has made a name for herself in the world of blues, rock and folk music. Her newest album, ‘Healing Power’, is a must-listen for fans of classic rock and artists like Joan Jett.
Coming from a diverse musical background, Hamilton-based musician LTtheMonk creates unique and distinctive tracks, often blending dance music with hip-hop and pop. Songs like ‘New Monk Swing’ perfectly showcase this mix of genres, as well as the artist’s signature performance style which he describes as “bantamweight Gene Kelly-meets-James Brown” footwork.
Born in Dundas, Ont., Dan Snaith is a Canadian artist who has gained worldwide recognition for his unique blend of electronic, psychedelic, and indie pop music. With over 10 albums across three different monikers, Snaith’s discography is filled with intricate, layered productions and can be characterized by infectious melodies, rhythms, and introspective lyrics.
Hamilton-born musician, Efajemue Etoroma Jr., or “Efa,” is a drummer and percussionist known for combining jazz with touches of hip-hop and R&B influences. Along with serving as a drummer for acclaimed acts like Moonchild, Efajemue has created projects of his own, including his most recent album, ‘Aesthetics,’ which earned him a JUNO nomination for best solo jazz album of the year.
Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Carly Paradis is a BAFTA nominated composer and musician known for her captivating and emotive soundscapes. Paradis’ compositions are characterized by their atmospheric and cinematic qualities, often blending orchestral elements with electronic textures to create a unique sonic experience. She has written scores for the likes of Netflix and has even toured across Europe with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
C/O Mary Luciani
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Art Crawl returns from its long hiatus and brings back a sense of community
Artistry. Magic. Community. These are a few words that may come to people’s minds when they think of Art Crawl. After many months in lockdown and just in time for back to school, Art Crawl made its return to James Street North. On the second Friday of every month, public health guidelines permitting, restaurants, cafés and retail shops on the street, as well as artists and other vendors, will gather on James North to create a mystical event filled with food, music, art and handcrafted goods.
Art Crawl started years ago as a grassroots event by the vendors and artists on James Street North. It is important to stress it is not a single person who is behind the event but rather a melting pot of many creatives in the community. It was also this community that drew Mary Luciani, the owner of The Pale Blue Dot, to Art Crawl for the past 10 years and inspired her to set up her shop on James Street North.
Luciani began attending Art Crawl as a self-taught painter to share her pieces with the community. She was excited to connect with strangers and exchange stories with passers-by and other artists. Through these interactions, she felt she was able to form an authentic connection with the local community and the city. Today, she sells sustainable and ethical everyday items such as bamboo toothbrushes, compostable gloss, antiques and vintage clothing at the Pale Blue Dot. Students can also use code MACSTUDENT10 for 10% off at The Pale Blue Dot.
Luciani also started and manages the Instagram account on.jamesnorth which showcases the lovely shops and faces behind the James North community. The account occasionally organizes giveaways for supporters and shoppers as well.
Given all the love, enthusiasm and pride for Art Crawl, Luciani and other vendors and goers of the fair were delighted to see it come back in August for the first time since its closure in late 2019 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“I couldn’t even tell you how magical it felt just to see familiar faces on the street and see the community back. It wasn’t revived to what it used to be just yet, but it was such a beautiful start,” Luciani said.
“I couldn’t even tell you how magical it felt just to see familiar faces on the street and see the community back. It wasn’t revived to what it used to be just yet, but it was such a beautiful start."
mary luciani, the owner of Pale blue dot
The community missed it very much; the crowds were energetic and emotional. People were tapping their toes to the live music, enjoying the physical company of each other and immersing in the nostalgia and regained sense of normalcy during what has been an unpredictable and distressful year and a half.
“As a young artist 10 years ago, standing up on the street, there’s nowhere else that I would have the opportunity to do that . . . to showcase my paintings,” Luciani said.
“As a young artist 10 years ago, standing up on the street, there’s nowhere else that I would have the opportunity to do that . . . to showcase my paintings."
mary luciani, the owner of Pale blue dot
Art Crawl inspires and cultivates the spirit of local businesses and the arts in Hamilton. For those who are living in Hamilton for the first time, it can be a great introduction to the pockets of communities that exist off campus. With the next Art Crawl event coming up soon, students can watch out for details on on.jamesnorth on Instagram and for more giveaways.
“Having a space where I could just come, show up and present my work . . .and connect with community members, I think it’s so wonderful,” Luciani said.
“Having a space where I could just come, show up and present my work…and connect with community members, I think it’s so wonderful."
mary luciani, the owner of Pale blue dot
By: Natalie Clark
Since graduating from McMaster in 2008, the Arkells have become one of Hamilton’s greatest accomplishments. “You write what you know,” mentions lead singer of the Arkells, Max Kerman, who accredits not only Hamilton, but McMaster, to the inspiration behind many of the band’s greatest hits.
“You write material based on your own life experiences; you’re trying to tell a story about a person, a friend, or someone you admire,” said Kerman.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsf4rhpF8fD/
The multiple Juno-award winning band’s career began in Hamilton where Kerman met the other members of the band. Their band name was even inspired by one of Westdale’s own street name; Arkell Street. Their first gig was played at the annual Battle of the Bands at McMaster in spring of their first year and a few of their songs feature campus landmarks such as the Brandon Hall residence in “Where U Goin”.
The Arkell’s music video sets and album titles have included places beyond campus including Cheapies Records, Jackson Square and even a Hamilton Street Railway bus.
McMaster and Hamilton are clearly places that the band admire. For Kerman, the buildings we spend long hours studying in, the neighbourhoods we settle into and the downtown spots we find excitement in paint the setting of his coming of age story, despite winding up there for other reasons.
“I went to McMaster because my high school girlfriend who was older than me was already there in the year ahead of me… I wanted to go to a school that wasn’t near my parents’ house, and McMaster took me in,” said Kerman.
Kerman went on to graduate as a political science major and describes his passion for politics as stemming from his family.
“My mom is a high school teacher and my dad is a social worker, which are two very community-based jobs…because I had this in my house growing up, it makes you think about how you are a part of a bigger thing,” explained Kerman.
He described political science as constantly asking questions about how we understand and figure things out together and how we coexist in this world. His education informed the way he sees the world and Kerman often translates this passion for politics into the band’s lyrics.
The Arkells have had more than a few hits with political messaging including “Knocking at the Door” which is inspired by The Women’s March on Washington and their most recent single, “People’s Champ”, is a protest against American President Donald Trump.
The Arkells are making their way across Canada and the United States this February to tour their new album Rally Cry. Their most local show will take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Feb. 16 with special guests Lord Huron.
“Getting the chance to play our new material is something we are most looking forward to, and when we were working on the songs in the studio, we were really thinking about how these songs would come off live,” mentioned Kerman.
The tour comes after their record-breaking show, The Rally, this past June at the Tim Horton’s Field. In true Arkells fashion, where better to have their biggest performance to date than in their hometown? As the Arkells continue to thrive, it’s exciting to see where their momentum will take them next.
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One of the first things students realize when settling into their new McMaster home is the eerie quietness of campus on weekends. For first year students, this realization typically happens after wandering around a semi-dark student centre while hungry and bored.
This weekend, you can find yourself stuck at Centro again, or you can make the most of the weekend with our list of must-try foods and places to visit all within a 40 minute bus ride from campus.
Starting at 6 pm on Concession Street and Upper Wentworth, several blocks will come alive with music, talent, vendors, makers and a street sale.
Prefer artwork over music? Featuring over a hundred artists, Art in the Workplace at the The Atrium in the McMaster Innovation Park is a must-see exhibit this fall. Open until 5 pm, the annual exhibit will feature an amazing collection of photography, paintings and other mediums.
Open from 7 am to 5 pm, the Farmers Market has a great selection of organic groceries, while also boasting a great selection of restaurants and vendors. Take a walk through the market and stop by Pokeh Bar for a fresh ahi tuna, salmon or vegan Poké bowl.
The Casbah will be hosting electronic music band Austra. Inspired by European club culture, the electro ensemble will be performing music from their newest album; Future Politics.
Enjoy the wonderful weekend weather with a walk through Sam Lawrence Park. Trails will lead you to some of the best views of Hamilton’s cityscape.
Want to stay on campus? Follow the trails behind the Brandon Residence to Cootes Paradise for a nature walk to enjoy its remarkable biodiversity.
Grab a bite on Locke Street’s Brown Dog. Open until 10 pm, the coffee shoppe has delicious apple fritters and Instagram worthy aesthetic.
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The Baltimore House is a bar, nightclub and music venue located in Hamilton’s emerging entertainment district on King William Street.
With well-rounded programming often seven nights a week, concert listings of all genres and a cafe and tea room loaded with vintage video game consoles, The Baltimore House has been a staple of entertainment in Hamilton.
The past few months have come with whispers of the Baltimore House closing, but on March 3, the rumours were confirmed. Edgar Baltimore, an ominous Facebook profile run by owners Grant Winestock and Jimmy Skembaris announced that March 31 will be the Baltimore House’s final day in business.
The two owners agreed to close the business after their lives and priorities have changed.
The Baltimore House began as an idea in 2011, while Winestock and Skembaris were completing their undergraduate degrees. The duo were searching for a direction to take after graduation when they found the listing for 43 King William Street.
After securing loans and a couple of formal meetings, Winestock and Skembaris’ vision came to life.
“I loved being behind the scenes of things. In a weird way, I only felt comfortable at a party if I was throwing it; I loved the idea of being the Great Gatsby in that way. Jimmy was more outgoing and social. Together I knew we'd make a great team if we ever found something to combine forces on,” said Winestock.
Since then, the venue has been an integral aspect of Hamilton’s music community. Their programming, ranging from open mic nights, to specially curated concert listings, to eclectic dance parties, has never been anything short of fascinating. Several artists, promoters, and music enthusiasts feel that the Baltimore House is unlike other venues throughout Hamilton, functioning more so as a community hub than a music venue.
"We knew it could not last forever and we decide to walk away while we were still on top."
Grant Winestock
Co-owner
The Baltimore House
“The Baltimore House is very a special place. I think everyone who has ever been there senses that,” said Kristin Archer, the blogger behind I Heart Hamilton and long-time supporter of the Baltimore House.
“There [is] something different about it. I've never been this attached to a space or had a bar/venue that felt like home to me. I'll miss the space itself and the energy I get from it.”
Since the announcement of the closure, fans, artists and promoters have taken to social media to post about their favourite memories and to thank the Baltimore House for an exciting five and a half years in business.
Given this outpouring of support, it is clear that the Baltimore House will go down as a landmark within Hamilton’s music scene.
“I don't know what we meant to the Hamilton music scene. To be honest, that's up to everyone else to decide, but I can see now that we meant a lot to a lot of people in a very personal way, and that I think means the most to us,” said Winestock.
“In the end, it was a choice we decided upon together. No one forced our hand. We knew it could not last forever and we decided to walk away while we were still on top.”
The Baltimore House has exciting programming lined up for the rest of the month. It will have its final concert headline by U.S. Girls on March 24.
Weekly programming will resume as planned, culminating into a final goodbye dance party on March 31, giving Hamilton one last chance to personally bid the venue farewell.
Recently named one of the “Top 10 Artists to Watch in 2016” by CBC Music, IsKwé is an Irish and Cree/Dene singer-songwriter with an intricate sound that combines electrifying beats and soulful rhythms with poignant, introspective lyrics.
Currently based in Hamilton, the Winnipeg-bred artist is known for her fearlessness to weave her political beliefs and cross-cultural influences into both the instrumentation and storytelling of her music.
Following the success of her self-titled debut album in 2013 and her sophomore album The Flight Within, IsKwé is gaining widespread attention with her single, “Nobody Knows,” which highlights the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada and is currently featured in the Netflix series Between.
A musician by trade, IsKwé also boasts other creative talents as a visual artist and dancer. Her first taste of music came at the hands of her grandmother, a pianist. She credits her alternative R&B/trip hop sounds to an eclectic household, where there was always room for artistic exploration.
Deeply inspired by the sounds that came out of Bristol during the 90s, IsKwé has always admired bands like Massive Attack and Portishead. She also counts Bjork and Erykah Badu as two of her biggest influences. Both women are pioneers in their respective musical genres and have paved their way to success without hesitation or apology in a male-dominated industry.
"I wanted to be portrayed as the start of a creature, not just as another [glamorous] or beautiful persona".
IsKwé
Singer-Songwriter
“I feel this gravitational pull towards gritty and bottom heavy sounds mixed with jazz-styled vocals on top… I always try to blend my love for soul and R&B with these deep bass sounds that really resonate in my chest… I strive to work with [sounds] that vibrate through me in the best way [because] that’s when I feel most [in my element],” said IsKwé.
IsKwé, whose English name is Meghan Meisters, goes by this portion of her full name in Cree to honour her heritage. Roughly translating to “blue sky woman”, IsKwé is also a less formal way of saying “woman” in Cree.
Besides her artist name, another ode to her personal narrative as an Indigenous woman is the paint that often adorns her face.
Her distinctive face paint initially started off as a protest against photo shoots that focused on just making women more feminine looking and traditionally beautiful. IsKwé has since gone through many different faces, with designs that focus on sending politically charged and personally important messages that go beyond beauty.
“I was actually inspired by the film Black Swan… I really related to the internal battle of the good and the bad, the light and the dark… [this] battle happens all the time in the self for a plethora of reasons… so I [decided in this one photo shoot that I wanted to be portrayed] as the start of a creature, not just as another [glamorous] or beautiful persona that doesn’t match me and doesn’t fit in my heart or spirit,” said IsKwé.
IsKwé has also co-authored a graphic novel with David Robertson, her cousin Aaron Leslie and illustrator Greg Chomichuk on the topic of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
The spring promises to be a fruitful one for IsKwé and her fans, with an album set for release on June 2 followed by a summer tour.
With so many projects on hand and recent acclaim, IsKwé credits her success to fully embracing the ups and downs of what has been a long and exciting journey.
“[My advice to anyone who hopes to pursue art] is to not rush it. It takes a long time. I think we’re often given this idea that a career in the arts is something that can [happen quickly,]” said IsKwe.
“It’s important that I participated in every step of my journey… so if you’re just starting to or if you’re mid-way through or [wherever you are on your wild ride], just be gentle with yourself and take the time to really learn your art, learn who you are in your art and have fun with all of the learning that happens [along the way].”
Pious Youth is the heavy, dreary experimental music passion project of Hamilton native, Jack Walker. Since 2015, the electronic shoegaze artist has constructed his own home studio, released four EPs and one full-length project titled Bouquet.
After breaking off from group projects, Walker decided to strike out on his own, incorporating his musical idols, favourite movies and personal poems into his haunting production.
“I had been making music before Pious Youth but it was mainly instrumental. I had been trying to form a band but then I realized that the musical direction I wanted to go in was individual. What stopped me from pursuing music before was that I never thought I could be a vocalist. I came to realize that imperfections in vocals make an artist unique,” said Walker.
Walker’s introduction to experimental music began while he was still in high school. Shoegaze was one of the new genres that he had discovered at the time.
The discovery of the genre sparked his interest in starting a band of his own and to experiment with distorted instrumentals.
“What got me interested in the shoegaze genre were bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and particularly the album Souvlaki. This was my first introduction to alternative psychedelic rock music,” explained Walker.
Walker then went on to release his first EP as Pious Youth titled Transcendence, where he combined his prior influences with the popular sound of the underground European electronic music scene.
He then incorporated aggressive punk-rock vocals and instrumentation to his most recent EP Altar Boy to further individualize his sound.
“The British musician called Genesis P-Orridge has been the biggest influence when creating music for Pious Youth. During the late 1970s, he was one of the first musicians to begin creating experimental electronic music that was revolt and rebellious without using a guitar, bass or drums.”
Pious Youth uses samples from films by Jean Luc Godard and David Lynch, as well as sampled fills from his favourite electronic music tracks.
Recently he has created a home recording studio and a platform for whenever he is inspired to write music.
Using Ableton Live along with analog synths and Virtual Studio Technology, he created the singles “Bloom” and “Cherry Blossom”.
The DIY home studio project was just another crucial step in which Walker devote himself to this single musical project. It is a kind of devotion that Walker considers to be religious, hence the name Pious Youth.
“I saw people who seemed to have everything figured out in their life and that were so devoted to their craft. This inspired me to become committed to the interests that I had and Pious Youth represented this new chapter in my life,” explained Walker.
Having grown up in Hamilton, Walker has spent many of his years in youth immersing himself within local bands and performing in venues such as the Casbah and Baltimore House.
“Hamilton is an awesome city if you are looking for content… It is very accepting for all different genres of music. The city even has a noise scene and is a great place to find yourself as an artist. The music scene is underrated,” said Walker.
In just two years, Walker has created a deeply personal outlet of self-expression and released a tremendous amount of creative content.
In 2017, he will be taking a break from playing live shows and will be heading back to the studio to create a new aesthetic and explore a more danceable, EDM-inspired approach to Pious Youth.
By: Vanessa Polojac
The Bandicoots took their haunting bass-driven sounds and low vocals to another sold-out show at Baltimore House. The quartet, all native Hamiltonians, hope to focus their efforts on another year of local shows, and their upcoming EP.
Despite only forming in 2014, Justin Ross (guitar & vocals), Lorant Polya (bass), Andrew Parkinson (drums) and Nicolai Kozel (guitar) have made themselves a household name across Hamilton over the past three years at venues such as the Casbah, This Ain’t Hollywood and Baltimore House.
They group formed out of their shared love for early British alt-rock groups such as The Last Shadow Puppets.
They combined the nonchalant rocker attitude of Alex Turner, the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys with popular genres in Hamilton.
“We have known each other loosely since Grade 6 or 7. We formally met many years later at a house party in downtown Hamilton,” Ross explained. “There was a drum set and a few guitars. That’s when [Parkinson] and I started jamming covers of songs from bands like The Strokes and the Arctic Monkeys. The other guys joined us shortly after.”
Their first EP, This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things was mastered by Grammy-winning Brian Lucey, who has worked with bands such as The Black Keys and Arctic Monkeys. Lucey polished their songs and guided them towards the British alt-rock sound they had been strongly influenced bywhile helping them find their individuality as a band.
“The EP was produced by Michael Keire who knew [Lucey] and he got our EP mastered by him. It’s all about the connections,” said Polya.
The group also took their connections to the city when conceptualizing their sound and look, especially when it comes to creating their music videos.
Both singles “Mind Your Manors” and “Overnight Innovator” feature Jackson Square and Westdale Village respectively.
They also secured a key space at Threshold Studios when recording their album and have befriended many local Hamilton bands in the scene.
Ross, currently in his fourth year at McMaster studying English, writes all of his own melodies and lyrics while taking inspiration from McMaster classrooms. Sitting through countless hours in lectures he always finds a way to incorporate his studies to his music.
The Bandicoots’ most recent single “Overnight Innovator” is based around the character Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello and is one example of how literature impacts The Bandicoots’ music.
“In one of the first-year courses that I was taking at McMaster there was a comma usage lecture and the prof used the sentence ‘No turn off red,’ and he explained that where you put the comma was the key factor for what the sentence meant. When I heard that, I wrote the sentence down right away and put it in one of our songs,” explained Ross.
“I read a lot in and outside of school and it effects my writing a lot. I use my own personal experience when writing as well, but after reading all of these great novels I had to take inspiration from them. The English and musical world intertwine together.”
While their ability to bridge the classroom with the musical affected the band in many positive ways but there is also a negative side. In the past, they have not spent as much a time as they would like when conceptualizing the music, however the group hopes to change that for the new year.
“2017 should be a great year. We’re being given much more time in the studio and plan to focus on the band more than ever before,” said Poyla.
The Bandicoots’ new EP is tentatively set for release later in 2017, with a string of local shows to be announced in the future.
By: Sahra Soudi
Electroluminescent has made their mark on a thriving electronic music scene, creating music that is both sedative and intriguing. Now the group has the opportunity to reflect on their legacy as they played their final show at This Ain’t Hollywood before an indefinite hiatus.
From the gentle strobe lights to the twinkling melodic keyboard sounds, being at a local venue with supporters and friends of Electroluminescent felt just as atmospheric as their latest EP, Fragments in Rounds.
Electroluminescent is an electronic/psychedelic/noise solo project created by Ryan Ferguson (guitar and keyboard) in 1998 during his time living in Waterdown.
Upon moving to Hamilton in 2003, Ferguson began to perform his music.
“I was in school and I was too busy to be involved in a band," Ferguson explained.
"I was interested in the counterpoint ideas where you take the same musical phrase and repeat against itself it can create a sensibility and if you do it on purpose you can make melodies. I was into the whole DIY aspect where I could make tapes and give them to friends.”
“Back then you could buy an analog synthesizer for cheap so that’s then I started incorporating that and became interested in electronic music,” said Ferguson.
In 2016, the act was reimagined as a six-piece electronic/psychedelic/noise band featuring Beth de Jong (bass and guitar), Dan Empringham (drums), Sean Ramsay (guitar), Adam Bentley (guitar) and Adam Price (keyboards).
After the band’s performance in London, Ontario at the Strangewaves musical festival in 2016, Electroluminescent decided to have one more performance at This Ain’t Hollywood on Jan. 27 along with The Sarah Good Band and Roljui.
Since then Ferguson’s music has morphed into ambient, shoe gaze music and experimental noise.
Having been musically influenced by American Composer Steve Reich, Ferguson explained the importance of reimagining one of his final performances as a six-piece band.
“I didn’t just want to recreate what I’ve done [for] years before but I still wanted to reference [it]. Everyone who’s playing in the band has been close to Electroluminescent and I wanted to include them in a new thing.”
"You can trace electronic music back to the Junior Boys and [they] trace back to the early rave scenes here in Hamilton."
Ryan Ferguson
Founder, Electroluminescent
Hamilton’s electronic/industrial music scene has historic ties to buildings such as the Lincoln Alexander Centre and the Cotton Factory, which used to be venues for raves.
“When I started going to Hamilton local music shows it was all indie rock but then the Cotton Factory had raves and you can trace electronic music back to the Junior Boys and [they] trace back to the early rave scenes here in Hamilton,” said Ferguson.
“Electronic music is definitely more active today. I don’t know if I directly participate in it but it seems like I do. I’m too old now; I have bad knees. That’s why I like walking electronic music, it’s good for your knees,” Ferguson said, laughing.
As the group prepares to break off into other projects, Ferguson is looking forward to his next experimental project.
“I’m working on now this underwater sound installation. You don’t really take that to a club or a show. I don’t necessarily see myself as part of this music scene for much longer and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.”
