Dockside

Arts & Culture On The Water
June 1 - Sept 1

EMPIRE SANDY
(ONBOARD THE BOAT)

437 Queen’s Quay West
Mondays & Tuesdays
6-9pm

QUEENS QUAY WEST (QQW)
Dockside

585 Queen’s Quay West
Thursdays and Fridays
6-9pm

QUEENS QUAY EAST (QQE)
Dockside

1 Queen’s Quay East
Saturday and Sundays
1pm-4pm

Presented in Ottawa, Toronto & Hamilton our outdoor, dockside summer performance series brings artists and audiences together to take in the sunshine and sounds of the city.

Located in high foot traffic areas, we invite folks to stumble into the art & cultural scene, breaking down barriers and reconnecting people, fostering life long patrons of the arts.

 

PAST PERFORMERS

  • @Kubla

    Kubla is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer based in Toronto. He takes influences from the likes of Prince, Tom Misch, Stevie Wonder, D'angelo, and John Mayer. Playing solo or with world class musicians, he's a must-see in the city.

  • Achante

    Achanté is a Toronto/Mumbai based singer-songwriter who creates genre-bending music rooted in RnB, soul and jazz, weaved with lush harmonies and world influences. e.

  • @carmenleardi

    Originally from Amherstburg, Ontario, Carmen Leardi is a dancer, choreographer, director, actor, and instructor. Carmen's current work moves her around the province of Ontario.

  • Jig Street

    Jig Street is a Celtic band revamping traditional Irish music and adding our own originals to the mix. The band was formed in NYC in 2017 and we have since played in various settings all around the states.

  • The Vaudevillian

    The Vaudevillian consists of the old fashioned gentleman, Jitterbug James & sweet & sassy Norah Spades.

    This ragtime duo brings you dancing numbers from the prohibition period!

  • HUSH

    The indie art-pop band, Hush, forges dynamic and ethereal songs that bring together a multitude of different instruments and talents. Their songs touch your heart with beautifully expressive lyrics while entrancing your ears with genre-bending sounds.

  • Izstopia

    Izstopia (Izzy) is an Amazonian singer songwriter of the Pira-Tapuya peoples of Brazil. Combining elements of soul blazing guitar and vision evoking lyricism spanning topics from love, injustice, prophecy and Mother Earth.

  • George Crotty

    Canadian cellist/composer George Crotty’s inquisitive eclecticism embraces fiddle-derived ornamentation, the agile one-finger gestures of Indian classical music, adapted electric guitar techniques, and the bold articulations of jazz bass.

  • Elyssa Plaza

    Elyssa Plaza is an R&B Alternative singer and songwriter from Toronto, Canada. Her sound is heavily influenced by soul, jazz, and R&B grabbing inspiration from Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu. She had released her song “It Was Summer” based on nostalgic summers and summer flings

  • The Riselli trio

    (Paul Callander on Trumpet, Josh Sparks on Guitar and Mira Riselli on Bass) performs a mix of jazz standards and original music. Having performed together for a number of years, the group is constantly evolving their sound in order to discover new sonic spaces.

  • Peach Luffe

    Peach Luffe is a Canadian indie dreampop band founded by Jong Lee. At an early age, Jong moved from South Korea to the US where he grew up on guitar singer-songwriters like Jimi Hendrix, SRV, and John Mayer.

  • Kevin McLachlan

    Kevin "Koovy" McLachlan is a singer/songwriter from Whitehorse, Yukon.

    He has released four original albums Small Town (2017), Moments (2018), The Promise (2020), Coming in to Peace (2021), and performed his original music all across Canada.

  • Wilson & the Cast Aways

    The Cast Aways are sharing stories in song. Whether in their original tunes or their unique arrangements of well loved songs, live on stage or on their YouTube channel, the band strives to share stories that ring true, even when they're completely made up.

  • Crescenzo Dicecco

    An italian-canadian songwriter, composer, performer and I’ve been playing piano for most of my life. Now, with my original music and my commitment to jumping into life head first I create shows that are thrilling, funny, and emotionally visceral

  • Flow Collective

    Flow Collective is about self-discovery as individuals and coming together with new skills, ideas, and perspectives. Their work intends to create space and inspire others to surrender past versions of themselves to remain in the present moment.

  • World Global Grooves Drum Group

    We follow the path of the drum from Brazil to Toronto.

    Inspired by the Escola de Sambas of Rio de Janeiro, the Afro Blocos of

    Salvador Bahia and the Maracatu nations of Recife and Pernambuco.

  • Yosl & the Yingles

    Aa Yiddish folk and swing band made up of Joseph Landau (Accordion and Vox), Gram Whitty (Bass) and Jacob Gorzhaltsan (Clarinet). The band plays all of bubby and zaidy's favourite hits from the old world with a jazzy twist. You may not know the words but you don't have to be fluent to move your tuches!

  • Chris Birkett

    An award winning music producer, singer/songwriter, sound engineer and performer.

    Collaborations with mega-talents like Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sinead O’Connor, The Talking Heads, Dexys Midnight Runners, Bob Geldof, and Quincy Jones have sold over 100 million dollars worth of music, earning a Polaris Music Prize, a Juno Award, three Juno nominations,

  • Unapologetic Dance Collective

    Unapologetic Dance Collective is a Toronto based dance company composed of dance artists who explore their truths and vulnerabilities through movement. Our company has become a safe haven for artists both professional and pre-professional, allowing them to grow, excel, and illustrate who they are unapologetically

  • Eunice Keitan

    Eunice Keitan's international upbringing and her eclectic musical background are unmistakable in this Canadian singer-songwriter's work, which tastefully blends R&B/Acoustic Soul and World Folk influences.

Performing as a soloist and duo onboard Pirate Life Theatre's 'Art + Water' series was rewarding for everyone involved. A greatly anticipated moment by performers, enjoyed by Torontonians on the waterfront. Many stopped to talk, take pictures, and leave donations. In addition to a safe environment, performing outdoors is refreshing. I acknowledge the public service Pirate Life offers, and the high quality working conditions as set by the Toronto Musicians' Association (AFM 149).

— George Crotty

It has really helped to increase my confidence and my ability to improvise on the spot. It has also allowed me to practice my vocal abilities especially with the pandemic.

— Zen Soul

It’s an excellent opportunity. It’s allowed me to freely interface with the public while having time to rehearse with my band in a covid world. That freedom isn’t usually present in government funded programs. The free form nature of the environment allows one to really be in touch with how their music is received. After the past year, that type of rehearsal is priceless. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity. It’s also sparked other opportunities. I’ve received emails and messages from passers by who’ve already hired me for outdoor events.

— Kubla