Kingston’s established music scene is ready for new fans from Queen’s.
On Sept. 6, The Mansion hosted a “Welcome Back Students Concert” featuring local artists Seth WJ Hunt and WHYGO. While only several students attended, the event is an example of the historically strong relationship between Kingston’s music scene and the Queen’s community.
The show was an example of live music in Kingston at its best: old friends danced to well-loved covers, and several students trickled in, nervously at first, to discover new favourites among the bands’ original songs. The bands themselves had a blast onstage, keeping the crowd and each other engaged between songs.
Kingston-based acoustic rocker Seth WJ Hunt organized the event. In an interview with The Journal, he explained the concert was “something like a welcome back for all the students.” The event was also a chance for Hunt to play songs from his debut album, “Almost Famous, Almost 25,” which released Sept. 5.
Hunt explained the event featured veteran Kingston bands so that students could be exposed to the “sound of Kingston” beyond the Queen’s community. “I don’t think you have to twist anybody’s arm to come out and listen to some good music—Definitely not in Kingston,” Hunt said.
According to Hunt, Kingston’s music scene is “one of a kind” for its high volume of bands among a tight-knit community of local venues like The Mansion. On a weekend out, students can explore several different bars and find “great local bands at all of them,” he said.
Hunt said The Mansion also faithfully serves musicians in Kingston. “We’ve been able to play here for years and years now, and they’re always super accommodating,” he said.
For Hunt and WHYGO, The Mansion was certainly the right spot, filling the attic space with soulful strumming and psychedelic walls of sound, respectively. WHYGO, who originates from Nova Scotia and moved to Kingston in March, are excited to feed more into Queen’s community’s appetite for live music.
“Students are always a good crowd to play for, because [they’re] just high energy and they seem to be accepting of new music and new experiences,” WHYGO said in an interview with The Journal.
Looking ahead to the school year, WHYGO explained, “the venues where you want to be in the summer [versus] where the students are [are] going to shift.” According to WHYGO, venues like The Toucan are great places to play year-round. Venues like Merchant Tap House become hotspots for students, seeing live music as the school year progresses.
So, for newbies looking for a way to explore Kingston’s nightlife, veteran groups are great entry points into Kingston’s thriving music scene. Through events like the “Welcome Back Students” concert, historic venues like The Mansion signal they’re ready for the next wave of music-lovers at Queen’s.
Tags
Concert, Live Music, Music, Nightlife, The Mansion
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