Tiny Escritoire Concerts

Lunchtime Concerts from Local Historical Sites

Hamilton has a rich collection of Civic Museums that connect us to our local history and heritage through 10 physical locations and more than 150 annual events. While most of these locations are open throughout the Winter with modified programming, we thought it would be fun to bring you into some of the less accessible spaces through a series of lunchtime concerts we’re calling Tiny Escritoire Concerts.

Four concerts featuring local musicians will be broadcast live to our website and social media platforms during Winterfest. We’ll present a diverse mix of the incredible musical talent that calls Hamilton home that you can enjoy completely free from the comfort or your home or office.

Join us for these team ups of live stream concerts in these unique spaces.

February 22nd – Tarek Funk at Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology

February 23rd – Harrison Kennedy at Griffin House National Historic Site

February 24th – Deeps at Whitehern Historic House and Garden

February 25th – Heather Valley at Auchmar Estate

All concerts start at 12pm.

February 22

Tarek Funk performs at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology.

Sax blasting, flute tooting, loop-pedal pumping MC Mother Tareka is a Syrian Palestinian artist, and an adopted Hamilton son. Tarek makes powerful Jazz Arabesque Afrobeat Funk HipHop music, and is musically known for his energetic live band arrangements, and intense political messages.

Witness the social and mechanical life of Canada’s early industrial revolution at the Hamilton Museum of Steam & Technology. Housed in a 160-year-old Waterworks, this National Historic Site preserves two 70-ton steam-powered water pumping engines, perhaps the oldest surviving Canadian-built engines. The historic Hamilton Waterworks is a Civil and Power Engineering Landmark.

February 23

Harrison Kennedy performs at the Griffin House National Historic Site.

Harrison Kennedy in 1968 joined the Detroit POP GROUP “The Chairmen of the Board.” and played all the top venues including JOHNNY CARSON’S TONIGHT SHOW, SOUL TRAIN , AMERICAN BANDSTAND and ENGLAND’S “TOP-OF-THE-POPS’, doing their hit, “Gimme Me Just A Little More Time.” C.O.T.B. had performances with B.B. KING, JAMES BROWN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, STEVIE WONDER, FUNKADELICS and more. C.O.T.B.

The Griffin House is a preserved early 19th century home, set on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Dundas Valley. It offers explorations of the history of Enerals Griffin and other early Black settlers, and a walks along nearby trails.

February 24

Deeps performs at the Whitehern Historic House and Garden.

“Deeps’ crafted songwriting encompasses everything from artistic stories, lyrical substance, well-executed melodies and arrangements, and most importantly, his delivery is pure tangible passion. Strong even with just a guitar and vocal, Deeps’ writing give me shivers as my mind journeys into those places in my heart that often times writers are afraid to shine light on. Full of darkness, yet in contrast, full of hope, these songs need to be heard.” — Amy King, Grant Avenue Studio

The Whitehern is one of the finest examples of an intact historic home in Canada. Three generations of the McQuesten family lived at Whitehern from 1852 until 1968. In 1959, the three surviving members of the family bequeathed the home to the City with all its original contents.

February 25

Heather Valley performs at the Auchmar Estate.

Heather’s debut album, Desert Message, was released independently on November 22, 2019 to great critical reception, earning a coveted 5 star review and the #1 album spot at altcountry.nl for 2019. It was included on numerous 2019 “best of” lists and has been reviewed, covered and playlisted by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Hamilton Spectator, View Magazine, Steel City Music, and many more.

Auchmar was built in 1854 on land that Buchanan had purchased two years previously. Its name was taken from the Auchmar estate on Loch Lomond, Scotland, which Buchanan’s family had owned. Over the years the magnificent house was visited by such notables as Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Allan MacNab, Pope John Paul II (when he was Cardinal) and the Prince of Wales during an 1860 Royal visit.