Marina Park Concert Series Returns This Month
By Kris Ketonen
Thunder Bay’s popular free summer concert series will once again bring a mix of musical genres to the Marina Park stage this year. The 2024 edition of Live on the Waterfront debuts on July 17, with weekly performances running through to the end of August.
“It’s super fun and inviting,” says Louisa Costanzo, the city’s supervisor of cultural development, community programming, and events. “Everyone is welcome.”
There are three performances a night, with 6, 7 and 8 pm starts, but music isn’t all that’s on offer. “There’s a lot of community groups, activities, food vendors,” Costanzo says, adding the city tries to “bring in acts that will be engaging and diverse and have different genres of music. […] It’s basically a night out listening to music in a beautiful setting.”
This year’s lineup includes plenty of Thunder Bay talent, with performances by the Lockyer Boys, stardrop, the Sensational Hot Rods, Cold Lake Sun, Sara Kae, and Chris Talarico on the schedule. But there are plenty of award-winning performers from elsewhere in Canada, as well, Costanzo says. “Julian Taylor is going to be here this summer,” she says. “Boy Golden is going to be here this summer. The Pursuit of Happiness.”
Other Canadian performers include Daniel Romano’s Outfit, Jessica Sole, Jonny Lee, and Alysha Brilla. The summer concert series will wrap up with a performance by Choir Revolution, Costanzo says.
“It’s just about bringing people together,” she says. “That’s what all these events are about. They’re just bringing people together being with each other again—especially after the last couple years—and just enjoying music.”
Costanzo states Live on the Waterfront—which is regularly named one of Ontario’s top 100 festivals—is also helping grow the city’s tourism sector. “It brings people to our community,” she says. “People who are visiting might stay longer, or come and check it out, so I think that has a positive economic impact on the city as well. […] So it’s kind of a mix of everything.”
Live on the Waterfront starts on July 17. Admission is free.
For more information, search Live on the Waterfront at thunderbay.ca.
