Dewy Roadkill
A local solo musician who works for the Kingston Police as a special constable, Zach Minnemma (stage name Dewy Roadkill) plays a blend of music from classic and modern country to rock and pop that has entertained folks at many local establishments including the Time Out Bar & Bistro, the Royal 2.0, Spearhead Brewery, and many others. He is passionate about music, the outdoors, and supporting and giving back to the community, as you can usually find him touring Retirement homes and playing for the residents there with a blend of humour and all-time favourites that entertain and uplift the crowd. Here’s a good example of his songs in a bit of a mix of everything from his YouTube page: Demo for bars/pubs. Not originals like most of the others on here!
Varitones
An Ottawa-based band with members in Kingston, the Varitones are regulars at the well-known Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa and are currently working on their latest studio album. A rock and roll band known for their high-energy live shows, gritty riffs, and a sound that blends rock with funk, blues, and jazz, the Varitones are an accomplished band of excellent musicians that is beloved in our Nation’s capitol and we are excited for them to bring their original, high-energy fun sound to Kingston! The have played venues all over Ottawa and Southeastern Canada, and you can find them on all streaming platforms, on YouTube here (2651) Varitones - YouTube, on Facebook here Varitones | Facebook, and on Instagram through their account @varitonesrock.
Retirement Plan
Local artist and retired service veteran and first responder Steve Giberson (Steve G) started this band, which is comprised entirely of military and first responder veterans, a couple of years ago as his “Retirement Plan” and they have quickly established themselves as a local favourite, playing a mix of country, bluegrass, and rockabilly all over Kingston and Prince Edward County. Steve G himself has played clear across Canada, and recorded with some of Canada’s excellent producers. The band’s debut album, Bar and a Half, was released in 2024 and can be found on popular streaming platforms such as, this band brings energy, talent and professionalism to the stage in every way. Steve is the host of the Open Mic on Sunday’s at the Time Out Bar & Bistro here in Kingston, and you can find more information about Steve and the band here: Steve G / Retirement Plan – Country Music Association of Ontario.
Sweet Pete & The Heat
A Kingston staple and beloved local band who have an ongoing regular gig at the Toucan every month and have played all over town including at the Buckle, the Merchant, the Mansion, Musikki Café, and anywhere else you can think of, Sweet Pete & The Heat are a super fun band known for playing dirty, funky blues and blues-rock music, with a goal of getting people dancing. They play a mix of originals and your favourite blues covers and bring a lot of energy and to the stage. You can tell they’re having a good time and they want to make sure the crowd is too! You can find them here on YouTube (2651) Sweet Pete and the Heat - YouTube, here on Facebook Sweet Pete and the Heat | Facebook Sweet Pete and the Heat | Facebook, and just look for them around town as they’re bound to playing somewhere sometime soon!
doingok
A band based in Kingston but with a mix of artists from Kingston and Toronto, doingok is just a couple of guys, doing their best, and their best is doingok. They are an alt rock, emo adjacent trio making songs to make you dance while you cry to them. They have played numerous venues in Kingston (the Mansion, Homegrown festival, the Merchant) as well as in Toronto and everywhere in between!! A trio of excellent musicians who elicit emotion and beauty through their sound, they may be doingok but the original music they make is doing very well! You can check them out on Soundcloud here: Stream doingok music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud and find out more about them through their Instagram page under the name @weare.doingok.
Lowery
Formerly and recently known as Lowery Mills, this is a hard rock Kingston-based band known for their gritty, blues-driven rock sound who have been extremely active in the Kingston and surrounding area for the past few years. A straight-to-the-point, no-nonsense rock band that is true to the essence of rock 'n roll, their music is characterized by powerful guitar riffs, infectious rhythms, and catchy choruses. The band's journey began with a shared vision to create authentic rock music without trying to reinvent the wheel. They wanted to make music that they themselves would enjoy and that would resonate with their audience. You can find some of their work here on Facebook Lowery Mills | Facebook and on their website Band | Lowery Mills. While they have been re-branded as Lowery, which will see lead singer Jordan Lowery playing mostly solo shows, they are bringing the full band to us for an evening of hard rock and good times that you won’t soon forget!
