The Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) is organizing a series of free outdoor summer concerts in Whitehorse and Dawson City from June to August, featuring popular Canadian musicians to celebrate Lotteries Yukon’s 50 years of investing in Yukon communities.
Our Lady Peace, a Toronto-based alternative rock band, is set to perform on stage at Shipyards Park in Whitehorse on June 28, according to Michele Emslie, YAC’s director of programming.
The Dawson City Music Festival, scheduled for July 18-20, will take place alongside a free performance by Shad, a Juno Award-winning hip-hop artist from London, Ontario.
54-40, a Canadian rock band from Tsawwassen, B.C., will also perform a free of charge concert at Shipyards Park on Aug. 30 in Whitehorse.
Emslie told the News that the Yukon Arts Centre recently acquired a mobile stage in February, which debuted during the Tom Cochrane concert in Whitehorse on April 5.
The mobile stage, donated to YAC by Lotteries Yukon, will be used throughout the summer and marks only its second public appearance.
“This is kind of the first time we’re using it for our own programming and for Lotteries programming,” Emslie told the News, referring to the YAC’s summer series.
The mobile stage was funded by Lotteries Yukon to support “major new arts infrastructure,” with additional funding provided for YAC programming, according to a Yukon government news release issued on Feb. 27.
“You get to see not only Yukon artists, but also the type of band you’d have to pay a couple hundred dollars to see down south,” Emslie said.
Events at Shipyards Park will feature additional entertainment, including local performers, with names expected to be announced soon, Emslie said. Prior to Our Lady Peace’s performance on June 28, YAC will run family-friendly programming at Shipyards Park.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
