Author: Richard Young

A retired History and Politics high school teacher (1978-2008). Former Publisher/Managing Editor of The Beat Magazine (2009-2014). Freelance Writer. Proud Grandfather.

The Inside Outside returns to the Richmond Tavern, Thursday, June 18th

by Richard Young

What follows is a Q&A Interview with Page Graham, co-founder of The Inside Outside, a popular recurring series of “salons” that brings together the music and visual art communities into a common setting.

The Interview was conducted by The Beat Magazine’s Publisher & Content Manager, Richard Young.

(Pictured: Page Graham and Tami Kegley, co-founders of The Inside Outside.)

Q. When was The Inside Outside founded, by whom, and why? 

The Inside Outside was formed in 2025 by husband-and-wife team Page Graham and Tami Kegley. We saw a need to bring the music and visual art communities together in a common setting. A “salon,” if you will. Our shows consist of live music performances and arts discussion (interviews)

Q. What do each of you bring to the project? 

Page takes care of the technical and production aspects. Since she is an artist herself, Tami acts as host and interviewer. Both collaborate to develop ideas and people to invite to participate in the show.

Q. What demographic does The Inside Outside serve? 

Although unintentional, our events tend to attract a more mature audience, and all ages are certainly welcome. Not only do music and art find themselves siloed in terms of disciplines, age also plays a factor. For example, there are old-school punk bands in London as well as younger acts, and they aren’t at all integrated.

Q. In what venues do you hold your events? 

Our events are held at the Richmond Tavern, London’s finest dive bar. People who would like to come to our events should be aware that it’s clean, well-run, and safe. Oh, and the drink prices are quite fair! We don’t charge a cover, but we do pass the hat. Pay What You Can (PWYC).

Q. How often do you hold events? 

We are currently holding our events quarterly, on the 3rd Thursday of March, June, September, and December. I guess we’re roughly tracking the solstices.

(Pictured: Carol MacQuarrie. Photo by Jim Capel.)

Q. What can attendees expect from your Thursday, June 18th event at the Richmond Tavern? 

Our musical guests are Carol MacQuarrie and Chris Mittleholtz, who represent one half of folk group Myrtle Earle. Chris is also a renowned punk guitarist, but this will be an acoustic show. Local artist and gallery owner Jim Telfer will be our interview guest. He runs Splash Fine Art and Jewellery Gallery on Richmond Street, just south of the CN railroad tracks. There will be a visual display of his artworks; he specializes in larger-format abstract representations of animals, primarily sea creatures, and he uses mostly found objects such as driftwood. In September, our musical guest will be Allison Brown, who will likely bring another performer to join her. Our arts guest is still TBA.

(Pictured: Jim Telfer’s “Toulouse Peacock”. Photo by Page Graham.)

Q. How can our readers learn more about The Inside Outside? 

Currently, the best option is to follow our Facebook page (insideoutsidelondon.ca). We have a website of the same name, but it is currently dormant.

Q. Do you have any general thoughts about London’s arts and culture scene/community you would like to share? 

That’s an easy and difficult question to answer all at the same time. Since I’m a Western grad from decades ago and then went abroad for many years before returning, I find that Londoners tend to be overly negative about our city, and that includes the arts.

That simply isn’t true. This is a fine city. People should take pride in it. How many other cities have a Music Week with awards shows, for example? On the other hand, the music community gets much more attention than the visual arts because it’s out of balance. Our music situation is just fine, but instead of continuing to focus on it constantly, the spotlight needs to be shared with the visual arts and literature. In addition to being known as a “City of Music”, we should also be known as a “City of Arts”.

The Beat Magazine’s Kim Kaitell was blown away by Huron Country Playhouse’s 42nd Street

by Richard Young

by Kim Kaitell

On Friday night, June 12, I had the absolute pleasure of seeing 42nd Street at the Huron Country Playhouse, and I was completely blown away!

I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that it was my first time attending a production there, and I honestly wasn’t prepared for the level of quality on stage. The set design was spectacular—immaculately crafted and full of surprises that added so much excitement to the production.

The costumes were equally impressive, capturing all the sparkling glamour and energy of this beloved musical.

What stood out most, however, was the passion of the performers. Every cast member brought tremendous energy and commitment to their role, and that enthusiasm radiated throughout the theatre. The singing, dancing, and acting were all delivered with such joy and professionalism that it was impossible not to be swept up in the experience.

The orchestra also deserves special recognition for bringing the score to life with precision and vibrancy, perfectly complementing the action on stage.

If this production is any indication of what Huron Country Playhouse consistently offers, I’ll definitely be back!

IF YOU GO:

What: Huron Country Playhouse presents 42nd Street

When: June 10 to June 27

Where: Huron Country Playhouse, Main Stage, RR1, 70689 B Line
Grand Bend, Ontario

Tickets: 42nd Street / Drayton Entertainment

Is the grass always greener on the other side?  The Long Weekend at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, June 10 to July 4.

by Richard Young

Files Provided by PSFT

( Photo Credit: Shutter Studios. Claire Jullien, Caitlin Driscoll, Darren Keay and Tyrone Savage.)

The Port Stanley Festival Theatre takes you back to 2003 for its production of The Long Weekend by Norm Foster. The show runs from June 10- July 4. 

The Long Weekend features a star-studded cast: Tyrone Savage: PSFT debut, nine seasons at The Stratford Festival. Claire Jullien: PSFT debut, many seasons at The Shaw Festival. Caitlin Driscoll: Sunshine Express and It’s Your Funeral for PSTF, Darren Keay: PSFT debut, The Foster Festival. 

Directed by Artistic Director Liz Gilroy, staged managed by Jory McLean, with Set Design by Beckie Morris {Theatre Orangeville, Drayton Entertainment), Lighting Design by Karen Crichton {The Stratford Festival}, and costumes by Dora nominee Alex Amini.

The Long Weekend is a co-production with The Foster Festival, and once it completes its successful run at PSFT, it hits the road for St. Catherines.

“The Long Weekend stands the test of time, and the fact that it is still being performed is really rewarding to me. Audience members might recognize these characters within themselves or the people they know,” says playwright Norm Foster. 

Get your tickets now at psft.ca or call the box office at 519-782-4353.

Reimagining a Classic Tale: The Hobbit at the Stratford Festival.

by Richard Young

Reviewed by Vicki Stokes, Entertain This Thought. (Reprinted with the permission of the author.)

(Pictured: Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Michael Man, and Tim Campbell. Photo: David Hou.)

It’s been nearly 100 years since J.R.R. Tolkien began writing the children’s story The Hobbit, which became one of the best-selling books and has mostly stood the test of time. It has been reimagined in comics, graphic novels, movies, and stage plays. The Stratford Festival’s reimagining, adapted by Kim Selody and including a diverse cast of nine, is a hit with today’s audience.

With an Asian Bilbo and Asian elements incorporated into the Avon Theatre – Stratford Festival production, it’s easy to see that The Hobbit will continue to evolve for the next 100 years. The challenges presented by mythological creatures will always have appeal to the young and the young at heart, despite changes and updates in storytelling.

(Pictured: Members of the company. Photo: David Hou.)

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who lives in Middle-earth, a time and place where elves, hobbits, trolls and the like live among humans. Gandalf and a band of dwarves recruit Bilbo to be their burglar on a quest for their gold, taken by Smaug, a dragon who sleeps on the treasure in the Lonely Mountain.

Richard Lee is a fine Bilbo, letting us know he would rather stay at home with clean dishes and tidy, safe surroundings than go on a dangerous quest. Believe me, I would opt to stay home in beautiful Bag End rather than deal with goblins, spiders, and dragons. But Lee shows us how Bilbo grows as a person through facing all the challenges presented to him. Once the treasure has been accessed and Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, he stands by his principles when leader Thorin becomes greedy. Lee takes Bilbo from meek and frightened to brave and respected. He earns his role as the burglar.

(Pictured: Richard Lee and Michael Man. Photo: David Hou.)

Tim Campbell plays Gandalf exactly as you would imagine an ancient wizard to be, like he has earned every single one of his years. If you wonder why the wise and powerful Gandalf comes and goes instead of staying with Bilbo and the dwarves, it’s partly because Campbell has other duties. His strong voice frightens in his role as Smaug the dragon.

The only actors to play a single role are Richard Lee (as Bilbo) and Aaron Krohn. Krohn skillfully plays Thorin Oakenshield, the rightful king of the dwarves. Sara-Jeanne Hosie is often present on stage as Old Took, singing and explaining, and at times, becomes Lord Eagle and Thrush.

The other actors cover dozens of roles, from a spider to the Elven King. They cleverly make you believe there are 12 dwarves plus goblins, elves, trolls, and Gollum, possessor of the precious ring.

The Hobbit is an episodic quest, so no matter how it is staged, there is much explanation of past and present events, and the characters must rush through each challenge. Fortunately, the set design is well thought out, seamlessly shifting and capturing our imaginations. No time is wasted waiting for such things as huge painted woodland or cave scenery to be wheeled around by stagehands. There are large rings for sliding and demonstrating Bilbo’s invisibility. Sloped walls for climbing shift back and forth, creating the illusion that characters are walking through mountains, forests, and caves. The subtle sounds woven into the scenes are felt more than heard, and the lighting is effective, contributing more than elaborate set pieces ever could.

(Pictured: Derek Kwan, Tim Campbell, Michael Man, Ijeoma Emesowum, and Sara-Jeanne Hosie. Photo: David Hou.)

The costumes are a mixed bag. The hobbit feet are a hoot, the trolls are very tall and cleverly done, and the eagles are imaginative. Old Took has amusing slinky-like sleeves. In my and my companion’s opinion, the dwarf costumes seem too bulky for a long quest (though probably to help define their diminutive stature), and the goblin costumes seem like strange foam rubber suits. Gandalf, the Elves and Bilbo have more traditional costumes. Smaug immediately impresses the audience with his large glowing eyes, and the wine barrels make for one of the most amusing scenes in the show.

Whether or not you have read the books or seen the movies, you can easily follow the dangerous adventures of Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin, and the dwarves. If you are young at heart, you’ll enjoy this reimaging of The Hobbit. If elves and goblins aren’t your bag, it’s probably not for you.

The Hobbit continues until October 23rd in repertory at the Avon Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival at 1-800-567-1600 or check www.stratfordfestival.ca for availability.

The Hobbit
Adapted by Kim Selody from the book entitled “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Directed by Anita Nittoly
Movement Director Sara Topham
Performed by Richard Lee, Tim Campbell, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Aaron Krohn, et al.
Produced by The Stratford Festival, Stratford, Ontario
Avon Theatre, Stratford
May 30 to October 23, 2026.


Reviewed by Vicki Stokes

Can Habitual Lying Kill You? – Death of a Salesman at the Stratford Festival

by Richard Young

Reviewed by Mary Alderson Entertain This Thought. (Reprinted with the permission of the author.)

(Tom McCamus as Willy Loman and Lucy Peacock as Linda Loman, Death of a Salesman. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo by David Hou.)

Willy Loman always thought of himself as an excellent salesman. He was going to climb to the top, get a new territory, and make more money. Years go by, and nothing changes, but he continues to lie to himself and his family about how well he is doing. It’s the lack of reality, the lack of truth, and the fact that he isn’t reaching the American Dream that leads to his eventual but actually unavoidable death.

This gut-wrenching story, probably Arthur Miller’s best play, is now on stage at the Avon Theatre in Stratford. Written in 1948, the hissing sound of that American Dream deflating still resonates. In fact, it’s loudly disappearing in 2026, making it an apt choice for this season.

Death of a Salesman is the story of Willy Loman, a man who takes great pride in his sales abilities. He brags constantly that he is well-liked and has the largest territory, exaggerating his income. He also has great hopes for his son Biff, who was a high school football star, and could have gone to university on scholarship if he hadn’t failed math. He still believes that Biff and his brother, Hap, will do great things and come into their own.

(Tom McCamus as Willy Loman. Photo: David Hou.)

In reality, Willy is a failure at his job and gets fired, and both sons are ne’er-do-wells. Biff is a drifter who has spent time in jail for theft, and Hap is a philanderer who has a menial job. But Willy has bragged and fantasized for so long, he now believes his own glorified lies. Then aging takes its toll. As reality sets in, he hallucinates, talking out loud to his own brother about what could have been, reliving affairs he had with women on the road, and talking to his sons as if they were back in high school. He tells the boys to steal from the construction site next door and cheat on their school exams, then wonders where they went wrong. Sadly, his wife, Linda, goes along with his lies, yet he treats her badly.

The dialogue is brilliantly written; a condemnation of the so-called American Dream. One can’t help but think of Donald Trump, when he says, ‘Make American Great Again’, is this picture of life in 1949, where he wants to take America? The good old days just weren’t that good. One also thinks of Willy Loman as Trump: someone who has lied and embellished the truth so often that he actually believes his own B.S.

Tom McCamus is perfect as Willy Loman. Of course, McCamus is brilliant in any role he takes on. But he handles this role so well, moving from Willy’s fits of mania where he thinks he’s going to win over his boss to get a better territory, slamming down to the depths of depression when reality hits, and becoming suicidal. McCamus is so convincing when Willy spirals out of control, seeing events from his past and losing track of reality.

Lucy Peacock is also perfection as his wife, Linda Loman, putting up with his mood swings and protecting him when life slaps him in the face. There is some cheeky casting with McCamus’s real-life wife, Chick Reid, playing the other Woman, in a flashback scene when son Biff catches them together.

Biff is played flawlessly by Joe Perry, who wants so much to please his father and earn his father’s praise, yet he’s old enough to see the reality of their pointless lives. The younger son, Hap, is played very well by Josh Johnston. He makes us fear that he is going to become just like his father. The supporting cast members are impeccable, all adding to the futility of Willy’s life.

(Joe Perry as Biff Loman and Lucy Peacock as Linda Loman. Photo: David Hou.)

This is an excellent production of Death of a Salesman, designed to make you think. You leave the theatre feeling lost and discouraged. But this is tempered by the quality of the script, and you can marvel at how it has withstood the test of time. And of course, you can appreciate the intense, excellent quality acting you just saw on the stage.

Death of a Salesman continues in repertory until October 24 at the Avon Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival at 1-800-567-1600, or check www.stratfordfestival.ca

Death of a Salesman
By Arthur Miller
Directed by Dean Gabourie
Composer and Music Curator Michael Louis Johnson
Director of Music Franklin Brasz
Performed by Tom McCamus, Lucy Peacock, Joe Perry, Josh Johnston, Raymond Strachan, Chick Reid, Matthew Kabwe, David W. Keeley, Irene Poole, Sean Arbuckle, Krystin Pellerin, Nadine Villasin, Devin MacKinnon.
Avon Theatre, Stratford
May 28 to October 24, 2026


Reviewed by Mary Alderson

For more Reviews, visit Entertain This Thought – Ontario Theatre Reviews

The Battle of the Saints and the Sinners: Guys and Dolls at the Stratford Festival

by Richard Young

Reviewed by Mary Alderson Entertain This Thought. (Reprinted with the permission of the author.)

(Pictured: Devon Michael Brown with members of the company. Photo: Ann Baggley.)

The Saints are the people of the Save-Our-Souls Mission, a Salvation-Army-like group, who parade the streets of New York with their meagre marching band, trying to bring lost souls back to their Mission, for a Bible-thumping soul-saving meeting.

The Sinners are the guys: gamblers, who roll the dice and try to find a location to hold their next craps game. As well, there is another group of sinners, the dolls: women who dance in skimpy clothes at the Hot Box Club.

We don’t doubt the sincerity of the Mission folks for a minute. But soon we learn that the sinners have a strong ethical code, too. The guys never welch on a marker, meaning they never try to sneak out of keeping a promise or repaying a debt. As well, the dolls want to live moral lives. Their leader, Miss Adelaide, wants nothing more than to end her 14-year engagement with Nathan Detroit, get married and have children.

This is a good old-fashioned musical with everything. There is a great plot with lots of laughs and even some romance, there are great songs and wonderful singing with rich, powerful voices, and there is the most amazing dancing you’ve ever seen. This well-cast production is now on stage at Stratford Festival Theatre, running until November 1, and if the opening night audience is any indication, it will be extended by repeat customers wanting more.

About 22 years ago, when I first started writing reviews, I was often asked to critique community theatre shows. I had just returned from a trip to Broadway when I wrote about a very good community theatre production, and I was quite kind to them. However, the starring amateur actor insisted that their production “could stand up to anything on Broadway.”  When I inadvertently grinned at that comment, assuming he was joking, he took offence.

It’s a long way to New York City from Stratford in southwestern Ontario. But Guys and Dolls, now on stage at the Stratford Festival, has completely closed that gap. If you have never seen a big-time musical on Broadway, head over to Stratford to see Guys and Dolls. This is better than Broadway.

(Pictured: Members of the company. Photo: David Hou.)

As I tried to explain to the amateur star, Broadway shows have the whole package. The orchestrations are perfect, and the music surrounds and fills the audience. The lighting, costumes, and sets draw you in. And the talent – acting, singing and dancing – is perfect.

Director Donna Feore, as she did in 2017, has constructed the whole package, filling it with expertise and energy. And the audience on opening night was appreciative. The show was stopped with a long and loud standing ovation for the powerful dance number.

Among the saints and sinners are two couples — gambling organizer Nathan Detroit who’s had the long-term engagement to Hot Box Dancer Miss Adelaide, and Sky Masterson, a lucky gambler, who takes missionary Sarah to Cuba on a bet. The story unfolds as the two unlikely couples come together.

Jennifer Rider-Shaw leads a strong cast as Miss Adelaide. Her comedic talents, combined with her powerful singing voice, command the audience’s attention whenever she’s on the stage. She has the New York accent down pat. Her “Adelaide’s Lament” has the audience amused. Later, she sings “Take Back Your Mink” with the Hot Box girls.  Mark Uhre as Nathan Detroit keeps the audience laughing as the loveable rogue. In some productions, one has the impression that Miss Adelaide only wants to get married for the sake of marriage. But with this couple, the audience is convinced that they really love each other.

(Pictured: Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane and Jennifer Ryder-Shaw. Photo: Dan Hou.)

Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane as Sarah Brown looks the missionary very much with her innocent face and sweet smile. Dan Chameroy gives us a Sky Masterson who is equally charming and deceptive. He makes you believe that he reluctantly fell in love with Sarah. Chameroy sings “Luck Be a Lady”, reminiscent of Frank Sinatra.

Steve Ross as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Gabriel Antonacci as Benny Southstreet are the hilarious sidekicks. Ross’s gospel solo at the Mission, “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” is rollicking good fun. Stephen Patterson as Brother Abernathy, the Mission leader, sings a beautiful rendition of “More I Cannot Wish for You” that brings tears to your eyes.  Juan Chioran as Big Jule, the tough-guy gambler, adds to the urgency of finding a gambling hide-out.

Special shout-out to Nehassaiu deGannes as Lieutenant Brannigan, for her performance at the beginning of the show. She aims her weapon and fires a bullet straight into a ringing telephone, causing its demise. Her no-nonsense approach puts the fear in everyone. No one in the full-to-the-rafters theatre is going to let their phones ring during the show.

The high-energy dancing and intricate choreography with jumps, flips and spins is what you’ll remember from Guys and Dolls, especially when the guys roll the dice in “The Crapshooters Dance”. With these guys moving all over, one doesn’t know where to look!  There is also amazing dancing in the exciting Havana scene, and the women shine as high-kicking Hot Box girls.  In this Broadway-calibre production, you will actually see what a showstopper is.

So, what happens when the lives of saints and sinners collide?  You need to hurry and buy your tickets for Guys and Dolls to learn the answer. It will sell out fast, even if it’s extended.

Guys and Dolls continues in repertory until November 1 at the Festival Theatre, Stratford. Tickets are available at the Stratford Festival at 1-800-567-1600, or check www.stratfordfestival.ca

Photo: Devon Michael Brown as Rusty Charlie with members of the company, Guys and Dolls. Stratford Festival 2026. Photo: Ann Baggley.

Guys and Dolls
Story and Characters by Damon Runyon
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows
Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore
Musical Direction by Franklin Brasz
Performed by Jennifer Rider-Shaw, Mark Uhre, Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane, Dan Chameroy, Steve Ross, Stephen Patterosn, Nehassaiu deGannes, et al.
Festival Theatre, Stratford
May 26 to November 1, 2026


Reviewed by Mary Alderson

For more Reviews, visit Entertain This Thought – Ontario Theatre Reviews

Port Stanley Festival Theatre invites you to Get Down Tonight with Leisa Way, June 2 to 6.

by Richard Young

With Files provided by the Port Stanley Festival Theatre

(Photo Credit: Rebecca Bloom Photography.)

Leisha Way and The Wayward Wind Band invite you to experience the Ultimate 70’s Soundtrack, Get Down Tonight, at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, June 2 to 6.

(Photo credit: Shutter Studios)

From the glittering floors of Disco to the classic anthems of Rock, Leisa Way and her powerhouse band, featuring Mark Dunn, Bruce Ley, Jerome Ransome, Leisa Way, Jeremy Fox, and John Collin, light up the stage with hits from ABBA, The Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder, CCR, Aerosmith, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and many more.

(Photo credit: Shutter Studios)

Why you’ll love this show:
• Relive the soundtrack of a generation
• From rock anthems to disco grooves, it’s all here
• A vibrant, feel-good celebration of music that never goes out of style.

IF YOU GO:

What: Port Stanley Festival Theatre presents Get Down Tonight: The Ultimate 70’s Soundtrack.

When: June 2 to 6, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm performances.

Where: Port Stanley Festival Theatre, 302 Bridge Street
Port Stanley, ON

Tickets: Get Down Tonight – Port Stanley Festival Theatre

For more information, visit Port Stanley Festival Theatre – Port Stanley, Ontario

(Photo credit: Shutter Studios.)

It was a tale of two worlds: London’s Loveless.

by Richard Young

By Bob Klanac.

In one world, a band was looking for a new lead singer. In the other, a singer was looking for somewhere to sing.

Specifically, ten years ago, a band called Backline Revival was hosting a YouTube series to audition a new singer. Behind it was Rickie-Lee Houle of Loveless, who organized the series and the search.

“We asked ladies to try out and had two or three rounds of auditions. Long story short, Megan was one of the contestants,” explains Houle.

“And I will not forget when she showed up because we were all searching for our singer and had similar but different ideas of what we were looking for. When Megan sang, we were all thinking ‘this is who we want’.”

In the other world, Megan Schroder was unsure of her abilities, confessing, “I wasn’t very hopeful because I had not sung in a rock and roll band before. The only singing I had really ever done was like in my room as a kid, a bit of musical theater, and karaoke. That was really it.”

“I never fronted a band before, and didn’t really have a lot of confidence in my own rock and roll front woman ability, but I thought, you know, why not give it a shot?”

In Houle’s world, she already knew who she wanted, but life threw both young women a curveball.

Despite having Schroder top of mind, Rickie Lee had to continue with the competition to be true to the goal of the contest. Meanwhile, Schroder got an offer to audition on Broadway.

“I made it through a couple rounds of the competition and then, funny enough, I got a call to audition on Broadway for the show Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which I had recently done as part of the London Fringe Festival”, she explains.

Schroder did get a call back about the play, so she called Houle and told him she had to drop out of the auditions.

“I told them all my focus was going into preparing for this Broadway audition, and in the off chance that I happened to get it, I didn’t want to leave them high and dry,” says Schroder.

“I was certain that they weren’t even really gonna care because I thought I was the weakest link,” Schroder says flatly. “Everyone else had experience. I didn’t know what I was really capable of and thought I was probably in last place anyway, and they’re not even really gonna care.”

As for Houle, “We were devastated” when she got the call from Schroder. But the competition continued, and a winner was chosen.”

“We took a couple of weeks off after we had finished the process, and then everyone got pregnant,” she laughs. “The winning singer got pregnant. The drummer’s girlfriend got pregnant, so we kind of went on hiatus.”

At the time, Houle’s guitar-slinging, soon-to-be husband Nick, was in a band with guitarist Ian Hebert called Bender. They put Backline Revival on the back burner but kept in touch with Megan.

Back in Schroder’s world,  “Rickie Lee got in touch with me and asked to meet up. I didn’t end up getting that part on Broadway, so I was intrigued.”

One meeting later, the core of Loveless was born.

Both Houle and Hebert were looking to leave Bender and wanted a lead singer.

“Ian is super talented, but one thing that he doesn’t love to do is front a band,” Schroder explains. “It’s just not really his thing. So, they wanted to create a band where Ian sings a little but not as the lead singer.”

After a skinsman shuffle, the newly named Loveless ended up with their forever drummer, Warren Stinson, and got down to work.

Having eschewed original material ala Backline Revival, the idea behind Loveless was basically 70s and 80s rock music. What made Loveless stand out among an endless list of similar-themed cover bands was their youth. They were young and played these songs not with a rote note-by-note recitation of de facto classics but rather with the raging wonder of young guns trying out these gems for the first time.

They sounded fresh, a rarity among cover bands. And they came by their freshness honestly. They all grew up with these songs.

“Much Music was always on when I was a kid,” recalls Schroder. “I remember being in kindergarten and my mom took out her old record player and 45s and as a super young kid, I would go through that box full of British Invasion stuff.”

“I was always really into the oldies, and then I just continued to really love it, you know.”

As the Schroder household went, also went the Houle abode.

“My dad always says he plays a mean radio,” chuckles Houle.

“We had sort of a thing where every weekend we would go up to the third floor, and I would get to pick out an album that I wanted to listen to, and he would tell me about it, and I’d hear about when it first came out, when he waited in line, to pick it up at Sam’s and just getting little mini music lessons.

“We would get into like a whole bunch of bands, even Loveless doesn’t play because they’re like a little more obscure, like The MC5 or Frigid Pink, Michael Jackson, the old Chess Records stuff, and Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus album.”

As for what’s next for Loveless, it’s truly up to the band. They all have side projects and other musical outlets, and because of that, the band remains excited and vital.

“We all support each other,” says Houle. “It’s also good that we come back to the band with renewed energy, too. We are always so appreciative of what we have when we come back.”

“We’re all really good friends. Like, we all really genuinely like each other,” Schroder enthuses.

“So, like when we’re having fun and goofing off on stage, it’s all real. None of it is fake, because we’re just like five friends who are hanging out and having a good time together. And just, yeah, loving it.”

You can catch Loveless at the Pierside Pub in Port Stanley: Sunday, August 2 and September 6.

Follow Loveless on Facebook (6) Facebook

By Bob Klanac

Bob Klanac is a London-based music journalist who has penned hundreds of reviews and interviews. He was a juror for the Polaris Music Prize, a member of the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize Jury, and a Juno Awards juror. Bob has also penned two books, Promo Man about London’s late music legend Nick Panaseiko and Shooting Stars, Telling Tales, about photographer to the stars photo-journalist John Rowlands.

(Photo Credit: Paul Lambert.)

A Quick Crawl through June’s Art Scene

by Richard Young

By Beth Stewart

Kick off the month with a Community Art Crawl on Thursday, June 4, 2026. From 6 to 9pm, art lovers can discover makers, creators, and performers all along Dundas Place (between Richmond and Clarence streets).

(Doug Mitchell in front of “Ambient Sticks”, acrylic on basswood, 2012. Photo courtesy of Michael Gibson Gallery.)

In conjunction with Art Crawl, Doug Mitchell is doing an Artist Talk at Michael Gibson Gallery, 157 Carling St, from 7-8pm on his Recent Works show. The London, Ontario, artist works in painting, sculpture, sound, and photography. His current pieces investigate the colour spectrum and were influenced by his extended observation of light reflecting through prisms in his studio. Also on display is Mitchell’s multi-panelled “map” of the forks of the Thames River in which he layers images, maps, and text. Recent Works is at MGG until June 26. For more info, visit: http://www.gibsongallery.com/

Art Crawl is a recurring event on the first Thursday of the month, from April to November. If you are an artist who is interested in participating, visit https://www.tapcreativity.org/community-art-crawl for guidelines. There is no cost to participate and no registration required.

Museum London’s Summer Launch Party, 421 Ridout St. N., is on June 11, 2026, from 7 to 10pm. At this pay-what-you-can at the door event, visitors can explore all three floors of the Museum, meet featured and visiting artists and curators, and dive into some hands-on creative activities. There will be food, a cash bar, and a live set with DJ Harina of OA(SIS).

(Amanda McCavour: Double Shadow, 2025-26, thread, digital embroidery, free-motion machine embroidery, appliqué, hand stitching, nuno felting, pins. Photo courtesy of Museum London.)

While there, be sure to see Double Shadow, a site-specific installation by Toronto-based textile and embroidery artist Amanda McCavour. Bringing together more than 400 stitched elements, the installation transforms the Museum’s Atrium into a field of lace-like forms. Double Shadow continues at Museum London to March 14, 2027. For more information, visit: https://museumlondon.ca

(Poster for the Community Art Installation Project. Image from Woven into Myself (2025) by Mackenzie Daniels.)

A Community Art Installation Project featuring work by Kristi White, Mackenzie Daniels, and Mike Cywink that highlights stories of Indigenous culture, history, and community takes place on June 12, 2026, from 11am to 12pm at RBC Place, 300 King Street. It includes live music and remarks from the artists and from City representatives.

Also, at RBC Place on June 12, 2026, is Murals in Motion. From 11:30am to 2pm, on the Encore Terrace, this one-of-a-kind summer lunchtime event will see four local artists transform blank boxes on wheels into vibrant murals. Watch their work unfold while enjoying lunch from local food vendors, drinks from the licensed bar, games from Downtown London, and summer beats from a guest DJ. For more information, visit: http://www.londonarts.ca

(Abel Gingerich and Mike Sloane, “Who Knew”, 2026, magazine clippings, 9 by 12 inches. Image courtesy of TAP Center for Creativity.)

The opening reception for Dear Abel / Love Mike takes place at TAP Centre for Creativity, 203 Dundas St., on June 13 between 2 and 4pm. Focusing on the act of correspondence, the paintings, mixed media, and sculptures allow the public access to friendly dialogues and the inner workings of relationship building between artists.

“Able” is Abel Gingerich, a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in London, Ontario. His body of work includes paintings inspired by real-life scenes, including garbage, concert venues and liminal spaces, covering themes of consumption, self-destruction and third spaces.

“Mike” is Mike Sloane, who has published scholarly articles and book chapters on topics ranging from trash to veganism.

Dear Abel / Love Mike continues to July 4, 2026. For more information, visit: http://www.tapcreativity.org/

(Julia Ismambetova, “High Above I”, 30 x 30”, acrylic on silk. Image courtesy of Westland Gallery.)

Where I Like to Be with Kim Atlin, Julia Ismambetova, and Tracy Bultje continues to June 20, 2026, at Westland Gallery. This show brings together works that feature places people like to be and includes cityscapes, riverside vistas and forests.

Need more land? Westland has Made in Canada, a group show celebrating Canadian landscapes by Canadian artists, from June 23 to July 18, 2026. For more information, visit: westlandgallery.ca/

(Natasha Beaudoin, “Wordle 1,208 5/6”, oil, airbrush, chalk pastel, and oil pastel on canvas, 203 by 203 cm, 2025. Image courtesy of McIntosh Gallery.)

At McIntosh Gallery, exhibitions by Natasha Beaudoin and Eric Allan Cameron continue to July 3, 2026.

Beaudoin’s Refracted Realities demonstrates how painting can engage the emotional and psychological conditions of contemporary digital life. The exhibition draws on the visual language of historical paintings and recontextualizes it through the cultures shaped by screens and social media. Natasha Beaudoin is an MFA candidate in the Department of Visual Arts at Western University. Refracted Realities is her MFA Thesis Exhibition.

Cameron’s Distant Sun brings together new oil paintings that distill night skies, distant horizons, and bodies of water into restrained, atmospheric compositions. Eric Allan Cameron is an MFA candidate in the Department of Visual Arts at Western University. Distant Sun is his MFA Thesis Exhibition.

For more information, visit mcintoshgallery.ca/

(Promotional image from Michelle Wilson’s Those in Glass Houses. Image courtesy of Forest City Gallery.)

Michelle Wilson’s Those in Glass Houses continues to July 23, 2026, at Forest City Gallery, 1025 Elias St. In this exhibition, Wilson investigates an unusual component of colonial rule – the greenhouse – which was a crucial tool for transporting plants and people around the globe. Collaborating with family members, Wilson merges personal anecdotes with critiques of the British empire, the trade of exotic flora, and the abduction of children. For more information, visit: https://www.forestcitygallery.com/

Finally, Kellogg’s Art Comp 2026 continues to September 7, 2026, at 100 Kellogg Lane. Touted as Canada’s largest Art Competition, this exhibit features works by 100 artists displayed for 100 days in spaces throughout the building. For more information, visit: 100kellogglane.com/events/art-comp-2026

By Beth Stewart

Beth Stewart is a writer, educator, and visual artist. She has a B.A. and a B.Ed. from the University of Windsor and a Diploma in Art Therapy from Western University. Beth has worked as an Art Therapist with Canadian war veterans and as a Secondary School Teacher of art and English for the TVDSB. She retired in 2024.

Beth was the arts editor at Scene Magazine from 2004 to 2006. She founded Artscape Magazine in 2006 and served as its editor until 2008. In addition, Beth wrote on the arts for Lifestyle Magazine from 2006 to 2017 and served as the copy editor for The Beat (in print) from 2009 to 2013.

As a visual artist, Beth works mainly in dry media and favours coloured pencil. Over the past decade, Beth’s focus has been on wild and domestic birds. Beth is a member of the Coloured Pencil Society of America, the Gallery Painting Group, the Eclectic Collage Collective, the Lambeth Art Association, and a founding member of the Coloured Pencil Artists of Canada group.

Web: https://bethstewart.ca/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009620916363