Twenty seasons in, The Stage Café is still doing what it does best: putting musicians in front of a real audience and giving new voices a place to find their footing.
The long-running Peterborough showcase returns Friday, September 11 at Emmanuel United Church Hall with another mixed bill of newcomers, familiar faces and seasoned local performers. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the music starts at 7, and admission remains an almost suspiciously affordable $5 at the door.
This month’s lineup features Kip Gordon, Ewen Daly, Samara Johnson, Roger Fritch, Emilie & Mitchell Martin and The Stage Café Band, continuing the Café’s tradition of mixing generations, styles and levels of experience on the same stage.
That blend has always been the point. The Stage Café isn’t built around competition, polished industry showcases or chasing the next viral moment. It’s a non-profit event designed primarily to give emerging musicians and singer-songwriters a professional, supportive place to work on their craft in front of an actual audience.
And after two decades, the formula clearly still works.
The September show takes place at Emmanuel United Church Hall, 534 George Street North at the corner of George and McDonnel in Peterborough. The atmosphere is family-friendly and open to all ages — the kind of room where performers get the spotlight, but the crowd remains very much part of the show.
The Café continues through the fall with shows scheduled for October 9, November 13 and December 11.
Musicians interested in performing at a future Stage Café can contact Steve Lynch at steveptbo@gmail.com.
The Stage Café
Friday, September 11, 2026
Doors: 6:30 p.m. | Show: 7 p.m.
Emmanuel United Church Hall
534 George Street North, Peterborough
Admission: $5 at the door