At SOCAN’s 35th Annual Awards Gala in Toronto — a night marking the organization’s 100th anniversary — Peterborough Musicfest took home the Licensed To Play Award, a nod to venues and festivals that play by the rules and pay the songwriters who make the music possible.
The award recognizes Canadian businesses and organizations that go the extra mile to ensure songwriters, composers, and publishers get their due, by securing proper public performance licenses. For Peterborough Musicfest, the honour serves as both validation and celebration — proof that decades of commitment to Canadian music and community spirit haven’t gone unnoticed.
Adding to the night’s electricity, the award was presented by none other than Aysanabee — the breakout artist who lit up the Musicfest stage in 2023. The Toronto gala was packed with familiar faces: Jason McCoy, Scott Helman, The Reklaws, Emily Reid, Preston Pablo, High Valley, Tyler Shaw, and The Strumbellas — all past Musicfest performers who’ve helped define the festival’s sound over the years.
Executive Director Tracey Randall accepted the award, calling it “a tribute to our founder Fred Anderson’s vision, our volunteers, staff, sponsors, funders, and above all, our community.” She added that being recognized during SOCAN’s centennial — alongside legends like Joni Mitchell, Drake, and Boi-1da — made the moment “truly special.”
Since launching in 1987, Peterborough Musicfest has hosted over 700 artists and drawn crowds topping 100,000 each summer to Del Crary Park. It’s grown into a local institution — a free, open-air concert series that’s kept the live music flame burning for nearly four decades.
SOCAN’s recognition hits home for the Musicfest crew: it’s about more than awards or anniversaries — it’s about standing up for Canadian music and making sure everyone, from the songwriters to the fans on the grass, gets their share of the joy.
And with another summer on the horizon, Peterborough Musicfest shows no sign of slowing down. The stage at Del Crary Park is calling — and the music, as always, is free.
