Rollie Pemberton, also known as Cadence Weapon, is gearing up to showcase Hamilton as a vibrant music city and debut new songs as part of a concert series leading up to the Juno Awards. Originally from Edmonton, Pemberton, a rapper, writer, and poet, relocated to Hamilton in 2022, where he has been actively engaged.
Despite his busy schedule due to marriage and fatherhood, Pemberton believes Hamilton’s music scene is underrated and deserves more recognition. As Hamilton prepares to host the 55th Juno music awards in March, CBC Music will kick off a series of six concerts, starting on Jan. 22, featuring local talents.
Pemberton will be headlining a concert at Bridgeworks on Jan. 23, alongside Danny Miles, a versatile musician and producer, known for his drumming with the band July Talk. The concert, priced at $15, will be recorded by CBC Music for broadcast.
Excited about the upcoming event, Pemberton plans to unveil new tracks from his forthcoming album, “Forager,” with a full live band performance. Additionally, he is set to release a book titled “Ways of Listening” in May, followed by a secret project later in the year.
Having previously performed at Junos events in Vancouver and Edmonton, Pemberton expressed his enthusiasm for the electric atmosphere during Junos season. The Juno Awards are anticipated to bring a significant boost to Hamilton’s music scene, as highlighted by Tim Potocic of Sonic Unyon Records at a recent Junos news conference.
Proceeds from the Road to the Junos concerts will support the music education charity MusiCounts. The concert series lineup includes performances by Redhill Valleys, Whitehorse, Cam Kahin, Terra Lightfoot, and a classical showcase featuring various artists at different venues.
The Road to the Junos concerts offer music enthusiasts a chance to enjoy diverse performances while supporting a charitable cause, setting the stage for the upcoming Juno Awards in Hamilton.