Rollie Pemberton, also known as Cadence Weapon, is gearing up to showcase Hamilton’s vibrant music scene ahead of the Juno Awards through a series of concerts across the city. Originally from Edmonton, Pemberton, a rapper, writer, and poet, made the move to Hamilton in 2022, where he has been actively engaged in various projects.
Despite his recent commitments to family life, including marriage and fatherhood, Pemberton expressed his admiration for Hamilton’s music scene, which he believes is underrated and deserving of more recognition. As part of the lead-up to the 55th Juno Awards in March, CBC Music is organizing a series of six concerts featuring local talents, with Pemberton headlining one at Bridgeworks on Jan. 23, alongside Danny Miles from the band July Talk.
Excited about the upcoming event, Pemberton revealed that the concert will serve as a platform to introduce new tracks from his forthcoming album for the first time, accompanied by a live band. His album, titled “Forager,” is scheduled to be released on April 24, followed by the publication of his book “Ways of Listening.”
Pemberton hinted at a special release later in the year, emphasizing how parenthood has refocused his creative endeavors. He expressed enthusiasm about performing at the Junos event for the third time, highlighting the electric atmosphere and the influx of music enthusiasts that the awards bring to the host cities.
The Juno Awards have been hailed as a significant opportunity for Hamilton’s music community by industry insiders like Tim Potocic from Sonic Unyon Records. The concerts leading up to the Junos will contribute proceeds to the music education charity MusiCounts, further supporting the local music scene and fostering talent across the country.
The lineup of concerts includes performances by Redhill Valleys, Cadence Weapon, Whitehorse, a classical showcase featuring various artists, Cam Kahin, and Terra Lightfoot, all set to captivate audiences in the run-up to the prestigious Juno Awards ceremony.