Cadence Weapon to debut new music at Road to Junos concert in Hamilton

As part of a series of concerts scheduled around the city in the lead-up to the Juno Awards, Rollie Pemberton is excited to “hype up Hamilton as a really great music city” and debut some new tunes.

Professionally known as Cadence Weapon, Pemberton is an Edmonton-born rapper, writer and poet. In 2022, he moved from Toronto to Hamilton, where he’s had a busy few years.

Pemberton’s time in Hamilton coincides with him getting married and becoming a dad, so he hasn’t been able to get out to a lot of shows, the musician told CBC Hamilton. Still, he thinks the city’s music scene is “unheralded” and deserving of more renown. 

Hamilton will host the 55th Juno Awards, Canada's biggest night in music, this March. Leading up to the show, CBC Music is presenting six concerts starting on Jan. 22 and featuring local artists.

Pemberton will headline one at Bridgeworks on Jan. 23. Tickets are $15. The show will also feature Danny Miles, a multi-instrumentalist and producer who also plays drums for the band July Talk. 

Pemberton said he’s “really excited” for the concert, which will be recorded for broadcast by CBC Music. 

“We’re using it as an opportunity to unveil some songs from my upcoming album for the first time with a full live band,” he said.

Despite not getting out as much the past few years, Pemberton has been hard at work. 

The album Forager is set to be out on April 24, a month before Pemberton is scheduled to release the book Ways of Listening.

Pemberton said he also has a “very special release” planned for later in the year, though he’s keeping that one a secret.

“I think that’s the thing about having kids — sometimes it really refocuses you,” he said. “I make the most of the time when he's at daycare.”

Tickets for 6 Juno shows available now

This will be at least the third time Pemberton has performed at a Junos event, he said, following past shows in Vancouver and Edmonton. 

“Junos bring so many people to the cities,” Pemberton said. “It’s an electric feeling during Junos season.”

At a November Junos news conference, Tim Potocic, owner of Hamilton's Sonic Unyon Records, said the awards would present a “huge” opportunity for the city’s music scene.

"Hamilton's going to be all over the national broadcast, all over social media," he said. "People across the country are going to get reminded that Hamilton produces the best talent."

Proceeds from the Road to the Junos concerts will go to music education charity MusiCounts.

The six shows are:

• Redhill Valleys at Bridgeworks, with support from Ginger St. James, on Jan. 22.
• Cadence Weapon at Bridgeworks, with support from Danny Miles, on Jan. 23.
• Whitehorse at Bridgeworks, with support from Julianna Riolino, on Jan. 24.
• Classical showcase featuring Shoshana Telner, Leana Rutt, Stephen Sitarski and Emma Rush at L.R. Wilson Concert Hall on Jan. 25.
• Cam Kahin at Mills Hardware, with support from Aoife, on Feb. 6.
• Terra Lightfoot at Mills Hardware, with support from Logan Staats, on Feb. 7.