Multi-award-winning Canadian blues and soul artist Harrison Kennedy will bring a career spanning more than five decades to Aurora this winter, performing a headline matinee on March 1 as part of the revived Aurora Winter Blues Festival. The performance will feature an opening set by blues musician Dave Mowat.
The concert is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Aurora Town Square – Davide De Simone Performance Hall, located at 50 Victoria Street in downtown Aurora. Tickets are priced at $50.00 (HST included), with a reduced student rate of $15.00 (HST included), available with valid identification at entry. Organizers are positioning the performance as a centrepiece of the four-day festival, which runs from February 26 to March 1, 2026.
Kennedy is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most respected blues artists, with a musical journey that began in Hamilton in the late 1960s and quickly expanded onto the international stage. He rose to prominence as a member of the Detroit-based group Chairmen of the Board, whose fusion of soul, funk, and R&B helped shape the sound of an era. During that period, Kennedy appeared on high-profile television programs including Soul Train and The Tonight Show, while also sharing stages with artists such as B.B. King, James Brown, and Stevie Wonder.
Following his time with Chairmen of the Board, Kennedy established a distinguished solo career rooted in blues, soul, and socially conscious songwriting. His work has earned multiple nominations and awards over the years, including JUNO Awards, Maple Blues Awards, and recognition from the U.S.-based Blues Music Awards. Most recently, Kennedy was inducted into the Escarpment Blues Society Hall of Fame, further cementing his standing within Canada’s blues community.
The March 1 matinee will be supported by an opening set from Dave Mowat, an accomplished blues performer known for his focus on post-war blues styles from the 1940s and 1950s. In addition to his musical career, Mowat is also the former Chief of Alderville First Nation, bringing a distinctive perspective and depth of experience to the stage.
The Harrison Kennedy performance is part of a broader programming slate designed to reintroduce the Aurora Winter Blues Festival as a significant cultural event in the region. Presented in partnership with Music Aurora, the festival will feature a mix of ticketed concerts and free programming, including blues workshops offered over the four-day schedule. Additional performers announced for the 2026 edition include Jack de Keyzer, Suzie Vinnick, Glenn Marais’ Jook, Dominique Fils-Aimé, and Little Magic Sam.
Tickets for paid performances at the festival are currently on sale, with prices ranging from $20 to $50. Festival organizers are also offering a multi-show incentive, allowing patrons who purchase three or more ticketed events to receive a 15 per cent discount. Tickets can be purchased through the Aurora Cultural Centre website or directly at the Aurora Town Square Box Office.
To support out-of-town visitors, a group accommodation rate has been arranged with Holiday Inn Express Aurora, offering rooms at $169.00 per night during the festival period. The group rate applies to stays between February 27 and March 1, 2026, with reservations required by February 6, 2026. Festival-goers can also take advantage of hospitality partnerships in the community, including Slabtown Armoury, an official festival partner.
With its blend of internationally recognized artists, local partnerships, and educational programming, the Aurora Winter Blues Festival aims to strengthen Aurora’s profile as a regional cultural destination. Kennedy’s March 1 performance stands as a focal point of that effort, offering audiences an opportunity to experience a living legend of Canadian blues in an intimate matinee setting.
