As the weather cooperated and The Watchmen shined at the July edition of the Troubadour Summer Concert Series presented by Paul Sadlon Motors, it was the local opener showcase that kept the crowd engaged and alive. Siobhan Bodrug and her band were the first to take the stage on Saturday night building off a productive 2026. Bodrug has ties to The Watchmen and called the day a full circle moment. “I’m good friends with Ken Tizzard who is the bass player in the band, so it was it was kind of a nice thing,” said Bodrug. “I’ve known him since I was about 11 so it’s kind of a nice, full circle moment for me to be on the same stage as him with his band.” Walking off the stage, Bodrug told CTV News it was special to be playing in Barrie and seeing the crowd receptive of her music. “It’s really special to know that something that starts alone in your bedroom can become this thing that people share with you, so I think that was what was the best part of it,” said Bodrug. Newmarket’s own Noise Hotel then took the stage and rocked out with the Troubadour crowd. “I think this is one of the best concerts we have ever had,” said the band. “On Meridian Stage.” The band is now able to say they have opened for The Watchmen. “This is such an incredible opportunity for an emerging kind of band like us, like we’re not super huge yet, but we got to say, we opened for The Watchmen,” they said. “Just playing on a big outdoor open stage like this is just such a great experience.” Alliston-born Nix Ironstone made the change from country music to rock and said it was a surreal moment to be playing close to home. “I feel like especially for something like this, where it’s local and I feel like I get to meet people from the community where I’m from it’s just so nice to meet people for the first time and see them enjoy my music,” said Ironstone. Ironstone added the importance of supporting the local music scene. “It’s the best thing you can do. It’s so easy, especially for something like this, when it’s free. No excuse but to be here,” said Ironstone. “Check people out online, download their music, it’s easy. It’s free to support local artists, right? Like, why wouldn’t you?” Opening for The Watchmen on Saturday was Stuck on Planet Earth who said the local opener showcase is an important moment for bands who are looking to get their start. “That’s what we did when we were starting out, so just to get in front of an audience that cares,” the band said. “This place loves music. Everybody’s here to watch music and it brings the community together.” The third edition of the Troubadour Summer Concert Series will take place on Aug. 15 with Zeus opening for Bahamas.
