Newmarket band the Kingfishers has the perfect remedy for the pandemic blues.
The trio of Ron Fleming, Rick Pickard and Laurence Walters treated the neighbourhood to a driveway concert in the College Manor neighbourhood recently that respected physical distancing but brought family, friends and neighbours together.
"It was a blast and very well received," the band said of its first driveway gig, adding another one is planned for this month.
The band members say they're missing performing for friends and fans since the restrictions to halt the spread of COVID-19 shut down the venues at which they play across the region.
The Kingfishers are well known for their regular gigs at local gatherings and venues, including regular appearances at Main Street Newmarket's Old Village Freehouse and Fionn MacCool's.
Since the province gave the thumbs up for York Region's municipalities to move into stage 2 of reopening, the Kingfishers are able to play outdoors for backyard barbecues, and street and dock parties.
They cover a wide range of music from Blue Rodeo, The Band, Neil Young and The Doors, to Elton John, The Eagles, Steve Miller, 54-40, The Tragically Hip, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and The Allman Brothers, to The Beatles, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Joe Jackson, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, James Taylor, David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.
The driveway concert video features Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, and a sample of Fleming's constant teasing banter with his audience — never mind what he says, the band is actually based in Newmarket, not Anchorage, Alaska.
You can contact Ron at [email protected] to book the Kingfishers.
