Chet Singh is Peterborough’s “accidental” dub poet

You’re reading the November 15, 2024 edition of the Peterborough Currents email newsletter. To receive our email newsletters straight to your inbox, sign up here.

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Welcome to the arts and community newsletter from Peterborough Currents. I’m Alex, and I send this email every Friday to catch you up on what’s happening in the community.

In this newsletter, we’ll introduce you to Peterborough’s “accidental” dub poet, Chet Singh. Singh has a new album, and he’s launching it at the Pig’s Ear Tavern on Sunday afternoon. There will be an acclaimed special guest joining him on stage.

Also: 250 citizens packed onto the City Hall lawn on Tuesday to raise their voices against proposed cuts to municipal funding for arts organizations and social service agencies. I’ll share my full report on this week’s rally.

And as always, I have some event listings for you if you’re looking for something to do this weekend!

Let’s get started.

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Chet Singh to launch new album this Sunday

By Will Pearson

Chet Singh has been performing and recording his spoken word poetry for decades, but he still maintains he only “accidentally became a dub poet.”

It all started in the 1980s at Trent University, where Singh was a student activist involved in various campaigns, including the anti-apartheid push to rename the university’s Bata Library.

In the early 80s, Singh heard about a cultural outreach event that was happening at the university. It was “in keeping with the multicultural philosophy of the 80s,” Singh recalled. “You know, here are all these people coming and let’s find out about their quaint ways so we can all get along harmoniously.”

It didn’t sit well with Singh, who thought the approach was ignoring “the racism and structural inequities” facing minorities in Canada. He decided to disrupt the event by contributing his own act — he recruited a punk band to back him up as he recited poetry.

“It was only supposed to be a one-time thing,” Singh said. “But out of it came Peterborough’s first reggae band, One Mind.” 

Singh fronted One Mind as a poet, and soon the band was opening for acclaimed dub poet Lillian Allen when she visited Peterborough. Singh remembers Allen approaching him after the gig and saying: “Chet, you’re a dub poet!”

Since then, Singh has worked with local bands such as Dub Trinity and Fire Flower Revue to put out at least a half dozen albums. 

“Dub poetry is not just performative,” he said. All of the original dub poets “were social activists as well.”

Singh’s poetry is an extension of his own social activism. He said his work focuses on “the issues that are emotionally tearing at me,” like racism, colonialism, and economic injustice.

Chet Singh’s latest album is called Age of Rage. He made it in collaboration with Ukrainian-based producer Gerhard Gephard, and you can stream it online now.

This Sunday starting at 3 p.m., Singh will be performing with Peterborough-raised singer Caylie Staples at the Pig’s Ear to launch the record.

Also appearing at the Pig’s Ear alongside Chet Singh: one of the first people to identify Singh’s talent back in the 1980s. Two-time Juno winner and current poet laureate of Toronto Lillian Allen will perform. More information here.

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Community rallies to protect arts and social service funding

Inside council chambers on Tuesday night, city councillors heard presentations and citizen delegations concerning the 2025 draft budget. 

Meanwhile, outside, about 250 people packed onto the City Hall lawn to raise their voices against the draft budget’s proposed cutbacks to municipal funding for local arts and community service organizations.

Dylan Radcliffe told the gathered crowd that he was “sick and tired” of having to convince city councillors “that the things that make this community special are the things that are worth keeping.”

“Our community is worth standing up for,” Radcliffe shouted over the din of the rally.

A common frustration expressed by speakers at the rally is that the Peterborough Police Service is asking for a $3 million increase to its municipal funding while arts groups and social service agencies are facing a cut.

Inside council chambers, police chief Stuart Betts explained why his organization needs a budget boost. He needs to hire more staff to meet community expectations and adhere to new provincial legislation, he said. 

I attended the rally and watched the city council livestream as well. Head over to the Currents website to read my full report.

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Looking for something to do?

• Impros vs. Joes is tonight, Nov. 15, at the Gordon Best Theatre. Linda Kash will host Second City alumni and award-winning Canadian performers (the pros) and local Klusterfork comedians (the joes) as they perform scenes and improv games. The show runs from 8 to 10 p.m., and tickets cost $20 online or at the door.

• All Saints’ Anglican Church is hosting their Fall, Family and Friends Concert tonight, Nov. 15. Tickets cost $22.63 per person, and are available online.

• Delta Bingo will host Drag Bingo this Saturday, Nov. 16. Doors open at 5 p.m., and guests must arrive by 6 p.m. Drag queens Madge Enthat and Miss Divalicious will perform throughout the evening. Admission costs $40 for this 18+ event. 

• The final Repair Cafe of the year is at GreenUP this Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Volunteers will be on-hand to assist with fixing and mending items from clothing to jewelry.

• Blades of Glory presents a Medieval Christmas Market this Saturday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Austin Doran Hall in The Mount Community Centre will welcome guests to browse medieval merchant wares while live musicians perform and knights march around in armour. Guests can also take part in axe throwing, catapult shooting and other games and activities.

• On Saturday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Rico, Rostrup and friends will perform a book-themed improv show at Take Cover Books. Admission to Let’s Get Lit is by donation. Visit the event page on Take Cover Books’ website to learn more.

• At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, a euchre tournament fundraiser at the Peterborough Community Lions Centre will benefit PARD Therapeutic Riding. Registration costs $25 per person and includes entry to play, snacks, and a chili dinner.

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PHOTO: Seeing in Blue

In this photo, Sarah Seville displays a print she made at a cyanotype workshop led by Cydnee Hosker at Watson and Lou last weekend. Cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic processes invented. The technique uses the power of the sun — and no camera — to produce prints with a vibrant blue hue. Behind Seville are cyanotypes made by local artist Jillian Ackert that are on display at Watson and Lou this month. (Photo: Will Pearson)

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