With the Juno Awards in Hamilton this week, the city is bubbling with music-related events but for some within the local music scene, there’s also uncertainty about what happens next.

“Everybody’s waving their flag and supporting when the Junos are here, but what about the years when they’re not here?” says longtime record store owner Mark Furukawa.

“I think we’ve got one of the best, most intimate, vibrant music scenes in the world,” said Furukawa, who owns Dr. Disc on Wilson Street, just down the road from TD Coliseum where the awards will be held on Sunday.

But as the city celebrates, Furukawa hopes there’s support beyond the Junos.

“There has to be a plan,” he said.

Branding Hamilton as a “city of music” has been prevalent in the lead up to the awards, with comments from elected officials like Mayor Andrea Horwath and event organizers, and a marketing push at Tourism Hamilton. But does it fit that label?

Local music scene took a hit during pandemic

The local music scene is a tight-knit, diverse community where there’s always someone who knows someone, and where you’ll be accepted no matter where you come from, said Furukawa.

He moved to the city over 35 years ago and said the scene has changed drastically in that time, from roots of blues and rock to now featuring more diverse and digitally-influenced music.

The community has remained strong and close in contrast to bigger cities like Toronto, he added, and even compared to municipalities of a similar size like London, Ont., where Furukawa started his music career.

“I found it a lot more transitory where people would just be in the city just for school at Western [University], for example, and then they’d leave. But [in Hamilton] there seems to be this homegrown music community,” he said.

However, London is officially a “city of music” according to UNESCO, which means it has an “ongoing commitment to continue developing and strengthening” its music sector, according to the London City of Music website.

Artists with more recent connections to the city feel the same way. James Favron, who arrived in Hamilton in 2021, said the local music community “is incredible.”

Favron, who is a hip-hop artist born and raised in Toronto, said the music scene in Hamilton is one that makes music for the love of it, but the past few years have been difficult.

“We’ve lost a lot of music venues because of COVID, unfortunately, and so that’s made it really hard,” he said.

Closures in recent years include the beloved venue This Ain’t Hollywood, which closed mid 2020, the Casbah in early 2025, followed by the short-lived Vertagogo on Main Street East.

Members of the public can help sustain the sector, however, said Favron.

“When you see stuff happening, go out, buy tickets, support your local artists,” he said.

Finding an audience

Nim Agalawatte, a bass player in the band Basement Revolver and the artist behind Sounds of Separation, said they’re hopeful the music scene in the city will continue to thrive, but also said the public needs to show up.

“People complain about the fact that we’re losing venues. But then I think ‘well, all the people who are talking about that, how many shows did they actually go to within the last year or two?'” they said.

Agalawatte, who has lived in Hamilton for 12 years, also said finances likely play a big part in less people showing up.

“It’s hard for anyone to justify spending money on anything,” they said. “But what’s tough is then that has a knock-on effect for the performers.”

‘People still want live music’

Paulo Leon, a born-and-raised Hamilton musician and owner of Andthenyou, an underground venue on Main Street, said the shutting down of live music spots has been “a blow” to the scene.

“Despite that, we have such an amazing scene of punk rock and local hip-hop, along with just, like, the art scene,” said Leon.

“It’s hard like seeing all the other folks closed down, and being like, ‘Oh my gosh, when’s our time coming?'” he said.

Leon, 25, said “keeping your finger on the pulse” is important to be aware of how the scene evolves.

He also hopes that after the Junos are gone, Hamilton is not left “in the dust.”

Solutions for support

Leon and Furukawa both said the city needs to invest in funding for venues that will help them stay open and offer local musicians the opportunity to perform.

“What could be bolstered is local government support, [such as] rent subsidies for live music venues,” said Furukawa.

“But there have to be more initiatives. It’s just harder and harder for musicians to make an inroad.”

The city said it is expecting a $12-million spending bump at local hotels, music venues, bars and restaurants for Juno week. Dozens of events are taking place over several days, with nearly 70 artists playing more than eight different venues for Junofest alone on Friday and Saturday nights.

Programs like the 2026 MusiCounts Industry Exchange will support local artists specifically. The program is supported by the city and provides Hamilton-area educators and “emerging artists” with access to the Junos and industry workshops, allowing for Canadian music to be promoted in schools and local talent to gain contacts and knowledge. Favron is one of those selected this year.

CBC Hamilton also asked the city for comment on other ways it may be supporting the local scene this year and is awaiting a response.

Olivia Brown, the singer, songwriter and bass player in the alternative-funk band Junestone, is another artist in the MusiCounts program this year. She agrees there should be specific support for artists and to help keep creative spaces open.

“I feel like they should be thinking really as far out as possible,” said the Hamiltonian. 

“We want to make sure that there’s stuff happening in these neighbourhoods. So let’s open the doors for people to brainstorm.”

Brown, 32, has been making music since she was a child in Hamilton. She said it’s been inspiring how the scene has stayed strong.

“People still put on shows, new venues open. People still want live music,” she said.

The 500-capacity Bridgeworks, which opened in 2021, showcases local and touring headliners regularly and is often full. When Sous Bas closed in 2022, Andthenyou opened in its space. More recently, Casbah’s Brodie Schwendiman helped launch new downtown venue Ridiculous, where there will be live music this weekend.

“I think for it to stay a music city, we need to just keep creating space for live music to happen. We need to make sure that we create space for music lessons to happen and music education to happen,” Brown said.

Over at Dr. Disc, Furukawa has a similar feeling.

“There’s this real community collaborative spirit [in Hamilton],” he said. “And maybe that comes from the city being very small in comparison to Toronto where we have this sort of underdog mentality.”

“We’ve got to stick together.”