Music From Miles Around, Sponsored by Empire Life

Music From Miles Around, Sponsored by Empire Life is a free, year-long exhibition that explores Kingston’s rich and far-reaching music history, from the sounds and traditions that predate the city to the places and artists still making noise today.

When and where? 

The exhibition is held in the Market Wing Cultural Space at City Hall, 216 Ontario St. and opens on June 20, 2026. The exhibition is open for one year.

Opening hours

 Accessibility information 

• City Hall is located on Ontario Street, between Market Street and Brock Street.
• The location is fully accessible, including accessible restrooms and one non-gendered family restroom.  

About the exhibition

Step into the story of a city shaped by sound.

Music From Miles Around, Sponsored by Empire Life explores Kingston’s rich and evolving music history across generations, from early musical traditions and foundational institutions to the rise of radio, record culture, festivals, live music, and today’s creative scene.

Through archival materials, artifacts, personal stories, immersive experiences, and interactive elements, visitors will discover the people, places, and moments that wrote Kingston’s music story.

Discover Indigenous musical traditions, church choirs, military bands, early instrument makers, record shops, radio stations, dance halls, live venues, local bands, beloved teachers, community builders, and the musicians who carried Kingston’s sound far beyond the city.

What you will find

• Archival materials, photographs, posters, and local music memories
• Artifacts connected to Kingston musicians, bands, venues, educators, and music makers
• Stories of the record shops, radio stations, classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and stages that helped shape the city’s sound
• A look at Kingston’s current music scene, including local artists, festivals, community programs, and the Kingston Music Office
• Interactive and immersive elements that invite visitors to listen, reflect, and take part
• Joe’s Jam Space, where visitors can pick up an instrument and play 

The Tragically Hip and the City that shaped them

As the City marks 10 years since The Tragically Hip’s final hometown concert on August 20, 2016, visitors can experience never-before-seen artifacts, personal stories, and behind-the-scenes pieces connected to Kingston’s most iconic band.

From their early years in Kingston to the final concert that brought millions of Canadians together, The Hip are a powerful part of this story. But Music From Miles Around, Sponsored by Empire Life goes beyond one band. It places The Tragically Hip within the wider Kingston music scene that helped shape them, including the classrooms, record shops, rehearsal spaces, venues, teachers, bandmates, and community spaces that gave generations of artists a place to begin.

More than music history

This exhibition is about more than famous names and major moments. It celebrates the people who taught lessons, repaired instruments, hosted shows, ran record shops, organized festivals, formed bands, and helped shape Kingston’s music community.

Whether you grew up going to shows in Kingston, remember The Hip’s final concert, or are simply looking for a free cultural experience downtown, Music From Miles Around, Sponsored by Empire Life invites you to experience the city through sound in a whole new way.