Free live music returns to Stratford’s Market Square this Friday, June 19, 2026, as the City of Stratford’s summer concert series welcomes Toronto performer Kolton Stewart. The hour-long show starts at 6:30 p.m. behind City Hall, giving residents and visitors a no-cost evening of outdoor entertainment.
Stewart is a multi-instrumentalist and actor known for roles in Netflix’s Locke & Key and is a familiar face from past Stratford Festival productions including The Music Man and RENT. His performance is the fourth of six free concerts held every Friday evening this season, which began May 29 and runs through July 3.
The Market Square Music series is produced by Dayna Manning, a Juno Award-nominated musician from Stratford. Manning has shaped the lineup to celebrate the depth and diversity of Canadian talent, bringing a mix of folk, jazz, roots, and indie artists to the outdoor stage.
Sound for the series is handled by John Hazen, who has worked extensively with Stratford’s internationally known musician Loreena McKennitt. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs to Market Square, located behind Stratford City Hall at 1 Wellington Street.
The series concludes on July 3 with folk duo The Young Novelists, whose album These Dark Canyons earned a 2026 Juno nomination for Contemporary Roots Album. Before then, Stratford audiences can still catch local singer-songwriter Thurston Tynkkynen on June 26.
