All Aboard for a Night to Remember: Peter’s Players on the Wenonah II
There is no concert venue in cottage country quite like it. The Wenonah II — the iconic Muskoka steamship sailing out of the Gravenhurst Wharf. In the hands of Peter and Michelle Swanek of Peter’s Players, it has become one of the most unique and intimate live music experiences in Ontario.
Imagine your favourite tribute band, up close and personal, a delicious dinner buffet, a cash bar, and the stunning beauty of Lake Muskoka gliding past as the music fills the air. These shows sell out every year — and once you’ve been on one, you’ll understand why.
Here’s what’s on the water in 2026.
Jack De Keyzer and Classic Purple — June 6, 4pm Kick off the summer season with two Juno Award-winning blues guitarist Jack De Keyzer and Classic Purple’s legendary Deep Purple tribute — there is simply no better way to christen a Muskoka summer than with searing guitar licks echoing across the lake as Gravenhurst fades into the distance behind you.
New World Men: The Sound of Rush & The Hip Experience — June 30, 6pm An unmissable double bill for fans of Canadian rock royalty — New World Men bring the prog-rock wizardry of Rush together with the raw emotional power of the Tragically Hip for a cruise that is as distinctly Canadian as the landscape rolling past the ship’s windows.
Bywater Call & The Justin Saladino Band — July 7, 6pm Two of Canada’s most exciting blues and soul acts share the Wenonah II stage for an evening of genuine musical firepower — Bywater Call’s powerhouse vocals and the Justin Saladino Band’s blistering guitar work never sounded better than drifting across Lake Muskoka at golden hour. $185. Use code Bluzcruz for 2-for-1 special on tickets
After the Goldrush: The Neil Young Experience & Pearl Jamming — July 14, 6pm Two generations of guitar-driven rock collide on the water as After the Goldrush channels the haunting beauty of Neil Young and Pearl Jamming brings the raw intensity of Pearl Jam — a goosebumps-guaranteed evening as the Muskoka pines drift by and the music fills the lake air.
Queen’s Court & The David Bowie Show — July 21, 6pm Two of rock’s most theatrical and extraordinary performers get the tribute treatment in one spectacular evening — Queen’s soaring anthems and Bowie’s chameleonic brilliance make for a combination that turns the Wenonah II into the most glamorous floating stage on Lake Muskoka.
Abbamania & Tina Turner — July 28, 6pm Dancing on a steamship has never looked or sounded this good — Abbamania’s irresistible ABBA classics and a stunning Tina Turner tribute combine for a night of pure joy that will have every single person on board on their feet, singing along, as the lights of Muskoka shimmer on the water around them.
Sugaray Rayford & Matt Weidinger — August 4, 6pm Two of North America’s most compelling blues and soul voices share the Wenonah II stage for what promises to be the most electrifying evening on the water all summer — Grammy-nominated Texas soul-blues powerhouse Sugaray Rayford, whose voice echoes Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, and Teddy Pendergrass, paired with Kitchener’s own Matt Weidinger, one of Ontario’s most sought-after multi-instrumentalists, equally at home on Hammond organ, guitar, or piano — together, on Lake Muskoka, as the sun goes down. Don’t miss this one.
Brian Neale & Northern Harbour (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) & New Kid In Town — August 11, 6pm Set sail for Margaritaville — Brian Neale & Northern Harbour’s Jimmy Buffett tribute is the single most appropriate concert ever staged on a boat, and the lazy, sun-soaked, rum-fuelled warmth of Buffett’s catalogue has never felt more at home than gliding across Lake Muskoka on a warm August evening.
The Best of Cher, Neil Diamond & Tom Jones — August 14, noon Three of the most distinctive voices in pop history come together for an afternoon cruise that is pure, unapologetic fun — and whether it’s Cher’s defiant belt, Diamond’s warm storytelling, or Tom Jones’s irresistible swagger that gets you moving, the Lake Muskoka backdrop makes every song feel ten times bigger.
Night Fever: The Bee Gees & Forever Young: Rod Stewart — August 18, 6pm Night Fever’s Bee Gees classics will have the dance floor moving from the first note, and Forever Young’s Rod Stewart tribute brings that unmistakable raspy charm.
Awesome 80s — August 25, 6pm The final cruise of the season goes out in extraordinary style with the greatest hits of the 80s. A perfect end to a summer of incredible music on the water. As Peter Swanek himself would say — Great Shows Always.
All Peter’s Players cruises sail from the Muskoka Wharf, Gravenhurst. There is construction in the town this summer so plan to get there early. Evening cruises depart at 6pm sharp — boarding begins at 5:15pm. Buffet dinner is included; cash bar available. These shows sell out — book early at petersplayers.com or call the ticket hotline at (705) 687-2117.