ON THE SCENE

In this episode, Deren interviews Sasha and Stefan from the local Alt-Rock Band, Awake and Dreaming.
The show was recorded on location at Fresh Ground Cafe in Downtown Kitchener in October of 2026.

Sasha and Stefan talk about the band's journey, some of their tours, music videos and songs. 
Check out their new album release - Inevitable, available now on all streaming platforms (and on rotation now in Midtown radio's catalogue) 
@awakeanddreamingband
Awakeanddreaming.com

In this episode, guest host; Shannon Knelsen of Olive Branch  Mentorship interviews local producer/recording artists, SinSeer.
Their conversations spans Sinseer's life story, inspiration for his music, lessons from hardships and his faith & resilience being sober. 

In this episode, host Danielle Deveau pops into the MT Space pop-up shop at SquarePeg to discuss the upcoming festival - IMPACT 25. She chats with creator/performer June Song (Dead Name), apprentice artistic director Nada Abusaleh, and MPP for Kitchener Centre Aislinn Clancy about the upcoming festival and the imporance of MT Space for our local theatre scene. 

In this episode, producer and guest-host Deren Atkins (from the Scene2IQ Podcast) interviews 23Dreamz and Carlos at their "Life of Dreamerz" studio. 23 talks about his upcoming mix-tape release, being in the documentary "Hip-hop Hope" (produced by Bon Park Media, and Sara Geidlinger) as well as what it's like to have a studio in the current music landscape in KW. Carlos adds his thoughts on community involvement and the different aspects of what their studio can offer. 
If you are interested in recording  your project at the Life of Dreamerz studio, check out their socials to get in touch:
@lifeofdreamerz
@23dreamz

Guest host Sara and Producer Deren interview Samantha Tai, Jessie T and Amanda Braam from the Kitchener/Waterloo Lullaby Project. This amazing initiative brings together local artists and incarcerated mothers at the Grand Valley Institution and mothers at Camino Well-being help write lullabies for their children at home.

Vanessa Douglas and Jeff Black are the founders of Off the Ropes Studio, where students can go to learn "the ropes" with Wrestling in the KW region.
On May 24th, OTR Studio is putting on a fabulous show at the Aud in Kitchener to support Kidsability called "Slam-Demonium"
Sara Geidlinger chat to Vanessa and Jeff about the event, and their humble beginnings in the Wrestling scene before opening up their own studio.

In this episode co-hosts Sara Geidlinger and Darek Reidel interview Sam Varteniuk (Executive Director, The Registry Theatre) and Maria Colonescu (Co-Founder, Treading Theatre Project).

Episode includes music from Daddy Long Legs; August Eleven; and Housecat. 

Sam Varteniuk is the Executive Director at The Registry Theater in Kitchener. Sam is also a community builder, and spends a lot of his time helping individuals and organizations in the arts community connect with one another and with opportunities for space, funding, and other kinds of supports. He makes The Registry accessible community organizations, and is a strong advocate for the arts in our community.

Maria Colonescu has been an active creator for almost fifteen years, working in both theatre and film as an actor, director, writer, designer, editor, and producer. She holds an MFA in Advanced Theatre Practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Midtown Radio listeners will know her from last year’s excellent season of radio dramas which she directed and produced.

In this episode of On The Scene, Allison Dyjach and guest host David Harmes head to Grand Trunk Saloon's new location in Downtown Kitchener to chat with local artist A.Decker and local indie band Painting Pelicans. 

Guests: 

Alana Decker (A. Decker) is a visual artist, youth program facilitator, and certified Therapeutic Art Mentor who integrates creativity with mental health advocacy. Her art serves as a tool for healing, empowerment, and raising awareness of social issues, exploring themes of identity, mental well-being, and self-expression. By blending affirmations, poetry, and artistic imagery, Alana fosters dialogue that inspires resilience and self-reflection. Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions such as Remembering All That I Am and When Passion Takes the Lead, as well as Black and Free at the Ken Seiling Museum and the Homer Watson Juried Show. Alana's public art includes Accepting Myself As I Am, displayed on a planters box, and the collaborative mural Unity in Bloom. Through workshops, murals, and exhibitions, Alana connects with communities, encouraging creativity and growth.

Hailing from Kitchener, Ontario, Painting Pelicans is an indie rock band that blends honest lyrics, indie charm, and a little bit of everything else into their sound. What started as a collaboration between Jonas and Harry, quickly morphed into a full fledged band, adding Thomas on drums and Noah on bass/guitar. With one album already under their belt, and an EP on the way, Painting Pelicans is doing what they do best: making good music and putting on fun shows.

Music Featured: Twas Now (Show You Mine), Rachel Hickey (River), Painting Pelicans (Don't Leave) 

In our first ever HALLOWEEN episode of On The Scene, hosts Allison Dyjach and Darek Reidel head to Midnight Run Cafe in Uptown Waterloo to chat with special guests! Aashay Dalvi returns to recommend some of their favourite films and television shows to celebrate DIWALLOWEEN, the first time that Diawli and Halloween have fallen on the same night! In the second half of the show, musicians Mike Elliott and Tim Lee join the show to talk about their history of playing blues with bands, on their own, and how they'll join forces for the first time on November 7th at Midnight Run for a show. The whole gang ends the show off with a special Halloween Lightning Round! 

Guests: 

Aashay Dalvi is the founder of Rad Riot Books, a radical online bookstore based in Kitchener-Waterloo that prioritizes queer, migrant, and translated anti-racist literature. They are a queer advocate and activist and have performed standup comedy across the GTA at Glad Day Bookshop, SoCap Comedy and Tammy's Comedy Nights in Toronto and at Pinch Cabaret, Together We're Boisterous and Drag Open Stage at AOK in Kitchener-Waterloo. They are also a playwright, writer and performing artist who recently finished their second artist residency at the Registry Theatre. The film they co-produced at the artists residency “Ushers” premiered in November at Ed Guelph. They worked on a documentary that premiered at the Inside Out Film Festival last summer. They previously hosted the Rainbow Reels Queer & Trans Film Festival in K-W and act as our resident film and television for On The Scene!

Mike Elliott is a multi-talented musician, known as a distinctive guitar player, harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, and band leader. Active in the Ontario music scene since 1992, Elliott has made a significant impact through his dynamic performances and original compositions. His notable festival appearances include the Kitchener Blues Festival, Summer’s End Festival in Waterloo, West Coast Blues Festival in Goderich, Jazz and Blues in the Village in Sarnia, and the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. With a career spanning over three decades, Elliott continues to captivate audiences with his heartfelt performances and vintage tone. Whether leading a band or producing new music, Elliott remains a vital force in the blues and roots community. 

Tim Lee has spent more than half his life as a professional musician and has thousands of appearances under his belt. Most of that time was spent touring in Canada and the US with his own trio or as a sideman for a number of stellar personalities from the Blues world. Lately, Tim has been living and travelling in the UK, bringing his solo show to clubs, festivals, and parties, far and wide. He also enjoys bringing music to the streets and can be spotted busking regularly. Tim’s show offers a variety of original songs, and a few old favourites, peppered with a story or two, all from the Blues and Americana world. He mixes old with new, vintage with modern, and backs it all up with his thirty-plus years experience as a touring musician.

Music Featured: Flesh Eating Ghouls by Blue Freezie, Night Stalker by McVittie, Call My Name by Tim Lee

Follow On The Scene online at: @onthescenekw 
On The Scene is produced by: Allison Dyjach, Darek Reidel, Shelby Bolitsky, and Deren Atkins

In this week's episode, the On The Scene team heads to Sugar Run Bar in Kitchener ON to chat with local musician and community leader J-One, and Podcast Host and Midtown Radio producer Deren Atkins. 

Hosts Allison Dyjach and Darek Reidel hear from J-One about her lifelong passion for hip-hop and community, and how she has found family and connections within the local KW hip-hop community when she moved here a few years ago to pursue a degree in Music Therapy at Wilfrid Laurier. They also chat with Deren about his newly launched podcast, Scene2Sceniq that explores how local KW artists create, and how sometimes taking the "scenic route" in creativity leads to incredible projects. 

We also see the return of the ever favourite 3 Stars of KW, and Darek quizzes J-One in another special Lightning Round!!!

Guests: 

J-One is completing a music therapy degree here at Laurier while also performing music as an R&B and Rap artist. J-One has performed in KW at various open mics, house shows, and community events, as well as part of the evolve series at Laurier. She is currently working on a documentary that profiles the impact of music in her home country of Jamaica. 

Deren Atkins is a local musician and producer at Midtown Radio. He created a brand new podcast that is airing on Midtown Radio Tuesday nights at 7pm called Scene 2 Sceniq. Every episode he interviews a new guest who is a local artists and does a deep dive with them into their songwriting process and musical journey. Deren is also a huge nature guy so chats with artists about how they draw inspiration from the outdoors. 

Music Featured: Stuck by AP, Why by J-One, It'll Be Good by Rachel Hickey

Follow On The Scene online at: @onthescenekw 
On The Scene is produced by: Allison Dyjach, Darek Reidel, Shelby Bolitsky, and Deren Atkins