The Cove Inn: Crafting experiences music lovers crave

Tucked away just north of Kingston in the town of Westport is The Cove Inn (@thecoveinn), a hidden gem that's been quietly gaining a reputation as a legendary Canadian live music venue. Johnny and Rob visit with the historic hotel's manager and music curator, Seamus Cowan, to understand how this country-pub-turned-community-hub has become a pillar of eastern Ontario's music scene, and how Seamus crafts unique and unforgettable experiences that keep music lovers coming back for more.

Chapters:
0:22 Episode overview
2:04 Westport's 150-year old lakeside inn
5:13 The Cove's rough and rowdy roadhouse roots
7:00 A place you want to come back to
10:47 From musician to innkeeper
13:51 Delivering unexpected experiences
17:49 Forging connections and community
20:28 How curating experiences builds trust
22:54 Live music seven nights a week
24:13 Blues at The Cove: A brief history
26:23 Big acts, small stage, huge value
28:22 The Cove's holiday lineup
29:45 Outdoor experiences in the summer season
31:58 Westport's surprising summer music festival season
35:23 A vibe that keeps bringing you back
42:51 Episode credits

Episode Production Credits

Guests:
Seamus Cowan

Hosts:
Rob Howard [email protected]
Johnny San [email protected]

Episode Links:
The Cove Inn https://kingstonlive.ca/thecoveinn
MusicWestport https://kingstonlive.ca/resource/1266840/view
WestPorch Festival https://kingstonlive.ca/resource/1269740/view
Kingston concerts and music festivals https://kingstonlive.ca/
Audio production by Soundwise https://kingstonlive.ca/resource/1191590/view


Sign up for Kingston music news, local concert and event listings and announcements delivered to your inbox monthly, weekly or even daily. Subscribe here https://kingstonlive.ca/subscribe
In this Video Resource(s) The Cove Inn, Kingston Live

Video Credits

Produced by: SoundWise Inc.
Posted: Nov. 30, 2025

Featured Events

Featured Historical Events

Featured Article

Line Spike Frontenac gives first look at 2026 festival lineup
A limited block of early-bird tickets are available now through December 31.
Author: Jeremy Campbell
Drop Dead Georges
from Loyalist Ontario
saTori
from Kingston Ontario
Alexander Yeo "Alex Yeo"
Folk, Soft Rock, Diverse Genres from Kingston Ontario
Stephanie Braganza
Top 40, Pop, Rock, Jazz from Kingston Ontario
Wolfe Island Commons
Outdoor festival stage, public market space, public waterfro...
Open / Operational
MondoBanjo
MondoBanjo: Wolfe Island's Festival of the Banjo held at the...
1237 County Rd 96 Wolfe Island Ontario
Open / Operational
Analogue Island Festival
Previously called Wolfechella, and now in its fifth year und...
1237 County Rd 96 Wolfe Island Ontario
Open / Operational
New Music This Week
Radio show /Podcast on Island Radio CJAI 101.3FM
5830 Front Road Stella Ontario
Open / Operational

Search the Directory / Archive

List an Event in the Calendar

List a Physical Single Date or Recurring Event

For physical events that happen at a specific time. For example a concert, or dance performance. If there are multiple shows, you can still duplicate your event to cover them all.

List an Online Livestream Event

For online / livestream events. This will allow you to include a livestream url and have it featured in our livestream listings.

Submit a Profile to the Directory

List a Music Band / Act

Band / Choir / DJ / Orchestra etc.

List an Individual Musician

Guitarist, Singer, etc.

List a Music Resource

Venues, Event Promoters, Support Services etc.

News + Media

Add / Link a Video

Add a video, which will be linked to profiles, and appear in the video feed

Add / Link an Article

Add, or link to an article about content in the directory.

Log In to Your Account