Things heated up at the Stars and Thunder Village yesterday in downtown Timmins. And that’s not just a reference to the warm weather.

Buskers were performing for eager kids and onlookers yesterday on Third Avenue. Tim Burr was juggling axes and live chainsaws while Kalen Davidson, or Pyromeo, was throwing flames and breathing fire.

This was the first time Pyromeo has taken his popular act to Timmins. He’s performed all over Canada in the last ten years, mostly going to big festivals in cities like Vancouver and Toronto. He said he was really excited to come up North for Stars and Thunder.

“I tour all over to all kinds of different festivals,” Pyromeo said. “When I heard about this festival and had an opportunity to book, I jumped on it right away because I haven’t been here and I’ve heard really great things.”

One thing Pyromeo wasn’t expecting was cooler temperatures at the end of June. “When I showed up, it’s a lot more chilly than I’m used to.”

Pyromeo says he’s loving the city so far.

“It’s awesome! I really love the city, it’s got a really good vibe,” he said. “The people here are so kind. As soon as we started working with the people with the festival as well as the local people watching the shows, it’s been fantastic. Really good reception.”

He added that it’s great to see such a big festival in a small city like Timmins.

“It’s really great that a smaller city like this is having such a world-class type festiva,” he said. “You look at a lot of the names on the bill, like the musicians as well as the international fireworks, I was like, ‘What! That’s crazy!’. It’s really cool that Timmins gets to enjoy this and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”

Pyromeo will be performing at the Stars and Thunder Village in downtown Timmins until Wednesday; you can look for him at Cedar St. and Third Ave., and also on the Centre Stage in the downtown Stars and Thunder Village. Pyromeo, and Tim Burr, the chainsaw-juggling lumberjack, will also be at the festival grounds after 3 PM everyday, performing between acts next to the stage area.