Emerging Artist Award Winner 2009

Missy Knott is a 20-year-old aspiring artist breaking out of Peterborough, Ontario’s extraordinary music scene. Widely known for her soulful, angelic voice and her music genre diversity, Missy is on her way to the top. Alan Greyeyes, co-chair of Manito Ahbee Festival Inc says “Missy’s dope! She’s got the talent and image to do big things with her music”, after having spent a week with her in Gimli, Manitoba where she participated in the prestigious Aboriginal Music Program Camp.
After releasing her debut album, “For No Reason At All…” this year, Missy has found every reason to pursue her lifelong dream of entertaining the world with her complete package; a distinctive warmth in her voice, drawing a listener in, a ‘Miss Congeniality’ inward spirit, and beauty the eyes will long remember.

After winning the Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist Award 2009 and getting into the top 20 in the Ontario Country Music Showdown, Missy Knott has now adopted a role in the Aboriginal Music Tour alongside Shy-Anne Hovorka, Shibastik aka Chris Sutherland as well as Nylin White, which started in Thunder Bay and cruised all over North Western Ontario promoting healthy lifestyles, Mother Earth and following your dreams. The tour is heard to be the next best thing and opportunity for youth across the country.

Having shared the stage with Brock Stonefish, Tomson Highway and Paty Cano, Sam Ferguson and Juno nominated Jason Burnstick, Missy is excited to share her music and voice with the world.

For more information, please visit her website.

The Avenues are a high energy, foot stompin’ three piece band, from Peterborough Ontario.

Drums, bass pedals, banjo, guitar and vocal harmonies. They formed in the winter of 2009 and have already started their plans to take over the world. They can sound like a balls-to-the-wall bluegrass band, but can also hit you with a slow ballad. There are flavors of country, bluegrass and old-time mixed with a low rumble; all of it danceable. It’s like string band meets the bass synthesizer and drums. They have a large collection of original songs and are hittin” the road this summer to spread the word.

Under their former name the County Boys, Chris and Benj, toured Canada multiple times and developed two albums of songs, which can still be heard at Avenues performances. Although a new album, under the Avenues, is going to be out in the near future. Catch them at a show near you.

For more information, visit their website.

Since forming in late 2008,The Strumbellas have been blowing the doors off of clubs and festival stages across Southern Ontario. Their singular mix of alt-country harmonies, bluegrass instrumentation, and big pop hooks makes them natural heirs of the Toronto indie folk scene built by Royal City, The Sadies, Hayden, and Cuff the Duke. Though their influences stretch from Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys to The Flying Burrito Brothers and Uncle Tupelo, The Strumbellas–with the thunderous force of their seven members–are anything but a simple retread.

Much of the credit for updating the time-honoured country sound goes to lead singer Simon Ward, whose words range far beyond fallow fields and lost sweethearts. Overtop of his wrecking-ball acoustic guitar, Ward ruminates on death and God, on the sacrifices we make to know ourselves. In the take-no-prisoners barnburner “The Racer”, Ward seeks absolution for the sins of his father, while in “I’d Sell My Children” he admits to all the things he’d do for “that little yellow light”, and the things he won’t (“I don’t lie”). Ward laces his confessions with images playful and absurd, never content with the clichéd platitudes of the typical love song.

“Real characters, each and every one, their lyrics and musical talent ‘hit’ a note in me that is still playing on in my soul. Their songs are funny and poignant, down to earth and soulful, all with that southern twang that does a body good.”- SNAP

“The Strumbellas self-titled debut album should make you, as their first song on the album, Indiana, proclaims “cry just a little bit.” However, it is a cry of joy, not of sorrow. Mentioned by many different media outlets as a band to watch, it is no wonder. Their calming country rock style with original lyrics is a sure surprise.”-IMPRINT (Waterloo)

For more information, visit their website.

The Resolutionaries Marimba Band are a group of local Peterborough musicians. Marimba is a traditional Zimbabwean
instrument that combines sweet melodies with African rhythms: Marimba Music, a mix of age-old African tunes, Modern innovations and TransAtlantic “livasporic” inspiration.

The Resolutionaries Bios:

Chaka Chikodzi is a polymorphous individual, going quickly in many directions. Zimbabwean stone sculptor,
performer, curator, fundraiser, educator, activist, father, musician, Chaka is a multi-armed freak-flag-flyer who believes
seriously that music is a mission, not a competition.

Anna is becoming known as the “marimba queen” in Peterborough, and is also the big sister of King Julian. She is a
multi-talented musician who grew up in Peterborough and attends Trent University.

King Julian is an 18 year-old fresh to the world of music. He started playing marimba with the Resolutionaries
spontaneously when his sister brought home a marimba to his living room. He is completely addicted and has never
stopped playing since.

Jared Wilks, was born-and-raised in this fine county, and has been part of many a fine Peterborough band. He is a
Talented Drumer who takes after his Dad Rob who is a veteran Musician in Peterborough.

For more information, visit Chaka’s website.