Miss Emily Brown’s debut album, Part of You Pours Out of Me, named one of the top twelve albums of 2008 by CBC’s Alan Neal, marked a graceful entrance onto Canada’s independent music scene. OnJanuary 18, 2010 Emily released her sophomore album, In Technicolor, which features songs written as part of her Canada Council for the Arts sponsored winter-long songwriting project that explores her grandmother’s journal from World War II.

Emily Millard was born in Iroquois, Ontario, a hometown she describes as “an airstrip, a beach, one diner and my parents’ house. That’s how it feels.”  In the 1950s, the original town was replaced by a Garden City town, designed and relocated by Ontario Hydro to make way for Toronto-bound ships. “As a kid I would look down off the docks at the old roads submerged under water,” she explains. “It is a very nostalgic community. We have to confront the past and the present all of the time. ”

At nineteen, Emily moved to Vancouver Island, where she studied poetry and recorded her first “clunky folk songs” in a friend’s art studio. In 2004, Emily relocated to Nelson BC, where the Kootenays’ hush and the Selkirk School of Music taught her jazz. She sang in a nightclub. And as she composed, she dug in auntie’s closets for autoharps and toy guitars. “An autoharp is not the sort of thing you can buy,” says Emily. “That would be too weird. You have to just find them.”

In Jeremy Fisher’s Vancouver living room, and in Corwin Fox’s Victoria studio, Miss Emily Brown recorded her first full release, Part of You Pours Out of Me. Called “wonderfully poppy” and “winsome” by Monday Magazine and “un véritable univers enchanteur” by the bloggers, the record is soft and nostalgic. The album features bassist Tobias Meis, former drummer of Vancouver’s Hey Ocean, Benny Schuetze, saxophonist Anthony D’Agati and string players Hannah and Nick Epperson. The tracks have been featured on CBC Radio’s Canada Live, Canada Next!, All Points West and Bandwidth, on popular UK podcast The Waiting Room and on university radio stations across Canada.

With the success of her first album, Miss Emily Brown toured to dozens of festivals and venues across Canada and the US in 2008-2009. In the winter of 2009, Emily was the recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant for composition, which she used to research and write her second album, In Technicolor. The project began with her grandmother’s wartime journal, but developed into a complex compendium of songs dealing with themes of femininity and independence under extreme duress.

For more information, visit her website.

The D’oh See Dough Boyz are well into their second decade of providing the perfect square dance party.  These festive occasions have included weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, school functions, and even a theological convention.  The classic old time square dance, now as in the pioneer past, brings together friends, neighbours and complete strangers alike, and is completely cross generational in appeal, not to mention that it’s fun and easy to learn.

Ben Wolfe, square dance caller extraordinaire, has not yet been able to make the lame walk but he can make a whoopin’ square dancer out of your most bashful and clumsy cousin.

Ken Brown, fiddler, provides the swirling jigs and reels.

Curtis Driedger, guitarist, lays down the quintessential square dance groove.

Put on yer dancin’ shoes (or kick ‘em off, for that matter) and join the D’oh See Dough Boyz for forty-five minutes of hoe down hoofin’ and hilarity!

Friday, August 27, 2010 – Royal Wood in concert
Presented in part by the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Tickets $15 – available in person at Titles Bookstore and the Canadian Canoe Museum,
or you can purchase them online at the Canadian Canoe Museum website.

Singer-songwriter Royal Wood has spent years perfecting his craft of balladry and pop music. His new album, The Waiting, appropriately begins with a song entitled “You Can’t Go Back.” And why would he, when with each new release Royal Wood delivers another collection of heartrending and honest tales of love, loss and life more impressive than the last. It now seems more than ever that Wood has found his voice. “This record is about the duality of life and how at times, I seemingly waited for the mirrored experience to return,” says Wood. “I went through so many severe shifts personally and all of that turbulence led to serious thought and reflection. That is why these songs were born and why they are my most personal and introspective to date.”

“Wood is on his way to establishing himself alongside the Canadian royalty of artists such as Sexsmith and Wainwright.” – EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

Royal Wood’s voice, songwriting and musical prowess caught the ear of Pierre Marchand and led to Wood’s decision to let others into his creative universe. On previous albums (A Good Enough Day, Tall Tales, and The Milkweed EP), Wood self-produced, arranged and played the vast majority of the instruments. Pierre Marchand, a heavy hitter best known for his work with Sarah McLachlan and Rufus Wainwright, produced three of The Waiting’s tracks. “I wanted someone who was going to push me artistically, get me out of my comfort zone and who I could inevitably learn something from,” says Wood. “That was Pierre.”

Royal Wood’s career trajectory is building one fan at a time through word of mouth, critical acclaim and impressive musical achievements. He was named iTunes’ Songwriter of the Year, supported national tours with Serena Ryder and Sarah Slean and landed song placements in TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy. With the release of The Waiting, his most inspired record to date, an upcoming national theatre tour withDavid Gray and more in the works, now more than ever Royal Wood is an artist on the rise.

For more information, visit his website.

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.

From her debut record, Orchestra for the Moon, Jenn Grant’s name has surfaced in four star reviews from Harp and The Globe and Mail, earned her several East Coast Music Awards nominations, and landed her on tours with the Great Lake Swimmers, Hayden, Justin Rutledge, Martin Tielli, Danny Michel, and The Weakerthans.

There are traces of Orchestra for the Moon in her latest offering, elements that helped shape Jenn’s sound into what it has become. Producer/pianist Jonathan Goldsmith (Bruce Cockburn) leads a heart-on-sleeve band through Echoes: Kinley Dowling on violin, David Christensen on bass clarinet, Sean MacGillivray on bass, Gary Craig on drums/percussion, and Jenn herself on guitar. These are all sincere songs captured in the moment, on tape. Echoes was recorded and mixed with a fully analogue process at Puck’s Farm.

Without the songs being old or feeling old, Echoes’ analog heart reflects the art and the heart of Jenn herself, inciting a familiarity that connects the listener with the roots of music.

For more information, visit her website.

Dave Tough is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who performs and records solo as well as with others. His most recent solo CD is called Lost Things.

As a sideman and writer-composer, Dave has worked with lots of great musicians, including Serena Ryder, Michael Johnston and Beau Dixon. He also performs with the Silver Hearts occasionally and has contributed to their albums No Place, Our Precious City and  Dear Stranger.

“As one of the finest country songwriters around, occasional Silver Heart Dave Tough’s…  long-awaited, much mythologized debut record is a small step towards the national spotlight Tough deserves. Lost Things began as an anomalous Guelph, country rock record in the late ’90s with Jim Guthrie involved in the post-production process in 2000. Tough’s fragile croak and musical acumen were a secret among friends who also whispered about his clever turn-of-phrase, which eventually found more people via his memorable contributions to the Silver Hearts. Lost Things is tentative (“We Came Here Today”), delicate (“That One Little Lost Thing”), and its raw emotion (“Why Do You Live There?”) can be jarring. Still, Tough’s wise sensibility is present here on songs like “We Came Here Today…” and “If You Have to Go,” revealing an authoritative young contributor to Canada’s folk community. (Independent)” Vish Khanna, Exclaim!

For more information, please visit his MySpace page.

The McFlies Recipe for Home-Cooked Musical Mayhem:

Take seven uniquely talented organic musicians. Marinate in roots, acoustic, classical, folk, pop, rock and country influences. Stir. Add jam.

Mix in approx. two dozen instruments: melodica, ukulele, accordion, upright bass, mountain box, glockenspiel, violin, banjo, guitar and whatever else is handy.

Add selection of classic songs of the eighties. Arrange cleverly for maximum musical impact. Mix well to avoid clumping.

You should wind up with a frothy brew that includes pop, a little punk, some new wave, lots of rock, r & b, some reggae, a taste of metal and some sweet, rich ballads. Let simmer til it rises up.

Pour the whole mixture onto a live electric stage. Add diverse, fun-loving audience aged 15-55. . Bring to a rolling boil. Increase energy until roof lifts. Party like it’s 1986!

Audience will lap it up… Best enjoyed with 200 or more people in a club, concert hall or music festival. Dancing and laughter guaranteed!

Warning: regular exposure to The McFlies may prove addictive.

For more information, visit their website.

Festival Stage Hosts – Evening

Festival Stage Set, 8:00pm

AD’s Notes:
We loved them so much in 2009, we decided to bring them back to host the Festival Main Stage in 2010!
I go ‘way back with these guys, and they need little introduction to the Ptbo crowd.  Lotus played a regular gig at the MoHo back in the days when I was booker there, and it’s been a real pleasure to see him and Sheesham gain more success and notoriety in the North American music scene over the past couple of years.

Bio:
Sheesham Crowe and Lotus Wight (in real-life Sam Allison and Teilhard Frost) met in Alabama, settled in Canada as musicians playing for old-time dances and gatherings. They kept running in to each other at almost every concert venue in North America, so they decided to combine firces and spread the joy of old-time rag-time, high steppin’ mountain music. They even give workshops in all instruments they play, plus hand pat percussion and “flat foot clogging”. They play their high energy music on almost anything you can blow, strum or tap. Sheesham let’s ‘er rip with fiddle, bones, harmonica, footstepping, vocals, gourd banjo and jaw-harp hambone. Lotus is brilliant on banjo, bass harmonica, jaw harp, vocals, ukelele, gourd banjo, guitar, hambone. Once they start playing, you won’t be able to stay in your seats!

Visit their website for more info!

“The Halifax roots duo brings you to one of those farms where the tractor is rusted, the hopes are slim and the neighbours are all inexplicably talented.” – Sara Elizabeth Taylor, BeatRoute Magazine, Calgary

David Scholten and Kris Pope are not only seasoned music makers but are also very close friends, a characteristic that shines brightly in Acres and Acres’ debut album All Nations.  The band’s rootsy, minimalist style allows plenty of room for storytelling and proves there is an art to telling the truth.  “The Polar Bear Song” for example, tells about the plight of the polar bear from the perspective of future generations who live in a world without it.  Other songs touch on topics ranging from factory farming and advertizing ethics, to falling in love and getting a puppy, all with insight, humour, and rare emotional honesty.

The band finished recording All Nations this past April.  The album was recorded live off the floor in Halifax at the All Nations Church and features many local maritime artists.  Amelia Curran, Rose Cousins, Don Brownrigg and The Ukeladies all dropped by to sing a song or two.  The album was released this past September and was followed up by a 30 show CD release tour which took them from Halifax to Vancouver and back on the train.  During this brief period, Acres and Acres have been featured on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves, and have been special guests on CBC’s Main Street.  All Nations has charted all across Canada including CHRM (St. John’s) where it climbed up to #3.  The Spring of 2010 will see the release of a DVD documentary that will focus on the live recording process, touring across Canada by train, and the amazing arts community of Halifax.

Visit their website for more information!

Zachary Lucky is a touring singer songwriter situated in central Saskatchewan.  Dividing his time between his city home and the family homestead.  He currently splits his time writing songs, serving coffee, and touring a ridiculous amount.
“Lucky’s music is as mature as his attitude — an easy on the ear, soft-spoken affair with a lyrical emphasis on storytelling, offered up through an understated vocal delivery that meshes well with his softly acoustic playing style.” - Planet S Magazine

“Zach’s performance was something that reminded me there are still musicians out there who honestly feel what they play.” - http://phillipbean.blogspot.com

“Lucky is a performer who combines a sort of folk-based approach, with soft rock, and at times a sort of country song writing sensibility.” – Yorkton This Week

Festival Stage, 5:00pm

Emerging Artist Award Winner 2010!

AD’s Notes:

Bio: Returning to Canada from a long sojourn in the state of Utah, Kate Le Deuce is bringing something unique to the alternative country scene. Channeling 1970s country music, when men lived hard, drank hard, and drove hard, she sing songs for truck drivers, drunks and sad bastards. On subjects such as year-long benders, sexual deviance and macho heartbreak. she cuts through all expectations with her original repertoire. If the greats of 70s country were chicks, they’’d sound like Kate Le Deuce

With her charismatic stage presence and larger-than-life personality Kate Le Deuce is like the Charlotte Bronte of the country music set. Her song writing belies her age, with world-weary themes, tough emotions, and a set of pipes that will knock you back on your heels. Kate Le Deuce has an uncanny ability to simultaneously catch the ears of a noisy bar full of music hipsters and make old boozers who don’t know and don’t care about the music scene cry into their beers. Currently recording a new album, Kate Le Deuce is ready to break hearts and blow minds across her home and native land.

Visit her website for more information!

Free-for-all, day-long celebration with music, food, arts, crafts, a Children’s Village and much more! Nicholls Oval/Rotary Park, Saturday, August 28, 2010!

LEARNING STAGE

PUBLICAN PAVILLION

GENERATION SOLAR STAGE

FESTIVAL STAGE