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Artist Spotlight TEKE TEKE
Formed at the crack of 2017, TEKE TEKE was first an homage to legendary Japanese guitarist Takeshi ‘Terry’ Terauchi. Using his music as a starting point, TEKE TEKE has quickly evolved into a band of its own by blending Japanese ‘Eleki’ with elements of modern music such as shoegaze, post-rock and noise. Therefore, making the experience not so much a trip back in time, but rather a psychedelic look into the future! With a repertoire that revisits old school tracks from the land of the rising sun (Kaji Meiko, Asakawa Maki, Nakajima Miyuki…), several songs from maestro Takeshi, TEKE TEKE is now naturally moving on to writing original music. The…
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Hillside Festival
The Hillside Festival(Guelph, ON) July 24-26, is a three-day, multi-stage event with a broad artistic vision that emphasizes diversity: of culture, of musical heritage and style, of age, geography and influence. Set in a beautiful, accessible conservation area with campgrounds on Guelph Lake, this summer festival is world-renowned as one of Canada’s most progressive, environmentally conscious, and completely non-commercial community celebrations. They create a village on Guelph Lake Island that fills with music, dance, drumming, food, crafts, and more. Hillside Festival has received an ‘A’ grade on the Canadian Festival Report Card in 2019 and 2017. Visit their website for tickets and lineup info! http://hillsidefestival.ca/
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Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Gentle
Rich, sweet, and lush with vibrato. These are only a few of the unmistakable qualities that constitute Evangeline Gentle’s fervent timbre. But make no mistake; they are more than an accomplished voice – their songwriting possesses authenticity and depth as rare and unique as their own journey. Born on the Northeast coast of Scotland, Evangeline has live performance in their blood. Queer, and passionate about social justice, Evangeline believes in the good-naturedness of people and our capabilities of growing together. At only 23 years of age, Evangeline’s accolades are already accumulating at an impressive rate. They were awarded Emerging Artist at the 2015 Peterborough Folk Fest, Best Female Vocalist of…
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Calgary Folk Music Festival
The Calgary Folk Music Festival (Calgary, AB) July 23-26, was founded in 1980 and is produced by the not-for-profit Folk Festival Society of Calgary. Held at Calgary’s bucolic Prince’s Island Park since its inception, it’s one of Canada’s flagship, trailblazing music festivals with a national and international profile and a broad, cutting-edge programming vision. The Calgary Folk Music Festival received an ‘A’ grade on the Canadian Festival Report Card in 2019. Visit their website for tickets and lineup info! https://www.calgaryfolkfest.com/
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Artist Spotlight: Rakkatak
Rakkatak merges classical Indian rhythms and melodies with a pop music aesthetic. The concept started as Anita Katakkar‘s solo project in 2009, out of her need to share the subtle beauty of tabla in a non-traditional way. A year later, Rakkatak morphed into a musical partnership with bassist Oriana Barbarto and guest musicians including: Lisa Patterson, Morgan Doctor, Dino Toledo, Samidha Joglekar and Rex Van der Spuy. Rakkatak released their third album “Small Pieces” in April 2017 and will be releasing their fourth album in the fall of 2020 featuring master vocalist Pratik Rao, bansuri player Hasheel Lodhia, violinist Jessica Deutsch and multi-faceted musician Zaynab Wilson. Rakkatak aims to: serve…
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Stan Rogers Folk Festival
Now in its 22nd year Stan Rogers Folk Festival (Canso, NS) July 23-26, has won many accolades and awards, and is considered one of Nova Scotia’s signature music festivals. Imagine Woodstock, but “East Coast Style” with world-class production, indoor and outdoor stages, wholesome food vendors, a diverse crafter village and endless jamming onsite and throughout the community, and showers – yes, hot showers! – in the campground. There are 800 campsites on the festival grounds and hundreds more nearby. Their definition of folk is almost limitless, it is “Music for Folks”. Stanfest received an ‘A’ grade on the Canadian Festival Report Card in 2019. Visit their website for tickets and…
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Artist Spotlight: Jeanne Rochette
Passionate about music and theatre, author-composer and French vocalist Jeanne Rochette studied in Paris. Upon her arrival in Quebec ten years ago, she became dedicated to the genre Chanson. With carefully-crafted lyrics, scenes drawn from real life, and funny, even wacky delivery, she enriches the repertoire of French Chanson with inspiration from jazz and world music. Releasing her first album in 2010, entitled Elle sort, she revealed this original universe. She was the winner of Les Découvertes de la chanson de Magog in 2008. On stage, the vitality of Jeanne and her theatrical experience make a spectacle of color and energy. Claude Lemesle (lyricist for Reggiani, Bécaud, Dassin…) says of…
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River & Sky Music Festival
River & Sky Music Festival (Fisher’s Paradise, ON) July 22-26, brings you simple good times, with the best Canadian Indie and Northern Ontario camping, along the Sturgeon River. Since their inception in 2009, R&S strives to support regional emerging artists in Northeastern Ontario and to showcase their talents alongside amazing artists from across Canada and beyond. While River & Sky is not a folk festival, it does have a folky feel. You won’t find expensive bouncy things for kids or a beer tent. Bring your own lawn chair and a cold canned beverage and relax. Friend and family friendly, it’s a simple festival that is all about the music, the…
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Artist Spotlight: SATE
Combining blistering hard rock with gritty blues, SATE is an artist who it’s impossible to ignore. Her music leaves you exhausted but leaves a fire burning in your soul that wasn’t there before. Toronto’s NOW Magazine described her as having “a tornado of a stage presence,” while Lithium’s live reviewer proclaimed, “I can tell you sincerely that she is one of the most resounding artists I’ve heard.” When each show inevitably reaches its climax with the indelible image of SATE, fist in the air, and an entire audience raising its hands in unity, the full spectrum of human emotions—anger, joy, vulnerability—suddenly comes into sharp focus through the music. SATE has…
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Artist Spotlight: Bonjay
Dancehall-bred. Orchestrated like old soul. Driven by emotive vocals inspired as much by Feist as by Yolanda Adams. There’s a rawness to Bonjay: to the feelings, to the voice, to the sounds clashing. It sounds like something new. In cities and suburbs around the world, the next generation of young musicians are emerging. Inspired by the underground music of the last 30 years, they are unencumbered by the restrictions of style and attitude that traditionally divided genres. Cities that once tried to emulate New York or London are coming to the forefront, newly confident in their local blends. The youth are coming into their own, cheering the home team, celebrating…
