Ana Miura to Headline Acoustic Waves at GCTC
Ottawa Folk Festival, in partnership with the GCTC is pleased to present the fourth of five shows in the 2009-10 Acoustic Waves concert series on March 14th, 2010 featuring hometown darling Ana Miura, a mainstay of the Ottawa music scene.
Well-known on Ottawa’s festival stages, Miura was invited by Bruce Cockburn to share the stage with him, Joel Plaskett, & Steven Page as last summer’s Ottawa Folk Festival, and has also opened for Sarah Harmer and Jeremy Fisher.
Her new album, “The Kindness of Years” is her first full-length recording, a much-anticipated follow-up to her debut EP “Tenacious Heart” in 2005 and limited release “Mercury Rising” in 2007.
This time out, Miura was recorded and produced by Ross Murray (Mighty Popo, Lynn Miles, Lynne Hanson), whom she describes as a brilliant mindreader. “Ross created the sound I always heard in my head but never knew how to express,” says Miura. “He took my songs and shaped them into a sonic picture.”
Miura’s “folky style is reminiscent of artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell and Jewel,” writes Lynn Saxberg, Ottawa Citizen music critic. “At each performance, [she] charms a few more people with the delicate power of her songs. She specializes in bittersweet love songs, singing them in a voice that shimmers with cool beauty and accompanying herself with a sure hand on acoustic guitar.”
Miura recently took on a new role as General Manager of the Ottawa Folk Festival, but continues as Chair of Babes for Breasts, an organization she founded that takes female singer-songwriters across Canada to raise money for breast cancer charities. To date, the “Babes” have raised more than $45,000 dollars.
The diminutive singer-songwriter with the big voice and even bigger heart will take to the stage of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre (1233 Wellington, at Holland) at 8 pm on Sunday, March 14th. Tickets are $22 and available at the GCTC box office. The fifth show in the series will be James Hill and Anne Davison on April 25th.
Happy vibes rule folk festival
Beth Johnston, Sun Media
There was harmony, and not just coming from the stages, as the 16th annual Ottawa Folkfest came to a close.
Between shows there were yoga breaks and in the dance tent a dancefloor almost the size of a tennis court left lots of room to cut a rug.
What a peaceful way to end the weekend and the summer.
Full story on the Ottawa Sun website: Happy vibes rule folk festival
How Cockburn became a folk star
When Bruce Cockburn takes the Ottawa Folk Festival stage tonight, it will represent something of a full circle for the venerable Canadian songwriter, political activist, humanitarian and true north musical treasure.Before embarking on an odyssey that would see him release some 26 albums over a nearly 40-year span, garnering numerous accolades — including his 2001 induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame — the Ottawa-born and raised Cockburn could be seen rubbing shoulders with the icons of Canada’s ’60s folk explosion at the legendary Le Hibou club.
More @ Jam! Showbiz: How Cockburn became a folk star
Paul Mills Receives 2009 Helen Verger Award
Each year, the Ottawa Folk Festival presents the Helen Verger Award to an individual who has made significant, sustained contributions to folk/roots music in Canada. This year’s recipient, Paul Mills, has been an integral part of the Canadian folk music scene for more than thirty years. In that time, he has produced more then 140 albums, working with artists such as Stan Rogers, Ron Hynes, and Sharon, Lois & Bram.
“I am deeply humbled to be in the same company as the other Canadian musicians and industry builders who have received the Helen Verger Award. It is indeed a great honour and I am so grateful to those who felt I was a worthy recipient”, said Paul in reaction to receiving news of the award. Past recipients include Bruce Cockburn, Colleen Peterson, Kate and Anna McGarrigle and Willie P. Bennett.
Back to the garden: Catch some tunes, or get back to your roots as the Folk Festival adds gardening to the musical mix this year
Patrick Langston, The Ottawa Citizen
Thanks to a cool, wet summer, many of us are singing the gardening blues. Over at the Ottawa Folk Festival, meanwhile, everything’s coming up roses.
The 16th annual edition of the festival runs Friday to Sunday at Britannia Park, headlined by the likes of former Barenaked Ladies front man Steven Page, folk icon and Ottawa homeboy Bruce Cockburn, and east coast singer- songwriter Joel Plaskett.
This year, the festival’s slogan is Dig Your Roots. And when you’re the Ottawa Folk Festival, a slogan is more than just catchy words.
Full story on the Ottawa Citizen website: Back to the garden
Folk festival wants to involve folks
TRACEY TONG | METRO OTTAWA
“The folk festival’s not just about folk music. It’s about everything – folk, rock, country, Celtic, African and swing dance music,” said festival co-founder and artistic director Chris White. “We’re trying to be as inclusive as possible.”
Canadian Music Hall of Famer Bruce Cockburn, former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page, The Sadies, Amy Millan, Joel Plaskett and Kinnie Starr are headlining at the festival from Aug. 21- 23.
This year’s festival goes far beyond just the music, said White.
Full story on the Metro Ottawa website: Folk festival wants to involve folks
The Ottawa Folk Festival in Full Bloom
“Dig Your Roots” is the 2009 slogan for the Ottawa Folk Festival, to be held August 21 to 23 at Britannia Park. This slogan refers not only to the music at the Festival, but also to the fact that this year’s Festival will have a major Gardening theme. Under the skilled guidance of long-time Ottawa Folk Festival performer Ana Miura, the Festival will offer a rich array of garden-related activities, discussions and musically-themed events throughout the weekend.Many of the gardening activities will take place in the Festival’s new Gardening Village. This area will include the Garden Stage offering a range of seminars and discussions, the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton Advice Tent where attendees can chat with gardening pros, and several large-scale participatory projects, including a Patchwork Garden and a Zen Garden. The Gardening Village will also offer a range of planting activities and garden-themed crafts for children, with opportunities to decorate flower pots and plant seeds to take home. As well, children will be invited to colour in one of Meredith Luce’s beautiful drawings of native flora and fauna. These pages will then be displayed as part of a 200-square foot “Paper Garden” in the Dance Tent.
The Garden Stage will host fascinating discussions and workshops with facilitation from CBC’s Ed Lawrence, the Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre (OJCC), the Worm Factory, USC Canada and many others. Ed Lawrence, CBC Radio’s renowned horticultural expert and best-selling author, will host discussions on how to garden without pesticides, and will participate in book-signing sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. The OJCC will host a Kimono demonstration and a Japanese tea ceremony, courtesy of Camellia Teas of Ottawa. As well, the OJCC will run workshops on making origami flowers, and Rebecca Cragg will host a demonstration of Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging.
The Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton will be on hand to provide free gardening advice to all attendees on both Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. They will also have a selection of hands-on activities for children, such as propagating geraniums from cuttings; saving and re-planting radish seeds; and starting a peanut bush from seed. Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton (MGOC) draws on information and resources from over 800 Master Gardeners around the province, and many more world-wide. Gardening experts provide volunteer time to assist home gardeners through help lines, advice clinics, lectures and articles. According to MGOC member Rebecca Last, “The Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton are thrilled to be part of the Ottawa Folk Festival’s gardening theme this year. We are a group of trained volunteers who provide unbiased horticultural advice and expertise to home gardeners.”
Of course, there will be several types of gardens on display at the Folk Festival. For the Patchwork Garden project, volunteers built 30 wooden planters and distributed them in advance to a variety of community groups and artists prior to the Festival. Recipients were asked to plant a mini-garden inspired by the Festival’s “Dig Your Roots” theme. In this way, the “patches” will reflect the diversity to be found in our community, and will celebrate that diversity in the form of a “patchwork quilt” of planters. Rebecca Cragg will create a Zen Garden to provide a tranquil place for Festival attendees to take a break.
City Repair Ottawa will host a workshop teaching attendees about building with cob, a traditional building material consisting of clay, sand, straw, water and earth. Participants can learn the basics and then get their hands (and feet!) dirty by helping to create a doll-sized house. Cob can be used for buildings, outdoor installations such as benches and bake-ovens, and art objects like sculptures and murals. Cob is fireproof, inexpensive, bio-degradable, and resistant to seismic activity.
The Ottawa Folk Festival would like to thank all the community partners that made the Gardening Village possible. A special thanks goes out to Ed Lawrence, Arbour Environmental Shoppe, USC Canada, Master Gardeners of Ottawa Carleton, The Worm Factory, City Repair Ottawa, Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre, Just Food, Ottawa Green Roofs, Canadian Organic Growers and Camellia Teas of Ottawa.
Canadian Music Icon Bruce Cockburn Returns Home
The Ottawa Folk Festival will be bringing home a local music icon whose music will make this year’s Festival (August 21 to 23) an unforgettable experience. Bruce Cockburn, whom some consider the ‘world’s finest solo performer’, will showcase his extraordinary talent on the Saturday evening Main Stage for what is certain to be a show of a lifetime. The Ottawa native is one of the most decorated Canadian musicians of all time, with a career that not only consists of 30 albums, 20 gold and platinum records, and 11 Juno Awards, but also includes an induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and recognition as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Performing solo to the Britannia Park audience on Saturday evening will provide Cockburn with the perfect format to allow his incomparable musicianship and guitar prowess to shine through, and will treat listeners to his amazing catalogue of songs which have received over 250 cover versions from artists such as Jimmy Buffet, The Barenaked Ladies, Anne Murray, Ani DiFranco and the late Jerry Garcia.
In March 2009, Cockburn released his first-ever live solo album, a double CD entitled Slice of Life. The album was recorded last spring while Cockburn toured the northeastern United States with one stop in Quebec. It showcases his finest songs and some of his most astounding guitar work. The album also includes one new song, ‘City is Hungry’, three tracks recorded at sound checks on the tour, and some between-song banter that shows Cockburn to be both a quick wit and engaging storyteller.
The Ottawa Folk Festival takes place at Britannia Park from August 21 to August 23, 2009 and features over 50 acts including: Bruce Cockburn, Steven Page, The Sadies, Amy Millan, Joel Plaskett, and Kinnie Starr. Some of the major themes at this year’s Festival include Gardening, Sound Healing, Instrument Building, Cross-Cultural Interaction, and Audience Participation. The Festival features a Dance Tent, environmental and gardening displays and discussions, “build-your-own-ukulele” workshops, Cajun, Swing and Latin dance lessons, and yoga instruction.
Ottawa Folk Festival Schedule Announced
Main Stage Schedule
Friday Evening, August 21
- Steven Page
- Kinnie Starr
- Ellen McIlwaine
- Vishten
Saturday Evening, August 22
- Bruce Cockburn
- The Arrogant Worms
- The Good Lovelies
- James Keelaghan
Sunday Evening, August 23
- Joel Plaskett
- Amy Millan James Hill and Anne Davison
- 3rd Annual Cross-Cultural Artist Collaboration (15 artists)
- James Hill and Anne Davison
Dance Tent Schedule
Friday, August 21
- The Sadies
- Mihirangi
- DiggingRoots
Saturday, August 22
- Jah Youssouf, Abdoulaye Kone & the Woodchoppers (afternoon)
- The Sadies (afternoon)Cajun Saturday Night featuring…
- Balfa Toujours
- Michael Jerome Browne & His Electric Band
- Ball and Chain and the Wreckers
- Ray Bonneville
- Louisiana Joe Hall
- Michael Jerome Browne & His Electric Band
Sunday, August 23
- Sunday SWINGtacular Featuring Terra Hazelton & Her Easy Answers
- Swing Dance tips from Dance with Alana Idy Oulo
- Mr. Something Something
Student duo wins stage time at capital music fest
Cheryl Brink | West Carleton ReviewTwo All Saints Catholic High School students are transitioning from playing on their school’s stage for talent shows to performing for the city during the annual Ottawa Folk Festival.
Kelly Peltier and Trevor Pool bonded when they were the rhythm section for a school musical, and began jamming on their guitars in friends’ basements after classes. Last December, Kelly wrote her first song, and it made their band, Tall Trees, official.
In less than seven months, the folk duo has recorded six songs using friend’s equipment and editing software, jointly written a dozen solid tunes and won an audition into the capital’s annual music festival in August.
The duo will be playing at the Ottawa Folk Festival at Britannia Park between August 21 and 23; the schedule has not been finalized. Visit them online to hear their music at www.myspace.com/wearealltalltrees.
Full story on www.westcarletonthisweek.com: Student duo wins stage time at capital music fest
