In one week, The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (OGF) is poised to showcase a stellar lineup of top local, national and international performers of all abilities, ages and ethnicities. It expects to welcome over 1700 visitors during the 4-day event. Now celebrating its 5th year, the festival will take place from April 21-24, 2016 at a new accessible venue, The Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue, Ottawa. Arthur McGregor, the Unsung Hero Award recipient in 2015 at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA), with Wendy Moore and Friends will be the big draw on the Friday evening. McGregor has been an essential member of Ottawa’s folk scene for decades. He founded the Ottawa Folklore Centre and managed it for 38 years until its closing in 2015. He and his partner Wendy Moore have invited an all-star cast to join them. Not surprising, given that Arthur is easily Ottawa's (Canada's) most famous folkie! Paul Mills, Terry Tufts, Kathryn Briggs, Bill Garrett, Sue Lothrop, Ann Downey and Paul Hornbeck will join them on this special evening. The opening night of the festival will follow a Francophone theme and welcomes award winning artists Robert Paquette and Céleste Lévis. Headliners, Garnet Rogers and Dave Gunning, iconic folk singer/songwriters from the Maritimes, rich in East Coast Music Awards and Juno nominations are expected to draw a capacity crowd on Saturday night. Scheduled artists during the FREE daytime programming offered at the festival are local favourites Jill Zmud, Propeller Dance, Kristine St. Pierre, Kate Greenland, Bucko, Storyteller Kim Kilpatrick, Howie Hooper, Sophie Léger, Amanda Jordan and Crisol. Internationally acclaimed Jessica Stuart Few and from Canada’s north, Kate Weekes are also on the roster. When asked about what Bob Nesbitt, Festival Producer, is most looking forward to at this year’s festival, he replied, “Personally, it is a concept I am looking forward to at this year’s festival. Namely the 3 performances/workshops put on by people of all-abilities. Propeller Dance, Bucko (Chris Binkowski) and Kim Kilpatrick's performance Flying in the Dark: a blind woman's story.” What sets this festival apart from others in the community? The importance they place of being inclusive, accessible, offering workshops that encourage participation, building on community partnerships and showcasing artists of all abilities. Nesbitt is hopeful that other event organizers will follow suit and embrace these key values. The Ottawa Grassroots Festival is family-friendly community gem, featuring multi-lingual artists performing folk, blues, roots, bluegrass, spoken word, world, jazz, ambient and fusions of all kinds. Run entirely by volunteers, this not-for-profit organization will amaze you with what can be accomplished when dedicated people come together to organize a music festival of this kind. More information is available on the Ottawa Grassroots Festival's website.
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