Scorpion King
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Its been a highlight of our year for years so we give over the open mic for a listen to some of the artists who have our ear at the 15th River and Sky Festival which takes place July 20-23 2023 at Fisher’s Paradise in Field, Ontario
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At a certain point I have to give up the words and leave it at please see and enjoy this northern Ontario festival for yourself. You will have a ball, and a 15th anniversary ball to boot!
And now the ball has broadened to include even more acts. R&S had previously announced The Sadies, Dan Romano’s Outfit, Julie Doiron and others (link here for our story) and the lineup has been expanded to include Status/ Non Status, Pantayo, Tess Roby, Mother Tongues, Dilettante, and so many many more. The fest is four days long; four days, four nights, northern nights with a river and skies and trees and sauna and pizza and art and coffee and hanging out and lounging and chilling and swimming and more music under the stars than one should rightfully expect.
Pantayo, photo by Sarah Bo
By Will McGuirk
Are we going to replace gatherings with zoom meetings? Are we going to celebrate without touch, in isolation, alone, on social media? Do we need to see, feel, touch as well as hear music, musicians? Do we need to be in their presence for it to really matter.Do you crave the real thing or are you getting used to degrees of separation, of filters, of replicas of replicas of replicas? Do you want facade or fact? Or have you already been doing that for some years already?
“These songs are about learning to be more present to where I'm at, letting go, and taking responsibility, all themes that have taken on new meaning for me the past few months, as nearly everything has been turned upside down by a global pandemic and a much-needed civil rights movement.” - Zaac Pick
“In this karaoke music video, we imagine an uplifting New Earth where there is abundance and liberation. A hopeful world created as a result of dismantling white supremacy, fighting the lies of colonialism, and ending fascism and the oppression of marginalized peoples.” - Pantayo
“This is a story speaking to how everyone has to deal with the weight of the world in one way or another. That kind of brings us together in a sense. just a friendly reminder that everyone has got this shit feeling from time to time, some more than others, but all you can really do is to try and take it easy on yourself.” - Matthew Sweeney, The Elwins
"Pinebox is an invitation to look yourself in the eyes, let go of who you have been, and move forward. It is a song about self-reflection in a time of stasis, and releasing the weight we carry with us from our early years,” - Birds of Bellwoods
"'It describes a feeling of apathy, paralysis, and a fear of letting go of the known. We feel it's a rather fitting introduction to a band that, until the global pandemic, had remained in a state of self-imposed delay." - Rod Slaughter
PUP, photo by Jess Baumung
By Will McGuirk
If there is no filter between thought and action, between heart and art - and like meeting a neighbour and asking how you getting thru? the artist responds with a song.
Pantayo, photo by Sarah Bo
By Will McGuirk
Well who knew we would find common ground in watching tigers. Maybe that fading grinning Cheshire Cat of Alice was the clue after all. Maybe the Tiger King in all his George the Third madness may result in a revolution, as disruptive socially as the the one George set in motion.
“Sometimes we search for ourselves in various places, people, and things and end up ignoring what’s right in front of us.” - Jacqueline Tucci
“I hope this video rings true in the hearts of those who watch it, in a world where more is more and less is not good enough, new is better and what becomes old is an increasingly shorter window. I hope that people will laugh and cry and leave changed. Because what is art if it doesn’t make us feel and ask important questions?” - STORRY
Dirty Projectors, photo by Jason Frank Rothenberg
Pantayo, photo Credit : Sarah Bo
By Will McGuirk
Slowly the door to the woodshed is being opened, slowly the nose emerges, then cheeks, in time a whole head and slowly the door opens wider and songs flutter out, one by one by two, by three, by five, eight. . .
“You never know when the universe will deliver a tune from the song gods, but “Years In The Making” arrived just when we needed it.” - Max Kerman
“Sometimes love can come to you unexpectedly. I wrote this after thinking back in awe at how suddenly the emotions can come to you. . .” - Mauve