Mariposa Festival: Early Bird pricing ends Jun 1

By Will McGuirk

Get your tickets ASAP - Weekend Passes for Adults go from $195 to $220 on Thursday June 1 2023. The Mariposa festival kicks off Friday July 9 and runs through Sunday July 9 at Tudhope Park in Orillia. Headliners include Tegan and Sara, Feist, Rufus Wainwright, The Wood Brothers, The Rural Alberta Advantage, KT Tunstall, Wild Rivers, Judy Collins, Matt Andersen & the Big Bottle of Joy, Jeremy Dutcher, Tim Baker.

 As well this incredible line-up of artists including a Sharon, Lois & Bram Singalong with Sharon, Randi & Friends, Ammoye, Carsie Blanton, Clerel, Danny Michel, David Francey, Fast Romantics, HORSEBATH, I, The Mountain, Jack Barksdale, Jaffa Road, Jake Vaadeland & The Sturgeon River Boys, Jill Barber, Kalascima feat. Andrea Ramolo, Keith Mullins, Les Fireflies, Lindy Vopnfjörd, Lisa Sanders & Brown Sugar, Lloyd Spiegel, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Martha Wainwright, Melón Jiménez & Lara Wong, Morgan Toney, Mountain City Four feat. Anna McGarrigle and Peter Weldon with special guest Martha Wainwright, OKAN, Paul Langlois Band, PIQSIQ, Quote the Raven, Sam Polley & The Old Tomorrows, Showman & Coole, Sister Ray, Spencer Burton, Splash'N Boots, Steve Poltz, STORRY, Tanika Charles, Terra Spencer, The Bros. Landreth, The McDades, The Paddling Puppeteers, The Pistolettes, The Trews Acoustic, The Trials of Cato, The Vaudevillian, The Weather Station, Tim Greenwood

Gigs This Week: M'Grasker at Dakota Tavern

By Will McGuirk

M'Grasker at Dakota Tavern Saturday June 3 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Haley Blais at Lee's Palace

By Will McGuirk

Haley Blais at Lee's Palace Sunday June 4 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Doses at the Horseshoe Tavern

By Will McGuirk

Doses at the Horseshoe Tavern Wednesday May 31 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Death Cab for Cutie at Massey Hall

By Will McGuirk

Death Cab for Cutie at Massey Hall Friday June 2 and Saturday June 3 2023. Tickets here.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Logan Ledger, Lune très belle, The Ironsides, Shane Ghostkeeper, Justin Rutledge, Early James, Sam Casey, and Ghost

By Will McGuirk

“I Know How”, is a prayer for redemption to the country music god of the dance floor: May one of these two left feet turn; To right this two-stepping wrong.” - Ghostkeeper

“This song is supposed to elicit a feeling of nostalgia in its listeners and remind them that social media has created a community of people who will never be fully satisfied. So, there is no point in creating for them. Create for you.” - Sam Casey

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Hillside 2023: 40 years of looking forward

By Will McGuirk

40! Its a big number, brings with it reflection on a journey completed, some trepidation for the future, as if the best years are behind one. . . and yet not so much for Hillside Festival celebrating 40 years this July 28 through 30, 2023.

So no, its not a festival looking back, there’s no alumni of note gathering to celebrate such an anniversary. . . for Hillside age is just a number, its all about whats next, who’s next, and how the next will happen. Its what I love about this island based festival in Guelph, seeing the now and the new.

Maybe perhaps one nod to the past may be the inclusion of Owen Pallett, who in 2009, gave one of the most intense performances, in a rain storm, gathering all those in attendance in an almost Biblical embrace. unbelievable, unforgettable, and he is among the scores of artists scheduled over the three days of the festival.

Scores of artists you maybe don’t know. . . yet. We say yet because Hillside is known as the breakout fest, the Saturday night Island and Lake stage have hosted bands just on the verge. And there are of course scores of artists you may know but whom are not necessarily household names, such as the iconic singer/songwriter Willie Nile, and Martha Wainwright, Hayden, Tami Neilson, U.S. Girls, and Will Butler of Arcade Fire. Fab artists all.

And on the recommended list for us at Slowcity.ca? Well this year no Durham Region artists to note, but as shows have opened here in the D-Rack, bands have come through so there is some familiarity with some of the bands on the line-up, Billianne for one, surberb voice, also Begonia, Ariel Posen, Zoon, Debby Friday, Julianna Riolino, and of course we have been big fans of Daniel Romano’s Outfit as well as Steve Lambke’s work for donkeys.

The schedule as of now is:

FRIDAY, JULY 28
Bedouin Soundclash, Bibi Club, DEBBY FRIDAY, JamSchool Youth Showcase, Royal Castles, Tami Neilson

SATURDAY, JULY 29
Adrian Sutherland, Catherine MacLellan, DakhaBrakha, Izzie Walsh, Lynn Jackson, Moontricks, Priyanka, Sultans of String, Tiny Horse, U.S. Girls, Willie Nile

SUNDAY, JULY 30
Begonia, BuenRostro, Cheikh Ibra Fam, Ghostly Kisses, Hayden, The Human Rights, Kandy Guira, Leith Ross, Lola Kirke, Owen Pallett, Riki Gee’s Time’s Front Lawn, Sunday Gospel Session, Wendy McNeill, Zoh Amba

Tickets available here ->

Mariposa Folk festival: reserving a place in the future for the past

By Will McGuirk

Although the mission statement for the Mariposa Folk Festival speaks to the preservation of folk art in Canada this Grand Dame of festivals is no museum, but rather more akin to an art gallery.

To preserve is to know, and to know is to continue to investigate and research, and one can do such a thing through showcases, which is why when one attends Mariposa one gets the past yes but also the future of folk in Canada, and, broadly, as folk knows no borders, the Americas and the rest of the world.

This year is no different. The 62nd edition of Mariposa takes place in Tudhope Park, Orillia, July 7-9. Although to be fair this year will be different. One could usually anticipate an appearance by festival co-founder Gordon Lightfoot; one would see him sit in the audience or stroll the grounds or hang backstage with friends new and old. However his passing earlier this month will mean there will be an absence felt. But the songs remain, and that is the tradition of folk, the songs, the art, the craft, the dance; a community’s identity handed down over the years hand to hand to hand. As long as the songs are alive so too is Lightfoot, as is Ian Tyson and Leonard Cohen and Stan Rogers and all those others who have graced the stage at Mariposa.

Judy Collins, who by way of her covers bought audiences to Cohen and Joni Mitchell, performs on Sunday evening on the main stage, on a night which features festival closer, Feist, as well as Rufus Wainwright whose latest album Folkocrasy is its own showcase of covers and collaborations, and also Jeremy Dutcher, a member of Tobique First Nation, whose debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, drew from the songs and stories of the Wolastoqiyik, whose territories stretched from Quebec, to New Brunswick, and into Maine USA.

“It’s crucial for us to make sure that we’re using our language and passing it on to the next generation. If you lose the language, you’re not just losing words; you’re losing an entire way of seeing and experiencing the world from a distinctly indigenous perspective.” - Jeremy Dutcher

For tickets see here ->

Reckless Rock & Roll at the Dakota Tavern

By Will McGuirk

Reckless Rock & Roll at the Dakota Tavern Saturday May 27 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Sunset Rubdown at Lee’s Palace

By Will McGuirk

Sunset Rubdown at Lee’s Palace Friday May 26 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Grievous Angels at the Horseshoe Tavern

By Will McGuirk

Grievous Angels at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Sunday May 28 2023. Tickets here.

Gigs This Week: Hayden at Massey Hall

By Will McGuirk

Hayden at Massey Hall Saturday May 27 2023. Tickets here.

Duke Redbird, Elisapie, Mumu Fresh announced for International Indigenous Music Summit opening gala May 31

By Will McGuirk

The 2023 International Indigenous Music Summit will take place May 31 through June 4 at several venues across Toronto with the TD Music Hall at Massey Hall as main host. This year, the summit’s second, will feature an opening gala for the first time. The gala, taking place on May 31 will feature poet/educator/artist Duke Redbird; award-winning artist and broadcaster Elisapie; and Grammy-nominated songwriter, rapper and activist Mumu Fresh, plus more.

This year’s Keynote brings Alfredo Caxaj, Founder and Artistic Director of London, ON’s SunFest in conversation with Sara Curruchich, a Mayan Kaqchikel singer-songwriter from Guatemala.

There will also daytime panels, international artist spotlights, as well as evening showcases  Venues include the Rivoli, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and The Tranzac. Performers include Aysanabe, Beatrice Deer Band, Fawn Wood, Quanah Style, Drezus, Ombiigizi, Wolf Castle and more.

For full details, tickets and more see indigenousmusicsummit.com