TORONTO’S FIRST ANNUAL LITTLE YORK FOLK FESTIVAL HAPPENING MAY 1st
AN EVENT FOR TORONTO’S RICH AND VARIED FOLK AND ROOTS MUSIC COMMUNITIES TO MIX-AND-MINGLE, WITH AWARD-WINNING PERFORMERS, HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, DANCES AND MORE!
Little York Folk Festival is the brainchild of Toronto-based alt-country songwriter Sarah Jane Scouten. This all-day festival will take place at Toronto’s Tranzac Club on May 1, 2016. The festival brings together many of Toronto’s folk and roots music communities: bluegrass, old time, Cajun, Quebecois, indie-folk, country swing, Americana, alt-Latino/world music and European folk dance will all be represented this year.
Performers include rollicking Cajun band Swamperella, Juno Award-winner QuiQue Escamilla, roots powerhouse singer/songwriter Kristine Schmitt, country-swing-jazz quartet The Conductors, eccentric flute and bass combo Hairbranewith Canadian Folk Music Award-winning violinist Jaron Freeman-Fox, David Boulanger from the legendary Quebecois roots band La Bottine Souriante, and bluegrass duo Ivan Rosenberg (International Bluegrass Music Association Award-winner) & Kristin Cavoukian. The grand finale is the Balfolk/Square Dance Square Off, with two stellar dance bands. European folk dances taught by Tangi Ropars and John Williams (from Lemon Bucket Orchestra), and square dances called by Hannah Shira Naiman.
The workshop schedule offers a variety of topics for musicians and music fans of all ages: Silly Song Sing-Along for Kids and Their Adults (led by Ann Phung and friends), Traditional Albertan Cowboy Songs (Mike Tod, York University Ethnomusicology masters student), Quebec Traditional Fiddle and Polyrhythm (David Boulanger), Band in the Box (Alan Mackie will help participants create song charts to play with a live band later in the day), Songcraft (Sarah Jane Scouten), and Honky Tonk Dance Lesson (Max Heineman from the Foggy Hogtown Boys).
This year’s event will establish a template to foster learning, collaboration and
community-building using song and dance as a powerful tool. With an eye for diversity and growth, Scouten plans to incorporate First Nations, African, Caribbean and Asian folk music in the future.
Daytime workshops from 2:00 – 6:00 PM are by donation
Tickets to the concerts and dance from 7:00 – 11:00 PM are $20
Available at the door or online HERE.
The Tranzac Club is located at 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto M5S 2M7.
The Little York Folk Festival is a 100% artist- and volunteer-run event.
FestivalΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRANK TURNER – NO MANβS LANDΒ
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ABBY ZOTZ – LOCAL HONEY
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: RAB NOAKES – WELCOME TO ANNIVERSARYVILLE
SPILL TRACK OF THE DAY: KACY & CLAYTON – “THE LIGHT OF DAY ” || ROAD TO POLARIS
