2019 – A Banner Year for Folkus - theHumm November 2018

By Sandy Irvin

Folkus turns 18 in 2019! And to celebrate, we’ve booked an amazing lineup to delight, surprise, and entertain you. Before I go further, though, I need to acknowledge that we couldn’t put on our series without a lot of support, both local and national. Folkus receives funding from the Government of Canada and the Ontario Arts Council that allows us to take chances on bigger-name artists, to support local artists as opening acts, and to support music in the community. We also couldn’t do anything without our local sponsors, all of who make it easier to bring you great shows. Treat them like gold, and tell them we sent you. This year’s lead sponsor is Mill Street Books.

We’re pretty excited about our season this year. We hope you’ll agree.

Connie Kaldor and James Keelaghan (January 26)

I’ve been wanting to get both of these voices on our stage for some time now, and putting them on a double bill seemed like a bonus for our audience. Both Kaldor and Keelaghan are stalwarts of the Canadian folk scene, and have won Juno and CFMA awards. Sometimes they make me laugh and sometimes they make me cry, but this will be a joyful night.

Connie Kaldor is a gifted singer and pianist; her songs are filled with both warmth and wit. Based in Montreal, her prairie roots come through in her songs, as does her affection for French culture. She sings of women, men, the land and her dog. She is irreverent and moving. Her live shows are legendary.

James Keelaghan’s songs are often mini-documentaries, reflecting his training as a historian. His song Cold Missouri Waters is such a vivid portrayal of firefighting that he’s been invited to play national firefighters’ banquets. A gifted guitarist and singer, Keelaghan has won hearts with his originals and with his interpretations of classic Canadian songs.

Greenbank (February 23)

I freely admit I discovered Greenbank by accident. I was attending the Folk Music Ontario conference, and I kept seeing this guy noodling on a grand piano in the corner. He noodled well enough that I tracked down the band. Fresh and engaging yet retro, Greenbank’s melodies and harmonies draw on the folk-rock sounds of the Guess Who and the Laurel Canyon scene, while anchoring their subject matter firmly in the present day. Greenbank is made up of Jim Breslin (guitar/vocals) and Craig Smyth (keyboards/vocals), and their sound is bigger than their numbers would have you think. Based in Thunder Bay, Greenbank have just released their second album, Glory Days.

Opening for Greenbank will be Ottawa’s Moonfruits. Partners on and off stage, Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy are practitioners of “folk bilingue”. Their harmonies are stunning, and their instrumentation is original. Their latest project, Ste-Quelquepart (Saint Somewhere), is an elaborate fiction, telling the tales of an imaginary village in Eastern Ontario.

Betty and the Bobs (March 23)

Who?? Betty and the Bobs started as a fun side project by some excellent musicians and friends who had worked together in different combinations. Individually, they have played on almost every continent — at festivals, in pit band orchestras, for armed forces tours, at folk clubs, for Cajun dances, on radio shows and on television broadcasts. Many of them have also won Junos and CFMAs. These are players at the top of their game, playing for their own amusement; that the audience gets to enjoy the show is a bonus. Members include Suzie Vinnick, Katherine Wheatley, Wendell Ferguson, Soozie Schlanger, David Woodhead, Rich Greenspoon, and David Matheson. Suzie Vinnick is our most-requested past performer. She is delighted to return to us with some of her pals.

Opening for Betty and the Bobs will be Beth Tufts. She comes by her music honestly. The daughter of two professional musicians, she has been singing ever since she can remember, and has since explored violin, piano, bass and guitar. Her voice is clear and transcendent; her repertoire ranges from traditional Irish ballads to Palais Royale. 2018 has been her year to emerge as an artist, performing at Stewart Park Festival in Perth, the Canada Day festivities in Almonte, and the Festival of Small Halls Ontario in Balderson.

David Myles (April 27)

David Myles is a Halifax-based roots performer. An independent artist, he is currently touring album number ten. Often compared to Buddy Holly for his trademark suits and glasses, Myles’ work is characterized by thoughtful lyrics, sweet melodies and a sense of fun. Genre is flexible in his hands — he’s been called folk-jazz and nouveau pop, but we prefer to call it good music. Myles has garnered Juno awards, ECMAs, SOCAN awards, and was named the CAPACOA Award Winner Touring Artist of the Year in 2015.

Opening for David Myles will be susan o. Susan Odle is an Ottawa-based singer-songwriter folk-rocker. 2017 marked her return to the Ottawa music scene after a 13-year hiatus for family and life. But her time away from performing music was rich in experience and this informs her songwriting. Born in England, raised in Toronto and calling Ottawa home for a long time now, susan o’s songs have been described as “fragile folk and country songs that simmer in quiet desperation.”

Folkus season passes will go on sale Monday, November 12. Individual tickets will be available the first week of January. All our regular season shows are held at the Almonte Old Town Hall, and details can be found at folkusalmonte.com .

Cheryl Straby — Doing What Comes Naturally - theHumm November 2018

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

For Perth fashion designer Cheryl Straby, designing and making original top-quality garments has become second nature. For over thirty years Straby has been perfecting her talent for creating fashions that bring out the best in her delighted clients. “Buy Less / Buy Better!” is her credo. She specializes in custom designed and made-to-measure garments, and her ever-growing success indicates she has found a niche with her eye-catching fashions that combine comfort,......

2019 – A Banner Year for Folkus - theHumm November 2018