Folk

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. Andersen’s stage presence, buoyed by his spectacular live band (also called The Big Bottle of Joy), is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result—a multi-faceted and poignant body of work—has led him to amass over 22 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube. In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America, Europe and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and more. Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, was the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues Awards.

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. Andersen’s stage presence, buoyed by his spectacular live band (also called The Big Bottle of Joy), is informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the same attention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result—a multi-faceted and poignant body of work—has led him to amass over 22 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube. In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America, Europe and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and more. Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, was the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues Awards.

About Stephen Fearing: 

There are few artists that can be referred to as a ‘roots troubadour, song-writing storyteller and master guitarist’ and Stephen Fearing is one of them.

That description may not cascade off the tongue, but there is no better way to sum up the astonishing career BC-based Stephen Fearing has enjoyed. He has achieved acclaim and accolades for his work as a solo artist, producer, co-founder of roots-rock combo Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (B&RK) and as half of the indie-folk duo Fearing & White.

To date, Fearing has released 13 solo albums, 11 studio albums with B&RK and 2 Fearing & White albums. Stephen’s talent as a songwriter has landed him two JUNO awards (Best Roots & Traditional Album, in both the Group and Solo categories). Fearing picked up the award for ‘Contemporary Singer of the Year’ at the 2017 Canadian Folk Music Awards and the same year, his album Every Soul’s a Sailor won “Worldwide Album of the Year” by Blues & Roots Radio.

About The Sentimentals:

Danish Americana/folk music pioneers The Sentimentals have toured North America and Europe backing Canadian, American, Danish and Swedish artists since 2004, playing 1000+ shows. Past tours include Jonathan Byrd, Ana Egge, Dana Cooper, Matt Harlan, Anthony Da Costa and Slaid Cleaves. The Sentimentals also collaborated on album releases with Matt Harlan (Bow and be simple 2013), Jonathan Byrd (Mother Tongue 2015) and Ana Egge (Say That Now 2016).

This December, the Good Lovelies will once again be taking their annual Christmas show across Ontario and bringing their classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, and original material to London!

Accompanying the Good Lovelies (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Susan Passmore) is a stunning backing band of some of Canada's finest musicians. As a six-piece ensemble, this band will have you tapping your feet, laughing, and singing along by the end of the show. This is a must-see concert.

The Good Lovelies first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and has since compiled a catalogue of studio albums, EPs, a live album and a Christmas collection. They have toured extensively across Canada, the US, Europe, UK, and Australia and have earned a JUNO Award, a Juno Nomination and four Canadian Folk Music Awards along the way.

Tony Dekker’s music spans nearly two decades as the lead singer and songwriter of Great Lake Swimmers. Over eight albums, multiple EPs, live broadcasts and reissues, the Toronto based singer-songwriter has established himself as a beloved indie folk artist in his native Canada and beyond. 2013 marked the release of his first solo album, Prayer Of The Woods, which is described as “Folk music that sounds like it was recorded on the periphery between the living room and the surrounding woodland … a humble and traditional folk work, focusing on lyrical analogies and aphorisms” - (Norman Records UK).

Great Lake Swimmers’ record “The Waves, The Wake (Acoustic)” was released digitally on November 8th, 2019 by Nettwerk. A solo acoustic rendering of his band’s most recent album, pared back to acoustic guitar and vocals. No weighty production, no frills, just a haunting voice, lush acoustic guitars, and 12 songs presented in their most stark, minimalist forms. Dekker released a limited edition 12” vinyl format on his own Harbour Songs imprint which was made available through mail order and at live shows.

Great Lake Swimmers released a split 7” single with long-time collaborator Liz Hysen of Toronto band Picastro. “Getting To The Heart Of It” with “Where Are You” and “Thursday” which was released digitally on March 6th, 2020 by (weewerk) while the limited edition 7” vinyl format, Harbour Songs’ second physical release was offered via mail order.

Dekker also provided vocal support on the latest Picastro release, “Exit”, originally released this past November and which was re-released by (weewerk) on February 24th, 2020.

With the pandemic lockdown and cancelled tour dates to contend with in 2020 and beyond, Dekker focused on releasing a series of special releases under the Lockdown Series moniker and were made exclusively available on the Bandcamp platform. “Live In Ottawa At The 27 Club” recorded live in Ottawa, Ontario at The 27 Club on October 3, 2019 was digitally released on May 1, 2020. The mono soundboard feed was recorded by Ryan Palmer with a Tascam DR44WL. It was tweaked and mastered by Andy Magoffin at the House Of Miracles with cover artwork by Adam CK Vollick. “When We Last Shook Hands: Cover Songs Volume 1” was digitally released on June 5th, 2020. This collection of covers was recorded by Great Lake Swimmers over a period of roughly 12 years, between 2007 and 2019. Most of the songs have been released in one form or another as part of compilations, live sessions or album bonus tracks, but there are also a handful of songs which saw the light of day for the first time. The recordings are from such disparate sources as Studio 101 in New Orleans, Mailmen Studios in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and locations closer to home like The House Of Miracles in Ontario. The project was overseen by the bands long-time friend and collaborator, Andy Magoffin, who sonically glued it together and did the mastering. The artwork was created by Adam CK Vollick.

Great Lake Swimmers released a new live track “Your Rocky Spine (2007-04-14)” on Friday, February 25th in lead up to the release of their forthcoming live album entitled “Live At The Redeemer 2007”. This special live concert was released digitally and as a double LP version on (weewerk) on May 14th, 2021.

As the lead singer and songwriter for Great Lake Swimmers, Dekker has been nominated twice for Canada’s Juno Awards, shortlisted and longlisted for the prestigious Polaris Music Prize, and won a Canadian Indie Award for Favourite Folk/Roots Artist/Group. The band has shared the stage with such musical luminaries as Robert Plant, Feist, Daniel Lanois and Calexico, and have appeared as headliners at many of Canada’s major folk music festivals. The CBC has called them “a national treasure” with a sound that is at once familiar and distinct, using the tools of folk music as the starting point to delve deeper.

“Dekker's preoccupation with the Canadian state of mind flourishes in his lyrics. Few songwriters are able to convey the country's harsh beauty as well. …Canadian folk tradition personified in the 21st century” – Exclaim!

“Ambient Zen Americana” – Mojo

“A minimalist, atmospheric compendium of songs with a sonic environment the listener can easily get lost in.” – The Vue

“Dekker has done a masterful job of finding that balance on The Waves, the Wake, which has enough connections to the past to satisfy long-time fans of Great Lake Swimmers even while the singer looks to the future and moves forward as an artist.” – The Georgia Straight

“…Great Lake Swimmers have evolved into one of the country’s finest roots bands…” – Post City

Hawksley Workman is a JUNO Award-winning and Gold Record certified singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since his ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls (1999) through to chart-topping singles of 2020, Hawksley has careened between major label international smash hits to Canadiana soaked indie releases. Boasting a catalogue of 17 solo records, Hawksley’s genre defying style strings together folk, chart pop and irrepressible cabaret. His show-stopping vocals on songs about weather, love, heartbreak and tales of end-times have garnered him a league of devoted fans.

Performing over a thousand shows worldwide, Hawksley has headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall and The Olympia in Paris. For a uniquely Canadian artist Hawksley has built loyal fan bases in the UK, France, Norway and Australia launching many successful tours, demystifying and delighting fans while drawing on an enviable catalogue of mischievous favourites, glammy stompers and heartfelt hymns to small town Canada.

This December, the Good Lovelies will once again be taking their annual Christmas show across Ontario and bringing their classic holiday songs, timeless winter selections, and original material to London!

Accompanying the Good Lovelies (Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough and Susan Passmore) is a stunning backing band of some of Canada's finest musicians. As a six-piece ensemble, this band will have you tapping your feet, laughing, and singing along by the end of the show. This is a must-see concert.

The Good Lovelies first united in 2006 for a one-off performance and has since compiled a catalogue of studio albums, EPs, a live album and a Christmas collection. They have toured extensively across Canada, the US, Europe, UK, and Australia and have earned a JUNO Award, a Juno Nomination and four Canadian Folk Music Awards along the way.

Join the Aeolian for a live Phoenix Session recording with Rachel Beck now moved to the main hall! Featuring an opening set from Marty Kolls!

Canadian singer-songwriter Rachel Beck’s sophomore record, Stronger Than You Know, is an echoing cry-out from a forest, a chilling dance upon a grave, an arrow shooting straight to the heart. It is a call to strength. Intimate and close, the six-track EP, produced by Daniel Ledwell, is sonically decorated amidst compelling electronic rhythms and dreamy synth layers. Beck’s vocals float across the vivid, harmony-laden, ethereal soundscape for which she has become known.

Stronger Than You Know was celebrated as Music PEI's 2021 Album of the Year and nominated for three ECMAs: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Pop Recording of the Year. It follows Beck’s self-titled debut, which garnered​ multiple awards, including a SOCAN #1 Award for single Reckless Heart. In addition to hitting #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 Chart, Reckless Heart was named one of the Top 100 Canadian Songs of 2018 and ranked #4 on the All Canadian Fan Favourites of 2018 by CBC Music.

Maggie's Wake is a Canadian roots band that combines traditional Celtic instrumentation with a contemporary approach. Born from the ashes of Rant Maggie Rant, MW is an exciting collaboration between RMR co-founder Lindsay Schindler (fiddle, vocals) and Tara Dunphy (tin whistle, flute, fiddle, vocals), lead singer and songwriter of acclaimed country outfit, The Rizdales.  They are joined by a powerhouse band of Ontario's finest musicians, including Rob Larose on percussion, Andrew Kosty on bass and special guests Kyle Waymouth on guitar and banjo and Kenneth Palmer on guitar.

Recognized by his peers as one of Canada’s best performing songwriters, Lennie Gallant has released thirteen albums (10 in English and 3 in French) of original songs which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs, Les Prix Eloizes, and The East Coast Music Awards, including 2017 ECMA Entertainer of the Year. His double CD of the 22 songs from his multimedia hit production, Searching For Abegweit, which ran for 173 shows, also won him an ECMA. He was named Canadian Folk Artist of The Year for 2016 and his song Peter’s Dream was voted one of the Top Ten East Coast Songs of All Time and was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.