MEMBER NEWS

Cris Derksen Performing at the 2024 Folk Music Ontario Conference Folk Canada is shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of renowned Cree cellist and composer Cris Derksen over the weekend. Cris was a frequent performer at our member folk festivals and venues across Canada, and was represented by Folk Canada member Nicole Rochefort at AIM Booking Agency. There are many beautiful tributes to Cris that have been published in the media and on socials, including ones f

Syrenka x Polky @ Small World Music Feminist Polish Animation + Single Release + Panel Thursday, May 28, 2026 - 7:00 PM Small World Centre - Toronto, ON A unique evening celebrating Polish art, music, and feminist storytelling in Toronto. This unconventional single release event blends live music, animation, and artist discussion. It features a live performance by POLKY celebrating the release of their new single Ache, a trailer screening of Syrenka: Legend of the Warsaw M

Brooklyn Doran: Heavy Hurt “Heavy Hurt” is a grunge-tinged indie-rock song about the transition from being on tour to being home; especially when you are leaving behind someone you love. This song explores mental health and the hardships of being on the road and the duality of doing something that you love that also sometimes hurts you at the same time. Click here for more info

Freya Milliken: Where I Stand Described as “a fresh new voice in folk music” (Jan Vanderhorst, Just Us Folk), Nova Scotian singer-songwriter Freya Milliken has been making large strides in her career through emerging artist programs at the Winnipeg Folk Festival and Folk Canada, plus a recent commission for Symphony Nova Scotia. This summer, she is making her debut at Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, NS. On May 14th, Freya Milliken will be releasing a new single titled

James LeClaire: The Sound Of You Gone “The Sound Of You Gone” was written out of heartbreak. A heart that I chose to break which also then crushed mine. I was in love with a woman but didn’t think it was going to work out in the long run. So, I made a hard decision for us to go our separate ways. This track describes all the sounds of things that don’t make noise but suddenly seemed heightened with the lack of her presence. Her absence was the only thing I could focus on. Th

Jessica Pearson & The East Wind @ Haliburton County Folk Society w/ Jocelyn Regina of Lunar Bloom Saturday, May 30, 7:30 pm Royal Canadian Legion - Haliburton, ON The Haliburton County Folk Society is excited to present Jessica Pearson & The East Wind. Like sirens calling from an ancient shore, the haunting three-part harmonies of Jessica Pearson & The East Wind will bind you in a timeless folkloric spell. Alchemizing roots, classic country, Americana and Celtic soundscape

Girls+ To The Front @ Irenes Pub w/ Kristine St. Pierre, Krista Hartman & Loch Nisse Monster Wednesday, May 20 8 PM - 10:30 PM Irenes Pub - Ottawa, ON Girls+ To The Front: Catch Kristine St-Pierre, Krista Hartman, and Loch Nisse Monster bringing fierce musicality and fresh lyricism to the stage in Ottawa for this one-time-only midweek feature! Click here for more info

Hannah & Nathan: ‘Love and Labour’ Album Release Tour On May 15th, Hannah & Nathan released Love and Labour, the debut collaborative album from two of Ontario's most respected voices in traditional and folk music. A collection of eight original compositions, two traditional songs, and one contemporary cover, the album is a testament to creative partnership, close-harmony singing, and a shared reverence for the Appalachian old-time and singing traditions that brought them to

Folk Pop Fusion @ Art House Cafe Robin Kenny, Zoe Matthews & Strawberry Fields Forever Presented by Loch Monster Media Saturday, May 16, 2026 - 8:30 doors - 9:00 show Art House Cafe - Ottawa, ON Plans to fill the perfect long weekend don’t come easy, but this art house event is exactly what you’re looking for on May 16th. Indie folk pop to tickle you out of your creative funk and lift your spirits is with Robin, Zoe, and the Strawberry Fields duo. Loch Monster Media never mis

Claire Porter: Yellow Spider Tour I’m dropping my new single, “Yellow Spider,” and that starts a whole web of music! Tour Dates w/ Evan Aucoin May 6 - The Ship - St John’s, NL May 9 - Freshwater Coffeehouse - Carbonear, NL May 16 - The Green Room, Glasgow Square Theatre - New Glasgow, NS May 17 - Gus’ Pub - Halifax, NS May 23 - ECMA Showcase, Breton Craft House - Sydney, NS I’m so excited to share my new song with everyone, and to come back to Nova Scotia after so long away

Matt Gower: Vacated Shapes Vacated Shapes is Matt Gower’s second solo album. The songs on this LP reflect Matt’s Hard Folk aesthetic, with themes such as gender fluidity, anti-fascism, depression, his own shortcomings as a husband & father, murder, imperfection and apathy. Taking equal influence from Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska and Jason Isbell’s Foxes in the Snow, Matt was inspired to produce Vacated Shapes with a minimalist ethos in order to let his songwriting and raw

Sophie d'Orleans: Chocolat “Chocolat” is a soft, radiant French pop track celebrating exogamous love, where two languages and cultures meet. Blending warm acoustic textures with quirky bilingual storytelling, it delivers a fresh, intimate take on the modern love song.

Moira Chicilo: Bred in My Bones Recorded in an afternoon at Blue Door Recording in Regina, Saskatchewan, the live EP, titled "Bred in My Bones”, gives us a glimpse into Moira’s connection to the land and people of the prairies. There’s a casual, melancholic style to her performance, and she is accompanied by David Bushko’s haunting swells on pedal steel guitar. Stripped down, simple and honest, this live collection showcases Moira’s blues, folk and country musical range.

Oh Clementine: Upcoming Album "Oh Clementine sings thoughtful, family-inspired folk—crafted music for kids, cherished by grown-ups! Since her debut album 'One Thousand Mornings' (Feb 2025) landed two major nods — Canadian Folk Music Awards: Children’s Album of the Year and a Western Canadian Music Awards nomination for Children’s Artist of the Year — indie/kindie-folk rising star Oh Clementine has been unstoppable. Highlights: standout CBC performances, a showcase at the CFM

Lisa Richard @ Stan Rogers Folk Festival Award-winning Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Lisa Richard will return to the Stan Rogers Folk Festival this summer, performing on the Main Stage on opening night, July 23. This year’s festival marks the 30th anniversary of the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, with opening night featuring a special tribute to the legendary Canadian songwriter Stan Rogers. Richard joins a lineup of well-known and respected artists to help launch the celebrati

Malia Rogers w/ Mallory Chipman @ Red Bird Friday, Jun 12, 2026 Red Bird - Ottawa, ON Nova Scotia raised, Ottawa based singer-songwriter Malia Rogers has a clear musical mission: be the first person in the room to drop her shield, and in doing so, move others to lower their own. Her introspective, conversational folk offerings carefully balance melancholy and hope, touching audiences with precise lyricism, warm alto vocals, and gentle wit. Having released her debut EP at Red

Come Together: Songs of Unity @ Brampton Folk Club The Brampton Folk Club's Annual Showcase Concert will take place on Saturday, May 23rd starting at 7:30 p.m. in Sanderson Hall, St. Paul's United Church , 30 Main St. South, Brampton. This year's theme is ""Come Together - Songs of Unity"". We've got a terrific line-up of two dozen (!) BFC performers singing and playing songs that connect us. There's a great mix of originals and covers, including lots of sing-a-longs. Advanc

Two Graces @ Few Acres Farm Concerts Saturday, May 23, 2026 w/ Gracie Jet & Grace Alguire Doors 7:00 - Show 7:30 Few Acres Farm Concerts - Russell, ON On Saturday, May 23, Two Graces brings together singer-songwriters Gracie Jet and Grace Alguire for an intimate evening of storytelling and original music at Few Acres Farm Concerts - Russell ON. After meeting at Folk Canada in 2025, the two artists decided to create a show built around connection, honest songwriting, and pow

Cassidy Houston w/ Magic Machine @ Night Oat Friday, May 22, 2026 Night Oat - Ottawa, ON Tickets - $20 Northern Ontario meets the Nations Capital! Ottawa’s own Magic Machine are hitting the stage again, this time in support of touring superstar Cassidy Houston, all the way from Thunder Bay! Don’t miss what is sure to be an incredible evening of harmony and folky goodness at Night Oat! Tickets are limited… only 60 available! Get em while the gettin’s good! Cassidy Houston:

Cameron Nickerson: Album Release Tour After a successful run of shows across the Maritimes, Nova Scotia’s Cameron Nickerson is expanding his "The Wagon" album release tour into Ontario and Quebec this spring. The tour follows the March 20 release of his debut bluegrass record, which has quickly gained traction for its raw honesty and modern take on a traditional sound. TOUR DATES May 16 - Copper Bottom Brewing - Montague, PE May 21 - Cameron House - Toronto, ON May 23 - East