MEMBER NEWS

We, Otherwise: Tranzac Residency We, Otherwise - Tranzac Residency! We are launching a recurring intimate series at the Tranzac, the second Sunday of every month at 7:30PM. w/ Radhika Baskar & Lina Cao, and Ola Sconola Sunday, May 10 - 7:30 pm The Tranzac - Toronto, ON We, Otherwise – is an encounter where two artists from different cultural backgrounds meet for the first time in a shared space of conversation, live musical exchange, and audience participation. The project

Abigail Lapell: Shadow Child Tour Award-winning Toronto songwriter Abigail Lapell launches her new album Shadow Child with tour dates across Ontario and the Northeast – including a special full-band Toronto show May 22nd at Hugh’s Room Live. Shadow Child is a collection of nine songs about pregnancy and motherhood, arriving May 8th (Mothers Day weekend) on Outside Music. The album features guest vocals from some of Lapell’s favourite singers, all Canadian folk icons, all mot

Bobby Dove: Fortune Teller Eastern Tour Bobby Dove, a trans/non-binary singer-songwriter, originally hailing from Montreal, has worked their magic once again on the new album Fortune Teller, out now on Bandcamp and on all streaming services Fortune Teller’s title track—with an official music video debuting on release day—asks intangible questions from a country artist’s storytelling perspective, through the power of mystical symbols and archetypes. It also sets the tone for

2026 Festival Retreat participants Folk Canada was pleased to host our 2026 Festival Retreat, April 19-21 at the Elmhirst Resort in Keene, ON. Each year, Folk Canada gathers the leadership of our Festival Member operations for 2 days of professional development, including hands-on workshops, sharing of best practices, and networking. Topics of discussion included Revenue Generation, Volunteer Recruitment & Retention, Governance, Marketing & Community Engagement, and an amazi

Listen and subscribe to Refolkus: https://refolkus.transistor.fm/subscribe This week we’re joined by Mark Steiner, founder of GigSalad. We get into his path through the music industry, from working as a booking agent to creating GigSalad. Drawing from his experience on the booking side, Mark shares insight into how talent gets matched with opportunities, what bookers are really looking for, and what actually makes artists stand out when it comes to getting booked. We also ta

беда: Put Trouble On My Tab @ Division 88 w/ music from Kizaba & Martin Ses Sunday, May 3, 2026 Division 88 - Toronto, ON Беда (BEDA) series is dedicated to the people who keep the city’s cultural and hospitality scene alive: musicians, restaurant workers, and tourism professionals who rarely get to experience the events they help make possible. This five-month series offers two shows each night with an early and a late performance, so those who work weekends can finally enjo

Lynne Hanson: Invisible I don’t know if you’ve ever felt invisible - not gone, not lost, just somehow overlooked. Like standing in full light and still fading at the edges. This song grew out of that feeling. It moves on a low, droning acoustic pulse that feels almost like a heartbeat you can’t quite steady, with producer Jim Bryson weaving in textures that shimmer and disappear just as quickly. It’s quieter than some of my songs, but it lingers - a ghost in the room, a que

James LeClaire: If Ever Seven years ago, a good friend of mine’s husband tragically lost his life. She was devastated. In an instant, the love of her life was gone. His retirement was only a few short years away and they had everything planned out, ready to enjoy their growing family and their time together. The absence of his love was impossible to ignore. One day, she said to me, “I want you to write a happy song.” It would be nice to write a happy song for my friend. But

Kaeley Jade: The Great Unknown Edmonton alt-folk artist Kaeley Jade has released her sophomore album, The Great Unknown. Recorded with JUNO-award winning producer Hill Kourkoutis, the album explores themes of change and resilience. TOUR DATES: Apr 24 - The Aviary - Edmonton, AB May 2 - Emmanuel United - Waterloo, ON May 3 - Second Wedge Brewing Co. - Uxbridge, ON May 5 - Departure - Toronto, ON “In writing The Great Unknown, I was interested in exploring the turning points w

The Family Name, Ethan Mitchell, & Matt Gower @ Art House Cafe Friday Night Folk Presented by CKCU Friday, May 1, 2026 - 8PM Art House Cafe - Ottawa, ON Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door CKCU Presents Friday Night Folk is a bi-monthly concert series at Art House Cafe. On the first Friday of every other month Art House Cafe will feature two folk acts, hosted by local singer-songwriter Matt Gower. The latest edition of Friday Night Folk showcases The Family Name and E