October

Greenbank Folk Music Society kicks off it's 2016-17 season on Saturday, October 15th with a fabulously entertaining singer/songwriter from the Maritimes, Steve Poltz. Showtime 8 PM.

According to his bio: “Steve Poltz is obsessed with the challenge of knowing and understanding the thoughts of each and every person in his audience. He is a lover of life; fascinated by all things large and small.... and he is unafraid of letting his streams-of-consciousness take him where he needs to go. A mix of high octane performance, singular wit and endlessly entertaining storytelling, Steve is legendary for his improvisational songwriting and timeless, original classics. Oh, and he's a pretty good guitarist too.”

Steve was born in Halifax but has lived most of his life in Southern California and those geographic poles are quite likely responsible for his unhinged genius. He is a dual citizen - Canada/USA - but has often said that, "should a hostage situation arise, I become conveniently Canadian."

As a recording artist, he’s fronted the semi-legendary Rugburns and is responsible for a critically lauded body of work on his own: One Left Shoe, Chinese Vacation, Answering Machine, The Barn (a children's album), Tales From The Tavern (a performance DVD), Traveling, Unraveling, Dreamhouse, Noineen Noiny Noin and, most recently, the soundtrack for the acclaimed Sundance-screened documentary film, Running Wild - The Life of Dayton O. Hyde.

Oh, did we mention that he famously co-wrote “You Were Meant For Me”with Jewel.

We are honoured & delighted to have such a world class icon christen our new season. Join us, won't you!

From his website:

Since first planting roots within the Canadian music scene in 2011, Ken Yates has steadily grown a reputation as one of the country’s brightest singer/songwriters. His sound offers the complete package—unforgettable melodies, emotionally charged storytelling, and top-notch guitar chops—all gloriously displayed on Yates’ new album, Huntsville.

November

From the website:

Pat’s music is informed by Western Swing, Jump Blues, Rockabilly and Roadhouse Soul. It fits easily into Blues, Jazz and Folk festivals. Having performed in many of Canada’s Music Festivals, Pat Temple has become a mainstay in the Canadian scene.

He has performed in venues such as Massey Hall, The National Art Gallery and The Ontario Place Forum & received favourable press across Canada, being interviewed by CBC, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Winnipeg Free Press, as well as The Vancouver Sun. He has appeared live on Much Music television and CBC radio.

With thirty years of performing under his belt, Pat has developed an impressive and unique body of work. His compelling voice adds colour and meaning to his lyrics. Pat’s songs are the kind you want to stay up late with!

Pat Temple attracts stellar players to his music. He continues to be surrounded and accompanied by stellar Canadian musicians Terry Wilkins, Spencer Evans, Frank Barth and more recently Alan Black, Rob Foreman and Kyler Tapscott. Their live shows are toe tappin’ and uplifting. At every show you’ll find people up swingin’ and dancing to this very original music performed by a truly eclectic cast of characters.

December

From the web site:

The Lonesome Ace Stringband brings grit, skill and abandon to old-time, Appalachian folk songs and fiddle/banjo tunes. These are songs and tunes for life and all of its occasions: weddings, dances, wars, parties and funerals. The music comes from a tradition that has inspired and brought together generations of people. Its themes - love, loss, hard work and hardship, faith, and everyday life - speak to everyone. The members are Chris Coole on banjo, John Showman on fiddle and Max Heineman on bass. Together they bring a deep respect for the roots of the music, a keen sense of innovation to the performance and material, and a passion for the sound that transcends both. This is old-time music for today's old soul.

We are delighted to welcome them to Greenbank!

Sarah Jane Scouten

"At first listen Sarah Jane Scouten's voice could belong to Nanci Griffith or one of the McGarrigle sisters, but it only takes a few bars to recognize the originality in her country-coated folk songs." - CBC Ottawa

January

Communism is a shockingly energetic rock trio with songs that have as much meaning as they have rock, rhythm, and melody. The music makes you dance, the words awaken your inner activist. ‘Take Care of Each Other’, ‘Forgiveness’, ‘One of Everyone’, ‘Heart Farmer’… the songs fill you with hope, connection, and harmony – all while rocking your world like Van Halen, The Clash, Queen, Michael Jackson, and Talking Heads.

February

From the web site:

Jadea Kelly — raised in Whitby, ON — spends much of her time living between Toronto, ON and Nashville, TN. She is known most prominently for her vocal work with JUNO Award–winning Canadian folk artist Catherine MacLellan as well as JUNO Award–winning Canadian metal band, Protest the Hero. In 2014, Jadea was nominated for Contemporary Singer of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards as well as Emerging Songwriter of the Year in 2010.

She has toured across Canada countless times, performing at a number of Canadian festivals — this includes the Calgary Folk Festival, Edmonton’s Interstellar Rodeo, Riverfest with Blue Rodeo, Peterborough Folk Festival, Shelter Valley, Stuart MacLean’s Vinyl Cafe, Stewart Park Folk Festival and Wild Mountain Music Festival.

Her 2013 album, Clover, was named one of CBC’s Top 10 Anticipated Albums of 2013 and she has toured and opened for the likes of Justin Rutledge and even Judy Collins.

She has toured throughout the United States supporting Canadian duo, Whitehorse, as well as across Canada with Royal Wood & Catherine MacLellan.

March

From her web site:

Whiteley has co-written songs with Colin Linden, Fred Eaglesmith, and her musician husband Joey Wright, among others, and has collaborated with many other renowned Canadian artists, recording vocals on Sarah Harmer’s hit song “Basement Apartment,” Melwood Cutlery’s Campfire and Prairie Oyster’s re-release of “Man In The Moon."

In addition to her two Juno wins, she has been nominated four times as a solo artist and with The Junior Jug Band and Heartbreak Hill. She has a SOCAN No. 1 Song Award for her song “Baby, I” as performed by Amy Millan, a gold record for her family band's recording and has toured all over the U.S., Europe and Canada, performing at nearly every major music festival including Edmonton Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Mariposa, Stan Rogers Fest, Stardust Picnic, and many more.

Jenny and Joey reside in their country home in eastern Ontario, with their two daughters. She dedicates her new record The Original Jenny Whiteley to her father, Chris.

April

From the web site:

"Imagine, if you can, a front porch where Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Hula Hattie, Flaco Jimenez and Bob Marley meet often and discover just how much they have in common. Tim's music would fit right in."

Tim Williams is a blues-based singer / songwriter / multi - instrumentalist. He is a 40 year veteran of the 'Roots' music scene in North America, roots which stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60's.

Settling in Canada in 1970, Tim is a studio musician, producer, and a performer in constant demand. He has played Folk / Blues / Jazz festivals and concert halls and clubs from Halifax, to Vancouver Island, to the Yukon.

Inspired by the Hillbilly and Western Swing music he heard as a child, Tim absorbed late Fifties Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll, Hawaiian and Mexican music, early Sixties Folk, and Bluegrass “like a sponge” before discovering a passion for traditional blues styles which was fueled by seeing many first generation blues musicians live during the “Blues Boom” of the mid and late Sixties.”

Opening:

Jonathan Byrd

"“Jonathan Byrd swings from the roots of American music...He jumps between gutbucket blues and tender ballads, empathetic work laments and sympathetic character studies...Byrd shares the often-missed, always poignant tales of the small people that make this world such a big place.” — Grayson Currin, The Independent

May

"Imagine an AK-47 that shoots love. The notion is audacious, to say the least. But audacity is Digging Roots’ stock in trade. Juno-winning First Nations power couple Shoshona Kish and Raven Kanatakta have built their sound on a unique musical marriage of unvarnished truth and unconditional love." David Newland