William Prince and David Francey Win JUNO Awards

William Prince’s Stand in the Joy was named Contemporary Roots Album of the Year and David Francey’s The Breath Between won Traditional Roots Album of the Year during the 53rd annual JUNO Awards ceremonies on March 23, 2024 at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Members of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) selected award recipients in these and other categories. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and to enjoy a couple of songs.]

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Read more about the article FAI Folk Radio Charts – May 2023

FAI Folk Radio Charts – May 2023

Gordon Lightfoot, the iconic Canadian folksinger-songwriter who died on May 1, was the top artist and had four of the five most-played songs on folk radio during May 2023, while fellow Canadian Michael Jerome Browne, a noted acoustic blues and roots artist, had the month’s top album (Gettin’ Together). So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio. [Click on the headline to view the top albums, songs and artist charts that are posted monthly with permission.]

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Read more about the article Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s Folk-Poet Laureate, 1938-2023
Released in 1974, Gordon Lightfoot's album Sundown topped the Billboard charts, as did its title track.

Gordon Lightfoot, Canada’s Folk-Poet Laureate, 1938-2023

Gordon Lightfoot, an iconic Canadian folksinger-songwriter known for his evocative, poetic and stirring songs, died of natural causes in a Toronto hospital on May 1, 2023 at age 84.

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Read more about the article Winners Named in 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Winners Named in 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Winners of this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards were recognized at a bilingual, celebratory and music-filled event during the CFMA 2023 Awards Weekend, March 31-April 2, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Alberta-based singer-songwriter John Wort Hannam picked up two awards (Contemporary Album of the Year and Solo Artist of the Year for his album Long Haul). So too did Allison de Groot & Tatiana Hargreaves (Traditional Album of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year for Hurricane Clarice) and Toronto-based, genre bending global roots music instrumental group Sultans of String (Global Roots Album of the Year for Sanctuary and Producers of the Year - Chris McKhool and John “Beetle” Bailey).

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Winners Named in Canadian Folk Music Awards

With three awards each, Allison Russell and Cedric Dind-Lavoie were the big winners in the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards that were presented March 31-April 2 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and streamed online. They were among the more than 100 nominees from throughout Canada who vied for awards in 19 categories. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article, see the list of all the winners, and view a few videos.]

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2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards Concerts & Showcases Stream Online, March 31-April 2

While the Canadian Folk Music Awards have been presented virtually over the past two years due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Canada’s leading folk music event – including awards concerts and nominee showcases – will be presented live and in-person at The Guild in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and livestreamed March 31-April 2, 2022.

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Read more about the article Quick Q & A with Annie Sumi
Annie Sumi showcases her talents during the 2018 Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference (Photo: Jake Jacobson)

Quick Q & A with Annie Sumi

Annie Sumi is an ethereal folk artist from Canada, whose intimate and expansive music invites listeners into a familiar otherworld. Inspired by the mirrored relationship between physical and emotional landscapes, the young, Ontario-based singer-songwriter’s music speaks of human experience through the language of the senses. She has toured across Canada, parts of the U.S. and Europe, and released three albums since 2015. Kathy Sands-Boehmer, chief innovator and merry-maker at Harbortown Music, recently asked Annie Sumi some questions about her music -- including her latest recording, Solastagia, which was released last fall. [Click on the headline to read the Q & A.] Annie Sumi (Photo: Jake Jacobson)

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Read more about the article Folk from the North Country Live Streams Jan. 26

Folk from the North Country Live Streams Jan. 26

Kathy Sands-Boehmer’s Harbortown Music and Michael Kornfeld’s AcousticMusicScene.com team up to present Folk from the North Country – a livestream concert featuring Ontario, Canada-based artists Benjamin Dakota Rogers, Angela Saini and The Young Novelists – on Wednesday , January 26, at 7:30 p.m. EST. Featuring songs and conversation, the show can be viewed online at Harbortown Music’s Facebook page or YouTube channel . It may also be shared via the AcousticMusicScene.com group on Facebook. Although there is no set fee to view the livestream, tips for the artists would be most appreciated (suggested donation: $20) and may be made via paypalme.com/harbortownmusic. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article, which also includes audio and video links.]

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Linus Entertainment Acquires Borealis Records

Linus Entertainment, a leading Canadian rights management company, distributor and music publisher whose portfolio of labels also includes Stony Plain Records, True North Records and others, has acquired the catalog of Borealis Records, an artist-focused Canadian folk and roots music label. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article that includes reflections from several artists on the label.]

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Read more about the article Nominees Named for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards

Nominees Named for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards

British Columbia-based folk duo Pharis & Jason Romero tops the list of nominees for 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards with six nominations for their album, Bet On Love. William Prince, a storytelling country-folk singer-songwriter from Peguis First Nation, received five nods for Reliever; and The East Pointers, a spirited Celtic folk trio from Prince Edward Island, were honored with four for Yours To Break. Singer-Songwriters Basia Bulat (Are You In Love?) and Catherine MacLellan (Coyote), along with Canadian Inuk musician Riit (ataataga) each received three nominations. They are among 100 nominees vying for awards in 19 categories to be presented virtually April 9-10, 2021. [Click on the headline to continue reading this article and see the complete list of nominees.]

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Read more about the article Winners Named in Canadian Folk Music Awards

Winners Named in Canadian Folk Music Awards

Recipients of 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards were announced during a 30-minute live stream, April 4, on the CFMAs’ website and Facebook page. Manitoba-based duo The Small Glories (Cara Luft and JD Edwards) was named both Vocal Group and Ensemble of the Year, while Assiniboine & the Red (its sophomore release) was named Contemporary Album of the Year. To continue reading this article and to see the complete lis of winners, click on the headline.

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