Rusty was a lumberjack up the Petawawa River in the 50s when he realized that we were losing hundreds of folk songs about river drives and shanty camps of the by-gone days. The upper Ottawa Valley, rich in this heritage, needed this heritage preserved so Rusty took up the task. During his years as a collector he managed to come by 4,000 folks songs and their variants. As well, he collected stories and poems, anything he could get his hands on. He lived and worked in the famous Chapeau Hotel, home of the Chapeau Boys. He died in Alberta in August from a brain tumour. He was 61. He leaves behind his wonderful book 'Folksongs of the Upper Ottawa Valley'.
If it wasn't for people like Teddy Boy Houle, entire traditions could die out and nobody would know. Concerned with the old time Métis fiddling tradition of his native Manitoba, Houle set out to capture the essence of that priceless style by learning from the sources. It was free form - traditional, with marks of originality and it was dying because everyone wanted to play like Messer. Along with folklorist Anne Lederman, they spent two summers recording and learning tunes from old time fiddlers. He has played Carnegie Hall, Canada Day before The Queen, and is now an Elder concerned with helping reform prisoners.
Minnie White recorded this CD while in her 80s. Her fingers can still jump around the triple rows of her accordion, she can still squeeze those bellows to make them pump that air through the singing reeds. This grande dame of the accordion is a treasure of our past, one that cannot be replaced.
They've been the recipients of 2 Roots/Traditional Juno Awards and were once again nominated to win for this album. In 'La Mistrine', La Bottine once again dive into the well of traditional Québecois folk music and deliver a stunning set of music, incorporating elements of jazz, funk and fun into the mix. Over the years this band has done more for Québec traditional music than any other. They are still growing and bringing their infectious music to the world. Long live La Bottine!
We at the Porcupines sometimes do things a little backwards. That's okay. So what if we recognized the niece of the master first? So here's to the master fiddler of Cape Breton, the unpretentious Buddy MacMaster. He looks for no acclaim; he only wants to bow and bestow his music to the feet and ears of the rest of us.
After years of research and befriending the family of Mary Travers a.k.a. Madame La Bolduc in her native Gaspé, we have the complete set of songs published in this book. We have long known her life story, but now we have previously unpublished songs. This book will help others who wish to sing them.
He has gone so far away from tradition that some think he's gone too far! Too far where I ask? Too far whirled! But beneath it all Oliver is still a folk artist, incorporating the traditions that have influenced him over the years into his music. Totally original, this album is great.
I have long been an admirer of this band. The singing of Catherine Crowe is wonderful; the piping of Ian Goodfellow blended with Martin Gould's guitar and now Catherine Keenan's hurdy-gurdy. They don't play that much, but when they do they bring you into another dimension.
I first heard this song in Tom's room at the Bon Air Motel in Timmins. He was sure that this was a special song and indeed it is. Based on a familiar theme, a ghost that appears out of the mist, it is hauntingly beautiful. This time it takes place in Northern Ontario on the road to Thunder Bay. Stompin' Tom hits the Porcupines!!!
Dan is the last of the founders still active in
the Flying Cloud although he has diminished his role considerably. It is
always the sign of something great when one can successfully pass on the
reins of power and in this respect, both the Flying Cloud and Dan Meany
have been successful. For over 10 years he built the club into the major
traditional music presenter in Toronto.
Derek is the tireless promoter of folk and blues music. He is founder and President of the Toronto Blues Society, chief music booker at Harbourfront Centre, editor of the Canadian Caucus of the North American Folk Alliance's newsletter 'Maple Roots', and established the Roots/Traditional, Blues and Global music categories of the Juno Awards. He is a consensus builder in the community and had built bridges between the gaps. He currently sits on the boards of the Folk Alliance and the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals.
Norm Hacking, Toronto
Norm Hacking has written some marvelous songs, from the most poignant to the most satirical. His sentiments and nature transplant into his writing in an unmistakable kind of way. What you hear is how he feels. A big man with a big hand who deserves a lot more recognition than he gets.
Joe Hall, Toronto
One of the most fascinating songwriters we have ever heard, this man can shock you, mock you, move you and you will only love him for it. He's a good timing, brilliant lyricist who cuts to the heart of the matter with humour and biting wit. There is only one Joe Hall, for now and forever.
It was really hard to repeat last year's award winner but when the polls reported in, this was the one. This was the hands down favourite as the peoples' choice for the worst song of a two-hour theme show entitled 'The Worst of the Great North Wind'. If you could hear it, it would make your hair curl, nose crinkle and teeth grit. It's a real gem all right.
Alain is one of the last of his kind: an itinerant fiddler with a storehouse of tunes in his head. His older style is blended in the salad of regional stylings that he has picked up. His tunes are somewhat unique and crooked. He has been one of the major influences on the younger generation of traditional musicians. Unfortunately he is not too well these days and our hopes are that he finds peace and happiness again in the music of his fiddle.
A wonderful album of songs that tells of the trials of Canadian life. Some hauntingly beautiful songs like the title cut; the tribute to the Lumberjack's Christmas; builders of the Alaskan Highway; bush pilots lament and others. Every song brings us one step closer to discovering the wonderful heritage that Canadians share and yet know so little about.
After 20 years Steve Foote decided to release some music that would tell the tale of the Miramichi. Steve researched and put to tune the story of the great Miramichi Fire of 1825; building of the logging trade; railroads from the camps to the towns; the pride of the lumberjacks; losing one's love in Blackville. Because of this home-made tape, he was invited to perform at the prestigious Miramichi Folksong Festival. The tape features the fiddle playing of his friend Ned Landry. True New Brunswick lore that needs to be passed down.
Pete has been recording fiddle albums for over a quarter of a century. A native of British Columbia, he made his way to Ontario and set his mark as one of our definitive fiddlers. Now settled in Ottawa, he is owner of a music store and still interested in recording albums of old time fiddle music.
What a great album of traditional music! With the banjo and guitar of Jean-Paul Loyer, the feet and guitar of André Marchand; the great fiddling of Jean Claude Mirandette; and the rousing accordion of Normand Miron. Every track is different, delightful, thoughtful and provoking. It makes for a great listen, over and over again.
Samuel Gesser is probably the most underrated supporter of recorded Canadian traditional folk songs. It was he who impressed Moses Asch of Folkways Records in the 1950s with a request to get more Canadian folklore on record. He has produced theatre, music events and activities folkloric in his Native Montreal for decades. His 'A Folksong Portrait of Canada' is a 3 CD box set of Folkways material released for the first time on CD. Includes Wade Hemsworth's original rendition of his 'Black Fly Song'.