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This is special concert to celebrate the release of Anne's new recording!

A haunting voice that is strong, clear and expressive. Well-crafted songs that range from deeply-moving to downright funny. This is singer-songwriter Anne Walker. A gifted storyteller, her songs have a timeless quality that draws the listener in. Anne's rich voice lends itself well to the variety of her material--a pleasing blend of folk, country, ballads and blues. And humour! A powerful voice delivering beautiful songs, she will engage your heart strings and your sense of humour. https://annewalker.ca/

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR (CASH OR CHEQUE)

You will come to listen, and walk away singing. GATHERING SPARKS is the graceful collision of Eve Goldberg and Jane Lewis—musical friends who blend tight harmonies, finely crafted songs, and a love of participatory singing to create an intimate and uplifting experience. Their inclusive approach embraces folk, pop, blues and gospel influences tastefully played on acoustic guitar, piano, accordion, and ukulele.

With their infectious mix of styles and compelling vocal blend, Gathering Sparks has been making some big waves. Whether they are belting it out a capella style, tugging on your heartstrings with a folky original, crooning a jazzy swing tune, or getting into the spirit with a gospel-inflected singalong, Gathering Sparks performances make fans out of listeners with their stellar harmonies and fine musicianship. https://gatheringsparks.com/

Acoustic roots with catchy melodies, arresting vocals, great guitar playing, lyrics that get you and that you get - these are all things that have been written over and over again about Katherine Wheatley’s music. She sings truth, bravely, and in detail. Like Shawn Colvin and Joni Mitchell, Wheatley mines heartache and produces lyrical and melodic gold. https://www.katherinewheatley.com/

James Gordon has been there. He’s done that. He has had a diverse and resilient career in the Canadian cultural sector. As a solo singer-songwriter and with the ground-breaking trio Tamarack, he’s recorded 40 albums and toured relentlessly around the world. He’s written for symphony orchestras, musical theatre and dance works, scored films, and for more than ten years was heard on CBC radio as songwriter-in-residence. Between tours, James is a record producer, playwright, community activist and theatre director. https://jamesgordon.ca/

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR (Cash or cheque)

The Coulson audience will remember Tannis's brilliant performance in 2023 with her trio "Boreal". She returns this season with partner, Lewis Melville.

With musical roots firmly planted in the soil of the Canadian Prairies and a passion for lyrical vocal harmonies, Tannis Slimmon has been singing, song-writing, recording and touring for over 35 years. She has three solo albums and numerous guest vocal appearances on others. In fact, her name appears in the credits of over 100 recordings. https://tannis.ca/

Lewis Melville is a composer, producer, recording artist and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, banjo, pedal steel, mandolin). His musical adventures have taken him across the world with Canadian bands Skydiggers, Rheostatics, and others. His playing can be heard on many albums including the multi-million selling album “Gordon” by The Barenaked Ladies.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR CASH OR CHEQUE

Raised on the mud banks of the Avon River, award-winning Nova Scotian songwriter Terra Spencer charms audiences with her deft guitar, gospel piano, butterscotch voice, crackling wit, and wood-paneled warmth. Her startlingly intimate songs have caught the eye of collaborators including David Francey, Ben Caplan, and Matt Andersen. Every show is a knee-to-knee conversation with a natural storyteller. “The real deal.” Ron Sexsmith https://terraspencer.ca/

In pursuit of the perfect song, Blair Packham is usually up to something cool. Influenced by everyone from Elvis Costello to John Prine, Blair Packham long ago found his own voice as a writer, and loves sharing his songs—and some laughs—with audiences everywhere. First and foremost, Blair is a storyteller. The Toronto-based performer’s songs themselves are stories of joy, triumph, heartbreak and loss; in between songs, Blair reliably adds something funny or quirky to the narrative.

Blair has been writing songs for over 40 years. For the past 15 years, he has taught songwriting at Toronto’s Seneca College, and via SongStudio, his annual songwriting workshop. Blair’s band The Jitters, crossed Canada countless times in the 1980s--headlining, and opening shows for legends like The Kinks, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News, The Beach Boys, or sharing stages with Blue Rodeo, Gowan, and the Northern Pikes.

More recently, Blair has placed songs in TV and film soundtracks, such as Dawson’s Creek, Beyblade, Spliced and many more. Zombie Town, the 2023 feature film starring Dan Ackroyd and Chevy Chase, showcases Blair’s song “Lucky Me.” https://blairpackham.com/

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR.

A haunting voice that is strong, clear and expressive. Well-crafted songs that range from deeply-moving to downright funny. This is singer-songwriter Anne Walker. A gifted storyteller, her songs have a timeless quality that draws the listener in. Anne's rich voice lends itself well to the variety of her material--a pleasing blend of folk, country, ballads and blues. And humour! A powerful voice delivering beautiful songs, she will engage your heart strings and your sense of humour. Raised on a small farm in Ontario, Anne’s rural roots are evident in the beauty of her music and the quiet strength of her words.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR Wendell Ferguson won the Canadian Country Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year Award so many times (7!!!!) that he is no longer eligible to receive the honor. From the first time that he heard Chet Atkins’ recording of “Mister Sandman” he was hooked, and only one thing ever held his interest…the guitar. He’d already been taking lessons for 3 years when The Beatles came on the scene and he was soon hard at work lifting their licks, along with Ventures, the Stones, Les Paul and of course the aforementioned Mr. Atkins.

Years of touring, radio and television appearances and recording with some of the biggest names such as Shania Twain, The Wilkinsons, The Dixie Chicks, Chely Wright, Deana Carter, Gary Allen, Patty Loveless, Tracy Byrd, Gordon Lightfoot, Sylvia Tyson along with many more, have given Wendell’s songwriting a unique perspective. http://www.wendellferguson.com/

With musical roots firmly planted in the soil of the Canadian Prairies and a passion for lyrical vocal harmonies, Tannis Slimmon has been singing, song writing, recording and touring for over 35 years. She has three solo albums and numerous guest vocal appearances on others, including those by Willie P. Bennett, Valdy, David Francey and Rheostatics. In fact, her name appears in the credits of over 100 recordings. Through the years, Tannis Slimmon has been involved in The Bird Sisters, The Lucky Sisters, Boreal, Ondine Chorus, Essentia and has been described as “a breathtaking vocalist with a bright and angelic disposition”. https://tannis.ca/

Lewis Melville is a Guelph, Ontario, composer, producer, recording artist, and multi-instrumentalist (guitars, banjo, pedal steel, mandolin). His musical adventures have taken him across Canada, North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa with Canadian bands Skydiggers, Rheostatics, and others. His playing can be heard on scores of albums by other artists including the multi-million selling album “Gordon” by The Barenaked Ladies.

Tickets available at the door.

Jowi Taylor is a multiple award-winning writer, broadcaster, consultant and cultural entrepreneur. Six String Nation, conceived in 1995, took eleven years to bring to life and is centered around a single acoustic guitar nicknamed Voyageur. This unique instrument has been crafted from 64 pieces of wood, bone, metal, stone and horn, representing a variety of cultures, communities, characters and events from every province and territory of Canada. The project combines music, media, community engagement, and the dynamics of Canadian history and multicultural identity.

Six String Nation is a multi-media presentation that is informative, entertaining, inspiring and profoundly moving for Canadians of all backgrounds. The show distills stories of Canada's diverse cultures, communities, and characters. Jowi’s presentation goes beyond Canada’s cultural clichés, galvanizing audiences with a story that is as deeply personal as each individual in the room and as vast as the country itself. Voyageur is an object that is at once a touchstone, a talking-stick and a living instrument that will be brought to life through performances by guest artists: Patty McLaughlin, Anne Walker and John Prince.

Tickets available at the door.

Emily Jean Flack's artistic journey defies convention, marked by her bold fusion of traditional Celtic elements with modern sounds. Her live performance is dynamic, seamlessly blending original songs with traditional Celtic instrumentals and the percussive magic of step dancing, Emily's voice has an undeniable quality that carries a raw and emotive power resonating deeply with listeners as she crafts a spellbinding experience that leaves audiences captivated.

Emily’s foray into the world of music started at home with her mother Denise, the principal singer of the group Leahy. Gifted with a natural ability to sing and dance, Emily followed her desire for music and has become a unique and dynamic artist in her own right. She has performed at Summerfolk, Goderich Celtic Roots Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and has toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe. https://www.emilyjeanflack.com/

Paul Mills has been part of the Canadian folk music scene and recording industry for over forty years. He has produced close to 200 albums working with artists such as the late Stan Rogers (all but one of Rogers’ albums were produced by Mills), Sharon, Lois and Bram, Terry Kelly, Ron Hynes and John Allan Cameron. He is a founding partner of the “Borealis Recording Company”. He owned and operated his own production company and recording studio called “The Millstream” for 20 years. Paul is a picker, a.k.a. Curly Boy Stubbs, and one of the finest from back in the day. Yet, he approaches music as a producer, always looking for and finding the tasteful ways to make the song – whatever song – just, better.

Singer-songwriter Anne Walker will be sharing the stage with Paul, who produced two of her recordings. This final concert of the season will be a lovely collaboration.

Tickets available at the door.

“Allison Lupton’s balance of strong composition and sensitive musicality makes her a fine contemporary songwriter and interpreter of the tradition and the works of her fellow songsmiths.”

Born and raised on a second generation dairy farm in rural Ontario, Allison Lupton has always been immersed in Canadian folk life, but it took a love and intense study of Irish and Celtic music for her to find her way to the Canadian folk music tradition that she has grown up around. Allison brings to life the best of the contemporary folk music scene in Ontario, while incorporating the Celtic influences that have been such an important part of the Canadian immigrant story as well as her own musical path.

Alison will be joined at Coulson by Shane Cook and Kyle Waymouth. A Canadian and US National fiddle champion, Shane Cook is a multi-instrumentalist who captivates audiences with technically thrilling and adventurous performances. While Shane enjoys playing and arranging everything from traditional Irish and Scottish music to Pop and Bluegrass, Shane has distinguished himself as a master of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition. Kyle was an on-stage guitar player for the 2016 Stratford Festival production of As YOU Like It. Currently, Kyle teaches music and dance at Judy’s School of Dance and performs with numerous groups including The Fitzgeralds, Shane Cook, and Dan Stacey.

https://allisonlupton.com/

Canadian roots music vet Rick Fines has had a long and storied career as one of the country’s hardest working musicians. He has toured across Canada countless times solo, as a duo or with a full band and has recorded over 14 albums and has been a guest on many others. Steeped in roots music, Rick Fines crafts a unique blend of warm-hearted blues, juke joint folk, and dockside soul that both embraces and defies the genres that influence him. As a veteran of the North American blues and folk circuits, he engages audiences with captivating songs, diverse guitar styling and his signature vocal growl.

He has won MapleBlues Awards for Songwriter of the Year and Acoustic Act Of The Year (twice), won first place in the blues category of 2003 International Songwriting Competition, with B.B. King one of the judges, received nominations from both the Juno and the Handy Awards, and played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins.

Rick has just released "Solar Powered Too" - A stunning collection of songs; stories sung in Fines' richly textured voice, a voyage through blues and folk guitar styles.

https://rickfines.ca/

Offering a diverse mix of traditional, maritime, folk and blue grass music, this group of talented musicians, John Prince, Bruce McDaniel, Joe Sexton and Donny Wood has been entertaining enthusiastic audiences throughout Ontario and the Maritimes and beyond for many years both individually and as members of “John Prince & A Piece of the Rock”. Their strong vocal harmonies and lyrical melodies as they perform old favourites and original compositions, present a memorable musical experience that leaves audiences yearning for more.

THE MEMBERS

JOHN PRINCE A native of Princeton, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, John relocated to Ontario in the mid 1970s. He has performed with various East Coast artists including Dick Nolan, the Bay Boys and the late John Allen Cameron. His musical influences range from his roots in traditional and maritime music to country/rock with the Eagles and country with Merle Haggard to the haunting ballads of Gordon Lightfoot. A gifted songsmith, his songs have been performed by many artists across Canada and his “Newfoundland Blessing” was featured in the musical “No Change In The Weather”. With his rhythmic ‘finger-style’ guitar and warm melodic voice, John leads audiences on a musical journey they will long remember.

BRUCE MCDANIEL Born and raised in Toronto, Bruce began playing guitar at the age of 12, picking out fiddle tunes learned from a friend of his father. Over the years he has played in many local bands in styles from blues with the John Carr Band, rock with Tin Pan Alley and country with Terry Sumsion. Bruce’s fluid ‘flat picking’ guitar style, his ‘blazing’ mandolin licks and strong harmony vocals are an integral part of the band’s sound. John refers to Bruce as “Canada’s best kept secret”.

JOE SEXTON Joe’s music career began early when in his hometown of Tilting, Fogo Island, Newfoundland, he was featured playing accordion and harmonica in the National Film Board’s 1966 film “The Children of Fogo Island”. Over the years, Joe has continued to entertain family and friends with his accordion, harmonica, acoustic guitar and harmony vocals. His musical talents have led him to studio sessions with various artists.

DONNY WOOD Originally from Oxford, Nova Scotia, Donny began playing piano at age 6 with his father a fiddle and accordion player. Equally adept on bass or piano, he has toured extensively throughout North America and the U.K. with The Cape Breton Symphony Fiddlers and the Scottish Accent Band. He has shared the stage with country legend George Jones and Scotland’s Andy Stewart as well as Canadian entertainers J.K. Gulley, John Allen Cameron and fiddler Graham Townsend. A seasoned session player, Donny brings a wealth of experience to the band.

Boreal is the magical musical collaboration of Tannis Slimmon, Katherine Wheatley and Angie Nussey. These three hard working singer-songwriters, each with their own longstanding, award winning careers, simply love playing music together. The brighter/warmer months are reserved for “Songs of Renewal”, a show that combines sun-loving, moon-watching, finger-snapping, heart-touching and deeply uplifting songs.

The trio’s spell binding harmonies, combined vocal prowess and tour-de-force song-writing make for a powerful musical event. With humour, storytelling and heart melting honesty, Boreal takes their audience on a journey of friendship, laughter and connection.

https://borealsongs.ca/

Canadian singer-songwriter Anne Walker writes with heart and soul and mind. Strong, well-crafted lyrics present vivid images and stories. Her haunting voice is strong, clear and expressive, often drawing comparisons to Connie Kaldor, Kathy Mattea and Jane Olivor.

Having grown up on a farm at Coulson, the fifth generation of a pioneer family, Walker is uniquely situated to preserve the stories and history of this rural way of life. With her rich voice she will pour back into the community the music that has grown out of these roots. Her moving performances are supported by engaging visuals and vintage photographs of the area.