UPPER CANADA FOLKFEST 2024
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Show Schedule
11:00 - Fiddle circle
11:45 - Opening-
O Canada
12:00 - Jessica Pearson and the East Wind
12:45 - Christine
1:00 - Amanda Rheaume
1:45 - Christine
2:00 - Ball and Chain
2:45 - Christine
3:00 - Mia Kelly
3:45 - Christine
4:00 - Zigue
4:45 - Christine
5:00 - Lynn Miles

Lynn Miles

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​“The music of Lynn Miles is truly one of a kind. Not only is she one of Canada’s best singer-songwriters, she’s one of the best, period.... It’s a voice we all know. It sings of love, loss, coping, travel, sense of place and purpose, broken promises, what get’s us through, what doesn’t, how we defy the odds, making a perfectly beautiful human mess of things along the way.”
– James Diaz of Anti-Heroin Chic

Lynn Miles is an award winning singer-songwriter, record producer, teacher, writer, public speaker. She’s also pretty funny, a 3 minute standup routine is at the top of her bucket list. 
Lynn has 15 albums to her credit. She won a Juno award (Canadian Grammy)in 2003 for Roots Traditional Album of the year, and went on to be nominated in the same categories in 2011 and 2006. She is also the recipient of 6 Canadian Folk music awards including 3 for songwriter of the year. Her 2 most recent awards we given to her duo THE LYNNeS for songwriters of the year, and ensemble of the year at the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards. In 2016, Americana artist Clair Lynch recorded Lynn’s song “Black Flowers” on her Grammy nominated album “North By South”.

Lynn estimates she’s written about 900 songs, she’s never done an official count. She has produced 5 albums for other artists including two critically acclaimed albums by her duo partner Lynne Hanson. 

lynnmilesmusic.ca

Jessica Pearson
​and the East Wind

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​Jessica Pearson is a Canadian born storyteller with a voice like melting honey on a summers eve. Accompanied by Maddy O’Regan on the fiddle, they bring to life tales of the past and express the beauty and heartbreak of the world today.

Their new single 'Ready My Heart' has reached over 29,000 streams on Spotify with new singles coming out ever month in 2021.Playing over 80 shows a year in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom, they have been writing songs and collecting stories from all over the world.

Jessica Pearson and the East Wind have recently signed to Willow Sound Records and Syndicut Music Publishing with Jessica’s first cut on Joe Diffie’s single ‘As Long As There’s A Bar’. 

Their music blends folk, roots and East Coast bluegrass to create a unique sound of their own. From a cappella tunes sung in the middle of the audience to recollections of growing up in Canada, Jessica Pearson and the East Wind will take you on a journey with their dynamic live shows and entertaining story telling. 

“Impeccable musicianship, great singing and a wide variety of material all served up with with good humour… with Jessica's warm and genuine personality shining through and creating an instant rapport with the audience.”
~ Mike Kirrage, Festival Director of Gate to Southwell Music Festival, UK

jessicapearsoneastwind.com

Mia Kelly

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Mia Kelly is a young Ottawa-Gatineau based singer/songwriter. Melding folk and rock with a twist of soulful blues, Mia's powerful voice draws audience members into songs that are filled with deep themes and raw emotions. She lights up the room with her happy soul and infectious energy.

Filling spaces with love, hope, sing-alongs, and stomping feet, Mia has many performances under her belt, including shows at RBC Bluesfest, Blacksheep Inn, Festival of Small Halls, Blueskies Music Festival, Stewart Park Festival. As one of Ottawa's ten artists to watch in 2020 (Ottawa Citizen), with her youthful spirit and fresh bilingual tunes, 18-year-old Mia Kelly is making her mark in the Canadian music scene.  

"Her powerful vocals transcend her young years and she has an impressive natural confidence that is rarely seen. Mia is without a doubt one of Ottawa's most promising emerging artists."
​-Kelly Symes, Bluesfest

miakellymusic.com

Anna Ludlow

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Ludlow began playing the fiddle when she was nine. “There were so many amazing players surrounding my life it was hard not to want to play the fiddle,” she says. She counts Natalie McMaster as an inspiration, and she took lessons from Celtic fiddler Kendra MacGillivray, who is now based in P.E.I.

These days, though, it’s her young daughter, Eva, that inspires her. “She’s a huge influence to me. She has motivated me to be a professional musician … to want to be better and do better at my craft.”

Ludlow figures her repertoire includes hundreds of fiddle songs, from not only Nova Scotia’s musical tradition but also from Scotland, Ireland and even Norway.

She’s a musician for whom rhythm matters deeply. “I really want to drive the beat, a lively beat.” Above all, she wants to engage listeners. “I always get people up to dance,” she says. “I want people to leave my show full of joy and (asking themselves), ‘Where can I hear more Celtic music?'”

In addition to performing, Ludlow teaches aspiring fiddlers from her home and at Carleton University, and says she’s “almost more passionate about teaching.”

Whether she’s playing or teaching, Ludlow says she wants to share Nova Scotian culture that was “lost for a time” but has been vividly brought back to life with fiddling, dancing and border pipes.

annaludlow.com

​Amanda Rheaume

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The fifth album from Ottawa-raised, Toronto-based singer /songwriter Amanda Rheaume, The Skin I'm In presents a compellingly portrait of an artist fully comfortable in her own skin, personally and musically. 

An engaging performer, Rheaume has developed a following across Canada and in Europe, where she tours regularly.

One of Rheaume's great gifts as a songwriter is her ability to take the personal and make it universal, drawing upon her own experience to deliver messages with a wide resonance. She digs deep on The Skin I'm In, reflecting upon her Metis heritage, as on the profoundly moving title track and "Return To The Water," and addressing issues of identity and mental health.

...a voice clear as a bell, reminiscent of Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell
— Lindencult Times, Germany

amandarheaume.com

Ball and Chain

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​Based in Ottawa Ontario, Ball and Chain has been performing as a duo for over 20yrs.

Jody is a talented rhythm player and her triangle, rub board and rhythm guitar (as well as harmony vocals) can be heard on many recordings by various artists. She currently directs the three Ottawa chapters of Georgette Fry’s community women’s choir, Shout Sister!

Michael lends his mastery of Cajun fiddle, mandolin and vocals to the mix.

Michael and Jody have been making frequent trips to Louisiana since 1997 and the music from Southwest Louisiana and its cultural context continues to fascinate them.  They play a mixture of Roots Country and Cajun music, always with the dancers in mind.

In addition to their duo, they also have 2 other bands: The Wreckers is a 5 piece band that has been playing festivals and clubs locally and across the continent for 15yrs or more... it's hard to remember. They can keep you dancing till closing time and when you're done we'll wrap you up in Vintage Country Comfort and then set you up with a soundtrack for while you're countin' sheep.

ballandchain.ca

Zigue

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Partners in music and marriage for 25+ years, and parents to the newest member of the group (Aimé Méthé), Claude Méthé (fiddle, vocals) and Dana Whittle (guitar, foot percussion, vocals) have lived, breathed, created and shared their music across Canada, the US and overseas. Dynamic singers and prolific composers, they are members in good standing of Québec’s living musical tradition. Claude’s evocative singing and authentic fiddling is matched by Dana’s rhythmic prowess, tasty guitar and sparkling vocals, and with the addition of Aimé (banjo, fiddle, vocals), they add some inspired, youthful creativity to their already-unique sound. Zigue delivers rootsy originals, archival gems and the kind of magic generated by musicians whose kids (Aimé included) napped onstage in instrument cases. They have been recognized for their artistic ability and their offspring are living testament to their commitment to passing along their musical heritage (Aimé’s sister Béatrix is a member of indie folk band Rosier). Get ready for reels, jigs, complaintes, chansons à répondre, energized foot percussion and tales of life from their home deep in the heart of the Québec trad universe.

​zigue.ca

Claude Méthé

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​Born in Québec City, fiddler-singer Claude Méthé has been a part of the traditional music world in Québec for more than thirty years. A self-taught fiddler, his style reflects his influences and the eighteen years he lived in the region of Lotbinière, on the south side of the St-Lawrence river not far from Québec City. Claude is a former founding member of the legendary Le Rêve du Diable, winner of a 1983 Felix for Trad Album of the Year, and a group often credited with singlehandedly reviving public interest in traditional Québécois music.

Claude is well-known for his work with other trad bands, including Manigance, Ni Sarpe Ni Branche, Entourloupe, Jeter le Pont and Dentdelion). He has played all over Canada, in Europe and the U.S. and appears on at least twelve recordings, including the soundtrack of Oscar-winning film “CRAC” by Frédéric Back. Claude’s impressive repertoire of traditional songs contains gems from Manitoba, Ontario, Québec and the maritimes, sung in a voice both textured and sentimental.

​He is heir to the repertoire of his longtime mentor and friend Aimé Gagnon, who died in 1997. Claude now lives in the tiny village of Ste-Béatrix, in Lanaudière, the heart of what is arguably the hotbed of traditional Québécois music (it is home to La Bottine Souriante, Norouet, Les Charbonniers, Hommage aux Aînés, Festival Mémoire et Racines…).

claudemethe.com

Christine Graves

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​Canadian contemporary-roots songwriter Christine Graves sets a mood with the space and texture of her songs. Her charm is letting the audience read between the lines. Her voice is truly remarkable, and in concert, Graves uses vocal improvisation and outside-the-box melody to capture attention. Christine has a gift for promoting audience participation through spontaneous teaching from the stage and singable songs that audiences love.

Christine served as artistic director for Blue Skies Music Festival in 2007/8. She has juried for Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council and worked as a member of Blue Skies in the Community in a granting capacity. She has toured extensively in Canada. Her songs have been short-listed in the OCFF Songs From the Heart competition. All her CD’s have aired on national CBC Radio as well as charting on numerous campus radio stations in Canada and the US. Christine was nominated for the KM Hunter Award by the Ontario Arts Council in 2000.

christinegraves.com
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  • Home
    • UCFF Team
    • About our logo
  • Artist Bios 2024
  • Contact
  • Archive
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    • Artist Bios 2022
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    • Tickets 2023
  • Sponsors 2024
    • Become a Sponsor
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