Artist Bios 2022

Show Schedule
Arthur McGregor Oh Canada
George Tierney, Doug Cameron - One guitar 100 hands 1:00
Tripoly 1:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 2:30
Chris McLean 2:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 3:30
David Finkle 3:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 4:30
Rick Fines 4:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 5:30
Suzy Vinnick 5:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 6:30
Steel Rail 6:45
Maria Hawkins singalong 7:30
David Francey 7:45 - 9:00

David Francey

"Francey's clear, simple songs speak volumes to his followers...David Francey is known as one of Canada's finest tunesmiths and a champion of the Everyman, admired for his less-is-more approach to writing. It's amazing how he manages to address deep stuff with such spare ingredients" The Edmonton Journal

David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked.

A truly authentic folk singer, Francey is a documentarian of the working person who never imagined earning a living from his music. But when he was in his 40s, his wife, artist Beth Girdler, encouraged him to share his songs and sing in public. The reaction was instant. His first album Torn Screen Door came out in 1999 and was a hit in Canada. Since then, he has released eleven albums, won three Juno Awards and has had his songs covered by such artists as The Del McCoury Band, The Rankin Family, James Keelaghan and Tracy Grammer.

https://www.davidfrancey.com/

Suzie Vinnick

A Saskatoon native transplanted to the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada, Suzie Vinnick is the proud owner of a gorgeous voice, impressive guitar and bass chops and an engagingly candid performance style. Suzie has won 10 Maple Blues Awards, 1 Canadian Folk Music Award and is a 3X Juno Nominee. She has also twice won the International Songwriting Competition – Blues Category.

Suzie is one of those rare performers who knows when to deliver the vocal knock-out and when to pull back to a whisper, bending notes and phrases that tiptoe across your heart. Even her humming is like a warm caress. “Singing is like sleeping and breathing for me. If you can’t sing with feeling, you can’t move people.” She performs with a warmth and generosity that makes her at home on your best friend’s front porch or under the lights of the National Arts Centre. She’s also an ace at blurring musical boundaries and interpreting covers in unpredictable new ways.

https://www.suzievinnick.com/

Steel Rail

Striking original material and a fresh acoustic sound have made Steel Rail a favourite of fans and critics over the last two decades.

"Tying together Steel Rail's evocative songs of love, long-vanished youth and the ceaseless turn of the seasons are cordial three-part harmonies and clean, bright arrangements," Patrick Langston of the Ottawa Citizen wrote.

A sense of the land flows from Steel Rail's deep roots in four Canadian provinces. Tod Gorr grew up near Kingston, Ont., and now lives in the Laurentians north of Montreal. Ellen Shizgal was born and bred in Montreal. Dave Clarke recently returned to his home town of Montreal after spending almost a decade living in Alberta and British Columbia. The result: material that ranges from the wide-open Prairies to deep in the Ottawa Valley and further east to the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River.

"If you were to fuse early Gordon Lightfoot onto current Del McCoury or the Seldom Scene, something very like Steel Rail would emerge," critic John McLaughlin of the Vancouver Province wrote.

https://www.steelrail.ca/home

Douglas John Cameron

Two time Juno nominee Douglas Cameron has been composing and performing in Canada for over four decades. In 1985 his song Mona With The Children (True North Records) went top twenty in Canada. He was nominated for a Juno in 1986.

As a performer Douglas has been a mainstay of Borrowed Tunes, the annual Neil Young tribute at Hugh’s Room in Toronto. He leads The Louisiana Snowblowers a local roots/blues/jazz combo and plays drums in Three Chord Johnny Toronto’s premier R and B collective. Douglas is a frequent featured performer with Whiskey Jack Presents Stories & Songs of Stompin’ Tom. Douglas co-founded and led the monthly Rooster Uke Jam and is co-produced Canada Ukes, Ontario’s first ukulele festival.

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036866757278

Rick Fines

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. Rick’s career has seen him working in stellar collaboration and as a successful solo act. First gaining attention as part of the legendary Jackson Delta, he’s since released six solo albums, another with his own Rick Fines trio, and a critically acclaimed disc with fellow troubadour, Suzie Vinnick.

Rick believes in the transformative power of music. When not performing, he can be found teaching and sharing with students across Canada – including work with the Blues In The Schools programs in Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, and Yellowknife. He’s also participated in the Ontario Arts Council’s Artists in Education program.

https://rickfines.ca/home

Tripoly

Tripoly is an acoustic trio that is formed of Elizabeth McNally, Glenna Hunter and Doug Hendry. Performing a mix of traditional songs from the British Isles as well as innovative versions of modern songs, you'll love their luscious harmonious sound..

http://fiddleheadsoup.com/tripoly

Chris Maclean

Chris MacLean is an award-winning singer-songwriter and engaging performer. Her experience onstage and in the recording studio is extensive and includes; as a dynamic solo artist; as vocalist with Indo-Canadian ensemble, Galitcha; as one of Frida’s Brow, a folk trio nominated for Canadian Folk Music Vocal Group of the Year (2008) and as a backup singer with renowned folk artist, Ian Tamblyn.

She has 2 solo CDs of original songs and has recorded with many others. Her career spans 20+ years of composing and performing folk, world, jazz and old-time music and has taken her across the globe. In 2012 she traveled to South Africa for an intensive 7-month training in Voice Movement Therapy, an expressive arts therapy that primarily focuses on the voice as a vehicle for greater self-expression. Chris invites anyone desiring a stronger, more expressive & confident voice to work with her.

https://chrismaclean.com/home

David Finkle

David Finkle has been called a 'Renaissance man'. Hailing from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in southern Ontario, he is an award-winning multi-instrumental recording artist versed in many musical genres. He's a sound engineer, a storyteller, a producer, drum maker and has completed many scores for various theatrical productions.

A traditional drum and flute maker, Fink brings about a uniquely organic blend with sweeping ethereal flute melodies and poly-rhythmic bass hypnosis.

https://www.facebook.com/david.finkle.14

Maria Hawkins

You don't just hear Maria Hawkins, you experience Maria Hawkins. Her background from early Royal Conservatory training to now, is a hard fought and life long dream. Highlights of her 30 year professional career include: opening for Colin James and performing with Amanda Marshall and co-creating Blues in the Schools (2002 Keeping the Blues Alive Award).

www.mariahawkins.ca/