Schedule

CUPE-SCFP Stage

5:45 - 6:00pm

Thursday, August 25

Arthur McGregor has been a visible part of the Ottawa Folk Festival family since its inception. Since that very first festival, Arthur has played his ragtime version of our National anthem to open the festival and this year the tradition continues. Arthur has been a significant voice this past year to the Ottawa Folk Festival as curator of the workshop schedule and keeps us on our toes if the folk festival iPhone App is not up to date. Regularly found at the Ottawa Folklore Centre, Arthur plays and teaches a bunch of musical instruments (jack of all trades) and performs solo as well as with his wife's children's show, The Celtic Rathskallions. He's a founding director of the Canadian Folk Music Awards. He writes with a fountain pen and is much too busy.

CUPE-SCFP Stage

6:00 - 7:00pm

Thursday, August 25

Galaxie Rising Star Award winner Megan Jerome continues to astound critics and audiences with her original music. Since growing up with family singsongs, studying classical piano and obtaining a degree in jazz piano, she teaches and mentors her own students and has been writing and performing across the region and country, from local and not-so-local pubs and art galleries to major festivals, from Salmon Arm in B.C to Ottawa’s International Jazz Festival, Bluesfest and Folkfest. Her music can be heard on three wonderful CDs, Unlonely (2004) This Uneven Pace (2006), and Bloomers (2010), which have all received rave reviews. Megan is not only one of our most interesting musicians, but she is also one of our most interested artists. This relentless engagement has led to collaborations on projects with musicians, choirs, dancers, choreographers and actors, including, most recently a new contemporary dance work set to her songs with renowned choreographer Tedd Robinson.

CUPE-SCFP Stage

7:30 - 9:00pm

Thursday, August 25

When and from where Hawksley Workman's multi-instrumental and song-writing abilities emerged is left to guesswork, but his debut album, For Him and the Girls, found Workman playing virtually every note in addition to recording the album in his own home studio. Released in Canada in 1999, the album received critical raves. An American release followed the next year.

His second self-produced effort, (Last Night We Were) The Delicious Wolves, was released on Universal in Canada and the U.K.—again with Workman producing and playing almost every instrument. He supported the album with shows throughout Canada and a U.K. tour, including Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, as well as a trip to Paris. His wild tale-telling extends to the stage, where he circulates stories such as his time spent in the circus as a 'mad maker' (the one who goes into the cage to make the lions mad before their performances) during his youth to help his family get by. The man is not only an instrumental genius; he is also an entertainer par excellence!

Mr. Workman's performances are always something you should be a part of, not something you want to hear about second-hand. Include yourself in the audience at the much anticipated 2011 Ottawa Folk Festival.

CUPE-SCFP Stage

9:15 - 11:00pm

Thursday, August 25

Bruce Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his song writing and seamless improvisations. Hornsby's recordings have been recognised with a slew of industry awards, including the Best New Artist Grammy in 1987, the Best Bluegrass Recording Grammy in 1989, and the Best Pop Instrumental Grammy in 1993.

Hornsby has established a huge following for his highly-acclaimed live act, Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers. Other projects have included his bluegrass performances with Ricky Skaggs, his jazz act The Bruce Hornsby Trio, and his appearances as a session- and guest-musician. He also collaborated with the Grateful Dead and was a member of the band from September 1990 to April 1992.

PSAC Moon Stage

7:15 - 7:25pm

Thursday, August 25

The Ottawa Folk Fest would like to thank the following:

AL Chopper MacKinnon
Alan Marjerrison
Arthur McGregor
Barry Pilon
Carol Silcoff
Chris White
Dean Verger
Gene Swimmer
Joyce MacPhee
Karen Flanagan McCarthy
Max Wallace
Pam Marjerrison
Peter Zanette
Rachel Hauraney
Roberta Huebener
Rod McDowell
Sheila Ross
Suzanne Lessard-Wynes

PSAC Moon Stage

8:50 - 9:00pm

Thursday, August 25

RavenLaw Stage

6:15 - 7:15pm

Thursday, August 25

John Allaire is an international award-winning singer/songwriter who has recently won the American Songwriter Association’s top award for “Best Lyrics” category. The Toronto Independent Music Awards also chose him as the “Best Live – Acoustic Act” in 2009. This lyrical depth, sprinkled with real life stories about people that everyone can relate to, and his ability to connect with an audience makes both his recorded material and live shows an intimate, edgy and eclectic experience. Penguin Eggs Magazine (Canada’s national folk and roots magazine) has called John “…the next Canadian Music Legend” and “a new Neil Young”. His videos have been played on MuchMusic and Country Music Television, and he continues to play around 120 shows annually around the world. His straightforward guitar and harmonica styles are reminiscent of early coffeehouse troubadours like Dylan and Donovan. Each show is different from the last, with changing arrangements, material choices and the stories he relates. From his early days with Canadian roots rockers The Town Cryers to his current solo career, John has shared the stage with: The Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, Alejandro Escovedo, Alanis Morrisette, Blue Rodeo, David Lindley, Donovan, Hoodoo Gurus, BoDeans, Nada Surf and many more.

RavenLaw Stage

7:30 - 8:45pm

Thursday, August 25

At its core, Dry River Caravan is a folk project. But one listen to their music and you can tell they go far beyond easily classifiable genre distinctions. In order for anything to not only survive but thrive, there must be variation, and there is no music tradition too foreign or unreachable for this group. They blend traditions from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, to Africa, India, and East Asia, just to name a few, and combine those with familiar Western popular music elements to create something exciting and new. Dry River Caravan's live show is known far and wide as a raucous party and a great time. But now with the release of their debut album ‘Wake Up’, taking home Dry River Caravan is a completely different story. Their songs go beyond upbeat dance music, and take you across cinematic landscapes both stark and beautiful. They create a world that is difficult to place in time or geography, a world that simply is—Dry River Caravan.

RavenLaw Stage

9:00 - 10:30pm

Thursday, August 25

Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile released the first of five solo albums when he was just thirteen and, by the time he was 20, he was attracting a following among pop, country, and alternative-rock audiences as a member of the Grammy Award-winning Nickel Creek. In 2007, Thile assembled an all-star quintet called Punch Brothers, a gifted collective of some of the most in-demand performers in the world. Guitarist Chris Eldridge was a founding member of the Infamous Stringdusters; bassist Greg Garrison played with trumpeter Ron Miles and Leftover Salmon, along with banjo player Noam Pikelny. Gabe Witcher's fiddle-playing has been featured on the soundtrack of films ranging from Toy Story to Brokeback Mountain. Witcher also has recorded with Willie Nelson, Beck, and Randy Newman. The Punch Brothers released their debut album, Punch, in 2008, anchored by Thile''s ambitious 40-minute, four-part suite The Blind Leaving the Blind. The double disc Antigogmatic, followed in 2010.

Falls Stage (dance-floor)

6:15 - 7:00pm

Thursday, August 25

With five albums under his belt, Gerry Wall is no stranger to crafting a great tune. Growing up in Saskatoon, you would think a chance meeting with Joni Mitchell on her parents' doorstep would have sealed the music bug forever; but it was the Motown groove of The Mozart Group at the high school dance that hooked him. Says Gerry: "I think what struck me most was that there were no limits to what these guys could do—they were Prairie boys playing music that would turn heads in any club any place in the world," and to this day he is committed to making music without limits.

After relocating to Ontario to attend university for undergraduate studies and then completing his doctorate, Gerry set up shop as an economist while continually writing songs. His love for music remained an ever present focus, eventually leading him to record the tunes he had been crafting.

Starting in 2000 with his first release, Tobermory, Gerry set the stage for 10 years of making records. Returning Fire (2004) followed by Winter Grass (2006) and Ex-Patriot's Day (2007) rounded out a wide variety of well-received songs from quiet ballads to all out rockers. His influences are numerous and include the Jayhawks, Wilco, Mark Knopfler, Paul Kelly, Paul Simon, Blue Rodeo, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Chet Baker, Lyle Lovett, Gerry Rafferty and Sade. And of course, a little Warren Zevon for good measure!

Now based in Ottawa, Ontario, Gerry continues to write and play gigs with his band The East End, featuring Ottawa folk singer Ana Miura, Jerome Jeffrey (Kellylee Evans), Nigel Troop and Andy Sommerfeld.

Falls Stage (dance-floor)

7:15 - 8:15pm

Thursday, August 25

Millions of people are listening to Peter Himmelman—he has been scoring original music for CBS's Judging Amy since its premiere in 1999. Described by Stereo Review as being "in the upper echelon of contemporary singer-songwriters," Himmelman has attracted his share of critical acclaim, including a 2002 Emmy nominee in the category of Outstanding Music and Lyrics.

In addition to his work as a songwriter and recording artist, Peter has distinguished himself as a performer without precedent. USA Today calls Himmelman "one of rock's most wildly imaginative performers." Peter's highly improvisational shows leave a lasting impression on audiences of all ages. "I'll do whatever it takes to break down the barriers between myself and an audience," says Himmelman. “I want to take you away from your job and your mortgage payments for a couple of hours. Some people think it's odd to wear so many hats. It just seems like they all fit my head."

Falls Stage (dance-floor)

8:45 - 10:00pm

Thursday, August 25

Justin Townes Earle is an anomaly. He’s tall as the day is long, all angles and elbows and a hard stare, both welcoming and deadly serious. He’s Nashville North, all set up in lower Manhattan now, just like his hero Woody Guthrie, with twang and charm intact.

That hard working earnestness has paid off. Justin won the Best New and Emerging Artist at the 2009 Americana Music Awards. His record, Midnight at the Movies, was named one of the best records of last year by Amazon, received four stars in Rolling Stone and found a sweet spot in the hearts of fans and critics alike. GQ Magazine named him one of the 25 best dressed men in the world in 2010. He also appeared on HBO’s Treme with his dad, troubadour Steve Earle, on whose Grammy Award-winning Townes record Justin also guests.

“He’s fully absorbed his genetic and cultural heritage and draws upon both with great skill and dimension.” ~ LA Times

“#19 of ‘50 songs every man should be listening to’ for ‘Mama’s Eyes’ . . . Score one for Steve Earle’s kid: It took Dad much longer to write anything this universally significant.” ~ Esquire Magazine

“A gifted performer in his own right . . .” ~ NY Times