Author Archive for Folk Music Ontario – Page 9

Now available: The Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF)

The Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund (CPAWRF).
From Canadian Heritage

The CPAWRF will fund organizations to provide programs and services to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector. It will also enable as many workers in this sector as possible to access programs and services, while improving or stabilizing employment levels in the sector.

To be eligible for funding, the applicant must serve or represent workers in the live performance sector and be a:

  • union or guild
  • artist association or arts service organization
  • benevolent fund with a mandate related to the sector
  • Indigenous peoples institution or organization that represents workers in the sector

Click here for more info!

Member Release – Ken Dunn, Anthology, Volume 1

Ken Dunn – Anthology, Volume 1
Release Date: February 1, 2022

From the classical music sounds of my work with The Good Friday String Quartet to the driving folk rock of my band Gypsy Starfish, duets with my love Anna Green and L.A. songstress Denny Kennedy, solo guitar and dulcimer tracks, live concert, radio, and TV shows, this 20 track anthology of my compositions includes several previously unreleased, rare, and live recordings, as well as selections from many of my studio album releases over the past 25 years.

If you are looking for just one album which encompasses the depth and breadth of my work over the past quarter century, then this is the one to get!

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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Member Release – Jessica Pearson and The East Wind, On The Line

Jessica Pearson and The East Wind, On The Line
Release Date: January 21, 2022

While live music has been decimated by COVID-19 that didn’t stop award winning songwriter Jessica Pearson from spending time in the studio and creating haunting melodies with her chilling voice. In fact, she created an entire album with the support of Willow Sound Records. On the Line, released January 21, was conceived during COVID-19 and during that time Pearson’s song Ready My Heart won “Songs from the Heart – Roots” at Folk Music Ontario which now has over 86,000 streams on Spotify. Jessica was also nominated for Group of the Year with her band Jessica Pearson and the East Wind at the Capital Music Awards in 2021. With notable past performances like Junofest, RBC Bluesfest, Manitoulin Country Festival and Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival in Ireland, Pearson is no stranger to hitting the road and can’t wait to get back on stage to share this new album with live audiences. Until then, listen to On the Line on all streaming platforms, check out the newly released music video for Devil’s Rising, and follow along for the latest on socials.
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For more information,visit Jessica’s website.

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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Member Release – Annabelle Chvostek, Dance Me to the End of Love

Annabelle Chvostek, Dance Me to the End of Love
Release Date: January 29, 2022

“Dance me through the panic ‘till I’m gathered safely in”

Leonard Cohen’s words provide a soft place to land in the midst of bleakness and uncertainty. They highlight the transformative power of a commitment to the many facets of love, and convince us that all ugliness can be transformed into a vibrant palette of expressions.

Guitarist Debi Botos decorates the tune with her intensely technical and emotionally mature playing that draws from her Romani-Hungarian musical roots. We recorded this song together, in time, at found.sound.toronto, separated by walls with Debi and Tak Arikushi on guitars, Rachel Melas on bass and Tony Spina on drums, David Travers-Smith behind the board. We went for the whole long form, with everybody getting a moment to speak, and a slow Swing carrying the feel.
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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Member Release – Ursa: A Folk Musical

URSA: A Folk Musical
Part of the Toronto Fringe Festival
Livestream: January 30, 2022

What happens when a small-town Ontario teenager runs off into the forest in search of adventure? Why, she meets an anxious bear in the midst of an identity crisis, of course! Combining the joys of a folk concert with the timeless wisdom of a folktale, Ursa: A Folk Musical weaves a whimsical story of star-crossed friendship. This unforgettable exploration of the anxieties and euphorias of young adulthood is full of fresh and surprising folk tunes performed by a live band.

The Uncommon Folk Collective (which includes Canadian Folk Music Award nominee Sam Boer, AKA Samson Wrote) is proud to present the world premiere of Ursa: A Folk Musical as part of the Toronto Fringe’s NextStage Festival, taking place from the end of January into February. Originally intended as an in-person event, the festival has switched to a fully digital format, meaning that folks interested in Ursa: A Folk Musical can watch a stunning, recorded version of the show on-demand once it’s made available (on or around January 30th, 2022).

Tickets to the show are available now at Toronto Fringe’s website
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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Member Release – Raine Hamilton, Brave Land

Raine Hamilton – Brave Land
Released: January 21, 2022

Resonant, acoustic chamber folk with an other-worldly edge, and a lyric presence that cuts deep. Prism-clear vocals + strings. Anchored in the ancient mountains, reaching out beyond the earthly.

Raine Hamilton is part prairie songstress, part storyweaver; Each song has a story, delivered between songs with humour and grace. Raine invites deep love of the violin into the singer-songwriter genre, writing for violin and voice, as well as for guitar and voice. Joined by cello and upright bass, expect string arrangements that push and pull, that move as they console.

Raine’s latest work, the full-length album Brave Land, is a concept album about mountains, and the courage, wisdom, and otherworldly connection they represent. Here, as in Raine’s 2018 CFMA award winning album Night Sky, the songs are set to intricate and seasoned arrangements for guitar, violin, cello, and double bass.

Once again Raine has worked with string trio collaborators Quintin Bart on double bass, Natanielle Felicitas on cello, and Lloyd Peterson as producer/engineer.

Raine offers: “As a prairie-dweller, I was in a good position to appreciate the contrast of the open, vulnerable lands of my upbringing, with the courageous, up-reaching lands of the mountains. We don’t have “up” where I come from, so I really had a lot to learn from the mountains, this brave land that connects both the earth and the sky.”
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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Member Release – So Dirty The Flamingos, The Bloodroot Sessions

So Dirty the Flamingos – The Bloodroot Sessions
Released: December 3, 2021

We’re so happy to tell you that our newest release, The Bloodroot Sessions is now available on all streaming platforms, and available on CD.

The six song EP is a departure for SDTF as it is the furthest afield from their alt country self-titled debut in 2019. For “The Bloodroot Sessions”, rage and frustration pushed these songs to completion as proper indie rock songs, and are an essential ingredient to their effectiveness.

To order, please send the band an email.
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Interested in promoting your release through FMO? All members in good standing are welcome to apply to our Member Promotion Program! Click below for more info!

More Information and Rules
Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Job Posting: Executive Director, Folk Music Ontario

Posting Date: January 10, 2022
Application Deadline: February 7, 2022

Job Title: Executive Director, Folk Music Ontario
Job Type: Full-time Contract (2-year contract with possibility of renewal)
Salary: $ 65,000
Location: Office in Ottawa, ON with the option to work remotely
Start date: April 4, 2022

ABOUT FMO

Folk Music Ontario (FMO) is a member-based non-profit organization working to support the growth and development of the folk music community and industry since 1986. FMO seeks to foster a thriving, inclusive folk music community with local, national, and international impact and hosts the largest annual conference in Canada for the folk and roots music community. The organization’s membership includes festivals, presenters, artists, musicians, radio DJs, managers, publicists, agents, and other industry professionals.

The Board of Folk Music Ontario is seeking a visionary and passionate Executive Director to lead the organization into a future where it continues to grow and flourish.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to and collaborating with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is responsible for a range of operational and administrative matters; including the financial management of the organization, developing short and long-term goals and objectives, implementing programming, leading the team of staff, contractors, and volunteers, as well as acting as an ambassador for the organization building relationships and furthering the organization’s mission.

EXPERIENCE

  • Leadership experience including managing staff, contractors, volunteers
  • Previous experience on a non-profit board of directors is a strong asset
  • Experience in and understanding of the Canadian folk and roots music industry; international industry understanding an asset
  • Event planning experience is an asset
  • Demonstrated success in obtaining funding and preparing grant applications and reports, especially with Canadian Heritage, Ontario Creates, and FACTOR
  • Strong financial acumen – experience with budgetary responsibility including setting and adhering to a budget and understanding financial reports at a working level
  • Comfortable working in a digital environment (Microsoft One Drive, Excel, Word, Zoom, WordPress, QuickBooks)

SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES, AND VALUES

  • Strong communicator (written and verbal) in English; French skills an asset
  • Understanding of marketing, social media, communications, and branding to ensure internal and external communications are clear and relevant and useful
  • Self-motivated and entrepreneurial able to take initiative as well as able to work collaboratively
  • Strategic thinker able to see the big picture but also detail-oriented
  • Visionary leader who is respectful of the organization’s current success while demonstrating foresight and building new possible directions
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple and conflicting deadlines
  • Values diversity and willing to continually work to create an equitable and inclusive environment for the organization both internally (staff, board) and externally (amongst members, at organizational events)
  • Demonstrates a passion for the arts, especially folk and roots music
  • Ability to build and strengthen relationships with stakeholders (Board, members, potential members, other arts organizations, funders, government, etc.)
  • Available to travel to industry events both across Canada and internationally as required

EDUCATION

Minimum of one relevant post-secondary degree such as arts, communications, or business or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified applicants should send resume and cover letter, in pdf format, to fmoboard at gmail.com by February 7, 2022 at 5pm EST.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

If you require access solutions to participate in the application process, please contact fmoboard at gmail.com.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however only qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Introducing Interim Executive Director: Rosalyn Dennett!


We are pleased to announce that Rosalyn Dennett will be serving FMO as Interim Executive Director while our hiring committee is engaged in the search process for a new ED. Rosalyn brings with her a wealth of experience in the music industry and non-profit organizations through her roles at the Canadian Federation of Musicians, the Canadian Independent Music Association, MusicOntario, and more.

Rosalyn has previously served on the board of directors of Folk Music Ontario (2017-2021) as Vice President,  chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, and chair of the Revenue Generation Committee, and currently sits on the executive board of Folk Alliance International. Rosalyn can be contacted by email by clicking here.

Announcing the FMO Member Promotion Program!

Announce your news through FMO!

We are so inspired by the creativity and talent that continues to flow from our resilient community through this pandemic. You’ve found ways to create, compose, perform, and share in new ways, and we want to celebrate that!

FMO is kicking off the new year with a new initiative: Our Member Promotion Program, helping our members get the word out about their new releases, events, and other creative news through FMO’s ever-expanding network!

Fill out the google form linked below and be sure to include your preferred dates for inclusion, as well as all your important links.

Member Promotion Program Sign-up Form

Rules:

    – Recordings: Singles, EP’s, Albums, and Music Videos are eligible
    – Performances: Album releases, Live Streams, In-Person Concerts are eligible. For ongoing series (ie. a weekly/monthly gig at the same venue, only one post promoting the series will be eligible)
    – Tour: Only one post per tour will be eligible, please include tour poster and all of the dates and we’ll get them all into the post.
    – Festivals: Lineup announcement, Date or location change announcements
    – Venues: Concert series lineup announcements,
    – Release must include contributions from at least one FMO Member in good standing
    – Release must be within 1 month of inclusion
    – 1 post across our platforms per release/performance
    – FMO will promote your release through the e-newsletter as well as through the FMO Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn feeds & stories.
    – FMO posts will include links and tags back to the artists’ website/social media.

We look forward to seeing what our members have created! If you have any questions regarding the program, please send us an email at office@folkmusicontario.ca!