Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Youth Discoveries Final Showcase

Youth Discoveries Final Showcase
The Georgian Bay Folk Society and Summerfolk are pleased to announce the artists that will be participating in the finals of our Youth Discovery Program.
The finals will be held at 1 PM, Saturday March 24 at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre,1900 3rd Avenue East, Owen Sound, ON N4K 3M6
http://www.thebayshore.ca/
Over the past three weeks, over 30 participants have played at semi finals in Paisley, Meaford, and Owen Sound locations. From those semi finals, our panels of judges have selected the following 13 participants to move to the finals.
Chris Strazz (Woodbridge)
While We Burn (Owen Sound)
Mad Casper (Owen Sound)
Erin Bolton (Orangeville)
Amy Carson Hunter (Toronto)
Chris Thompson (Orillia)
Mack N the Boys [Owen Sound]
Binaeshee Quae [Pic River First Nation]
Andrew & Diana Dawydchak [Toronto]
Stephanie Hess & Andrew Strader [Walkerton]
The Writers' Society [Toronto]
J'aime Payne [Huntsvile]
Sydney Delong [Toronto]
We have been completely blown away by the calibre and range of talent in all the showcases this year. This event on March 24th promises to be a complete blockbuster of talent.
Come out on the 24th to add your voice to the choice of who you'll see at Summerfolk this year!

Last Chance Saloon Line up. March 24th, 7PM. Look Sharp

ARTISTS SELECTED TO PERFORM AT LAST CHANCE SALOON

Each year on the last Saturday in March, the Georgian Bay Folk Society hosts its Last Chance Saloon to fill the ‘last’ spot in the Summerfolk lineup.

Artists were asked to submit samples of their work for consideration and a selection committee reviewed the submissions. The following have been chosen to perform at
the Last Chance Saloon on Saturday, March 24th.

Anne Walker

The Mainlanders

Whitney Peterson

Chris Cuddy Acoustic Unit

Cassandra Vasik

The Mittenz

Drew McIvor

Geoff Lewis

Shawna Caspi

Andrew Lopatin

Blue Yonder

Skarni
Luke Martin

It promises to be a night of excellent music and entertainment at Last Chance. This year the Folk Society will be hosting a ‘Silent Auction’ along with the musical entertainment. There are some amazing one-of-a-kind items being donated by the likes of O’Callaghan Stone Sculptures, Fairthorne Studios, Gleason Brook Pottery, Sylph, Karen Gunna Leatherworks, Raw Eco Jewellery and more!! Don’t miss out on a great buy and a night of outstanding music.

Last Chance happens at The Bayshore Community Centre. The doors open at 6:00 and the music starts at 7:00. JD Moffat of Bayshore Broadcasting hosts the evening. Snacks, chili and beverages will be available.

Admission to the event, $16 general admission or $13 for Folk Society members.
Tickets can be purchased at the door.

SEE YOU THERE!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I'm here

I first came to play Summerfolk in 1985. I came as a hardly wet behind the ears musician, playing guitar for a Scottish folk singer named Margaret Christl. Two years later, when i had released my first solo album, Summerfolk was one of the first festivals outside of Alberta that booked me as me. I have been coming back regularly ever since. Sometimes i have had a couple of offers on the same weekend, but i can't resist the place. Summerfolk always has the highest priority for me.
There are several reasons for that.
For one, its often the last Canadian festival for the season and as such has the feeling of the last gathering of the clan before we all disperse for the fall and winter touring season. A last chance to hang out and play tunes and tell stories with your peers. Summerfolk has always excelled at making performers feel comfortable enough to hang out together, and that is harder to achieve than you think.
Second, Summerfolk has always taken chances on artists (myself included) and the performers generally give that back to the festival and the audience in spades. It also makes for a rare mix between the seasoned veterans and the up and comers. As a young performer you can learn a lot at the workshop stages just by looking to your left or right and as a veteran , you can realize that you are connected to the ever evolving scene. It energizes us.
Third, and most important, when Summerfolk really clicks, the barrier between audience and performers melts away. A few years ago, just before the finale, i caught sight of one of our American brethren packing up and heading for the shuttle pen. I said to him, you have to stay for the finale , man. He looked at me, with a slightly jaundiced eye and got that weary look. I put an arm on his shoulder and said, No, really, you have to come on stage. He asked me why? For what happens at the end, i said.
When the piper showed up, he looked quite worried, but when the piper headed in to the audience and the performers followed, we walked together through the crowd. He shook hands with people, thanked them for coming. People thanked him for his songs and for his humour and we we at last returned back stage he looked at me and said " that was the most extraordinary end to a festival that i have ever seen". He was moved. As i am every time I do it.
Summerfolk has a reputation amongst performers in Canada and abroad. People want to come and play here, argue with their agents so that they can play here, bring their families with them when they play here.
That is the tradition that I want to uphold in my time as artistic director of this jewel of a festival.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Summerfolk 2011 Photos

Summerfolk 2011 PosterSummerfolk2011001Summerfolk2011002Summerfolk2011003Summerfolk2011004Summerfolk2011005
Summerfolk2011006Summerfolk2011007Summerfolk2011008Summerfolk2011009Summerfolk2011010Summerfolk2011011
Summerfolk2011012Summerfolk2011013Summerfolk2011014Summerfolk2011015Summerfolk2011016Summerfolk2011017
Summerfolk2011018Summerfolk2011019Summerfolk2011020Summerfolk2011021Summerfolk2011022Summerfolk2011023
Please click the following link to check out new photos from Summerfolk 2011 Summerfolk 2011 Photos

At Summerfolk, you can 'feel the rhythm' of a festival that has been presenting the very best in folk music for three and a half decades. A beautiful site and friendly people create an energy that will envelop you at this, one of Canada's favourite folk festivals.

With a performer lineup that spans a spectrum of styles and genres, you will find a musical smorgasboard to savour. Evening concerts in the amphitheater are magical and the extensive daytime workshop
programming will inspire.

Certainly the heart and soul of the Festival is the music, but there are many aspects of Summerfolk to be enjoyed by folks of all ages. A rhythm flows through it - you can feel it!
Photos: Don Miller
www.summerfolk.org

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Singing in the Rain

Despite the weather which has to be the big story of the weekend, this year’s Summerfolk was full of special moments and great performances which will long be remembered in the hearts and minds of those who witnessed them.

The weatherman was way off on his predictions. Mother Nature ‘toyed’ with us, offering breaks between the showers on Saturday and Sunday. Still, the show went on with an amazing spirit. We reveled in the music, sang in the rain and looked after each other.

One of my favourite quotes of the weekend came from a young volunteer in his first year at the Festival, who summed it up by saying “It’s the best way I’ve seen so far to make a rainy day fun”.

Here are some youtube clips from Summerfolk 2011 you might enjoy watching:

The Once - Coming Back to You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W6F4Yv9TFo&feature=related



Barrett's Privateers Sing-a-Long at the Owen Sound Summerfolk Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0zeGF_XPm0&NR=1


Gandalf Murphy - Alice In Space @ Summerfolk 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BnsxODXSpE


Danny Michel - White Lightning @ Summerfolk 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypEgpnWC2Qc&feature=related


Treasa Levasseur - Stuck In Soulsville @ Summerfolk 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KYA-twuhN4&feature=related


New Country Rehab - Cameo @ Summerfolk 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBtGeQmNpro&feature=related


The 24th Street Wailers - Lord Protect My Child @ Summerfolk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GsVFBJAMRs&feature=related


Brontae Hunter - Crazy World @ Summerfolk 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQeKlACvk6c&feature=related

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

JumbleJam

How would you like to jam with the pros, create an original piece of music and perform it on stage at Summerfolk – all on the same day?


If you sing or play an instrument and you can spare a few hours on Saturday, apply for the JumbleJam workshop. You just might find yourself in a band with Robert Priest, James Gordon or Beckon(Connie Rositter and Beth Hamilton).


Varying skill levels are welcome – 15 musicians will be chosen by lottery for a diverse and entertaining mix. Some instruments are provided but you’re more than welcome to bring your own.

Deadline for all entries is 11:15 am Saturday August 20th.
Apply in advance by contacting the Georgian Bay Folk Society office (519) 371-2995 gbfs@bmts.com for an Application Form.
Or... pick up an Application Form on-site at the Information Booth just inside Main Gate.
Drop off applications at the Information Booth by Saturday morning. Space is limited.

Gather at the JumbleJam Zone (just north of the Amphitheatre Stage) at 11:45 am to see the band lists. Each band will have a 1 hour and 45 minute songbuilding session beginning at 12 noon, 2 pm or 4 pm. Bands take to the Down By the Bay stage at 7:00 pm Saturday evening.

Sharing Circle, Summerfolk Choir, Circus Court, Musical Petting Zoo

During the weekend, a multitude of workshops are scheduled at Summerfolk.
Some of these are designed for active audience participation and opportunities exist for patrons to join in – to be involved in the creative process and in making music with others.

Additional details and times are available at: http://www.summerfolk.org/Concerts&Workshops2011.pdf


The Sharing Circle
All the sessions at The Sharing Circle are meant to be ‘kitchen parties’ where everyone is invited to participate. Lead by performers from the Summerfolk lineup, you can sing and play along. There is no sound system and there’s no pressure. Join in the circle and be a part of the action. There will be drum and storytelling sessions, a ‘play your song’ with the band session, as well as Celtic, bluegrass, song, banjo, ukulele and fiddle music circles.
Bring your instrument to the Festival - you can store it safely at ‘Stash Yer Stuff’ next to the Sharing Circle tent.
Hours for Stash Yer Stuff are 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday, Noon – 5:00 pm Sunday.

The Summerfolk Choir
If singing is your thing, I hope you consider joining the fabulous Summerfolk Choir. Under the direction of the enthusiastic Tom Leighton, the choir has four rehearsals before taking to the amphitheatre stage to open the Sunday night concert. How cool is that! With an emphasis on fun, Tom prepares a wonderful selection of songs to sing.
Come out to the first rehearsal, Saturday morning at 11:00 am, and be part of a Summerfolk tradition.

The Circus Court
The Circus Court will be a new Summerfolk adventure this year. Along with performances by Lookup Theatre's Youth Troupe, there will be workshops for both kids and adults to learn circus arts like acrobatics, juggling and aerial. And in the same vein, Vita Twirlin’ Diva will be offering a demonstration where you can learn more about the art of poi spinning.

Musical Petting Zoo
Todd Crowley’s ‘Musical Petting Zoo’ is back for a third year at Summerfolk. Todd brings more than a hundred instruments of all description from all over the world, and you are encouraged to try them out. That’s right – you can touch. Play them as long as you like. See how they are made and hear what they sound like. Little jam sessions break out and truly incredible things happen at the Petting Zoo.

The Zoo Workshop Room
Beginning last year, we added ‘The Zoo Workshop Room’ to Todd’s location as a way of farther exploring instruments and learning about music. Inside the tent we hold intimate sessions where you get hands-on instruction or information about specific topics. I am very excited about some of the themes we present this time out. As examples, publisher Jack Cooper will demonstrate transcribing music, Ken Whiteley and David Baxter will talk about how to produce a recording and Orchid Ensemble will show their exotic traditional instruments from the Far East.


First Nations Village
The First Nations Village provides workshop sessions that focus on aboriginal teachings and traditions. These interactive sessions like drumming, storytelling and singing, happen in and around the teepee.




Children’s Village
There are performances especially for kids in the music tent of the Children’s Village along with workshops at the Circus Court, the Kelso Beach Park playground and the new splash pad to enjoy. Plus...an amazing hands-on Crafts Tent!

Open Stage at Summerfolk

Summerfolk’s Open Stage is an opportunity to play your music at the Festival.



Interspersed between workshop sessions at the Café of the Senses, 9 time slots are designated for open mic performances on the Homemade Jam stage.
Each slot is shared by 2 or 3 performers, providing participants with approximately 8 minutes time (2 selections).
The exciting thing is: One act is selected for the following year's Festival.


HOW TO "RESERVE" YOUR SPOT - sign up in advance by contacting the Folk Society office or sign up on site.
- A limited number of slots are available for pre-registration and designated as advance sign-up (see schedule below).
To reserve, contact the Georgian Bay Folk Society office (519) 371-2995 - gbfs@bmts.com
- On-site registration (festival sign-up) is on a first-come, first-served basis.


You must be in possession of a ticket for that day or be on site as a volunteer. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your assigned performance time and check-in with the Homemade Jam crew.


One performer/act from the weekend’s Open Stage will be selected to join the Summerfolk lineup in 2012. That selection will be done by our Homemade Jam Tent crew and will be announced from the Amphitheatre Stage between 8:00 and 9:00 pm on Sunday evening.


HOMEMADE JAM STAGE SCHEDULE – Open Stage


Saturday:
12:30 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
1:00 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
1:30 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
3:00 - Open Stage Slot -advance sign-up
3:45 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up


Sunday:
1:00 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up
1:30 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
3:00 - Open Stage Slot - advance sign-up
3:45 - Open Stage Slot - festival sign-up

Come Dancing at Summerfolk

Contra to Afro, Klezmer to Big Band .....Summerfolk is Dancing.
The Over the Hill Dance tent features a wooden dance floor and a fine sound system.

There are plenty of great dance sessions this year!


SATURDAY

11:00 - 'Bohemian Delights'... Eastern European Dances - Russian Troika dance to Romanian style Hora
Music by Gypsy Jive Band with Lorraine Sutton calling

12:30 – ‘Quebecois Dance'
Music by Réveillons with Jean-Francois Berthiaume calling

2:00 – ‘Contra Dance...old and new
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling

3:30 – ‘Big Band Dance
Music by the Lighthouse Swing Band

***** SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE
7:30 – ‘Contra and More
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling


SUNDAY

12:00 – ‘Heel & Toe’ with Ciccone & Hyatt and Réveillons

1:00 – ‘Mediterranean Soul' ...dances from Greece, Israel, Serbia- easy steps in lines and circles
Music by Gypsy Jive Band with Lorraine Sutton calling

2:15 – ‘Afro Dance...learn the steps and dance
Music by H’Sao

3:30 – ‘Singing Squares...American singing squares
Music by Elixir with Nils Fredland calling

Monday, July 11, 2011

Get into the Music Making at Summerfolk


Evening concerts in the amphitheatre at Kelso Beach Park hold wonderful memories for those who attend Summerfolk. These concerts have long been the centerpiece of the event. From 6:00 to 11:00 each night of the Festival, eight acts take to the stage. This means an awe inspiring variety of talent is presented, all in a five hour span.

It is only through the expertise of our sound and staging crew that a jam-packed show like this can run as smoothly as it does. During equipment changeovers between acts, the time is filled by yet additional performers affectionately called ‘tweeners’ who play from the right of the stage. So over the course of the evening, the audience witnesses a dozen or more musical performances.

These evening concerts would be enough to satisfy even the most discerning music fan, but there is much more to Summerfolk. During the daytime hours Saturday and Sunday, the workshop stages swing into action. Typically, three or four acts are grouped together with a given theme to guide their choice of material. Performing ‘in the round’, each draws upon their experiences to relate to the theme. Often they encourage each other to play along and the results can be amazing.

As an example, one of the workshops programmed this year is titled ‘Word Work’. It features performers who rely on the strength of their lyrics to get a message across. Hosted by Corin Raymond; gifted wordsmiths Lorne Elliott, Ian Reid and David Francey will explore what lies within the lyrics of their songs. This is done by performing them and explaining some of the process that goes into their creation.

Additional examples of workshops planned for this year are ‘Country Flavours’, ‘Songs in Harmony’, ‘Funny Stuff’, ‘En Francais’ and ‘Irish Spring’. During the weekend, a multitude of workshops are scheduled....plus there are participatory dance sessions, performances especially for kids in the music tent of the Children’s Village and interactive sessions in the teepee at the First Nations Village.

Some of the workshops are designed for active audience participation and other opportunities exist for patrons to join in. This is what I would like to focus on for the remainder of this article. It has been an interest and desire for me as artistic director of Summerfolk to offer programming at the Festival that allows for patrons to be involved in the creative process and in making music with others.

All the sessions at The Sharing Circle are meant to be ‘kitchen parties’ where everyone is invited to participate. Lead by performers from the Summerfolk lineup, you can sing and play along. There is no sound system and there’s no pressure. Join in the circle and be a part of the action. There will be drum and storytelling sessions, a ‘play your song’ with the band session, as well as Celtic, bluegrass, song, banjo, ukulele and fiddle music circles. Bring your instrument to the Festival - you can store it safely at ‘Stash Yer Stuff’ next to the Sharing Circle tent.

Summerfolk’s Open Stage is another opportunity to play your music at the Festival. Interspersed between workshop sessions at the Café of the Senses, nine time slots are designated for open mic performances on the Homemade Jam stage. You can sign up in advance by contacting the Folk Society office or sign up on site. One performer/act from the weekend’s Open Stage will be selected to join the Summerfolk lineup in 2012.

If singing is your thing, I hope you consider joining the fabulous Summerfolk Choir. Under the direction of the enthusiastic Tom Leighton, the choir has four rehearsals before taking to the amphitheatre stage to open the Sunday night concert. How cool is that! With an emphasis on fun, Tom prepares a wonderful selection of songs to sing.

Love to dance? The previously mentioned dance sessions at Summerfolk take place in the ‘Over the Hill...’ tent located at the south end of Kelso Beach Park. You can learn the steps from dance callers and to the best in music, enjoy dancing on the wooden floor. There will everything from Quebecois to Mediterranean, Contra to African, plus dancing to the Big Band sound of The Lighthouse Swing Band.

Todd Crowley’s ‘Musical Petting Zoo’ is back for a third year at Summerfolk. Todd brings more than a hundred instruments of all description from all over the world, and you are encouraged to try them out. That’s right – you can touch. Play them as long as you like. See how they are made and hear what they sound like. Little jam sessions break out and truly incredible things happen at the Petting Zoo.



Beginning last year, we added ‘The Zoo Workshop Room’ to Todd’s location as a way of farther exploring instruments and learning about music. Inside the tent we hold intimate sessions where you get hands-on instruction or information about specific topics. I am very excited about some of the themes we present this time out. As examples, publisher Jack Cooper will demonstrate transcribing music, Ken Whiteley and David Baxter will talk about how to produce a recording and Orchid Ensemble will show their exotic traditional instruments from the Far East.

‘JumbleJam’ is another participatory event happening at Summerfolk. You may find yourself in a band with Beckon, James Gordon or Robert Priest playing a song you’ve helped compose that day, on stage at the ‘Down By the Bay’ tent. Then there will be open mic opportunities during Sunday afternoon’s ‘SOUNDS...words and music’ workshop that will highlight spoken word performances along with music.

The Circus Court will be a new Summerfolk adventure this year. Along with performances by Lookup Theatre's Youth Troupe, there will be workshops for both kids and adults to learn circus arts like acrobatics, juggling and aerial. And in the same vein, Vita Twirlin’ Diva will be offering a demonstration where you can learn more about the art of poi spinning.

The full slate of concerts and workshops are available for viewing on the Summerfolk website. Make it a point to plan what you would like to see, and what you’d like to do at the Festival. It is my hope that you will avail yourself time to take part in one or more of the interactive activities offered. At many music events, audiences sit and listen. But I feel there is much to be gained, and enthusiasm added, when the audience is involved in the fun and the music making. Summerfolk is a place where you can do just that.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

David Francey & Ron Hynes Play Summerfolk 2011

Two Pre-eminent Canadian Songwriters to Perform at Summerfolk

David Francey & Ron Hynes


David Francey has won three Juno awards and the former construction worker turned successful folk singer and songwriter has garnered critical acclaim for his ‘new’ profession. Poetic perception and a keen eye for the heart of the matter are trademarks of the man and his music earning him a reputation as one of Canada's most revered folk poets and singers.

Francey was born in 1954 in Ayrshire, Scotland, where as a paper boy he got his first taste of the working life. He learned to read at an early age, and by eleven, was devouring the newspapers he delivered. This helped establish his interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.

He was twelve when his family immigrated to Toronto. He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. Dad and sister Muriel sang melody, while mother and David sang harmonies.

His attachment to Canada grew with travel. He hitch-hiked across the country three times. This attachment surfaces in his songs of rail lines, farms and the St. Lawrence Seaway. He grew to understand the people while working in Toronto train yards, the Yukon bush and as a carpenter in the Eastern Townships. These experiences coloured his first CD Torn Screen Door with songs like Hard Steel Mill, Gypsy Boys and Working Poor.

Even after releasing this CD in 1999, Francey continued to work in construction until his second album Far End of Summer was named Best Roots and Traditional Album at the 2002 Juno Awards - a surprise win which prompted him to make the switch to music full time.

“I said maybe we should be doing music because we just won a Juno for crying out loud,” said Francey at the time. “So it was a leap of faith in a sense, but to tell you the truth, I thought the timing was right to try it. And I guess it’s worked out the right way.”

While he admitted he missed the work and the friends he made while on the job, crafting songs was far less taxing on the body. “When I was getting up on stage and maybe feeling sorry for myself for being on the road, I’d be thinking - well, I’m not getting up in the morning and doing a couple of roofs or wheeling cement all day. So everything for me was a treat. The things I got to do and the people I got to meet, they were something to look forward to every day.”

With an ever increasing tour schedule, David continued recording and won 2 more Junos. One for his Skating Rink CD in 2004 and Right of Passage in 2008. His latest release Late Edition is his ninth recording project.

In concert David Francey is a singer and a storyteller who can establish, in moments, a personal rapport with his audience. He tours with New Hampshire multi-instrumentalist Craig Werth. Francey’s wry humour and astute observations combined with an openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following. His often long-winded introductions are a legendary and integral part of his show, charmingly setting the up the songs that tell honest stories of real people and real places.

David lives with his wife, artist Beth Girdler and their three children Amy, Julia and Colin, in the Lanark Highlands of eastern Ontario.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of Canada’s premier singer-songwriters, Ron Hynes has created beautifully crafted songs for more than 35 years.

Frequently referred to as the ‘man of a thousand songs’, Ron is perhaps best known for penning the folk classic Sonny’s Dream. His songs have been covered by dozens of artists worldwide, including Emmylou Harris, Mary Black, Denny Doherty, Murray McLauchlan, Valdy, John McDermott, Prairie Oyster, The Good Brothers, and many more.

Hynes was born in St. John’s in December 1950, and raised in Ferryland on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula. He began as a singer-songwriter on the coffee house circuit in the early seventies, firstly in the Maritimes and then working out of Toronto. By 1975 he was back in Newfoundland, writing music and lyrics for stage productions.

He was part of a CBC television production called The Root Cellar. This series gave birth to the Wonderful Grand Band, which became one of Newfoundland's most popular acts. Combining traditional and original songs, fresh musical ideas and comic interludes, the band spent six years touring together.

By 1992, Hynes had compiled a catalogue of several hundred songs and earned a reputation as one of Canada's finest composers of folk and country music. His songs had became part of the fabric of Newfoundland culture.

Ron Hynes is a man who is not without his demons. He is the first to admit there were times when he was not at his best. But he has gone through treatment for addictions and a 2006 self-titled CD deals with these struggles. He communicates his personal suffering with painful honesty in songs like Dry and My Name is Nobody. Baring his soul, this intimate album showcases the skill of his songwriting, albeit with content that is somewhat dark. For me, this was the record that showed Ron Hynes was back, facing his demons head-on and crafting songs of truth and clarity.

His latest release Stealing Genius is his eighth solo recording, and his third project with award-winning producer Paul Mills. Inspired by works from some of his favourite Newfoundland authors and poets, these songs not only echo a life in that province but resonate with people everywhere.

Stealing Genius comes hot on the heels of the feature-length documentary film The Man Of A Thousand Songs in which Hynes is both subject and star, telling his own difficult story in three different narrative voices - the person, the persona and the myth. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to sold out audiences and critical praise.

Nominated for a bevy of awards, Ron Hynes is a six-time East Coast Music Award winner. He was recipient of the 2008 SOCAN National Achievement Award for his songwriting success and he holds an Honorary PhD from Memorial University for his contributions to the cultural life of his beloved Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Hynes songbook, The Songs of Ron Hynes Vol 1 is a collection of 26 pieces transcribed for guitar and voice. It includes such masterpieces as Sonny’s Dream, St. John’s Waltz, Leaving on the Evening Tide and Godspeed; songs that transcend their Newfoundland origins and have been absorbed into the folk repertoire.

“I can’t read music all that well” he confesses. “Reading and writing music is too exacting for someone like me. I just write a lyric and wait till it starts singing back at me. I like the idea that these songs are now available in libraries and schools - new Newfoundland songs for people to learn. These songs are who I am - part of a community of farmers and fishermen living on the edge of the world”.