Folk Canada’s annual conference kicks off today at the Sheraton in downtown Hamilton.
The event brings together more than 1,000 musicians and industry professionals for a weekend of workshops and networking and sees dozens of artists showcasing in front of concert promoters and festival presenters in the hopes of landing gigs for the following year.
Angelica Jones is among this year’s showcasing artists, taking part in the Toronto Blues Society’s Spotlight Showcase.
RMC: Can you describe your band for us?
We are a power trio. We’ve always had a unique chemistry between the three of us. A special bond from day one. We met while studying music in university and knew right away that we would play music together forever.
Sandy Hunter plays the drums, Adam Bell plays the bass and I, Angelica Jones, play lead guitar and I sing. Our sound is groovy, blues-based riffs and hooks. I am known for my big voice, although we can also bring the volume down so low you could hear a pin drop. I believe contrast is key to making beautiful
musical moments.
My use of whammy bar and wah pedal has evolved over the years and has become my signature guitar style at this point. I just love a good screamin’ guitar solo.
RMC: What are you looking forward to the most at the Folk Canada Conference?
I am really looking forward to hearing some fantastic music and to making new connections with other Canadian musicians. It’s such a great opportunity to meet other like-minded artists that we could potentially be playing shows and festivals with. It’s the chance to hear new upcoming acts and to build our musical family.
The conference showcases are set up to have 20-minute sets back-to-back by having two alternating stages in each ballroom. This design will allow us to hear so much great music and with the wonderful lineup of showcases we are in for a treat!
RMC: Is this your first trip to Folk Canada or, previously, Folk Ontario?
Yes, this is our first time attending Folk Canada. We have been wanting to attend for the past few years, but a number of obstacles have prevented us from making it work. This year, the stars all aligned – CBC released the broadcast from my performance at the Women’s Blues Review at The Roy Thompson Hall. We just released our new album, The Whammy, and are in full promotion mode sharing it with the world.
It’s perfect timing that we’ve been selected to showcase this year and get the chance to take our new tracks to Folk Canada to see how the artistic directors like the new music. We feel very grateful and privileged.
RMC: I know you’re playing as part of the Toronto Blues Society Spotlight Showcase, will you be able to stick around for the rest of the Conference?
Absolutely! I have made my itinerary and have chosen the seminars I would like to attend. Well, I tried anyway…there are so many interesting events that some of them overlap so I’ll have to be creative to take them all in. The three of us may have to divide and conquer! I’m very excited. I love to learn and having the chance to get first-hand advice and tips from all these industry professionals is the most amazing opportunity for Canadian musicians.
RMC: As a highly creative and versatile artist, what is your relationship to folk and roots music?
Roots music is very versatile and seems to cover a broad spectrum of styles. I always find it hard to say what kind of music we play because the thing that makes this project so special is that we started it with the sole intention of playing music for the sake of the music, and for the sheer fun of it. We were never
trying to write a hit single or to fit inside the box.
But I also started off focusing on fingerpicking and played beautiful folk songs that focused on fingerpicking styles. I love Cat Stevens, Nick Drake and Don Ross. Also, Sandy’s entire family has a VERY close relationship to folk music and fiddle music as literally everyone in his family plays. Family get-togethers include fiddles, violas, a cello, pianos, guitars and sing-alongs. We even had a hurdy-gurdy once. It was awesome.
I guess it’s safe to say that we’re surrounded by folk and roots music which is always shaping our artistic creativity through its influence. Kind of like osmosis. I have never fit inside of any boxes. I have always been the black sheep, a little off the main line of every genre. As a creative, I believe this is an asset, although it can be challenging when you’re not perfectly
traditional in any sense.
