Concert review

Songs for the Revolution: Scott Cook’s revolutionary soul takes to ...

The weather was looking a little uncertain, but Paul Kent’s invitation was clear: rain or shine, troubadour Scott Cook would be performing this Sunday in Hamill Creek. Songs for the Revolution, wanted to experience Scott Cook’s revolutionary spirit up close, ...
Feature

Songs for the Revolution: They Tried to Pave Paradise

A couple of months back, I was out for a run in a forest close to where I live here in Ottawa.  As I exited the forest and made my way up to the main road, I saw people with ...
Feature

Songs for the Revolution: Buskers for residential school survivors

This month, with National Indigenous People’s Day this past Monday,  Songs for the Revolution is highlighting a benefit that recently took place in support of Residential School Survivors.  As an ally, I want to acknowledge that this article is being written ...
Feature

Songs for the Revolution: Indigenous voices rising

Let me begin by acknowledging, as an ally, that this article is being written from traditional unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Anishinaabek territory. I would also like to acknowledge the rich history of this land. Songs for the Revolution would like to ...
Opinion

Songs for the Revolution: climate call, musical response

There’s no denying it: we are living in the midst of a global climate emergency. Yet we go on with our daily lives. Where to start? What would be most effective? And how can we have a sense of hope ...
Feature

Songs for the Revolution – International Women’s Day

I’d like to begin this article by acknowledging my privilege as a male-identifying, white passing person of mixed ethnicity. I am writing this article from so-called Ottawa, and I acknowledge that this is unceded Algonquin, Anishinabek territory. Language, I believe, ...
Feature

Songs for the Revolution: acknowledging folk alliances

I want to acknowledge that I am writing this article from unceded Algonquin Territory. Songs for the Revolution is a monthly column digging into folk culture, the music and what lies beneath.  This one is about the International Folk Alliance ...
Opinion

Songs for the Revolution: Strengthening our democracy

I am excited to begin this year with a new monthly column entitled “Songs for the Revolution.”  Some of the topics I’ll be exploring are poverty, racism, equity, social justice, religion, immigration, culture and politics. I’ll look to explore them ...
Concert review

Ottawa’s CityFolk Festival goes cyber

It’s Friday night. Steve Earle, Hannah Georgas, Hawksley Workman and Jason Isbell are scheduled to perform at this year’s Ottawa CityFolk Festival.  And here I am sitting at my computer — about to attend Ottawa’s Annual folk fest. Is this ...
Feature

Folk alliances in New Orleans: a personal reflection on the ...

I was snowed in at Folk Alliance International in Montreal when I first heard FAI 2020 would be in New Orleans. In that moment, all I knew was, one way or another, I would find a way to FAI in ...