RFF Press Kit 2016

2016 REGINA FOLK FESTIVAL PRESS KIT
From August 5 to 7, Victoria Park will come alive with the magic of the 47th Regina Folk Festival. As
always, there will be amazing music on the Mainstage and the free daytime Sunlit Stages. The 2016
artistic lineup features an incredible blend of musical styles, cultural influences and, above all, some of
the world’s best talent, including:
The Head and the Heart, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Sam Roberts Band,
The Mavericks, Bettye LaVette, The Cat Empire, The Strumbellas, Frazey Ford, Bobby Bazini,
The Barr Brothers, Ayrad, Boogat, Terra Lightfoot, Ginkgoa, IsKwé, The Wet Secrets,
Al Simmons, Twin Peaks, Matt Epp, Twin Bandit, marijosée, The Royal Foundry, Nick Faye & The
Deputies, Megan Nash, Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Gabrielle Papillon, Eric Taylor, Étienne Fletcher,
Charly Hustle, Factor Chandelier, FadaDance, marijo, Shakura S’Aida, Kirby Wirchenko and Hardtoe
The 2016 RFF will offer free daytime concerts and workshops on 4 stages, a CHILDREN’S AREA with
music, dance & crafts, an ARTS’ MARKET with all sorts of one-of-a-kind stuff, a DAYTIME BEER
GARDEN, the festival ROCK GARDEN, a FESTIVAL RECORD STORE, an INTERNATIONAL FOOD COURT
as well as highly anticipated MAINSTAGE CONCERTS.
Info: 757-0308 or www.reginafolkfestival.com
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Advance weekend passes and individual night tickets are available until sellout!
Tickets can be purchased online at REGINAFOLKFESTIVAL.COM
or by phone at 1-866-943-8849
After August 4th, the Regina Folk Festival Box Office will take over ticket sales on the festival site.
The RFF Box Office will be located just south of the cenotaph in Victoria Park.
2016 REGINA FOLK FESTIVAL ARTISTS’ BIOS
The Head and The Heart
theheadandtheheart.com
It wasn’t that long ago that the members of Seattle’s The Head and
the Heart were busking on street corners; singing in harmony and
stomping their feet. Then something happened that was
unexpected for them but completely understandable for fans,
people began to really listen. Audiences related to familiar
sentiments through THATH’s captivating lyrics and a full sound that
pulls at both head and heart-strings.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
rickyskaggs.com
Fourteen-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs’ career is easily among the most
significant in recent country music history. His life’s path has taken him to various
musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new
musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact. He struck his first chords on a
mandolin over 50 years ago, and he continues to do his part to lead the recent roots
revival. He is joined by Kentucky Thunder to perform his genre-bending musical ideas
and inspirations. “This group of guys meets my approval every night,” Ricky says. So if it’s
good enough for the one and only Ricky Skaggs it is definitely good enough for us.
Sam Roberts Band
samrobertsband.com
This Montreal rock band is back at the RFF with ultra-addictive
melodies and a sound that spans multiple genres. Some call Sam
Roberts Band power-pop and some call it moody folk jams. We call
them one hell of a good time! Their fiery spirit and urgency fuel their
legendary live shows. These rockers have appeared on such popular
TV shows as Letterman and Conan as well as performed at renowned
festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Bumbershoot.
The Mavericks
themavericksband.com
True to their name The Mavericks are in a category all their own. A
staple in Americana music these showmen still mix torch and twang
with a vibrant virtuosity that defies genre boundaries. Re-formed
after an 8-year hiatus they still rock out like they did in their mid-90s
heyday when they had 14 hits on the Billboard Country charts. The
velvet baritone of founder Raul Malo is the driving force behind this
Cuban heat, Western swing, rock n’ roll band while his bandmates
still play like they have roses in their teeth. Party on, Regina!
Bettye LaVette
bettyelavette.com
Three-time Grammy nominee Bettye LaVette is no mere singer. She is an
interpreter of the highest order. Whether the song originated as country, rock,
pop, jazz or blues, when she gets through with it, it is pure R&B. LaVette has the
ability to get inside a song and shape it, twist it, to convey all the emotion that
can be wrought from each lyric. It is not often that an artist reaches the greatest
heights of their career in their third decade but LaVette is anything but ordinary.
Every festival lineup needs an artist that produces music that is good for the soul
and we are sure that LaVette will make us all feel so so good.
The Cat Empire
thecatempire.com
For over a decade, Australia’s The Cat Empire have been known as
one of the worlds greatest party bands. Their colourful, genrebending music (a fusion of jazz, ska, funk and rock with Latin
influences) has built them a reputation for a chaotic and fiercely
uplifting live show that last year over half a million people all
around the world bought tickets to see.
The Strumbellas
thestrumbellas.ca
When a crowd is feverishly singing along with the last chorus upon first
listen, you know it’s a song that connects. This is what happens when
The Strumbellas play ‘Spirits’ live. This experience embodies the essence
of what has been attracting fans from across North America to this sixpiece Ontario band. Since the release of their eponymous 2009 EP, the sixpiece has been earning their stripes with their anthemic bluegrass-inspired
indie rock sing-a-long songs. Good luck not clapping or singing along to
their infectious and danceable melodies.
Frazey Ford
frazeyford.com
The root of all soul music is freedom and sheer abandon and singer Frazey
Ford placed her ear to the earth and tapped into that lush tradition to give
voice to her own stories. Her newest release, Indian Ocean, is an album
about dealing with tough truths but is also about trust, love, contrition and
being bold. Ford's self-possession and passion puts flesh to the musical
bones, and there's always been something soulful teeming underneath the
honey-dipped tremulous restraint in Ford's vocal style.
Bobby Bazini
bobbybazini.com
Bobby Bazini has been described as the love child of Bob Dylan,
Johnny Cash and Marvin Gaye. He was born and raised in MontLaurier, a small town north of Montreal and he first got into soul
music after seeing a documentary about Otis Redding. Bazini’s music
takes us back to an era before his time and his authentic lyrics and
skilled instrumentation will get you straight in the heart.
The Barr Brothers
thebarrbrothers.com
This Montreal indie folk quartet’s success has taken them many places, including
performing on the David Letterman Show, opening for Emmylou Harris, being
nominated for a Juno award, playing festivals from Iceland to Portland, and
learning how to make mojitos. Their string-centric sound captures wisps of
melodies remembered from childhood, stolen moments mixed into jams,
sunshine-fuelled flower-powered tunes, and dark moments when grace and
shame teeter together, needing each other for balance. We are pleased to
welcome them back to the RFF!
Ayrad
ayradband.com
Ayrad is about to unleash the power of modern Moroccan music at
the 2016 RFF. Hamza Abouabdelmajid; the leader of the band grew
up in the medina of Fex, Morocco before settling in Montreal in 2005.
From there he met active music scene member Annick Beauvais
where they formed Hamza which they later renamed Ayrad. 4 more
members joined the band forming a unique blend that will draw
adventurous listeners and excite passionate fans of World Music.
Boogat
boogat.com
Boogat is a talented MC living in Montreal, bridging Latin groove with
urban and electronic music while telling everyday life stories with
catchy hooks. It’s been said that you don’t need to speak Spanish to
understand the sexiness of his song hooks or the outrageously hipgrinding beat of his music. With a live show described as explosive
there is no way Boogat won’t turn Victoria Park into a party.
Terra Lightfoot
terralightfoot.com
Whether you’re talking about her as a songwriter, guitarist or vocalist,
one thing is indisputable: Hamilton’s Terra Lightfoot is a ferocious
talent. Her songs tap into the raw emotion of hearts supercharged by
all of the L’s: love, lust and loneliness. Her playing melds expert fingerpicking and distorted, hook-heavy melodies. And whether the song is a
slow-burning ballad or a hard-charging rock number her elemental
voice commands not only attention but also awe.
Ginkgoa
ginkgoa.com
Ginkgoa was a band that was destined to be but was formed by chance.
Nicolle recognized herself within the sound of Antoine’s songs on
Soundcloud. That very same evening a chance meeting in a Parisian jazz
club and the rest is history. We can’t wait for the RFF audience to move to
this French/American pop Electroswing band.
IsKwé
iskwe.com
The name IsKwé means ‘woman’ in her native language. Her
music weaves her Irish and Cree/Dene roots with hip hop breakbeats, left-field R&B and traces of piano pop. She has been called
“one to watch” and we couldn’t agree more. This Winnipeg-bred,
Toronto-based artist uses her platform to talk about her struggle
to fit into/break away from Western archetypes. She carves out
her own musical identity, bridging modern and cultural
influences while challenging the current mold.
The Wet Secrets
thewetsecrets.com
Leave eyerolls and apathy to the others: The Wet Secrets’ buoyant
brand of irony turns dysfunction into inspiration. Equal parts punk
rock and halftime show, they are a sharply dressed rock outfit with
the talent to back it. They don’t need the glitz to prove they are a
force to be reckoned with but rather choose it because they can.
Al Simmons
www.alsimmons.com
Into the tradition of great comedy kings comes Al Simmons, a man
dedicated to the all-but-lost art of melding comedy, song, dance,
magic, and sight gags. The result is a one-man variety show of oldfashioned fun for all ages. Al is a one-man, multi-prop, music-filled, off
the wall performer who inspires audiences worldwide to collective
giggles. His humour, at once childlike in its simplicity and sophisticated
in its execution, touches a responsive chord in people of every age.
Twin Peaks
twinpeaksmusic.ca
Twin Peaks are an emerging folk/roots with undertones of classic
country and contemporary roots. Naomi Shore and Lindsay Pratt although very diverse in their musical histories - have successfully
combined individual experiences into a unique blend of genres. Their
music is eclectic, creative and clever. They have an undeniably
disarming presence. Their harmonies and hooks are as magnetic, bold
and welcoming as the atmosphere their live show emanates.
Matt Epp
mattepp.com
Matt Epp is a quintessential troubadour of the Canadian Prairies
who has won the hearts of audience members all around the world.
Matt’s existence has been in constant flux since he was a teen,
living everywhere from the desolate Prairies to bustling big cities.
This wealth of experience has given him a rare gift as a performer
to take you into his world and make you feel like an instant true
friend. His ability to turn huge theatres into a living room is unparalleled and we can’t wait until he makes Victoria Park home.
Twin Bandit
twinbandit.com
Something very special happened two years ago in the kitchen of Vancouver's St.
James Music Academy, a non-profit that nurtures the souls and tummies of inner
city kids. Cook Hannah Walker was trying to prepare and serve 100 quesadillas to
a mad rush of children, and deal with a well-meaning, untrained, volunteer. In a
strange moment of serenity, she discovered that the greenhorn in question,
Jamie Elliott, was her musical soul mate and her future counterpart in the folkAmericana duo, Twin Bandit. On that day, Hannah and Jamie harmonized
against the fevered pitch of stress and imminent chaos as they began the
adventure that would lead to their folk-Americana duo resplendent with
poignant lyrics and achingly gorgeous vocal harmonies.
marijosée
marijosee.com
A drum roll, please, for the Regina début of Marie-Josée “marijosée”
Clément: percussionist extraordinaire, funky chanteuse and one-woman
wellspring of Francophone pride. She sings and plays with insouciance
and brio, moving easily from jazz and classical to pop and country. Her
ability to meld bouncing beats with her captivating vocals is satisfying to
anyone’s ears. marijosée still drums on every available surface as she
unabashedly walks her own musical path.
The Royal Foundry
theroyalfoundry.com
Calgary’s The Royal Foundry makes the kind of up tempo folk
pop that comes from harmonious alignment. It makes sense, then,
that band members Bethany and Jared Salte are married. As the
duo write music inspired by their marital life along with life lessons
and challenges, they embark hand-in-hand, creating thought
provoking lyrics, mesmerizing melodies and a charming, unforgettable chemistry.
Nick Faye & The Deputies
nickfayedeputies.com
Saskatchewan’s own Nick Faye & The Deputies are a band that makes music that
sticks to your ribs; like a big plate of perogies and sour cream. The band is
unapologetic in their mission to craft honest and simple pop-rock-folk songs. They
are unreserved in their quest to perform enjoyable music and deliver awkward stage
banter at their live shows. They know their role in the Canadian music scene and they
play it well. Listening to them reminds you of driving on a highway in the middle of
summer with the windows down and there is nothing wrong with that.
Megan Nash
megannash.ca
From the minute you meet Megan, you know her. She is as open
with herself as she is with her songwriting. Her latest album shows
off a voice that ranges from a soothing coo to a thunderous growl
(all in the same song). Nash is the shiver down your spine, the
sugar in your tea and the feeling you can’t shake on a late night
walk in the middle of nowhere. She calls Saskatchewan home and
we are so lucky to have her.
Dirty Catfish Brass Band
dirtycatfishbrassband.com
Winnipeg-based Dirty Catfish Brass Band’s aim is to inspire,
create and instigate – but, mostly, they just want you on your feet.
Undeniably tight, yet reckless as hell, DCBB deals in powerful
phrasing and performances drenched with rhythm. Invoking the
sounds of the New Orleans brass tradition, this 9-piece dares to
reimagine the streets of a prairie city as one that is hot, alive, and
full of soul. The band doesn’t ask permission to play, and the crowd
certainly never asks them to stop.
Gabrielle Papillon
gabriellepapillon.com
Hailed as one of the finest new songwriters in Canada, Gabrielle
Papillon sings stories real and imagined. She creates a mood with
bold and haunting musical pieces that channel the sepia-soaked,
cinematic drive of the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack. She writes
songs that are striking and embrace the grandiosity of her tones
and textures. Her music has a beautifully dramatic disposition and
we assure you that many heart-strings will be pulled.
Eric Taylor
erictaylormusic.ca
We were introduced officially to Eric Taylor at the 2016 Sask
Sampler and we were immediately impressed by this Saskatoon
alternative rocker. Rock music is something that can’t be faked and
with a voice like his it would be hard to imagine him doing
anything but rocking. His strength in songwriting has found him an
audience with Grammy Award winning producer Garth Richardson
(RATM, RHCP, Rise Against). Eric continues to work hard at his craft
and strives to be Canada's newest success story.
Étienne Fletcher
facebook.com/Étienne-Fletcher-Music
Étienne Fletcher is a prairie boy from Regina, SK, who is no stranger to the
Canadian music scene accompanied by his trusty creative sidekick Sean McCannel.
As former members of Indigo Joseph these men know how to please their
audience. Collectively they have turned their efforts towards a different side of their
musical interests as they are creating an Indie-persuaded, bilingual album. With
their combined attention to detail and diverse musical skills there’s no limit to what
will unfold on stage. Ears and hearts will not be disappointed.
Charly Hustle
soundcloud.com/charly-hustle
Charly Hustle is a 2015 Red Bull Thre3style Canadian champion DJ
from Saskatoon. His style consists of using dexterous skill and
creativity to make a dance party in ANY situation. He's got a
penchant for taking left turns and for incorporating any genre of
music as fair game so long as it makes people smile and dance. And
smiling while you are dancing is the essence of experiencing any
Charly Hustle set.
Factor Chandelier
factorchandelier.com
Saskatoon born producer extraordinaire Graham Murawsky (aka
Factor Chandelier) has built a decade and a half worth of beats for
Canadian comrades, west coast underground legends, and indie rap
cult heroes from all over the map. His innovative beats are grounded
in a lush, organic hip hop structure with alternating rock, folk, pop
and soul sensibilities that make him an RFF After Dark can’t miss act.
FadaDance
fadadance.ca
FadaDance works with great rigor to unleash inventive contemporary
movement. Together, its three founding members: Heather Cameron, Fran
Gilboy, and Misty Wensel create and perform work that both invites and
involves its audience, while conjuring excitement in the discipline of
dance. Their movement workshops on the children’s stage are a favourite
activity for audience members of all ages and their work will also be
featured in our daily parades.
Kirby Wirchenko
broadwaytheatre.ca
Kirby is in his ninth year as Executive & Artistic Director at the
Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon. His 25 years of local and national
management experience in the private sector helped navigate the
Broadway’s transition from an art-house theatre on the verge of
closure to a thriving arts and culture centre with a national presence.
Through community partnerships, diversification and a lot of work
(and fun), Kirby and his team have raised the Broadway’s reputation and are paving the way for the
future for this heritage theatre. Kirby and his partner Tonya have three lovely dogs, he is a Scorpio and
stays off social media. If you wish to connect, simply say “#hashtag hello” when you see him.
Hardtoe
Orion Paradis is a Saskatchewan music producer who works out of SoulSound
recording studio. Also know as Hardtoe, Orion is a veteran of the DJ and
electronic music scene, having been a mainstay performer of the Connect
Electronic Music Festival for many years, and currently working on remixes and
DJ sets for a variety of acts and events for those in the know.
MORE INFO
Please feel free to contact Melanie, our Communications & Marketing Coordinator, if you are in need
of anything else!
306-757-0308 or melanie@reginafolkfestival.com
REGINAFOLKFESTIVAL.COM