Coming up
– September 22 – Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
– October 13 – Raymond Truong
– October 27 – Medusa Quartet
– November 16 – Tragedy Ann
– December 1 – Long Sault Trio
Nathan Sloniowski
with Vicki Brittle, Barry Buse and Bill Serson
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 2:00pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
It was not hard to see why Nathan Sloniowski and musical friends sold out their album release show at Folkus last February. Titled “The Lost Love Letter to a Small Town”, this concept album is a quality work on every level. With Nathan’s honey-bourbon voice, backed by a most impressive collection of studio talent, the album is a delightful musical carousel that makes stops at small town cafés, dance halls, tree-lined fields and limestone quarries, offering lyrical nods to many of his singer-songwriter heroes. The result is a nine-song tribute to what Nathan calls “the collage of open-hearted dreamers who grew me up in the 1970s artistic lair of Elora, Ontario, and the many more I’ve met in other small towns along the way.”
‘Folkus’ chair and artistic director Sandy Irvin succinctly describes Nathan as “a musical activist and pot-stirrer, ever-busy around town, known recently for sparking up the Almonte Song Circle as well as his work with The Ragged Flowers, …. also a co-founder of PorchFest de Mississippi Mills and is one of the original founders of Folkus.”
When Nathan offered to bring his “pretty hot band” comprised of homegrown hand-picked players Vicki Brittle on vocals, Barry Buse on guitar and bass and Bill Serson on drums, there was only one possible answer. See you September 8!
For more information about Nathan Sloniowski CLICK HERE
For musical clips from “The Lost Love Letter to a Small Town” CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30.00 plus fees, available at TICKETS PLEASE until 11:59pm September 7, 2024
Depending on availability, tickets will be available at the door for $35.00
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
with guest guitarist Everest Witman
Sunday, September 22, 2024, 2:00pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
Joining Forces in Glasgow in 2018, Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira were already two well established musicians, who found together a kindred musical spirit. With Jocelyn on fiddle and Ellen on cello, they push the boundaries between traditional and contemporary Celtic and folk genres to create a powerfully uplifting and soulful performance.
For this tour, Jocelyn & Ellen are joined by accomplished Montreal-based guest guitarist, Everest Witman. Together, their instruments weave a rhythmic, textured sound with nuanced fiddle-cello-guitar interplay. Complemented with vocal harmonies and lively stepdancing, the dynamic trio bring life and fire into original tunes, and high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia.
Jocelyn and Ellen are 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award Winners for ‘Traditional Album of the Year’, and 2024 Western Canadian Music Award Nominees for ‘Instrumental Artist of the Year’.
From the West Coast of Canada, Jocelyn Pettit is a vibrant fiddle player, stepdancer, and singer. As a five-time Canadian Folk Music Award Nominee (including 2023 “Solo Artist of the Year”), and Western Canadian Music Award Nominee, Jocelyn has released three solo albums, including her latest, Wind Rose. She has toured across Canada and internationally, appeared on CBC and BBC radio and television, and performed with The Chieftains.
From the East Coast of the USA, Ellen Gira is establishing herself as one of the most versatile cellists in the American and Scottish Traditional music scenes. Currently based in Maryland, she has performed throughout North America and the UK, collaborated and recorded with numerous acclaimed traditional musicians, and is undertaking doctoral studies in Trad Cello Pedagogy at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
We are certain that this will be a spectacular afternoon of music and expect a capacity audience.
For more information and and to sample their music CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30.00 available at TICKETS PLEASE until 11:59pm September 21, 2024
Depending on availability, tickets will be available at the door for $35.00
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Raymond Truong
Exploring Chopin’s Musical World
Sunday, October 13, 2024, 2:00pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
Pianist Raymond Truong is brings an “all Chopin” recital to MERA.
Frédéric Chopin (1810 – 1849) a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist has maintained worldwide renown as a leading musician of the Romantic period. In this program, the audience will take a dive into Chopin’s vast repertoire for solo piano. Selections include preludes, nocturnes, waltzes, etudes, scherzi, and ballades. Each work is carefully selected to best represent Chopin’s diverse range of styles and emotions, while also showcasing both popular and the less-known for audiences who are big fans of Chopin and those who don’t know anything about him. The works will be presented as part of a narrative that connects Chopin’s life, his works, and the performer’s life. Raymond will also provide his own personal insights from his experience preparing the works.
For more information about Raymond Truong CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30 plus fees available at TICKETS PLEASE until 11:59 pm October 12, 2024.
Depending on availability, tickets will be available at the door for $35.00
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Medusa Quartet
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 2:00pm
MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
We have been trying to bring the Medusa Quartet to MERA ever since they turned heads and ears at the Blue Skies Music Festival in 2023, and finally we have a date!
Technically a string quartet, Medusa’s material and instrumentation pushes the concept into a unique orbit. In addition to a repertoire that mixes original material with their spin on Middle Eastern, Scandinavian, Celtic, Appalachian, and Eastern European music, Medusa further stretches their sonic pallet by adding the Suka, Plosk Fiddle, Lyra and the Nyckelharpa to the conventional Violin, Viola and Cello instrumentation. By their own admission this is not western classical music:
“Wielding a sound that would turn classical music scholars to stone, these four folk musicians are reimagining the Western string quartet. By inviting back voices previously regarded as too ugly for “polite society,” Medusa tempts us to redefine what is beautiful.”
Don’t resist the temptation. These are four very talented musicians on a radically seductive mission to amaze and enchant. Highly Recommended.
For information and music by Medusa Quartet CLICK HERE
Tickets are $35 plus fees available at TICKETS PLEASE
Depending on availability, tickets will be available at the door for $40.00
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
Tragedy Ann
Saturday, November 16, 2024, 7:30pm
Doors open 7:00 pm – MERA Schoolhouse, McDonald’s Corners
Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan are Tragedy Ann, partners in life as well as music. Combining their sublime vocal harmonies with organ, accordion, singing saw, and guitars, Liv and Braden bring their unique musical observations with a style that is authentically their own. Arresting melodies and finely crafted arrangements frame lyrics that invite thought and reflection. These are disarmingly beautiful compositions with honesty and range, unafraid to explore everything from bliss to despair.
This concert will be special. Liv and Braden will be on tour as a trio with Peter Klassen on upright bass. Saturday November 16 was our only opportunity to book Tragedy Ann this year and we have decided to go with an evening performance. Doors open at 7:00pm with music at 7:30pm.
For information and music by Tragedy Ann CLICK HERE
Tickets are $30 plus fees available soon at TICKETS PLEASE
Depending on availability, tickets will be available at the door for $35.00
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A, McDonald’s Corners
“(their latest album Heirlooms) delivers an outstanding collection of thoughtful, poignant songs… …If you’re seeking deep, thoughtful chamber folk, this is absolutely the project for you.”
– Lesley Carter – The Great Dark Wonder
“…finely crafted and carefully arranged songs with the honesty and enthusiasm of people who can’t help but create and perform”
– Jon Farmer – Georgian Bay Roots Radio
“Two wonderful people with two wonderful voices: Tragedy Ann have struck us right in the heart with their soulful songs and stories. Who likes great folk will love this duo.”
– Sylvie (& Sven), Poptown (SofaConcert) hosts – Hamburg, Germany
“As musicians they are versatile, authentic, curious and compelling, and they can charm the socks off any room any time.”
– Treasa Levasseur, musician & arts facilitator – Hamilton, Ontario
