More than 1,000 attendees from the music industry are set to arrive in Hamilton this week for Folk Canada’s annual conference and the 32nd Ontario Folk Music Awards. The city will also host a free and family-friendly festival for the public to enjoy.
Running from Wednesday to Sunday, the Folk Canada Conference will gather musicians, agents, managers, record labels, and industry professionals from Canada and around the world. The Ontario Folk Music Awards will kick off on Wednesday at The Studio at FirstOntario Concert Hall, featuring performances by various artists including Terra Lightfoot, Tanika Charles, Vicki Brittle, Jonathan Nvita, Kazdoura, and Logan Staats.
Logan Staats, a Mohawk singer-songwriter from Six Nations of the Grand River, will be honored with the Culture in Climate Award for his efforts in blending music, Indigenous perspectives, and environmental activism. The conference will culminate with the free Community Folk Fest on Sunday at Mills Hardware, offering a day of family-friendly music workshops and lively concerts.
The conference, now sold out, primarily caters to industry professionals, but the free festival serves as an inclusive platform for all. According to Rosalyn Dennett, executive director of Folk Canada, the conference’s value lies in fostering connections among individuals from various sectors of the music industry. These connections often lead to future collaborations such as tours, recording projects, and management agreements.
Dennett highlighted the challenges facing independent musicians, including inadequate compensation from streaming services, the impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries, and shifting audience behaviors following the pandemic. She emphasized the importance of building relationships at events like this conference to navigate these challenges and create opportunities for artists.
The event features developmental programs for emerging artists, workshops, and networking opportunities with international buyers. Hamilton musician Piper Hayes will lead workshops focusing on the connection between voice, health, and personal identity. Hayes believes in the transformative power of sound, movement, and play in helping individuals process emotions and reconnect with their authentic selves.
Hayes, who performs as Piper and Carson alongside her partner, has been part of Hamilton’s vibrant artistic community for over a decade. She hopes the conference will showcase the city’s diverse artistic talents beyond its industrial reputation.
Staats expressed the special significance of the Culture in Climate Award, emphasizing the importance of his activism and connection to his community through music. His latest album, “Peacemaker,” draws on traditional stories from Six Nations, aiming to share Indigenous narratives and teachings with a broader audience.
The Ontario Folk Music Awards will honor Chris White with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Coco Love Alcorn with the Community Builder Award. Dennett praised the recipients for their contributions to the folk music community, highlighting their leadership and advocacy for the land and cultural preservation.
Overall, the Folk Canada conference and awards ceremony serve as a platform for artists and industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and advocate for meaningful social and environmental causes through music.