Juno award winning singer-songwriter-musician Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost from birth, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres and styles. A founding member of Canadian folk super-group The Wailin’ Jennys and the brainchild behind Winnipeg’s acclaimed powerhouse duo The Small Glories, Luft deserves her solid reputation as one of Canada’s finest live performers, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. Cara has a spirit that drives her to connect with people, and for this she is loved everywhere she goes. Cara’s the real deal, there’s nothing pretentious about her. And that sense of honesty, integrity, personality and spontaneity permeates both her music and her live shows.
Robin Layne & the Rhythm Makers
Over the past decade and a half, Juno nominated percussionist Robin Layne has steeped himself in rhythmic traditions around the world. His search for rhythm and folkloric traditions has led him to Cuba, Guinea, Mali, Mexico, and beyond. He brings these influences to bear in his compositions that are inspired by his travels.
Locarno
Locarno is the Latin project of JUNO Award winning musician, Tom Landa. Like him, the music is equal parts Mexican and Canadian. Tom was born and raised in Mexico City, and moved to Canada in his teens. In the mid nineties he formed the Folk Roots band, The Paperboys, who have been touring world-wide for over 20 years. Tom has always dabbled in Latin music, and in 2005 decided to immerse himself more into genre, and started working on material for an album. In 2006 he was awarded a Canada Council Grant to study traditional Mexican Music in Veracruz, Mexico. Tom spent his days learning the jarana (an 8 string guitar), and learning songs from the Son Jarocho repertoire. Upon his return to Canada, Tom started working on what would be Locarno’s debut CD.
The North Shore Celtic Ensemble
The North Shore Celtic Ensemble has a dual mandate: to inspire youth to do more and go further with music, and to use music to build and strengthen community connections. What started in 1998 with a Celtic focus is now a spirited, no-boundaries exploration of various styles that inspire the group’s players. The result is a full-spectrum music experience that defies labels and spans conventional genres. Original compositions draw on Celtic, classical, jazz and folk influences, and are blended with creative arrangements of more traditional Celtic tunes. The North Shore Celtic Ensemble have released seven CDs, and has toured across North America, Europe, and China, performed regularly for local concerts and festivals, and has supported a number of charitable programs through their Community Concert Series. More than just a performing group, the North Shore Celtic Ensemble is a meeting place for youth to explore and share music, and is led by fiddler Gabriel Dubreuil (Early Spirit, Collage Trad).
Empanades Ilegales
Their style is heavily influenced by the Latin music genres of cumbia and, increasingly, salsa. The band’s incorporation of dissonant tones, eerie atmospherics, and haunting guitar leads are stylistic signifiers of their ‘spooky’ undertone that blends into their psychedelic sound. I begin our interview by asking about a recurring ad-lib that shows up in their performances.”
