Harrison Festival Blogger

Payadora is an award-winning ensemble that performs its own arrangements of a core repertoire drawing from Argentinian/Uruguayan traditions (tangos, milongas, waltzes, and folk music such as the Zamba and chacarera), as well as original songs inspired by that tradition. Comprised of musicians who are each musical powerhouses in their own right, this “superstar group” has combined their profound love of tango with their classical, jazz and world music backgrounds to create something entirely new. Payadora is officially endorsed by the Argentinian Consulate in Toronto for its adherence to the spirit of tango, and audiences flock to performances that convey joy, virtuosity, humour and intense passion.

Windborne’s captivating show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony, while the absolute uniqueness of their artistic approach brings old songs into the present. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable.

This exciting new project explores the demanding music of the iconoclastic composer Frank Zappa. Choosing selections from different eras of Frank’s career, the music is played with excitement, precision, and humour. A typical show will include everything from Zappa’s most popular recordings to lesser known gems of his prodigious output. Rock, jazz, doo-wop, classical – Zappostrophe’ plays it all! As we are always adding new material (and there is a lot to choose from) no two shows are exactly the same…

We are very excited to announce four amazing events happening right here in Harrison this Fall. Starting in September and making our way to November, we have a little something for everyone! With more concerts to be announced in the next month, keep a close eye on our newsletters and social pages. If you have not signed up for our newsletter, you can do so here!

As always, the program was diverse in style and cultural influences. This year, notably, there were several bands that combined electronic and analogue sounds in contemporary expressions of identity and community.