Folk Under the Clock returns for new season
Oysters 3, The Once, Lennie Gallant on roster this year
The Folk Under The Clock festival returns for it’s 32nd annual season this October. The season will run until April 2019, and feature five artists. The Young U` ns, Oysters 3, The Once, Harry Manx, and Lennie Gallant will all come to Peterborough to share their music.
The concerts are traditionally held at Market Hall. The theatre’s location – under Peterborough’s clock tower, gives the celebration of folk music it’s name. The venue was also selected for it’s warm atmosphere and historical feeling.
The folk festival started on Sept. 23, 1986, with Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie Maclean. Over the course of three decades, they have hosted 112 shows. Different artists come from all parts of the globe to present their music to Peterborough city.
Playing on Oct. 14, at 4 p.m., is England’s The YoungU` ns . The folk trio is comprised of Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes and David Eagle. They are known for their songs that honour and tell cities about various people in our world. They are the winners of the 2018 BBC 2 Folk Awards for Album of The Year, Strangers.
At 8 p.m., on Oct. 27, another English folk band arrives in Peterborough. Oysters 3 consists of lead vocalist John Jones, guitarist Alan Prosser, and fiddler Ian Telfer. Touring since 1978, they’ve played 35 different folk venues. They’ve won 5 BBC Folk Awards, as well as released 13 albums and one DVD. This year marks their 40th of collaboration.
November brings The Once. Performing on Nov. 22, at 8 p.m., the Newfoundland band is showcasing their new album, Time Enough. The trio is made up of Geraldine Hollett, providing lead vocals, Phil Churchill, with vocals, guitars and drums, and Andrew Dale, offering vocals, mandolin, banjo and bouzouki. Other than Time Enough, they’ve released three studio albums. Megan Bonnell, a Toronto based singer-songwriter, will open.
In the new year, on Jan 20, at 4 p.m., Harry Manx will play. Manx, who switches easily between many instruments, has released 11 albums.
He has a long list of achievements, including seven Maple Blue Awards, six Juno nominations over the years, the 2005 Canadian Folk Award for Best Solo Artist, and CBC Radio’s 2007 Great Canadian Blues Award. Most recently, his Bread And Buddha album received a Juno nomination for the Blues Album Of The Year, in 2010.
"I'm in this process where I keep exploring, searching for the unknown, "Manx told Northumberland News earlier this year.
He left home at the age of 15 to pursue his musical dream. "It gets deeper over the years. It gets stronger for me."
Born on the Isle of Man, Manx immigrated to Ontario with his parents as a child. His musical journey began as a roadie, gradually working his way up to becoming the regular sound man at Toronto's historic El Mocambo.
"There's always something new to move into, " said Manx, his
2013 release Om Suite Ohm, that blends Indian folk melodies with slide guitar and a sprinkling of gospel, a prime example.
"But you need to practice, practice, practice. You only get out of it what you put into it . . . . When you do, it pays back tenfold."
The final performer of the 32nd season is Lennie Gallant. He will play on Apr. 11, at 8p.m. Hailing from P.E.I., this artist has released 13 albums.
He is celebrated even in space, with one of his albums joining Canadian astronaut and now Governor General Julie Payette during her time at the International Space Station.
He has received the 2015 Canadian Folk Music Award in addition to numerous awards and nominations for Junos, East Coast Music Awards and Les Prix Eloizes.
Tickets have varied prices. The YoungU` ns tickets cost $37, Oysters 3 and The Once tickets cost $42, Harry Manx tickets cost $45 and Lennie Gallant tickets cost $39.
All tickets are available at either the Market Hall Box Office (705 749 1146) or online at markethall.org.