Refolkus

In this week's episode of ReFolkUs, we chat with Daniel Desjarlais. Daniel delves into the origins of the Sakawinow Music Festival, sharing the inspiration behind its creation and the story behind its name. He also discusses his process for curating the lineup and his passionate commitment to showcasing and uplifting local talent. Additionally, Daniel chats about his background in finance and culi...

In this week's episode of ReFolkUs, we chat with Terry O’Brien, a key figure in the UK folk scene. Terry offers an in-depth overview of the current folk music landscape in the UK, highlighting the many folk festivals and renowned folk clubs there. She delves into the English Folk Expo and outlines the many opportunities this conference presents for artists. Terry also provides valuable insights an...

Today, we are excited to release the second episode of our series, ‘On the Air’, where we delve into the fascinating world of radio. This week, we chat to Kwende Kefentse, the Executive Director of CKCU-FM. Kwende shares his passion for radio and the ways in which it connects and builds community. He also discusses the history of CKCU and shares his thoughts on how radio has changed and evolved ov...

In this week's episode, we sit down with grant writer and funding strategist, Samantha Matusoff.  Samantha shares her extensive knowledge of securing grants for artists and songwriters, detailing the various opportunities available at both the provincial and national levels. She also provides practical advice on the best approaches when applying for these grants to increase the chances of success...

Today, we are releasing the first episode in our series, ‘On the Air’, where we explore the wonderful world of radio. In this week's episode, we chat with Art Menius about the specialized field of folk radio promotion. Art provides valuable insights on the state of folk radio and discusses the vital role that radio still plays in the music industry today. He also shares his process of promoting re...

In this week's episode, we chat with folk artist and herbalist, Sarah Jane Scouten. Sarah Jane shares her philosophy on how musicians can achieve career longevity by prioritizing their health and discusses the benefits of using various herbs to help alleviate the mental and physical pressures of being on the road. She also provides tips and recommendations for what a touring musician's herbal tool...

In this week's episode, we chat with Liana White, the Executive Director of the Canadian National Office of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, otherwise known as the CFM. Liana provides an in-depth overview of US immigration and visas, focusing specifically on the requirements for Canadian musicians looking to work and perform in the US. She explores various scen...

Welcome back to the third season of ReFolkUs. In this week's episode, we chat with Jennifer Roe, the Executive Director of Folk Alliance International. Jennifer dives into all things Folk Alliance, sharing insights about the organization's history, growth, and exciting plans for the future. She also discusses their annual conference, highlighting what makes next year's 2025 event in Montreal, Queb...

Today, we are releasing the sixth episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we speak with Samir Baijal, the Artistic Director of Hillside Festival on Guelph Lake Island in Guelph, Ontario. Samir chats about his process of booking both the lineup and the workshops and the importance of fost...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Shakura S’Aida. Shakura goes into depth on how she navigates having hard conversations within both a personal and business context and offers advice on helpful ways of resolving differences in order to move forward. Shakura explains the importance of honesty and having realistic expectations during challenging discussions - while also highlighting the importance of em...

Today, we are releasing the fifth episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Doug Cox, the Artistic Director of Vancouver Island MusicFest in the Comox Valley in Courtenay, BC. Doug discusses the format of this campground festival, which includes six distinct stages. He also expl...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Luke Wallace. Luke touches on the ways in which he incorporates climate justice into his music by inspiring others through messages of hope, unity, and power. Luke also discusses his belief in initiating change collectively rather than individual thinking and addresses his perspective on how the music industry and artists can respond to the climate emergencies that we...

Today, we are releasing the fourth episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Louis Robitaille, the Artistic Director of Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Louis discusses the format of the festival, which includ...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Aysanabee. We discuss the incredible trajectory of his career — from his roots as a journalist to a fulltime music artist. He also delves into how he became the first artist signed to Ishkōdé Records, reflects on his experience performing at the 2023 Juno Awards and discusses why he feels every musician should be attending music conferences. Buy/Listen to Aysanabee’s...

Today, we are releasing the third episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to James Keelaghan, the Artistic Director of Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival in Owen Sound, Ontario. James chats to us about what he looks for when programming the lineup and booking artists for the fe...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Janice Jo Lee about the interplay between identity and creativity. Janice discusses how her Korean identity informs the narrative of her creative expression, and how music and art that is rooted in personal identity evoke both empathy and connection. Janice also fills us in on her latest album, Ancestor Song and discusses the themes that are present within. Buy/Listen...

Today, we are releasing the second episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Carly McFadden, the Artistic Director of Folk On The Rocks Music Festival in the Northwest Territories. Carly chats to us about what the experience is like both attending and performing at the festivals...

We're excited to kick off the first episode in a series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Kerry Clarke, the Artistic Director behind the renowned Calgary Folk Festival and its winter counterpart, Block Heater. Kerry walks us through her process of curating the festival lineup and shares insig...

This week on ReFolkUs, we chat with Just Prince about his musical influences from both Eastern classical and Western music. Through his superb musicianship and artistry, he weaves these influences together to create a distinctive sound that is uniquely his own. Just Prince also discusses his ambitions for the future as a music artist, his strategies for overcoming self-doubt and discusses his rece...

In this week’s episode of ReFolkUs, we chat with Barbra Lica about the urgent need for a more sustainable music industry. Focusing on the value artists bring and the importance of prioritizing joy in music-making, Barbra offers a unique perspective on the hurdles confronting artists within the industry and ideas for overcoming them on both a personal and collective level. Buy/Stream Barbra Lica’s...

In this week’s episode of ReFolkUs, we chat to entertainment lawyer Byron Pascoe, a partner at Edwards Creative Law, about the world of entertainment law and the important role a lawyer plays in a musician or creative worker's career.  We delve into negotiating contracts, knowing your rights, and how the right lawyer will serve as both an advocate and advisor to help navigate the complex landscape...

Welcome back to season 2 of ReFolkUs. We have a very exciting season ahead where we chat to artists and music industry professionals about building sustainable careers as creative workers, with a focus on folk. This week’s episode is a recording of a live listening party and conversation with folk legend Sylvia Tyson that took place at this year’s Folk Music Ontario Conference. We chat to Sylvia a...

ReFolkUs is back with a special pre-conference drop, where we will be releasing four episodes prior to the Folk Music Ontario Conference being held in London, Ontario on October 12th-15th. In this week’s episode, we chat to Melanie Brulée, the Executive Director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC). Melanie shares her recommendations and what to expect when attending a music conference wh...

ReFolkUs is back with a special pre-conference drop, where we will be releasing four episodes prior to the Folk Music Ontario Conference being held in London, Ontario on October 12th-15th. Named after Estelle Klein, a long-time advocate of Canadian Folk music and one of the initial founders of the Folk festival scene, the Estelle Klein Award honours the work of an individual or group that has made...

ReFolkUs is back with a special pre-conference drop, where we will be releasing four episodes prior to the Folk Music Ontario Conference being held in London, Ontario on October 12th-15th. Named after Estelle Klein, a long-time advocate of Canadian Folk music and one of the initial founders of the Folk festival scene, the Estelle Klein Award honours the work of an individual or group that has made...