McKennitt’s eclectic Celtic blend of pop, folk and world music has sold over 14 million albums worldwide. Her recordings have achieved Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum status in 15 countries on four continents. She has twice been nominated for a GRAMMY® Award and has won two Juno Awards, as well as a Billboard International Achievement Award.
She has performed in some of the world’s most-respected and historic concert venues, from Carnegie Hall to the famous Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain and for dignitaries including the late Queen Elizabeth II and His Majesty King Charles III, and other heads of state.
Her appearance at Summerfolk, her first ever, is rare for the international artist, who will be presenting a 60-minute set largely featuring her early repertoire of traditional Irish songs.
“It will be a bit like going back to ‘touch the stone’ performing some of these traditional songs which inspired me so many years ago. Besides, this is really in my backyard,” says McKennitt. “I first began performing in folk clubs in Winnipeg and folk festivals are in my blood. I miss them terribly and am so looking forward to being a part of them again this summer.”
McKennitt will be joined by special guests The Bookends, a Stratford-based Celtic band, and several of their songs will also be included in the sets. The band also performed with her during December’s eight-city Under A Winter’s Moon Tour in Ontario. Members of the band – who have previously appeared at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival – are Errol Fischer on fiddle and banjo, Miriam Fischer on piano and accordion, Cait Watson on whistles and flute, Pete Watson on guitars and Romano DiNillo on Bodhran.
Serena Ryder tours her compelling latest album, The Art of Falling Apart, which invites listeners to join her mental wellness journey through a driving pop sound and the full range of her powerful voice.
On The Art of Falling Apart, her eighth studio album and seventh JUNO Award, she helps us understand the importance of sitting with the uncomfortable moments and the wisdom in their messages. Over a driving pop sound bursting with irresistible rhythms, pulsing bass lines, and the full range of her powerful and expressive voice, she pulls listeners through her own winding, transformational journey, detailing despair, toxic relationships, and breakdowns alongside hope, joy, and big, big love.
When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His latest album, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozensongs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel.
Andersen’s stage presence, informed by decades of cutting his teeth in dusty clubs, dim-lit bars, and grand theatres all over the world, delivering soulful performances that run the gamut from intimate to wall-shaking. In the studio, he’s always brought the sameattention to detail and commitment to craft as he has to his live show, and the result—amulti-faceted and poignant body of work—has led him to amass over 23 million streams on Spotify and 26 million views on YouTube.
In addition to headlining major festivals, clubs and theatres throughout North America,Europe and Australia, he has shared the stage and toured with Marcus King, Beth Hart, Marty Stuart, Greg Allman, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Randy Bachman, Jonny Lang, Serena Ryder, and more.
Andersen nabbed the 2013 and 2016 European Blues Awards for Best Solo/Acoustic Act, was the first ever Canadian to take home top honours in the solo category at the 2010 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, won the CIMA Road Gold award in 2015, and has won multiple Maple Blues Awards.