Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Ryan Wayne, Julian Taylor, OMBIIGIZI, Sunset Rubdown, Bob Sumner, Petunia & The Vipers, Abigail Lapell, and Craig Robertson
Read MoreOMBIIGIZI, photo by Natasha Roberts
Rory Taillon, photo by Trailblazer Productions
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Rory Taillon, Judgement, OMBIIGIZI, Julian Taylor, Peter Dreams, Sleepkit, Old Man Luedecke, and Thin Lizzy
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Rory Taillon, Judgement, OMBIIGIZI, Julian Taylor, Peter Dreams, Sleepkit, Old Man Luedecke, and Thin Lizzy
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Julian Taylor
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Julian Taylor, Chuck D, Orchestra Gold, Zada, Ellen Froese, Marcus Paquin, Gord Downie and Bob Rock, and Tanya Tucker
By Will McGuirk
“This land is my land, this land is your land, This land was made for you and me, poor choice of words by Woody Guthrie. The land was stolen and in the first verse I say and now everyone can see and in the second verse I say that it was built on slavery.” - Julian Taylor
“I am moving past old ideas and into a realm of music that incorporates some newer techniques that I have been opposed to in the past (doubling vocals, drum machines, synths), and recognizing that folk music can be anything I want it to be” - Ellen Froese
“It celebrates an awareness that a myriad of beautiful experiences exist in every moment and that it’s up to each of us to be present in those moments so we can absorb and reflect that energy back onto others.” - Marcus Paquin
By Divine Right, photo Catherine Stockhausen
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Haviah Mighty, Ria Mae, Julian Taylor, Ernesto Cervini, David Myles, By Divine Right, the Blue Stones, LS Dunes, and Q
By Will McGuirk
“Overall, this song is a reminder that nothing…is surface deep." - Haviah Mighty
“You’re done conforming, you’re done caring, you’re over the hanging weight of shame, disappointment, or unchecked goals. You’ve let go, and it’s the most freeing feeling you’ve ever experienced. You just don’t give a shit, and it’s fucking great.” - Tarek Jafar, The Blue Stones
Ria Mae with Virginia to Vegas at the Biltmore Theatre Thursday Nov. 24 2022
Status / Non-Status, photo by Matthew Wiewel
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Status / Non-Status, Julian Taylor, Julia Jacklin, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Basset, Lukka, The Sweet Kill, and David Strickland
By Will McGuirk
“an observation on community. Of how flashy lights and opportunities flush vibrant people from their humble homes. It’s about the death of the small town and the call to join the city mass.” - Adam Sturgeon, Status / Non-Status
“Once music becomes your job, you can lose the purity of music fandom. I spent the last two years trying to reconnect with that. I didn’t play much, I just listened” - Julia Jacklin
“the meaning of the title generally refers to all that we are and who we see is a reflection of the light.” - Lukka
"‘Level up’ is about celebrating life, family and natural medicine. Inspiration comes easy when working with this team, I’m blessed!” - Drezus, David Strickland
Julia Jacklin performs Sept 21 Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto
Adam Baldwin, photo by Griffin O’Toole
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Adam Baldwin, Julian Taylor, Ouri, Ariel Posen, Living Hour, Jerry Sereda, Song Sparrow Research, and Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors
By Will McGuirk
“It's my love letter to all of us who defy convention, whether by choice or necessity. It's my plea to everyone to follow your heart. You never know what other underdog you'll inspire to be heroic.” - Adam Baldwin
Julian Taylor: Thoughts on his Hillside debut
By Will McGuirk
On his latest album singer/songwriter Julian Taylor reflects on his Indigenous and West Indian heritage. Titled ‘Beyond the Reservoir” the album is a consideration of dualities, the balance of the urban and the rural as well as his own roots in two communities. The latest single ‘SEEDS” is Taylor’s way to come to terms with ongoing discovery of graveyards at residential schools across Canada.
2022 marks his Hillside debut.
Julian Taylor - “I’m ecstatic to be performing at Hillside this year. My younger cousins are coming and so is my daughter who is ten which makes the festival experience a family experience and what could possibly be better than that.
“This will be my first time playing Hillside in person. In 2020 during the height of the first wave of the pandemic I did do a live stream for Hillside and broadcast from my backyard. “
Springtide Music Fest share full line-up; Elliott Brood, Jerry Leger, and Ellevator added
By Will McGuirk
Well well Springtide Music Fest just gets better and bigger. And lets not forget the community of Uxbridge, host to the fest, has been hit hard by the recent tornado touchdown, including a key venue, the Second Wedge Brewery, . But as befits the trail capital of Canada the music community et al are blazing a trail out of the destruction with the power of creation.
The three day festival taking place July 21, 22, and 23, has moved the main outdoor area from the Wedge to Centennial Park. While the fest features the return of Bedouin Soundclash, as well as other notables, Elliott Brood, Julian Taylor, Danny Michel, among them, there is also a very broad selection of acts from the area, many of whom were regular players at the brewery, including Rory Taillon, Matt Gunn, Mattie Leon, Brooklyn Doran, Tania Joy, EDITH, Hollowsage and the Three Mile Islanders, Wooly, and Cassie Noble.
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Julian Taylor, Haviah Mighty, Charlie Houston, Geoffroy, Felly, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Dave Monks,
By Will McGuirk
“These days, I don't have time to waste, so I’m getting better at determining early on who/what is worth investing my time into. This song focuses on the fact that I know I'm a prize, so act right, or you'll miss out." - Haviah Mighty
“It’s definitely one of the most introspective songs on the album. I guess it’s a very mature version of myself who wrote this, hah. It’s about accepting and coming to terms with the fact that a relationship has come to its end. It’s about moving on, letting go, and feeling okay about it." - Geoffroy
“It's the feeling of like, once you've gotten over your heart hurting for someone else that it's not even about them anymore - it's about you. Your longing to not feel crushed anymore. It's almost this pathetic request to feel ok, to feel loved.” - Felly
“For me this album and the sum of its parts are a discovery of that bigger and truer sense of “me”. The title which came from a dream and stuck, could be my charmed reaction upon realizing that. Like I’ve just heard the final masters and blurt out, “Well, good! I’ve always wanted to be me!” - Dave Monks
Mariposa moves from lake side to live stream; Julian Taylor and Kalyna Rakel on Thurs Jun 11
By Will McGuirk
For the past dozen or so years around this time I start looking forward to a weekend with Mariposa. Always such a beautiful chill time but the Grand Dame of folk festivals is taking a break this year. Sad, as it was the 60th anniversary. Sad by two as already announced was John Prine, who recently passed due to Covid-19.
So in response the folks at Mariposa are moving some stuff online. First up is a live stream featuring Julian Taylor (who was a highlight last year) and Kalyna Rakel, the jazzy blues singer/songwriter from TO.
This free live music presentation is a partnership with Mariposa Folk Festival and the National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts . The show takes place on Thursday, June 11th, at 8:30 p.m. (eastern time) and will be live streamed from the Tranzac Club in downtown Toronto, on the Mariposa’s Facebook page.
Julian Taylor will be on stage from 8:30-9:15 p.m. and Kalyna Rakel from 9:15-9:45
( Georgia Anne Muldrow) Jyoti, photo by Priscilla Jimenez
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Jyoti, Mike Boguski, Nubya Garcia, Julian Taylor, Zella, LA Priest, T. Thomason, and Ria Mae
By Will McGuirk
That which got us to this place is not that which will get us out.
“My Game is feverish time travel into every dimension where the hustle is on the floor. It’s a disco game board with a pair of cherry red dice rolling in my favor. I’m climbing up onto the table in my glitter platforms and I’m calling the shots.” - Zella
"Being vulnerable is hard and it always brings me face to face with the parts of myself I wonder if anyone will ever be able to love, or love around," - T Thomason.