The 15th River and Sky Festival takes place July 20-23 2023 at Fisher’s Paradise in Field, Ontario. This year its a festival of friends with many of the artists having previously, as well as currently, been in bands together, on stages together and signed to the same labels. We give the open mic over to them.
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River & Sky 2023 announces The Sadies, Julie Doiron, Dominique Fils-Aimé, and Aysanabee
By Will McGuirk
One of the best shows thus far this year has been Daniel Romano Outfit opening for the Sadies here in Oshawa’s Biltmore Theatre. So great and afterwards I had a good number of folks come by the shop to buy up some Romano records.
If y’all want to re-live that well you are in luck. The Sadies and Daniel Romano Outfit are among the acts announced for this year’s River & Sky festival in Field, ON, north of Sturgeon Falls, running July 20 to 23. That is just fabulous news. And just as fabulous is the list of other acts also announced in this first wave.
River & Sky is one of the friendliest festivals and this year it seems they are bringing friends from all across the country together to hang and see each other perform, friends who live in other provinces and in southern Ontario, and for whom this Field is just about equal distance from all of them.
Julie Doiron will be there. Doiron of course was on record with Romano, along with Frederick Squire (one time resident of Oshawa), on Daniel, Fred and Julie, one of the first releases from You’ve Changed Records.
Also performing and another You’ve Changed alumni, Shotgun Jimmie, (one time resident of Ajax) so yah it is a very thoughtful line-up, but then again it has always been thoughtful. Consideration is in its DNA, consideration of community, of environment, of diversity, of economics, of transit, its just a beautiful experience in the woods, by a river below an expansive sky.
Aysanabee, Zoon, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Pelada, and Clerel are among the other performers announced. Tickets available here.
Russell Louder
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Zoon, Wayfinding, Justin Rutledge, Skydiggers, Russell Louder, Chris Picco, The Ironsides, and Mouraine
By Will McGuirk
""Come to My Senses" is the moment of clarity that follows the realization that everything will be okay… that everything fades in importance after life and death… and all the little things we sweat and worry about don’t amount to anything when we look back on our lives;" - Skydiggers
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Meghan Patrick, Neil Young, Fucked Up, Zoon, Chris Picco, Cots, Ryan Hicks, and Adam Baldwin
By Will McGuirk
“My dream is that like the kaleidoscope, all people can come together and see how beautiful the world is with all of our differences together.” - Ryan Hicks
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Zoon, Amanda Sum, Super Duty Tough Work, Dan Mangan, Dan Pallotta, Noah Derksen, TFD, NGHTMRE, and Jamie,
By Will McGuirk
“As a young person I’d find ways to escape my reality, sometimes I’d lay in a field and watch the clouds shape shift in the sky, just like wasakeechuk, an old mythical creature that lived with the first indigenous people of Turtle Island.” - Zoon
“Being a Gen Zer feels shameful and comedic. It’s important to laugh at that, I think. This music video will investigate the complex feelings that come with dancing through life as a member of the Gen Z club.” - Amanda Sum
“Art happens to be our discipline so we always attempt to use it to further our cause, and create the world that we would like to see, in this case, a world where "justice" is actually served.” - Brendan Grey, Super Duty Tough Work
“This song is about being emancipated by the beautiful humility of littleness." - Dan Mangan
Ellen Froese, photo by Landon Johnson
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Zoon, Ellen Froese, Field Guide, Declan O'Donovan, Wet Leg, Hollow Graves, and PUP
This open mic is a safe space where you can express yourself musically, no judgement, only encouragement.
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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Mike Boguski, Jean-Michel Blais, Zoon, Zada, She and Him, Rachel Bobbitt, Dawes, Whitehorse, and Sorry,
By Will McGuirk
“There is something alluring to me about checking the power of ego and tribalism, and as an artist, that is what I’m most inspired to do.” - Mike Boguski
“At the antipodes of the exploded, orchestral and luminous album that aubades represents exists its antagonism: sérénades” - Jean-Michel Blais
“I wanted to write about what it's like to be an immigrant…and for me – coming from Ethiopia – that meant excessive TSA checks, accustoming to new cultures, and travelling,” - ZADA
“Watch and See is a song about attempting to connect through moments of dissociation. Trying to use bits of phrases, visual landmarks & physical sensations to bring myself back to the present moment.” - Rachel Bobbitt
At the Drake Hotel. Toronto Aug 9 2022
at the Hayloft, Picton, ON, August 5 2022
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Whoop-Szo/Zoon, Alex Cuba, Alexandra Lost, Zaac Pick, Fresh Breath, Lynn Jackson, and the Airborne Toxic Event
By Will McGuirk
Finding your own way alright? Are you ok here inside the looking glass? Are you managing to navigate the cats and rabbit holes in this place where time seems upside down and sideways, this place of mad leaders. Are you taking your chances on pills and potions? Are you missing Outside?
“We had already been working and reworking a version of our song ‘Cut Your Hair’ and were craving some interaction from our space of self-quarantine after cancelling well over 50 shows. We decided to reach out to contemporaries who also do their ‘own thing’ in the electronic world “ - Adam Sturgeon/ Whoop-Szo
““Atmosphere” acknowledges the space in between, how it expands and contracts, blurring and coming into focus over time.” - Zaac Pick
Braids, photo by Melissa Gamache
Slowcity.ca open mic with Zoon, Braids, Indigo Girls, Sarah Jarosz, Noah Reid, half•alive, Davis & The Love Gear, Juke Ross, Grizzly Coast, and The Prairie States,
By Will McGuirk
Take this moment and nail it to the wall. Take every moment and nail it to the wall. Not because its your last but because it isn’t and years from now you will look for it and it will be there for you to tear off and recall and smile.