Mill Race Festival Programme Information

Please note: This online version of the Mill Race Programme contains information about the Festival and the performers. It does not contain the schedule of performances, photographs of the participants, maps of the stages, nor the other graphical content of the complete, printed programme.

Part of the Grand River Folk Community:
http://www.grandriverfolk.org

MILL RACE STAGES

1. Mill Race Amphitheatre (All Weekend)
Concerts & workshops
Rain Venue: 9. Toyota Room, Cambridge Centre for the Arts

2. Water St. Stage (Saturday & Sunday)
Children's Stage: 1-5 p.m. both days
Concerts: Early Evening, both days
Barn Dance: 8-10 p.m. Saturday
Rain Venue: 9. Toyota Room, Cambridge Centre for the Arts

3. Civic Square Stage (All Weekend)
Concerts & Workshops, Arts & Crafts
Rain Venue: 10. Civic Administration Building

4. Golden Kiwi Pub (All Weekend)
Informal British Isles Style Pub jam sessions

5. Main Street Stage (Saturday Only)
Concerts
Rain Venue: 8. Ainslie Hall, Wesley United Church, in the Market Square
(Ballantyne Hall is the rain venue for the Morris Dancing)
Sponsored by the Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Association

6. Café 13 (All Weekend)
Concerts: Galt Room, second floor

7. Royal Canadian Legion (Saturday, Sunday)
Singaround sessions led by members of the Mill Race Folk Club and others

Allison Lupton Band:
Allison Lupton and band mates Ian Bell, Denis Rondeau, Geoff Somers and Jay Weiler captivate listeners with their beautiful renditions of traditional and original songs and tunes. The band features exquisite, three-part vocal harmonies and captivating arrangements highlighting flute, fiddle, guitar, accordion, mandolin and acoustic bass. Allison, an accomplished singer/flute player, was part of two recordings in the group Killiecrankie. She also performed on CBC radio's “The Vinyl Café” hosted by Stuart McLean and was guest musician on recordings by artists as Don McGeoch.
Web: www.allisonlupton.com
Email: info@allisonlupton.com
CDs available

Andrew Queen & the Fuzzy Fellers (a.k.a Hen House Vandals):
This group's animated delivery of original fairy tale songs, campfire favourites, and old time jug band & mountain music stirs up the crowd, and has them laughing and listening for more. Andrew fuels his audience with silly stories for kids that jumpstart dramatic movement and expression. Before you know it, the whole room is tapping body percussion, doing wacky actions and playing jug band instruments. The laughter is infectious as he takes you yodeling through the Austrian Alps, then tromping into the muck of the Okefenokee Swamp in search of alligators! The Fuzzy Fellers are: Luke Mercier, singing the back-woodsy harmonies and fiddling up a storm, Dan Oullette on the blues harmonica and Tim Hadley on the doghouse bass. When the sun goes down, the Fellers sneak off into the moonlight as the Henhouse Vandals. They break into the fiddle tunes that have rung across barnyards and mountaintops of North America for well over a hundred years. They sing with a happy, raw, energy that you would expect with players from the likes of Jughead, Grievous Angels and Stompin' Tom Connors.
Web: http://www.sonicbids.com/andrewqueen
Email: andrewqueen@sympatico.ca
CDs available

Crucible:
These outstanding performers of English traditional folk music and song combine formidable harmony vocal talents with all-round instrumental skills born out of years of playing for dance. Crucible are fast becoming highly respected composers of new songs and tunes in the tradition, with their compositions cropping up both in singarounds and in the repertoire of seasoned performers. Crucible's up-front, energetic and emotive performances have won them friends and high profile fans across the United Kingdom and overseas. Love and Money is their third album, mixing dance tunes straight from the tradition with ballads and songs new and old performed in gritty harmony. It reflects a newfound assurance and maturity that is certain to gain them further fans and plaudits. Crucible are: Gavin Davenport: vocals, guitar, cittern; Richard Arrowsmith, vocals, melodeon, anglo concertina; Helena Reynolds, vocals, fiddles, bagpipes; Jess Arrowsmith, vocals, fiddle.
Web: www.cruciblemusic.co.uk
Email: info@cruciblemusic.co.uk
CDs available

Crumbly the Clown:
Flaming torches, devil sticks, balloon animals and magic tricks and a unicycle are all part of Crumbly the Clown's act. This Kitchener-based clown's specialty is juggling almost anything . . . handkerchiefs, balls, rings, pins and of course, flaming torches.
Tel: 519-579-3203
Sponsored by Giant Tiger

Deborah Quigley & Martin Gould:
This duo recently released their first recording together, “Deborah Quigley with Martin Gould,” a charming collection of tunes new and old, traditional and composed, in the Irish tradition. Deborah Quigley has been in numerous sessions, recordings, solo appearances, radio and television performances, including successful stints with the well-regarded Toronto groups “Kitty's Kitchen” and “Dulaman.” She is a founding member of the Chris Langan Traditional Music Weekend (named for her mentor) in Toronto and teaches workshops on both the uilleann pipes and tin whistle. Guitarist Martin Gould is a fixture of the Toronto Irish music scene and is well known for his years as part “TaleSpin,” a group that played concerts, clubs and festivals, and produced two well-received recordings (recently reissued on CD). Gould has also played with “Clachan” and “Dulaman,” a larger group formed to combine elements of traditional and baroque music. He has appeared on numerous recordings and radio broadcasts.
Email: martingould@sympatico.ca
CDs available.
Sponsored by Rockwell Automation

Doc Rossi:
Doc Rossi: Doc Rossi is the foremost expert on the English guittar or cetra. He has performed across North America and Europe as a soloist and with several groups, playing early music and Irish and American traditional music. He plays all sorts of citterns and bouzoukis and specializes in the links between traditional and classical music. He has recorded the works of Pasqualini Demarzi with Andrea Damiani, and La Cetra Galante, a recital CD of 18th-century solos and duets for Cetra. He also performs with The Batchelor Consort and Robert Amyot. His publications include The Compleat Cittern or Guittar, the English translation of Andrea Damiani's Tutor for Renaissance Lute, and the acclaimed Original Guitar Styles of Jerry Donahue. Also a scholar, he has prepared a modern edition of Thomas Robinson's complete music for cittern, and has published several articles on cittern and guitar.
Web: www.cetrapublishing.com/artists/rossi
Email: rossi@cetrapublishing.com
CDs available
Sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada

Farwell to Erin:
Farewell to Erin, comprised of the trio Karli Strohschein, Brandon Gidley and Nicolas Brown, will carry you to the Cliffs of Moher, the Beare Island, and points in between, with slides, polkas, reels, jigs, hornpipes and slip jigs both old and new, but mostly old. You'll be transported to a time when travelling to the next parish was a major voyage, and American wakes were held to say goodbye, forever, to family members leaving for Canada and the United States. Karli plays the button accordion and is influenced by traditional Kerry box players. Brandon plays fiddle in the Clare style and has learned from old recordings as well as respected contemporary musicians. Nicolas started playing the uilleann pipes and concert flute, after being told to learn a “real” instrument! The tunes will be tied together with stories of immigrants, musicians, and itinerant travellers, and interspersed with airs and songs.
Web: http://nicolaslbrown.googlepages.com/farewelltoerin
Email: nicolasbrown@hotmail.com
CDs available

Foxtail:
Originally founded in 1997, Foxtail pioneered the re-emergence of the use of a single microphone in central Canada. The single microphone harkens back to the early days of bluegrass, when reliable and robust equipment had yet to be developed. This forced entertainers to exercise exacting musicianship and careful choreography in their performances. Many bluegrass experts have lauded this band for its unique presentation and high-grade energy output. Current band members include Nora Galloway, Gord DeVries and Larry Johnston who joined forces 2001, and Marnie Niemi, who joined the group in 2006. Foxtail has played at numerous bluegrass festivals in Canada and the United States, and has a long list of group and individual music awards to their credit, including several Central Canadian Bluegrass Awards. In 2006, the group released “Farms for Sale,” an all-original project.
Web: www.foxtail.ca
CDs available

Johnny Collins, Jim Mageean & Graeme Knights:
This accomplished trio from the United Kingdom has been a big hit with Mill Race festival-goers in the past. Internationally acclaimed performer and recording artist, Johnny Collins, living near London, England, has organized folk clubs and topped the bill in concerts and festivals around the world. His vigorous style and ability to persuade audiences to join in choruses is unrivalled. Jim Mageean has performed both as a member of various British shanty singing groups and as a duo with Johnny Collins. He has also worked in several stage productions in London, Newcastle and elsewhere including “The Transports” a famed folk opera at the Royal Festival Hall. Graeme Knights has a wide-ranging repertoire, including traditional love songs; mining and gospel songs, drinking and some of music hall material and more recently composed songs. He has performed at many folk festivals and clubs in both the UK and Europe.
Websites: www.johnnycollins.net/ www.keelers.net/jim.htm www.graemeknights.net
Email: jcpedlar.songs@virgin.net
CDs Available

Jake:
Award-winning musician Jake Differ believes that music should never underestimate children. His lyrics make children laugh or dream, but they're never simplistic. His rhythms make little feet dance, but they're rich and varied, and borrow from many different musical styles. You can sing along with his melodies, but they're fresh and new. Jake's latest album Ziggy Zaggy Road, featuring 15 new songs, is no exception. Opening with the irresistible sing-along “A Friend Like You”, the album winds by oceans (“Sailing Man”, “Georgia Strait”), zooms into deepest “Space”, explores the quiet wonder of “My Garden”, joins a raucous animal party “On the Bayou”, before making one last stop in a special place with the uplifting “Peace Waits For Us There”. Jake's unforgettable live performance has become a popular favourite at festivals and events across Canada.
Web: www.musicbyjake.com
Email: info@musicbyjake.com
CDs available

Mel M'rabet Ensemble:
M'rabet dazzles listeners by deftly leaping from traditional Arabic-Andalusia sounds to jazz and Western classical styles. The band, which specializes in traditional and original Arabic, Turkish, and Andalusia music with modern twist, brings to life a vision for the unbridled fusion of Arab, jazz, Western classical and Latin American music. It's a perfect alchemy for music to transcend the boundaries of genre and geography. The trio is comprised of Mel M'rabet who has earned him national and international acclaim as a virtuoso on the 'oud; Nicolas Caloia on upright bass, and Miguel Medina on assorted. The group plays a combination of re-arranged traditional tunes and their own material, music that incorporates eastern modes and complex time signatures. It is a musical journey where east meets west, and quarter-micro tonalities intertwine with harmony, and moods become modes.
Web: www.myspace.com/melm39abet
Email: mrabetm@rogers.com

Rallion:
Rallion, a four-piece traditional folk group from Edinburgh and Glasgow, are one of the most exciting bands on the Scottish folk scene today. Their trademark is their double fiddle sound and contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish songs, including delicate slow airs and thrilling reels, mournful ballads and up-tempo drinking songs, plus everything in between. Rallion are: Marieke McBean (vocals, bodhran, djembe, guitar), who was born in The Netherlands and moved to Scotland in 2001 to follow her passion for Scottish music; Stevie Lawrence (guitar, bouzouki), a mainstay with the group Iron Horse for three years, releasing three albums and touring extensively; Andrew Lyons (fiddle, cittern), who plays anything he can lay his hands on and also writes, performs and records his own music; Fiona Cuthill (fiddle, whistles, recorder) a Glaswegian clinical psychologist by day and musician by night who has played with many bands in the ceilidh scene, and is also a session musician and teaches fiddle.
Web: www.rallion.co.uk
Email: info@rallion.co.uk
CDs available

Rant Maggie Rant:
This five-member ensemble brings you a presentation of Celtic music with a bit of attitude. The diverse musical backgrounds of its members bring touches of bluegrass, Latin swing, and even hints of jazz to new and traditional Celtic tunes. It's Celtic music with a multi-cultural connection
Web: www.markfletcher.ca
Email: info@markfletcher.ca
CDs available

Relative Harmony:
This is a family band that primarily plays music for squares, contras and English dances, as well as putting on concerts and workshops for kids and adults. This band's instrumental music is a blend of traditional Anglo-American and Celtic dance tunes for two violins, piano/guitar and percussion. They have played for dances in Ontario and the eastern United States-from Rochester, New York to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Vocally, this group performs mostly traditional folk songs in two, three and four-part harmony, with a special emphasis on audience participation. Rick Avery, who was a founding member of the now legendary 'Fiddler's Green' Coffeehouse in Toronto, plays guitar, banjo and piano; Katie Avery, plays fiddle and Judy Greenhill, the caller for the group, plays percussion and guitar.
Web: www.relativeharmony.com
Email: info@relativeharmony.com

Rembetika Hipsters:
Rembetika: A popular genre of Greek music comparable to the blues. Hipsters: like the Greek Manges; cool dudes, hep cats in the know, those of a subculture on the fringe of society. The Rembetika Hipsters are a nationally acclaimed Greek music group based in Calgary. Since 1996, their repertoire has included authentic Greek Rembetika songs, original Canadian compositions in Greek, Balkan & Middle-Eastern styles, contemporary belly-dance instrumentals and jazz-influenced bouzouki pop. Members include: Nick Diochnos, bouzouki, vocals; Allen Baekeland, guitar, vocals; Ben Johnson, percussion, other; Lincoln Frey, clarinet, squeezebox; Jonathan Lewis, violin, baglama; Brigitte Dajczer, violin.
Web: www.rembetika.com
Email: thehipsters@rembetika.com
CDs available

Robert Davis:
The Robert Davis Kids Show is what happens when Jimmy Buffett meets up with Raffi at the multiplex to see Toy Story 3! Family audiences are sure to have a good time with all the fun, catchy songs and comedy in this popular family music show. Based in Toronto, Robert Davis is an award-winning songwriter who's garnered top honours in several songwriting contests and his tunes have been awarded children's music industry awards including Parent's Choice, iParenting Media and two National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) Gold Awards. Robert has appeared on Treehouse TV. The Galaxie Kids Stuff and Max Trax Treehouse TV audio channels play many of his songs. He has independently released two children's music CDs: I Dream of Pizza and Get Snappy. He is currently writing and recording songs for a third CD and his first CD of adult contemporary songs.
Website: www.robertdavis.ca
Email: robert@robertdavis.ca
CDs Available

Roger Scanurra and Ritmo Flamenco:
Roger Scannura is an internationally recognized flamenco guitarist and leading exponent of Nuevo Flamenco. Scannura was born on the history-drenched island of Malta. His early schooling began at the Franciscan Monastery of St. Theresa where he was tutored in European history, Latin, fine art and art restoration. He has been immersed in music since early childhood and mastered the techniques and nuances of Flamenco guitar while in Spain for 12 years under the auspices of Pepe Habichuela and other gypsy masters. He has toured Europe and North America as a soloist and as a Music Director for several flamenco dance companies. He is also a founder of the acclaimed Toronto based dance company Ritmo Flamenco. Scannura with his group has performed for prime ministers, dignitaries as well as an assortment of celebrities. Scannura has recorded six CDs of original flamenco music encompassing both traditional and modern styles.
Websites: www.rogerscannura.ca www.ritmoflamenco.com
CDs available

Silk Road:
Silk Road's imaginative and unique approach to Asian music has been well received at every concert. The Silk Road duo, the husband and wife team Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, are now touring their release, Autumn Cloud: Journey with her Pipa. Qiu Xia He is a virtuoso pipa player from China. Multi-instrumentalist Andre Thibault was born in Montreal. Their performance surrounds the Chinese pipa with many world instruments, such as the flamenco guitar from Spain, the oud, a lute from the Middle East, plus winds and percussion. A refreshing, enjoyable and exciting experience is in store for audiences as they are introduced to the different cultures that this duo have encountered in their experiences, discoveries and travels.
Web: www.silkroadmusic.ca
Email: qxcloud@telus.net
CDs available

Tethera:
Shepherds in Lincolnshire, England, until very recent times, used ancient Celtic numerals for counting their sheep. Yan is one, tan is two and tethera is three. Tethera is also the collective name for three Cambridge, Ont. musicians: Paul Morris (mandolin, vocals, concertina and melodeon), Brad McEwen (citterns and vocals) and Brian Sinclair (mandocello and various other unique stringed instruments). Paul is one half of the English music hall duo County Vaudeville, and Brad and Brian have been in Nonesuch for years. Brad is also the founder and artistic director of the Mill Race Folk Society. They have been playing together in pub sessions for many years and bring the relaxed style of the informal session to the festival stage. Just close your eyes and imagine the ancient timbers of an old pub and a pint of English ale in front of you!
Email: tethera.three@yahoo.ca
CDs available

Tiit Kao:
Tiit Kao has been playing traditional music from Estonia and its Baltic neighbours for over 30 years. He plays kannel (an indigenous psaltery) and torupill (Estonian bagpipe). Well known to Southern Ontario's Estonian community, his repertoire ranges from Bronze Age to early 20th century village tunes.
Email: kao@golden.net
Sponsored by: Arriscraft International

Zoe the Clown:
With balloons, interactive clown magic, stilt walking and much, much, more, Zoe the Clown keeps kids wideeyed and laughing. Zoe can also play harmonica, do stories, skits and singalongs and performs at birthday parties, promotions and picnics.
Web: www.thechucklegang.com
Email: zoe@thechucklegang.com
Tel: 519-632-8004
Sponsored by Giant Tiger

Zubrivka:
Zubrivka is a Ukrainian folk band from Toronto, Canada, specializing in acoustic renditions of classic Ukrainian folk songs and melodies. Like the lush grass that grows on the steppes of Ukraine (where the band gets its name), the music of Zubrivka captures the emotion and richness of Ukrainian heritage and folklore. Listeners have described Zubrivka's performances as an exciting and emotional experience, almost like being “transformed back in time to Ukraine.” Formed in 2005 from a chance meeting of vocalist Christina Moroch and accordionist Steve Didunyk, the band has since added three other full-time members: Adrian Lawryshyn (guitar) is a professional musician who has toured with popular artists; Halyna Dziuryn (violin) is a Ukrainian-born classical musician, music teacher and performer; Terry Golletz (mandolin) is an accomplished musician and songwriter with two CD's of original material. The band's first independent CD was released last summer and a follow-up recording is to be released this year.
Web: www.myspace.com/zubrivka
Email: zubrivka@vlodko.com
CDs available

DANCE GROUPS
Sponsored by: Downtown Cambridge Business Improvement Association

Cambridge Splinters
Splinters Splinters were born of Cold Barn Morris and are the latest side to form in a 24-year long tradition of Morris dancing in southern Ontario. The name is derived from one or more of a number of possibilities - perhaps the remarkable number of sticks broken in one dance in Cambridge, or the damage inflicted by the Squire on the new front bar of the Golden Kiwi during the dance 'The Cuckoos Nest! This side has a core group of dancers but is on the lookout for more recruits. Anyone who enjoys dancing is welcome and the Splinters will provide instruction and encouragement! If you are interested, contact Phil Cowles, Squire.
Web: www.cambridgesplinters.ca
Email: philip.cowles@comdev.ca

Forest City Morris & Sword:
Forest City Morris & Sword hails from London Ontario and have been dancing for over 25 years. This Cotswold Morris team draws inspiration for its dances from the village of Kirtlington, in England. Over the past ten years, this energetic group of women has performed at numerous festivals and dance events throughout Canada, the U.S., Bermuda and England and is excited to come once again to the Mill Race festival.
Tel: 519-661-0751
Web: www.freewebs.com/forestcitymorris
Email: forestcitymorris@hotmail.com

Oakville Ale & Sword:
Formed as an offshoot of the Oakville Scottish Country Dance group, Oakville Ale and Sword were formed in 2007. Repertoire includes dances based on the Scottish longsword tradition of Papa Stour & Elgin and North Yorkshire tradition of Ampleforth. There are 12 current members plus three (sometimes four) musicians.
Email: scouse-one@cogeco.ca

Orange Peel Morris:
Orange Peel Morris Dancers is the Border Morris dancing troupe from the Orangeville area northwest of Toronto. These dancers do Border Morris, an old English folk dance performance style from the English/Welsh borders of Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, adding in their own inventions, plus those that have been gleaned from others. High spirits and high energy - “a rude vigor” - typify Border Morris. “A chance to perform in the street, to show off, to be loud or silly or raucous, to violate normal standards of behavior and not only get away with it, but be applauded for it.”
Web: http://homepage.mac.com/laddie/orangepeelmorris
Email: mwhitcombe@sympatico.ca

Toronto Morris Men:
It is certain that Morris dancing has been done in England since before the 1400's and the Toronto Morris Men, formed in 1985, are actively keeping the tradition alive. Now comprised of a large group of dancers and musicians, ranging in age from teens to 60-plus years, this group takes dancing seriously, but could never be accused of taking themselves seriously. The men also love to sing, with a repertoire that reflects the same zest and appreciation of good company and good sustenance.
Website: http://tfmm.ca
Email: squire@tfmm.ca

This list represents all Craft and Food Vendors
who have registered by print deadline.

The Book Band
Trudi & George Down
Hamilton, ON
905-545-5274
E: info@thebookband.com
Marketing, promotion and distribution for small press publishers

Cambridge Candle
Laura Gauthier
Cambridge, ON
519-620-0262
E: info@cambridgecandle.ca
Candles

Collier Creations
Terri-Lynn Collier
Brantford, ON
519-750-1166
E: colliercreations@hotmail.com
Fossils, minerals, jewellery

Henna and Me
Suzanne Schwab
Ilderton, ON
519-666-0404
E: suzanne.schwab@lhsc.on.ca
Henna body art

Mehendhi-Village
Bhupi Rajput
Cambridge, ON
519-620-9410
W: www.henna4you.com
E: bhupi@mehendhi.com
Professional henna artist, corporate/ promotional events and henna parties

Nanascrafts
Dusanka Novakovic
Mississauga, ON
905-270-9077
E: nanascrafts@sympatico.ca gfarstad@sympatico.ca
Handcrafted jewellery

Nature’s Nurture
Elaine Elias
Cambridge, ON
519-220-0110
E: eelias@sentex.net
Aromatherapy

Nharo!
Paul Wellhauser
Kitchener, ON
(519) 576-4357
W: http://www.nharo.com/
E: info@nharo.com
Crafts by African artisans (part of Faces of Fair Trade)