The Peterborough Folk Festival has announced Lauryn Macfarlane as the festival’s 2021 Emerging Artist Award recipient.
Organizers made the announcement Saturday night (August 21) at the Rolling Grape Vineyard in Bailieboro — the final night of ‘We Can Do This’, a series of ticketed live music concerts in place of the festival’s traditional free weekend celebration at Nicholls Oval Park — where Macfarlane opened for Donovan Woods and Chantal Kreviazuk.
Raised in Peterborough, the alt-country and indie pop singer-songwriter moved to Montreal in the fall of 2019, where she’s working on her debut EP. She released her second single “Nowhere Town” earlier this year, following up her first single “Friendly” — both of which will be included on the EP.
“I grew up going to the festival so to be named the emerging artist for this year feels like a very full circle moment,” Macfarlane writes on her Facebook page.
“Thank you to everyone that came out to Rolling Grape Vineyard, bought a ticket, braved the heat and listened,” she adds. “Such an attentive, supportive, beautiful audience, and a beautiful night. This was my first show back since February 2020 and I couldn’t have asked for a better return to live music.”
In the past, Mafarlane has performed at the Peterborough Folk Festival, has opened for JJ and The Pillars, Heaps (Formally The Kents), Kane Miller, and Nefe and, in February, recorded a performance for the virtual Hillside Festival in Guelph. She recently signed with Artist Group International agent Adam Countryman, whose client list has included Arkells, A Tribe Called Red, Half Moon Run, Lights, and more.
VIDEO: “Nowhere Town” – Lauryn Macfarlane
Mafarlane joins a long list of Peterborough-area musicians who have received the Emerging Artist Award, starting with Millbrook’s Serena Ryder in 2001. The recipient of the festival’s annual award, which recognizes emerging young local talent deserving of attention, is selected by a committee who assess applicants on skill, dedication, and artistic merit.
For more information about Macfarlane, visit her website at laurynmacfarlane.com..
Recipients of the award are given showcase spots at the festival and receive a trip to the Folk Music Ontario annual conference, where they have the opportunity to meet artistic directors, other musicians, agents, and funders.
Here’s the full list of recipients (no award was given in 2020 due to the pandemic):
- 2021 – Lauryn Macfarlane
- 2019 – Paper Shakers
- 2018 – Hillary Dumoulin
- 2017 – Mary-Kate Edwards
- 2016 – Nick Procyshyn
- 2015 – Evangeline Gentle
- 2014 – The Lonely Parade
- 2013 – Dylan Ireland
- 2012 – Jos Fortin
- 2011 – Melissa Payne
- 2010 – Kate LeDeuce
- 2009 – Missy Knott
- 2008 – Sean Conway
- 2007 – Dave Simard & Kelly McMichael
- 2006 – Drea Nasager
- 2005 – Benj Rowland
- 2004 – Beau Dixon
- 2003 – Jill Staveley
- 2002 – James McKenty
- 2001 – Serena Ryder
