The Peterborough Folk Festival has announced Peterborough-based country musician Nathan Truax as the festival’s 2022 Emerging Artist Award recipient.
The festival made the announcement on Friday (August 19), the eve of the free weekend festival at Nicholls Oval Park in Peterborough.
“Nathan Truax has travelled many roads that has led him to his current path as an artist,” reads a media release from the festival. “From drumming in The Kents to touring as a bassist in Said the Whale, Nathan has traded the rock and roll aesthetic for something a little more down-home.”
“Stepping up to the mic this time himself, Nathan is on his way to carve a new path in the world of traditional country music. Being a multi-instrumentalist by nature allows him to execute his vision as a songwriter, and lends itself to creating a strong and cohesive sounding product.”
This past March, Truax released his eight-song album Pickin’ The Label.
He will be performing at the Peterborough Folk Festival at 1:45 p.m. on Saturday (August 20) on the Cameron’s Pavilion Stage.
VIDEO: “Broke” – Nathan Truax
When he’s not writing music and performing, Truax is also a part-time leather crafter, specializing in belts, guitar straps, wallets, and custom guitar covers. For more information, visit nathantruax.com.
Cambium Consulting and Engineering, headquartered in Peterborough, sponsored the 2022 Emerging Artist Award.
Truax 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.
Applicants may be solo artists, groups or bands and must live in Peterborough and the Kawarthas and be under the age of 30.
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):
- 2022 – Nathan Truax
- 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
