The Peterborough Folk Festival is now accepting applications for the 2023 Emerging Artist Award in advance of this year’s festival from August 18 to 20.
Applicants for the annual award recognizing young and emerging local talent may be solo artists, groups, or bands. They must be under the age of 30 and live in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, including Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations.
Applications will be accepted until the end of May at peterboroughfolkfest.com/emerging-artist. A committee will assess applicants based on skill, dedication, and artistic merit. The festival will announce the award recipient later in June.
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.
The first Emerging Artist Award was presented in 2001 to Millbrook native Serena Ryder when she was 19 years old. Ryder has since gone on to achieve international success, releasing eight studio albums and winning seven Juno awards, most recently for her 2022 album The Art of Falling Apart.
Last year, Peterborough-based country musician Nathan Truax received the Emerging Artist Award. The 27 year old released his eight-song solo album Pickin’ the Label last March. In addition to his solo work, Truax has performed with local musician Nick Ferrio, played bass with the Juno award-winning Vancouver-based indie rock band Said the Whale, and drums with Lindsay-formed band The Kents.
“When they told me I was being honoured as Peterborough Folk Festival’s Emerging Artist for 2022, I was blown away,” Truax says in a media release from the festival. “When you’re coming into your own as an artist it’s so important to know your community is behind you. Being the recipient of this award solidified everything I’ve been working towards for the past several years. It was like getting a comforting, warm hug from all of Peterborough.”
Here’s the full list of recipients of the Emerging Artist Award (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
The 34th Peterborough Folk Festival kicks off at Market Hall Performing Centre with a ticketed concert on August 18, followed by two full days of free live music, children’s activities, food, and artisan vendors on August 19 and 20 at Nicholls Oval Park.
Musicians performing in the 2023 festival will be announced in early summer.
For more information about the festival, including how to get involved as an artist, volunteer, vendor, or sponsor, visit peterboroughfolkfest.com.
