Jeanne Truax is among good company, including her older brother, as the latest recipient of the annual Emerging Artist of the Year Award from the Peterborough Folk Festival (PFF).
The festival announced the Dunsford-raised musician as this year’s recipient at an event held at Peterborough’s Miskin Law office on Friday (June 27), seven weeks before the 36th edition of the festival will return to Peterborough.
“Several musicians I admire and respect — Nicholas Campbell, Melissa Payne, and my older brother Nathan — are past PFF Emerging Artist winners,” Truax says in a media release. “They’re also my favourite people in the world. To be given the opportunity to share this award with them is extraordinary. It’s beyond special.”
Just 22 years old, Truax’s sound combines rockabilly and roots, taking inspiration from the sounds of The Beatles, Wanda Jackson, and Brenda Lee. She has been a regular performer at Jethro’s Bar + Stage, the Black Horse Pub, and other venues in downtown Peterborough and across the Kawartha Lakes. An actor from a young age, she creates high-energy live shows and has been writing music since she could talk.
“I wanted to perform from an early age,” she says. “I remember watching my older brother Nathan and my parents perform in a band and thinking, I want to be up on that stage too.”
In contrast to her rockabilly persona, Truax’s original music blends Canadiana indie sounds with her unique voice for a modern pop sound. This past May, she released her debut single “I Know What You Like” with the help of her brother Nathan, who recorded, produced, and played on the record.
AUDIO: “I Know What You Like” – Jeanne Truax
Eight years her senior, Nathan received the Emerging Artist Award three years ago. Also performing on the track are previous Emerging Artist Award winners Melissa Payne (2011) and Nicholas Campbell (2023, sharing the award with Irish Millie).
The Emerging Artist Award has been recognizing young and emerging local talent deserving of the community’s attention and support since 2001.
A committee makes the decision by assessing applicants-either solo artists, groups, or bands living in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, including Hiawartha, Curve Lake, and Alderville First Nations, based on skill, dedication, and artistic merit.
Past recipients include:
- 2024 – Calvin Bakelaar
- 2023 – Irish Millie / Nicholas Campbell
- 2022 – Nathan Truax
- 2021 – Lauryn Macfarlane
- 2020 – No award due to the pandemic
- 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
As part of the award, the Peterborough Folk Festival will be sponsoring Truax to attend the annual Folk Music Ontario conference this fall in Ottawa, where she will network with other artists, connect with mentors, engage in panel discussions, learn through grant writing workshops, and gain other opportunities.
She will also receive the new $1,000 Lynn Morris Memorial Award from the Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA).
The award was created to honour the legacy of Lynn Morris, a fervent and passionate supporter of local musicians who made a $50,000 donation to PMBA just before she passed away in February after a lengthy battle with cancer.
As this year’s Emerging Artist, Truax will open for Juno award-nominated singer-songwriter Basia Bulat at the festival’s kick-off ticketed concert on Thursday, August 14 at 7 p.m. at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre.
Assigned seating tickets for the concert are available now for $58 at markethall.org.
“I’ve listened to her music for years,” says Truax. “Meeting her in person will be such an honour.”
The kick-off concert will be followed by another ticketed show on Friday, August 15, before the admission-free weekend of music is held at Nicholls Oval Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17.
The festival lineup so far includes Grievous Angels, Goldie Boutilier, Sister Ray, Jeremie Albino, Joel Paskett, My Son the Hurricane, Benj Rowland, Doghouse Orchestra, and Scratch Garden. The Peterborough Folk Festival will announce the rest of the lineup, as well as the performance schedule, in the coming weeks.
For more information about the 2025 Peterborough Folk Festival, visit www.peterboroughfolkfest.com.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a sustaining partner of the Peterborough Folk Festival.
