Time to get your tickets and start warming up your voice for the 14th Annual Gil’s Hootenanny, Monday, May 1st at 7 pm at 30 Cleary Avenue, the campus of the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa.
Headlining this 14th annual Gil’s Hootenanny is Canadian singer-songwriter Coco Love Alcorn, winner of the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Singer of the Year. Alcorn is an engaging performer who forges a deep connection with her audience. She was described by last year’s Hootenanny headliner, James Keelaghan, as a “musical spark plug”, noting “I have never seen another performer able to bring people together like Coco does”.
Gil’s Hootenanny is also sponsoring an Alcorn-led singing workshop entitled Let’s Sing! Let’s Play! which will explore the joy of singing through melody, harmony, rhythm, creativity, improvisation, and ideas in a spirit of soulfulness, playfulness, and fun. The two-hour workshopwill take place on April 30 at 2:00 pm the Westboro Masonic Hall, 430 Churchill Ave N. All voices are welcome!
Inspired by the legacy of Gil Levine (1924-2009), the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Gil’s Hootenanny was first presented in 2010. Gil and his wife Helen hosted hootenannies at their home for decades. Helen and Gil’s vision of a better world included bringing people together to share and sing about the stories, struggles and victories of working women and men. Gil’s Hootenanny continues that legacy.
Gil’s Hootenanny will open with a rousing procession and a selection of new and traditional sing-along songs led by the multi-talented artist and singer-songwriter Carmel Whittle. Ottawa vocalist Ulyn Georgette will also present a moving tribute to folk singing legend and civil rights activist Odetta.
Tickets to the Hootenanny and the singing workshop are $20 each. For both the hootenanny and workshop, the price is discounted at $35. Tickets are now on sale.