A beloved element of Gil’s Hootenanny is the Hootenanny Band. The Band starts off the show with a procession into the hall as they sing, play, and encourage the audience to join in the music. An ensemble of musicians for whom equity and social justice are central to their songwriting and performance style, the Hootenanny Band is made up of singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who captivate and inspire the audience with their talent and energy. They are Mark Evenchick, Elage Mbaye, Arthur McGregor, Debbie Rubin, and Carmel Whittle.
A 13th Anniversary Sing ’n Jam at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival Saturday, April 23 at 3:00 pm
Bring your voice and, if you like, your favourite musical instrument to St. Andrew’s Hall (basement) of St. Andrew’s Church, 82 Kent Street at 3pm on Saturday, April 23rd for Gil’s ‘Grassroots’ Hootenanny so you can sing and jam along to songs of hope and protest led by the Gil’s Hootenanny Band.
Hosted by Tamara Levine and Arthur McGregor, Gil’s ‘Grassroots’ Hootenanny brings together musical friends for a rousing celebration of familiar and new songs of hope and protest that showcase the stories, struggles and victories of working people.
Gil’s Hootenanny is honoured to once again be hosting this Ottawa Grassroots Festival workshop, which provides a tantalizing taste of Gil’s Hootenanny 2022 to take place on May 1st at the RA Centre.
Masking is encouraged at Gil’s ‘Grassroots’ Hootenanny.
And, as folk music legend Pete Seeger said, “A good song reminds us what we’re fighting for”.
2018 from left: Carmen Whittle, Chris White (back row), Jen Gilbert, Sid Ameen (back row), Patricia Reynolds, Melissa Hucul (back row), Tamara Levine, Debbie Rubin, Mark Evenchick
Time to get your tickets and start warming up your voice for the 13th Annual Gil’s Hootenanny, Sunday, May 1st at 2pm at the RA Centre (Clark Hall), 2451 Riverside Drive. This year’s featured performer is internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter James Keelaghan, who will bring his distinctive voice and masterful storytelling to this annual May Day community sing-along celebrating the stories, struggles and victories of working people.
Online ticket sales via Spirit of Rasputin’s website…
Inspired by the legacy of Gil Levine (1924-2009), the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Gil’s Hootenannywas 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.
“Down by the Riverside” is an African-American spiritual and anti-war song that pre-dates the American Civil War. The sentiments in the song’s chorus originate with a Biblical verse from the Book of Isaiah: “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
This Remembrance Day, join the Gil’s Hootenanny Band in singing “Down By the Riverside” at St. Peter’s High School in Orleans, Ontario as we pause to recognize the courage and sacrifice of those who served in Canada and abroad in working for peace.
Maria Dunn and Maria Hawkins will be the 2019 headliners for the 10th Annual Gil’s Hootenanny, Wednesday, May 1st at 7:30pm at the RA Centre (Clark Hall), 2451 Riverside Drive. Affectionately dubbed “the Marias” by Hootenanny organizers, Dunn and Hawkins will share the stage, alternating songs in a musical conversation that will be intimate & fun with the added element of audience participation – a tradition for this annual sing-along event.
Poster design by Kate Morgan
Inspired by the legacy of Gil Levine (1924-2009), the founding Director of Research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Gil’s Hootenannywas first presented in 2010. Gil and his wife Helen, who died in October 2018, hosted hootenannies at their home for decades.
Passionate about preserving the spirit of folk music, twice Juno-nominated Maria Dunnis often compared to Woody Guthrie for her keen social awareness and her melodic, unvarnished songs about the lives of working men and women. Her stint as a volunteer DJ in community radio encouraged Dunn to listen widely to master songwriters, singers and instrumentalists of folk and roots music. Becoming an avid fan of live music, Dunn began writing her own music in the mid-90s, drawing deeply on the folk tradition of storytelling through song to honour the resilience and grace of “ordinary” people, past and present.
Ottawa’s Blues Lady Maria Hawkins is a much-beloved performer in Ottawa, and is well known as the co-creator of “Blues in the Schools”, which garnered the W.C. Handy Blues Award. Hawkins has also earned a United Way Community Builder Award for her work with local charities, the NAC Award for Artistic Excellence, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for 25 years of inspiration to Canadian youth. Hawkins’ music is influenced by a deep respect for indigenous peoples and passion for peace and justice, and is informed by many facets of her background, including her black, Mi’kmaq and Acadian ancestry.
Pete Seeger was among Gil and Helen’s favourite troubadours. As 2019 marks the 100th Anniversary of his birth, the Hootenanny will celebrate Pete with a special presentation of his legacy by Steve Richer, folk singer and banjo-playing Professor Emeritus at Carleton University. The Hootenanny Band will open the evening with a selection of new and traditional sing-along music. The Band comprises members of the Elizabeth Riley Band – Carmel Whittle, Jen Gilbert & Patricia Reynolds – with Debbie Rubin and Mark Evenchick.
Helen and Gil’s vision of a better world included bringing people together to celebrate, share and sing about the stories, struggles and victories of working women and men. Gil’s Hootenanny continues that legacy.
Tickets ($10, kids free) are now available online and can be purchased (cash only) at Octopus Books, 116 Third Avenue. For additional information visit Facebook.
A beloved
element of Gil’s Hootenanny is the entrance march. The performers
promenade into the hall singing, playing and encouraging the audience
to join in the music. For the Hootenanny Band, leading the entrance
march is a natural extension of their identity. Equity, social
activism and social justice are central to their song writing and
performance style, and they are all singer-songwriters,
multi-instrumentalists and vocalists who captivate and inspire
audiences with their energy
Three members of the Hootenanny Band are musicians from the Elizabeth Riley Band:
Jen
Gilbert, acoustic guitar, vocals: Jen
grew up in the Ottawa Valley in a music-loving family. While Jen’s
original music is heavily influenced by the chord progressions and
traditions of old-time country music, she loves and plays all styles
of music. Outside of her music-life as a member of the Elizabeth
Riley Band, Jen is a mom, an educator, and a songwriter.
Patricia
Reynolds, electric guitar, vocals: Patricia
has been playing and singing since her childhood on Manitoulin
Island. Her musical influences range from classic country and
bluegrass to rockabilly to traditional and contemporary folk music.
She enjoys playing and jamming – with Elizabeth Riley Band, Local
Colour, Just Voices choir, and musical friends.
Carmel
Whittle, stand up snare, percussion, harmonica, guitar, vocals:
Carmel is an
Irish and Mik’maq visual artist, musician, song writer &
activist who hails from Newfoundland. Currently a filmaker,
community outreach and Indigenous Liaison at Gallery 101, she is
also a community organizer and co-ordinator for the Indigenous
Artists’ Coalition ‘No Borders Art Festival’. She loves to
experiment with sound and create instruments from found objects to
create songs of loss tragedy and love.
Jen, Patricia and Carmel will be joined by musical friends Debbie Rubin and Mark Evenchick for the 2019 Hootenanny Band.
Debbie
Rubin is a vocalist and banjo
player who has been a key Gil’s Hootenanny organizer for many
years. She is part of the group Local Colour and also the Ottawa
Simcha Band, Sing n’jam and Keep on Singing. A
retired teacher from Algonquin College, Debbie is also
a visual
artist.
Mark
Evenchick was the winner
of the 2016 Hootenanny songwriting contest. His love of music
started when he was 13 and learned three chords on his sister’s
guitar. Those few chords led Mark on a decades-long musical voyage
that includes performing, songwriting & recording.
The
2019 Gil’s Hootenanny will take place on May 1st
at 7:30 pm at the RA centre (Clark Hall), 2451 Riverside Drive.
Staffed by UNIFOR members, the RA Centre is accessible, has loads of
parking and is well serviced by OC Transpo. Tickets
are available online and can be purchased (cash only) at Octopus
Books, 16 Third Avenue. Tickets
are $10; kids free.
Versatility, originality and activism are the hallmarks of this year’s Hootenanny Band. The core members of the band are singer-songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and vocalists from the Elizabeth Riley Band who bring a raw, contagious energy to their music that captivates and inspires audiences. Continue reading…
