Hugh’s Room was the host for the 3^rd annual Toronto Folk Festival showcase.

This is a grassroots festival that is led by a not-for-profit model. It will take place from August 21-23,2026 on Wards’ Island. It will be located at the WIA Pavillion at 20 Withrow St.

This showcase was a way of showing who would be performing on the weekend. I am sure there will be plenty more for the weekend. For this evening there were 40 performers and they had one song to make an impression on the audience.

This festival made the evening fun by having a 50/50 draw, a silent auction with some pretty cool prizes. They even brought in a gumball machine that gave you song lyrics and fortunes. There were a couple of special gifts in the machine. You could win a weekend pass for just $1.00.

As I sat in the audience I had to focus my thoughts on each artist and write something about each artist within one song. So without further ado, here are the artists of the evening.

1. The Spare Parts- This 5 member band started the evening off with their country style of singing. Their overall sound is joyous and fun.

• Shawn William Clarke- If you ever have seen those Instagram video of a guy playing a pink guitar for different animals, this was a similar moment. His peaceful approach drew you in closer, just like those animals. His song about Lake Louise was truly a place of peace.

• Alyson McNamara- Her quietness forced you to turn inward. It was like watching a Deer in the forest. You can’t make a sound, so you let that moment speak volumes. It was a good lesson in being present.

• Lilydipper- The song Queen West Princess, started off like a lazy Sunday and rolled itself into a a little cone of happiness.

• June the Destroyer- It has been 5 years since she released any new material. Her new CD Hurry is here and it was worth the wait. Fans of June the Destroyer rejoice!

• Baby O- She may be small, but she is mighty with her personality. Her vocals were snappy and sharp as she punctuated her point.

• Don River- Now that’s a Toronto name if I ever heard one. His song had a very well rounded sound to it. It just felt like a long and warm embrace.

• Housewife- This song was called Matilda, and it was about a bike being stolen. That’s what I like about folk music; it just radiates the human condition even if it is about crime.

• Rachel Hickey- Her combination of singing about her most embarrassing moment and her best friend had plenty of vim and verve to it. This was a cool combination for a song.

1. Chynna Lewis- This was a little different as she sat on piano and sang a more modern and contemporary R&B song. It had a bit of a New York vibe to it and her vocals were crystal clear.

1. Emily Schultz-Emily decided to go with the classic break-up song.  It was her honesty that contained an ache that just sat in your being and held on. She has a new song coming out in 3 weeks.

1. Jessica Deutsch- This was another unique performance as she traversed many changing moments within the song. Not only did she play the violin like a guitar but chose minor chords to give her an alternative folk sound.

1. First Robin- This was a new song that was released on May 2^nd. The piano playing was soft, slow and had a longing looking for something better.

1. Basset- She just got back from Australia. She joked that their song was about alien abductions. It was just a way from taking things from a farther perspective. This song was about California and had that Laurel Canyon Vibe to it.

1. Leesh- She decided to sing about one of the seven deadly sins. This one was about envy. Well, this envious little number was turned into a fun little sing-a-long. Why so Jealous?

1. Rat Quartet- This band brought a rock and roll attitude to this folk showcase. The song they chose soared throughout the room and then spiked a perfect landing. I think they will add a whole new flavour to this festival.

1. Mark Sinclair- Mark went back to when he was 19 and sang a song from his youth. This song definitely had a 70’s country folk vibe to it. Think of some early Kris Kristofferson.

1. Paul Kolinski- His song Jenny was a classic folk song that seemed to be searching for experience and deeper moment for a life more fulfilled. His voice was crisp and clear, and he dressed the part with his blazer and jeans. An earthy performer.

1. Sarah Greene- Sarah has an uncanny way of balancing her voice to the softness of her playing. It is like listening to water droplets hitting a rain right after a good summer shower.

• Gabriel DeSantis- He is in a band called King Cardiac. The song he chose was performed for his 2 year old toddler. It should work since this song has a good bounce to it with a playfulness that a toddler should like.

• Emily Gilbert- She is a self-proclaimed songwriter that loves to write songs that will bring you down. I swear I could hear a bit of Stevie Nicks in her voice.

• In the middle of the evening, they had a Belgium folk dancer swirling around at the back of the building. This was the aperitif of the evening.

• Pater- She sat behind the piano while she was “Catching Cold”. This song has a great and subtle power that contained a spectral and haunted entity that seeped out of her message.  This was a stand out moment for me.

• Ella Gudel- She came on like a young minstrel whose voice is charming enough to invite you into a personal conversation. This could be another campfire moment.

• Brock Mattison- Brock went with a short and sad song. Even the was he was strumming his guitar felt like a long walk home.

• Drea Lake- If you love the sound of early 70’s folk music, Drea knows how to create a pop/folk sensibility to her music.

• Nii Osabu- Folk music from an African perspective is the only way to describe Nii. His voice has a swaying and soothing way of letting your aching head relax.

• Mimi Dominique- She started a sing-a-long with her song Angel Eyes. This was one of the prettiest moments of the evening.

• Isaak Bonk- Isaak has a unique approach to his music. It comes from the blues that feels like it is 100 years old. The way he interprets these songs has a fresh and rambling kind of feeling to it. He definitely has an original voice for this kind of music.

• Nicollette Hoang- Well, Nicollette surprised us by debuting her brand-new song that she finished earlier that day. It had a cool country sound to it. Now just add Dolly Parton as a duet and we got ourselves a hit!

•  Zamira LaCosta- This was another sweet twist of the evening as she went with a flamenco song. This song helped transcend boundaries with its romantic folk energy.

• Rory Lavelle- Rory also played a 70’s style piano folk song. I could hear moments of Jackson Browne, Billy Joel and Cat Stevens.

• The Young Novelists- This duo clearly was a favourite here this night. They contained strong and clean vocals that grabbed you by the shirt and made you want to yell out with them.

• Alan Moffat- He broke the rules and chose to do a cover song this even. It was a Tyler Ellis song. I was wondering throughout this song if Tyler Ellis enjoyed this version of his song. He was in the audience after all.

• Imaginary Expedition- This was one of the surprises of the evening. They decided to sing completely accapella.  Their harmonies were really tight, and the subject was a real journey. Picture a minstrel travelling through an ancient forest with no horses but had a couple of coconuts to help traverse their imaginary expedition.

• Jason Pilling- He pulls out a ukulele and played it in a minimalistic way. This felt like when I was a kid sitting in the library listening to a wonderful storyteller. It was all in the words.

• Seu- Seu stretched the folk music with a Latin Reggae vibe. Zamira helped out on vocals and finished the song off with a really cool bird whistle at the end of the song.

• Rebekah Hawker- I am guessing this song is called Brandy Alexander. This was an outstanding choice of a cover song, as her clear voice was looking to swallow up life in an easy and smooth manner.

• Cass the Human- I really enjoyed her breathy way she sang her song. There was a hint of vibrato and it was inviting us to join her around a campfire. This will work for a weekend away on the Island.

• Tyler Ellis- Is a singer/songwriter that speaks of community. His Union song is a quiet call to arms. He finished off this evening with people singing along with his music. It was like having a perfect dessert after such a huge meal for the night.

I am sorry if you missed this evening of excellent music. I guaranteed you would have walked away with a couple of new favourite performers that you go back and see again. I know I had a couple of nice surprises for myself.

If you are a folk music lover don’t miss your chance to see this festival later this Summer. After the winter we just had, this is the perfect excuse for staying outdoors and enjoying the weather for all its worth.

You can buy your tickets at- Toronto Folk Festival 2026

I will be sharing special deals as this festival grows closer.