Tkaronto Festival finished their 3^rd day at the TD Music Hall this past Saturday, and what a successful event this was.

I was able to sneak in the third day to witness a packed house with a very diverse mix of people. There were plenty of indigenous people their representing and supporting one another. Then there was everyone else in the audience soaking in this cultural experience.

On this final bill, they brought in three completely different artists and each one stood completely on their own merit and creativity. I would like to mention, before I delve into the show, each artist had a special backdrop of natural images from the wilderness looping behind them. I thought these images were very heartrending and sentimental. It really tied everything together well.

Evan Redsky

Evan Redsky looked like a pretty humble guy as he brought along his band and his stories. This was going to be some classic folk music from northern Ontario. Evan came from Blind River Ontario, which is just outside of Sault Sainte Marie. He would travel back and forth to Toronto to be close to the music scene here.

This seemingly quiet guy now opens his mouth, and I swear I could hear Steve Earle coming out. This voice was now opening up his world and experiences as an indigenous young man. These songs seem to come straight from the highway and purposely took his life and understanding and began to create stories for anyone who would listen. Well, this was a night we listened.

I think when you hear something along the lines like, “The blood runs like a river through my veins”, this is something to grab onto. Evan’s songs were of a personal nature being conveyed to the larger message of the indigenous people.  The standout song for me was one he is writing for a television show. The song is called, “Cosmic Carousel”. It just seemed to have a universal appeal to it.

Evan finished the evening with the song he was most proud of, called, “No Man’s Land”. Evan is a part of the Ojibway nation.

After that song he quickly ran off stage because he had to get to a friend’s wedding that evening. I hope you had a great time.

Here are some photos of Evan Redsky:

Kristi Lane Sinclair

Kristi Lane Sinclair came on next and ramped up the energy. This is a woman with a Haida and Cree background. When she walks on stage you notice her. She is tall and colourful. She has a pink guitar chord and a bracelet with long flowing colourful frills.

Kristi opened her show with a standard Rock and Roll tune but began to turn the place upside down when her punk rock vibe to escape her. Kristi, it seems wanted to create moments of beautiful chaos.

Kristi let us know she was going to play some, not so pretty songs with just one finger.  She created a rock song from two broken hands, so this song was played with just one finger. How Punk is that!

Kristi has a banter that is quick witted and sharp. When she is on stage, she is absolutely raw and unapologetic. In fact, you can find her beating her guitar into submission. She is not afraid of letting her demons out. By the end of her set, she clearly won over the crowd. I posted that moment on Instagram.

Here is Kristi in action:

Tayna Tagaq

The final act of the festival was introduced. Her name is Tayna Tagaq. She is a Canadian Inuk Throat singer, novelist, actor, songwriter and visual artist from Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. She has won a Juno award and has an arm’s length of credits to her name that could go on for quite a while.

When she came on stage, you saw a person absolutely filled with joy and excitement. This was her domain. Before she began her performance, she politely asked the audience, if you are going to take pictures of me, could you not post the strange looking ones. Try to post the nicer looking ones.

At this point I had no idea what she was taking about. She also let us in on a secret. The drummer and the cellist who were on stage were playing with her for the first time. Tayna explained that entire performance was going to be improvised. I am now intrigued to see who this woman is.

It began slowly as if we were waiting for the sun to set. The low rumblings of throat singing began. It was as if she was channeling the spirit world. As we got deeper into this unique presentation, I could feel myself being pulled into a different dimension. You could feel the room shifting into something new.

What happened for the next 40 minutes was difficult to explain. It was unbridled, unabashed and unencumbered.  It was unusual…

There moments of exercising the insane. But it wasn’t just the wailing of one uneasy spirit, there was a roomful of sorrowful spirits looking for redemption. This was a snow-blind journey that you could only be a part of one moment at a time.

Her movements surpassed what we would consider normal, as she contorted herself into momentary characters and those animations were a window into a portal few people get to witness. Emotionally, this was a freeway ride that was too fast to process. You had to stay in the moment to grasp the deeper meaning.

You have to realize what I said earlier. This was the first time the other two musicians were taking this ride with her and all three of them had incredible synchronicity. By the time the open soul surgery was ending, with heavy breathing and exhaustion, the audience erupted because this was something so unique and significant.

Here are some normal photos of Tayna Tagaq:

The Tkaronto Festival was a rousing success, and I hope for next year it will grow a little bigger. In our time of truth and reconciliation, this is the kind of gathering we need more of. This is becoming the Canadian Woodstock. It is full of peace and happiness and community.

Follow their Instagram postings:

Evan Redsky- Blast Toronto (@blast_toronto) • Instagram photos and videos

Kristi Lane Sinclair- Blast Toronto (@blast_toronto) • Instagram photos and videos

Tayna Tagaq- Blast Toronto (@blast_toronto) • Instagram photos and videos