For singer-songwriter Kate Weekes, appearances at MERA in McDonalds Corners on April 26, and a house concert at the Platenius’ home north of Verona on April 27^th will be homecomings of sorts.

Although Kate is now known as a performer from the Yukon Territories, where she has lived for the past four years, she was raised in Eastern Ontario, and returns home every summer to visit family and go to the Blue Skies Music Festival.

She is also the daughter of Carolyn Stewart, the director of the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra.

Kate is promoting her second CD, Kate Weekes, in a week of shows in Ontario, including a show at Hugh’s Room in Toronto and one at Rasputin’s in Ottawa.

Material from her new CD has found its way onto the airwaves courtesy of the CBC in recent weeks. It is her first full-length recording, and features most of the songs from her “Land Shaping the People” EP as well as 9 new songs. A recurring theme in her work is one of travel, in songs like “West of Winnipeg” and “Truck Driver’s Waltz” and “Why’d I buy the ticket”.

While the new recording features a clean, airy folk sound, the addition of fiddle, drums and backing vocals make for a rich, satisfying sound.

Kate Weekes will be accompanied by fiddler Keitha Clark and double bassist Genessee Keevil.

The MERA show, on Thursday, April 26^th, starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and they are available at Shadowfax in Perth, or from Carolyn Stewart – 613-267-0295.

Tickets for the Platenius house concert on April 27th, which cost $12, are available from Inie Platenius at 374-2248.