As the Festival of Small Halls penetrates deeper into Frontenac, Lanark and Lennox and Addington, music fans from all corners of our region will have the opportunity to see a lot of music this September.

During the first week of the Festival, LeE HARVeY OsMOND are at the ABC Hall in Bolingbroke on Friday, September 13 at 7:30, and The East Pointers play the same night at the Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall. And just to the west for those living in the Hwy. 41 corridor, Justin Rutledge is at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed on the same night.

The next day, September 14, Madison Violet is at the Tamworth Legion at 7:30pm, while The East Pointers play the Ag Hall in McDonalds Corners. Over in Lyndhurst, not too far from Battersea, Harrow Fair is playing at Furnace Falls Farm.

On week two, Cassie and Maggie will be performing at the Denbigh-Griffith Lion’s Club on Friday, September 20 at 7:30pm. For those who live in South Frontenac, a quick jog over to the Wilton Hall on Sunday the 22nd at 3pm is your opportunity to see Cassie and Maggie. That same Sunday, over at the Maberly Hall, Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys will perform, with the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra opening for them.

In the third and final week of the festival, Friday, September 27 sees Union Duke at Seeley’s Bays Community Hall, Sultans of String at the Grace Hall in Sydenham, and the Devin Cuddy Band way up in the Matawatchan Community Hall. All shows start at 7:30.

There are other shows throughout Eastern Ontario over the three weekends of the festival. And the price is right, $25 a ticket to see and hear nationally and internationally acclaimed roots musicians of this caliber in historic local venues.

The Festival of Small Halls is a constantly innovative event. It started in Ontario in 2014, based on similar festivals in Australia and PEI. There were 3 venues that first year, and the festival has grown each year since then. It also features concerts during the Christmas season in Brockville, Delta, Manotick, Packenham, and at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

This year there is a new wrinkle, Chef’s Table events featuring well know chefs preparing 3 course meals, and a concert, at a price of $75 to $95 dollars.

For further information and ticket sales for all of the Festival shows and events, go to thefestivalofsmallhalls.com

The 2017 Ontario Festival of Small Halls has expanded to 30 locations throughout Eastern Ontario this year, bringing musicians from far and wide to the Ottawa Valley to play with local stars.
For example, fiddler Ashley MacIssac is sharing the stage this week with Tichborne’s own fiddle sensation Jessica Wedden. They are playing a sold out show in Seeley’s Bay but tickets were still available as of Tuesday for their show at the DACA Community Centre in beautiful Dacre on Saturday Night (September 30), which is only a 30 minute drive for our readers in Denbigh.

On Friday, the Abrams will be playing the Agricultural Hall in McDonalds Corners along with local singer-songwriter Ali McCormick. The Abrams, who now perform across North America, also have a local connection, getting their start as the Abrams Brothers at Thomson Hall in nearby Snow Road.
Concerts took place earlier locally at the ABC Hall in Bolingbroke with Sultans of String and Lost for Words, and at the Maberly Hall with the Outside Track, Change of Step and the Blue Skies Community Fiddle Orchestra.
The Festival was inspired by a similar festival that takes place each year on Prince Edward Island, and has grown in scope and popularity since its inaugural year in 2014, when it was held in just three locations. Among the new locations this year was the Tamwoth Legion, where Great Lake Swimmers and Soloman Woodland played a sold out show on September 17th.