Youth musicians from across Ontario will be heading to the Summerfolk stage later this summer.
One of the Organizers of the Youth Discoveries Program Paige Warner says five groups were selected to take part in the annual music festival in Owen Sound following the finale of the third annual Youth Discoveries Concert at the Harmony Centre earlier this month.
“All of the finale acts could have gone, they were all very deserving of that, but we had to choose five to move forward and they were all really talented. I think Summerfolk audiences are going to be pretty impressed,” says Warner.
She says the winners included both groups and solo acts with music ranging from folk, pop, blues, and indie.
The winners of the Youth Discoveries include:
-The Ruthven Sisters from Owen Sound
-Bryson Cleland from Owen Sound
-The Commune from Toronto
-Amanda and the Paper Cranes from Toronto
-Ella Frank from Toronto
Bryson Cleland (Photo provided by Paige Warner)
As part of the program, Youth Discoveries works with industry professionals to mentor the young artists.
“Trying to help them learn how to work towards the festival, how to prepare for it, what they should have ready and also what they should do after the festival, like how to use this to their advantage, how to use it to launch their career strongly heading out of the festival,” says Warner.
She adds it’s incredible to give youth the chance to perform at Summerfolk.
“Without programs like this, it’s next to impossible for beginner artists to get into festivals like this. This program lets them perform on the same stage as the headliners,” says Warner. “It just really gives them stage experience and festival experience that I don’t think they would have otherwise and so early in their career.”
The young artists will take the Summerfolk stage Aug. 15 to the 17. More details can be found here.