The Ottawa Grassroots Festival (OGF) will hold its launch party on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. It will be taking place at Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The festival will proudly be entering its 8th year, and will take place from April 25-28, 2019 at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Avenue, in Old Ottawa South. The headliners confirmed to date are Digging Roots, Ian Tamblyn and Dayv Poulin - Le Paysagiste.
Opening for Indigenous power duo, Digging Roots are Doreen T Stevens and Spiritual Advisor, poet and storyteller Albert Dumont, an Algonquin Elder. Highlighting Indigenous artists has been a focal point of the festival this year, and it holds a special place in the heart of Bob Nesbitt, Founder and Festival Producer.
“I attended the Folk Alliance in Montreal a few weeks ago, and what made the biggest impression on me was how important Indigenous content is in festivals today” he says. “That is why we have an all Indigenous Saturday night concert, and why we have more indigenous content in the programming on Saturday and Sunday.”
The opening performance at the launch will feature artist Jack Pine, also known as Gareth Auden-Hole. This Ottawa singer-songwriter and producer is the lead vocalist of Jack Pine and the Fire, who have been nominated for both a Juno Award and Canadian Folk Music Award. The band brings the sound of traditional American folk music with a unique spin, backed by instrumentals of guitars, drums, dobro, fiddle and bass.
The full line-up, including the daytime performers, will be announced at the launch. Grassroots has consistently had over 50% of their programming represented by female performers, since the festival’s inception. A study last year showed that most festivals struggle to have 25% female content. Equality, diversity and inclusion continue to be fundamental values for Ottawa Grassroots.
The afternoon will feature a special guest speaker, Mary Shearman Reid, owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre in Ottawa. Mary is a member of Landscape Ontario, a CLP (Certified Landscape Professional) and volunteers as a Master Gardener. She enjoys teaching for the local school boards, and speaking to garden clubs, horticultural societies and other groups. She has a fond appreciation for the Ottawa Grassroots Festival, and we are honored to have her at the launch.
Closing off the launch will be a performance by Jill Jeffrey. Jill is a singer-songwriter who opens her heart in each song she performs, sharing the most vulnerable and poignant moments of her life through song.
The Grassroots Festival is a family-friendly gathering of folk music, dance and spoken word. It’s called Grassroots because it is! This not-for-profit organization is run entirely by volunteers and prides itself for the participatory workshops it provides, cultivating community and nurturing inclusivity in a fun and friendly way.
“Running a festival has taught me a number of things over the years, but probably the most important is how a festival can unite a community. By community, I’m really talking about several communities. There is a community of artists, there is the local community, there is the Ottawa community, but most important of all is the community of volunteers”, says Bob.