Festival of Small Halls returns

Jeff Green | Apr 20, 2022

Frontenac venues shut out but music will fill halls nearby

The Festival of Small Halls is back, with a spring series. The concerts, which bring national and international artists to iconic small venues in rural towns, started in Prince Edward Island, and has spread to Australia and Ontario.

In Ontario, the festival is supported by the Ottawa Bluesfest team. While there are on concerts in Frontenac County in this series, which runs from May 13 to May 29, there are concerts very close by, including Hawksley Workman at the Agricultural Hall in McDonalds Corners on May 27 (7:30pm), and at the Seeley’s Bay Community Hall on May 28, at 3pm. Also at the Seeley’s Bay Community Hall, the Skydiggers will be featured in the final concert in the series, at 3pm on May 29.

Inverary’s Chris Murphy will be travelling all the way to Pakenham to perform in a concert at St. Andrew’s United Church on Friday, May 13 at 7:30pm.

Other towns that will be hosting concerts include Brockville, Manotick, Almonte, Prescott, Delta, Elgin, Athens, Westmeath, Dacre, and Winchester.

The festival will feature a wealth of Canadian artists at numerous venues in the Ottawa Valley and beyond. The programming includes several awe-inspiring acts, in addition to Murphy, Workman, and the Skydiggers. They include Great Lake Swimmers, Harrow Fair, Ashley MacIsaac, Jessica Pearson & The East Wind, Kaia Kater, and The Redhill Valleys.

 “It’s an eclectic festival, with musical mavericks, trusty veterans and some remarkable newcomers,” says Ontario Festival of Small Halls General Manager, Anna Wood. “The underlying beauty of a Small Halls show is in seeing your favourite act in a unique and intimate community setting that allows you to connect with the music and the artist.

“Safety is of the utmost importance, and the Festival crew will follow any guidelines set out by the province and local health authorities.”

Tickets range in price from $25 to $40, depending on the show, and information is available at Ontariossmallhalls.com