Festival Of Small Halls To Cap A Bluesy Roots Music Season

Jeff Green | Jun 07, 2023

Summer has not yet officially arrived, and but music lovers are already looking to the fall season as the Festival of Small Halls was announced this week. Among the festival highlights are concerts by the Alberta “Counterfeit Blues” man Corb Lund at the McDonalds Corners Agricultural Hall on October 7.

On the same night, Harry Manx will be playing a show at the Sydenham Legion.

The Harry Manx show is his only appearance at the Festival, but music fans can can opt for the Harry Manx show and still see Corb Lund, but they will have to travel. Lund is also playing at the Manotick United Church on October 5, and at the Joshua Bate Centre in Athens on October 6.

There is more about the remarkable schedule of concerts in this years Festival of Small Halls below, but local Roots/Blues fans do not have to wait until October to see and hear stars with an international following in a truly intimate setting.

On Wednesday, June 28, the enterprising folks at the Snow Road Hall are presenting a show by Austrialian accoustic blues guitarist Lloyd Speigel, for only $15. Spiegel will also be performing at the Winnipeg Blues Festival, Bluesfest in Ottawa and Festiblues Montreal.

“This is a once in a lifetime occurrence,” said Johanna Cumberbirch, of the Snow Road Music Committee, who are presenting the show.

There are two ways to get tickets for the Lloyd Spiegel show, either by going to the Friday morning coffee gathering and buying them in person, or by calling Mike at 613-278-1853.

Other local shows this month include the album release party for Ottawa singer-songwriter Lynn Miles at Leopard Frog Farm in Battersea on Sunday June 25. For ticket information, go email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

And the South Frontenac monthly summer afternoon free concert series, following up on last months Summer Kickoff festival, starts up on June 24, from 1-3pm.

And later this summer not only does the Blue Skies Music Festival return for its 50th year on the August long weekend in Clarendon, but the Beach Bash returns to Sharbot Lake for its 2nd year on August 9th, and the Parham Fair Festival on August 18th and 19th.

Returning to the Festival of Small Halls, it has already started selling tickets (go to https://festivalofsmallhalls.frontgatetickets.com) for details and pricing before the shows start selling out.

Among other shows within our local area, Jenn Grant will be playing a show at the Maberly Hall on Sunday, October 15, and Charlie Cunningham is at the ABC Hall in Bolingbroke on October 22nd.

Other nearby shows include: Kellylee Evans at the Wilton Community Hall on October 5, Terry Lightfoot (with Tony D opening) at the Seeley's Bay Community Centre on October 15, and t the north the Irish Descendants at the DACA Arts Centre in Dacre on October 14 and the Devi Cuddy band on October 6 at the Mattatchwan Hall in Griffith.

The full schedule, which includes shows by Ben Caplan, Quoth the Raven, Julian Taylor, Kim Mitchell and more, is available at www.ontariosmallhalls.com