Festival of Small Halls returns to venues across the Valley

OTTAWA VALLEY – The Ontario Festival of Small Halls is returning from COVID-purgatory this spring, and while there are no tour stops in West Carleton this year, lots of great musicians will be visiting lots of beautiful venues around the Ottawa Valley.

The festival, which announced its line-up last week (April 11), will feature a wealth of Canadian artists at numerous venues in the Ottawa Valley and beyond. The programming includes several awe-inspiring acts, such as Ashley MacIsaac, Basia Bulat, Chris Murphy, The Great Lake Swimmers, Harrow Fair, Hawksley Workman, Jessica Pearson & The East Wind, Kaia Kater, Skydiggers, and The Redhill Valleys.

“It’s an eclectic festival, with musical mavericks, trusty veterans and some remarkable newcomers,” Ontario Festival of Small Halls general manager Anna Wood said. “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.

This year’s acts

FRIDAY, MAY 13

• Kaia Kater — St. John’s United Church, Brockville, 7:30 p.m.
• Great Lake Swimmers — Manotick United Church, 7:30 p.m.
• Chris Murphy — St. Andrew’s United Church, Pakenham, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

• Kaia Kater — Manotick United Church, 7:30 p.m.
• Great Lake Swimmers — St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Prescott, 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 20

• Basia Bulat — Almonte Old Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.
• Harrow Fair (opener, The Redhill Valleys) — St. John’s United Church, Brockville, 7:30 p.m.
• Great Lake Swimmers — Elgin United Church, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 21

• Ashley MacIsaac — Almonte Old Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.
• Basia Bulat — Joshua Bates Centre, Athens, 7:30 p.m.
• Harrow Fair (opener, The Redhill Valleys) — Westmeath & District Recreation Centre, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 22

• Ashley MacIsaac — DACA Community Centre, Dacre, 3 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 27

• Jessica Pearson & The East Wind — Delta Old Town Hall, 7:30 p.m.
• Hawksley Workman — McDonald’s Corners Agricultural Hall, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 28

• Hawksley Workman — Seeley’s Bay Community Hall, 7:30 p.m.
• Skydiggers — Winchester United Church, 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, MAY 29

• Skydiggers — Seeley’s Bay Community Hall, 3 p.m.

Tickets for individual events are now on sale (online only) at ontariosmallhalls.com or festivalofsmallhalls.frontgatetickets.com.