Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Logan Staats, Reuben and The Dark, Matthew Barber, Ghostkeeper, Edwin Raphael, Avalon Tassonyi, Theo Tams, and the North Coast Band

Will McGuirk May 26, 2022

By Will McGuirk

“It’s not about a girl; the culture is the love that I’m asking for. The love for myself. That was stolen from me - by the government, the crown, the church. When I sing ‘GIVE ME BACK MY LOVE’, I'm speaking about my culture, my pride, and my love for myself.” - Logan Staats

“Emotion is universal and we hope to add this vibration when we sing.” - Billy Wadsworth, Kainai-Bloodtribe Bullhorn Singers

“An homage to my Grandpa Rolly, A grandfather with a fierce love and dedication to his family. This is a ‘sing a long’ for all who miss him as much as I do.” - Shane Ghostkeeper

“Without absence there can be no presence. The simple sad rhythm emphasizes that the steps backwards in life may be sad, but it is part of the dance, and it is always beautiful.” - Edwin Raphael

“Clowning is a very liberating experience… to be a child, to fail, to tap into human experiences without the need to say a word.” - Avalon Tassonyi

The North Coast Band · Ohio In The Distance

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Jade Hairpins, Peter Katz, Virginia To Vegas, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Francine Honey, and Reuben and the Dark

Will McGuirk May 12, 2020

By Will McGuirk

What is it, three days to break a habit - its been three months. Can you feel it, the sea-change - how it all looks the same but feels different. How for some its so so close and for others so far far away. Where are you? Inside it or outside of it, the change has happened but we will only know it when we all go outside again.

“‘Dolly Dream’ is a song about searching—not necessarily something you lack and have to ‘find,’ but grabbing hold of that ‘something’ you’ve always had. This search finds a connection within solitude, and within the crowd.” - Jonah Falco/ Jade Hairpins

“To be able to look back, from a place of resolve, where you know that whatever it was... it's behind you now.” - Peter Katz

“‘Pure Cinema’ is a cautionary tale and also an encouragement to keep faith and keep building home and family.” - Thao

“When the path through is unclear, there are unexpected heroes that appear with help. Whether it is a partner, a caregiver, a parent, a child, a friend, or one’s faith in something larger than life, this song expresses gratitude to those that light our world and help us through. There is nothing like seeing the light of love beaming from someone’s eyes when we need it most.” - Francine Honey

Slowcity.ca Open Mic - turning inwards with Grace Potter, Jordan Klassen, Laurent Bourque, Yoke Lore, The New Pornographers, Close Talkers, Geneviève Racette and Reuben and the Dark

Will McGuirk September 29, 2019

By Will McGuirk

Change is constant but there is reoccurrence, there is pattern, season, cycles and revolutions. It is time again to settle inside, to pull closer the elements of warmth, all that which brings comfort and look forward to the curve which brings it all back round again.

“It's so easy to just assume that the narratives we're telling ourselves about ourselves are true and that can be pretty debilitating. The song is about those moments when you're quiet and present and suddenly you realize that the story you've been telling is false, and there's this tremendous relief that maybe you'll be ok, that everything will be ok.” - Jordan Klassen

"but when you move quickly, you miss certain aspects of the journey. I could be missing out on some really wonderful information that I would get if I stopped to smell the roses once in a while. I worry that when something or someone really important comes around, I will be moving too quickly to catch it or them." - Adrian Glavin, Yoke Lore.