Soundbone Folksong Choir (SFC) is a non-auditioned choral group for adults who share a love of the traditional and contemporary folk songs of Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond. Established in the winter of 2020, the choir was forced to shut down after only three rehearsals due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. During the 2021-2022 season, the choir had two successful 10-week sessions due to a combination of online and in-person rehearsals, and went fully in-person for 2022-2023.
The SFC was founded and is directed by traditional musician/music educator Jean Hewson with the help of Assistant Director Madison Mouland. It is a project of Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation; an organization that fosters the preservation and performance of the traditional folk arts of Newfoundland and Labrador. (soundbone.ca)
Over the last two years of its existence, the SFC has had the opportunity to work with guest musicians Christina Smith, Brian Cherwick and Dave Panting, and has also enjoyed workshops given by Linda Byrne, Dave Penny, Sally Goddard, Paul Wilson, and Shay Black: expert traditional singers from Newfoundland, England, and Ireland respectively.
Soundbone Folksong Choir (SFC) is a non-auditioned choral group for adults who share a love of the traditional and contemporary folk songs of Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.
The SFC was founded in 2020 and is directed by traditional musician/music educator Jean Hewson. It is a project of Soundbone Traditional Arts Foundation; an organization that fosters the preservation and performance of the traditional folk arts of Newfoundland and Labrador. (soundbone.ca)
The choir has two ten-week sessions a year with each session culminating in a final concert. Since its inception, the SFC has had the opportunity to work with many of Newfoundland and Labrador’s best-known traditional and folk musicians including Anita Best, Brian Cherwick, Ian Foster, Sandy Morris, Dave Panting, and Christina Smith.
This summer the choir is participating in the International Choral Festival taking place in St. John’s called Harbour Voices, and is also delighted to make its very first appearance at the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival.
Four folky, bluegrassy gals jamming and laughing in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Sooky Couch Girls began playing music together in July of 2023 after connecting at the Ship Pub’s bluegrass brunch. Composed of Sarah Hansen (vocals, guitar, harmonium, ukulele), Emily Hunt (upright bass, vocals), Lauren Smee (fiddle, vocals), and Meghan McCarthy (vocals, guitar), this acoustic quartet plays a combination of original songs and covers with a side order of sass. Their style is a unique combination of bluegrass, folk, country and gospel, and their mission is to have as much fun as possible while sharing their love of music with audiences and with each other.
I am a farmer, spoon carver and green woodworker from Co. Limerick, Ireland. I use locally sourced fresh hardwoods like birch and cherry to carve wooden spoons and treen using just simple hand tools.
Blending folk-pop sensibility with country and Irish-Newfoundland roots, Sherry affirms her place as one of Atlantic Canada’s best-loved singer-songwriters. Once named “St. John’s answer to Lucinda Williams” and compared to John Prine for “reeling you in with her heartfelt stories and a hint of humour,” Sherry’s rich vocal style is described as “absolutely unforgettable” (Exclaim!). Her 2018 release, Wreckhouse, included the celebrated single “Stop the Trains,” about her father’s 1950s railway encounter with the infamous Wreckhouse winds. The song has quickly become a part of the Newfoundland canon of legendary songs. Her show captures her adventurous and open-hearted spirit and her songs transport you to places and experiences that make you feel like you’re on the journey with her.
“Sherry has certainly honed her skill as a master storyteller. Her dry wit and self-depreciation creates a comfortable space for the audience to relax and engage. She’s very disarming and the songwriting is great. The crowd loved it and everyone stuck around for a chance to chat with her after the set. It’s that kind of show. David Francey-esque.” Bryan Power- Victory Pool Music
Sherry will be accompanied by violinist and fiddler Maria Cherwick, whose career spans from symphony orchestras, to touring internationally with her Ukrainian speed-folk band, The Kubasonics. Originally from the Canadian Prairies, Maria’s studies and career eventually brought her to St. John’s Newfoundland, where she is currently based. Maria holds a Bachelor of Music from Brandon University and a Masters of Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Twice named MusicNL “Side Musician of the Year” as well as “Celtic/Traditional Artist of the Year”, Maria maintains a busy performing schedule, dividing her time between several country, folk and bluegrass bands, and is highly sought after as a session musician.
Sherry and Maria have performed extensively together, and have created a show which weaves together story telling, songs and fiddle tunes.
On Shout for More, her fifth full-length album, Sherry Ryan charts a new chapter in her life with a luminous collection of songs that glows like stained glass. Blending folk-pop sensibility with country and Irish-Newfoundland roots, Sherry affirms her place as one of Atlantic Canada’s best-loved singer-songwriters. Her pure voice adorns lush arrangements—closely crafted with producer Mark Neary—like a floral crown, carrying the soul of each song straight into the listener’s heart, whether she is looking to the future, glancing back at the past, or taking stock of what falls in between.
Born and raised in Middle Cove, Newfoundland, Canada, Sherry’s career has been storied, with acclaim and accolades from the ECMA, MusicNL, Exclaim!, CBC and audiences nation-wide. Once named “St. John’s answer to Lucinda Williams” and compared to John Prine for “reeling you in with her heartfelt stories and a hint of humour,” Sherry’s rich vocal style is described as “so good—so distinct—it’s absolutely unforgettable” (Exclaim!). Sherry’s 2018 release, Wreckhouse, included the celebrated single “Stop the Trains,” voted Best Song in the Province (The Overcast), and featured in festival-favourite film An Audience of Chairs.
Though trains, roads, and travel frequently cross into her Americana-infused songs, Shout for More proves Sherry is far from road-weary. With fresh energy and new stories to tell, Sherry Ryan is poised to win hearts and get boots tapping.
Silver Wolf Band is a four-piece Indigenous folk pop rock band from Happy Valley Goose Bay, Labrador. Lively, engaging and self-assured performances of honest and sincere lyrical music is what has made Silver Wolf Band one of the most in-demand music groups from Labrador. Their music is shaped and informed by family, community, love, and their home land itself. Their first full length album Pockets Filled With Rocks saw them nominated for Rock Artist of the Year (Music NL, 2018) and First Light Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year (Music NL, 2019). Their most recent album Storms & Prayers (2020) saw them nominated for Group of the Year (Music NL, 2020) and won them Indigenous Artist of the Year (Music NL, 2020) and Indigenous Artist of the Year (ECMA 2021). Silver Wolf Band is Jamie Jackman (guitar, vocals), Matthew Barrett (piano, keyboards), Justin Jackman (drums, percussion), and Brandon Pardy (bass guitar). The band is coming off a successful tour of the Province in support of Storms & Prayers which included 4 sold-out shows in Corner Brook, St. John’s, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Wesleyville.
Toronto-based vocal powerhouse Serena Ryder is a platinum-selling artist adored by fans, peers and critics alike, in part due to her raw and earnest songwriting, and beautifully electric live performances. She has won seven prestigious JUNO Awards, including the 2022 Adult Contemporary Album of the Year for her record The Art of Falling Apart, which invites listeners to join her mental wellness journey and helps us understand the importance of sitting with the uncomfortable moments and the wisdom in their messages.
Serena has a unique ability to cross genres – from pop, to folk and roots, to Christmas and children’s music. Her diverse catalogue has earned her several accolades, including Canada’s Walk of Fame Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, the Margaret Trudeau Mental Health Advocacy Award, a Canada Folk Music Award and Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Music–Original Song.
Serena is a mental-wellness advocate who has shared her own story of depression and neuro-divergency publicly, and speaks across the country to thousands of people each year. Her song “What I Wouldn’t Do” was reimagined for Kids Help Phone’s Feel Out Loud 2023 campaign — the largest mental health campaign in Canadian history. Serena also works with emerging musicians and industry professionals through her ArtHaus Community non profit, helping them develop creative, entrepreneurial and wellness skills needed to thrive in today’s music and media landscape.
