Roots North Music Festival

Since the release of his self-titled debut fifteen years ago, Doug Paisley has earned accolades for unflinchingly self-reflective songs delivered with simplicity and beauty. Though Paisley has always collaborated with topnotch Canadian musicians including luminaries like Garth Hudson, Leslie Feist, and Mary Margaret O’Hara, his records have drawn poignancy also from moments where the listener hears Paisley as he most often hears himself: unadorned and alone with his guitar. The critical response to Paisley’s sophomore release, Constant Companion, underlined this quality. MOJO, naming the album one of the top ten of 2010, found in its “rare kind of purity” evidence that “an anti-star is born”. While Rolling Stone deemed it to be a “nearly perfect singer-songwriter record”, UNCUT described it as “sure-footed and ageless…uncluttered, sad and unerringly lovely.” The “quiet and contemplative” nature of Paisley’s album Starter Home, continued this trend, earning it a place in the New Yorker’s top ten albums of the year.  

Doghouse Orchestra is an eclectic Toronto-based ensemble that masterfully blends elements of gospel, jazz, funk, and country into a vibrant, genre-defying sound. The band was born amongst the thriving music community on Queen Street West, where you can find them Sunday nights at The Cameron House. Their dynamic performances offer an immersive experience through improvisation and crowd participation, creating a communal atmosphere that celebrates the joy of live music. Led by bassist Matt Coldwell, the group stretches creative boundaries, offering a sound that is both timeless and irresistibly modern. 

Doghouse Orchestra includes eight talented musicians, each bringing a wealth of experience and a unique musical voice. The ensemble has a proven track record, having performed at major festivals like Mariposa, Ness Creek, North Country Fair, and South Country Fair. Their Sunday night residency at The Cameron House has solidified their reputation, drawing in a dedicated following and creating a vibrant community space since 2022.

The group debuted six singles in 2023, including "Psychedelic Sally" and "Always Late". Fall 2024 saw the release of the single, "I was Born About  Ten Thousand Years Ago" recorded live at The Cameron House. The tracks received positive acclaim, creating anticipation around the upcoming release of their first full-length album.

Mary Frances, daughter of acclaimed Canadian fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, is hitting the stage with her own project! Fusing her Celtic heritage with sounds from around the world, her energetic musicianship has graced stages from North America all the way Australia. At age 20, she already has over 800 live performances under her belt. Now appearing in Orillia with her trio, Mary Frances brings a performance not to be missed!

Meredith Moon started writing songs at the age of eight. Growing up immersed in folk music, including the music of her father, Gordon Lightfoot, she became a self-taught guitar player by the age of fourteen. A few years later, she found her sound as a busker on sidewalks from Halifax to Vancouver. She spent years traveling across Canada and the world by road and rail, finding inspiration for her unique style of songs, which are crafted in a true storyteller’s fashion.

Meredith has been described as a ‘gem’ in both the old-time and contemporary folk music scenes for her unusual expression of the genres, combining influences of folk-punk with traditional Appalachian sounds. Besides playing traditional tunes often ‘non-traditionally,’ Meredith presents a powerful voice and a highly contemporary clawhammer banjo style, which has earned her acclaim in the international roots music community. She is a multi-instrumentalist, incorporating fingerstyle/Travis picking guitar, piano, and lap dulcimer, among other instruments, into her performances.