Staats shines at folk awards in Hamilton
The Ontario Folk Music Awards kicked off the five-day Folk Canada conference taking place in downtown Hamilton. Six Nations of the Grand River singer-songwriter Logan Staats won big, along with Tanika Charles and Aysanabee at the awards show hosted by Terra Lightfoot.
Six Nations of the Grand River singer-songwriter Logan Staats and Toronto’s Tanika Charles were two of the big winners at the Ontario Folk Music Awards held in downtown Hamilton Wednesday.
Hosted by Hamilton native and folk-rocker Terra Lightfoot at The Studio, the awards are the official kickoff of the five-day Folk Canada Conference being held in Hamilton for the first time. It is Canada's largest annual gathering and networking event dedicated to the folk, roots, and traditional music community. More than 1,000 delegates are registered for the conference.
Staats, who is Mohawk, won for Performing Artist of the Year and a special award for his environmental activism.
“I take so much inspiration from so many people in this room. It’s such an honour to be here,” he said after winning the first award.
“Six Nations, this is for you.“
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Staats then accepted the Culture in Climate Award.
“As songwriters, as musicians, as troublemakers, we are the last defence against evil in our world,” he said to big cheers from the folk industry crowd.
He dedicated the award to land back warriors, Palestinians, and all oppressed people.
He said songwriters carry a “heavy burden to write about the state of the world today.”
The night's performers included Toronto's Kazdoura, Ottawa Valley native Vicky Brittle, and Jonathan Nvita, who lives in Toronto after immigrating from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Staats performed alongside a band and London, Ont-based folk trio The Pairs.
Folk Canada has made a two-year commitment to Hamilton and will return to the city for its 40th annual conference in 2027. The event is an opportunity for artists at all levels to connect with festival organizers, venues, managers, agents, record labels, radio programmers, and music buyers from across Canada and around the world.
“Hamilton has an incredible scene,” Folk Canada executive director Rosalyn Dennett said from the stage.
“Stan Rogers is from here for god’s sake. So is Jackie Washington. There is an amazing folk scene here.”
Charles performed her reggae/soul-infused song “Consistency” before winning for Album of the Year.
Lisa Abbott, general manager of culture and tourism for the City of Hamilton, was the presenter of the Recording Artist of the Year award.
“I’ve just been blown away by the talent on this stage. I’ve cried three times.”
Aysanabee won the award but sent in his acceptance speech by video. He said he was in the wilderness recording new music but vowed to be at the conference next year.
Lightfoot kicked off the show with her song “Out of Time” and closed it by leading all the night’s performers in the classic “Shine” by Hamilton’s own Junkhouse.
“Hamilton loves you and we hope you’ll always come back to us,” Lightfoot said at the close of the show.
The awards were followed by spotlight showcases at The Sheraton including one featuring Hamilton artists Bernadette Connors, Cadence Weapon, The Redhill Valleys, BLK Orchid & Tesharah, and Jesse Jvmes. It was presented by the City of Hamilton.
Other awards handed out at the Ontario Folk Music Awards were:
Song of the Year - Rebekah Hawker
Music Video of the Year - “Been Done,” Frank Mighty
Colleen Peterson Songwriter Award - Jonathan Nvita
Estelle Klein Community Builder Award - Coco Love Alcorn
Estelle Klein Lifetime Achievement Award - Chris White
The Folk Canada conference kicked off with an opening reception at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It continues until Sunday, with numerous industry panels, sessions, and workshops, more showcase spotlights, and a series of acoustic showcases that will takeover hotel rooms across two floors of The Sheraton for intimate and unplugged shows. It also includes a three-day summit focusing on climate impact, activism, and Indigenous perspectives in music. The conference will culminate on Sunday with a free/pay-what-you-can community concert at Mills Hardware from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
