7th Annual Windsong Music Festival on August 24, 25

Friday August 24 - Brock Zeman

With nine-albums to his name and a few hundred live performances every year for almost a decade, singer-songwriter Brock Zeman is well-established as one of the Ottawa Valley’s hardest working musicians. All of this before the age of 30. He’s also highly regarded, having earned praise from critics across the country. Exclaim! magazine says Zeman “is a songwriter worth hearing over and over again,” CKUA hails Zeman’s work as “intelligent, tuneful, heart-felt songs served up with an authentic but understated style” and the KW Record says that “Zeman doesn’t surrender an inch to any Texas singer/songwriter you care to name. Closer to home, he has the chops to join the likes of Fred Eaglesmith on the lonesome outskirts of town after the street lights come on.”

Saturday August 25 - Hawksley Workman

Hawksley workman is a prolific songwriter, producer, singer, multi instrumentalist, actor, and published author. His 12 year career has produced as many records, all ambitiously creative and defying category. The 6 times nominated 2 time juno award winner has enjoyed radio success in Europe and Canada and has written songs for celebrated artists the world over. Workman’s production work (18 albums) has been attached to many successful artists including Tegan and Sara, Serena Ryder, Great Big Sea, Sarah Slean, and Jeremy Fisher. Hawksley’s touring career has seen him play nearly a thousand shows in over 15 countries. He’s headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall in Toronto and The Olympia in Paris, as well as opening for heroes Morrissey, David Bowie, and The Cure. As an actor Workman has appeared in films such as Score, Hockey a Musical (he also wrote a portion of the music), Youkali Hotel, and Stormy Weather. Beyond his own solo work, Hawksley has written songs for many feted artists including legends Johnny Hallyday and Jane Birkin. In 2002 ECW press published Hawksley Burns for Isadora, a collection of fictional love letters to a mermaid.

Saturday August 25 - Ruth Moody

Ruth Moody is a Juno Award winning songwriter from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin’ Jennys and former lead singer of the Canadian roots band Scruj MacDuhk. She has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous critically-acclaimed albums, and appeared more than a dozen times on the national radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Although best known for her work with The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth is an artist of exceptional depth and grace in her own right. Critics have lauded her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism, and her masterful songwriting. Written with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and exceptionally well-crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably hers. In 2010, Ruth released her highly-anticipated solo album, The Garden, to rave reviews. Produced by David Travers-Smith, it was nominated for a Juno Award, a Western Canadian Music Award and three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and its title track was the fourth most played song of 2010 on North American Folk Radio.

Saturday August 25 - Doug Paisley

Doug Paisley is a Canadian alternative country artist with record label No Quarter Records. He was born in Toronto. Paisley's "What About Us?" was featured in Mojo magazine as part of a complimentary CD entitled New Harvest. Paisley has previously toured with Bonnie Prince Billy under the name Dark Hand and Lamplight with artist Shary Boyle. Boyle would illuminate her art in the background while Paisley played the guitar and sung his songs. The pairing received recognition when they were selected to showcase at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2008. Doug performed for ten years alongside Chuck Erlichman as a duo entitled Russian Literature and as a tribute act entitled Stanley Brothers. Paisley's 2010 release Constant Companion receives positive reviews in major publications such as The New Yorker, Rolling Stone Magazine and Spin. Doug has recently returned from a cross Canada tour as the "opening act" for Jim Cuddy.

Saturday August 25 - Anne Lindsay

Anne Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada, adapting her unique violin/fiddle style to the eclectic sounds and musical languages of this country’s rich cultural texture. She recently won the 2011 OCFF Songs From The Heart – Instrumental Award and is a nominee for Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year at this year’s Canadian Folk Music Awards. In 2007 Anne was named Violinist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards, Solo Instrumentalist and Producer of the Year at the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards. In 2006 she won both the KM Hunter Award from the Ontario Arts Council and the Songs From the Heart - Instrumental category from the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Currently composing, performing and recording with her own band, Anne is also a much sought after side person, composer, arranger and background vocalist, performing with some of Canada’s top musical acts: Blue Rodeo, Jim Cuddy, John McDermott. She played a key role as folk fiddler in The Lord of the Rings stage show and has been resident fiddler for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Saturday August 25 - Ron Nigrini

"In 1965, I started strumming with my friends Don Heard and Ken Harris. We got caught in the spotlight big time in July 1967, playing before 10,000 as the opening act for the Mamas and Papas at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. I remember the black limousine that drove into the backstage belly of the Gardens. I remember standing at attention on stage while the national anthem was played, and Cass Elliot smiling at us after our set and saying "Good show!" In the 70's Ron criss-crossed North America with the success of the Canadian recording of the Oscar-winning song by Keith Carradine titled, "I'm Easy". A few years later,Ron's own song, "Baby I'm A Lot Like You", was a national hit in Canada and the most played Canadian single of 1984-85. Ron has been a regular performer at Hugh's Room in Toronto for many years and continues to write and perform his songs inspired by people and matters of the heart. This will be Ron's third time performing at Windsong and we are very happy to have him back.