Banjofest is an annual regional music festival featuring an eclectic line-up of banjo-suffused music.
The next festival takes place March 9 to 11 at Silence Guelph and the Army, Navy and Air Force Club (ANAF) in Guelph and will feature 12 acts over three days.
The styles of banjo music represented run the gamut from bluegrass and old-time through jazz, gypsy jazz and celtic all the way to punk, pop and avant-garde.
“We had a great festival last year, it sold out a few weeks in advance and we had lots of fun, so we decided to do it again,” said organizer Ian Molesworth. “This year, we wanted to make it a bit more eclectic. In addition to the weekend afternoon and evening sessions at Silence, a new fringe event has been added on the Friday night, to be held at the ANAF.”
Called The Banjofest Fringe, “it will be an evening of folk-punk for banjo fans who like their music a little more on the wild side and is aimed at getting out younger banjo fans.”
Tickets can be ordered online at https://guelph.snapd.com/events/view/1111270.
This year’s event will also see a Deering Goodtime Banjo, donated by Folkway Music raffled off at $5 per ticket.
Event schedule and performers
At ANAF Club, 32 Gordon St, Guelph:
– March 9: Banjofest Fringe will see Greg Denton present Head Tension: Banjo Punks with Stinkbox, Anthony Damaio and Hard Up. Tickets are $10 per person.
At Silence, 46 Essex St, Guelph:
– March 10 (afternoon): Amadou Kienou on Ngoni/banjo roots; Meredith Moon on roots clawhammer; and Lupton, Taheny and Macdonald playing Celtic music. Tickets are $30 per person;
– March 10 (evening): songwriter James Gordon; gypsy swing band Adrian Raso Trio; and bluegrass band The Barrel Boys. Tickets are $30 per person; and
– March 11 (afternoon): Songwriters Ariana and David Gillis; modern jazz banjo band the Tony Quarrington Trio; and Kevin Breit and Jeff Bird. Tickets are $30 per person.
For a complete list of this year’s acts and ticket info visit www.banjofest.ca.
