The Funky Mamas, a well known children’s band, are finalists in the Canadian Folk Music awards for best Canadian Children’s CD for their latest release Rollin’ Along.
The News comes just after the CD won a Parents’ Choice award from the United States.
Two members of The Funky Mamas call Guelph-Eramosa Township home; Georgia Urban, who plays guitar, mandolin, and musical saw, and Chantal von Maydell, who plays the fiddle.
The other three members of the band reside in Guelph and include Tannis Maynard-Langedijk on guitar, ukulele, and percussion; Kate Vsetula on banjo and banjo-uke; and Alicia Miecznikowski on bass, recorder and percussion.
Many Wellington County events have hosted The Funky Mamas over the years including the Harvest Home Festival, Elora Music Festival, Fergus Fall Fair, Erin Fall Fair, Buy Local Buy Fresh map launch, the Rotary Forest planting and more.
The band also played the Toronto Harbourfront Centre, Mariposa Folk Festival, Museum of Civilization, Hillside Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival, Lethbridge, Al-berta’s Children’s Festival, and many more events have hosted the Mamas over the years.
The Rollin’ Along CD continues a tradition with a selection of original and traditional songs (10 of the 16 are original) in English and French.
The Funky Mamas CDs, Rollin’ Along and The Funky Mamas are available at various retail stores around Guelph including Ground Floor Music, Community Roots, Merry-go-Round, Diaper Days, Duncan McPhee, and Wyndham Art Supplies or online at www.thefunkymamas.com.
The band is planning to attend the awards ceremony in St. John’s Newfoundland on Nov. 23 and plans to play various shows while they are on the coast. It will be selling its merchandise at the Guelph Farmers’ Market over the next month and hope that local CD sales will help fuel the cost of the trip.
