Northshore favourite hosts Mainstage at festival

Written by Charmaine Beaulieu on 10 August 2010

by Charmaine Beaulieu

Nash performs at Live from the Rock, August 6th. Photo by Charmaine Beaulieu

Award-winning Jory Nash, an independent singer/songwriter from Toronto, has been travelling the North Shore entertaining many with his unique blend of folk, jazz, pop, country, soul and blues music recently playing both the Concert In The Parking Lot and the Live From the Rock festival last week (August 4^th – 8^th) Charmaine Beaulieu, shares a little more about the Ontario native with OntarioNewsNorth.com readers after she herself had the opportunity to enjoy his performances this weekend in Red Rock.

Nash performing at Concerts in the Park in Marathon, August 4th. Photo by Karina Hunter

Nash has been performing since he was young and attended the first children’s Performing Arts School in Canada where he studied music, dance, drama and visual arts. He started playing guitar at 15 years of age inspired by his camp counsellor playing Fire & Rain by James Taylor.

Nash has recorded 6 solo albums since 1998 and has sold nearly 12,000 CD’s. His newest album is called New Blue Day and has been named the Penguin Eggs Magazine Critic’s Choice 2009 Album of the Year. The album features 12 original songs written and performed by Nash and can be purchased at www.maplemusic.com, as a CD or mp3.

“It’s difficult making a living being an artist,” Nash commented, ”But it’s difficult doing a lot of things right now in this economy.”

New artists, according to Nash, can sometimes place too much emphasis on financial success; “Without personal artistic success then it’s not worth even contemplating being an artist at all” says Nash.

Performing Friday evening, hosting Saturday and participating in workshops throughout the weekend at the Live from the Rock Folk Music Festival in Red Rock, Nash was well received by attendees of the festival, many who returned having enjoyed Nash’s music when he performed at Live from the Rock previously. This is his second time to the Live from the Rock Festival and has toured the North Shore many times before. Fans can mark their calendars for January 2011 when he will be back in the area again to play the Sleeping Giant Folk Music Festival in Thunder Bay.

“I love the Red Rock festival, even though it’s smaller than many festivals I play it has a unique vibe, warm and edgy at the same time, “said Nash explaining how the audience adds to the warmth of the Northwestern Ontario festival “People are friendly and appreciate the music.”

Jory Nash has travelled North America several times, playing folk festivals, folk clubs, concert series and house concerts. He has built a large, loyal fan-base and he has been fortunate enough to see most of North America in the process.

“I’ve played in most parts of Canada and the US and I can’t say I have a favourite place to play,” Nash said, “But I will say that the drive from Sault Ste Marie to Marathon is one of my absolute favourites in Canada.”

Although Nash does not play ‘children’s music’ he tries to make sure his show has something for everyone. Nash previously ran a summer camp near Algonquin Park in which he gained training in working and playing for children.

“Whatever someone chooses to do, they need to spend time learning how to best harness one’s skills and practice them often,” Nash added. “There are no guarantees in anything. I play music because I have to, want to and am pretty good at it.”