The story of the Festival of Small Halls began during a supermoon weekend in August 2014, when the team behind Bluesfest brought Old Man Luedecke to perform in three small halls in Perth, Gananoque and Bloomfield. Since then, the festival has grown to 60 performances—from October through December—in 49 venues as far afield as Brockville, Kingston and Peterborough.
Because of the festival’s popularity and the size of the settings, some shows are already sold out. However, there are still many great performances available (at the time of writing). Below are five of my top picks—all located within an hour (or two) of Ottawa.
Ron Sexsmith at the Spencerville United Church
Fans of Ron Sexsmith don’t care that he’s performed with Chris Martin and Leonard Cohen, or that his songs have been covered by Tracey Thorn, k.d. lang or Rod Stewart. What matters is the beauty of his songwriting and the vulnerability of his performances. Spencerville is located just 45 minutes south on the 416 and its beautiful, 100-year-old church offers excellent acoustics. Sounds like a perfect combo to me.
Ron Sexsmith performs on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7pm at the Spencerville United Church. Tickets are $40 plus HST and fees.
Kellylee Evans at Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall
A favourite of jazz fans in France, Kellylee Evans may have played in more historic sites than the Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall, but certainly nothing quite as adorable. Built in 1932 by the local Women’s Institute and still completely volunteer-run, the small wooden structure seats a maximum of 100 people. So, consider yourself lucky if you are one of the few folks who snag a ticket for this concert. Kellylee Evans is a top-tier talent.
Kellylee Evans performs on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2:30pm at the Chaffey’s Lock Community Hall in Elgin. Tickets are $30 plus HST and fees.
Basia Bulat at the Almonte Town Hall
I never need an excuse to visit Almonte. It is a wonderful town, with cute little shops, beautiful architecture and—my favourite—the amazing chocolate factory and café, Hummingbird. In October, the town will also host Basia Bulat, a force of nature whose soaring vocals make her a favourite among the Canadian folk and pop music crowd. With its high ceiling of hand-hewn Douglas fir beams, the Almonte Town Hall is ideal for Basia Bulat’s powerful and ethereal voice.
Basia Bulat performs on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7pm at the Almonte Town Hall. Tickets are $35 plus HST and fees.
Fortunate Ones at the Manotick United Church
While you may not have heard of Newfoundland’s Fortunate Ones, you have likely heard their award-winning tracks “The Bliss” and “Hold Fast,” which have had millions of streams on Spotify. The Juno-nominated contemporary folk duo will perform these and other original songs at the gorgeous limestone Manotick United Church, built in 1904 and just a stone’s throw away from the Rideau River and Watson’s Mill. Definitely a show worth catching.
Fortunate Ones perform on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7pm at the Manotick United Church. Tickets are $40 plus HST and fees.
The East Pointers at the Carleton Place Arena
If you’re more in the mood for an energetic, up-on-your-feet East Coast dance party, this is your jam. While the Prince Edward Island duo bring a strong foundation of traditional Celtic folk music, they aren’t afraid to weave in pulsating trance beats and progressive pop-rock keyboards. With a capacity of 400, the Carleton Place Arena’s main hall is just the place to handle all that jumping.
The East Pointers perform on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7pm at the Carleton Place Arena. Tickets are $35 plus HST and fees.
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