Kristine St-Pierre

Building on the success of the Orléans Craft Beer festival, the Orléans Cork & Fork festival is taking the party inside this November.

The first song, “Woe Is Me”, opened with gospel flavours of organ and pristine vocal harmonies before it erupted into a double-timed, train-chugging groove. Suddenly, I was transported to a sawdust-floored saloon on a Saturday night, and my feet sprang into action.

This March is intended as a first step, and more will have to be done to make it not just welcoming to everyone, but to make sure those in the minority have a chance to lead, to take direction, and to point out what needs to happen next.