Concerts

Gail has opened for many Nashville stars like George Jones, Tom T. Hall, Merle Haggard and Charlie Pride, and has performed at almost every fair in the Ottawa Valley. In 1993, she hosted "Gail Gavan and Friends" on CHRO Pembroke and co-produced and wrote the theme song for another TV show, "Fred's Place", based on her uncle Fred's famous hotel in Chapeau, Quebec. It aired nationally, winning an Independent Producer's Award in Jasper, Alberta. This lead to her becoming the co-host for CBC's "Cottage Country" which had 1/2 million viewers nationally each week! In 1994, she was voted Entertainer of the Year by the Ottawa Valley Music Association.

Pat Moore's voice has a warm and expressive quality, as perfectly suited to a rich ballad, as it is to an up-tempo power song. She moves easily from the storytelling of the singer/songwriter genre, to the lonesome sound of traditional country and bluegrass.

Vince Halfhide is a well known Ottawa singer and master guitarist who has been featured on MACAW in past seasons. MACAW welcomes back Pat and Vince for this wonderful concert series.

Shawn Tavenier is a well known Ottawa area songwriter-guitarist, who has played in many local venues for a number of years. We are pleased to have him back at MACAW for more great concert series entertainment.

Keith is a renowned local singer / songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, bass), producer, and a founding member of Prairie Oyster, often cited as the country’s foremost roots/country band, and a member of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Keith is also a recipient of a SOCAN Songwriter’s Lifetime Achievement Award. MACAW is very happy to welcome Keith back for this moving series of 4 shows.

Known for his vocal prowess and fast-flying improvisational piano solos, Tyler Kealey is a singer-songwriter who collects little moments in everyday happenings and brings them to life through his songs.

With sharp, storytelling lyrics and melodic piano lines that lean into folk just as much as they do blues and rock, each performance takes the audience on a journey of untamed adventure.

He is just as at home on a festival stage as he is in a listening room; Tyler's energy, charisma, and raw talent on his instrument have made him a favorite within the Ottawa music scene and beyond.

In 1969, Wayne became a radio host for CJET in Smiths Falls. After this, he worked at CKWS-TV in Kingston, CKBY radio in Ottawa, and CJCN radio in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. He moved from broadcasting to music in the 1970s, earning a Juno Award nomination in 1981 and recording several albums to date. Rostad returned to broadcasting in the 1980s, leading to his most prominent work as host of CBC Television's On the Road Again. During the program's run from 1987 to 2007, he interviewed ordinary people throughout Canada. 

Lynn Miles is an award winning singer-songwriter, record producer, teacher, writer, public speaker. She's also pretty funny, a 3 minute standup routine is at the top of her bucket list.

Lynn has 15 albums to her credit. She won a Juno award (Canadian Grammy) in 2003 for Roots Traditional Album of the year, and went on to be nominated in the same categories in 2011 and 2006. She is also the recipient of 6 Canadian Folk music awards including 3 for songwriter of the year. 

Too tough for folk and too blues-influenced for country, Lynne Hanson's brand of porch music with a little red dirt can turn on a dime from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a full on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. Her hard living music has garnered her the nickname "Canada's Queen of Americana." And while her deep, bluesy croon has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, it's the poetry of her lyrics that really sets her apart.

Ball and Chain and the Wreckers is a 5 piece band that has been playing vintage country tunes (Hank, George, Ray Price, ..) at clubs and festivals locally and across the continent for over 15 years. Their claim: "We can keep you dancing till closing time and when you're done, we'll wrap you up in Vintage Country Comfort and then set you up with a soundtrack for when you're counting sheep."

SIDE BY SIDE is a lively musical team featuring Maureen Quinn McGovern accompanied by John McGovern. With years of experience, proven talent and performance expertise SIDE BY SIDE presents warm, entertaining shows featuring songs from the Great American Songbook, Broadway musicals, Canadian classics, folk songs and seasonal favourites. The McGoverns continue the traditions of SIDE BY SIDE's founders, Mary Frances, Kay Denison and the late Bill Luxton.

Ian Tamblyn has been a working musician since 1972. He has released dozens of albums of his work as well as acting as producer for many other artists. Over the years Ian has written too many songs and has given up on counting them. He has also written fourteen plays and over one hundred theatre soundtracks.