Don’t leave the kids at home this weekend. Here are some of the performers making their return to the Lil’ Folkers Stage at Yellowknife’s Folk on the Rocks 2024.
Peekaboo Kazoo, a Yellowknife group made up of Ryan McCord, Claire Marchildon and Kerry Wheler, is celebrating 10 years of being present at Folk. The group first performed in 2014 and has made six appearances since.
Wheler, the singer in the group, teaches music classes for children and leads a singing circle at the Avens seniors’ centre. Wheler told Cabin Radio she believes everyone is musical and hopes to “instill the love of music-making and demonstrate that everyone has the capacity to make music.”
Peekaboo Kazoo performs everything from old standards to kids’ music and tunes popular with the children in Wheler’s classes. Wheler is on vocals, Marchildon’s on fiddle and McCord’s on guitar – and, of course, kazoo.
“Kazoo is one of the featured instruments in the band because it’s such a playful instrument that anyone can play,” Wheler said. “But I think no one plays it better than Ryan McCord.”
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Wheler says audiences should expect “fun kid swag” at Folk. That includes ribbon wrist streamers, dance scarves and wooden egg shakers. Songs will be “sing-along-able.”
Although targeted toward kids, Peekaboo Kazoo’s performances at Folk can entertain all ages. “It’s nice to kick off your sandals and be silly in the sand,” she said. “Everyone’s welcome.”
Catch Peekaboo Kazoo’s performances on Saturday at 3:15pm and Sunday at 3pm on the DT Electric Lil’ Folkers Stage.
Ginalina, another of the stage’s performers, is a Juno-nominated Folk musician based in Vancouver, BC who last appeared at Folk on the Rocks in 2019.
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Ginalina’s latest release – Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs, Vol 1 – is a collection of Canadian-Asian folk music inspired by traditional songs from China and Taiwan. The album features songs in English, Mandarin and Taiwanese.
Creating this album was a process of self-discovery, Ginalina told Cabin Radio, as both of her parents immigrated to Canada from Taiwan. She expressed that no matter where you come from, “root-finding and heritage is important for all of us.”
As for her performances at Folk, Ginalina welcomes families to “come and see what we’re going to do.”
“My audience is often very family-friendly,” Ginalina said. “There’s a lot of children involved, which I love. I love including them. I love making sure that they’re remembered and they’re celebrating and they’re being joyful and singing along.”
Folkers can expect songs in English, French, Taiwanese and Mandarin.
Catch Ginalina’s performance on Saturday at 5:15pm on the DT Electric Lil’ Folkers Stage.
Ginalina, who is a Kala brand ukulele ambassador, will also offer a beachside learn-to-play-ukulele workshop.
Attendees will learn a few chords, sing some songs, and are encouraged to take a swim together afterward.
This workshop takes place at the beach on the Folk site on Sunday at 5:45pm.
