Aengus Finnan

Aengus Finnan (born January 31, 1972) is a Canadian folk musician and arts organiser. Finnan was born in Dublin, Ireland, and grew up in Ontario, Canada.[1] In 2003, he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his humanitarian and cultural work in Canada [2] He is currently the Executive Director of Folk Alliance International.

Aengus Finnan
BornDublin, Ireland
OriginOntario, Canada
GenresFolk
Years active1999–present
Associated actsSerena Ryder
Websiteaengusfinnan.com

Early life

Finnan grew up on an organic farm in Shelter Valley, Ontario (near Grafton). He attended St. Mary's elementary school in Grafton, St. Mary's Secondary School in Cobourg, and was awarded a two-year scholarship to Lester B. Pearson United World College near Victoria, B.C. where he studied Fine Art (IB), before attending Concordia University in Montreal to study Theatre (BFA). He later attended Nipissing University in North Bay, Ontario, to study Native and Northern Education, graduating as Valedictorian for the 1994 Faculty of Education.[1]

He taught elementary school in Moosonee, Ontario, for two years,[3] and in Inuvik, NWT.[4]

Music career

He released two albums, Fool's Gold, produced by Paul Mills in 1999, and North Wind,[5] which Finnan co-produced with Paul Mills in 2002, featuring his touring bandmates Trevor Mills and David Rogers along with backing vocals by Serena Ryder. For 6 years he toured the North America folk festival and club circuit but found it financially testing.[4]

In 199 his song "Lately" was awarded the Songs From The Heart Award.[6] "O'Shaunessey's Lament" (later recorded by Irish-American artist Seamus Kennedy) was also awarded the prestigious New Folk Songwriting award at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas.[7] Finnan was featured on Beautiful, the first ever tribute album to Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot.[8] In 2003 he produced a compilation album entitled Valley Voices as a fundraising effort for a group of concerned citizens, and in 2005 he co-produced Coastline of our Dreams, an Ian Tamblyn tribute album.

In the winter of 2003 he traveled to the Yukon to record a collection of Robert Service poetry as field recordings (as yet unreleased) in the locations of the subject matter of the poems, including The Shooting of Dan Mcgrew, and The Cremation of Sam McGee. In 2004 he recorded a live album at the Grafton Town Hall called Once Upon a Time, which was released in 2013.[9] He essentially retired from music and has since become a full-time arts administrator.[4]

Art career, organizing

In 2002 he conceived of a tribute event called The Way We Feel as an annual event to celebrate the work of Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot.[2]

In 2003 he returned to Grafton Ontario to found the Shelter Valley Folk Festival, for which he was the volunteer artistic and executive director till 2010.[2][10] During that time he served as the board President of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals.[2] In 2005 he bought the Lawless and Sons general store (circa 1835) in Grafton and transformed it from an active butcher shop into the Lawless Gallery of Fine Art, where he was curator for 3 years. The gallery doubled as a performance venue for acoustic concerts.

In 2008 he began instructing a self-employment course for the Northumberland Community Futures agency, and later served as their Program Manager. In May 2010 he was hired as the Touring and Audience Development Officer for the Ontario Arts Council.[2] In 2003, he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Commemorative Medal for his humanitarian and cultural work in Canada.[2][11]

In 2014 he was appointed Executive Director of Folk Alliance International,[12] and tasked with organising the world's largest annual Conference for the folk music industry, held in Kansas City.[13]

Personal life

He currently lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

Discography

Solo albums
Studio and live albums by Aengus Finnan
Year Album title Release details
1999 Fool's Gold
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: Shelter Valley
  • Format: CD, digital
2002 North Wind
2013 Once Upon a Time: Live in Grafton
  • Released: Jan 1, 2013
  • Label: Centre Stage
  • Format: CD

Singles
Singles by Aengus Finnan
Year Song Album Notes
1999 "Lately" Fool's Gold
2002 "Rolling Home" North Wind
"O'Shaughnessy's Lament"
"My Heart Has Wings" ft. Serena Ryder Flashpoint season opener

Compilations

References
  1. "Aengus Finnan — Borealis Records". borealisrecords.com. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  2. "Aengus Finnan appointed Touring and Audience Development Officer at the Ontario Arts Council". Ontario Arts Council. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  3. Reid, Robert (March 9, 2000). "Life beyond Moosonee; Folk singer Aengus Finnan drops teaching to follow musical dreams". Kitchener Record. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  4. "Finnan finds his stage voice again". www.therecord.com. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  5. "Folk Plus – Interview with Aengus Finnan From North East Folk Alliance". www.wjffradio.org. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  6. "Songs From the Heart Past Winners – Folk Music Ontario". www.folkmusicontario.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  7. "Kerrville Festivals". www.kerrville-music.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  8. "Various – Beautiful: A Tribute To Gordon Lightfoot". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  9. "CBC Music". music.cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  10. "Shelter Valley Folk Festival presenting fourth Songwriters Showcase". Trenton Trentonian. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  11. "Canadian songwriter Aengus Finnan received Canada's prestigious Commemorative Medal in honor of The Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II". Sing Out. 22 March 2003. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  12. "KITHFOLK, Issue 3". Atavist. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  13. "Aengus Finnan breaks down this year's Folk Alliance International Conference". Pitch. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
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