Recording: Brendan Canning

Artist: Brendan Canning

Song: However Long

Recorded at Christie Pits Park ("Bloor Ossington Folk Festival"), September 20, 2014.

Brendan Canning - However Long

Once again, the Bloor Ossington Folk Festival stayed true to its roots as a low-key and local celebration. By enfolding itself into the contours of Christie Pits, BOFF still feels casual and approachable, even with some heavy hitters in its lineup. As so often happens at outdoor events, weather forced organizers to make some adjustments on the fly, but even having to move the headliners into the beer tent served to reinforce the intimate vibes. There's room to grow, but overall the organizers are getting things right.

Hastily moving from the big stage, this group of veterans managed to wring a big sound out of a jury-rigged setup. It was nice to get a second chance to hear the album's worth of new material that Canning is tweaking, although this time out there was a nod to the past (in the form of BSS chestnut "Handjobs For The Holidays"). This present cut — one of several that gains its power more from a simmering groove than a frenzied rock-out — features Dani Nash's vox.