Trailblazer Music Festival returns for second evening October 16

If you missed last Friday's performances at the 2020 Trailblazer Music Festival, there is a second chance to see emerging local artists perform at the historic Aurora Armoury on Friday, October 16.

The Trailblazer Music Festival, a joint venture between the Aurora Museum & Archives and local musician Jared Stafford returned to the historic venue at Mosley and Larmont last Friday, just in time for Culture Days 2020, with performances from The Beresfords, Rob Watts, and local student musicians.

For the second of two installments, scheduled entertainers include Ian Marc & Sara, Treeline and former Aurora Teen Idol Louisa Barbosa.

“It is exciting to get back on the stage again, especially doing something for the Town,” says Louisa, who says opportunities to perform live during the pandemic have been few and far between. “I love the community and I love when everybody comes together safely to support live music.

“I think during lockdown it really made me appreciate music a lot more because I couldn't go out and play, so I realized just how special that is for me. Now, finally being able to slowly get back into doing live shows and feeding off the energy of an actual crowd means everything to me and I am super-grateful for it.”

When she takes the stage next Friday, Louisa says she has prepared a set primarily of original music with a few covers thrown into the mix.

“I have been writing a lot, so my catalogue has expanded considerably,” she says. “As a song-writer, I have to acknowledge the fact I am restricted to my own point of view, so a lot of my songs are about personal experiences.  [Over the last few months of the pandemic] I think there has been a recurring theme of finding my identity and self-reflection during my songs, especially my most recent ones, because I have had all this time at home to think about who I am, what I want to do and how I can be better. I think that theme is very present in my more recent music.

“I just want the audiences to feel seen. I think the things I write about are pretty universal experiences. If they can related to any of the lyrics and enjoy the music, that is all I could ever want.”

Louisa will be joined on stage by Treeline.

The two artists have shared a bill together on many local open-mic nights in York Region and Treeline too is eager to get back in front of a live audience.

“In April, we were supposed to go into the studio to start recording our second EP and that is right at the launchpad of the present situation, which put everything on hold,” says Treeline's Gregory Swain. “I really like what Aurora does with music – and anything I can do to support Aurora.”

For more information on the second installment of the 2020 Trailblazer Music Festival, including how to register for a limited number of socially-distanced spaces, visit aurora.ca/culturedays and select “October 16” from the drop-down menu. The website also provides a full list of local Culture Days activities through October 25.

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter