In The Round: Sarah Jane Scouten, Maddie Storvold & Toria Wooff

Montreal based Sarah Jane is a songwriter faithful to the bluegrass and old time folk tradition but not afraid to tackle hard modern themes such as homelessness, alongside tongue-in-cheek heartache songs and doses of unabashed Canadiana. Sarah Jane pairs sturdy, infectious melodies with lyrics that are candid, poignant and flirtatious, and “a flair for tying emotions to arresting images.” (Penguin Eggs) She now travels all over North America to festivals and workshops, gaining insight and inspiration from contemporary and traditional folk musicians, as well as an ever-expanding collection of stringed instruments.

Awash in a haze of burnt orange and golden browns, Toria Wooff’s world is a colourful palette of opposing plains. A painter, poet, songwriter and storyteller, her songs are steeped in gothic romanticism, americana and pagan tradition, enchanted by an alchemy of ‘70s sound and vision where she magically blends the raw power of Led Zeppelin with Alice Cooper’s raven hues to forge her own spellbinding folk-rock concoction.