Regina Folk Festival and the Regina Public Library present:

Megan Nash and okimawᐅᑭᒪᐤ at the Sidewalk Series Wrap-Up Party!

The Regina Folk Festival and Regina Public Library invite you to join us for a special party potluck picnic to wrap up the Sidewalk Series and to celebrate the RFF during The Skygazer Soirée week! Featuring local powerhouse musicians Megan Nash and okimawᐅᑭᒪᐤ performing separately and together in a folk-fest style workshop, this is a celebration you can’t miss! Plus: stick around after the music and (free!) food to take part in a fun DIY instrument building workshop. Please note that MELODNA is no longer able to perform due to a scheduling conflict.

When: Wednesday, August 7th 12-1pm for the music, 1-2pm for the DIY instrument building workshop

Where: Regina Public Library Central Branch sidewalk on Lorne Street near 12th avenue+ Victoria Park (DIY instrument building workshop)

The party will include complimentary cold brew coffee from Pause Coffee plus free food while supplies last! We invite you to bring your own treats to share with friends and neighbours, too. We'll have a special sharing table just for that purpose. Please ensure that your yummy offerings are clearly labelled with the ingredients to keep everyone safe and happy.

After the music, join in with one of Regina Public Library’s Digital Media Specialists for an instrument building workshop! We ask that you can bring some recyclable or reusable materials that can be repurposed into instruments – we’ve had success with PVC piping, mason jars, carboard tubes, pie pans, scrap wood or metal, string, rubber bands, yogurt tubs, and so on but anything that can make a noise is welcome and we’d love to be surprised.

About the Musicians

“Megan Nash is writing some of the most beautiful songs in this country right now" - Tom Power on CBC's Q. Nash has been nominated for four Western Canadian Music Awards, has taken home two Saskatchewan Music Awards, and is a JUNO-losing proud dog mother to her geriatric pup Shiloh. Nash is currently reading ‘Scenes of a Graphic Nature’ by Caroline O’Donoghue. 

okimawᐅᑭᒪᐤ (pronounced oh-gih-mao) is the roots-rock music project created by nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) singer, songwriter, and producer, Aren Okemaysim, from the Beardy's & Okemasis Cree Nation in Treaty 6 territory.

Infusing soaring vocals, impactful lyrical statements, and a dynamic array of musical arrangements, okimawᐅᑭᒪᐤ takes listeners on a journey through what it feels like to be an Indigenous person in Canada, putting topics like race-relations, MMIW, and residential schools in the hot seat.

Since the release of his debut album, the self-titled "okimawᐅᑭᒪᐤ" (January 2022), his project has gained radio play on community radio stations across Canada, and has appeared at festival showcases such as: "Weesageechak Begins to Dance 36" - Native Earth Performing Arts, Toronto, ON; Metis Cultural Days, Saskatoon, SK; Salt Shaker Festival, Manitou Beach, SK; Swamp Fest, Regina, SK; Winterruption, Regina, SK; Luminato Festival, Toronto, ON.

Aren is currently writing/producing new music for future release(s) to be announced in 2024.