Welcome to my web site! I've just completed upgrading it to be viewable on all devices and would welcome any observations or suggestions.
I have included a catalog of my recordings, my songs' lyrics, and most musical activity in which I have played a part.
I appreciate you dropping by here. It would be my great pleasure that you might find some music which touches you, or a story that rings true.
You can hear all of my music on my YouTube
channel here. Should you wish to purchase any dowloads please visit www.timharrison.bandcamp.com.
Should you have any questions or suggestions, please use our contact form to get in touch.
The SONG TRADE
Thursday, October 23 - 8PM
Parkwood Restaurant, Owen Sound
See the story on the Song Trade in the October issue of On The Bay Magazine!
See in online at: ONTHEBAYMAGAZINE.COM
Thursday, October 23 - 8PM
Parkwood Restaurant, Owen Sound
See the story on the Song Trade in the October issue of On The Bay Magazine!
See in online at: ONTHEBAYMAGAZINE.COM
Michael Smith's "The Dutchman"
First heard this sung by Steve Goodman, been meaning to record it ever since. I tracked down the writer of the song, Michael Smith. Michael came to the 1977 Owen Sound Summerfolk which I was booking at the time. The audience deeply appreciated seeing and hearing Michael and he became a favourite at many events and festivals.
This photo taken at the celebration of Norm Hacking's music in Toronto on Aug 1. So great to hear such fine musicians share Norm's music and their stories about Norm. Very grateful to be asked to play by Norm's son Ben and Paul Corby who put it all together. Bravo!
Aug 1rst!
Aug 14-17!
Returning home to Summerfolk
www.summerfolk.org
I wrote the following for the 2025 programme as requested by the festival.
Love In The Time Of Summerfolk
“Love On The Lake” was the headline in the Chicago magazine 'Come For To Sing' when that publication reviewed the 1978 Summerfolk Festival.
One might be tempted to think that the festival referred to in this headline was the result of some left-over Hippy era sentiments put together by a loose group of people for a la la weekend of music and dancing in the park.
The truth, however, is that Summerfolk began with the same blood, sweat, and tears of any new human endeavour: political struggles, disagreements, lack of resources, cynicism, and a whole lot of people with courage prepared to jump into new and unfamiliar tasks with a strong will and remarkable enthusiasm.
By now most know that the festival was funded as a result of the Montreal Olympics and Canada's desire to have celebratory events across the county to mark that occasion. The Grey-Bruce Arts Council was given a $20,000 grant which became the seed money for Summerfolk. The money came first, and then the idea of the festival developed in discussions between myself and my brother John Arthur Harrison. John was then president of the GBAC and persuaded the board to go along with the idea of Summerfolk.
In early April of our first year 1976, I was privileged to attend a meeting of Folk Festival Artistic Directors which included Estelle Klein of Mariposa, Mitch Podolak of Winnipeg, and others. At this meeting I was given full access to upcoming festivals to observe how they were organized and how they put together every facet of their events. This armed me with an education; information which I could bring home and use to develop committees and aspects of the festival's organization.
As I look back at having taken on the role of “Festival Director,” which at that time included not only booking the artists but also ensuring that every aspect of the festival functioned, there were two major influences at play. One was the organizational instincts learned by osmosis from my mother, who was not only the organizer of our home, but also was the Liberal Riding Association President who oversaw the initial election of then MPP Eddie Sargent; and secondly, the artistic vision of Estelle Klein, whose ideals and objectives of equivalency, fairness, and inclusion supplied the identity of the Mariposa Folk Festival.
I recruited a committee of friends and interested parties, people with the necessary skills, and people prepared to learn. Together we organized the first festival which was blessed with good weather all weekend (the rain mythology developed after the second year when we were soaked, but that's another story). There were lots of squabbles, and there were administrative issues dealing with the city, the health department, the police, hydro and others. Later, in the third year of the festival, this organizing committee evolved into the Georgian Bay Folk Society under whose auspices the festival has run ever since.
On the Monday after year one, upon reflection, there were three important revelations. First: it literally takes a village to make the festival happen. Second: that Summerfolk has a life of its own which was produced by the incredible melding of the spirits of volunteers, performers, and audience. Third: The heart and soul of Summerfolk created by that magical alchemy transformed a simple artistic endeavour into a venture of deliberate and unshakable intention to produce an ongoing and perpetual recreation of community.
It is that soul and intention which created “Love On The Lake.”
One might be tempted to think that the festival referred to in this headline was the result of some left-over Hippy era sentiments put together by a loose group of people for a la la weekend of music and dancing in the park.
The truth, however, is that Summerfolk began with the same blood, sweat, and tears of any new human endeavour: political struggles, disagreements, lack of resources, cynicism, and a whole lot of people with courage prepared to jump into new and unfamiliar tasks with a strong will and remarkable enthusiasm.
By now most know that the festival was funded as a result of the Montreal Olympics and Canada's desire to have celebratory events across the county to mark that occasion. The Grey-Bruce Arts Council was given a $20,000 grant which became the seed money for Summerfolk. The money came first, and then the idea of the festival developed in discussions between myself and my brother John Arthur Harrison. John was then president of the GBAC and persuaded the board to go along with the idea of Summerfolk.
In early April of our first year 1976, I was privileged to attend a meeting of Folk Festival Artistic Directors which included Estelle Klein of Mariposa, Mitch Podolak of Winnipeg, and others. At this meeting I was given full access to upcoming festivals to observe how they were organized and how they put together every facet of their events. This armed me with an education; information which I could bring home and use to develop committees and aspects of the festival's organization.
As I look back at having taken on the role of “Festival Director,” which at that time included not only booking the artists but also ensuring that every aspect of the festival functioned, there were two major influences at play. One was the organizational instincts learned by osmosis from my mother, who was not only the organizer of our home, but also was the Liberal Riding Association President who oversaw the initial election of then MPP Eddie Sargent; and secondly, the artistic vision of Estelle Klein, whose ideals and objectives of equivalency, fairness, and inclusion supplied the identity of the Mariposa Folk Festival.
I recruited a committee of friends and interested parties, people with the necessary skills, and people prepared to learn. Together we organized the first festival which was blessed with good weather all weekend (the rain mythology developed after the second year when we were soaked, but that's another story). There were lots of squabbles, and there were administrative issues dealing with the city, the health department, the police, hydro and others. Later, in the third year of the festival, this organizing committee evolved into the Georgian Bay Folk Society under whose auspices the festival has run ever since.
On the Monday after year one, upon reflection, there were three important revelations. First: it literally takes a village to make the festival happen. Second: that Summerfolk has a life of its own which was produced by the incredible melding of the spirits of volunteers, performers, and audience. Third: The heart and soul of Summerfolk created by that magical alchemy transformed a simple artistic endeavour into a venture of deliberate and unshakable intention to produce an ongoing and perpetual recreation of community.
It is that soul and intention which created “Love On The Lake.”
NEW CD!
Tim Harrison
Collected Works
1975-2025
It's been a while since I released anything in CD format and I am proud
to announce the coming of
Tim Harrison - Collected Songs 1975 - 2025
The CD features a choice of songs from various albums produced
over the years and will also include a new re-write and recording of "Give It To The Moon",
and a new recording of audience favourite "We Just Fall." To top it off I have included
the new song "Weaving" which was chosen by Corby's Orbit Radio Show as one of best songs
released in 2024...honoured to be in good company.
More Collected Works details here.
Payment of your choice secured through PayPal.
NOW AVAILABLE HERE!
Cover Art by Carol L. Edwards
All the best in 2025! Waiting patiently for Spring!
WEAVING
Now available on all streaming platforms and at www.timharrison.bandcamp.com
Named one of the best songs released in 2024 by Corby's Orbit Radio Show!
Now available on all streaming platforms and at www.timharrison.bandcamp.com
Named one of the best songs released in 2024 by Corby's Orbit Radio Show!
With all the news of political unrest, I was led back to thinking about the music of my youth and the peace movement which started out with much resistance, but which grew and grew to finally have a prodigious role in ending the Vietnam War. This song was of course a classic from the era, and I was moved to sing it once more.
I was also moved to launch a web site MAP Of The World, MAP being Music, Art, Peace. It is a refuge to go to and appreciate the creativity of this world. You're welcome view it for a moments repite if you wish. There is no promotion, advertising or monetization of any kind.
I was also moved to launch a web site MAP Of The World, MAP being Music, Art, Peace. It is a refuge to go to and appreciate the creativity of this world. You're welcome view it for a moments repite if you wish. There is no promotion, advertising or monetization of any kind.
“Backporch Confidential,” is now available in a signed, limited, vinyl edition. The album, Tim's ninth, is an intimate and candid collection produced in the style of close-up, coffee house affinity.
“A master of his craft” - Roots Music Report of Texas; “A beguiling songwriter who combines eloquent poetry, interesting and percussive guitar playing, and a voice that drips with passion and authenticity” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine.
Vocals are in high relief supported by raw acoustic guitar, a pinch of banjo, mandolin for spice, and some gentle vocal harmonies provided by Tim's partner Carol Edwards-Harrison. Old pal Rodger Tippin joins on drums for a tribute to the Rocket Radio.
“Backporch Confidential” follows the muse, not the script, that same creative path which Tim took as Artistic Director and founder of several folk music festivals and events.
The album is available digitally from Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and Tidal etc. and also from Tim's site at timharrison.bandcamp
.com
For further information contact: tim@timharrison.ca
Click here to purchase this limited vinyl edition directly.
“A master of his craft” - Roots Music Report of Texas; “A beguiling songwriter who combines eloquent poetry, interesting and percussive guitar playing, and a voice that drips with passion and authenticity” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine.Vocals are in high relief supported by raw acoustic guitar, a pinch of banjo, mandolin for spice, and some gentle vocal harmonies provided by Tim's partner Carol Edwards-Harrison. Old pal Rodger Tippin joins on drums for a tribute to the Rocket Radio.
“Backporch Confidential” follows the muse, not the script, that same creative path which Tim took as Artistic Director and founder of several folk music festivals and events.
The album is available digitally from Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, and Tidal etc. and also from Tim's site at timharrison.bandcamp
.com
For further information contact: tim@timharrison.ca
Click here to purchase this limited vinyl edition directly.
"In the story of Canada's folk music festivals, Tim was there at the very beginning and he's still there now. While founding one of Canada's major festivals and helping to nurture several others, he has 
continued to write and perform his exquisitely crafted music at venues across the country. Here's Tim's story of how roots music rolled across the country to become a major force in our culture. It's a wonderful journey and we couldn't ask for a better guide than Tim Harrison."
David Essig, Canadian blues legend record engineer
"As creator and curator of seminal folk festivals and events, and as a champion of great Canadian songwriters (and being one himself) Tim Harrison has left a lasting heartprint on the folk world. His insights and memories will be a treasure for any lover of Canadian Folk Music."
Eileen McGann
Singer, songwriter, painter.
"Tim Harrison has blazed many trails, avenues of cultural expression, roads which we in Canadian folk music have trod for years, and now he shares that with all of us; this book with lift eyebrows."
Valdy
Well-loved Canadian singer, entertainer, musician
Convinced by musician friend Bryan Leckie to write a book around my adventures particularly pertaining to the beginnings of the Summerfolk Festival which I founded with my brother John, I had no choice but to respond to his double-dog-dare to do it. But I must say, that once into it, I enjoyed the process and the rememberences of the many fine people I met along the way, the ones who shared their hope and joy, the ones whose work inevitbly was the finest kind of deep experience. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Available in soft cover or audio book. Purchase here!
continued to write and perform his exquisitely crafted music at venues across the country. Here's Tim's story of how roots music rolled across the country to become a major force in our culture. It's a wonderful journey and we couldn't ask for a better guide than Tim Harrison."David Essig, Canadian blues legend record engineer
"As creator and curator of seminal folk festivals and events, and as a champion of great Canadian songwriters (and being one himself) Tim Harrison has left a lasting heartprint on the folk world. His insights and memories will be a treasure for any lover of Canadian Folk Music."
Eileen McGann
Singer, songwriter, painter.
"Tim Harrison has blazed many trails, avenues of cultural expression, roads which we in Canadian folk music have trod for years, and now he shares that with all of us; this book with lift eyebrows."
Valdy
Well-loved Canadian singer, entertainer, musician
Convinced by musician friend Bryan Leckie to write a book around my adventures particularly pertaining to the beginnings of the Summerfolk Festival which I founded with my brother John, I had no choice but to respond to his double-dog-dare to do it. But I must say, that once into it, I enjoyed the process and the rememberences of the many fine people I met along the way, the ones who shared their hope and joy, the ones whose work inevitbly was the finest kind of deep experience. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. Available in soft cover or audio book. Purchase here!