Ivy Mairi is a heartfelt and exploratory singer-songwriter with a deep love for traditional folk music. Ivy Mairi grew up on Ward’s Island, which is a ten-minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto. As a teenager she would leaf through her mother’s books of traditional songs and – not knowing many of them – would make up her own melodies for the lyrics she found. With time, she began to write her own words as well. In 2005, 17 year-old Ivy was introduced to Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies, who began to informally record her early songwriting experiments. Over the following 5 years, Ivy worked with Timmins as producer to record and release two albums: Well You (2007) and No Talker (2011).
During the winters of 2012 and 2013 Ivy and her longtime collaborator Matthew Bailey slowly and carefully recorded a new collection of songs. Half these songs were written when Ivy was 20 and living in Montreal, and the other half were new. The sparse arrangements and multi-tracked vocal lines on these songs mark somewhat of a departure from the more traditional folk style of Ivy’s previous albums. In the Fall of 2014 Ivy and Matt released these songs as Nonbeliever.
Throughout her recordings, Ivy’s lyrics are quirky and personal, but have a universal quality that stays true to her love of classic song-craft – inspired equally by Neil Young, Lauryn Hill, and British folk singer Shirley Collins. She has toured extensively with her own band, and gospel-rock-revellers Bruce Peninsula, and has lent her voice to recordings by Isla Craig, Skydiggers, electronic producer Rene LaVice and also collaborates with cellist-singer Anne Bourne. She has brought independent music into her home community on Toronto Island through concerts at St. Andrew-by-the-Lake Church, her bonfire shows, and the popular summer music series she curated at the Island Cafe from 2011-2013. Ivy has been able to channel her love of traditional folk ballads, work songs, and sacred music into kith&kin, the vocal trio she shares with her sister Martha, and their mother, author Kathleen McDonnell, who pack Toronto’s Music Gallery for their annual holiday show. Ivy also moonlights as a squaredance caller.
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two shows
I’m deep in writing mode right now, preparing to record a new EP in the coming months, but I am emerging to play a couple of shows in the next two weeks. On April 1st I’ll make my second appearance at AMAZING NEW STUFF – a reading and music series that always brings together an […]
Monarch show + Long Winter
Two great shows coming up this weekend and next ! Friday Jan 27th I will be doing a proper set with a proper band at the Monarch Tavern – we’ve got some new songs to share! Splitting the bill with us are one of my new fav Toronto bands, Teen Ravine. And then an afterparty […]
sofar / DIANA / kith&kin
Lots of fun shows happening for me, as always seems to be the case around this time of year! I had a great time performing as part of Sofar Sounds Toronto on November 20th. The show took place at the storied Toronto show/party house 159 Manning. A new live video of that performance is on […]
Tim video / Island Cafe
It’s full-on summer now, and I’ll be singing with my good friend Tim Moxam at the Island Cafe this Wed June 29. We’ll be in trio-formation with Raffa Weyman aka Ralph also in tow. Expect some harmonies and a laid-back evening. Music from 7-9 and details here. This is a video that we made at […]
two shows !
I’ve got a couple of great shows coming up! The first is going to be very special. This Saturday April 16th I will be opening for the American guitar pioneer Peter Walker, as part of the very first Quiet Quiet Annex Lights Festival being put on by Invocation TO at the Tranzac. I didn’t know […]
all that you do
Tomorrow night I’ll be playing a set of my own music at the Dakota Tavern! I’ll be joined by my good bud Matthew Bailey for the evening – it’s been almost a year since we played as a duo, so I’m really looking forward. We’ll be sharing the night with the wonderful Jenny Berkel. Jenny […]