Borealis Records is a Canadian record label, founded in 1996 by four Canadian musicians. It is notable as being focused exclusively on the recording and development Canadian folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

 and roots music

Traditional music

Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...

 artists.

History

In 1996, Canadian musicians Grit Laskin, Bill Garrett, Paul Mills and Ken Whiteley established Borealis Records. The mandate of the company is (a) to record only Canadian artists, (b) to seek out artists from all of Canada's regions, (c) to enter into "ethical artist agreements that are fair and typically more generous than what is the industry standard" and (d) to present all the diverse styles of music under the Folk and Roots umbrella.

Artists recording for Borealis Records include Aengus Finnan

Aengus Finnan

Aengus Finnan is a Canadian folk musician, who grew up on an organic farm in Shelter Valley, Ontario , and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario....

, Eve Goldberg

Eve Goldberg

Eve Goldberg is a Canadian Jewish folk musician, singer and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. Musically, she draws from a number of different traditions and influences such as blues, country, bluegrass, jazz, swing, and contemporary and traditional folk music.-Life and career:Born in the Boston...

, Ron Hynes

Ron Hynes

Ron Hynes is a popular folk singer-songwriter from Newfoundland. He is especially known for his composition "Sonny's Dream," which has been recorded worldwide by many artists and was named the 41st greatest Canadian song of all time on the 2005 CBC Radio One series 50 Tracks: The Canadian...

, Penny Lang, Nathan Rogers

Nathan Rogers

Nathan Rogers is a Canadian folk musician / songwriter. He is the son of Stan and Ariel Rogers. His father, a folk musician and songwriter, died in a fire aboard Air Canada Flight 797 on June 2, 1983....

, Mose Scarlett, Oliver Schroer

Oliver Schroer

Oliver Schroer was a Canadian fiddler, composer, and music producer.-Early life:Oliver Schroer grew up in Vandeleur, Ontario, a small crossroads near Markdale in rural Grey County. He attended Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton, where he played French horn in the school band. He also...

, Bob Snider

Bob Snider

Bob Snider is a singer/songwriter from Toronto via Nova Scotia, Canada.A folk musician, Snider plays almost exclusively songs he has written himself, although notable exception was at the Bear River Reunion, where he played a cover of an old blues tune....

, Terry Tufts

Terry Tufts

Terry Tufts is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter.- History :Tufts' father Floyd took a job with the Canadian government in the Department of Manpower and Immigration, as it was then known. This job took Terry to Denver, Colorado, U.S.A, Ottawa, Ontario, and Rome, Italy...

, Jackie Washington

Jackie Washington

Jackie Washington was a Canadian blues musician.Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Washington became Canada's first black disk jockey in 1948, at CHML in Hamilton....

 and Sneezy Waters

Sneezy Waters

Sneezy Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitar player who is best known for his portrayal of Hank Williams Sr. in the play and film The play portrays an 'imaginary concert' that the legendary US country singer might have given New Year's Eve 1952 in Canton, Ohio, had he not died en route...

The label is associated with True North Records

True North Records

True North Records is a Canadian independent record label. It was founded in Mississauga, Ontario in 1969 by Bernie Finkelstein. On December 17, 2007, True North was acquired by an investment group led by Linus Entertainment...

 and Linus Entertainment

Linus Entertainment

Linus Entertainment is a record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The company was started by Geoff Kulawick, who previously was vice president of A&R at Virgin Records/EMI Music Canada....

. In addition to individual artist releases, Borealis Records released Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot

Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot is a tribute album to Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, released in 2003 on Borealis Records.-Track listing:# Cowboy Junkies, "The Way I Feel"# Jesse Winchester, "Sundown"# Ron Sexsmith, "Drifters"...

(2003), in which Borealis artists and others interpreted the songs of Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr. is a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved international success in folk, folk-rock, and country music, and has been credited for helping define the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and 1970s...

.

External links

• Borealis Records Website