Something very special is happening next week! Shivering Songs Festival is the flagship partner of Fredericton FROSTival and hosts internationally renowned artists in historic and intimate spaces throughout Downtown Fredericton, on the unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik people.

This year, the tenth anniversary edition of the festival, is titled Homecoming and appropriately so. The organizers have gone above & beyond to ensure it delivers a wow to our winter! Celebrating many unique New Brunswick artists this milestone year in the festival’s story is being used as an opportunity to recognize the tremendous impact of these artists on our province and beyond.

The festival will roll out in 8 separate locations throughout Downtown Fredericton from January 29 to February 2 and has become the most anticipated weekend of the winter. People will leave the comforts of home, dressed in their warmest coziest clothes to celebrate the best of the season with friends and neighbours. They’ll gather by the fire, huddle in the Snow Dome (new this year!) in Officers’ Square, congregate in the church, raise voices in unison in all venues, break bread at the Market brunch, laugh, dance and all the while enjoying the stories and songs being shared.

The artist lineup is extensive and wide ranging including Mount Eerie & Julie Doiron, Matt Andersen, Les Hay Babies, Michael Feuerstack, Zaum, Motherhood, The Hypochondriacs, Tomato/Tomato, Andrew Sisk with an Alden Nowlan Tribute, Julie Aubé, Mike Trask, Cedric Noel, Brent Mason, Greg Harrison (FUZE Orchestra), LAPS, Cedric Vieno, Spoutnique, Pallmer, Matt Brennan (Citizen Bravo), Alan Jeffries, The Belle Comedians, and The Olympic Symphonium, Tampa, WHOOP-szo, The Easley Quartet, Natalie Sappier-Samaqani Cocahq, Keith Hallett & The Hookers, Adyn Townes, The Backstays, Jerry Faye, David R. Elliott, Kylie Fox, Graeme Kennedy, Siding (fka Property//), River of Diamonds, My Black Ram, Kurtis Eugene, Rebecca Salazar Leon, Sadie Donahue, FM Berlin, Richie Young & Friends, Tooth and the Fang, Shady Jane, Fraser Boldon, and Capital 6; stand-up comedians Jimmy MacKinley, Maggie Estey, Ben Conoley, Paul Lewis, and Anthony Bryan, and; a new edition of the festival’s family friendly Herman & The Calithumpians event at the Fredericton Public Library.

At this time the weekend passes and individual tickets to Matt Andersen, Tomato/Tomato, and The Belle Comedians Reunion have sold out. However there are still plenty of show tickets available for everyone to enjoy.

In addition to the ticketed shows, the festival offers free shows as well including Mike Bravener – Songs of New Brunswick revisiting beloved and long lost traditional folk songs of 18th & 19th Century NB. This show is presented at The Tipsy Muse Café at 7:30pm on Wednesday, January 29th.

Also at no charge to participants, you are invited to join local architect John Leroux as he leads a walking tour highlighting downtown’s architectural gems, with music and surprises along the way. The Magical History Tour (excellently named!) will depart from the Beaverbrook Art Gallery at 5:30pm on Thursday, January 30th and will end at Wilmot Church where all are invited to attend the free performance by the founders of the festival, Olympic Symphonium with the FUZE Orchestra. Here is a great example of a previous performance.

New this year and as part of the Shivering Songs Festival, the Graystone Brewing Snow Dome & Beer Garden will host shows Friday January 31st & Saturday February 1st in Officers’ Square and will feature Adyn Townes, My Black Ram, Tomato Tomato, FM Berlin, Jerry-Faye and more! Be sure to check it out.

If you haven’t attended in the past I encourage you to venture out to see what all the talk is about. With 25+ separate events on the schedule taking place in 8 different locations and at various times of the day, there is absolutely something for everyone! There will be plenty of warm smiles (maybe even hugs) to cure any shivers. It’s been referred to as the coziest festival of the year for good reason.

For all information, including the complete schedule and tickets, go to the festival website www.shiveringsongs.com.