Utopia: an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.

Roll the clock back to 2016 to 2006, Canada got “Weak in the Knees” for young, Toronto-based, newcomer Serena Ryder. Since her breakthrough album If Your Memory Serves You Well Serena has gone on to win six JUNO Awards, a Muchmusic Video Award and a Canadian Film Award. This past May Serena released her sixth, and highest charting, studio album Utopia. 

I first discovered six time Juno Award winner Serena Ryder a couple of years ago when I heard a live concert broadcast on CBC radio. I liked it. She had a different sound than a lot of newer artists. When she was booked to play Kingston a short time after, I bought tickets to attend. I have been a Serena Ryder fan since that night. I was amazed by her powerful voice and her five-octave range. She did not disappoint on Friday night at Ottawa Jazz Festival. It was another stellar performance by the Millbrook, Ontario native.

The CBC Music Festival is back with an all-Canadian lineup at Echo Beach on May 27!