Four Chords and The Truth Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Returns To TD Music Hall on May 22
On May 22, Four Chords and The Truth returns to Toronto’s TD Music Hall for a special 10th anniversary edition. Founded by Nova Scotia-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Andrea England, the series has become a go-to for raw, intimate performances from some of Canada’s top songwriting talent.
Since its debut in 2015, FCATT has featured over 130 artists, welcomed surprise guests like Serena Ryder and Donovan Woods, expanded to Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, and supported important causes like the Unison Fund and MusiCounts.
This milestone show features Terra Lightfoot, Jesse Gold, AHI, and Logan Richard—and we caught up with Andrea to reflect on a decade of stories, songs, and community.
Hi Andrea. What have you been up to since we last spoke?
Goodness, where do I begin? I’ve curated a bunch more Four Chords and the Truth shows at TD Music Hall; with the help of 17 songwriter volunteers, sponsors and supporters; held a Fundraiser to aid Canadian victims of the L.A. Fires (via Unison’s new Natural Disaster Relief Fund); held our first New York FCATT show at City Winery NYC; released a new record (Evidence of Love) and wrote a bunch of songs; and worked to support CMRRA’s publisher and self-published songwriter clients at home and at Conferences as part of my role there as Associate Director of Publisher Engagement and Strategy…so it’s been a very busy, but very rewarding time.
Congratulations on 10 years of Four Chords and The Truth! When you launched the series back in 2015, did you ever imagine it would grow into what it is today?
Thank you! I did not – I just planned the one show; but it was so well received, I just had to keep going, and am so grateful for the community of creators, fans, sponsors, and supporters who have allowed that to happen, and keep happening!
FCATT has hosted over 130 artists and even expanded to Nashville’s Bluebird Café. What have been some of the most surprising or special moments over the past decade?
Playing the Bluebird Café was a thrill, as was our show in NYC last year at City Winery, where I was joined by Lowell, Tenille Townes, Stacey Ryan and Dave Gunning for a really special show during NY Songwriter Week; but as much as we loved the Dakota Tavern (R.I.P.) where we got our start, a really big highlight was being invited to move our show to TD Music Hall within the Allied Music Centre / Massey Hall Complex. Working with the Massey teams and delivering Four Chords and the Truth in that venue has been such a pleasure and an honour.
What inspired the original concept behind Four Chords and The Truth? What gap in the Canadian music scene were you hoping to fill?
There was no non-music industry grass-roots songwriter round happening in the City at that time. I had hosted one at C’est What many years before, called Songwriter Central with Andrea England and Friends, S.A.C.‘S Bluebird North was a happening but more of an Industry Showcase, and my friend Brian Donkers had started hosting a cool country round, but had moved away… I grew up with the example of the Bruce Guthro Songwriter Circle in Nova Scotia, and Nashville’s Blue Café, but wanted to see something more inclusive, and with more genres…I
The May 22 lineup features artists like Terra Lightfoot, Jesse Gold, AHI, and Logan Richard. What excites you most about this particular group of performers?
The magic that could happen with those particular songwriters, and highly capable musicians, on stage all at once. They are all so different and yet all are so soulful…
FCATT has supported the Unison Fund and now MusiCounts. Why is it important for you to use this platform to support wider music community initiatives?
In everything we do, we should also try to do some good; and I think it’s important, if you have a platform or have attained some degree of success in your field that you share it with, and hopefully inspire the next generation…especially if you have any type of privilege, I think it’s important to give back, and make room for others with different experiences than you, and different voices.
What’s next for FCATT? Any plans to expand further across Canada—or internationally again?
Yes, absolutely; I’m actively planning next steps with a variety of international and domestic brand partners and presenters, and hope to launch a podcast later this year as well. As we say on the East Coast, I have a lot on the go, and sincerely hope to bring the FCATT experience to as many song lovers as will have us over the next several years!
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