Aengus Finnan

KITCHENER — Who would’ve thought Aengus Finnan would end up living out a theme introduced in two songs on his debut album?

In the title track of Fool’s Gold, released in 1999, he sings: “Every town has one who could’a made it ...” In Corinthian, he adds: “In this town, where dreams come tumbling down ...” Finnan had a dream shared by many young men and women with talent — to become a successful folk songwriter.

Twenty years ago, he was an artist of promise. Yet, after eight years of struggling to make ends meet, his dream revealed itself as fool’s gold.

Despite winning the prestigious New Folk Songwriters’ Award at the Kerrville Folk Festival (joining the ranks of Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett among others) and releasing two critically acclaimed albums — the aforementioned Fool’s Gold and North Wind (2002) — he called it quits.

“It’s nothing big and dramatic,” Finnan asserted over the phone last week from his Toronto office, as he recalled the journey that led to a rare concert appearance Saturday before a capacity crowd at the Registry Theatre. He performed solo, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. The Guelph-based duo of Sam Turton and Jane Lewis opened with a trio of songs.

“I was sure it was what I was meant to do,” he recalled earlier in a wide-ranging interview. “I loved creating, performing and touring. It felt like home.”

Performing was a heady experience for the young artist. “There’s incredible power and responsibility using your voice on stage.”

Despite the allure of fame and glory, things didn’t work out as he had envisioned. He “lost a lot of money and became exhausted.”

“It’s difficult not to take it personally. I began asking myself, ‘if everything is all there, why can’t I make it to the next level?’”

Reality hit him like a George Foreman fist between the eyes.

“I came to the conclusion the world did not want what I was offering.”

It’s not that Finnan lacked what it takes to make it in music.

Born in Dublin (he retains a soft Irish accent) and raised in Northumberland County, in Eastern Ontario, he had an interesting biography as a street actor, research diver and teacher on James Bay.

He was a gifted songwriter in the narrative tradition of Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers and James Keelaghan. He had a warm, unaffected vocal style and pleasant guitar technique that were easy on the ears.

Moreover, he had the looks, charm and affability that, like it or not, benefit performers. He also was dedicated, disciplined and hard-working.

Nevertheless, he could no longer underwrite a career “with borrowed money.” He was $60,000 in the red. “I couldn’t get out of debt, let alone move forward,” he confides.

Finnan slipped into a “dark place. It was a devastating place to end up.”

The sense of failure manifested itself in resentment and envy. “I become jealous of friends and peers. I wondered why so and so was nominated for an award or was booked at a big festival.”

The crisis was not confined to career. It engulfed Finnan’s life. “I was making the world rhyme rather than living life. I was writing about love rather than living love.”

Ironically, this observation is reflected in My Heart Has Wings, a love ballad on North Wind which concludes:
“ ... my heart it sings love,
Your name is its song.”
Defeated but not broken, he returned home to Grafton, in Northumberland County, nine years ago to retreat, recharge and reinvent himself. “I needed to back up and find a new voice.”

Adhering to a “folk ethos,” he became involved in various grassroots initiatives including a food co-op, folk club and local arts council. He also was involved in restoring a concert hall.

In 2004, he founded the Shelter Valley Folk Festival which, in addition to presenting an annual festival, runs a concert series and artist-in-the-schools program.

Finnan discovered he had an ability to plan, organize and handle such administrative tasks as formulating policy and writing grant applications. He found his bearings as a natural leader.

He was elected president of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals for two years. Founded in 1986, the council is the largest roots music organization in Canada.

In contrast to his performing career, Finnan found success as a grassroots arts mover and shaker.

But all was not well. Success bred its own dissatisfaction. “As a public administrator I found I was still performing. I was following a script. Everything was calculated. Life was starting to rhyme again.”

More soul searching ensued.

Finnan’s background as a singer/songwriter, educator, producer and cultural administrator eventually led him to Toronto where, in the spring of 2010, he was hired as a touring and audience development officer for the Ontario Arts Council.

“In a way I came full circle,” he concludes.

He found himself in concert on Saturday at the invitation of Folk Night at the Registry artistic director Jack Cole who first booked F - The Record

KITCHENER — Who would’ve thought Aengus Finnan would end up living out a theme introduced in two songs on his debut album?

In the title track of Fool’s Gold, released in 1999, he sings: “Every town has one who could’a made it ...” In Corinthian, he adds: “In this town, where dreams come tumbling down ...” Finnan had a dream shared by many young men and women with talent — to become a successful folk songwriter.

Twenty years ago, he was an artist of promise. Yet, after eight years of struggling to make ends meet, his dream revealed itself as fool’s gold.

Despite winning the prestigious New Folk Songwriters’ Award at the Kerrville Folk Festival (joining the ranks of Shawn Colvin, Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett among others) and releasing two critically acclaimed albums — the aforementioned Fool’s Gold and North Wind (2002) — he called it quits.

“It’s nothing big and dramatic,” Finnan asserted over the phone last week from his Toronto office, as he recalled the journey that led to a rare concert appearance Saturday before a capacity crowd at the Registry Theatre. He performed solo, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. The Guelph-based duo of Sam Turton and Jane Lewis opened with a trio of songs.

“I was sure it was what I was meant to do,” he recalled earlier in a wide-ranging interview. “I loved creating, performing and touring. It felt like home.”

Performing was a heady experience for the young artist. “There’s incredible power and responsibility using your voice on stage.”

Despite the allure of fame and glory, things didn’t work out as he had envisioned. He “lost a lot of money and became exhausted.”

“It’s difficult not to take it personally. I began asking myself, ‘if everything is all there, why can’t I make it to the next level?’”

Reality hit him like a George Foreman fist between the eyes.

“I came to the conclusion the world did not want what I was offering.”

It’s not that Finnan lacked what it takes to make it in music.

Born in Dublin (he retains a soft Irish accent) and raised in Northumberland County, in Eastern Ontario, he had an interesting biography as a street actor, research diver and teacher on James Bay.

He was a gifted songwriter in the narrative tradition of Gordon Lightfoot, Stan Rogers and James Keelaghan. He had a warm, unaffected vocal style and pleasant guitar technique that were easy on the ears.

Moreover, he had the looks, charm and affability that, like it or not, benefit performers. He also was dedicated, disciplined and hard-working.

Nevertheless, he could no longer underwrite a career “with borrowed money.” He was $60,000 in the red. “I couldn’t get out of debt, let alone move forward,” he confides.

Finnan slipped into a “dark place. It was a devastating place to end up.”

The sense of failure manifested itself in resentment and envy. “I become jealous of friends and peers. I wondered why so and so was nominated for an award or was booked at a big festival.”

The crisis was not confined to career. It engulfed Finnan’s life. “I was making the world rhyme rather than living life. I was writing about love rather than living love.”

Ironically, this observation is reflected in My Heart Has Wings, a love ballad on North Wind which concludes:
“ ... my heart it sings love,
Your name is its song.”
Defeated but not broken, he returned home to Grafton, in Northumberland County, nine years ago to retreat, recharge and reinvent himself. “I needed to back up and find a new voice.”

Adhering to a “folk ethos,” he became involved in various grassroots initiatives including a food co-op, folk club and local arts council. He also was involved in restoring a concert hall.

In 2004, he founded the Shelter Valley Folk Festival which, in addition to presenting an annual festival, runs a concert series and artist-in-the-schools program.

Finnan discovered he had an ability to plan, organize and handle such administrative tasks as formulating policy and writing grant applications. He found his bearings as a natural leader.

He was elected president of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals for two years. Founded in 1986, the council is the largest roots music organization in Canada.

In contrast to his performing career, Finnan found success as a grassroots arts mover and shaker.

But all was not well. Success bred its own dissatisfaction. “As a public administrator I found I was still performing. I was following a script. Everything was calculated. Life was starting to rhyme again.”

More soul searching ensued.

Finnan’s background as a singer/songwriter, educator, producer and cultural administrator eventually led him to Toronto where, in the spring of 2010, he was hired as a touring and audience development officer for the Ontario Arts Council.

“In a way I came full circle,” he concludes.

He found himself in concert on Saturday at the invitation of Folk Night at the Registry artistic director Jack Cole who first booked F - The Record