Over the Ocean to Canada Allison Lupton Band

Over the Ocean to Canada

October 18, 2025

The Allison Lupton Band

Allison Lupton hails from the heart of rural Ontario, Canada where her love for music took root in church choirs and local sessions. From playing for community dances to soloing with orchestras, Allison has found her voice as a singer-songwriter and flutist after more than a quarter century performing in Canada and abroad. Along the way Allison has received accolades from international press as well as her peers at home winning Folk Music Ontario’s “Songs From The Heart” and multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nominations including “Traditional Singer of the Year”.

Live shows confirm the depth of talent in her band in a glorious mix of beautiful story songs, electrifying fiddle tunes and dazzling step dance, united by the group’s warm and frequently humourous stage presence.

Allison and her band carry audiences away to another time then dance them home again.

A Canadian and U.S. National fiddle champion, Shane Cook is a multi-instrumentalist who has distinguished himself as a master of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition. Shane Cook relies on his deep foundation in the traditional music, song and dance of Ontario for the core of his sound, yet also draws on styles as broad as folk, Celtic, roots, bluegrass and jazz. Shane Cook & The Woodchippers’ FACTOR-supported debut album, Be Here for a While received two 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations: Traditional Album of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year.

Born in Toronto, Joe Phillips has carved out a career as one of Canada’s most versatile double bassists. Currently playing with Art of Time Ensemble, The London Symphonia, Jayme Stone’s Lomax Project and Payadora Tango Ensemble, he has also played and recorded both bass and guitar with Pierre Schryer, Shane Cook, Nuala Kennedy, Sarah Slean, David Braid, Andrew Downing, Miranda Mulholland, Jill Barber, Ruth Moody and the Wailin’ Jennys.

An accomplished classical musician, Joe has been the principal bassist of Orchestra London Canada, Sinfonia Toronto and the Thunder Bay Symphony, and has performed with the Toronto Symphony, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company and many other ensembles. Joe has had the opportunity to play with some of the best chamber musicians in Canada and the world through his work with the Sweetwater Music Festival, Festival of the Sound, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival and has toured with Canadian chamber music supergroup, Octagon.

Craig Werth is a U.S.-based multi-instrumentalist-songwriter who has captured hearts and minds across North America for his uncommon blend of musicianship, humor, word-craft and insight into the human condition. He has a talent for creating new songs that honor tradition and he delivers them with honesty and passion, most often accompanying his baritone voice with guitar, ukulele, octave mandolin, and banjo. Craig’s solo CD – “The Spokes Man” received high praise in Sing Out and Canada’s Penguin Eggs magazines, and he has achieved high honors on the Folk-DJ charts with several “best album of the year” nods. Craig has a Juno award as co-producer and every-track-artist for David Francey’s Best Album of the Year — “Right of Passage.” Craig toured internationally with David for five years. Folk DJs may know him best these days for his widely-played songs on Hudson Harding and Christine Lavin compilations.

Kyle Waymouth is a multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist, and multi-award winning artist from Stratford, ON. He first made a name for himself in the world of Ottawa Valley style step dancing when he became a five-time Canadian Open Step Dance Champion, four-time Canadian Open Group Step Dancing Champion with his group Powerhouse, and a Canadian Open Clogging Champion. Growing up with so much music around, inspired him to learn a variety of instruments and musical styles. He plays the guitar, mandolin, tenor banjo, and just about anything he lays his hands on. It’s no wonder that he has performed throughout North America, Europe and Singapore with multiple artists. In 2023, Kyle added to his long list of awards with his debut album ‘Inchoate’ under the artist-name ‘Waymzy’. With this recording, he won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year. As an artist, musician, dancer, writer, creator, and collaborator, Kyle is in constant demand.