Photographer: David Williamson
A true preserver of the spirit of folk music, Juno-nominated songwriter Maria Dunn (www.mariadunn.com) is often compared to Woody Guthrie for her keen social awareness and unvarnished songs about ordinary people. Along with four multimedia history shows developed with videographer Don Bouzek of Edmonton’s Ground Zero Productions—Packingtown and GWG: Piece by Piece (with historian Catherine C. Cole), On The River (with Asani) and Troublemakers—Maria has six independent recordings (all produced by Shannon Johnson): Gathering (2017 Juno nominee, 2016 Edmonton Music Prize Winner) features positive stories of human courage and struggle, both local and global; Piece by Piece (2013 Canadian Folk Music Award nominee) pays tribute to immigrant women working at Edmonton’s GWG clothing factory (1911 – 2004); We Were Good People (2004) explores the vibrant people’s history of Alberta. She is currently recording a new album for release in 2020. Based in Edmonton, Maria performs at folk festivals, theatres, and conferences across Canada, Europe, and the USA. “...one of the few songwriters in Canada to document the lives of ordinary working people. Piece By Piece, is [a] profoundly moving recording...”- Penguin Eggs Magazine