- country:Canada
- region:Ontario
- style(s):East European, Tradimodern
- label:not signed
- type:Band
- gender:female
- instrumentation:vocal, string, unplugged
- artist posted by:Marilyn Gilbert Artists Management Inc. (Mgam)
Line up
- Ala Stasiuk (vocal)
- Ewelina Ferenc (vocal, perussion)
- Marta Solek (suka, knee fiddles)
- Oisin Hannigan (persussion)
- Peter Klaassen (upright bass)
- Sam Clark (fiddle)
Links
Canada’s Female-Fronted Eastern European Party Band
Toronto's own Polky was created by courageous Polish ladies, singer Ewelina Ferenc, dancer Ala Stasiuk, and multi-instrumentalist Marta Solek. Polky, meaning "Polish women," came together through a shared passion for Eastern European music's enigmatic and upbeat style. Joined by Canadian musicians, Polky brings its original sound to Eastern European traditional music by adding a uniquely Canadian and multicultural flavour. They take you on a musical journey to Poland, the melting pot of Eastern and Central Europe, with Ukrainian, Jewish, and Slovak musical influences!
The band performed at the Danforth Music Hall, opening for Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Boogát, the Aga Khan Museum, Polish and Ukrainian Festivals, Summerfolk Festival, Ashkenaz Festival, Memoires et Racines Festival, Sunfest Festival, and it was an official showcasing artist at Folk Music Ontario and Folk Alliance International promoting Polish and Eastern European folk. Their first EP, Immigration (2018), was inspired by Polish traditional music from the Mazovia region, Polish mountains, immigration to Canada, and... Led Zeppelin! Their debut album, Songs From Home (2020), described by Songlines Magazine as "energetic wilderness," is a celebration of the multicultural city of Toronto and the band’s Polish roots. It was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards 2022 in three categories and won the Traditional Singer of The Year Award for Ewelina Ferenc.