Tag Archives: Francis McKenty

The Awakeneers: coming back to Cortes

The Awakeners came home to Cortes in the summer of 2023. They played at Gorge Hall on Friday July 28, and Mansons Hall the following day.

“We are excited that we’ll have a brand new album with us,” said Immanuel McKenty. 

“It was mostly recorded on Cortes Island and the majority of the songs were also written while we were on Cortes. The album will also be for sale at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op, as well as at our concerts,” added his brother Francis McKenty.

This is the beginning of a two part series about that ‘nomadic tribe of multi-instrumentalist songwriters (most of whom are siblings)’ called the Awakeners. We talk a great deal about their album and where most of the songs were written. In part two, which airs next week, we will go to their home in Willow Point, Campbell River. 

Continue reading The Awakeneers: coming back to Cortes

Awakeneers concert on Cortes Island ‘a homecoming’

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

This Friday, Dec. 16th, the Awakeneers will play their first indoor concert on Cortes Island in nearly three years.

Four members of the ensemble — Robert McKenty, Erica Giannone, Francis McKenty and Immanuel McKenty — spoke about their long and storied history with this island’s community, the many channels where listeners can find their music including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, as well as why they make their recordings freely available for download through their website and proprietary app.

Continue reading Awakeneers concert on Cortes Island ‘a homecoming’

The Merry McKentys Return Home On Tour

According to the description on their website, the McKentys saga starts sounds on a steep snowy mountainside in the backwoods of British Columbia. Robert and Elizabeth had a small cabin, “many children of various sizes, a wood stove, a small battery-powered stereo system that sometimes worked, a mandolin, and several fiddles.” By the time they moved to Cortes, the Merry McKenty were on their way towards becoming a band.

Continue reading The Merry McKentys Return Home On Tour