For artists, Burlington offers a bit of a haven from the urban density of Toronto – sparking creativity at parks, trails, and art installations around town.
For musician Chris McKhool, moving from Toronto to Burlington was a breath of fresh air, literally.
McKhool was inducted into the Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame last week during the centre's 20204-25 season opening.
“When people come to Burlington, it’s such a beautiful city, there’s so many trails and space,” McKhool said. “I found an inexpensive space where we built a Zoom room, and we have artists out here. They love coming, the air is clean, there’s so much green space it feels like you’re out of the city.”
McKhool leads the group Sultans of String, and performs solo as a children’s artist. With Sultans, he and the group built Zoom rooms to safely perform online for viewers during the pandemic.
When he first heard he’d been inducted into the hall of fame, he was sure there’d been a mistake.
“I heard by email, and I was like this is incredible, it’s insane, but it doesn’t feel real until you’re there and it actually happens,” McKhool said. “It could always be a clerical error.”
He added that Burlington is a great place to work as an artist thanks to support from the city.
“I’m especially grateful to the Burlington Arts and Culture Fund,” McKhool said. “They appreciate what I do, they support what I do. The programs I’ve been anle to build here in Burlington, we’ve developed online and performed them at BPAC, or the First Ontario Centre, or the Sanderson Centre, and now we're taking some of these programs right across the country.”
Sultans of String’s latest album – Walking Through the Fire – dropped in September, and the group showcased it at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre in October. The record features collaborations from The North Sound, Shannon Thunderbird, Crystal Shawanda, and others. The album was recorded in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls to action, which asks Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together and build a path forward.
The band is in the middle of a tour that sees them travel across southern Ontario, as well as one show at the Edmonton Folk Festival in August.
Sultans of String will take the stage at The Westdale in Hamilton on June 9 for a free concert. The band is also set to play at Hugh’s Room in Toronto on June 22, with tickets starting at $45.
McKhool’s other act as a children’s artist still features the other members of Sultans of String, but those events are under his own name. He’s playing a free show for kids in Oakville on Canada Day.
“It’s a show that really celebrates the environment,” McKhool said. “It’s called Earth, Seas & Air, we get kids to sing along, dance, and talk about the Earth.”
Tour dates for Sultans of String, and the album Walking Through Fire, are available on the group’s website.
