The inspiration behind musician Kate Weekes’ new album came from a unique idea: packing up a canoe, picking up a few fellow musicians and artists, and paddling the length of the Rideau Canal.

She releases the record that resulted from that lock-laden journey, Rideau Roots, with a show at the Broom Factory on Sunday afternoon.

“It evolved from something I’d been thinking about for a long time, which was developing an arts-based residency in the wilderness because I’d been working as a canoe and hiking guide in the Yukon for a long time,” Weekes explained over the phone.

She initially thought she’d pursue the idea when she returned north, but the pandemic made her rethink those plans as she was stuck in Ontario for longer than expected. Having grown up along the Rideau — she’s called Sm

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