WITS Alumni: Allysann Foehring

We met Allysann a few years back during the ‘What’s in the Song’ inaugural year in Chelsea, Quebec. That year, the new CityFolk initiative partnered with the Mill Road Community Space and Juno award winning coach Ian Tamblyn to offer an 8 week songwriting program that culminated in a stellar night of music and song from local youth. Allysann was one of the participants at 15 years of age.

‘I had been playing mostly fiddle, taking lessons and trying out songwriting a little but joining the songwriting program with Ian really helped me to get some focus on the writing process. He gave us a lot of tools and perspectives that were super helpful. Also, watching him work with the other students and how he would help them get their songs focused was quite illuminating’.

Amazingly, the rural nature of Chelsea recently brought Allysann together with Allumni of the CityFolk WITS program as well as Alumni from RBC Bluesfest’s Be in the Band program to form a band that hosted a series of concerts this past summer called ‘Wakefield Live’ at the Trois Erables B+B. The series was organized by Jacob Milnes, an alumni of both community programs. ‘Playing in that band was so much fun, and it was amazing to work with such talented musicians. We actually have a new song coming out in the new year if all goes according to plan’.

Allysann is currently busy attending McGill studying international development but also finding time to gig. Check her out performing live at the Little Red Wagon winery in Shawville as well as the annual Angel’s Share concert in Chelsea. Take a look and listen to her new video ‘Darlin’ that was written during the WITS program below! Apparently the song grew out of the opening guitar riff that Allysann came up with just noodling one day. The song was recorded at James Stephens studio in Chelsea and the video done by local videographer Randy Kelly. You can find the tune on Spotify and Apple tunes and wherever streaming is available.