The Nitty Gritty
WHEN: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 6:00-7:00pm (Doors: 5:00pm, come for Free Pizza at 5:30pm!)
WHAT: Pizza & Pyjamas – JUNO Nomination Party with 3x Parents Choice Award winner Chris McKhool
WHERE: Kingston Road United Church, 975 Kingston Road, Toronto, ON M4E 1T1
INFO: Free Family Show / Reserve your spot at http://FreeFamilyShow.eventbrite.ca
[Toronto ON] On March 6, 2026, veteran musician Chris McKhool is throwing a Pizza & Pyjamas – JUNO Nomination Party in Toronto for his new album “Little Leaf”, which was just nominated for 2026 Children’s Album of the Year! It is also McKhool’s 30th anniversary as a Family entertainer, and second JUNO nomination in this category since his CFMA winning “FiddleFire!” Album.
“Those of us at the Kingston Road Village Concert Series couldn’t be more excited to be hosting a free family concert with the modern-day Raffi, Chris McKhool”, states KRVCS founder Tim Dawson. “His beautiful spirit and incredible generosity, not to mention his fabulous song-writing skills will bring joy to you and your family!
McKhool will be supported by band members from his other 6x CFMA winning project Sultans of String, including Saskia Tomkins on fiddle and nyckelharpa, Kevin Laliberté on guitar, and Drew Birston on bass. They will certainly capture the hearts and minds of young families with what promises to be an enchanting performance.
“Little Leaf songs speak to the miracle of life on Earth, and how all living beings around us are part of our community”, says McKhool. “They celebrate the wonder of the natural world, and include collaborations with Ojibway Elder Duke Redbird. We also included songs penned by Canadian legends David Archibald and Bing Jensen. This project is an opportunity for me to shine a light on the best work for children that connects us all to the world around us.”
McKhool’s Little Leaf concert is part musical performance and part environmentalism, and is fully interactive, as kids join the band on stage playing percussion instruments from around the globe, dance to the global grooves, and sing songs about taking care of our planet. For three decades, McKhool has taken his audience to a new level of understanding of our global connection to forests, air, water and animals. Everyone leaves with the feeling that they can really make a difference!
McKhool was just presented Burlington’s Key to the City, and is a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient for creating community through music. One of Canada’s hottest musicians for kids, he has been hailed as a “Children’s musical star” (National Post) and “Canada’s greatest eco-troubadour for young people” (Mississauga Living Arts Centre). Everything McKhool does comes from the heart, and he has been delighting audiences with his joyful songs and exotic world instruments for three decades, reaching over 1 million children live in concert, with hit performances on YTV’s Treehouse, TVO’s Crawlspace, Mr. Dressup, CITY-TV and the CBC.
A champion of environmental issues, McKhool created the World Largest Bicycle Bell Orchestra at Yonge-Dundas Square with over 800 bell ringers! He was nominated for a JUNO Award for Best Children’s Album, and won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Children’s Album of the Year. He’s also a multiple Parents’ Choice Award Winner and a Green Toronto Award Winner, and was just inducted into the Burlington Performing Artist Centre Hall of Fame.
“Chris McKhool isn’t sure if he’s ready to be mentioned in the same breath as Raffi and Fred Penner. But with a new CD and a growing list of fans, the ‘eco-troubadour’ may soon no longer have any choice.” – Sean Lynch, The Ottawa Citizen
SOCIALS:
Chris’ Website: https://fiddlefire.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisMcKhoolFamilyMusic/
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/spotifykidsmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckhool/
TikTok: https://twitter.com/chrismckhool
RECENT AWARDS:
• 2026 JUNO Award Nomination for Chris McKhool – Children’s Album of the Year
• 2025 Burlington Key To The City presented to Chris McKhool
• 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards – nominated Ensemble of the Year with Walking Through The Fire
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Performer of The Year
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Innovation Award
• 2025 Cannes World Film Festival -Best Musical Film, Best Soundtrack with WTTF
• 2024 Folk Music Ontario–Performing Artist of the Year nominee
• 2024 Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame
• 2024 Merilaïnen Music Awards–Indigenous Ally of the Year
• 2023 International Songwriting Competition–Finalist with Black Winged Raven, The Rez, and Nîmihito
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Global Roots Album of the Year with Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Producer of the Yearwith Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-nominated Pushing the Boundaries & Contemporary Album
• 2022 Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award–JAYU Arts For Human Rights
• 2022 F olk Musi c Ontario–Song of the Year winner-Mi Santuario
• 2022 Folk Music Ontario–Nominated for Performer of the Year
• 2022 Cannes World Film Festival–Best Musical Film with Refuge
• 2022 Burlington’s Best Local Musician/Band
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Producer of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee for Ensemble of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Independent Music Association-Pivot Award
• 2021 Markham Performing Arts Awards-Professional Artist of the Year
• 2021 International Songwriting Competition–World Music–Mi Santuario
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award–Instrumental-“Refuge”
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award–Political-“I Am a Refugee”
• 2020 Independent Music Awards-Instrumental Song of the Year-The Grand Bazaar
• 2020 Independent Music Awards-World Music Producer of the Year–Refuge
VIDEOS:
— Cosmic Storm – https://youtu.be/d7-Q-HwN1Cc
— A Place in the Choir – https://youtu.be/1ShVD2uSt90
— Miracle in my Backyard – https://youtu.be/t5mKqgugvHE
— Little Leaf – https://youtu.be/11AvH7YR2OQ
FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/4258159564461389