The Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) showcases the work of a diverse array of authors and storytellers. It takes place in Brampton at The Rose Theatre, and offers events for children and adults that look to engage, inspire, and empower.
Readers, writers, and educators alike with find something of value in events that highlight underrepresented voices.
FOLD takes place from April 26 to May 3, 2026.
One of the key events is Readception: A Literary Cabaret. It’s become one of the festival’s most popular events. This year, six festival authors — Ardra Shephard, Liann Zhang, Yiming Ma, Antonio Michael Downing, Sharon Bala, and Joss Richard — will read their work accompanied by live music., performed by Carmen Spada and his band.
After the performance, audiences can enjoy a meet and greet with the authors at the Rose Theatre.
Carmen Spada & Readception
Musician and composer Carm Spada is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, where he earned a dual major degree in Piano Performance and Jazz Compositions. He also pursued his study with private teachers, including performance, harmony, and composition.
Today, he balances work opportunities between New England and his native Toronto. He’s performed at venues such as the National Arts Centre, Aeolian Hall, Rose Theatre, Living Arts Centre, Isabel Bader Theatre, and Westben Theatre, along with concert halls and venues in New England.
Carm has a deep knowledge of Italian folk styles, and also plays the accordion. He recently appeared in the musical Neapolitan Ice Cream. https://www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2026/03/31/preview-neapolitan-ice-cream-delicious-new-musical-making/
We caught up with Carm to ask a few questions about the event.
Carmen Spada: Q&A
LV: Are you a book lover yourself?
CS: Yes, a book lover, yet lacking enough time in the day to read as much as I should.
LV: What led you to this kind of collaboration?
CS: Founding Executive Director of FOLD Jael Richardson and I had a great working relationship in Brampton as we both founded and directed festivals based on our arts disciplines and passions: hers, FOLD, for books and authors, mine, the World of Jazz Festival for jazz musicians.
She had seen a similar concept in Vancouver years ago and had approached me for my thoughts on what the process would look like if we were to try something similar here in Brampton. That was 2022 and this year will be B-Jazzed’s 5th Great Readception Event (and the 11th annual Festival of Literary Diversity) so I think we’re on track with a successful formula!
LV: How do you write original music for a literary reading? Do you read the books, or excerpts of it, first, or perhaps talk to the author?
CS: A combination of all of the above, with the first, obviously, being to read the excerpts. As a composer, I treat each passage as a short film, and try to support the texts with an intro, climax, and ending.
Over the years, as Jael and her team have come to appreciate my approach to composition as well as the feedback of the audience, they have been supportive in supplying thoughts and opinions on moods and textures, as well as allowing the authors to suggest specific songs/textures/emotions. Put all of that together and we get the final product, which as I mentioned, I like to think of as short films.
LV: What can you tell us about what you’ve created for this year’s event, and the work of authors Ardra Shephard, Liann Zhang, Yiming Ma, Antonio Michael Downing, Sharon Bala, and Joss Richard?
CS: I will say that each year, the FOLD does a great job at defining the word “diversity” at the event, meaning that diversity will be experienced culturally, artistically, musically, et cetera.
The authors and their excerpts push me each year in that I am unable to duplicate textures/emotions/sounds from years past, because there is no correlation between the excerpts; each one is so unique and diverse that it begs for its own creations. It is an honour to create these themes for such distinguished and decorated authors and to accept their gratitude for framing their texts with appropriate music.
Tickets and Details
Readception takes place on May 1, 2026 in Brampton at The Rose as part of the 2026 Festival of Literary Diversity, which runs from April 26 to May 3.
The event includes light hors d’oeuvres prior to the event, and a short intermission.
- Tickets and other details available [HERE]
- Scroll down to Readception, then click on “Order Now” at the bottom of the page.
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