Résultats 2018

With two fiddles, a viola, and a cello, The Fretless is an award-winning group taking Canadian, American, and Celtic fiddle tunes to fascinating new places. Turning well-known fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, lush, and exciting arrangements, this folk music quartet not only delivers expert musicianship and a lively performance, but also consistently delivers a show that makes you feel the passion they have for traditional music itself.

Over the past 18 years the trad Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than 1000 concerts in more than 15 countries.

Rooted in the soil of their native land, they weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast.

Nicolas Babineau and Alexis Chartrand are two young Québécois musicians brought together by a common passion for traditional music. Their shared sensitivity for recordings of old fiddlers inspires their performances of traditional québécois repertoire. They sometimes play two fiddles, and sometimes allow the guitar to accompany the melodies, with their feet energizing the dance tunes. In 2017, the duo released their first album, Gigues à deux faces, and have performed throughout Québec, across Canada, New-England, and Sweden.

Equal parts activist, educator, songwriter, performer and visual artist, Buffy Sainte–Marie is a
champion for indigenous people and the environment through her music, art, education projects and
by taking direct political action. One of the most enduring and popular Native American performers,
her music has touched millions of people around the world. From her start in New York City’s
Greenwich Village in the early 1960s alongside Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell,

“When you come to your knees / when you hold what you need / you will know what to keep,” sings Gabrielle Papillon near the end of her most adventurous album. The sweeping and heart-piercing Keep the Fire is packed full of thoughts like this, wise and poignant, empathetic and understanding, open to interpretation. Though Papillon’s music remains confidently rooted in folk, on her newest release ‘Keep the Fire’, she has embraced her pop leanings. The songs pulse with strings and drama, keys, and evocative percussion. So stay open, interpret. Sing out, dance slow. Hold the spark, keep the fire.

Dave Gunning and J.P. Cormier, both individually celebrated and critically acclaimed have teamed up together on to their first recording fittingly titled “Two”.

Two. Two guitars, two voices. Two of the most exceptional singer-songwriters to ever rise from the East Coast. Audiences across Canada are overjoyed as something magical is happening with the two of them on stage. It’s as real as it gets, two old friends, brothers, uncompromising performers, making the music of their lives. There couldn’t be a better time to discover the power of Two.

The LYNNeS are Canadian heartbreak poets Lynn Miles and Lynne Hanson. The two songwriters are not new to working together, having toured and written songs off and on over the past 10 years, and with Miles having produced two of Hanson’s albums. For The LYNNeS songs are what matter the most, and their debut album “Heartbreak Song For The Radio” pairs hauntingly gritty lyrics with tight vocal harmonies. The two witty songwriters play off each other live, often leaving the audience howling with laughter with their between-song-banter. In addition to their beautiful harmonies, the two are skilled multi-instrumental musicians.

The Wailin’ Jennys are Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody and Heather Masse three distinct voices that together make an achingly perfect vocal sound.

Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, The Wailin’ Jennys have grown over the years into one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta along with New York-based Masse continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances.

5X JUNO Award Nominees for Children’s Album of the Year (2014-2018), Splash’N Boots have brought their award-winning live shows to over 100,000 children worldwide. What began as a class project at Queens University has led to the release of 11 CDs, 3 DVDs, national television show, and a tour schedule that travels all across Canada.
From social media to their philanthropy with SickKids Hospital, Splash’N Boots extends far beyond the stage alone, they are passionate about what they do, inspired by the children they meet and continually prove to have an undeniably fresh approach to family music

JUNO-nominated and multi-award winning folk singer Jeremy Fisher brings his catchy songwriting to circle time with his very first collection of music aimed at young listeners, Jeremy Fisher Junior – Highway To Spell. Songs such as Turtle & Guy, I Lost My Shoe and Bizzy Bee come alive with vivid imagery, instantly singable melodies and grooves that inspire kids to dance like nobody’s watching. His trademark wit and penchant for storytelling add dimension to the simple tunes and make sure there’s a little something in there for the whole family.

The Oot n’ Oots make kids music that is, to quote Jerry Garcia, not for kids only. Drawing on diverse influences from the history of rock n’ roll, their original songs are wildly imaginative, brimming with humour and inspiration.

Nominated for Children’s Artist of the Year at the 2017 Western Canadian Music Awards, and for a 2017 Okanagan Arts Award, their debut album “Songs and Tales from the Great Blue Whale” was released December 2016. The second album « Electric Jellyfish Boogaloo » was released May 25 before the band hit the road to play Canadian folk festivals summer 2018.

The Swinging Belles, a JUNO award-winning swing band for kids from St. John’s, NL, are intent on getting both kids and adults to kick up their heels and have a swinging good time with the whole family!

The Swing Belles feature child educators and performers Laura Winter and Erin Power joined by guitarist extraordinaire Duane Andrews. This show is all about getting kids and parents out to have a dance and enjoy some swing country and jazz…kid style. The show is packed with music, interactive storytelling and dancing…lots of dancing!

Storytelling through song is a fundamental duty of traditional music and Matthew Byrne does this brilliantly with his latest recording, Horizon Lines. This newest collection of traditional material explores a unique repertoire of songs from both sides of the Atlantic and continues Byrne’s journey through his own unique musical lineage.

Matthew’s repertoire transcends time and place and his live performance reminds us how satisfying traditional songs can be when stripped down to their basic elements. Born into a family of singers, Byrne supports this tradition with powerful vocals, polished guitar work, and a presence that fills the room.

Toronto-based composer, vocalist, arranger, producer, ethnomusicologist and band leader. Her 7 solo albums tap into her Czech and Jewish roots for inspiration. Her collaborations demonstrate Lenka’s desire to bridge cultures through music. Lenka has toured in 26 countries on four continents, especially in Europe and the Czech Republic. In 2018, Lenka won an Independent Music Award for her latest album MASARYK. Her release Songs for the Breathing Walls, recorded live in Czech and Moravian synagogues, won 2012 Canadian Folk Music Award for Traditional Singer of the Year. She was also the co-founder of the group Sisters of Sheynville.

Equal parts activist, educator, songwriter, performer and visual artist, Buffy Sainte–Marie is a
champion for indigenous people and the environment through her music, art, education projects and
by taking direct political action. One of the most enduring and popular Native American performers,
her music has touched millions of people around the world. From her start in New York City’s
Greenwich Village in the early 1960s alongside Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell,

Husband and wife duo Mike & Diana Erb perform a blend of traditional and original folk music with a vintage acoustic sound and honey-sweet vocal harmonies. Diana and Mike have been writing and performing together since 2016 and released Twas Now’s debut album Old Fashioned Way in July of 2017. The album was recorded, mixed and produced by John “Beetle” Bailey at the Drive Shed Studio, Toronto and features guest musicians: Shane Guse (Western Swing Authority, Dean Brody), Matthew Lima (Western Swing Authority), Steve Wood (Shannon Lyon).

Dana has carved a uniquely wandering path through music; she cut her teeth in jug bands, bluegrass bands and cover bands in Taiwan, toured steadfastly with her own band in the UK, released three critically-praised albums, then landed back in Canada to pursue a Masters in musicology. Her new album, The Earth That You’re Made Of, expresses the grounded but revelatory wisdom of the pilgrim who thinks she may have just found her way home. Journalist, broadcaster, and festival director Peter North called it “one of the finest contemporary roots recordings to have ever been produced in Alberta, period.”

Kellie Loder is a Juno Award Nominated singer and songwriter from Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, and no stranger to the NL music scene. She has a voice which the Newfoundland & Labrador Telegram describes as “so powerful, yet serene and soulful”. She is quickly becoming recognized as one of the province’s most prolific songwriters as she brings honest, dynamic, and lyrically driven content to each song, along with melodies that never fail to get stuck in the heads of her audience. Her brilliant and emotive third album, Benefit of the Doubt was released on December 2nd, 2017.

Catherine MacLellan has become one of Canada’s finest and favourite singer-songwriters on her own
merits. She’s kept away from the media circus and celebrity scene, preferring to live at home in rural
P.E.I. She’s worked diligently at her craD, releasing a series of remarkable, creaEve albums, culminaEng
in the Juno Award-winning The Raven’s Sun from 2014. Most impressively, she has chosen to carve out
her career path without trading on her family name.

With a sprawling vocal range and compelling approach to composition, PEI’s Dylan Menzie has made an indelible mark in the Canadian music market. After hitting number one on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20 with his breakout single, “Kenya,” Menzie dropped 2016’s Adolescent Nature to acclaim from across Canada.

On the back of his growing success, Menzie has performed alongside acts like City & Colour and Ron Sexsmith, and his most recent release, As the Clock Rewinds, is a collection of reimagined cuts from Adolescent Nature that further showcases his artistry and cements his status as an undeniable talent.

Guitarist Holly Blazina creates an immersive world of beauty and sound that draws in music lovers and Flamenco aficionados alike. The notes emanating from her instrument disarm unsuspecting listeners as they are ushered into an ethereal experience that is exotic, evocative, buoyant and deeply nourishing.

When first exposed to Flamenco’s passionate, soulful melodies and driving rhythms, Holly knew she had found her home musically. This quickly led to a lifelong commitment to the arform. Her debut album, Transcendencia, has earned her a 2018 WCMA nomination for World Artist of the Year, and a 2017 Global Music Award Bronze Medal.

Justin Gray & Synthesis is a contemporary world jazz ensemble that explores a captivating cross-cultural blend of Indian and western music. Bandleader Justin Gray is an award-winning bassist, composer & producer based out of Toronto, Canada. In 2010, Gray designed and co-created the bass veena, a multi-stringed instrument, which combines the fretless bass with elements inspired by various Indian stringed instruments. Justin is the first artist to perform on this instrument worldwide.

Dan MacDonald began playing the fiddle at a young age, under the instruction of his father, Lloyd MacDonald, himself a well-known and respected Cape Breton fiddler. The Island informs his now diverse musical voice, which has grown in strength and scope as he has travelled the globe and worked with a myriad of musicians. His first solo album, Rural/Urban, was released to a sold out audience in 2018, and has been described as “vivid, superb” and “intriguing.” A true “unifying force” for audiences and musicians alike, Dan is an artist who continues to bridge musical genres and push the boundaries of traditional music.

Andrea Bettger has experience playing classical, jazz and bluegrass styles, and experiments in the electric world of sounds on her instrument. She has become heavily involved in the Northern-fiddling scene. She has performed and recorded with countless artists including The Rheostatics and the Jerry Cans, and has shared the stage with Jimmy Rankin and Buffy St. Marie.
Andrea’s diverse musical background has led her to write music that is influenced by Northern Metis fiddling, and jazz, gypsy, and classical violin styles. The fusion of these approaches results in an exciting blend of toe-tapping material, complemented with meditative and heart-warming melodies.

One of CBC Saskatchewan’s 2017 Artists to Watch, West of Mabou performs lively dance music steeped in the rich traditions of Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle and pipe tunes.

Each of the members is an experienced performer in their own right, having performed at festivals, competitions, and ceilidhs around the world. Since the release of their debut album in 2017, West of Mabou has performed at numerous festivals in Canada and the U.S., including Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA- the largest Celtic festival in North America. The band recently released their second album, « The Bridge, » produced by master Cape Breton musician, Wendy MacIsaac.

7x CFMA winner/5x JUNO nominee mando-maestro Andrew Collins (Foggy Hogtown Boys, Creaking Tree String Quartet) is joined by fellow Trio string-meisters Mike Mezzatesta and James McEleney to showcase a popular collision of folk, new acoustic roots, chambergrass and jazz, not to mention a dizzying number and energetic interplay of instruments on stage. This dynamic genre-hopping show is propelled even further by Andrew’s captivating lead vocals and James’ soaring harmonies.

They just released a pair of albums, grafting 11 vocal cuts (tongues) to 11 instrumentals (grooves) to create a seamless finish with their cleverly monikered Tongue & Groove.

So Long Seven performs richly textured acoustic music that brings their diverse influences into a distinctly Canadian voice. Influenced by bands such as Punch Brothers, Shakti, Oregon and many others this band is breaking new ground. At once spirited and meditative So Long Seven is creating a seamless blend using the tabla (Ravi Naimpally), banjo (Tim Posgate), violin (William Lamoureux) and acoustic guitar (Neil Hendry) to make their original music. Most recently they performed at Hillside, Guelph Jazz Festival and Somewhere There Creative Music Festival and are heading to Europe at the end of 2018. www.solongseven.com

Ben Miller & Anita MacDonald have become renowned across Atlantic Canada and beyond for their synergistic, pipe and fiddle driven style of Gaelic music. Blending the traditions of Cape Breton and the Scottish Highlands with influences from Ireland, Shetland and beyond, they have been called “One of the most important folk acts on Cape Breton Island today.” (CBC Cape Breton)

Joining them in this project, Zakk Cormier is a talented multi-instrumentalist with deep roots in the Acadian community of Prince Edward Island. As a trio, they create a powerful sound, transcending the boundaries between Cape Breton, Scottish, and Acadian traditions.

2017 KERRVILLE WINNER Texas
2017 COLLEEN PETERSON WINNER Ontario

“Wilde, whose real name is Noosa Al-Sarraj, fell in love with country music thanks to a nanny as a kid. Her kickass songwriting abilities led her to win an award at the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk competition this year—one of few Canadians to do so, and certainly the first of Iraqi descent.”
-Flare

“Over simple, well-worn chords, Wilde’s voice sounds weary & wise, yet still full of life…Her storytelling binds together personal experience and political ideas in relatable ways, the way only the best songwriting can.”
– Exclaim

Few recording artists are as creative and prolific as Bruce Cockburn. Since his self-titled debut in 1970, the Canadian singer-songwriter has issued a steady stream of acclaimed albums every couple of years. But that output suddenly ran dry in 2011 following the release of Small Source of Comfort. There were good reasons for the drought. For one thing, Cockburn became a father again with the birth of his daughter Iona. Then there was the publication of his 2014 memoir Rumours of Glory.

Inhabiting the far north before going nomad and now perched in Toronto, Dana Sipos’ hypnotic, nuanced songs shine a tenderly skewed light into the shadows. Described as « delicate, slightly strange and completely mesmerizing (Gold Flake Paint UK), » Dana toured extensively in support of her previous release, Roll Up the Night Sky, nominated for a Canadian Folk Music award in the Pushing the Boundaries category. A stunning follow up album, Trick of the Light, produced by Sandro Perri and featuring a breadth of Canadian talent including Mary Margaret O’Hara, released on Toronto-based Roaring Girl Records in spring 2018.

Donovan Woods’ new album is a study in contrasts, as one would expect from its name: Both Ways. That push-and-pull, especially in relationships, has long been Woods’ stock in trade. That perspective has led to nominations for the Polaris Prize and the Juno Awards. In addition, the first single from the album, “Burn That Bridge,” climbed to No. 1 on the CBC Top 20, while his catalog has accrued over 60 million streams. As NPR Music has stated, « There are very few writers who can make you laugh and break your heart in the same song.

One of New Brunswick’s biggest stars, Petit Rocher native Danny Boudreau’s 40-year career has garnered a long list of awards and accolades. This prolific Acadian singer-songwriter has toured Europe, Africa, Canada and United States enthralling audiences with his rich voice and well-crafted songs. With his 9 albums, Danny is playing everything from folk to country, all with a touch of the traditional. Danny Has composed songs for many artists such as Patrick Norman, Laurence Jalbert , Wilfred LeBouthillier et Jean -Francois Breau just to name a few !!

Kristine St-Pierre is a bilingual folk singer-songwriter with soul-searching ballads and a rollicking bluesy charm. Described as a ‘chansonnière’ with a traveling heart,’ Kristine sings her life with passion, vulnerability and authenticity. She has released a bilingual album in 2012 and a much anticipated francophone album in late 2017 for which the title track « La promesse » reached no. 2 on Sirius Xm Franco Country. Kristine is also a strong advocate for equality, taking every opportunity to use her voice and expertise to advance women’s and girls’ rights.

Tire le coyote – l’auteur-compositeur Benoit Pinette – fait l’unanimité avec Désherbage.
Écriture puissante et sensible, brillante musique folk rock aux accents seventies, intelligence, charisme, voilà qui définit notre homme et son univers. Et qui suscite ce grand plaisir, ce respect partagés par le public et l’artiste.
De l’avis de tous, l’un des meilleurs auteurs de sa génération, la nouvelle voix du folk au Québec.

Étienne Fletcher, former member of the band Indigo Joseph, is recognized for receiving the PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD and SONGWRITER’S AWARD at NOUVELLE SCENE and CHANT’OUEST in 2015. In his new self-titled project he brings together his French and English roots. Accompanied by his guitarist Sean McCannell and drummer Gaelan Malloy, he creates a high energy show with genres ranging from rock, folk, pop and dance. The project strives for each show to bring variety, connection and memorable experiences.

Fusing old-world sounds and new-world flair, Greyson Gritt and Tiffany Ayalik are embracing their respective Anishinaabe-Métis and Inuit backgrounds. Combining throat singing, haunting melodies and traditional legends, the JUNO award winning pair are excited to present a mix of flavours from across the North. As Ayalik charismatically embodies her stories, Gritt infuses it with a soulful blues to create an experience that consumes the senses. The pair tailor their music to examine colonialism, while offering ways to empower marginalized groups. « Shelter as we go… », is a collection of deep blues riffs, northern life intertwined with hard beats and hard-hitting storytelling.

Sandra Sutter is a Calgary-based singer songwriter who has performed at many different venues across western Canada. She sings, writes and plays in a variety of styles including folk, country, jazz and rock. Sandra is inspired by her Indigenous heritage and has been active in the arts, particularly music, for many years.

Dena Zagi was created in 2009 by Jenny and Dennis. Dennis Shorty is both singer & songwriter and plays the guitar. Jennifer Froehling is a singer and plays both the traditional drum & drum set. Jenny hails from Germany and is Dennis’ partner.

Dena Zagi is a traditional contemporary duo and their music is written in the Kaska language and the lyrics are about the land, animals, respect, ancestors and traditions.

They’ve played together in various venues in Canada and in Germany.

They hope to encourage young people to preserve their language through music.

Dena Zagi means “people’s voice”.

Equal parts activist, educator, songwriter, performer and visual artist, Buffy Sainte–Marie is a
champion for indigenous people and the environment through her music, art, education projects and
by taking direct political action. One of the most enduring and popular Native American performers,
her music has touched millions of people around the world. From her start in New York City’s
Greenwich Village in the early 1960s alongside Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell,

You hear it a lot – the idea that something is greater than the sum of its parts – yet there’s no better way to describe the musical essence of the Good Lovelies.

Over the course of their decade-plus career, Kerri Ough, Sue Passmore, and Caroline Brooks have covered plenty of stylistic ground, adding tinges of pop, roots, jazz, even hip-hop to their country folk core. Through it all, the unmistakable sound of their intertwined voices has been the sonic anchor. That remains true as the Good Lovelies push further into the mainstream with their most accessible and pop-influenced output to date.

Dave Gunning and J.P. Cormier, both individually celebrated and critically acclaimed have teamed up together on to their first recording fittingly titled “Two”.

Two. Two guitars, two voices. Two of the most exceptional singer-songwriters to ever rise from the East Coast. Audiences across Canada are overjoyed as something magical is happening with the two of them on stage. It’s as real as it gets, two old friends, brothers, uncompromising performers, making the music of their lives. There couldn’t be a better time to discover the power of Two.

The LYNNeS are Canadian heartbreak poets Lynn Miles and Lynne Hanson. The two songwriters are not new to working together, having toured and written songs off and on over the past 10 years, and with Miles having produced two of Hanson’s albums. For The LYNNeS songs are what matter the most, and their debut album “Heartbreak Song For The Radio” pairs hauntingly gritty lyrics with tight vocal harmonies. The two witty songwriters play off each other live, often leaving the audience howling with laughter with their between-song-banter. In addition to their beautiful harmonies, the two are skilled multi-instrumental musicians.

The Fugitives are Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod and are sometimes joined by violinist Carly and banjo player Rob McLaren.

Over the past ten years, they’ve earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows, brimming with complex harmonies, infectious storytelling and top-notch musicianship.

Performance highlights include major folk festivals across Canada, headlining slots in overseas Americana festivals, and a recently sold out run across the UK. In 2018, the band will tour across both Canada and the EU, and venture into the United States via an official showcase at Folk Alliance International.

With two fiddles, a viola, and a cello, The Fretless is an award-winning group taking Canadian, American, and Celtic fiddle tunes to fascinating new places. Turning well-known fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, lush, and exciting arrangements, this folk music quartet not only delivers expert musicianship and a lively performance, but also consistently delivers a show that makes you feel the passion they have for traditional music itself.

Over the past 18 years the trad Quebec group Genticorum has become a fixture on the international world, trad, folk and Celtic music circuit. The band’s six albums met with critical acclaim in Canada, the United States and Europe, assuring the band a brilliant future. Known for its energy and its stage presence, Genticorum has given more than 1000 concerts in more than 15 countries.

Rooted in the soil of their native land, they weave precise and intricate fiddle, flute and accordion work, gorgeous vocal harmonies, energetic foot percussion and guitar accompaniment into a big and jubilant musical feast.

Their voices, guitars and banjos move as one, leading the listener through a wooded landscape of original and early music. Old songs, rural life, and archaic banjo tunings are the undercurrents, the desires for love, connection and community flow in the music and stories of life in their tiny town of Horsefly, BC.
On tour with two young kids when not at home building custom banjos, the Juno award winning duo has traveled Canada, the USA and Europe to play concert halls and festivals. Called “sublime” (NPR) and “brilliant” (BBC), Sweet Old Religion is their fourth release as a duo.

The East Pointers have spent the last two years touring Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia in support of their JUNO Award winning album, Secret Victory. Their sophomore album, What We Leave Behind, released September 29, 2017, reflects on the traditions of Canadian Celtic music, where it comes from, and what it means to the people, but also strides in new directions. With a captivating balance between their traditional-sounding instrumental tunes, and catchy radio-ready songs, The East Pointers reach out with open arms to a wide range of listeners, inviting them to discover a new love of folk music.

Three-time JUNO winner David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who were factory workers, he moved to Canada when he was twelve. For decades, he worked across Canada in rail yards, construction sites, and in the Yukon bush, all the while writing poetry, setting it to melodies in his head and singing it to himself as he worked.

Little Miss Higgins struts and serenades her way onto any stage playing music brewed up in early country blues, jazz and folk. Her music has won three WCMA’s and received multiple JUNO nominations. Now, along with motherhood, Higgins has the newest addition to her list of accomplishments, My Home, My Heart.

MY HOME, MY HEART is a collection of fresh songs from a unique artist, who remains true to her roots, but has ventured into new territory; an effortless addition to an impressive body of work.

Catherine MacLellan has become one of Canada’s finest and favourite singer-songwriters on her own
merits. She’s kept away from the media circus and celebrity scene, preferring to live at home in rural
P.E.I. She’s worked diligently at her craD, releasing a series of remarkable, creaEve albums, culminaEng
in the Juno Award-winning The Raven’s Sun from 2014. Most impressively, she has chosen to carve out
her career path without trading on her family name.

Equal parts activist, educator, songwriter, performer and visual artist, Buffy Sainte–Marie is a
champion for indigenous people and the environment through her music, art, education projects and
by taking direct political action. One of the most enduring and popular Native American performers,
her music has touched millions of people around the world. From her start in New York City’s
Greenwich Village in the early 1960s alongside Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell,

Annie Sumi is a critically-acclaimed, ethereal-folk artist from Southern Ontario. Since the release of her debut-album, « Reflections », in 2015, she has received nominations for « Best Singer-Songwriter » (TIMAs, 2015), « Contemporary Roots Album of the Year » (Hidden Roots Collective, CFMAs, 2017), and more. With the release of her latest album, « In the Unknown », this songwriter has brought colour and vision to the Canadian music scene. Her live performance is vulnerable; consistently inspiring the audience to feel something. With over 300 live performances across Canada, the United States of America, and Continental Europe, this old-soul has shared her songs and stories with audiences around the world.

The Lifers, led by sisters Liv and Anita Cazzola, are an art-folk/rock collective from Guelph, Ontario. Their intertwined voices dynamically convey vulnerability and strength, telling stories that confront the fragility of our world and ourselves. Softly plucked strings, accordion swells, lush cello and upright bass arrangements give way to rip-roaring drums, soaring melodies and overdriven frenetic strums. Employing conventional instruments in unconventional ways, the Lifers’ latest release “Honey Suite” is an unexpected sonic adventure with an underlying message of hope. Folk music has never sounded so immediate.

Jack Pine takes his name from a veritable rising phoenix of the forest, the tree made famous in a Tom Thompson painting. With his head in the Capital City and his heart in the wilderness of Lake Nipigon Ontario, Jack’s alt-folk songwriting points to the beauty within the wreck and the heart within the wretch while his mandolin plays furiously, then very softly. With The Fire by his side his unique and eclectic style is amplified by intricate acoustic rhythms and a heavy handed string-band sound. True Canadiana, maybe… But this is not your grandmother’s folk band.

Hailing from Toronto, Mattie Leon is a singer/songwriter whose music strikes a beautiful balance between Folk/R&B and Pop. 2017 saw the release of his latest offering, SIGNAL HILL; a 7-song collection of rhythmic Canadiana that Canadian Beats says is « Full of emotion and passion » and that « Mattie Leon is onto something brilliant ».

Aerialists meld their ferociously creative harmonic sensibilities and deep love for folk traditions into a post-rock coloured sound called prog-trad. The instrumental quintet draws from the wells of Nordic and Gaelic music, adding expansive textures and meticulously sculpted arrangements to create captivating, genre-defying new music on fiddle, lever harp, guitar, bass, and drums.

The LYNNeS are Canadian heartbreak poets Lynn Miles and Lynne Hanson. The two songwriters are not new to working together, having toured and written songs off and on over the past 10 years, and with Miles having produced two of Hanson’s albums. For The LYNNeS songs are what matter the most, and their debut album “Heartbreak Song For The Radio” pairs hauntingly gritty lyrics with tight vocal harmonies. The two witty songwriters play off each other live, often leaving the audience howling with laughter with their between-song-banter. In addition to their beautiful harmonies, the two are skilled multi-instrumental musicians.

Sultans of String thrill their audiences with their global sonic tapestry of Spanish Flamenco, Cuban rhythms, Arabic folk & Gypsy-jazz, celebrating musical fusion & human creativity with warmth and virtuosity. Fiery violin dances with flamenco guitar, and acoustic strings meet electronic wizardry to create layers and depth of sound.
Through this unique blend of global music they tell unbelievable stories of beauty and hope, and try to show the threads of our common humanity.
They have performed at U.K.’s Celtic Connections, NYC’s Birdland Jazz Club, with Toronto Symphony, as well as live on BBC TV, and SiriusXM in Washington DC.

Variously described by reviewers as « trippy », « dreamy », « cinematic », « stylishly hip » and « deeply exotic », Toronto-based Minor Empire has racked up a lengthy list of plaudits for its seamless blend of Turkish traditional music and modern sounds. Its debut record earned it a Canadian Folk Music Award and an Indie Music Award for World Group of the Year, and #1 spot on the Canadian world music radio charts. The group’s sophomore album “Uprooted” was launched in December 2017, hit #1 spot on Canadian radio charts and was nominated for Independent Music Awards in World Beat Album and World Album Producer categories.

A Saskatoon native transplanted to the Niagara Region of Ontario, Suzie Vinnick is the proud owner of a gorgeous voice, prodigious guitar and bass chops and an engagingly candid performance style.

Suzie was nominated for a 2016 MapleBlues Award for Female Vocalist of the Year; achieved finalist status in the Solo/Duo Category at the 2013 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and was awarded the 2012 CBC Saturday Night Blues Great Canadian Blues Award. Suzie has won 10 Maple Blues Awards, 1 Canadian Folk Music Award and is a 3X Juno Nominee.

Suzie has just released her latest album entitled « Shake The Love Around ».

Over twenty-five years, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jean-Francois Belanger has refined his own personal and poetic vision of traditional music. His finely-honed compositions and exceptional mastery of numerous instruments have led critics to underscore his depth, originality and versatility.

In recent years, his work has centred primarily on Scandinavian traditional music and its star instrument, the nyckelharpa. Playing keys without bowing, hammered strings and overtones: these are just some of the unique ways he finds to create the perfect sound to convey his rich melodies. His latest recordings push musical boundaries, giving listeners new frontiers to discover.

Fusing old-world sounds and new-world flair, Greyson Gritt and Tiffany Ayalik are embracing their respective Anishinaabe-Métis and Inuit backgrounds. Combining throat singing, haunting melodies and traditional legends, the JUNO award winning pair are excited to present a mix of flavours from across the North. As Ayalik charismatically embodies her stories, Gritt infuses it with a soulful blues to create an experience that consumes the senses. The pair tailor their music to examine colonialism, while offering ways to empower marginalized groups. « Shelter as we go… », is a collection of deep blues riffs, northern life intertwined with hard beats and hard-hitting storytelling.

With origins in Timmins, Ontario, and serving as one-half of popular singer-songwriter duo Scarlett Jane, Cindy Doire presents her fourth solo album Panorama. The disc is a genre-defying collection of carefully calculated catchy compositions encompassing measured grooves. The panoramic sound is both ethereal and delicate, as Cindy concocts a new style for this work, an amalgam of dream pop and Moog synthesizer inflected folk all wrapped up in a silvery sheath of angelic vocals. Panorama is an album for the intelligent who love to dream. It soothes, captivates, and rearranges frayed emotions into perfect order.

La Suite is the result of the shared outlook of violinists Marie-Pierre Lecault and Robin Boulianne on the state of their instrument. They present their universe through rhythmic instrumental music focused on their own compositions. Their first album, Inventions pour deux violoneux, was released in 2018 after seven years of work. The original compositions and arrangements fuse classical, Québécois trad and more contemporary music – a resolutely innovative type of sound without border or genre. Both Boulianne and Lecault switch with ease from violin to viola, exploring, enriching and liberating their ideas.

Christian Howse is an emerging artist from central Newfoundland. Growing up listening to a wide range of music, Christian is a multi-instrumentalist, playing instruments including the banjo, accordion, mandolin, clarinet, and guitar. Drawing from the genres of punk, folk, and math-rock, he has developed a unique brand of percussive fingerstyle guitar. With a passion for storytelling and a love for telling it how it is, Christian illustrates a very raw and real depiction of the greatest fears, darkest feelings, and most beautiful revelations that we all come to feel, to some extent, throughout our lives.

Marley loves to perform and plays with energy and heart. One can’t help but clap along when she surprises the audience by fiddling and step dancing at the same time. Marley started playing the violin at the age of 5 and plays in an old time fiddle band with her sisters, playing at festivals, fairs and local events. Marley was honoured to be selected as the 18 & under fiddle champion at the prestigious Pembroke Fiddle and Step-dance competition August 2017. Classical music is also a passion for Marley and she plays in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra.

Ben Heffernan is a 17-year-old singer-songwriter from London, Ontario. His driving, folk-rock sound is apparent in his two EPs, « Different Wars » and « Home », which have established Heffernan as an exciting up and coming artist. Some of Heffernan’s notable achievements include winning a Jack Richardson London Music Award in 2016, the Taylor Mitchell Bursary at Folk Music Ontario and playing his 100th show in 2017. The future appears to be bright for this young singer-songwriter, who is determined to continue to build his name and to create a career for himself in the music industry.

Jessica Wedden is a 16-year-old upbeat Celtic, East Coast and Ottawa Valley style fiddler, trick fiddler, step dancer, composer and 2016 Canadian Folk Music Award nominee based on her first CD she recorded when she was 12. She’s also a semifinalist for the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition for Under 18. Jessica performed at Ottawa’s National Gallery of Canada for the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group, Toronto’s WinterFolk, the Havelock Jamboree, opened for fiddler Ashley MacIsaac for the Festival of Small Halls Ontario and advanced to the semi-finals in the Rising Star Talent Competition at the Toronto CNE. Fiddling is her passion!
www.JessicaWedden.ca