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2025 Official Showcase Artists
Select an artist to hear their music and learn more about them!
Mel Parsons
Mel Parsons
Multi-award winning singer songwriter Mel Parsons is one of New Zealand’s most beloved touring acts. The 2020 Folk Artist of the Year is most at home on stage - her live shows are tight and compelling, with spellbinding harmonies and killer hooks entrancing from the first note. “Immaculate renditions of immaculate songs…Mel Parsons and her band are world class” - music.net "Sabotage is pure triumph" - Rolling Stone AU 4 stars.
Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong
Melón Jimenez & Lara Wong
Award-winning flutist and bansuri player, Lara Wong and flamenco guitarist, Melón Jiménez, make flamenco their universal musical language to traverse musical territories. Their music ebbs and flows with elegance and emotive power, as they fuse the soul of flamenco with the inventive spirit of jazz and the rhythmic improvisations of Indian music. In a dynamic and constant dialogue between cultures, Melon & Lara takes audiences on a musical journey of dynamic compositions and vivid improvisation. Dazzling flamenco guitar riffs, mystical bansuri melodies, and colourful flute improvisations come together in this truly singular musical voyage.
Mia Borders
Mia Borders
New Orleans native Mia Borders is a renowned singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences with her soulful voice and electrifying performances. Her critically acclaimed releases showcase powerful vocals, thoughtful songwriting, and a dynamic presence. Her catalogue includes three EPs, six LPs, and five singles - all released under her label, Blaxican Records.
Mikhail Laxton
Mikhail Laxton
Mikhail Laxton is an Indigenous Australian Artist , now a Permanent Resident of Canada. His full-length debut album "Mikhail Laxton" released world-wide in August 2023 and received substantial Press and Radio Airplay across the world. A little Amos Lee, a little Chris Stapleton mixed in for good measure!
Mimi O'Bonsawin
Mimi O'Bonsawin
Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter Born in Northeastern Ontario. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi embraces the beauty of the land, all the while yielding to her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots (Odanak First-Nation). The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it.
Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices
Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices
Latin Grammy winning, multiple Latin Grammy and Grammy nominee vocalist, musician, composer, producer, arranger and founder of Flor de Toloache – NY’s only all women mariachi. Mireya embodies all of her musical influences whether classical, mariachi, salsa, merengue or hip-hop, always creating a unique and refreshing sound. Her versatility, natural improvisational skills and beautiful tone has made her one of the top Latin artists in New York City.
Morgan Toney
Morgan Toney
Mi'kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney brings together the fiery fiddling of Cape Breton Island with the old songs of the Mi’kmaq with brilliance and heart. He is joined by Keith Mullins and Ryan Roberts.
Mountain Grass Unit
Mountain Grass Unit
Mountain Grass Unit consists of three Birmingham pickers, Drury Anderson (mandolin and vocals), Luke Black (acoustic guitar and banjo), and Sam Wilson (upright bass). Mountain Grass Unit has played music festivals, private functions and multiple music venues, playing bluegrass tunes and adding a bluegrass touch to country, jazz, funk, rock, and even metal.
Mélisande
Mélisande
The multiple award-winning singer Mélisande revisits her repertoire with a traditional Québécois sound on the album Rembobine (Rewind), surrounded by four seasoned musicians. With her infectious energy and engaging stage presence, Mélisande gets the crowd dancing and singing wherever she goes!
Mónica Giraldo
Mónica Giraldo
Mónica Giraldo, a Colombian singer-songwriter, has released seven albums. This Latin Grammy nominee, has over 50 songs, 30 videoclips and has toured the U.S, Colombia and other countries. With her guitar and spanish speaking songs she brings latin folk closer to Canada and the US.
Nano Stern
Nano Stern
Political, outspoken and passionate, Nano Stern is praised by folk legend Joan Baez as “the best young Chilean songwriter of his generation”. Armed with his virtuoso guitar and his staggering vocals, Stern is skilled across a range of instruments and languages and unites his talents to create a sound both utterly fresh and relevant. His performances take you on a journey in which the folk roots from his native Chile are combined with contemporary sounds to create a unique musical experience.
Nat Vazer
Nat Vazer
Moody Melbourne creator, Nat Vazer, is known for her haunting stories and sonic landscapes that weave between indie-rock and dream-pop, building on the folk tradition of storytelling through song. Latest album 'Strange Adrenaline' has been nominated for Best Independent Pop Album 2024 at the AIR Awards, debuted at #15 on the ARIA charts and nominated for the 2023 Australian Music Prize. This past year has seen Vazer perform at SXSW Austin, New Colossus Festival (New York City), WFNM in Los Angeles, and Brisbane’s iconic BIGSOUND. She has also supported #1 Dads, Vacations, Last Dinosaurs, The Magic Numbers, Ian Moss (Cold Chisel), Lime Cordiale and has joined the festival line ups of Kyneton Music Festival, St Kilda Festival, Changes and more. Latest singles ‘Strange Adrenaline’, ‘Rumours’ and ‘Born’ - as premiered on Los Angeles’ KCRW, Triple J and Under The Radar - are a snapshot of the new sophomore record, with early comparisons to the likes of BoyGenius, Mitski, Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, Julia Jacklin, Julien Baker, Snail Mail & Alex G. The new ‘Strange Adrenaline’ brings Vazer into the dawn of a new era, delving deeper into the kaleidoscopic sounds and heart-stopping stories of the young songwriter and her expanding ritual of building worlds through song.
Nefesh Mountain Band
Nefesh Mountain Band
Progressive Americana group Nefesh Mountain Band has been one of the formative boundary-pushing ensembles in roots music, blurring lines between Bluegrass, Jazz and Blues with a masterful hand as songwriters and instrumentalists alike. Their music embodies their wild nature and unbridled free spirits, bridging compositional prowess with deft instrumentals & jams.
Newberry & Verch
Newberry & Verch
Niamh Bury
Niamh Bury
Niamh Bury is one of the most exciting new voices on the Irish folk scene, nominated for ‘Best Emerging Artist at the RTE Folk Awards in her first few months out. Her debut album, Yellow Roses released March 2024 quickly stirred hearts and received wide critical acclaim, with Irish Times christening her Ireland’s "most interesting new star" and Mojo magazine quoted “prepare to be transported". Bury’s richly-textured folk sound and expressionistic storytelling has led her to share stages with Ye Vagabonds, Dermot Kennedy, Martin Hayes - she’s a folk act on the rise, and not to be missed. Bury’s debut album ‘Yellow Roses’ centres around ideas of womanhood, folklore and memory. She has recorded her work with RTE Concert Orchestra and is one of the first artists in two decades to sign with Ireland’s most culturally important label, Claddagh Records – confirming her position as a vital new voice in Irish folk. Strongly rooted in the Irish folk scene, she is a chief organiser of the iconic traditional singing session ‘The Night Before Larry Got Stretched’, whose founders include members of Lankum and Landless. Bury has undertaken residencies at Greywood Arts Centre in Co. Cork (2021/2023), The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig (2023) and Dranouter Centrum in Flanders, Belgium (2023), and just completed a very successful debut headline Irish and English tour with sold out shows in Belfast, Kilkenny, Norwich and Dublin - selling out Main Room Whelan's. An impressive feat for an artists first ever tour!
OMIRI
OMIRI
OMIRI is one of the most original projects to reinvent Portuguese music. To reinvent tradition, nothing better than bringing the real players of Portuguese culture to the show itself; musicians and soundscapes from all over Portugal playing and singing as if they were part of the same universe. Not in flesh and blood but in sound and image, with video field recordings manipulated in order to serve as a musical base for Vasco Ribeiro Casais's composition and improvisation. OMIRI is, above all, remix, the culture of the 21st century, mixing in one show already forgotten musical practices, making them permeable and accessible to the culture of our day, synchronising forms and music of Portuguese rural tradition with the language of the urban culture.
Oakland Rain
Oakland Rain
Since the release of their debut EP in 2015 receiving stunning reviews, the folk/country duo Oakland Rain has released 6 EPs, written albums for movies and Ibsen theater, and toured extensively in Europe and the US. In 2024, the twin sisters are touring with Judy Collins in the US.
Oceanique
Oceanique
Hailing from the deep south of regional Australia, Oceanique combines close harmonies, wonder and warm melodies leaving you with the feeling of staring up at a big blue country sky. Twin sisters Maddy and Jess craft music rich in the folk storytelling tradition with seamless blood harmonies and reflective lyrics.
Oktopus
Oktopus
Awarded numerous awards (JUNO, CFMA…), Oktopus is a major presence on the Canadian world music scene, with over 250 performances to its credit at home and abroad. The group is primarily devoted to klezmer distinguished by a novel approach that incorporates various components of the classical and Quebecois repertoire, with some jazz and Balkan accents. The eight virtuoso musicians offer festive, high-energy performances, at once melancholic and profound, sprinkled with humour and spiced with narrative, in which original compositions and finely crafted arrangements combine with improvisation. Its members’ complicity, shared passion, and hard work are what makes each of their performances so memorable—whether on stage, in the street, on a ship, in a hot air balloon or in your living room, Oktopus is simply… spectentacular!
Olive Klug
Olive Klug
Olive Klug's debut LP ranges from a playful Americana romp about “watching all the rules disintegrate” to folk-punk anthem “Coming of Age”, which somehow manages to reference both pop singer Taylor Swift and existential philosopher Kierkegaard in one song, to “Parched”’s haunting modern ballad about a doomed relationship, to an indie rock closer about learning to take up space as a person with a marginalized identity. Through this no-holds-barred documentation of the struggles of their early adulthood, Klug embraces all their inner contradictions with reckless abandon. 2024 finds Olive in Nashville, attempting to stabilize after a 3-year whirlwind of viral niche internet-fame, nonstop touring, and music industry naïveté. Olive’s social work background grounds them in community, a word they keep coming back to when ego proves unfulfilling. After attending Folk Alliance International for the last two years, Olive is excited to solidify themselves as a fixture of the greater folk community and return to what inspires them the most about music; the catharsis and social change that is possible when people come together and share themselves through song.
Olivia Komahcheet
Olivia Komahcheet
Komahcheet is a multidisciplinary creative whose work spans within spaces of music, visual media and immersive art experiences. Collectively intertwining a multitude of soundscapes in studio and often integrating alternative art pop and experimental indie-tronica live, Olivia has worked with top brands Instagram, Ableton, Walrus Audio, Beatclub, Brooks Running, Square Register, PBS and many more with original music being married to films screened on Netflix, Shudder TV and film festivals worldwide.
Padraig Jack
Padraig Jack
RTE Folk Awards nominee Padraig Jack will release his second album in Autumn 2024. A native of the the Aran islands in the Irish speaking Gaeltacht, a place that has produced the writers Liam O’Flaithearta, Máirtín Ó’Direáin and Breandán Ó’hEithir, Padraig is proudly bilingual both as a conversationalist and a songwriter and writes and sings meaningful songs on guitar and piano in Irish Gaelic and English. With influences from James Taylor and The Eagles to Van Morrison, Sinead O’Connor and Richard Thompson, Padraig appreciates strong songwriting with a distinct point of view. Padraig Jack provides a totally engaging performance which comprises a series of moments which are supported by his disarming charm, whit, perspectives on society, Irish history and of course top quality songs in both English and Irish. Padraig delivers his well crafted songs with a quality voice and is supported by a band which included Anthony Thistlethwaite of the Saw Doctors (founding member of The Waterboys no less). Audiences are guided through his set with appropriate background stories of his songs which provide extra context but also really show who the artist is and make it an thoroughly intimate show. Having demonstrated his songwriting bona fides with his critically acclaimed debut ‘Making Sand’ (named ‘RTE Album of the Week’) and garnered an RTE Folk Award nomination for ‘Best Original Song’ (Making Sand), Padraig again teams up with producer John Reynolds (Sinead O’Connor, Damien Dempsey) and his occasional co-writing partner Barry Ronan as well as Anthony Thistlethwaite.
Perla Batalla
Perla Batalla
Perla Batalla - Bio While today Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, Perla Batalla can be found sharing the stage with musicians such as Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright & Jackson Browne, it was Perla’s early years touring with the celebrated Canadian poet, Leonard Cohen that shaped her as an artist in her own right. Perla was born in L.A. to an immigrant family immersed in music. Her Afro-Mexican dad, a mariachi singer, while her Argentine mom ran the family record shop called Discoteca Batalla. Growing up there, Perla was exposed to non-stop music cutting across language and genre. Left alone in the shop after school, she began dreaming of one day becoming a singer. Against her parents’ wishes, she left home at 16, studying opera during the day and performing in clubs at night. Since then, Perla Batalla has performed in venues as varied as Sydney Opera House, Kennedy Center, Royce Hall, and Brighton Dome. She has released 7 albums and co-written and appeared in two one-woman shows: her celebrated Mestiza song cycle, exploring the intricacies of being a person of mixed race, and Blue House, an exultant Frida Kahlo musical commissioned by LACMA and tapped for production by Ojai Playwrights Conference. Perla has been honored with two affiliated U.N. awards: The Earth Charter Award for extraordinary devotion to social and economic justice, and The Environmental Peacebuilding Award, for advancing social justice through music. She currently divides her time between Ojai, California and Barcelona, Spain
Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls
Pete Muller & The Kindred Souls
Rachael Kilgour
Rachael Kilgour
Canadian-American songwriter Rachael Kilgour presents her heartfelt new release, My Father Loved Me. The album was recorded in her late father’s native Ontario and was produced by JUNO-award winning and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Rose Cousins. In the spare and often gutting language for which she is known, Kilgour gives us a complex portrait of a man seen through his daughter’s eyes. The record poses questions about belonging, inheritance, and grief and triumphantly affirms the value of one ordinary working man’s life. On stage Kilgour expertly balances her poignant, literate songs with a quick wit, landing somewhere between a comedy special and a funeral. Listeners can expect to laugh, weep, and reflect on their own relationships with fatherhood, mortality and grief. Kilgour was the 2015 Grand Prize Winner of the NewSong Music Competition and a 2017 Kerrville New Folk Contest Winner, and has been featured at NYC’s Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Her oft-noted “unapologetic lyrics” (Rolling Stone) and “master crafted indie folk” sensibilities (Billboard) are on full display in this latest collection of delicately woven songs.
Rachael Sage & The Sequins
Rachael Sage & The Sequins
RACHAEL SAGE & THE SEQUINS, led by singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, poet and visual artist Rachael Sage, have shared stages with Ani DiFranco, Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, and duet partner Judy Collins. Fueled by vibrant storytelling, innovative creativity and social activism, Sage and her band have toured globally from Japan to Berlin.
Rachel Maxann
Rachel Maxann
Rachel Maxann is a performer who loves to bend genres with her style. In her lifetime she has traveled around the world singing, creating memories that inspire her songwriting. Each new space has allowed her to grow while experimenting with different styles of the culture. Rachel has been happy to create roots in Memphis and continues to share her musical tapestry of goth-folk, blues, soul and rock.
Rafael Witt
Rafael Witt
Rafael Witt is a Singer-Songwriter from Brazil, who captures the essence of American and English Folk and Pop Music and mixes it with the Brazilian multicultural essence. Rafael is a multi instrumentalist and a polyglot. Has successfully toured Brazil and Europe and soon will release his debut album. Aiming on an international career, his lyrics are mostly in English and he's gathered a great following in Brazil, South America and Europe. North America is yet to be explored!
Ranagri
Ranagri
Award-winning Indie-folk band Ranagri draw crowds from around the world with their captivating live performances and exceptional musicianship. Their anthemic, cinematic storytelling and instrumentals has touched audience across the UK and Europe, from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cropredy, Montelago Festival (Italy), Ibiza, Germany and Portugal. They have 3 highly acclaimed albums on Stockfisch Records.
Retimbrar
Retimbrar
"RETIMBRAR is a vigorous movement performed by an 8-piece collective, based in Porto. Inspired by the country's musical traditions, TugaBeat is the name they give to their sound - Portuguese beats and songs, made new. Deeply rooted in the diversity of national folklore, popular poetry and orality, chanting and percussive elements."
Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith has built a steadfast reputation with critics and with some of his own songwriting hero’s (Elton John, Ray Davies, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen and Paul McCartney) for his characteristically honest, sensitive, and enduring approach to the songwriting craft. Ron has released albums on a consistent basis since 1995 and has recorded with noted producers Mitchell Froom, Daniel Lanois, Steve Earle, Jim Scott, Don Kerr, Brad Jones, Bob Rock, and Martin Terefe. His extensive song and album catalog has garnered Sexsmith a substantive cult following and an international touring career. His early years of touring included opening for established artists such as, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello, Sarah McLaughlin, Squeeze, Aimee Mann, Coldplay, Nick Lowe, John Prine, Lucinda Williams and many others. His songs as well, have been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart, Nick Lowe, Emmy Lou Harris, Feist, and Michael Buble to name a few. In the past few decades as a headlining artist, Ron has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, such as Massey Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Carnegie Hall. In 2017, Ron penned his first novel ‘Deer Life, A Fairy Tale’ published worldwide by Dundurn Press Limited. He has written a ‘yet to be released’ complete musical score to accompany the tale, for his vision to bring the story to the stage as musical theatre or adapt to film. Ron currently lives in Perth County, Ontario with his wife, his piano, and his vinyl record collection and continues to be inspired to write, record and perform live worldwide.
Sam Robbins
Sam Robbins
Sam Robbins is often described as an "old soul singer songwriter." A nationally touring musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne, Sam adds a modern, upbeat edge to the storyteller troubadour persona. An avid performer, he has gained recognition from extensive national touring, as one of the six 2021 winners of the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition, and as one of the four Falcon Ridge Folk Festival’s “Most Wanted” in 2023. Leading songwriting workshops and exciting performances across the country, Sam Robbins has gained a reputation as one of the brightest rising stars in the national folk music community.
Sara Curruchich
Sara Curruchich
Sara Curruchich is a Guatemalan singer-songwriter and Maya Kaqchikel activist. Known for blending traditional Maya music with contemporary genres, through her art she amplifies and emanates joy and dignity, while addressing issues of social justice, the connection to historical memory, the uplifting of indigenous women's voices, and the preservation of indigenous languages.
SaulPaul
SaulPaul
GRAMMY Award – nominated artist SaulPaul has garnered an international reputation as a musician with a message. Part rapper/part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul is an entertaining artist who blends his voice, his guitar, and his loop pedal to create a live show that is nothing less than an experience. SaulPaul shares his art with his heart and has been inspiring audiences through his music. From performing at three TEDx Talks, five Super Bowls, America’s Got Talent, SXSW, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and Austin City Limits, SaulPaul has performed nationally and internationally in theaters, concert venues and festivals across the country.
Sauljaljui
Sauljaljui
Sauljaljui is an indigenous vocalist from southern Taiwan, known for her heartfelt renditions of traditional Paiwan indigenous melodies and Hengchun folk songs. Accompanied by the Moon Lute, she blends these ancient tunes with world music influences, creating a distinctive style marked by her captivating vocals. Both of Sauljaljui's albums have been nominated for Golden Melody Awards, highlighting her talent and dedication to preserving cultural heritage through music. She has performed at renowned festivals worldwide and collaborated with international artists like Deep Forest and Daniel Ho, all while staying true to her philosophy of 'Finding A Way Home Through Music.'
Savannah Brister
Savannah Brister
Memphis-based singer-songwriter, Savannah Brister, has a stunning way of grabbing her audience’s attention and commanding the hearts of everyone who hears her. With her powerful vocals and emotional songwriting, she resonates with everyone in the crowd and makes them feel welcome with her quirky personality. She got a chance to be a part of NBC’s show, ’The Voice’ at the beginning of 2019 and scored a spot on John Legend’s team. Her other accomplishments include winning an HMMA award for her song, “Dear World” and amassing multiple awards for her single, “Feelings.” Don’t miss out on hearing this young performer share her heart and soul; she will be sure to leave you wanting more.
Sechile Sedare
Sechile Sedare
A contemporary roots duo featuring sibling songwriters Leela Gilday and Jay Gilday. Sechile Sedare (pronounced ‘seh-chee-leh’ 'seh-dahr-eh') means ‘my younger brother, my older sister’ in the Dene language. This musical collaboration harnesses their talents as deeply insightful and genuine storytellers in perfect sibling harmony.
Shanneyganock
Shanneyganock
Shanneyganock are true Newfoundland ambassadors, well-known for their authentic brand of Newfoundland folk music and their rollicking high-energy live show.
Sheila Kay Adams & Her Nest of Singing Birds
Sheila Kay Adams & Her Nest of Singing Birds
7th generation ballad singer, storyteller and musician Sheila Kay Adams is a national treasure. A native of a rural Appalachian mountain community renowned for its unbroken tradition of unaccompanied ballad singing, her artistry conveys a powerful sense of family and place. The audience is invited to a front porch experience, hearing the songs and stories that are guaranteed to transport the listener to a different time and place.
Skye Consort & Emma Björling
Skye Consort & Emma Björling
Skye Consort & Emma Björling perform trans-Atlantic arrangements of songs and tunes from Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, England, Québec, Acadia, the USA, as well as original compositions. Each musician brings their own individual interpretation to these traditions to create an extraordinary collaboration, consisting of voices, fiddle, nyckelharpa, cello, bouzouki, banjo, and percussion. Together they produce an assortment of whirling polskas, moving reels, passionate love songs, and breathtaking hymns and songs.
Stefan Prigmore
Stefan Prigmore
Stefan was born and raised around Fort Worth, Texas, and has been performing for 30 years across the United States and Europe. Stefan's sound is a rustic and approachable blend of Americana, folk, and roots. Audiences comment that his lyrics are stark and sincere, with a dynamic and distinctive voice.
Stella Prince
Stella Prince
Described by Nashville Scene as the artist “carrying the banner for a new generation of folk musicians”, Stella’s goal is to bring folk music to a new generation. She recently made history as the youngest performer at this year’s Tin Pan South. This past year has been a breakthrough for Stella. In the past six months, Stella scored her first #1 song with “Dear Future Me”, was invited to perform a showcase at Showing Roots, Ireland’s Folk Conference, finished a sold-out tour of the UK, where she was the youngest performer in history to headline multiple venues, sold out Nashville’s legendary Bluebird Cafe, was invited to perform in the prestigious Song Suffragettes showcase, was featured on WSM Radio’s “Coffee, Country, and Cody” with Kelly Sutton and Bill Cody, FOX’s “Rock and Review”, CBS’s “Talk of the Town”, and NBC’s “Today in Nashville” to promote her new EP. Stella’s EP was named one of the “Best Albums of 2024” by No Depression. The lead single off the EP, “Two Faced”, which shot to #2 on the NACC Folk Charts, is the only standalone single to reach this milestone.
Steve Poltz
Steve Poltz
It might’ve even been last night, but Steve Poltz just played the greatest show of his life. Guess what? The next show will be even greater, making that show the greatest show of his life. Are you starting to notice a trend? He isn’t shy about it either. Even after most likely thousands of shows (but who’s counting?), he hits the stage with the same amount of energy and always makes sure to declare, “This is the greatest show of my life.” It’s why he’s quietly emerged as the kind of live phenomenon celebrated passionately by a diehard fanbase worldwide and renowned as a festival favorite everywhere from Bluesfest in Byron Bay and High Sierra Music Festival in California and Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Colorado to Cayamo Cruise (where he actually got married). It’s why his music has crept into pop culture via collaborations with everyone from Jewel and Billy Strings to Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Nicki Bluhm, Oliver Wood, and even the late Mojo Nixon. It’s why after over a dozen albums, he’s still creatively firing on all cylinders and critically acclaimed by the likes of Rolling Stone, Associated Press, Billboard, and many more. Nevertheless, the next gig will be the greatest show for him (and maybe for you too)…
Sultans of String
Sultans of String
BILLBOARD-charting Sultans of String is a fiercely independent band that has always tried to lift up those around them and has exposed many of their collaborators and special guests to new audiences at their shows, including at JUNOfest, NYC’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club, Celtic Connections Festival, and London’s Trafalgar Square. Led by Queen’s Diamond Jubilee recipient McKhool, these 3x JUNO Award nominees and 6x CFMA winners have collaborated with orchestras across North America and have played live on CBC’s Canada Live, BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and SiriusXM in Washington. They have recorded and performed with such diverse luminaries as Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Richard Bona, Alex Cuba, Ruben Blades, Benoit Bourque, and Béla Fleck. Their work during the pandemic on The Refuge Project amplified the voices of new immigrants and refugees, earning them CFMAs and Best Musical Film at the Cannes World Film Festival. Sultans of String have just released an epic album, in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and Final Report that calls for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to work together to find a path forward. Called WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE, this trail-blazing album and live concert is a powerful collection of collaborations between the roots group and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island.
Svavar Knutur
Svavar Knutur
A son of the melancholic eastern fjords and the seldom seen north of Iceland, the gruff, yet gentle Troubadour Svavar Knútur has in recent years blossomed into a serene and sublime singer and songwriter. , In perfect harmony with his vocation as a lifelong nonconformist, Svavar Knútur strives to dismantle myths and post-colonial gentle-savage stereotypes about his “elfish and magical” people and country, seeking a deeper truth through the exploration of language and melody. Knutur's songs of misery and redemption aim to deliver a healthy dose of hope in the midst of despair. Drawing upon a wide range of influences, Svavar Knutur's most governing ones are without doubt Nick Drake, Will Oldham (Bonnie Prince Billy) and Kris Kristofferson, although such artists as Leonard Cohen, Cat Stevens, Joni MItchell, Nick Cave and many more singer/songwriters have contributed to the troubadour's development. Svavar has released five solo albums over his career, featuring collaborations with Czech singer/songwriter Marketa Irglóvá, Norwegian singer Helene Bøksle, English folk legend Lucy Ward and Canadian folkies Adyn Townes and Irish Mythen, along with some Icelandic fellow artists. Svavar Knútur’s albums have resonated well with his steadily growing of community. In 2024, Svavar Knútur finished his Ahoy album, with the release of Ahoy! side B, the counterpart of Ahoy! side A, released in 2018s. An eclectic mix of songs, all exposing different sides of Svavar's sometimes mercurial, but ever loving attitude to life and the world. Side A landed Svavar Knútur two nominations for the Icelandic Music Awards, one for Best album and one for Singer of the year. The Ahoy! full LP is also the final chapter of a 15 year project, exploring the vastness of grief. Svavar Knútur’s album art has been a collaboration with his young daughter Dagbjört Lilja, an ever developing series of portraits of the artist, exploring the stages of the journey.
TE KAAHU
TE KAAHU
TE KAAHU is an award-winning alt folk project from New Zealand. TE KAAHU's signature sound sees angelic vocals and harmonies front and centre, wrapped in a warm nostalgic instrumentation that nods to a bygone era. Lyrically the messages are of love, peace, healing, and hope and audiences can expect to be taken to soaring heights and devastating depths. TE KAAHU’s critically debut album won the prestigious Taite Prize for ‘Best Independent Debut’ in 2023 and has been nominated for every major music award in NZ. Although delivered entirely the Māori language, TE KAAHU is living proof that music is truly an international language. The band has toured extensively throughout NZ and has also performed at Calgary Folk Festival, Folk on the Rocks in Yellowknife, and Lightning In A Bottle in California.
Taff Rapids
Taff Rapids
With the rise of Americana in the UK, these seasoned performers have come together to create Blŵgras, uniquely their own, with influences from Wales, Scotland, England and Canada. Taff Rapids bring their skills around the mic in Bluegrass tradition, with modern progression, quick dynamic pickin', English & Welsh Language and lush harmonies. With an album coming out in 2024, and touring through Europe and the UK to back it, these 4 are making waves everywhere they go. Last years attendance of the IBMA in North Caroline and a tour in Canada showed the demand for the band in North America, and they have plans for upcoming tours to bring them back. They started the band to bring bluegrass sounds to the pubs of Wales, and to this day host the capitals ONLY regular bluegrass event - Stringband Sundays at a Welsh Brewery.
Tania Elizabeth
Tania Elizabeth
As fiddle player for the Avett Brothers, Grammy-winning founder of The Duhks, accompanist for Mary Gauthier and as a session player, Tania Elizabeth has spent two decades shaping the arc of modern-day roots music. Her new album, Storm Season, weaves the themes of activism into the music, continuing the folk tradition of protest songs but in a lush new format, her multi-instrumentalist chops combined with masterful performances by her collaborators. On a record stacked with appearances by roots-music luminaries, though, it’s Tania Elizabeth’s star that shines the brightest. She writes honestly and poignantly about the bad weather in her life, ultimately finding comfort in her own resilience. It’s the sound of a lifelong musician who’s making a return to centerstage, armed with the most compelling music of her career.
Tara MacLean
Tara MacLean
Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean is an internationally renowned and award winning recording and touring artist. She’s written and recorded 8 solo albums and two with her band Shaye. She recently received the Senate of Canada medal for her work in her community as well as the SOCAN songwriter of the year award. She released her first book in 2023, Song of the Sparrow with HarperCollins, as well as the corresponding soundtrack. It was an instant best seller. A playwright, author, poet and a mother to her three girls, Tara resides in her home province of PEI and Salt Spring Island BC.
Tautumeitas
Tautumeitas
Tautumeitas, the ethno-pop band hailing from Latvia, intertwines melodies and lyrics from Latvian folk songs with contemporary sounds, creating a truly unique musical experience. Their intricate melodies, haunting vocal arrangements, and spirited performances transcend language barriers, resonating with audiences wherever they perform. But their artistic journey goes beyond their music; it extends to their striking visual identity, where their costumes and crowns eloquently bridge the realms of tradition and the future. Tautumeitas' visual aesthetic is nothing short of cosmic, exuding power and a strong, feminine charm.
Telmary & HabanaSana
Telmary & HabanaSana
From Havana, Cuba, street poet Telmary has emerged as a leader and trendsetter on the cutting edge of hip-hop and urban music in Cuba. As a rapper, Telmary uses her distinctive voice, at times deep and soulful, at times fast and aggressive to proclaim a positive, empowering message that contrasts with the genre’s commercial norm.
The Barrel Boys
The Barrel Boys
A bluegrass powerhouse featuring rich vocal harmonies, killer picking, and a fun-loving, down-to-earth stage presence, The Barrel Boys are a unique staple of Canadian roots music. Informed by the deep traditions of bluegrass, country, old-time, and Americana, The Boys have crafted their unmistakable sound into a joyful and deeply soulful musical experience.
The Brother Brothers
The Brother Brothers
The Brother Brothers are the indie folk duo of Adam and David Moss. The identical twins were born and raised in Peoria, Illinois and originally based in Brooklyn, but have been ultimately and profoundly shaped by a life surrounded by travel and the web of community worldwide. They are the kind of people who have a story about everything, and moreso, one you might genuinely like to hear. They released their newest album, The January Album, in April of 2024
The Cody Sisters
The Cody Sisters
The Cody Sisters band is the very heart of contemporary acoustic Folk and Bluegrass music in Colorado, the United States and the UK. Their propulsive instrumental solos and warm harmonies combine to grip the listener. Along with their bass player Will Pavilonis, sisters Megan (guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Maddie (guitar, banjo, vocals) have forged a new sound that has no equivalent match in the acoustic world today.
The East Pointers
The East Pointers
JUNO Award-winners, The East Pointers, are redefining the ever-evolving genre – modern folk – with dancefloor-shaking, ceiling-rattling, electro-trad breakdowns, and a glorious combination of folk, pop, and dance music. Already internationally acknowledged as musical trailblazers, their latest EPs House Of Dreams and Safe In Sound capture the furious energy of their live shows and push the boundaries of East Coast folk while lighting a path for a new generation of music lovers.
The Faux Paws
The Faux Paws
Is it bluegrass? Not usually. Old-time? Occasionally. Is it Celtic? Can’t quite say that. Is it Folk? Americana? Jazz? Singer-songwriter? None of the above, but members of the Paws have deep ties to all of these traditions and blend their elements effortlessly to serve whatever musical idea is being presented.
The Fugitives
The Fugitives
The Fugitives are an acoustic folk-roots group based out of Vancouver, headed by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. They’re joined by banjo player Chris Suen (Viper Central) and violinist Carly Frey (The Coal Porters). Over their first six albums, they’ve amassed a JUNO nomination, numerous CFMA and WCMA nominations, and toured extensively through Canada, Europe, and the UK. Performance highlights include most major Canadian folk festivals, a slot at Glastonbury, and a tour opening for Buffy Sainte-Marie. In 2020, the band created “Ridge”, a WW1-centered theatre show, which was named a Globe & Mail “Top Arts Pick of the Year”, and has toured to over 30 theatres across Canada. The band has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows, brimming with complex harmonies, infectious storytelling and top-notch musicianship. As the CBC has it: “This show is simply brilliant.”
The Magpies
The Magpies
Transatlantic folk band The Magpies are quickly becoming one of the most exciting acts on the UK roots scene. Combining sublime harmonies with exquisite musicianship and songwriting, Bella Gaffney (banjo, vocals), Holly Brandon (fiddle, vocals) and Ellie Gowers (guitar, vocals) effortlessly meld Anglo and American traditions. Their latest album - Undertow - has been exceptionally well -received, garnering a quarter of a million streams on Spotify, a place in the Official Folk Chart Top 40 and a live session on BBC Radio 2. The trio have toured extensively, with UK festival highlights including Glastonbury, Cambridge and Shambala and internationally in USA, Canada and Europe. ‘Effervescent’ - The Sunday Times ‘Great players’ - BBC Radio 2
The Pairs
The Pairs
With soaring harmonies, The Pairs share stories of life’s hope, hilarity, and hardship. Their quirky stage presence and unbottled chemistry quickly connect them with their audience. The line between the stage and the crowd becomes blurred as if we’ve all pulled up a seat around their family’s lively kitchen table.
Thunderstorm Artis
Thunderstorm Artis
For his entire life, singer/songwriter Thunderstorm Artis has stayed devoted to making music that strengthens the heart and awakens the soul. A multi-instrumentalist who got his start playing in a band with his 10 siblings as a little kid, the 28-year-old Hawaii native has since brought his warm yet powerful vocals and vibrant musicality to such endeavors as touring with Zac Brown, Train, Jack Johnson, Jewel, and sharing stages with Artists like John Legend, and the Blues Travelers. After years of refining his craft and carving out his singular identity as an artist, the Nashville-based musician has created his most captivating work to date: a genre-bending batch of songs built on both emotionally raw storytelling and incisivesoul-searching, offering much-needed insight into living with hope even in the darkest of times. Born into an exceptionally musical family—his father Ron was a Motown session player who performed on iconic tracks like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” while his mother Victoria toured as a backup singer for the likes of Lena Horne. Artis grew up in Oahu and started playing drums at age nine, later taking up piano, guitar, and harmonica. Although he’d dabbled in songwriting throughout his childhood, he found a whole new sense of artistic purpose after using music to cope with the sudden death of his father. “Once I started really focusing on songwriting, I realized my music could bring healing not only to me, but to other people in pain,” says Artis, who was 13 when his father passed away. Raised on everything from jazz to country to classic soul singers like Sam Cooke and Marvin Gaye, he immersed himself in sharpening his songcraft and in 2018, Artis next emerged as a finalist on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2020,
Tulua
Tulua
Tulua are an young traditional Irish music band hailing from Ireland. Since their establishment in 2019 they have garnered a strong following, and before their album release in 2023 they managed to play at some of the biggest festivals in the world including Milwaukee Irish Fest, la Crosse Irish Fest, CastleFest Holland and TempleBar Tradfest. Since their album release they are becoming one of Ireland's finest emerging traditional music band.
Vienna Teng
Vienna Teng
Vienna Teng’s adventurous chamber-folk songwriting has drawn praise from the likes of NPR and David Byrne, and garnered a loyal following across North America, Europe and beyond. Currently she also organizes music fans to take action on climate, in collaboration with groups like Climate Changemakers and Music Declares Emergency.
Wesli
Wesli
One of Haiti’s most inspiring and celebrated musical ambassadors. Wesli has earned acclaim across the globe for his appealing music, energizing live performances and charming personality.
Émilie Landry
Émilie Landry
Émilie Landry is a bilingual singer-songwriter from Campbellton in northern New Brunswick. This country-folk artist conveys emotions with accuracy and finesse, touching the heart of her audience with her masterful voice. In her lyrics, Émilie expresses herself with sincerity and lightness about life's little pleasures and great challenges.
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