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2025 Official Showcase Artists
Select an artist to hear their music and learn more about them!
Abby Posner
Abby Posner
Known to play nearly any instrument, Abby is accomplished on drums, mandolin, bass and looping pedal. Her music runs the gamut from Folk to Roots to Americana and Blues. Posner was featured in the Bank Of America ad for Ken Burns Country Music Documentary playing banjo and singing Wagon Wheel alongside Dom Flemons and Amythyst Kiah. She continues to tour all over the US with her newest album “Second Chances”.
Acoustic Nomads
Acoustic Nomads
Born in the heart of New England, Acoustic Nomads is a band of rising stars that embark on a musical odyssey that transcends genres, weaving together jazz, newgrass, and folkloric traditions from the rich tapestry of the Americas. Their music expresses all the colors and flavors of the Pan-American experience, and their unique sound is a result of the players harnessing their varied musical interests and joyously exploring uncharted musical territory together. Their performances maintain the truest spirit of folkloric music whilst delving into modern jazz improvisation and sophisticated chamber music arrangements. Acoustic Nomads are artistic ambassadors on a mission to exhibit the beauty and unity within the vast array of American musical traditions, creating curious, compassionate, and open-minded music fans the world over.
Adrian Sutherland
Adrian Sutherland
Adrian Sutherland is a roots-rocker-with-heart from Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay in Canada’s Far North. His unique melding of rock, roots, folk and blues draws inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree language and culture. Adrian’s presence moves people, his soul-stirring music touches hearts, and his songs ripple far beyond stages. As one of the only professional recording artists who resides in a remote fly-in community, he carries authentic and insightful first-hand perspective on many of today’s most important issues facing Indigenous Peoples. During this time of reconciliation, Adrian is hopeful for Canadians to walk together in love and respect.
Al Qahwa
Al Qahwa
The group name Al Qahwa is Arabic for “the coffee house”. It was inspired by the coffee house culture in the Middle East where people would go to hear the latest news, music, poetry and stories. The repertoire began with traditional songs from Syria, Egypt and Iraq. In 2018, the group started adding original repertoire by members of the band.
Aleksi Campagne
Aleksi Campagne
Named Roots Music Canada's New Discovery of the Year, Montrealer Aleksi Campagne blends his folk songwriting roots with a multi-layered sound of voice, violin and looping-effect pedals. Aleksi won a Canadian Folk Music Award for his bilingual album, which offers 10 songs in English & the same 10 songs in French.
Alex Wong
Alex Wong
Alex Wong is a Latin GRAMMY-nominated artist, producer and activist. He founded The Quiet Voice nonprofit, which has raised over $27,000 for marginalized communities. He was a 2024/2020 Kerrville NewFolk Finalist, performed on NPR’s Mountain Stage, SXSW, 30A, AmericanaFest. and produced Delta Rae, Ari Hest and Vienna Teng.
Alexis Normand
Alexis Normand
Alexis Normand’s jazzy folk music is brimming with warmth and vulnerability. Formerly of Rosie & the Riveters, her solo music draws inspiration from the infinite horizons of her prairie home and her velvety voice is the centrepiece of a candid songwriting approach that she pens in both French and English.
Alysha Brilla
Alysha Brilla
Alysha Brilla is a 3X JUNO Award nominated songwriter, music producer and multi-instrumentalist weaving together global roots sounds into healing music. Alysha is the 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominated music composer for the score of Fawzia Mirza's 2023 Feature Film "The Queen Of My Dreams". The child of an Indo-Tanzanian musician, Brilla’s original music is a colourful tapestry. Themes of re-connection with ourselves, each other and the earth are woven into uplifting rhythms and soulful melodies. Touring the world performing live music and collaborating with communities, Alysha's musical mission unites cross-culturally by featuring a mosaic of genders and ancestral backgrounds on stage. Her distinct and powerful voice and musical tapestry have taken her across Australia, South America, Canada, Europe and Asia. Whether sharing intimate storytelling sets of music or headlining festival stages of tens of thousands with her all-star band, by the end of the show, Brilla always has the audience singing along and leaving with a positive feeling in their heart.
Amanda Pascali
Amanda Pascali
As the rising voice of America's most ethnically diverse generation of young people, 26-year-old, bilingual singer/songwriter Amanda Pascali blends folk/americana with global influences in her songs that speak to the experience of growing up “too foreign for here, too foreign for home, & never enough for both.”
Amanda Rheaume
Amanda Rheaume
Amanda Rheaume’s rootsy songs and storytelling introduce crucial dimensions to the world of Heartland Rock and radically expand the boundaries, both geographic and cultural, to make space for new perspectives on resistance and resilience. A Citizen of the Métis Nation, and an active and proud member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, Rheaume’s music is indeed from the heart, and the land.
Amy Speace
Amy Speace
Heralded by Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine and The New York Times and featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Amy Speace was discovered by Judy Collins, who signed her to her record label and has recorded her songs. Amy’s the 2020 winner of the AMA UK’s International Song of the Year. She lives in Nashville, TN.
Angelique Francis
Angelique Francis
JUNO Award winning artist Angelique Francis, is an exceptionally gifted multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter/composer. Wowing audiences across the globe with her electrifying performances, instrumental abilities/powerful vocals, Angelique has shared the stage with: Buddy Guy, Allison Russel, The War and Treaty, Gary Clark Jr, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Tom Cochran, Burton Cummings, etc.
AySay
AySay
In Luna Ersahin’s voice, rests a story of the whole person in a composite world. In Turkish, Danish and Kurdish, she creates a fascinating universe in AySay together with Aske Døssing Bendixen and Carl West Hosbond. In the tension between Anatolia’s musical traditions, hand-played instruments and electronic productions, AySay’s unique expression arises.
Basia Bulat
Basia Bulat
Basia Bulat is a Juno- and Polaris Prize-nominated singer-songwriter based in Montreal. She is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, recording and performing on electric guitar, piano, autoharp, ukulele, bass and charango. Her forthcoming album, "Basia's Palace", will be release in February 2025 via Secret City Records.
Bella's Bartok
Bella's Bartok
“Live your fantasy and embrace the stranger side of life with Bella’s Bartok. A band known for raucous theatrical performances and an outspoken political message of finding hope in a world beset by cruel uncertainty. With utter joy, they seamlessly blend a rich cacophony of sound and soul into their music with influences ranging from Punk to Folk and Pop to Americana. Let your freak flag fly high, fiercely and free, throw your societal inhibitions to the wayside and seek comfort in the warm sonic embrace of Bella’s Bartok. We are the night and you are bound to boogie.”
Bernadette Morris
Bernadette Morris
Folk and traditional Irish singer-songwriter Bernadette Morris is an engaging performer who takes audiences on an emotional journey with a repertoire of songs that speak from and to the heart. With a captivating story to introduce every number, Bernadette draws in and charms her audience – a gift that is matched only by her wonderful voice once the song begins. Bernadette is not only an extremely talented singer, performer, fiddle player and entertainer, she is also an exceptional songwriter. Ten years on from the release of her critically acclaimed debut album ‘All the Ways you Wander’ at the CQAF, Bernadette is preparing to launch her latest album” To the Well for Water” recorded with Ben McAuley. The recording has an array of talented musicians including Seán Óg Graham and Gerard Thompson on guitar. The album is a stunning mix of self-penned songs and co-writes with Johnny Brady, Declan Sinnott Cormac Neeson and Matt McGinn, amongst others. This new album comes after 4 singles launched in 20/21, including co-writes with stellar members of the Irish music scene Eleanor McEvoy, Ríoghnach Connolly and Arborist’s Mark McCambridge, which garnered radio play nationally and internationally including Playlisting on RTE Radio 1 and plays on the Mark Radcliffe Folk Show on Radio 2 and BBC & TG4 television appearances. Bernadette was named by Hotpress Magazine in 2020 as ‘One to Watch’, and rightly so.
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman’s diverse body of work spans seven #1 hits, 15 albums, two Grammy nominations, NAMMY'S 1999 Songwriter of the Year Award, and her induction into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2016. Her music takes listeners on a journey through the depth, humor and wonder of life.
BettySoo
BettySoo
An award-winning songwriter, BettySoo has carved a niche for herself among roots musicians with her incisive writing and bell-pure vocals. Over her twenty-year career, she been recognized with various songwriting awards, including Songwriter of the Year from Big Top Chautauqua and winning top honors at Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk competition, Sisters Folk Festival's Dave Carter Memorial songwriting competition, Mountain Stage, and others. She has performed at festivals and radio shows: multiple SXSW official showcases, E-Town, Mountain Stage, BBC with Bob Harris, Calgary, Vancouver Island, and more. BettySoo was a member of Nobody's Girl (Lucky Hound Music), Charlie Faye & The Fayettes, and other groups. She is an a-list studio musician, singing, playing, and arranging parts on the albums of luminaries such as Chris Smither, James McMurtry, Eliza Gilkyson, and more. She currently tours both solo and as dedicated support for James McMurtry and Chris Smither.
Big Little Lions
Big Little Lions
Big Little Lions are an award winning duo who were born out of a collaboration that won them a JUNO Award in 2014. Since then they have been cranking out infectious folk pop songs that are jam-packed with emotion and tight harmonies that sound like the product of two people working side-by-side instead of living in different countries. Their live show is quite the spectacle with Paul playing drums, bass and keyboard all while singing lead vocals. Helen, who is no slacker either, sings, plays guitar and foot percussion. They use every limb, and then some, to make two people sound like a full band.
Blair Dunlop
Blair Dunlop
Blair Dunlop is an award-winning British singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has released 5 albums, 2 EPs and toured around the globe. Blair burst onto the scene with his debut album ‘Blight & Blossom’ in 2012 and his latest album, Out of the Rain, has recently released to great critical acclaim in May 2024.
Blessing Tangban
Blessing Tangban
Blessing Tangban is a Nigerian award-winning Afro-folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist, based in Halifax, Canada. Her sound is a unique blend of soulful African melodies complemented by enchanting guitar strums fused with lyrics that are introspective and vulnerable. She sings in a style that is reminiscent of Norah Jones and her performance creates an ambiance that is serene and compelling.
Bobby Alu
Bobby Alu
Byron Bay singer, ukulele-strummer and drummer Bobby Alu delivers smooth harmonies, Pacific rhythms, and island grooves. Though it’s not all palm trees and daydreams – there’s a robust energy in Alu’s mastery of Samoan log drums, and songwriting that nods to world, roots and pop intelligence.
Buffalo Rose
Buffalo Rose
Buffalo Rose is a charismatic six-piece modern folk/Americana band from Pittsburgh, PA. They take the singer-songwriter tradition to a new level by crafting original songs which are emotive, meticulously arranged, and inspired by a world of idiosyncratic influences that never let a dull or predictable moment creep in.
Cara Luft
Cara Luft
Juno award winning singer-songwriter-musician Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres. A founding member of Canadian folk super-group The Wailin' Jennys and the brainchild behind acclaimed powerhouse duo The Small Glories.
Charm of Finches
Charm of Finches
Australian sister duo Charm of Finches deliver intricate folk-pop that is simultaneously graceful and darkly bewitching. Their seamless blood harmonies traverse melancholy and wonder in equal measure. Their 2024 fourth album Marlinchen In The Snow was recorded by a frozen lake in Nova Scotia with Daniel Ledwell, inspired by their roamings.
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
It's been 20 years now that Christine Tassan and the Imposteures have been making their mark around the world! Twenty years of spreading Gypsy jazz and swing songs, both on prestigious stages and in small villages far from major urban centers, in Labrador, Newfoundland, on Vancouver Island, and in France. It's by reminiscing about this incredibly rich and adventure-filled journey that the musicians came up with the idea of creating "On the Road." This concept show will take the audience with them, on the road during their tours, through magnificent landscapes and delightful anecdotes. Get ready for the ascent of the Great Wall of China, a bike ride in Stanley Park in Vancouver, crossing the Rockies in a snowstorm, or visiting Samois-sur-Seine, Django Reinhardt's village.
Claire Anne Taylor
Claire Anne Taylor
Born in a barn nestled on the edge of Tasmania's ancient Tarkine rainforest, Claire Anne Taylor’s music is reflective of her wild and remote upbringing. From bare-bones folk confessionals to dark edgy ballads, she sings stories that capture both the beautiful and broken elements of the human experience. Taylor has garnered a reputation for her powerful live shows – tough and tender performances that command audiences to silence. Having recently released her third studio album ‘Giving It Away’ to widespread critical acclaim and sold out shows around Australia, Taylor is proving herself as ‘a shining light of heartfelt honesty and talent amid the pretenders’ - (Post To Wire).
Connie Kaldor
Connie Kaldor
Canadian folk icon Connie Kaldor celebrates 45 years in folk music with her 18th album, Keep Going! This three-time Juno-winner launched her career alongside Stan Rogers, Ferron & Valdy. Her latest single reached #1 on the FAI Folk Charts. The Boston Globe calls her “a masterful performer”
Conor Mallon Band
Conor Mallon Band
Conor Mallon, multi-award winner uilleann piper from Co.Armagh. Mallon’s album has exploded on to the folk/traditional scene, The Irish Times praising the “High-octane production”. The Unearthed band comprises Paul Starrett; Electric Guitar, Jack Warnock; Guitar and Fintan Mulholland; Percussion. Mallon is “leading the next generation of Uilleann pipe players.” Folking.com
DUG
DUG
Started in October 2023, DUG is the new musical venture Conor (Lorkin O'Reilly) and Californian 5 string clawhammer banjo player Jonny Pickett. After spending the past decade in Upstate NY, releasing 2 albums, touring extensively and gaining over 20 million streams on Spotify, Conor (Lorkin O'Reilly) decided to pack his bags in 2022 and return home to Dublin, Ireland. With that life change and meeting Pickett, came the inception of DUG - a band that blends American Old-Time and Irish Traditional Folk, reflecting the musical heritage of both its members. After selling out two headline shows at Whelan's Upstairs before releasing any music, signing with Wasserman, recording their debut album for Polydor Records and embarking on a US support tour with Willi Carlisle this fall, DUG is off to a flying start.
Damn Tall Buildings
Damn Tall Buildings
Damn Tall Buildings is a folk-bluegrass band celebrated for their soulful melodies and intricate instrumentals. Fueled by the musical prowess of Max Capistran, Sasha Dubyk, and Avery Ballotta, this seasoned Brooklyn-based trio, with 11 years of dedicated touring and recording experience, weaves heartfelt lyrics into a tapestry of masterful fiddle, guitar, banjo, and bass playing. Embodying a blend of Americana roots and contemporary finesse, Damn Tall Buildings' musical journey transcends borders. From intimate local venues to global stages, their magnetic sound captivates audiences, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of listeners worldwide.
David Howley
David Howley
An indie folk artist from Ireland, David Howley has been at the forefront of Irish folk music for over a decade. Founding member of Billboard No.1 band We Banjo 3, David Howley’s new solo album has been called “ a thing of rare beauty” by the Irish Times. His songs resonate with a wide range of audiences, taking them to places undiscovered. With soulful vocals, evocative storytelling, and enchanting melodies, he creates an otherworldly, time-bending magic. A modern poet deeply inspired by his home landscape of the West Coast of Ireland.
David Myles
David Myles
With two Junos and numerous accolades to his credit, David Myles’ relentless work ethic has resulted in 16 albums that run the gamut - in English and French - through folk, rock 'n' roll, R&B, and Americana. He’s a world-class entertainer on stage, where he commands, charms, and uplifts audiences.
Dawn Landes
Dawn Landes
Dawn Landes has built her reputation as one of music’s best independent singer-songwriters, exploring a wide variety of styles from approachable indie pop and folk to the French- language album Mal Habilleé. She has collaborated with Justin Townes Earle, Will Oldham, Norah Jones and more, and has shared the stage with Ray Lamontaigne, Feist, Andrew Bird, Sufjan Stevens, Suzanne Vega and other luminaries. She has numerous film and tv credits to her name as well as composing the music and lyrics for ROW, a new musical that premiered in 2021 at Williamstown Theater Festival and is available on Audible.com. Her latest album The Liberated Woman's Songbook (March 29th, 2024) was produced by longtime collaborator Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman) and reimagines folk songs about women's rights from the 1800's to the 1970's. The album features guest vocalists Emily Frantz (Watchhouse), Kanene Pipkin (The Lone Bellow), Rissi Palmer and more. In concert for The Liberated Woman's Songbook, Landes has invited luminaries like Alice Gerrard and Peggy Seeger to join her on stage.
Declan O'Donovan
Declan O'Donovan
The space and fluctuation of Declan O’Donovan’s sound reflects the wild and untouched backdrop of his home in the Yukon Territory. From alternative folk to baroque psychedelia, Declan's multiple albums with their eccentric richness of ideas have made O’Donovan a revered and sought-after musician in Canada and abroad.
Dennis Ellsworth
Dennis Ellsworth
Dennis Ellsworth is a songwriter from Charlottetown, PE, Canada. He has collaborated with Josh Finlayson and Andy Maize of Skydiggers, Gord Downie from The Tragically Hip, Joel Plaskett, Leeroy Stagger, Donovan Woods, Rose Cousins, John Smith, and David Barbe. His latest solo record, Modern Hope, was recorded at Afterlife Studios in Vancouver, produced by Leeroy Stagger, and released on Tonic Records in early fall 2023.
Dusky Waters
Dusky Waters
Dusky Waters is the nom de plume for contemporary Americana songwriter/musician Jenn Jeffers. Dusky Waters is an expression of her affinity for the magic of twilight hours and the presence of the Mississippi River that has anchored her life from her childhood on the banks of its tributary Arkansas River in Little Rock, to her early twenties in the delta of northern Louisiana, to her current home in New Orleans. In many ways her music sonically mirrors this life journey; having absorbed elements of gospel, folk, and soul, while still embracing contemporary pop melodies and arrangements. Incorporating and exploring the sounds that she uncovered along the way, her songs ultimately express a modern woman’s experience of the deep South, a manifestation of the magic and mourning of the bayou state, and hopeful odes to the power of self-actualization. Dusky Waters' sound is upbeat and fresh; soulful lyricism meets high-powered harmonies that ebb and flow like the Mississippi river--all set to a backdrop of reimagined folk melodies that meet New Orleans-inspired blues to form the band's unique blend of Americana. Banjo, guitar, accordion, viola, upright bass, piano, and percussion compliment honest and vulnerable songwriting and high energy performances that consistently turn crowds into “a sea of movement” (OffBeat). Dusky’s music has been described as “beautifully crafted” and “sublime,” elevating her songwriting craft and “clarion call vocals” (OffBeat). Dusky Waters had their New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival debut in 2024 to a packed crowd in the Rythymporium Tent, garnering acclaim from publications and fans alike. Dusky Waters performs with Analiese Desaw (viola, vocals), Conner McCready (percussion), Hannah Kreiger-Benson (piano, organ), and Dylan James (upright bass).
Dustin Dale Gaspard
Dustin Dale Gaspard
Singer songwriter Dustin Dale Gaspard extends the boundaries of Louisiana music. After 10 years of performing throughout the deep Southern Gulf Coast of the USA, Gaspard released his full length debut album "Hoping Heaven Got A Kitchen" in March 2022. His blend of Americana, Soul, Folk and Roots gained Grammy consideration for: Best American Roots Performance, Grammy American Roots Song and Best Americana Album. Written for his grandparents, the record is a “prayer to his home” and delivers an intimate insight into the Cajun native's varying influences. Gaspard’s latest project “Avec Le Courrant” is a banjo driven bilingual story album detailing the journey of his Acadian ancestors and their exile. He has received two grants to aid in funding the project (Acadiana Center for the Arts ARTSPARK & New Music USA) This all new original work will once again combine Americana with varying genres including traditional folk, blues and contemporary songwriter elements, while heavily utilizing the Cajun French language. He will be touring up the coast of North America at the end of Summer 2024 and return the songs to their original place of origin, Nova Scotia. There he will also further his knowledge of the French language at the University of Sainte Anne, attend and perform during the Acadian Congress and headline Route 11 Festival in Prince Edward Island. The music has always been about the land that raised him, and now Gaspard’s pilgrimage will bring bother his career and his self-discovery full circle.
El Pony Pisador
El Pony Pisador
El Pony Pisador has become one of the most renowned folk bands in Spain. They fuse Celtic and Folk music traditions with some nonsensical humor in the purest Monty Python style. Their energetic contemporary folk sound has captivated audiences in over 400 shows across Spain, Europe, Australia, Vietnam, the USA, and Canada.
Flamy Grant
Flamy Grant
Shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen Flamy Grant is a powerhouse vocalist and award-winning songwriter based in Asheville, NC. Blending folk, gospel, and roots, Flamy immerses audiences in a theatrical, therapeutic, and wholly original experience of intrepid storytelling and song, all delivered through the evocative art of drag.
Geneviève Racette
Geneviève Racette
Canadian Folk Music Awards recipient Geneviève Racette captivates listeners with her lush voice and ethereal instrumentations. Renowned on the international folk scene, she collaborated with City and Colour, received praise from Tom Paxton and accumulated over 4 million streams and numerous media appearances (Rolling Stone, CBC, Entertainment Tonight, etc.).
Georgia Mooney
Georgia Mooney
ARIA-winner Georgia Mooney, known from All Our Exes Live in Texas, makes music fit for stargazing. Her AIR-nominated debut album Full of Moon is a critically acclaimed, richly textured folk/dream-pop universe. Described by NME as “captivating and gleefully strange,” Mooney’s ethereal vocals and witty stage presence have been mesmerising audiences all over.
Gnoss
Gnoss
Amongst Scotland’s most internationally championed contemporary folk acts, Gnoss’ deep traditional roots combine with a natural flair for composition. With livewire instrumental sets - on fiddle, mandolin, whistles, bodhran and guitar - and richly evocative songs, grounded by the unique warmth of their live shows, the quartet’s star is firmly on the ascent.
GoldenOak
GoldenOak
GoldenOak’s music is rooted in the natural landscape- their songs move like a stream, meandering and weaving in an original yet grounding direction. Fronted by siblings Zak and Lena Kendall GoldenOak’s music calmly excites its listeners while nestled in rich folk-influenced sibling harmony. The Maine-based band has built a steady and growing fan base with this kind of energetic intimacy. This is perfectly represented in the group's latest album “Room to Grow”- A 10-song reflection of the emotional and physical impacts of the climate crisis. The band is rounded out by up-right bassist Mike Knowles and Drummer Jackson Cromwell.
Grosse Isle
Grosse Isle
The traditional music group Grosse Isle is the result of an "absolutely magical" collaboration between exceptional musicians from Quebec and Ireland. Together, Sophie Lavoie from Quebec and Irish champion Fiachra O'Regan shine with their rich, enveloping music. Grosse Isle's new show, Homérique, is an epic tale of legendary characters from Ireland and Canada.
Guy Forsyth
Guy Forsyth
Guy Forsyth is an Austin, Texas-based musician, singer, storyteller, and songwriter. Guy has won several Austin Music Awards, including best vocalist, while delivering diverse roots music, especially the blues, both classic and original, in which the story always comes first. He earned a ten-year residency at legendary Antone’s nightclub, “the home of the blues,” and recorded several records on the house label. He has toured the U. S. and Europe and opened for Ray Charles, Robert Cray, Dr. John, B. B. King, and Lucinda Williams, among many others. To his mastery of the guitar, harmonica, and musical saw he brings an unforgettably passionate and plaintive vocal soundscape. As Texas Music Magazine observed, “The insanely talented multi-instrumentalist can put on one hell of a show, alternately dazzling and amusing audiences on a musical journey from ragtime jazz and Delta blues to socially conscious folk and rollicking modern rock.” As powerful as his records remain, Guy’s live shows will make you whole.
Heather Pierson
Heather Pierson
Heather Pierson is a pianist, singer/songwriter, song leader, and performer with a passion for cultivating joy, both onstage and off. Her upcoming release ‘Back To The Light’ delves into New Orleans jazz, blues, and folk, and her musicianship embodies honesty, playfulness, and a desire to share from the heart.
ISMAY
ISMAY
Driven by singer/songwriter Avery Hellman, ISMAY creates music that is a tapestry of alternative American roots full of alt-country textures and lush folk songs. Their music owes more to geography than genre, with songs about the sights, sounds, and singular characters found way out west on a new horizon.
Ila Barker
Ila Barker
In 2017, Winnipeg-based Anishinaabe and settler folk-soul musician Ila Barker held a guitar on her lap as a friend confided in her the details of an abusive relationship. Barker sang her friend’s words back to her, softly strumming the strings and turning anguish into a serendipitous self-serenade. Eventually that song became the title track of Barker’s debut full-length album, Fool Under Water, a tough-but-tender testament to the possibility of survival, forged as she swam ashore herself. To write Fool Under Water, Barker spent seven years reflecting on her own survival, alongside that of the women around her. The elegantly rugged candor at the heart of the album’s storytelling was amassed through experience. Barker has played the Regina Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the sākihiwē festival, and opened for Jeremy Dutcher’s sold out performance at the Indian River Festival in PEI. Through her work as founding curator with AIRsessions, a series of free music workshops for youth, Barker advocates for gender equity and Indigenous representation in music. “I have found a deeper connection with my community and the Indigenous music community through my music journey,” she says.
Jasmine Netsena
Jasmine Netsena
Music is Jasmine Netsena’s first language. From the age of five, the award-winning singer-songwriter, who is of the Dene and Tahltan Nations, learned to sing from her grandmothers in their Indigenous languages. Classical voice training only strengthened that bedrock, and now, Jasmine has been honing her songwriting and guitar skills for close to 15 years.
Jausmē
Jausmē
Jausmė is an accomplished singer-songwriter, composer, and poet who fearlessly explores uncharted territories with the traditional 29-stringed Lithuanian zither-harp known as the kanklės. With her versatile, siren-like vocals and cinematic compositions, Jausmė’s music transcends genres and expectations. Drawing inspiration from her roots, Jausmė blends her cultural heritage with a contemporary perspective while exploring and unveiling the hidden potentials of the kanklės. Her music encompasses a rich tapestry of themes that touch upon the human experience: from love and grief to the mystical and healing power of nature. Having captivated audiences throughout Europe, from the United Kingdom to Slovenia and Spain, Jausmė's unique sound was met with great enthusiasm at WOMEX’23.
Jennifer Knapp
Jennifer Knapp
Folk-rocker Jennifer Knapp is a singer-songwriter, author, speaker & advocate. Winner of 4 Dove Awards & 2 Grammy nominations, she tours extensively and has released 10 albums with sales over 1 million. Jennifer receives critical acclaim for her music & is in demand as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Joana Alegre
Joana Alegre
Joana Alegre is a singer-songwriter with classical and jazz training in Portugal, United States and Italy. She did her live debut with a show of her own songs at the legendary American concert hall The Shrine. The Portuguese audience first felt in love with her voice in 2014, when 'E Agora?', a duet with Mikkel Solnado, was released. He then produced her debut album, “Joan & The White Harts”, which was a semifinalist in the 2016 and 2019 International Songwriting Contest. In 2019/2020 she was a contestant in The Voice Portugal and ended the talent competition in 3rd place. In 2021 she was a finalist at Festival da Canção with 'Joana do Mar', a track Joana Alegre wrote herself. In the same year, she released her acclaimed sophomore studio effort, "Centro", produced by Luísa Sobral and chosen by Blitz magazine as one of the best records released in 2021. Around this time, she curated “Um Só Dia” project, a tribute to the poetry of her father Manuel Alegre, a live show now available in both physical and digital album formats. In 2022-23, she toured Portugal, performing over 30 shows. In march 2024 she released her 3rd studio album ''LUAS'', featuring the singles 'Nó', 'Ciclotímica',- nominated for "Song Of The Year" 2023 at the IMPA - International Portuguese Music Awards -, 'Rosa Carne', ‘Copo Cheio’ , ‘Lógica Astral’ and ‘Desdita’, with a more baroque pop and eletronic sound, mixing her portuguese roots with dreamlike epic spaces and atmospheres.
Joe Jencks
Joe Jencks
Joe Jencks sings with a lyric baritone voice that has the edgy richness of good sea-salt caramel. Dual US/Irish Citizen, 25 years on the international Folk circuit, Jencks has penned several #1 Folksongs. From Carnegie Hall to Coffeehouses, Joe delivers engaged musical narratives filled with heart, soul, groove, and grit.
Joel Plaskett
Joel Plaskett
For over three decades, multi-award winning Joel Plaskett has proven himself a spinning wheel of reinvention. The NS songwriter's eclectic body of work reveals a restless and playful spirit - always transforming. His latest release, One Real Reveal, Plaskett strips his songwriting down, allowing everything in and letting (almost) everything out.
John Muirhead
John Muirhead
From fingerpicked folk confessionals to roaring full-band singalongs, John’s award-winning songs have touched audiences across the world. With a growing community of over 100,000 fans across his social media channels and hundreds of shows across Canada, Europe, and South America, John is building a vibrant community around his stories and songs.
John Wort Hannam
John Wort Hannam
John Wort Hannam spins song writing gold from the chaff of the lives he encounters and those within his fertile imagination. Winning the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of the Year and for Contemporary Album of the Year, audiences and critics alike hear something special in his lyrically driven songs.
João Diogo Leitão
João Diogo Leitão
“...this is viola braguesa as we never heard it before. A brave record that unfolds new frontiers for a discreet but charming instrument.” – Songlines (UK) Guitarist and composer, João Diogo Leitão challenges tradition and aesthetic barriers through an innovative approach to one of the most fascinating traditional Portuguese instruments, the “viola braguesa”.
KUNÉ
KUNÉ
KUNÉ – Canada’s Global Orchestra – explores and celebrates Canada’s cultural diversity through the shared language of music. The eleven musicians hail from all corners of the globe—from Peru, Burkina Faso, China, Iran and beyond—and, together create a sound that is at once global and uniquely local.
Katie Spencer
Katie Spencer
Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands in northern England Katie has built a fanbase by touring the UK and Europe relentlessly. Amongst the fans, UK treasure, Ralph McTell, says “Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of Bert Jansch…Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar”.
Kaïa Kater
Kelly Bado
Kelly Bado
Born in Côte d'Ivoire, Kelly’s songwriting captures the beauty of the languages and rhythms she has encountered on her journey from Abidjan to Winnipeg. Collaborating with Grammy and Juno award- winning producers Brian West and Chin Injeti, her latest music blends traditional sounds with modern influences, creating a unique alchemy that sparks curiosity and a desire to explore traditional languages. Kelly's dedication to her francophone and African heritage is evident in her work, as she strives to keep these cultures and languages vibrant for future generations. Her talent has led her to perform alongside artists such as Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder, and Walk Off the Earth, and to open for five-time Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo.
Kiely Connell
Kiely Connell
In a time when most country and Americana artists are forging a similar path, Kiely takes fans on a different journey to unknown places—sonically, and emotionally. Her debut album Calumet Queen, “will send shivers down your spine and prick the very deepest regions of your soul with its sincere and distinct expressions of an unburdening heart” (Saving Country Music). Kiely writes songs that have a gothic western aesthetic- a blend of somber poetry and western melodies delivered with her rich and brooding voice. Kiely Connell doesn’t mince words – her songwriting is precise, razor-sharp and full of hard truths. Her voice is earth shattering – soulful, forceful, powerful and with a growly grit that will draw comparisons to Reba and Wynonna. She has spent the last few years on the road as an opening act for Ray Lamontagne, Madison Cunningham, Ondara, Ian Noe, Drew Holcomb, Tommy Prine, and Mon Rovia, and also played Edmonton Folk Festival alongside Mary Chapin Carpenter and Bonny Light Horseman. Kiely's dynamically emotive voice, and her poetic storytelling truly make her an Americana artist to watch. Her new LP “My Own Company”, produced by grammy award winning producer Tucker Martine, drops everywhere 7/19 on Thirty Tigers.
Kobo Town
Kobo Town
Named after the storied district in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where calypso was born, Kobo Town has been described as “an intoxicating blend of lilting calypsonian wit, dancehall reggae and trombone-heavy brass” (Guardian) and a “unique, transnational composite of rhythm, poetry and activist journalism.”(Exclaim!) Since their founding in 2005, the group has brought their distinct calypso and ska-inspired sound to audiences across the world. The band is fronted by Drew Gonsalves, who moved from Trinidad to Canada as a teenager and who rediscovered in his new home the joys of old calypso, ska and roots reggae through old records found in the bargain bins of used music stores. A songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, his music has been covered by many other artists including Carlos Santana, Manu Chao, Calypso Rose, Mr Vegas and Patrice. At once brooding and joyous, intensely poetic and highly danceable, Kobo Town's songs are rooted in the Caribbean's rich tradition of musical storytelling, and delivered with an indomitable energy that has had audiences jumping from Montreal to Malaysia and from Havana to Berlin.
La Bottine Souriante
La Bottine Souriante
The group’s jovial and festive spirit is infectious, never failing to seduce audiences everywhere La Bottine Souriante has been heard and seen. With its inventive arrangements, which tastefully combine a wide variety of nuances, genres, and rhythms, La Bottine Souriante has unquestionably contributed to the revival of Quebec trad music.
Lady A
Lady A
In the evergreen embrace of the Pacific Northwest, Lady A, often compared to the electrifying Tina Turner and the soulful Chaka Khan, has been a musical force for over two decades. With a radiant smile and a voice that wraps around you like warm velvet, she has become a beloved figure both in her hometown of Seattle and on stages across the globe. Lady A’s performances are nothing short of a spectacle—a fusion of high energy, profound storytelling, and messages woven with love and encouragement. Her shows, pulsating with blues and funk, are more than just musical events; they are gatherings of joy and empowerment. Just like the finest pot of gumbo, Lady A's concerts are rich, varied, and best enjoyed hot.
Lady Nade
Lady Nade
Lady Nade is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter celebrated for her distinct voice, blending folk, soul, pop, and Americana to explore themes of love, friendship, loss, and hope. With three impactful albums, she has garnered acclaim from Folk Radio, Americana UK, and The Line of Best Fit. Lady Nade's achievements include having her name engraved at the historic Bristol Beacon alongside artists like Nick Cave, Grace Jones, and Portishead, performing with the Waterboys and supporting such luminaries as Tunde from The Lighthouse Family, PP. Arnold, The War and Treaty, and Grammy Award-Nominated Artists Yola and Allison Russell.
Lara Klaus
Lara Klaus
Lara Klaus is a highly acclaimed drummer, vocalist, and artist from Recife, Brazil, currently based in Montreal, Canada. Described as "remarkably versatile" by Le Devoir she dedicates her life to performances and music mediation, seamlessly blending Afro-Brazilian rhythms with contemporary soul-pop influences. Lara is an exceptional communicator and has conducted music and percussion workshops with numerous communities worldwide. She is also a member of the Pan-American women's supergroup "LADAMA".
Le Vent du Nord
Le Vent du Nord
The award winning and highly acclaimed band Le Vent du Nord are a leading force in Québec’s progressive Francophone folk movement. The group’s repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while their highly rhythmic and soulful music is enhanced with a broad range of global influences. A new show would be presented at Folk Alliance 2025.
Leaf Rapids
Leaf Rapids
Leaf Rapids is a Winnipeg band fronted by JUNO recipient Keri Latimer, featuring keen songwriting, sweet and smokey harmonies, legitimate old school guitar chops, virtuoso whistling and a dash of theremin for good measure. Their most recent album, is quickly garnering critical acclaim, receiving a 4.5/5 star review in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Toronto's original Slavic-Balkan-Klezmer-Party-Punks, blend Ukrainian polyphony, Balkan rhythms, and Western influences. With a 14-year legacy and global performances from WOMAD to Luminato, they released their dynamic album "Cuckoo" in May 2024, showcasing their energetic fusion of genres.
Les Greene
Les Greene
Les Greene, 2024 Ameripolitan award winner for best rockabilly male and the voice of Little Richard in the recent “Elvis” movie and Grammy nominated soundtrack. Les vibrantly brings you a powerful force of roots rock n soul. With a high energy twist on the genre all while staying true to its sound this is the unique yet recognizable spin that music needs right now and hasn’t seen in some time. A true captivating performer waiting for the rest of the world to experience his natural born gift.
Les Rats d'Swompe
Les Rats d'Swompe
Originally from Northern and Eastern Ontario, Les Rats d'Swompe are proud French Canadians, brought together to introduce people to the sound of the traditional violin, call and response song and the musicality of yesteryear. Based in Ottawa, Les Rats d'Swompe are five plaid lumberjacks who take the stage to fuse elements of rock, traditional, pop and punk. These young but experienced musicians are one of the few groups to bring Franco-Ontarian folklore to life. A high energy act that will make you want to sing and dance.
Leverage for Mountains
Leverage for Mountains
Leverage For Mountains (LFM) is an independent folk trio, made up of Nick Loyer, Jay Trépanier and Jay Flynn. The Gatineau band’s rich acoustics and powerful vocal harmonies are the key to their swift rise to popularity. In 2022, the trio launched their second record, Love Out of the Dark, at a sold-out show at Salle JeanDesprèz in Gatineau. They were the first emerging artists to sell out the venue in a matter of minutes! LFM also performed excerpts from their songs on social media to promote themselves outside of the concert hall scene. That’s how they were discovered by Marc Friedenberg, manager of the Los Angeles band Jamestown Revival. When it comes to LFM and their minimalist approach to music, less is more. They combine striking harmonies with powerful lyrics to win over audiences and keep them coming back for another listen.
Lior & Domini
Lior & Domini
Reminiscent of iconic folk acts of the 60s, this Australian duo trade in close harmonies and intricate fingerpicked guitar. A collaboration between critically acclaimed songwriter Lior and bright new voice Domini Forster. ‘No two voices have melded quite as seamlessly since Simon & Garfunkel’ - The Age newspaper.
Lisa LeBlanc
Lisa LeBlanc
After making big waves with her self-titled debut album, and continuing the momentum with Highways, Heartaches and Time Well Wasted and the Polaris shortlisted Why You Wanna Leave Runaway Queen?, the Acadian star Lisa LeBlanc returns in sequins and groove in the spring of 2022. She releases Chiac Disco, a bright, funny and sparkling record, filled with all kinds of musical glitter and colorful lyrics sung loud and proud. The latter once again earned her a spot on the Polaris Short List, as well as the Félix awards in the categories Album Production of the Year (with her trusted collaborator Benoit Morier) and Pop Album of the Year.
Little Misty
Little Misty
Little Misty is an indie-folk band founded in Montreal, Quebec and led by Kathryn Samman (vocals) and François Jalbert (guitar). Although firmly grounded in folk music, their repertoire mixes indie-rock with more broad compositions. From cinematic landscapes to wailing guitar solos, the group explores a full range of musical possibilities, always searching for innovative ways to serve their story telling.
Lloyd Spiegel
Lusitanian Ghosts
Lusitanian Ghosts
Portuguese-Swedish Chordophone Collective, Lusitanian Ghosts use ancient Portuguese folk instruments, the Violas Amarantina, Braguesa, Campaniça, Terceira, to write contemporary songs written from a humanist singer-songwriter perspective. Founded by Portuguese-Canadian singer-songwriter Neil Leyton along with Swedish singer-songwriter Mikael Lundin aka Micke Ghost, Lusitanian Ghosts also feature João Sousa on drums, Janne Olson on bass, and chordophone players ToZé Bexiga on the Campaniça and Abel Beja on the Terceira.
Madeline Hawthorne
Madeline Hawthorne
The miles we travel make up the stories we tell. The soles of your favorite boots or the tread on your prized car’s tires soak up the experiences and wisdom of the road under your feet. Born in New England, based in Bozeman Montana, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Madeline Hawthorne pens the kind of tunes you listen to on a cross-country trek to start anew or in the dead of night when you just need a reminder that somebody’s listening. In this respect, her 2024 independent album, Tales From Late Nights & Long Drives, serves as a fitting soundtrack to life’s trip. “It’s the perfect road trip record,” she affirms. “It was mostly written while I was on tour. If the songs were written at home in Montana, I took inspiration from journal entries and memories of my travels. This is me stepping onto the stage with more miles under my boots. I’m giving into the moment and the melody to tell a story. It’s like eleven different versions of me—a woman I could have been, a woman I perhaps thought I was, and a woman I hope to be someday.”
Malena Cadiz
Malena Cadiz
The L.A.-based Filipino American indie folk artist, Malena Cadiz is a lady of the canyon waylaid at a suburban strip mall, acutely aware of how romance shines through even in the moments of grit and desolation. She has released three studio albums & toured the U.S. and Europe. Her work has been featured on "Nancy Drew" (CW), "Lucifer" (Netflix), "REBEL" (ABC) and “BULL” (CBS). NPR compared her to "an earthbound Joanna Newsom, Cadiz has a voice that grabs you within seconds," and her work has been praised by Under The Radar, The Fader, PASTE, Vogue.com, Stereogum and Consequence of Sound.
Mallory Chipman
Mallory Chipman
Known for her deftly acrobatic vocals and powerful storytelling, Mallory Chipman is the rising light of Canada's indie folk-rock scene. Having solidified her reputation across the globe performing in Europe, Asia, and North America, Chipman's tour history and prolific catalogue have solidified her remarkable reputation and garnered comparison to Sarah McLachlan and Feist.
Mama's Broke
Mama's Broke
Mama’s Broke is a unique and powerful folk duo that both honours and defies tradition with their original compositions. Two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion as part of their performance.
Mar Pujol
Mar Pujol
Mar Pujol is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter from Barcelona, Catalonia. A Mediterranean stylistic trace can be sensed in her music, which is often laid on a restful pop, and folk support. An earthly and ethereal proposal driven by the simplicity and rawness of a voice and a classical guitar.
Marcella Simien
Marcella Simien
Louisiana native and ninth-generation Creole artist Marcella Simien was practically born on stage. Simien’s career includes collaborations on notable projects, including her contribution to the GRAMMY-winning Dockside Sessions and involvement in Disney Park’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure amusement ride.Marcella’s sound is an evolution from her former project, Marcella & Her Lovers, where she pioneered “Psychedelic Swamp Soul Music”—a fusion of Memphis soul and New Orleans funk.
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