2025 ARTISTS
A-D
AASIVA
IQALUIT
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:40PM - Chaudiere *Presented by International Indigenous Music Summit
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Colleen Nakashook, who performs as Aasiva, is an Inuk songwriter and exciting addition to Nunavut’s flourishing indie music scene, one that is quickly gathering momentum and attention on the national stage.
AHMED MONEKA
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 1:00AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Drawing on his Afro-Sufi musical heritage, Juno-nominated Ahmed Moneka presents a vibrant and transcendent fusion of African rhythms and Arabic folk melodies, enriched by contemporary influences of funk, soul, and jazz. Reflecting on his personal journey as an artist, actor, and activist—who fled Baghdad for Toronto as a refugee after his involvement in a film about gay rights—Moneka, alongside his stellar global ensemble, invites listeners to a jubilant celebration of life. His music explores love in all its forms while evoking a deep sense of longing for one’s homeland, all through original compositions and timeless Middle Eastern classics.
ALEX BLUE
GUELPH
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Alex Blue is a Jewish-Mexican folk singer-songwriter from Aurora, CO. Alex's music carries echoes of nostalgia intertwined with contemporary storytelling. Her unique blend of folk songwriting and pop-inspired melodies sets her songs apart. As a neurodivergent artist, she brings a unique perspective to her songwriting, exploring the landscape of her inner-world.​
AMBRE MCLEAN
SMITHS FALLS
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 6:35PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Oct 17 @ 1:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
Ambre McLean is a captivating singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and genre-defying sound. With masterful songwriting and mesmerizing live performances, she weaves stories that linger long after the final note. Discover your new favorite artist—raw, real, and irresistibly engaging—Ambre’s music is a journey worth taking.
ANDRE MAFRA
LONDON
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 12:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by London Music Office
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Hailing from Brazil and now based in Ontario, Anddre Mafra blends his Latin American roots with contemporary influences, bringing international dream-folk to an intimate reality. Anddre weaves together culture and emotion with his acoustic guitar and a kaleidoscope of English and Portuguese songs addressing themes of acceptance, love, and growth.
ARIELLE SOUCY
MONTREAL
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:40PM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
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Arielle Soucy is a Montreal-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who has quickly emerged as a rising star in Quebec's music scene. Her debut album, Il n’y a rien que je ne suis pas (2023), was celebrated as the Best Album of the Year by Le Devoir, CISM, Bandcamp, Exclaim!, and other influential outlets. The album also earned a spot on the Polaris Prize Long List, highlighting the impact of her organic and minimalist folk approach.
With six nominations at the 2024 ADISQ Awards, including Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Folk Album of the Year, and wins for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Folk Album of the Year at the GAMIQ Awards, Arielle has been recognized for her ability to blend sensitivity with creativity. On tour, she has performed over 70 shows across Quebec and shared the stage with renowned artists such as Philippe B, Philippe Brach, Comment Debord, and Vanille.
Through her introspective songwriting, luminous melodies, and refined arrangements, Arielle Soucy takes her audience on a journey where traditional folk and modern experimentation intertwine with boldness and emotion."
BARBRA LICA
TORONTO
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:30PM - Ballrooom *Presented by MusicOntario and CION
JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter Barbra Lica has headlined festival and theatre stages around the world. Her 2018 album, You’re Fine, has amassed over 6.7 million streams to date on Spotify. More recently, her first-ever self-produced album, Imposter Syndrome, garnered her two 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominations and the 2023 CMRRA Song of the Year prize.
BON DÉBARRAS
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:30PM - Ballroom
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Bon Débarras unites the worlds of music, dance and poetry through a collaboration between Montreal artists Dominic Desrochers, Jean-François Dumas and Véronique Plasse. Over the years, Bon Débarras moved boldly into an entirely original repertoire steeped in poetry and rhythmic sounds, with unambiguous Quebec flavors. On guitar, banjo, violin and harmonica, the group carries an identity, a style and an energy-filled zest for life quite unique and beautifully served by the versatility of the musicians as well as their daring jigging and vivid body percussion. Bon Débarras’ energy taps into the rhythms of today and ventures boldly on the multi-faceted road to tomorrow’s dreams, in an atmosphere that transcends boundaries and ages.
BRADEN LAM
HALIFAX
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:10PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 2:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Music Nova Scotia
Blending authentic songwriting with modern indie flare, Braden Lam is forging the path to a new 21st century Folk and Americana sound. The young artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia meets the moment on The Cloudmaker’s Cry, his debut album that makes good on the promise of this indie-folk wunderkind, with music reminiscent of a bygone era set to lyrics pulsing with the urgency and anxiety of today.
BRIANNA LIZOTTE
SHERWOOD PARK
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 1:10AM - Chaudiere *Presented by International Indigenous Music Summit
Brianna Lizotte is a JUNO nominated fiddle player currently living in Edmonton Alberta. With many accomplishments already under her belt, she hopes to continue to honour her family's musical legacy by releasing music, performing for festivals, and teaching the next generation of musicians through school shows and workshops.
BRUNO CAPINAN
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 10:30PM - Ballroom
Bruno Capinan is a captivating performer who enthrals audiences with an unique blend of electronic and bossa-nova inspired rhythms, characterized by intricate melodies and infectious grooves, transporting listeners on a sonic journey. Capinan’s artistic endeavours have been met with critical acclaim, including reviews in The Guardian (UK) Libération (France), and prestigious awards such as Mundial Montreal’s Stingray Award 2023.
BURNSTICK
ST. CLAUDE
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:20PM - Capitale *Presented by Maverick
Built on emotion-stirring storytelling and unmistakable vocal harmonies accompanied by a century-old instrument, Burnstick, a JUNO nominated husband and wife Folk duo, are intent on creating affecting music that inspires listeners to feel. The Manitoba based Indigenous duo features Nadia and Jason Burnstick, esteemed independent artists who united over a decade ago to create deeply moving, cinematic Folk music using their trademark vocal pairing, and Jason's mastery of the lap slide Weissenborn guitar.
CARA LUFT
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 2:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
Multi award winning singer-songwriter-musician Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost from birth, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres and styles. A founding member of Canadian folk super-group The Wailin' Jennys and the brainchild behind Winnipeg's acclaimed powerhouse duo The Small Glories, Luft deserves her solid reputation as one of Canada’s finest live performers, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. To quote the roots magazine No Depression, “Luft has a rich tradition in folk music – it’s safe to assume that she knows her stuff – and upon listening it becomes quite clear that she is indeed a formidable songwriter and performer... [The] lovely Ms. Luft sets the bar for the talented few who’ll follow in her footsteps.”
Cara has a spirit that drives her to connect with people, and for this she is loved everywhere she goes. Reviewers of her live shows talk about her compelling vocals, superb musicianship, humorous anecdotes, accomplished songwriting, ability to switch between styles and the charm of her stage presence. Cara’s the real deal, there’s nothing pretentious about her. And that sense of honesty, integrity, personality and spontaneity permeates both her music and her live shows. “Long may she reign!” (Lonesome Highway)
CARINE AU MICRO
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:35PM - Chaudiere
Born in Benin and based in Montreal, her musical journey began under her mother’s guidance in Benin, later evolving through formative years in France (1998), where she honed her craft, and solidified in Quebec (2004) with her immersion in Montreal’s gospel scene as part of the Imani Gospel Singers.
A versatile artist, she has collaborated with icons like jazz legend Ranee Lee in the musical Mahalia Jackson (2013), alongside creative exchanges with luminaries such as Lorraine Klassen and Noel Mpiaza. Her debut EP, O La Si (2018), unveiled her unique sound—a spiritual, genre-defying fusion of global influences. This paved the way for her acclaimed album DOTO N'ASE (2022), supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Montreal Arts Council. This crowning achievement weaves Beninese grooves, gospel, and jazz into a vibrant tapestry of intercontinental storytelling.
CARMEN BRADEN
YELLOWKNIFE
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:40PM - Capitale
Hailed as the “acoustic ambassador of Canada’s Subarctic”, Carmen Braden performs her quirky folk songs with jazz-inspired ensembles, jumping seamlessly from genre to genre. Stacking up multiple awards for all her recordings and writing, Carmen is touring music from her body of work as a songwriter.
CAYENNE
PORT-AUX-OUTARDES
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:40PM - Capitale
Cayenne performs stories that are at times left-field and energetic, at others introspective and sensitive. On the menu: feminism, millennial concerns, the search for identity through love of the land, all topped with influences that waltz with musical polyamory. It's an encounter with a sympathetic artist with a heart as big as the vast Quebec's North Shore. Her firts album, SNOWFLAKE, was released in autumn 2022.
CHANELLE ALBERT & THE EASY COMPANY
SUDBURY
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 1:00AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario & CION
Chanelle Albert & the Easy Company bring bilingual indie folk-pop from Sudbury with grit and poetic charm. Featured at Northern Ontario’s top festivals and heard on SiriusXM, their songs sway between tender intimacy and fiery intensity.
CRYSTAL SHAWANDA
WIIKWEMKOONG FIRST NATION
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 6:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:40AM - Chaudiere *Presented by International Indigenous Music Summit
Crystal Shawanda has won two JUNO Awards, for Aboriginal Recording and for Best Blues Recording, is the first Indigenous woman to appear in the Top 10 of the American Billboard Blues chart, and has the record for the highest charting album by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous Country artist.
DANIEL LEW
VANCOUVER
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:35PM - Chaudiere
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Daniel is a partially deaf musician whose vibe lies between Bob Dylan and Jack Johnson. His introspective songs shine with honesty, merging his soulful voice with catchy guitar riffs, and groovy percussion. He has released 4 albums, and toured Canada and Taiwan. CBC featured his single “Let The Angels Shine”.
DECLAN O'DONOVAN
WHITEHORSE
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:10PM - Ballroom
Community Folk Fest: Sunday, Oct 19 @ 2:15PM - St Charles Market
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Declan O’Donovan’s music feels as much about emotion and immersion as anything easily traceable to an influence. Within the first bars of hearing Declan play, the precious, transcendent connection between music and human emotion is ignited… The beautiful melancholy of O’Donovan’s piano and the raw poetic rhythm of his voice is soul-stirring.
DIGAWOLF
YELLOWKNIFE
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:00PM - Capitale *Presented by Maverick
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Digawolf hails from the community of Behchoko, the capital of the Tłıc̨ hÇ« Na;on, located in Canada’s Northwest Territories. His songs are often inspired by his father’s stories of life on the land, as well as his own experience of navigating two worlds.
DIVKA
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:15PM - Capitale *Presented by Small World Music
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DIVKA (pronounced 'diva' with a k) is comprised of bandurist (esoteric Ukrainian harp) Alina Kuzma and violist (not a violin) Zoë Ëoz.
They perform primarily Eastern European folk songs about badass women in all their glory.
As a sonic rebel reckoning, DIVKA's music is charged with mythology, traditional village singing, and generations of femme power, mystic whimsy, and a dash of vengeance.
DIYET & THE LOVE SOLDIERS
BURWASH LANDING
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:00AM - Capitale *Presented by Maverick
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Diyet & The Love Soldiers are roots, alt-country and folk with a distinctive traditional vibe. Diyet’s music is rooted in a lived experience on her traditional territory of the Kluane First Nation. Her writing is introspective and vast, juxtaposing immense landscapes and remote communities while exploring modern Indigenous perspectives and northern life.
DON AMERO
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 10:10PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:10AM - Chaudiere *Presented By International Indigenous Music Summit
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 2:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
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Don is a singer/ songwriter from Winnipeg and he's been at it full time since 2007. He's made quite the name for himself over the span of his career having toured all across this country and beyond many times. A multi award winner and 3 time Juno nominee.
DONNÉ ROBERTS
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 6:30PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:15AM - Capitale *Presented by Small World Music
Donné Roberts is a 2 times JUNO Award Winner and 4 times JUNO Award Nominee. His most current album “OYA” was nominated for JUNO Award category Global Music Album of the year 2022.
In May 2024 he won the 1st Place at the International Songwriting Competition in the USA, world music category 2023. “With over 14,000 entries from over 120 countries, this award confirms Donné’s impressive creativity and songwriting talent.”
He is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, music producer and music teacher. Born in Madagascar and now lives in Toronto, Canada. Donné also known for his consistently delivering a high quality live performances and for his impressive compositions. The powerful groove of his Malagasy music combined with some Jazz trumpet, Afrobeat guitar and catchy melodic lines that are performed in a perfect vocal harmony, makes Donné
Roberts Band one of the top world music band in Canada. His success led to CBC Radio 1, asking him to compose the theme song for their popular morning show Fresh Air, which still runs today.
DYSTOH
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 10:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 1:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Blending hard-hitting congas, roaring baritone sax, and tight two-part harmonies, drawing from a collage of afrobeat, latin, and reggae influences, Dystoh is the dynamic new duo from Ray Tabana and Phil Motion, founding members of three-time Juno-nominated Souljazz Orchestra, celebrating their debut vinyl album 'Heat of the Times'.
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E-K
É.T.É
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:10PM - Capitale
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With influences from jazz, progressive rock, and classical music, violinist Élisabeth Moquin, bouzouki player Thierry Clouette and cellist Élisabeth Giroux create their own trad universe with original compositions and unique arrangements of Québécois and Acadian repertoire. Their rich vocal harmonies, their groove, their ease at their instruments and their electrifying simpatico onstage transforms the ordinary kitchen party into an unforgettable show!
ELISE LEBLANC
VICTORIA
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Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:10PM - Ballroom
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A poet at heart, Canadian singer-songwriter Élise LeBlanc (She/They) is inspired by the romance of wild things. Heavily influenced by classic country, Appalachia, and western swing- her songs explore queer desire, betrayal, hope, and nature lore. Her gentle twang and rich, expressive vibratto nods to classic crooners Patsy Cline and Peggy Lee.
Her 2024 record "The Fiddle & The Fire" - produced by Leeroy Stagger (Canadian Folk Music Award-Winner whose roster includes: Corb Lund, Joel Plaskett, Mariel Buckley), was listed in the top 10 "Best Country Records on Bandcamp" review in 11/2023, and featured in a CBC Radio-Canada interview on "Culture et Confiture".
Élise has toured extensively across North America from Vancouver Island to Nashville, and has been a mainstage performer at prominent BC festivals including Cowichan Bluegrass Festival, Filberg Festival, and Tofino Jazz Festival. In summer 2025, Élise successfully completed their first UK tour, including Maverick Festival - funded by Music BC, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia.
Elise's recent showcases at Folk Alliance International 2025 in Montreal was supported by Music BC, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia.
Élise is currently based on the unceded traditional territory of the Lukwungen People, the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (Victoria, BC, CANADA.)
ELLORIE MCKNIGHT
WHITEHORSE
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 6:40PM - Capitale *Presented by Music Yukon
Community Folk Festival: Sunday, Oct 19 @ 4:15PM - St.Charles Market
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Ellorie McKnight is a bilingual singer-songwriter, old-time fiddler & square dance enthusiast living working and creating art on the territories of the Ta’an Kwach’an Council and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation in Whitehorse, Yukon. She is also a climate change researcher & educator, as well as an advocate for sustainable farming.
Ellorie’s songs are shaped by delicate vocals, reflections of both the individual and collective human experience, and a nostalgia which invites wonder and dreaming. Vast landscapes, systems thinking and a wild heart influence her lyrics and melodies. Whether performing solo or with a band, her music invites listeners into deep emotion and contemplation about relationships, modernity, and what comes next.
Ellorie released her first solo EP in 2021, titled for the heart’s sake. Her newest 6-song EP Equinox was released in May 2024, recorded in studio as a live performance with full band.
EMMA LAMONTAGNE
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 6:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 1:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Emma Lamontagne is reintroducing herself with her upcoming EP, “Inevitable.” This captivating five-song collection gives an unfiltered insight into her relationships and how she uses music to feel understood. Her emotionally riveting voice has received praise from fans, who have described her songwriting as if she is watching their lives through a camera lens. Emma has shared the stage with Donovan Woods and Forest Blakk, and she has her sights set on the biggest stages.
EMPANADAS ILEGALES
VANCOUVER
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:10PM - Ballroom
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Vancouver-based psychedelic cumbia and salsa ensemble Empanadas Ilegales delivers contagious cumbia rhythms, hypnotic guitar melodies, and experimental salsa trumpet lines to create a Latin surf-rock/free-jazz fusion. Their latest full length album, Creepy Mambo, pays homage to cumbia cult classics infusing a vintage vibe with contemporary synth, slinky dub grooves, and feverish percussion departures.
EMPRESS NYIRINGANGO
OTTAWA
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 1:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:45PM - Capitale *Presented by Small World Music
Community Folk Fest: Sunday, Oct 19 @ 2:15PM - St Charles Market
Empress Nyiringango is a singer-songwriter and creator of "JABLUR" sound: a blend of jazz, blues, and Rwandan traditional rhythms. Through passionate chants, she conveys messages of faith, courage, hope, healing, resilience and love. Her album ‘UBUNTU’ has been nominated for the Global Roots Album of the year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
FIELD GUIDE
WINNIPEG
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:10PM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 18 @ 2:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
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Field Guide is the Winnipeg based Folk-Rock/singer-songwriter project of Dylan MacDonald. Field Guide has been releasing music and touring relentlessly over the past few years, amassing over 30 million streams and supporting artists like Leif Vollebekk, Bahamas, SYML and Penny & Sparrow in the United States, Canada and throughout Europe.
HANNAH & NATHAN
HUNTSVILLE
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 6:35PM - Chaudiere
Community Folk Festival: Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:30PM - St.Charles Market
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Hannah Shira Naiman and Nathan Smith (The Barrel Boys/Vinta) are acclaimed-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, each with a strong national presence in folk music. Both are CFMA winners-Hannah for Traditional Singer of the Year and Nathan for Composer of the Year with Vinta- and have honed their craft for over a decade. When the two joined for double-bill performances in 2022, Hannah's clawhammer banjo fit perfectly with Nathan's fiddle and guitar playing, but their undeniable strength lies in airtight vocal harmonies.
HOUSEWIFE
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Housewife, (Brighid Fry), delivers folk-flavored indie rock and writes songs about climate change, situationships, feminism and life as a young queer non binary person with autism. Only 22, Fry has released dozens of songs and racked up millions streams, winning national awards and featured on BBC, CBC and NPR.
IAN FOSTER
Newfoundland
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 2:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Music Newfoundland
Ian Foster is a Newfoundland songwriter and composer who has been touring for 20 years. A MusicNL and ECMA Award winner, he has toured internationally, and has co-written with artists like the legendary Ron Hynes. Visit ianfoster.ca for more.
INDIAN CITY
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 3:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
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Indian City is a Juno-nominated Indigenous-led Canadian Folk Pop band performing to audiences across North America and beyond. Created as a response to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Act, the group features a collaborative of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous artists with a unique fusion of lyrics, music, and personality.
IRISH MILLIE
PETERBOROUGH
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Irish Millie, a Peterborough-based fiddle player, began her musical journey at age 6. Now 18 and studying Music Industry and Technology at the University of Toronto, she's a five-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee. Her latest album, "GRACE," showcases her passion for East Coast, Bluegrass, and Contemporary Trad styles.
JAB DJAB
POINTE FORTUNE
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:30PM - Ballroom
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One part Trinidadian and two parts Grenadian, this Montreal-based trio ditch the specifics for a pan-Caribbean mix-up that won’t sit still. Soca is the foundation here, but drummer Wayne Stoute and the brothers Whiteman, on guitar and bass, wander fearlessly around the islands and beyond.
JADE HILTON
TORONTO
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 1:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by Mississauga Music Office
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Fast-rising country/folk singer-songwriter Jade Hilton is making waves with her new single “Dive Bar.” Fresh off standout performances at Boots and Hearts, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, CCMA Country Music Week, NXNE, Departure Festival, and CMAOntario Week, Jade has earned national media support from SiriusXM Canada, Global TV and CTV’s Etalk. The singer/songwriter blends authenticity, charm and warmth that define Hilton’s sound.
JAFFA ROAD
VAUGHAN
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 6:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:45AM - Capitale *Presented by Small World Music
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Jaffa Road is a 2X Juno nominee and winner of a CFMA, and FMO Recording Artist of the Year award. Their compelling intercultural sound creates a unique sonic journey that is ancient and modern, acoustic and electronic, sacred and secular. Their inventive fusion blends inspirations from the worlds of Jewish, Arabic & Indian musics, along with jazz, electronica, & rock.
JAMES KEELAGHAN
PERTH
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:45PM - Capitale *Presented by Small World Music
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James Keelaghan is a celebrated Canadian folk singer-songwriter, known for his rich baritone voice and a talent for weaving historical and social themes into his songs. His skills as a songwriter are well documented and he has won a JUNO for Roots & Traditional Album as well as multiple CFMAs.
JEAN GARDY AFROPOLOGIE
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:30PM - Ballroom
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Jean Gardy blends hip-hop, trap, neo soul, and Afro-Haitian music in his project Afropologie. His powerful flow and introspective lyrics explore identity, resilience, and cultural heritage. With an immersive stage presence, he creates a unique musical experience that bridges modernity and tradition.
JEFF ROGERS
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 10:35PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick and raised in Ottawa, singer/songwriter Jeff Rogers’ unmistakably soulful voice often evokes weighty comparisons to the past - whether that’s Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles or even Otis Redding…. yet, his tone, range, phrasing, and sincerity, all make him unmistakably contemporary – and totally original. Jeff's acclaimed new album Dream Job was recorded in the music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama and features special guest appearances by Colin Linden and Kellylee Evans.
JER
TORONTO
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Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 1:15AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Multi-instrumentalist and music producer JER integrates music and visuals to amplify her fusion of Northeastern Brazilian roots with global influences. Born in Bahia, she weaves psycho-tropical grooves with indie and electronic textures, shaping a striking aesthetic in both sound and lyrics. Deeply inspired by her birthplace and her second home, Canada, the Brazilian-Canadian artist reimagines tradition through an eclectic lens, drawing from Hermeto Pascoal’s sonic explorations to the haunting melodies of Joni Mitchell. Her debut full-length album, set for release in fall 2025, features collaborations with a renowned Brazilian producer and musicians who have worked with iconic artists such as Nação Zumbi, BaianaSystem, and Gal Costa.
JESSIE SIMMONS
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:35PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Introducing Jessie Simmons, an award-winning Haitian-Canadian artist from Ottawa, Ontario, celebrated for her powerful, soulful voice and vibrant Afro-Caribbean sound. With her debut album AMONI earning "Album of the Year" at the Kilimanjaro Music Awards, Jessie has made a mark on the global music scene. Known for her electrifying performances and passionate stage presence, she brings a unique blend of rhythm and emotion that connects deeply with audiences. Prepare to be mesmerized by Jessie Simmons as she delivers an unforgettable live experience tonight!
JIM BRYSON
STITTSVILLE
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:15AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Jim Bryson is a National Folk Award nominated Canadian Singer-Songwriter and Record Maker.
He has released a number of recordings in all kinds of popular formats and in places all over the map. His most recent project is “Combinations 1+1”, a “rotating cast singles project” which debuted with Jason Tait and John K Samson this last September of 2024.
JOELLE ROSE
MISSISSAUGA
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 1:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by Mississauga Music Office
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Joelle Rose is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Mississauga, Ontario. Her debut single, Birdhouse, was named Mississauga’s Song of the Year (2025). Joelle merges her passion for music and health sciences through her studies in Speech-Language Pathology. She is thrilled to be performing and releasing new music this fall.
JOJO WORTHINGTON
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:35PM - Chaudiere
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Pushing emotionally potent alternative folk songs to the perilous edge, JoJo Worthington holds a distinctive presence in creative Canadian music. Through her “sublime” (Gold Flake Paint) breakthrough album "\\" (Two Lines), her avant-pop odyssey TCYK, and the unprecedentedly intimate BAPTIZED I, this visionary songcrafter unites earthly and celestial sounds on a quest towards the divine.
JORY NASH
COBOURG
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:40PM - Capitale
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Singer/songwriter/storyteller Jory Nash blends elements of folk, jazz, blues and more into an original stew of sound. This 5-time CFMA nominee, FMO Songs From The Heart Award winner and Penguin Eggs Album of the Year winner is making a return to music after a 7 year hiatus.
JOSH RITCHIE
WIARTON
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:30AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Josh Ritchie is a born performer. From the minute he walks on stage it’s obvious he was meant to be there. Ritchie commands audiences with the confidence of a seasoned front man, serving them larger-than-life, stadium-rock energy at every show.
JOYCE N'SANA
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 6:35PM - Chaudiere
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Joyce N’sana, creator of Afrobluehop, fuses Afro-blues, hip-hop, soul, and reggae with messages of peace and resilience rooted in her Congolese heritage. Praised for her intensity and authenticity, she’s performed internationally and released TÉLAMA (2024), a multilingual album blending Kongo rhythms with powerful themes of justice, hope, and freedom.
KALOS
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:10PM - Ballroom
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Kalos makes music inspired by the maritime traditions of Scotland, Ireland, Scandinavia and North America. Of this they revel in driving danceability, but also take inspiration from the pastoral melodies and naturalistic metaphors. Their music, while forged in tradition, is nonetheless cast and tempered in new and unexpected ways.
KELLIE LODER
ST. JOHN'S
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:50PM - Ballroom
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There is something undeniably captivating about JUNO Award nominee Kellie Loder. A gifted songwriter and storyteller, they possess a voice that radiates both warmth and power. With honest and vulnerable lyrics, Loder crafts music that feels deeply personal, resonating with audiences through heartfelt songs, playful charm, and exhilarating live performances. Described as “a multi-genre marvel,” their sound blends Americana, folk, and indie pop—an artistry shaped by their Newfoundland & Labrador roots.
KELLYLEE EVANS
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:05PM - Chaudiere
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Juno Award-winning, 4 time Juno nominated singer-songwriter Kellylee Evans is a high-octane, chameleon-like performer whose improvisational vocal style embodies jazz, soul, pop, and hip-hop. She has toured extensively throughout the world and opened up for artists as varied as John Legend, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson captivating audiences along the way.
KIZABA
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:30PM - Ballroom
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Kizaba is a Montréal-based Afro-Congolese electro music pioneer blending Soukous, Afrobeat, and Afro-Punk with ancestral vocals. Singing in French, English, Kikongo, and Lingala, he’s performed globally and earned Juno nominations. His vibrant, multisensory shows feature powerful messages of unity, justice, and heritage, with visuals inspired by traditional African masks.
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LARISSA DESROSIERS
GATINEAU
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:10PM - Chaudiere *Presented by International Indigenous Music Summit
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Larissa Desrosiers is an Ojibwe Queer Singer/Songwriter, Beadworker and registered member of Couchiching First Nation in Treaty #3. She graduated in 2025 with a Bachelor of Music Honours Degree from Carleton University with a Minor in Indigenous Studies.
LE WINSTON BAND
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 6:50PM - Ballroom
Le Winston Band is a one-of-a-kind Quebec based ensemble that blends its French-Canadian roots with Zydeco and Cajun music. Since 2012, due to a sound that is derived from both the rich musical traditions of Louisiana and their own identity as Montrealers, the group has been sharing their joie de vivre with audiences across North America and Europe.
LENNIE GALLANT
RUSTICO
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 3:45PM - Ballroom *Presented By Music PEI
East Coast artist Lennie Gallant has released 15 albums, with another soon-to-be released in 2025, which have won a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs, ECMA, CFMA and Les Prix Éloizes. A prolific songwriter, his songs have appeared in feature films, tv series, theatre and been recorded by many renowned artists. His hit song ‘Peter’s Dream’ has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
LESS TOCHES
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 6:30PM - Ballroom
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Less Toches is an accordion-powered quintet founded in a park during the pandemic lockdowns in Montreal. A truly continental cumbia mix with members from Colombia, Mexico and Argentina, their show is a celebration of distant cousins meeting, turning mundane places into portals, parties leading to otherworldly tradition.
LOGAN STAATS
BRANTFORD
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Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:10PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
Logan Staats is a Juno-nominated Mohawk folk and soul musician hailing from Brantford, Ontario. He won CTV’s ‘The Launch’ in 2018, launching him into fame. For Staats, all of life's highs and lows intermingle with the music; the passion, the rage, the love, and most of all the healing.
LONESOME ACE STRINGBAND
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 8:10PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:00AM - Ballroom
Through twenty-five years and thousands of shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely.
MAGGIE'S WAKE
DORCHESTER
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:30PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 12:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by the London Music Office
Maggie's Wake is a new traditional folk band, playing original music with celtic instrumentation. We have an authentic sound, original compositions, and are inspired by traditional folk music, jazz, and classic country.
MALLORY CHIPMAN
EDMONTON
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:30PM - Ballroom
Mallory Chipman's signature brand of cinematic folk-rock has been described as “gutsy, whilst placing itself with enthusiastic abandonment into the longer tradition of the great singer-songwriters” (Americana UK). It is on full display on her latest album, Songs to a Wild God, which hit #5 on the FAI Folk Charts.
MAMBE
DENMARK
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 10:10PM - Ballroom
Danish Reception: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 4:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Tempi: Roots Music Denmark
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Scandinavian solo artist that unites the rhythms of all
cultures to create the world music of the future, true
sonic travellers and ambassadors of global sound. Anyone wondering to experience how intercultural
understanding really works, only needs to visit a
show of Mambe: three minutes in, they'll have everybody dancing no matter which part of the world their playing in. Their massive sound and their lyrical messages are so universal and world embracing that one genre could never be enough to properly describe their music, so they created their own and called it “Ethnic Bass“. Not only does this sound good, but also nails it pretty well. Their music combines Ethno, Folk, Tribal and traditional elements with exciting urban Hip-Hop and Electro sounds thus always having a keen eye on the future.
MARITZA
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:10PM - Ballroom
Maritza is a singer-songwriter known for the depth of her songs and her ability to move people. In the vein of Lhasa, Natalia Lafourcade, and Silvana Estrada, Maritza offers folk songs with Latin influences, warm and timeless sounds. "¿Quién eres?" is her first album in Spanish.
MARTIN KERR
EDMONTON
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:10PM - Capitale
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Martin Kerr sings what you're thinking. A folk troubadour for the post-truth age, he blends urgent issues with deeply personal narratives, in nostalgic folk arrangements that invite you to sing along. Explosive growth on social media has seen him reach over 100 million people this year. Come see what all the fuss is about.
MAYA KILLTRON
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Maya Killtron, Canada's dynamic Queen of Boogie, is a powerhouse multi-talent celebrated for her vibrant RnB NuDisco Boogie and 80’s funk. Her breakout album, "Never Dance Alone" (2019), catapulted her into the international Boogie scene, followed by the highly anticipated "Persimmon" in 2022. Singles from the albums secured spots in top playlists and CBC's 2023 Searchlight competition.
Beyond her solo success, Maya is a sought-after collaborator, contributing as a songwriter, producer, arranger, and touring violinist/vocalist. Her influence extends to founding Bowed Arts, a Quartet performance collective and school for strings focused on accessibility and equity.
MÉLISANDE
BELOEIL
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 6:50PM - Ballroom
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Québécois singer Mélisande has established herself on the music scene with her [électrotrad] project, garnering critical praise, awards and nominations as well as multiple tours and festival performances. In 2024, she released the album Rembobine on which she revisits her traditional repertoire with a 5-piece acoustic band. The album received three nominations and the show has been presented at numerous festivals and venues in Canada and Australia.
MIA KELLY
GATINEAU
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:40AM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
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"A luscious voice, that burns into fiery blues." - CBC Radio One
Mia Kelly is a singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec, who writes and performs in both French and English. Kelly enthrals listeners with a distinctive blend of Folk, Rock, and Blues and is making her mark in the Canadian folk music scene.
MIINA
TORONTO
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:40PM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
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Miina is a rising Canadian artist—an enchanting vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter exploring love, sustainability, and connection. Her debut EP Slow Motion (2023), produced by Gus Van Go, earned national radio play with singles “Hiccup” and “Pressure.” Praised as “sunlight cutting through foliage,” her first full-length album arrives in 2026.
MIKE T. KERR
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:35PM - Chaudiere
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Mike T. Kerr is a wild guitar player and ambitious songwriter living in downtown Toronto. Combining the boisterous Ragtime of Reverend Gary Davis, the Country class of Chet Atkins, and the explosive energy of Django Reinhardt, Mike's show is a raucous tour through time, genre, and transcendent improvisation.
MIMI O'BONSAWIN
EGANVILLE
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 10:40PM - Chaudiere *Presented by International Indigenous Music Summit
Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario. She is French Canadian & W8banaki (Abénaki), a member of the Odanak First Nation. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi’s music embraces the beauty of the land. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instrumentation. Layers of percussion and unexpected harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it.
Mimi spent the summer on the road with her band at Festivals across Canada Including Vancouver Folk Festival, Mission Folk Festival, Francos de Montréal, Festival en Chanson Petite-Vallée and was invited by Elisapie to perform on the TV series Le Grand-Solstice airing Nationally on Ici-Télé & APTN.
Mimi performs as a duo with her husband, Ryan Schurman, on drums and percussion, creating an intimate yet uplifting experience. Together, they invite audiences into their universe with a full-band sound that inspires dancing, singing and joy.
MIRANDA CEARA & THE ODD FELLOWS ORCHESTRA
OTTAWA / TORONTO / KINGSTON
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 7:35PM - Chaudiere
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Miranda Ceara & The Odd Fellows Orchestra re-imagine the sounds of prewar Jazz, Blues, and Calypso, woven in to a modern and original cabaret-noir of brass, strings and rhythm tied together by Miranda's unique song writing and vocal delivery.
MISS EMILY
KINGTON
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:20AM - Capitale *Presented by Toronto Blues Society
Miss Emily is an 8th generation Prince Edward County born Soul-Blues-Americana singer/songwriter who recently celebrated her 21st year as a full-time artist. A JUNO-nominee, she recently received her third Female Vocalist of the Year win at the Maple Blues Awards. Emily loves connecting with audiences and being a mom.
MISTAKEN FOR WAYNE
SUDBURY
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:30AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario & CION
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Mistaken for Wayne is the Northern born folk rock project by farmer and musician Wade Montpellier. He and his close collaborators makes music that reflects Northern Ontario and the places they call home.
MITCHELL MAKOONS
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 3:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
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Mitchell Makoons is a Roots/Rock musician based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2024, singles “Courage” and “Changing Man” from his debut album Lady Boots reached No. 1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. At last year’s Manitoba Country Music Awards, Makoons was named “Emerging Artist of the Year.”
MOONFRUITS
OTTAWA
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Two-time 2024 CFMA nominees and Ontario Presents Slow Touring Artists Moonfruits (Anishinaabe Territory/Ottawa) craft English-French contemporary folk to make you laugh, cry and dream.
With guitar, banjo, harmonium and double bass, Moonfruits performed in Canada, the US and Europe this season, and is putting together their fourth record, Réveil.
MOONRIIVR
OTTAWA
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 1:10AM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
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Since the 2023 release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Vol 1, MOONRIIVR has quickly made a name for itself. Respected producer and bandleader, Gavin Gardiner (Wooden Sky, All Day Coconut) and renowned guitarist, “Champagne” James Robertson (Lindi Ortega, Dwayne Gretzky) have respectively made their mark on Canada’s musical landscape, and together, are eying new frontiers. Their aesthetic is taped together by vintage gear and a deep love for the weirder fringes of ‘60s pop psychedelia. Timeless melodies drift over vintage rhythms - made by drummer Lyle Molzan (Corb Lund, Kathleen Edwards) & bassist Ben Whitely (The Weather Station) - touching on influences from the golden era of Western pop music while maintaining a distinctive and innovative sound.
MUSHFIQ
OTTAWA
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:15PM - Ballroom *Presented by Ottawa Music Industry Coalition
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Ustad Mushfiq Hashimi is the Founder and Artistic Director of Mushfiq Arts Company in Ottawa.
A Center that offers classes in vocal, instrumental, visual arts and calligraphy.
He is a world renowned Artist who speaks seven languages, sings in twelve languages and performs globally with his own ensemble.
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Mushfiq is a Master composer, vocalist and instrumentalist with over thirty five years of musical experience.
He holds two Masters in Music from Holland's renowned, Rotterdams Conservatorium of Music and from Pracheen Kala Kendra in India.
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With great honour, he is a Seventh Generation Persian Calligrapher. He teaches and shares twelve styles of calligraphy.
People hope to master one area in their life. Here, students are fortunate to have such a gifted Ustad who has mastered many arts and is passionate to see each and every one of his students shine.
NASTASIA Y
TORONTO
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Ukraine-born Nastasia Y blends Toronto jazz and funk with ancient Slavic folk, inspired by the protest songs of her late father. Her 2024 album Kyiv Soul features lush synths, groovy basslines, and a mix of hope and heartbreak, earning recognition from World Music Charts Europe and the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
NOAH MALCOLM
CHARLOTTETOWN
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:35PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 3:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Music PEI
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Charlottetown's Noah Malcolm is a multi-instrumental queer artist with four Music PEI Awards and four East Coast Music Award nominations. Signed to CYMBA, his songwriting is a cut above and delivered with dynamic range and 'melodic mastery’. From witty bops to heart-wrenching art songs, he offers something magical for everyone.
ROBIN LAYNE & THE RHYTHM MAKERS
VANCOUVER
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:30PM - Ballroom
Led by globetrotting JUNO-nominated percussionist Robin Layne, this groove heavy ensemble delivers music that transcends traditions in a cultural fusion of sounds and rhythms that highlight the marimba. “A remarkable journey into a world of rhythmic mastery” - Sound Cafe
ROCÍO PEÑA
CHILE
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:35PM - Chaudiere
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Chilean singer-songwriter, vocal coach. Her music blends Latin American folk with melodic pop, creating intimate yet powerful performances. She has opened for artists like Fabiana Cantilo and Pedro Aznar, played in festivals like SXSW and WRC Rally Mobil. Her EP Del Trueno, was produced by Latin Grammy winner Turra Medina.
ROMMEL
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:10PM - Capitale
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Rommel is a Brazilian-Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer blending Brazilian roots with jazz, reggae, funk, and afrobeat. A Radio-Canada Revelation and Diversity Award winner, he’s performed at major festivals and released several acclaimed albums, including Karawara, honoring Indigenous peoples and promoting messages of ancestry, spirituality, and social justice.
ROBERT THOMAS & THE SESSIONMEN
MONCTON
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 3:15PM -
Ballroom​
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2025 International Acoustic Music Award Winner Robert Thomas has crafted songs for legends including, Kenny Rogers, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker and the Dixie Chicks. As a staff writer for music publishing, Thomas was tasked with writing hits and his diverse repertoire reflects that. He writes songs we can all connect with - memorable sing along melodies, clever, ear friendly lyrics couched in a wide-ranging array of rhythms - all introduced with a captivating, often humorous, repartee that is a throwback to the story telling era of Mark Twain, Garrison Keillor and Stuart Maclean. Accompanied on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, keyboards and percussion by the legendary “sessionmen” - Ray Legere and Jon Arsenault - whose credits in their own right include, Alison Krauss, Rita MacNeil, Doc Watson, Tony Rice and The Chieftains - Thomas delivers beautiful and energetic Folk/Americana mixed with a touch of Bluegrass that has captivated audiences across North America and Europe, and garnered Entertainer of the Year and multiple songwriter nominations from the East Coast Music Association. One sentence from Rodney Crowell sums up the artistry of Robert Thomas and the sessionmen - “These boys know what they’re doing.”
ROSE-ERIN STOKES
NORTH BAY
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:10PM - Capitale
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Highlighted by an artistic acumen and an amazing ability to evoke emotion, Stokes' music is demonstrative of a songwriting craftsperson at work. Stokes is a five-time Northern Ontario Music and Film Award nominee/recipient and was a nominee for Album of the Year at the 2024 Ontario Folk Music Awards.
RYLAND MORANZ
LETHBRIDGE
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:05PM - Chaudiere
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Ryland is coming into is own in these strange times. With his critically acclaimed album “XO, 1945” and years of international touring under his belt Ryland has stepped into the great beyond, empathetically exploring his own stories and the stories of others. His newest album, “Better/Worse” takes a passionate look at the world we live in and the people whom inhabit it.
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SAHARA JANE
WOLFVILLE
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 10:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 2:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Music Nova Scotia
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Sahara Jane is a folk fusion duo who create an immersive blend of enchanting melodies, insightful lyrics and deeply felt grooves. Their show is influenced by their musical and cultural backgrounds in Canada and South Asia.
Sahara Jane is a vocalist, composer and sarangi player, and Ken Shorley is a producer and multi-instrumentalist who blends electronics with live percussion, tabla, keyboard and guitar.
SAM DRYSDALE
TORONTO / GUELPH
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:15AM - Ballroom
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Toronto-based singer-songwriter Sam Drysdale blends raw storytelling with timeless melodies. Winner of Slaight Music’s It’s Your Shot, he’s earned 8M+ streams. His 2024 single "Only the Strong Survive" hit 20M+ views on socials + 2M streams. In 2025, Sam drops new music, tours ON/QC, and preps a new LP following his latest project, Bonnie’s Sad Songs.
SANDRA BOUZA
HAMILTON
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:40AM - Capitale
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Sandra Bouza, a powerhouse artist with Canadian and Spanish roots, has had a groundbreaking year. The soulful singer has graced Massey Hall, was nominated for Maple Blues, and her album; A Sound in the Dark, nominated for best contemporary folk album of the year with the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
SARAH KAE
THUNDER BAY
Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 12:45AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario & CION
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Sara Kae, an Ojibwe and Cree artist, got her start touring northern Ontario with her father, singing in communities from the age of 12. Sara’s early career accomplishments include a concert with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, a residency with CBC x SOCAN foundation, and opening for Juno award winning, Aysanabee.
SARAH SEGAL-LAZAR
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:30PM - Ballroom
Dancing at the crossroads of hyperfemininity and garage mechanic, Sarah Segal-Lazar is Folk Femme Fatale. Nominated for Folk Music Ontario’s 2024 Recording Artist of the Year, Sarah has been hailed as "igniting the Americana music scene" and “folk and country at its best." Sarah's debut studio album VALLEYS is produced by Canadian folk luminary Matthew Barber.
SILK ROAD DIARIES - FROM PERSIA TO MONGOLIA
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 8:40PM - Capitale
Uuriintuya Khalivan (Mongolia) and Sadaf Amini (Iran) met in Montreal, sparking a musical journey at the Silk Roads’ crossroads. Together, they blend their unique musical backgrounds, where each note is a step on a meandering path. The duo celebrates their own respective cultures, woven together like a silk thread, searching for harmonies beyond borders and distances.
With the morin-khuur (horsehead fiddle) and santur (hammered dulcimer), they weave melodies, like threads of silk, reminiscent of paths across the desert and the steppes, echoing the timeless magic of the infamous Silk Road.
SKYE CONSORT & EMMA BJÖRLING
MONTREAL / STOCKHOLM
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:30PM - Ballroom
Recipients of the prestigious Opus Award for 2019 Album of the Year with their debut (World music and Traditional Québec music), Skye Consort & Emma Björling perform trans-Atlantic chamber folk 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.
SUZIE UNGERLEIDER
VANCOUVER
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 7:30PM - Ballroom
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Born in the U.S. and raised in Vancouver, Suzie Ungerleider first gained acclaim as Oh Susanna. With ten albums and numerous awards, she’s known for her striking voice and poetic songwriting. In 2025, she releases "Among the Evergreens", following February’s EP "The Wilds", exploring themes of youth, ambition, and identity.
SVØBSK
DENMARK
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:35PM - Ballroom
The stage is set for a very special experience. With flair for the new and love for the old, Svøbsk combines traditional folk music with original compositions resulting in a personal and vibrant expression. Svøbsk creates an enchanting and festive atmosphere and seeks afinity with their audience. Their music and songs are rooted in the flourishing heritage of traditional music from Denmark and the surrounding countries.
Over the past 20 years, the two folk musicians Maren Hallberg and Jørgen Dickmeiss have been finetuning their empathetic interplay, released 6 albums and performed an abundance of shows in and outside of Denmark. In 2023, they received a Danish Music Award for Roots Name of the Year.
On their latest album “Sorgenfri” (2023) the band returned to their original setup- two musicians coming together in their joint passion and shared fate. The album was featured as one of the 10 best album releases of 2023 by RadioFolk.
TEAN DREAM
LONDON, ONTARIO
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 12:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by London Music Office
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With soft lo-fi-inspired vocals, woodsy upright piano, authentic Rhodes and Mellotron textures, Tean Dream creates a ‘70s-inspired bedroom-pop aesthetic that serves as a friendly host for lyrical themes of freedom, nostalgia, and finding self.
TEILHARD FROST
WOLFE ISLAND
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:05PM - Chaudiere
Community Folk Festival: Sunday, Oct 19 @ 4:15PM - St.Charles Market
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Canadian musician and instrument maker, Teilhard Frost plays traditional folk music, with a focus on Appalachian old time music. He has spent the past twenty years touring with sensational rag-time outfit Sheesham, Lotus, and ‘Son. 
In 2024 Teilhard released his latest album Four and Twenty Blackbirds Dancing on a Deerskin.
TENNYSON KING
MISSISSAUGA
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 7:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 1:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by the Mississauga Music Office
Tennyson King is an award-winning, nomadic, folk musician from Hong Kong and Canada captivating audiences with positivity and interactive songs. His music is like a warm hug for your soul, bringing together the best of both his Chinese and Canadian roots to create a truly special experience.
THE ANGELIQUE FRANCIS BAND
OTTAWA
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Spotlight Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 11:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
Ontario Folk Music Awards: Wednesday, Oct 15 @ 7:00PM - National Arts Centre
JUNO Award winners The Angelique Francis band, have been named by Folk Canada as the 2024 Performers of the Year (Ontario Folk Music Awards). Known for their electrifying performances, they have been recognized across multiple genres receiving 2 Canadian Blues Music Awards (Maple Blues),and 2 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations.
THE FREE LABEL
TORONTO
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:10AM - Chaudiere *Presented by Midnight Agency
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The Free Label is a Toronto-based six-piece blending disco, R&B, and funk into high-energy performances. They’ve toured globally, sold out Canadian shows, shared stages with T-Pain and Incognito, and earned millions of views online. Their acclaimed 2024 album Songs for Sienna solidified their rising international profile.
THE HARPOONIST
NANAIMO
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:40PM - Capitale
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In the musical sanctuary crafted by The Harpoonist, the harmonica becomes more than just an instrument. It becomes a conduit for divine inspiration. With haunting organs, vocals that soar like hymns, and an ethereal chorus of electronic angels, one can find the echoes of celestial harmony in the inspiring message that The Harpoonist, also known as Shawn Hall, is delivering to us all.”
THE HELLO CROWS
FREDERICTON
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 3:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Music New Brunswick
The Hello Crows are a powerful Indigenous collective blending traditional and contemporary influences. Formed in 2022, they released their debut single Come Back To Me in 2024, reaching the National Indigenous Chart’s top 10. Their debut album arrives September 30, 2025, with the first single Warbler releasing in April.
THE JANZEN BOYS
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:10PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 2:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
The Janzen Boys are a Winnipeg folk/roots family band who started out busking in 2012. Viral internet success led to selling over 10,000 physical copies of their EPs and debut album, |2|, which sparked demand for their first Canadian tour in summer 2024, featuring sold-out shows nationwide.
THE LIFERS
GUELPH
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 6:30PM - Ballroom
The Lifers are a sister-fronted six-piece that has been pushing the boundaries of folk music for over a decade. Their new album Honesty addresses sexual trauma and intergenerational pain through post-folk caresses and indie-rock bangers, inviting us to feel deeper, love gentler, and have fun despite all the shit.
THE STANLEY COUNTY CUT-UPS
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 9:10PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 3:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
From hard drivin' banjo solos to four part harmony singing, blues infused mandolin breaks and hair-raising fiddle tunes, this quintet covers all the bluegrass bases. To hear them come together to perform as a bluegrass band is sure to lure fans of The Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, Hazel Dickens and others from the bluegrass canon.
THE VAUDEVILLIAN
SAUGEEN SHORES
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 8:40PM - Capitale
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 12:00AM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
The jugband blues from the Ontario, Canada based,
Award Winning blues duo,
The Vaudevillian consists of;
Washboard, Resonator Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica & Musical Spoons to get the crowd going.
Find them at a festival across Canada making the audience dance up a storm.
TOMMYPHYLL
WINNIPEG
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 9:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 3:00PM - Ballroom *Presented by Manitoba Music
Nigerian-Canadian producer and performer Tommyphyll merges Afrobeats, synth-pop, and classical music into Afrodiem—a fresh, empowering sound celebrated for cultural depth and uplifting energy. Performing for crowds of over 7,000, self-producing acclaimed releases, and championing unity through dynamic storytelling, Tommyphyll offers audiences an irresistible blend of innovation, authenticity, and global appeal
VICKI BRITTLE
CLAYTON
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 10:05PM - Chaudiere
Spotlight Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 11:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by MusicOntario
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Vicki Brittle is a Canadian Folk/Rock Singer-Songwriter born and raised in the Ottawa Valley, with soul soaked songs, and an unforgettable distinct voice and energy. With over 6 million online streams, playing festivals like CityFolk, Festival of Small Halls, Bluesfest and writers rounds like Breadmakr Calgary, she is quickly becoming one to watch. Often referred to as an old soul, Brittle can be found shoeless with a six string holding the crowd in her hand, weaving healing lyrics and rhythmic melodies together.
WAAHLI
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Friday, Oct 17 @ 10:10PM - Ballroom
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Waahli is a Montreal-based artist of Haitian origin who blends hip-hop, afrobeat, reggae, and Haitian funk into a unique musical approach deeply rooted in his heritage. A co-founder of the iconic group Nomadic Massive in 2004, he has also built a compelling solo career with works like Black Soap (2018), Soap Box (2022), and Saponification (2023), performed in English, French, and Haitian Creole. His music explores themes of identity, solidarity, and self-reflection.
Recognized for his originality, Waahli was named a Radio-Canada Revelation for 2023-2024. In 2024, he garnered prestigious nominations, including at the Gala de l’ADISQ for Best Album of the Year – Multilingual and Other Languages, and at the Juno Awards for World Music Album of the Year.
In 2025, Waahli continues to push artistic boundaries with Seven Bubbles, an ambitious project exploring new aesthetic and sonic horizons. On stage, he captivates audiences with his infectious energy and dynamic performances, offering a rich cultural journey through his music. As an ambassador of alternative hip-hop and Haitian sounds, Waahli remains a trailblazer, leaving a lasting impact on the international music scene with his creativity and vision.
WEEDON
COATICOOK
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:10PM - Capitale
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Weedon treat themselves to an inspiring new folk project! From the heart of the Eastern Townships, these creative beasts have set themselves the challenge of writing disarmingly straightforward songs. On stage, Weedon sings in harmony, switching from guitars to cello and mandolin.
WILLEM JAMES COWAN
LONDON, ONTARIO
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 12:45PM - Ballroom *Presented by London Music Office
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The sweeping folk anthems of Willem James Cowan have been capturing ears across eastern Canada since 2018. Across three releases and various singles, he has explored the uncharted corners of his soul and sound. Cowan’s lush production is always in service of soft-spoken truths and an eye to the future.
YASSIN & SEAN TERRIO
ANCASTER
Official Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 9:50PM - Ballroom
Spotlight Showcase: Saturday, Oct 18 @ 1:30PM - Ballroom *Presented by Mississauga Music Office
Deeply emotional and highly fun, with great hair and love songs for days, YASSiN & Sean Terrio make genre-crossing music exemplified by soulful vocals and big song production.
Hailing from the town of Oakville, Ontario, the two met in 2019 while attending an open mic night at Oakville’s legendary Moonshine Cafe. They quickly discovered their musical and onstage chemistry, and immediately began writing songs together.
In 2020 they released their single Take My Time, which has amassed over 1 million streams across Spotify & YouTube. In 2021, their musical journey took another big step forward when they placed 2nd in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Musician Program. In 2024 the duo then got accepted into RBC x Music’s First Up Program. Two years of performing across Canada, several singles later, plus their recent virality with their musical/comedy bits reaching over 90 million eyes on Tik Tok & Instagram earning them over 100 thousand followers, the duo just released their debut album JUST TRY in October 2024
ZALE SECK
MONTREAL
Official Showcase: Thursday, Oct 16 @ 10:30PM - Ballroom
Experience the Soulful Rhythms of Dakar with Zale Seck
Step into a world where music becomes a gateway to the vibrant heart of Dakar, guided by the extraordinary talent of Senegal's own Zale Seck. In a mesmerizing fusion of tradition and innovation, Zale's melodies carry the essence of his cultural heritage, transcending boundaries and captivating audiences globally.