2026 Artists

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  Hip-Hop · Alberta

  Arlo Maverick

  4X WCMA Nominee Arlo Maverick is an Edmonton-based Hip-Hop artist who aims to move his fans physically and emotionally. With a CV that includes headlining festivals, opening for music icons and touring domestically and internationally, Arlo is a consummate performer.

  Presenters can expect a 6-piece band (drums, bass, guitar, keys and 2 vocalists) performing a highly interactive and engaging show. As the frontman, Arlo works to engage the audience through fun, interactive, and relatable songs that have built-in call-and-response elements, making the crowd an active part of the show.

  Arlo's music offers social commentary on the day-to-day of the working class. Themes like the pursuit of purpose, finding work-life balance, keeping up with the Joneses and being undervalued at a 9-to-5 are all explored in fun, thought-provoking and clever ways. The show is very intentional, even down to Arlo's wardrobe of blue coveralls to represent the working class.

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  Blues · Roots · British Columbia

  J Plank

  J. Plank (Jeff Plankenhorn) is a BC-based, internationally touring singer-songwriter and master of the lap steel guitar known for soulful vocals, tasty instrumental work, dynamic stagecraft, and a sound that bridges blues, roots, folk and soul. After honing his trade as an award-winning Austin session musician with artists like Ruthie Foster, Joe Ely, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jimmy Lafave, Plank launched his solo career in earnest with his 2016 album "Soulslide".

  Moving to Canada's west coast, he released three more albums including 2023's "Alone at Sea" produced by Colin Linden, and 2025's solo acoustic record "The Bend". Upcoming is a high-energy blues band album full of live-off-the-floor energy and deep grooves with guest appearances from some of Plank's favourite musical colleagues.

  For Plank, music is about bringing people together, whether biker or drag queen, listener or dancer, to share in the joy and connection that only a great song can deliver.

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  Latin Pop · Quebec

  Jace Carrillo

  Born in Venezuela and based in Montreal, JACE Carrillo is a trilingual Latin Canadian pop artist blending Spanish vocals into global soundscapes that explore identity, healing, and transformation.

  His breakout single "Eclipse" dominated Montreal's The Beat 92.5FM Top 5 for over 25 weeks and landed on Canada's Top 100 Shazam chart, establishing him as one of Canada's most compelling Latin pop voices. His music has been featured by MTV, Billboard, CBC, CTV, Global, Televisa MX and more, while his growing catalogue has surpassed 3.2 million streams.

  An award-winning artist, JACE has received the Pepsi Music Award (Venezuela), Symphonic Latino Award (U.S.), and Latin Awards Canada. A dynamic live performer, he has appeared at JUNOfest, Sofar Sounds (USA), NXNE, Pop Montreal, Mundial Montreal, Il Mondo NYC, Festival de la Musica (Puebla), Departure (Canadian Music Week), Nuits d'Afrique, and Fuego Fuego, Canada's largest Latin music festival.

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  Jazz · World Music · Ontario

  JoyRide

  JoyRide is made up of two pros: pianist Mark Camilleri and oboist/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Colin Maier. Mark has worked with Celine Dion, Sting, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, David Foster, The Canadian Tenors, Herbie Hancock, Jim Cuddy and more. Together with Colin from Quartetto Gelato, they do a show of Latin jazz, klezmer, ragtime, pop jazz, Celtic and more.

  Colin switches from oboe, to voice, to pennywhistle, and even the musical saw in a romp which includes Minnie the Moocher (with audience participation), "Air on a Blue String" (a nod to JS Bach), Chick Corea's "Spain" and Piazzolla's heartrending "Tanti Anni Prima".

  "I absolutely loved this performance!! They were incredible, I'm sorry I didn't invite 10 other friends!!!"

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  Country Rock · Manitoba

  Kates Outlaw

  Kates Outlaw is a four-piece country rock band from Dauphin, Manitoba, known for blending gritty country storytelling with hard-hitting rock influences reminiscent of Whiskey Myers and Turnpike Troubadours. Fronted by singer-songwriter Kyle Neault, the band also features Dylan Neault (bass/vocals), Levi Winters (lead guitar/vocals) and Steve Lukey (drums).

  Since the release of their debut album, Longrider Religion, in 2024, Kates Outlaw has steadily built a loyal following across the Prairies. Their energetic live performances and authentic songwriting have earned them opportunities to share the stage with acclaimed acts including The Glorious Sons, The Trews, The Arkells, Doc Walker and Jason McCoy.

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  Country Folk · Saskatchewan

  Last Birds

  Last Birds is the Canadian country folk duo of award-nominated songwriters Lindsay Arnold and Mike Davis. Rooted in their small hometown, they craft intimate narratives that peer past romanticized rural life and into its darker corners: abandoned houses, dim bars, and the mysteries that linger between them.

  With two voices and two guitars, their close harmonies and interwoven playing create a mesmerizing, immersive sound that has earned them mainstage spots at Big Flat Folk Fest, Gateway Festival, and the Regina Folk Festival. Their debut album won Alternative Country Album of the Year at the 2024 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards.

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  Soul · Theatrical · Ontario

  Lee Siegel

  Lee Siegel, star of Broadway and the Stratford Festival, presents a retrospective of the greatest soul singers of all time. Over twenty of the defining voices of soul music, including Sam Cooke, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Percy Sledge, Smokey Robinson, Edwin Starr and more. Stories, history and songs intertwine, all told by one of Canada's best vocalists.

  Lee is accompanied by pianist Konrad Pluta, who has worked with artists such as The Rankin Sisters, Micheal Burgess, and Ian Sherwood. The duo of Lee and Konrad have been working together for over a decade, with 2 albums, hundreds of performances and thousands of kilometres logged.

  This show is an intimate two-person version based on the 11-piece Soul Man show which has been performed in theatres across the country.

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  Roots · Folk · Americana · Ontario

  Jessica Pearson and the East Wind

  Like sirens calling from an ancient shore, the haunting three-part harmonies of Jessica Pearson & The East Wind will bind you in a timeless folkloric spell. Alchemizing roots, classic country, Americana and Celtic soundscapes, the trio spin tales of outlaw heroics, matriarchal power, resistance and resilience, and the unrelenting beauty of becoming who you are.

  With a "Performing Artist of the Year" win at Folk Music Ontario Awards 2025, three 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, and an upcoming two-part album produced by JUNO-winner Hill Kourkoutis and featuring an all-women team, JPEW is rising up to offer a powerful musical battle cry against the status quo.

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  Celtic Folk · Ontario

  Maggie's Wake

  Maggie's Wake is a high-energy folk roots band from Southwestern Ontario, blending Celtic-inspired fiddle, tin whistle and flute with the spirit of jazz, Americana, and classic country. Fronted by award-winning musicians Tara Dunphy and Lindsay Schindler, the group weaves rich harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and irresistible rhythm into a sound that's both timeless and fresh.

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  Theatre · Original Music · Saskatchewan

  Nathan

  I Have No Idea is a new play, with original music, that explores adult ADHD. A story about neurodiversity, the power of music, the importance of friendship, and how coffee makes everything better.

  I Have No Idea has played to sold-out houses across Saskatchewan, and led to countless audience members getting the support and validation that they need. With humour, beautiful music, and from-the-heart honesty, this play gives voice to the neurodivergent and those struggling to be heard.

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  Soul · Roots · Alberta

  Paul and the Feels

  Fate might be fickle but I've made up my mind.

  Paul & the Feels are a modern soul band with a 70s heart, holding nothing back, all-in from the count-in. Fronted by singer-songwriter Paul Fuellbrandt, the Feels mine hope from the grit of the daily grind.

  Every track hits with honesty and weight, driven by a working man's soul band. Wherever they find you, Paul & the Feels will meet you and move you.

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  Country · Folk · Alberta

  Ryan Lindsay

  Turn down the radio, set the dinner table and leave your hat at the door. Raised by small town Alberta, Ryan Lindsay's path should have been straight ahead. Instead, he felt more at home in the unfamiliar.

  Sailboat in the Prairies is his latest record, his fourth studio album. In these songs, you will recognize Lindsay's nostalgia for a more analog life. A paradoxical appreciation for the mundane, yet a longing for the unknown. While many of the songs were written between highway rest stops on a listening room tour across Texas, Lindsay kept himself anchored in the sounds of Canadian roots music. If you pay close attention, you might notice a subtle east coast rhythm or an oddly specific line that offers a lens into a stranger's life. Prairie cowboy music on the surface, he balances his performance with the layered narratives of a folk artist and his expressive guitar playing.

  Heartfelt and road-worn, Ryan Lindsay's show tells a story. His winsome country voice draws listeners in between harmonica solos, clever lines, and lyrics curious for life's honest moments. Sometimes it hits you hard, sometimes it makes you laugh, and sometimes at the end of the night, you feel like you just went somewhere.

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  Roots Pop · Manitoba

  Sweet Alibi

  At a Sweet Alibi show, you can expect a high-energy performance featuring soulful, roots-pop music highlighted by tight three-part harmonies combined with guitars, banjo and bass. Tom Power of CBC Radio aptly described them as "If Mumford and Sons and the Supremes were to produce a love child, they would call it Sweet Alibi."

  Live in concert is the perfect way to experience the songs from their latest album, Make A Scene, as the album's themes delve heavily into life on the road. A significant part of their show involves sharing intense heartfelt stories that deeply impact the listener. Even at larger festivals like the Winnipeg Folk Festival, they are praised for maintaining a charming and personal connection with the audience.

  Shows feature a mix of tracks from their multiple award-nominated albums, such as We've Got to, Walking In The Dark or Make A Scene, along with occasional covers.

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  Metis · Traditional · Manitoba

  TiBert et Douzie

  TiBert and Douzie are a multigenerational, multi-talented duo who take audiences of all ages on a captivating journey of thoughts and emotions through every song. With his trusty fiddle and turntable, Douzie reimagines traditional Metis tunes with a modern twist. At his side, TiBert, the Franco-Manitoban master storyteller and juggler, invites everyone to join the celebration with his jaw harp and a lively assortment of traditional percussion.

  Deeply rooted in Manitoba's French-Metis community as members of the Union nationale metisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba, TiBert and Douzie will have you dancing to the rhythm of pure joie de vivre!

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  Prairie Debut · Announcing Soon

  Artist to be announced

  Prairie Debut is a unique program that provides emerging Prairie artists with their first opportunity to showcase at a national performing arts conference. This year's Prairie Debut artist will be announced soon.