2009 Performers
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Bedouin Soundclash Pushing the boundaries that separate musical genres, Bedouin Soundclash combines the captivating intonations of lead singer, Jay Malinowski, with swaying rhythm guitar, hypnotic bass grooves and a tidy percussive backfill to create one of the most recognizable mixes of reggae, rock and soul on the Canadian music scene. www.bedouinsoundclash.com www.myspace.com/bedouinsoundclash |
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The Black Pioneer Heritage Singers Incorporating a wide variety of styles from field chants, rich spirituals, rollicking call and responses, and gospel standards, the Black Pioneer Heritage Singers are actual descendants of slaves who helped to settle Alberta in the early 1900′s. Led by founder and director, Junetta Jamerson, the Heritage Singers relay the pain of bondage of their forefathers and the celebration of their freedom through tight harmonies, soaring vocals, hand rhythms and lush vocal dynamics. www.myspace.com/blackpioneerheritagesingers |
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Blind God A bluesy duo from the lower mainland whose dark sound and beautifully honest lyrics have been compared to Ben Harper meets Massive Attack. Blind God has the goods to take it all the way. www.blindgod.org www.myspace.com/blindgod1 |
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Ana Bon-Bon Exuding an old-time blues meets sexy cabaret style, Ana Bon-Bon’s full-bodied voice, lively accordion playing and bon-temps vibe are guaranteed to light up any stage! With a mighty voice and commanding stage presence that has drawn frequent comparisons to Nina Simone and Mahalia Jackson, Miss Bon-Bon takes versatility to a whole new level, ranging from folk-cafe style to full costumed cabaret hostess and performer. www.myspace.com/anabonbon |
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Cedric Burnside and Lightnin’ Malcolm Cedric Burnside earned his chops playing drums for his grand daddy, the legendary R.L. Burnside since the age of 13. Walking the line between powerhouse blues and psychedelic rock, drummer Cedric Burnside and guitarist Lightnin’ Malcolm whip up a gritty elixir of Memphis funk, Mississippi traditional, and rhythmically charged country blues – proof positive that the title of their 2008 release, “2 Man Wrecking Crew” nails it to a T. The duo was recently awarded of the most prestigious blues awards in the business – the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut.www.myspace.com/jukejointduo www.lightninmalcolm.com/home.html www.intrepidartists.com/cedricburnsideandlightninmalcolm.html |
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CircusWest – Avatar Circus Project Avatar Circus Project is a contemporary circus performance featuring Westcoast circus professionals who are mastering the arts of physical theatre, new media and comedy. Children will develop skills, confidence and passion while attending the mini circus school workshops at the festival. The circus is the place to learn to fly, and to experience the physically ‘impossible.’ www.circuswest.com www.avatarcircus.com |
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Darondo
Possessing a wicked falsetto and funkadelic grooves that rivaled contemporaries of his day like Sly Stone, Al Green and Curtis Mayfield, this 70′s funk and soul crooner was one of the founding fathers of authentic soul music in the San Francisco area and is now enjoying a resurgence in popularity with some of his more recognizable tunes like “Didn’t I” and “Legs”. |
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Sherman Doucette Recognized as one of the best blues singer/harp players in the biz, Sherman “Tank” Doucette, has shared his passion for blues, soul and boogie on stage with John Lee Hooker, Pine Top Perkins, Long John Baldry, and countless others. A staple of the Vancouver music scene for over 30 years, this bad to the bone bluesman plays with a passion and conviction few can deliver. www.shermandoucette.com www.myspace.com/shermandoucette |
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Dr. John & The Lower 911 One of the most revered and prominent music figures of the last half century, Dr. John cooks up a roilin’ pot of N’yawlins funk ‘n jazz, untamed boogie, and smokin’ southern blues, seasoned with his own irrepressible swamp-voodoo style which he describes simply as “fonky”. This Louisiana Music Hall Of Famer’s unmistakable bourbon-and-sandpaper voice and vibrant onstage persona decked in brightly colored robes and Mardi Gras-esque feathered headdresses, landed him in the limelight in the 70′s with hits like “Makin’ Whoopee” (recorded with Ricki Lee Jones) and his signature chartbuster, “Right Place, Wrong Time”. www.drjohn.org www.myspace.com/drjohnthenitetripper |
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Elliott BROOD 2009 Roots and Traditional Album of the Year Juno nominee, Elliott BROOD, has developed a reputation as one of the busiest and most exciting live bands in Canada, sharing stages with Wilco, Blue Rodeo, Broken Social Scene, Corb Lund and countless others. With a style that has been categorized as death country, blackgrass and even urban hillbilly, this band’s energetic sound won them a Juno in 2006 for Best Roots/Traditional Album and the 2006 Galaxie Rising Star Award for Best New Band . |
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En Karma Vancouver’s premiere bhangra band! With an electrifying rush, their sound floods body, mind, and soul, striking the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary with elements of rock, reggae and R&B thrown in. Grab your sunglasses and get ready for the fireworks, En Karma is here. www.enkarma.ca www.myspace.com/enkarma |
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Firzle the Clown Firzle is a four-year old character who just loves clowning around! She was born to the wildly creative imagination of local performer Roxy Roth, whose multiple talents include side-splitting tom-foolery, face-painting and balloon art. She has knack for musical fun too! When not performing her feel-good antics at schools, corporate events, and private functions, Roxy teaches music and music therapy. www.roxyfx.com |
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Flock, Arnold, Hopkins Trio The Flock, Arnold, Hopkins Trio came about when three friends from the Okanagan, Luke Arnold, Bryn Flock, and Lyle Hopkins, came to know each other through their passion for Jazz and improvised music. Since their conception the trio has been playing through out the Okanagan; Performing with Local greats such as Gerry Sholomenko and Flora Ware. The two guitarists accompanied by the double bass is an elegant and intimate context for the timeless standards they perform. |
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Dominique Fraissard One of Canada’s premier songwriters and performers, Dominique Fraissard’s inventive techniques on six and twelve string acoustic guitars beautifully accentuate the deeply soothing tonality of his voice and intimate songwriting. As his star rises, he is in ever-increasing demand supporting artists like the John Butler Trio, Jack Johnson, Roger McGuinn, Rory Mcleod, Andy White, and Penelope Swales among many others. www.drinkfromthetrees.com www.myspace.com/dominiquefraissard |
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Grady Grady is an Austin, TX swamp blues/rock band fronted by former Big Sugar lead man, Gordie Johnson. With picks on all his fingers, Johnson’s paint-peeling slide guitar and gut-splitting vocals rip it up in this razor-sharp power trio that includes the sprawling bass and backing vocals of “Big” Ben Richardson, and the gunshot drumming of Nina “Drumbellina” Singh. www.shadygrady.net www.myspace.com/gradyaustin |
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Aaron Gregg One of the most original family entertainers around, Aaron Gregg is unconventional, irrepressible and positively irresistible. Combining zany circus stunts and stupefying antics, Aaron sets out at a dizzying pace to, not only tickle your funny bone, but wrestle it to the ground until you beg for mercy. His show is a hilarious hodgepodge of no holds barred physical comedy that has been featured on national television in eight countries around the world and he holds the Guinness World Record for chainsaw juggling! Keep an eye out for Aaron and his comedy as he performs double duty as one of our emcees on the TD Canada Trust Main Stage. www.stuntsuperstar.com/ |
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Herting Verburg Power Trio Jake Verburg is a local guitarist influenced by music from all over the world. The past few years he has been exploring gypsy jazz and acoustic music. Joining him are two more local multi-instrumentalists, Darrin Herting and Leon Power, instilling their own equally inventive influences into this trio’s unique sound. www.myspace.com/jacobusmusic |
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Veda Hille One of the most genuinely original musicians in Canada, this talented singer-songwriter mines the depths of her own personal triumphs and tragedies in intimate explorations of love, death, religion and reckoning, leading us on a beautifully raw journey through the sublime and subtle absurdities of life. www.vedahille.com www.myspace.com/vedahille |
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Horace X A surprise return of one of the Festival’s most popular past acts! Behold a rampant mix of Irish/Indian fiddles, jazzy eastern European saxophones, ragga ranting, samples and drumming in a driving assault on all your senses. Dumping dancehall, punk, rock, Balkan, club, and other styles into their own personal blender, Horace X turns out a manic mix of organic and digital, live and sequenced, and traditional and contemporary sounds – a virtual multicultural melting pot of styles. www.horacex.com www.myspace.com/horacex |
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Hoven Droven A contagious musical goulash of Swedish folk, full-on percussion, blistering fiddle work, and fierce guitars, as Hoven Droven takes traditional Swedish melodies and rocks them hard ‘til the windows rattle wide open and the walls come tumbling down. www.hovendroven.com www.myspace.com/hovendroven |
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Kiki The Eco Elf With a topper of bright green tresses and a broad palette of face paints to transform you into whatever your imagination fancies, Kiki, the Eco Elf will take your environmental blues and colour them green in an interactive, fun and educational performance filled with thought provoking songs and eco-friendly advice. www.myspace.com/kikitheecoelf |
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LeE HARVeY OsMOND Lee Harvey Osmond emerged as the artistic alter-ego of former Junkhouse leadman, Tom Wilson, on the Cowboy Junkies release, “Kennedy Suites”, a collection of songs based on events of the day JFK was assassinated. Wilson describes the music of Lee Harvey Osmond as “acid folk” while others interpret its underworld eeriness as good organic stuff with a sort of Junkhouse meets the Cowboy Junkies quality. Evolving into a full-fledged cooperative of the best Canadian talent, Lee Harvey Osmond currently features Wilson on vocals/acoustic guitar, Jesse Goldstein on pedal steel, Brent Titcomb on various instruments and Ray Farrugia on percussion. www.myspace.com/lhosmond |
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David Ross MacDonald A frequent session player with the Waifs, Aussie folk singer, David Ross MacDonald, sets sail on a sublime instrumental voyage, captivating the listener with free-spirited vocals, intricate fingerstyle guitar playing and artistic leaps in songwriting that stay the course the whole way through. www.davidrossmacdonald.com www.myspace.com/davidrossmacdonald |
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Ari(el) Neufeld Winner of the 2008 BC Interior Music Award for Male Performer of the Year, Ari Neufeld’s uniquely raw and organic observations of life are intrinsically woven into a warm musical quilt of intelligent multi-hued lyrics, supremely textured acoustic guitar work, and complex melodies, all neatly complemented by measured scoops and stomps on a little wooden box he salvaged from his grandfather’s tool shed. www.arineufeld.com www.myspace.com/arineufeld |
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Sierra Noble A fiddle extraordinaire who moves effortlessly between Celtic, bluegrass, jazz, world beat and other music styles without missing a beat, Sierra Noble amazes audiences with her brilliant instrumentals and infectious down to earth charm. www.sierranoble.ca www.myspace.com/sierranoble |
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Opening Axe With the release of their debut cd “Accidental” in 2003, Opening Axe burst onto the Okanagan music scene winning the top prize in the Okanagan Grown Band Competition. “A Few Years Down The Road”, their sophomoric 2008 release, is a stunning showcase of polished creativity and maturity in songwriting, rich with gorgeous harmonies and sophisticated guitar work from our own two local up-and-comers, Bonnie McGrew and Kelsey Ngai. www.openingaxe.ca www.myspace.com/openingaxe |
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Ana Popovic One of the most promising young blues talents around, Ana Popovic is well on her way to the top ranks of the European blues scene with a steamy mix of traditional blues, elements of R&B and soul, and an occasional side of jazz thrown in. This 2003 W. C. Handy Award nominee for Best New Artist is the only continental European artist ever nominated in the category and also the first European artist to perform at the awards. www.anapopovic.com www.myspace.com/anapopovic |
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Donné Roberts Band – African Pow-wow Project Take one part Donné Roberts and his band with music steeped in the rhythmic vitality of his Malagasy homeland; one part Marc Nadjiwan, whose cutting edge take on Aboriginal music makes him one of the most avant-guard First Nations musicians ever; then infuse it with the astonishing vocal range and powerful stage presence of Metis performing artist, Jani Lauzon, and you have one of the most exciting triple threat collaborative efforts imaginable, crossing over into new and uncharted musical territory with an innovative and ground-breaking African pow-wow. www.donneroberts.com www.myspace.com/donneroberts |
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Rana Santacruz Labeled as “Irish mariachi” and “tortilla bluegrass”, Rana Santacruz re-invents conventional Mexican accordion music ranging in styles from the lively Son Jarocho – the traditional music of Veracruz, to colorful and melodramatic serenades, bending it to his will with a fresh and decidedly alternative folk/punk attitude. www.ranasantacruz.com www.myspace.com/ranasantacruz |
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Samantha Schultz As the youngest nominee in the Young Performer of the Year category at the 2006 Canadian Folk Music Awards, Samantha Shultz’s remarkable talents belie her young years. At just 17, this up-and-coming singer/songwriter out of Edmonton will rock you with her powerfully soulful vocals or move you to tears with a quiet folk ballad. Most definitely, a star on the rise. www.samanthaschultz.com www.myspace.com/samanthaschultzmusic |
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Youssoupha Sidibe Youssoupha Sidibe is one of the world’s most virtuosic kora players, fusing western, reggae, and African techniques into angelic songs that overflow with soothing vocals, soulfully carrying devotional lyrics sung in Wolof, Arabic, French and English. Youssoupha’s healing music inspires and empowers people of all ages, celebrating the human experience and exploring the vitality of African culture. www.myspace.com/youssouphasidibe |
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The Six String Nation The Six String Nation guitar is the brainchild of visionary, Jowi Taylor, the multiple award winning host of CBC Radio’s “Global Village” and “The Wire”. It embodies 64 separate components of wood, metal, and organic materials such as bone and minerals, expertly amalgamated into a fascinating conduit of Canuckdom by master luthier, George Rizsanyi. Pieces of Pierre Trudeau’s paddle, the Bluenose II, the lighthouse that received the first distress signal from the RMS Titanic, Wayne Gretzky’s hockey stick, Nancy Greene-Raine’s skiis, a 300 year old Golden Spruce sacred to the Haida, and a portion of the oldest rock in the world found near Great Bear Lake are all woven into this extraordinary instrument. To learn more about who has played the Six String Nation guitar (including 2009 Festival artist, Serena Ryder) visit www.sixstringnation.com. While you’re there, check out the Guitar Explorer page which has a feature that allows you to click on various spots on the guitar to see where each piece is from (very cool). www.sixstringnation.com |
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Souljah Fyah Winners of Kelowna’s Rockanagan Festival and the 2008 Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Urban Recording, Souljah Fyah is a high-energy female fronted reggae band out of Edmonton with powerful beats and a wicked stage show that recently also earned them the title of “Top Reggae Band” at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards. Their one love message of peace and social consciousness transcends far beyond the traditional domain of the irie genre, while their fully charged live performances literally set the stage on fyah every time they get their groove on! www.souljahfyah.com www.myspace.com/souljahfyah |
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Soul of John Black Soul, gospel, funk and hip-hop are the well from which The Soul of John Black (aka John Bigham) takes a long satisfying drink that spills forth into his own cool, confident repertoire of soul, hip hop and rock, redefining soul music for a whole new generation. www.thesoulofjohnblack.com www.myspace.com/thesoulofjohnblack |
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Tiny Bill Cody |
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Maryem Tollar & Roula Said, with Rick Shadrach Lazar |
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