The Anti-Queens

Since 2012, The Anti-Queens, led by Emily Bones, have been a force in punk rock. Their sound, as defiant as their name suggests, blends raw energy with profound lyrical depth. In 2015, Valerie Knox joined on guitar and backing vocals, previously known for her work with Black Cat Attack. Before officially joining, Valerie led the band on their inaugural USA tour, showcasing her prowess in the punk scene. Her role as a second guitarist and vocalist added complexity and depth to their live show, setting the stage for their rise. Before their debut full-length album, they made waves with EPs “Grow Up / Stay Young” (2012) and “Start Running” (2015). Their self-titled album released in 2019 under Stomp Records was a significant milestone for The Anti-Queens, a moment enriched by the addition of bassist Michael Crusty. This album not only solidified their standing in the punk rock world but also showcased their evolution as a band, resonating deeply with fans and critics alike. The Anti-Queens embody resilience, creativity, and a deep connection with their audience. Their ongoing passion for creating and performing stands as a testament to their adaptability, inspiring audiences through their electrifying shows and unwavering dedication to the spirit of punk rock. The Anti-Queens are: Emily Bones (lead vocals/guitar), Valerie Knox (lead guitar/vocals) and Michael Crusty (bass).

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Em Armstrong

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Em Armstrong has been performing since the age of 14. Known for her crushing vocals, she now takes the stage delivering energetic performances and bringing new life to the pop-rock genre. Em’s passion ignites from likeminded musical rebels such as Hayley Williams of Paramore, Alanis Morissette, and Avril Lavigne. She knows her sound will move you in more ways than one; giving a voice to the voiceless, and a soundtrack to your crashout.

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Aysanabee

Join two-time JUNO Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee  (pronounced ACE-in-abbey) performing in support of his sophomore album Edge Of The Earth. Following two incredible Canadian support tours with Allison Russell and Dan Mangan, an Eastern Canadian tour, as well as countless global festival appearances, it is now time for Aysanabee to take center stage and share his powerful music — including the radio hit singles “Nomads,” “We Were Here,” “Somebody Else,” and his newest radiocharting single “Edge Of The Earth” — along with his engaging storytelling. The alternative indie artist, of Sucker Clan from the Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, now calls Toronto home. He began making music under his mother’s maiden name when moments of stillness allowed him to slow down and create music that truly represented him as an artist. He’s been compared to Hozier and Kings of Leon, among others. In March 2024, Aysanabee made history as the first Indigenous artist to win theJUNO Awards for Alternative Album of the Year and the coveted Songwriter of the Year for his EP Here and Now. His debut album, Watin (Nov 2022), named after his grandfather, combined music and journalism with artistry and expression and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. Since 2021, he has performed over 300 shows across Canada and globally, including tours abroad with Kim Churchill (AU) and Skye Wallace (IT), and international festivals Reeperbahn (DE), The Great Escape (UK), SXSW Sydney (AU), Tallinn Music Week (ES), and AmericanaFestUK (GB).

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646yf4t

646yf4t (pronounced “Babyfat”) obliterates genre boundaries, blending sounds so unpredictably that even he struggles to define them. “I just keep it real. Life’s messy — my production, my storytelling, all of it. But I do it anyway, ’cause that’s what’s true. That’s between me and God.” Hailing from Oshawa, Ontario, 646yf4t — born Zachary Simmonds — operates at the intersection of raw talent and sonic alchemy. Raised in a musical family, Zach spent years honing a signature style that bends genre while maintaining emotional precision—a duality that’s made him one of Canada’s most compelling emerging forces. He came up as a producer before deciding the only way to fully realize his vision was to step into it himself. In 2025, he did exactly that. His debut EP, Growing Pains (Sincerely Yours) announced him as a singular voice: stream-of-consciousness storytelling over genre-bending soundscapes, moving between alt-R&B, punk-rock, and something entirely his own. The project is a coming-of-age story told without flinching — heartbreak, faith, isolation, and the will to prevail through all of it. He closed out the year with a feature on his brother Daniel Caesar’s Son of Spergy (Republic), appearing alongside Bon Iver, Sampha, and Blood Orange on the Billboard 200 Top 10 album. 2026 marks his first steps on stage. He made his live debut supporting Chris LaRocca at Longboat Hall in Toronto before taking the Danforth Music Hall stage alongside Strings From Paris — proving his world translates just as powerfully in a room full of people as it does on record.

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Blk Orchid

Blk Orchid is a four-time JUNO-nominated producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with an impressive track record in the music industry. She has collaborated with renowned artists like Godfather of Canadian Hip Hop  Maestro Fresh Wes and dancehall superstar Red Rat, and her knack of fusing genres together to make a new sound makes her an artist to look out for.

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Siobhan Bodrug

Indie-pop/rock artist Siobhan Bodrug is one of Canada’s most exciting young voices. At just 21, her vocal performances have been described as “impeccable” (Lemon Fresh Music) and “impressive” (Indie Music Center). Siobhan’s retro-modern indie-pop evokes the vulnerability of Billie Eilish, while channeling the commanding presence of Alanis Morissette. Siobhan has captivated audiences at iconic venues such as Rockwood Music Hall in NYC, and at major Canadian festivals including Winnipeg Folk Festival, Lakeshore Music Festival, Markham Village Music Festival, and Summerfolk. She has opened for indie darlings Stars, Juno Award–winners Dizzy, Kasador, and Canadian icons Joel Plaskett, The Watchmen and Elliott Brood. This summer, Siobhan will embark on her first international tour, including a performance at Summerfest—the world’s largest music festival—appearing on the same bill as global superstars Ed Sheeran and Post Malone. Her forthcoming debut album “Imperfect” coming later this year, marks a defining moment in her artistic evolution.

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Born in the Eighties

Born In The Eighties is a Hamilton party band that brings the best of ’80s dance party hits with memorable ’90s pop, rap and RnB classics, and the occasional ’00s club banger. They’ve performed at destination festivals across the GTHA, as well as moonlighting as a wedding band in the summer months. Armed with their keytar, drum machine and an extensive song library, BITE never fails to compel a dance floor.

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Mariel Buckley

Unapologetically genuine, wry, and soft-hearted – Mariel Buckley has planted her flag firmly as a songwriter who’s in it for the long haul. She aims to find herself squarely on the fringes and exactly where she belongs: singing and writing songs for the underdog. Buckley’s signature candour has been charming audiences across North America since her 2018 debut album, Driving In The Dark.  She has shared the stage with K.D. Lang, Bros Landreth, Orville Peck and Matt Andersen, toured Europe and mesmerized crowds at top-tier music festivals in Canada and the US. Her 2022 critically acclaimed follow up album, Everywhere I Used To Be (produced by Marcus Paquin) features heavy synth, swoon worthy pedal steel, toe-tapping catharsis, signed, sealed and delivered by Buckley’s heavenly croon. The resulting collection is a driving, swooning, toe-tapping catharsis; sealed and delivered by Buckley’s signature brand of angst-ridden alt-folk. On the Polaris Prize long-listed album, Buckley and Paquin made an intentional move towards decidedly pop/contemporary production, and quickly found themselves in a daily rhythm of deconstructing and rebuilding each song to find its full potential. Backed by some of Canada’s finest session musicians, their collective efforts are showcased with abundant heart, and skillful flourishes while respecting the space necessary for the songs to speak. Perhaps her mysterious ambiguity around genre, traditional storytelling, and identity is what gives these new songs such an honest shine. Buckley continues to be a trailblazer in her own right, with a firm grip on the steering wheel and a destination in mind — we’re just happy to be along for the ride. 

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Bye Parula

Formed just as the world was being plunged into the darkness of the pandemic, Bye Parula would emerge from the COVID quietude with an authentically folky yet sneakily funky sound that has carried the Montreal traditions of indie-rock experimentation and community collaboration into the 2020s. Singer/bassist Loïc Calatayud-Sola, guitarist Sebastián Riquelme, and drummer Sergio D’Isanto cultivated an ornate art-pop aesthetic that followed in the feisty footsteps of Montreal eccentrics like Patrick Watson and Plants and Animals. With their 2026 sophomore release, Something Out of Nothing, Bye Parula present a mercurial mix that draws from the orchestral funk of Serge Gainsbourg, the wounded melodies of Elliott Smith, the worldly rhythms of Talking Heads, and the homespun R&B of Dijon, all infused with a ‘70s cinematic sensibility that blurs the line between sun-dappled, soft-focus fantasia and urbane sophistication.

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Capitol

Capitol celebrate their sophomore LP Sounds Like a Place in their hometown of Hamilton, with friends Bonnie Trash. Sounds Like a Place bears a mix of the industrial, electric hum of Capitol’s hometown and the shoegazey dream-pop that they’ve been leaning into since their debut single, 2017’s English Girls. This time heavily inspired by alternative indie artists of the ’90s/’00s and still tinged with a dash of ’80s New Wave, the album weaves in and out of genre and decade. Though it retains the signature music-out-of-time abstraction that has pervaded their previous work, it is also defined with a new level of clarity. Just as every song is written as a memento of a moment or a feeling, Capitol hopes each new listen will become tethered to a time and, of course, to a place.  

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Charissa

Charissa is a Canadian singer-songwriter whose music is grounded in storytelling and elevated by a voice that stops people in their tracks. Warm, rich and unmistakably her own, Charissa has always carried a big voice — one that feels both intimate and powerful, capable of holding a room in complete stillness. Her songs move effortlessly between stripped-down acoustic moments and full-band arrangements, often weaving in experimental textures that push beyond genre boundaries, blending Americana, soul, folk and country. At the heart of it all is emotion — music rooted in vulnerability, reflection and the courage to say what often goes unspoken. Charissa released her debut EP, Love and Be Loved, with Coalition Music Records in 2022, produced by Colin Cripps of Blue Rodeo —a project that introduced her as an artist with depth and soul well beyond her years. Continuing on her musical journey, Charissa released music independently, sharing impactful songs like “Can’t Hold Me Down”, “Lonely Lately”, “What You’re Out Looking For”, along with her original Christmas song “Wrapped In Paper”, which earned airplay on SiriusXM Radio. Whether performing alone with a guitar or backed by a full band, Charissa captivates audiences with her emotional honesty and commanding presence. Her music doesn’t chase attention — it earns it, lingering long after the final note.

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Chore

Chore was formed in the town of Dunnville, ON in late 1994, by brothers Mike (Bass) and Chris Bell (Guitar, Vox) and David Dunham (drums). Fellow Dunnvillian, Brian Pettigrew was later recruited as a second bassist, at which point Mike transitioned to guitar and bass, employing a double-necked instrument comprised of both. This lineup released Another Plebeian (1997) and Take My Mask and Breathe (1999) through Hamilton, ON’s flagship indie label, Sonic Unyon. Chore toured Canada numerous times in support of each record, building a niche audience as they went. Shortly after Mask’s release, Pettigrew was replaced by guitarist/vocalist Mitch Bowden (also a fellow Dunnvillian) with Mike returning his focus to bass guitar. Their subsequent videos for “General Warning” and “Aloha” received numerous airings on MuchMusic, with the former being featured on the ‘Best of 1999’ episode of The Wedge, the station’s flagship alternative program, gaining some traction for the band. Chore mark II released The Coastaline Fire in 2002 to critical acclaim. Tours of Canada and the US followed, accompanied by a video for the album’s lead-off and most popular track, “The Hitchhiker”. They amicably dissolved in 2004 but resurfaced briefly in 2010 for a short run of live performances around Southern Ontario. The original core trio of the Bell brothers and Dunham reconvened in 2017 to begin writing again, resulting in the 2025 release of their fourth LP, Oswego Park.

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Carrie Clark

Since the late 1990s, Carrie Clark has been a familiar presence within the Hamilton, Ontario music scene, contributing her bass and vocal talents to myriad albums and live performances by local artists. Most recently, Clark has become a full-fledged member of alt-country outfit Matt Paxton & The Pintos [now simply The Pintos], whose 2023 EP Tornado received international acclaim. However, since 2020 Clark has been creating her own music, and subsequently released her debut EP, Roll Me Up Integrity, two years later. She has now followed it up with Resistor, a six-track collection that highlights her expansive musical range.

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Bernadette Connors

Bernadette Connors is a Hamilton-based singer-songwriter whose voice feels both powerful and deeply personal — the kind that doesn’t just perform a song, but lives inside it. Raised in her family’s small-town music store in Georgina, Ontario, Bernadette grew up surrounded by instruments, lessons, and community. Music wasn’t a dream she chased later in life — it was woven into her everyday rhythm from childhood. She learned early that songs are more than entertainment; they’re a way of processing life, connecting to others, and finding your way home. Her songs move through love, partnership, doubt, growth, and grounded devotion — the real, human chapters that shape us all. In every setting, she invites listeners into something honest and connective — not just a performance, but a shared experience. Her album Monarch, produced by John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews, became a creative milestone during the pandemic, celebrating small-town life and community. Her 2024 single “History” showcased a bold new chapter in her artistry, leading to “White Magnolia”, co-written with MacDonald and Stu Weinberg. With performances alongside Suzie McNeil and The Trews (including a duet with Colin MacDonald), Bernadette continues to make her mark on the Canadian music scene. Her music tells stories of resilience, love, and life’s journey, making her an artist to watch.

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Marshall Dane

Canadian country powerhouse Marshall Dane returns to the airwaves with his new single “Somebody Somewhere,” an upbeat, reflective anthem that reframes loss through gratitude and strength. Rooted in North Americana and country-pop influences, the track celebrates the enduring power of love, honouring the people who shaped us and who continue to travel with us long after they’re gone. Emotionally open and unapologetically himself, Marshall Dane is known for incorporating American Sign Language (ASL) into his live performances and videos, deepening his connection with audiences and reflecting his commitment to inclusion. Following his successful All Access Tour of soft-seat theatres, Dane steps into 2026 with renewed artistic clarity. “Somebody Somewhere” marks a turning point for Marshall with a bold, uncompromising statement about honouring love, embracing silver linings, and making music that feels unmistakably his. Using Sign Language to convey his musical message to the Deaf, this son of a preacher and middle brother of six, Dane was raised to be a minister. Now, he’s is a Canadian Singer-Songwriter-Recording Artist and five-time Male Artist Of The Year Nominee (CMAO) who writes Country songs that cross genres and bridge the gap between mainstream pop, rock and new country.

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DJ’s Flying Circus

DJ’s Flying Circus is a dynamic, genre-bending collective of McMaster University students and artists led by Deyontae (Dj) Patterson. We are dedicated to celebrating the rich, enduring legacy of Black-influenced music and culture while fostering a vibrant, inclusive community. Fusing the sophisticated horn lines of Jazz and the rhythmic pulse of Reggae with the infectious groove of Funk, Rock, and Soul, they create an entirely original soundscape. The “Circus” represents more than just a musical ensemble; it is a creative umbrella under which collaborators gather—from visual artists to dancers—to create a cultural convergence of the extraordinary. This collective is rooted in the principle of Sankofa: reaching back into our history to retrieve influences from the past as the fuel for our future innovation. By centering the power of community, we transform the stage into a vibrant safe space for cultural exchange, ensuring that every artist—regardless of ethnic background, sexuality, or gender—finds a crucial sense of belonging and a platform to uplift their voice. The band’s highly anticipated debut album Strange Brew is a psychedelic journey into Jazz and Soul that captures the raw, unadulterated energy of the Circus.

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Dumb Crush

Out of the ashes of three young lifetimes of ambition, love, failure, success and a million and one PBRs comes Dumb Crush. Surging onto the scene in 2025 with six-track EP What’s Gotten Into People?, the band navigates a fever dream of the dregs of our time on this planet, forced to survive with shoebox condo capitalism and the devastating weight of nostalgia. Follow-up EP Get Up And Go arrived alongside a Cross-Canada opening slot for Grandson in iconic venues like Commodore Ballroom, MTelus, Burton Cummings Theatre and The Phoenix. Their latest single “Had It” is a sort of commentary on the Kafka-esque nature of late-stage hustle culture and hyper-individuality maxxing that has dominated modern life. Just one year into the project, Dumb Crush’s frenetic energy has been on full display at packed-out shows from Vancouver to Halifax — and in a world whose signals grow louder and louder, a place that provides only questions, Dumb Crush has found a cure for what’s been tearing us limb from limb, and heart from heart. 

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8Banger

8Banger is a rock and roll act with half a century of combined rock and roll experience, collectively, between members; having played the smallest of venues to the largest of stages. The band brings together extensive performing experience with catchy, prodigious, songwriting. Performances are electrifying, momentous, and unrelenting; giving audiences no room for rest. Influenced extensively by rock and roll bands/artists from the 1950’s through 1990’s, 8Banger curates an indelible, melodic, punchy, “riff rock” sound with a modern identity, built for the stage.

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Ebril

The work of 22-year old Iraqi-Canadian artist Ebril blends the outside world with the deep confines of her insides to produce works carefully crafted with intimate songwriting and distinct floral production. Her self produced album In Copula plays on themes of identity, adolescence, and biology. Coming from a science background, Ebril references the environment around her to describe the emotions and experiences of growing up as a first generation immigrant, using flora and fauna to represent her longing for freedom and flight. Struggling to find a space that felt right to explore her unique expression of culture and art, Ebril’s world building through In Copula achieves the realm of space she needed to feel connected to her real world with sounds recorded from inside her room of the world happening outside. In Copula takes listeners on a journey from dusk to dawn, drawing from a wide range of genres, including folk, ambient, and shoegaze. Ebril weaves songs together with field recordings of nature taken from outside her bedroom window in Hamilton, Ontario and sounds captured from the streets of her childhood home city Amman, Jordan, Ebril tells her story with each song capturing a moment in her life and a narrative of its own, weaving songs together with field recordings of nature taken from outside her bedroom window in Hamilton, Ontario and sounds captured from the streets of her childhood home city Amman, Jordan. Songs like “Stranger in You’ sonically set the scenery with ambient atmospheres of insects and birds along with a nostalgic electronic and acoustic instrumental to create a serene pocket for listeners to experience the music. Songs like “Anticipate Heartbreak” – a lush electronic shoegaze track that evokes a melancholic atmosphere for longing – places listeners in a purgatory space between identity and belonging with field recordings captured from Ebril’s home town in Jordan. Ebril’s debut In Copula is a glimpse into her vast range for pushing the envelope of song production to build individual worlds with sound and story telling through unique songwriting.

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Elfrida

Elfrida is an indie pop rock band from Hamilton and the GTA, blending the warmth of vintage rock with the sharp edges and melodies of modern indie pop. Their sound balances nostalgia and momentum—hooks that feel familiar, lyrics that feel lived-in, and grooves that linger longer than expected. What began as a few recordings between guitarists, singers, and songwriters Sandro Mastromatteo and Matt Kristan slowly turned into something undeniable. After cycling through early lineups, they found the pieces they didn’t know they were missing—bass player Gordon Bosiljevac from Mississauga, whose rhythmic instincts don’t just hold the floor, they elevate it. Guitarist Matt Del Conte followed, bringing a melodic bite, songwriting finesse, and harmonies that cracked the band wide open. The final spark came from Hamilton native Adam Filice, whose rock-and-roll-driven drums shaped the pulse of their debut album, Cold, Drunk, and Stoned, and cemented who Elfrida really is.The band’s name is a nod to Elfrida—the place where three of them grew up and where this whole thing quietly began. Every show, every song, is still tied to that past—but the music is written with eyes forward.

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The Fabulous Wonderfuls

The Fabulous Wonderfuls are an Old Time Country duo from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: A memorable booking for festivals, ranch openings, weddings, and honky tonks. They’re straight up enough to make your ears smile, and crooked enough to make you fall in love.

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Feura

Blending punk energy, theatre-kid chaos, and stadium-sized ambition, Feura‘s music hits like voltage, powered by a simple belief: life is too short to make yourself smaller for other people. Fresh off the release of her debut album Lose Your Head, appearances at JUNOFest presented by CBC and Pride Toronto, and support slot with Silverstein, Big Wreak, The OBGMs, NOBRO, Panic Shack, and Cam Kahain, the Toronto-based alternative artist is building a reputation for explosive live performances and a message that resonates far beyond the stage. Feura has built a fast-growing digital audience across TikTok and Instagram, with a combined following of over 180K and multiple viral videos reaching over a 1M views. What started as performance clips and behind-the-scenes moments has evolved into a community. Fans are also increasingly gathering in direct community spaces, including an active Discord, where that conversation continues beyond algorithm cycles. As Lose Your Head continues to push outward, Feura is proving that this project is not just a moment, but a statement with real momentum behind it.

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Ariana Fig

Ariana Fig is a Hamilton-born singer-songwriter whose craft blends vulnerability, storytelling, and genre-defying musicality. Rooted in classical violin training yet drawn to the expansiveness of indie, folk, rock, and alternative sounds, Fig has developed a songwriting voice that is as unpredictable as it is distinct. Her lyrics are known for their raw honesty and layered emotional depth, while her melodies transform personal reflection into anthems that resonate widely. Her songwriting has already earned national recognition. Her single Running Man was awarded SOCAN’s Honorary Young Canadian Songwriter Award, a distinction that affirmed her unique voice among Canada’s emerging talents. She has also received support from FACTOR and the National Arts Centre of Canada, further validating the artistic and cultural impact of her work. Fig’s music has reached audiences across the country through airplay on CBC, SiriusXM, and Toronto’s 102.1 The Edge, introducing listeners to her distinctive fusion of lyrical intimacy and sonic ambition. As a live performer, she has brought her songs to major stages including Departure Festival, Sound of Music Festival, and NXNE, each performance showcasing her ability to create connection through words and melodies that feel both personal and universal.

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Ian Flare

Ian Flare began in an unfinished basement somewhere in Hamilton, Ontario. And while he’s still in that basement, he has spent a considerable amount of time building a world around his music. Currently entirely self produced; from the songs, to the filming, to the boring stuff. Ian Flare delivers his new EP WARM: Four songs of digital-anti-digital guitar laden jams, filled with melancholy lyrics. Hopefully he’ll find his way out of the basement.

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Floating Mansions

Floating Mansions is a Canadian, conventionally attractive, semi-socially adjusted indie-folk-rock band from Hamilton, Ontario. Swipe right if you like long walks on the beach.

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Gizmo

Gizmo are Charlottetown rockers inspired by the guitar-damaged pop of 1990s American slacker bands and their contemporaries on Canada’s east coast. A 120 Minutes band for the Gen Z set, they breathe new life into their vintage influences with a distinctive songwriting style and frenetic live show. They emerged to acclaim with 2023’s Buddy System EP and are readying a forthcoming full-length debut, produced by Alex Edkins (METZ, Weird Nightmare), and Loel Campbell (Wintersleep).

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Golden Feather

Golden Feather is a project started by Steve Kiely and Brad Germain, inspired by their love of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, and other bands that like to jam and take the listeners on a musical journey. Close friends for years, Kiely and Germain had just finally gotten to writing music together in the early part of 2019. What started out as a weekly hang for the two in Brad’s basement recording demos, quickly turned into them having to find more like-minded musicians to help them bring their musical ideas to life. The group was set to play its first show in March 2020 when the global pandemic hit, suddenly ending all hopes of live performance. Brad and Steve, along with bassist Ronson and guitarist Chris Wheeler worked on the songs remotely and recorded their debut album entitled Light On Water. Not long after its November 2020 release, Gareth Inkster joined the group full-time on keys, with that lineup first showcased on 2023 live album Welcome\\Release. Wheeler departed the band as they began work on their ambitious debut studio album, the double album Golden Feather (released Sept 2024 via Sonic Unyon), with saxophonist Murray Heaton stepping in. Supporting that release, the band toured extensively across Ontario and beyond. Golden Feather arrives at Warehouse on the radiant ripples of that album’s live follow-up, Cosmic Rays (released July 2025 via Sonic Unyon), which introduced new member Daniel Walton (Wooly Mantis, The Dreamland Band). Golden Feather’s show — an evening of open-hearted, Dead-style jams — is full of dancing, singing along, and good vibes, with the main focus being the give-and-take relationship between band and crowd. That was captured faithfully in Welcome\\Release, the live album and concert film that marked Wheeler’s final work with the band, and documented the arrival of saxophonist Heaton. “We believe that in a live setting, songs should have the ability to grow and change, just as a band does,” Kiely has said. “Music, art, and creation as a whole, should be given space to breathe and grow. Don’t put what you do in a box —  let it turn into what it wants to turn into, and magic can happen.”

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The Grapes of Wrath

After bonding over a mutual love of The Beatles, drummer Chris Hooper introduced Kevin Kane to his younger brother Tom Hooper in 1977. While still attending elementary and junior high school in Kelowna BC, the trio began learning to play their instruments together during regular Friday night jam sessions in the basement of the Hoopers’ suburban home. Influenced in equal parts by the British Invasion of the 60s and the DIY attitudes and immediacy of punk and new wave, the group took the name The Grapes of Wrath in 1983, and began working on the songs that would make up their debut EP (The Grapes of Wrath, 1984) and first album (September Bowl Of Green, 1985), both of which were released by Vancouver indie label Nettwerk Productions. The band were soon signed by Capitol/EMI for albums Treehouse (1987), Now And Again (1989), and These Days (1991). These records spawned some of the most well-known Canadian songs of the ’80s and ’90s, including “Peace Of Mind,” “Backward Town,” “All The Things I Wasn’t,” “What Was Going Through My Head,” “I Am Here” and “You May Be Right”. Thanks in no small part to the support of MuchMusic, the Grapes enjoyed gold and platinum sales, with sold out shows at home in Canada, extensive radio play, and several US and European tours in support of albums that also saw release in Japan, Australia, and South America. Amid mounting tensions in the band, the group disbanded in 1992 at the height of their career. Tom and Kevin resurrected the Grapes in the late ’90s, subsequently releasing the album Field Trip (2000) and reuniting for another series of acoustic duo shows in the summer of 2009 to celebrate their enduring friendship and the music they had written. The following year, an offer from a festival for a full band reunion led to the return of drummer Chris, and the original three recorded High Road (2013) – their first album of new material in almost 22 years – named after the street the Hoopers had lived on when they first started playing together as kids. They have been playing regularly ever since and are arguably the longest-running, still-active “original lineup” in rock.

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Gravely

Led by Chris Madronich, Gravely is a three-piece rock band that won the 2023 edition of the 97.7 HTZ-FM Rocksearch, a contest that has introduced household names in the Canadian music industry including The Trews, Finger Eleven and Monster Truck. Madronich has been performing for years as Gravely James, a solo singer-songwriter act with a folk flavour. Gravely, a satellite band with more of a rock vibe, sees him join forces with high school friends Patrick Guenette on drums and Chace King on bass. The band has experienced an extraordinary ascent in 2023, firmly establishing themselves as a force in the music scene. Formed from the solo project of Gravely James, the band rapidly transformed into a dynamic trio with Patrick Guenette on drums and Chace King on bass guitar. Their sound, a fusion of blues, rock, and roots influences, is distinctive and compelling. Their radio hit single “Talk To God” dominated airwaves, resonating deeply with listeners and earning critical acclaim. Gravely’s music defies categorization, confidently straddling multiple genres to create a unique sound. They bring a fresh and unassuming approach that is unmistakably Gravely.

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The Halluci Nation

The Halluci Nation, comprised of Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill, the acclaimed Indigenous Producer/DJ duo (formerly A Tribe Called Red) — have solidified their place as a groundbreaking force in contemporary music. Formed in Ottawa, Canada, The Halluci Nation have garnered international acclaim for their innovative fusion of traditional Indigenous music with genres like dubstep,hip-hop, and drum & bass. Their distinctive sound not only celebrates Indigenous heritage but also disrupts the mainstream, by addressing the complex conversation surrounding the modern-day Indigenous experience. The duo’s journey has been marked by countless milestones. From their early hit songs like “Electric Pow Wow Drum” to “R.E.D.” to “Stadium Pow Wow”, The Halluci Nation has carved out anthems that resonate deeply with fans worldwide. Their dynamic music, paired with electrifying live shows, have earned them numerous accolades, including three Juno Awards and appearances onf estival stages like Coachella. The group has had their music featured in major films and television series, as well as video games such as Fortnite. In 2025, The Halluci Nation made history as the first independent Indigenous artists from North America to reach 100 million streams on Spotify, a monumental achievement that underscores their global reach and growing influence. With their eyes set on the future, The Halluci Nationis not just a music group — they are a movement. Their blend of infectious beats, social activism, and cultural pride continues to inspire listeners across the globe, pushing boundaries and amplifying Indigenous voices on the world stage. The Halluci Nation is just getting started.

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Nix Ironstone

Nix Ironstone doesn’t just walk into a new era — she sets it on fire. Formerly known as Nicole Rayy, she spent over a decade making her mark in the Canadian country scene, building a loyal fanbase and earning a reputation for championing women in music. Now, with a new name and a bold new rock sound that’s been simmering under the surface, she’s stepping fully into who she’s always been. Under her new moniker, Nix Ironstone is turning up the heat and letting the darkness speak. Blending indie/alternative rock and goth pop with a fierce feminine edge, Nix is stepping fully into her power with a sound that’s raw, dark, sultry, and unapologetic. Think Evanescence meets The Pretty Reckless — haunting melodies, cinematic grit, and anthemic hooks that punch you right in the heart.

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Jammer’s Waffle House

Jammer’s Waffle House is a four-piece indie rock band comprised of Matthew Hinojosa, James Rotondi, Matthew Leombruni and Matt Levesque; four lads from Ontario with a strong passion to make upbeat rock tunes featuring: hard hitting drums, captivating vocals, tasteful guitar tone and bass-driven grooves. Coined as “The Beatles but with headbanging”, Jammer’s Waffle House takes every stage with unmatched enthusiasm.

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June Body

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Junestone

Junestone is the musical outpouring of alt-funk fusion bassist and jazz-pop vocalist Olivia Brown. Joined by three of her favourite friends and musicians, Borys Franiczek (guitar), Ian Aisling (keyboards), and Justin McHugh (drums), Junestone’s music is refreshingly brilliant, moving, and an undeniable vibe. Balancing their love for improvisation with pop-song sensibilities, the band is known for their dynamic live sound, creative songwriting, and captivating performances.

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Bells Larsen

How can we forge new forms of coming home to ourselves? On his sophomore album Blurring Time (2025), Bells Larsen collapses time into a series of patient ceremonies. Guided by the satisfaction of simply “being” as a political act, the record explores the ways we write the ever-arriving self into existence. Oscillating between lo-fi 90s indie and searing folk ballads, Larsen’s project features the haunting accompaniment of voices frozen in time. Aligning with his transition timeline, he recorded his previous “high” voice and instrumentation in 2022, waited for his voice to drop after starting testosterone, and asked longtime friend and frequent collaborator Georgia Harmer to arrange harmonies for his new “low” voice. Together, they created a multilingual, intentional act of surrendering to change. Unlike past projects where vocals were set in the backdrop, Blurring Time unites both voices at the forefront, delivering an unyielding devotional. Produced by Graham Ereaux, Larsen’s intricately-crafted arrangements evoke Elliott Smith, Sufjan Stevens, and Adrienne Lenker. His lyrics meditate on sibling dynamics, queer world-making, and shared epiphanies, enveloped in soundscapes of quiet intimacy. Larsen’s debut album Good Grief (2022), created during an artist residency in Banff, mourned the death of first love as a collective empathy exercise. Featured in The Line of Best Fit, Under the Radar, and CBC, he has shared stages with Buck Meek, Martha Wainwright, and Land of Talk. If Good Grief reached outward in loss, Blurring Time archives Larsen’s journey of self-actualization, harmonizing voices of past and present into a quiet yielding to the constant state of becoming.

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Lucky Honey

Lucky Honey is a dynamic alternative rock-pop band that has been turning heads and winning hearts since their debut. Blending infectious melodies and emotional hooks with heartfelt lyrics and high-energy performances, this group has quickly carved out a space for themselves in the Canadian music landscape, solidifying their reputation as a must-see act.

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Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar

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Mauvey

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John Muirhead

John Muirhead is a Canadian indie/folk/rock artist based in Toronto, ON. From fingerpicked folk confessionals to upbeat singalongs, John’s award-winning songs have touched audiences across Canada and beyond. Touring relentlessly across Canada, Europe, and South America, John has built a tight-knit community of listeners all around the world. With a growing community of over 100,000 fans across his social media channels and hundreds of shows across Canada, Europe, and South America, John is building a vibrant community around his stories and songs. His live show is a “must-see” – whether it’s in a living room or sharing stages with the likes of Noah Kahan, Joel Plaskett, Arkells, and Craig Cardiff. With influences including Frank Turner, Neil Young, Bright Eyes, and The Weakerthans, and working with songwriting mentors John K. Samson and Terra Lightfoot, John is creating meaningful roots-inspired music. John has earned a Canadian Folk Music Award & Ontario Folk Music Award nomination and has graced the stages of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Sawdust City Music Festival, and Philadelphia Folk Festival. John has also provided direct support for many of Canada’s best songwriters, including Whitehorse, Joel Plaskett Emergency, and Craig Cardiff. On festival stages or in living rooms, in backyards or on moving trains, John’s unforgettable performance has solidified him as a must-see emerging Canadian performer.

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National Academy Orchestra of Canada

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Harley Olivia

Reminiscent of rock heavyweights like The Pretty Reckless,  Halestorm and Paramore, Harley Olivia is unapologetic, theatrical, and fiercely honest in her music. A Toronto-based songwriter and former globe-trotting flight attendant who traded the skies for the stage, Harley delivers powerhouse vocals, emotionally-charged lyrics, and instantly hooky melodies as she dives headfirst into themes of mental health, self-doubt, and empowerment. Her debut EP Hiding Little Pieces earned critical attention, with the single “You’re Not Ready” reaching the semi-finals for Best Rock Song in the Unsigned Only competition. She’s performed at major showcases including Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Wintersong and was crowned winner of both the Jack Daniel’s Supporting Act Competition and Gussapolooza’s Rising Sun Award in 2024. She has cultivated a dedicated following of over 40K across her socials, while continuing her collaboration with JUNO Award-winning producer Siegfried Meier on her upcoming album. Known for her magnetic stage presence and high-voltage energy, Harley Olivia has shared the stage with Finger Eleven, July Talk, Bleeker and Sumo Cyco. Unafraid to say the things we’re taught to keep quiet, Harley delivers a high-octane brand of rock that proves she was born for the stage.

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Preston Pablo

Preston Pablo is one of Canada’s most streamed pop artists of his generation, amassing over 800 million global streams to date. The 2023 JUNO Award winner for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, he has since earned 2025 JUNO nominations for Pop Album of the Year and the fan-voted TikTok JUNO Award. His quadruple platinum breakout single “Flowers Need Rain” reached #1 at Adult/Pop radio and became the most Shazamed song of Summer 2022 in Canada, while follow-up single “Dance Alone” hit Top 10 across all three Canadian radio formats, reached #1 at radio in Uganda, and sparked over 450,000 user-generated TikTok creations. He also featured on Karan Aujla’s global hit “Admirin’ You,” a track that has surpassed 500 million streams worldwide. Born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, Pablo was discovered by Banx & Ranx and signed to 31 East in partnership with Universal Music Canada. In 2026, he enters a bold new chapter, rolling out two sister EPs that showcase his evolution as a songwriter, producer, and live musician.

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Joshua Pascua

Joshua Pascua is a Filipino-Canadian known for his soulful and funky music. Born in Montreal and raised in the Toronto area, where he first discovered his love and passion for music. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by the sounds of classic funk, soul and disco which helped shape his musical style. He’s been gaining attention and a reputation for his energetic and engaging live performances. Joshua has released many records showcasing his dynamic range and versatility as a singer. His music blends classic funk and soul sounds with modern production techniques, creating a sound that is both timeless and contemporary. He has gained a dedicated following of fans that appreciate his heartfelt lyrics and infectious grooves. With his soulful voice and catchy melodies, Joshua Pascua is a rising star in the world of funk soul and disco music, and is poised to make a significant impact on the music industry and beyond.

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The Penske File

The Penske File is a Canadian punk rock band comprised of three childhood friends who may be better described as brothers than anything else. Travis Miles (guitar, vocals), Alexander Standen (drums, vocals) and James Hall (bass, vocals) began making music together 20 years ago, when they were only 12 and 13 years old. The Penske File began in earnest a handful of years later at a memorial show following the tragic passing of their best friend and former second guitarist, Chris Skinner, “whose spirit and memory remains the driveshaft of inspiration of the band to this day,” according to Miles. Since their inception in 2010, they have been turning out an ever evolving blend of heartfelt and anthemic Punk, Alt- Rock, Indie and Folk infused sounds. This evolution is starkly apparent on their latest effort, aptly titled Reprieve (out Oct 3, 2025 on Stomp Records), which features 12 brand new songs, expanding on the sonic and thematic realms the band has touched upon in their lifespan and bringing them to new heights. “The writing and recording of Reprieve was unique to our previous records in many ways,” says Miles, “For one, there was over a five-year gap since we wrote the songs for our last record, Half Glow. We were really chomping at the bit to get back at it and there were so many songs and ideas waiting in the wings to be explored. With so much raw material to work with, and even more excitement to be doing so, we made a conscious effort to branch out; to arrange songs that are reminiscent of what turned us on to punk rock in the first place, but also to craft others that are so far removed from that sonic landscape. We opened the doors to whatever came creatively and Reprieve is what walked in.” Their live shows are celebrations: celebrations of everything loud, spontaneous and beautiful about life. No strangers to the road, The Penske File spent the better part of their 20s on tour, and have continued that tradition into their early 30s, playing festival stages and D.I.Y spaces alike from Vancouver to Hamburg to Gainesville and everywhere in between. They have been hand selected to perform with many of punk rock’s greatest acts, and have shared bills with the likes of Bad Religion, The Menzingers, Streetlight Manifesto and The Hold Steady, to name a few. While they may be getting older, they are committed to dragging the spirit of youth along with them and that is apparent in their raucous, communal live shows as well as on their blistering, honest, reminiscent and introspective, new record.

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Population II

Population II is a band dedicated to its disengagement, constantly working on refining their imposing, yet unpretentious sound. A trio consisting of singer/drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton, guitarist/keyboardist Tristan Lacombe and bassist Sébastien Provençal, Population II are masters at both improvised madness and sophisticated composition, delivering heavy psychedelic rock infused with feverish funk rhythms, a hint of jazz philosophy, a burst of energy reminiscent of punk’s early days, and a love of minor scales that harkens back to the roots of heavy metal. Their sources of inspiration are diverse and not limited to music: the Detroit garage rock and psychedelic funk scenes of the late 60s, the Canterbury scene of the same period, the German experimental rock of the ’70s, and Miles Davis’ eclectic era collide, bound together by the swampy decor of their hometown of Pointe-Calumet and, above all, by the deep friendship and undeniable chemistry emerging from its three members.

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William Prince

The distance traveled on William Prince’s new album, Further From the Country, is generational, aspirational, and metaphysical. Expansive and declarative, Further From the Country is the work of an artist who meets the challenge of putting incisive and enduring words to this age of uncertainty. William Prince’s perspective – a songwriter who carries great legacies of family and songcraft forward – is singular and significant. Further From the Country, his fifth LP, is an extraordinary work of observation, reflection and ambition, a work that will leave its mark on listeners for its humanity and its potency. The two-time JUNO Award winning artist continues to build an exceptional body of acclaimed work, with recent accolades including the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship and Americana Honors & Awards nomination. From Newport Folk Festival to sold out shows at prestigious theatres including Massey Hall, from NPR’s Tiny Desk to tours with The War and Treaty, Yola and more, William Prince has made significant appearances on historic stages. Celebrated by peers, critics and fans, William Prince’s songs resonate on deep emotional levels. Now, with Further From the Country, Prince expands his sound and sharpens his focus for a collection of songs that share personal and universal truths alike. A commanding and accomplished album, Further From the Country signals an artist who has impelled his craft to formidable new heights.

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Protest the Hero

For over two decades, Protest the Hero have existed at the outer edge of progressive metal in a place where technical precision collides with razor-sharp lyricism, and an irreverent spirit refuses to play by genre rules. With their latest release Within, the Ontario-born band pushes deeper into uncharted territory, delivering their most sonically expansive and ambitious work yet. Since forming as pre-teen friends, the band has built one of the most respected catalogs in modern progressive metal. The releases of Kezia, Fortress (Certified Gold in Canada), Scurrilous, Volition, Pacific Myth, and Palimpsest have earned them a Revolver Golden Gods Award, multiple Canadian Independent Music Awards, 5 Juno Award nominations and 1 win. Their albums have consistently charted in Canada while cultivating a fiercely loyal global fanbase. Protest the Hero have toured extensively alongside acts like Killswitch Engage, Between the Buried and Me, Tesseract, Periphery, Propagandhi, and appeared on major stages including Vans Warped Tour and Australia’s Soundwave Festival. Praised by outlets like Alternative Press, Decibel, and Guitar World, they remain known for explosive live performances, fearless songwriting, and unwavering commitment to artistic independence.

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Reuben & The Dark x The Bullhorn Singers

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Chelsea Reynolds

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The Sarandons

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Spitty

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Status/Non-Status

Are we there yet? More specifically, are you there yet? There being the inflection point where the urge to recede into the blissful innocence of youth is in a constant tug of war with the inescapable pull of conscious adulthood. Where the joys of June and July descend into the autumnal weight of August and September. Are you at the point where you look around at the chaos and confusion swirling through our collective psyche and say, “It can’t get any worse than this,” or do you think, “This too shall pass”? Are you ready for Big Changes? Because Adam Sturgeon is. Over the years, Anishinaabe musician and artist Sturgeon has undergone a metamorphosis, shedding old monikers and reclaiming heritage. In 2021, the collective formerly known as WHOOP-Szo became Status/Non-Status as part of Sturgeon’s ongoing exploration of the complex roots of his family history. Together with Zoon’s Daniel Monkman (who makes a guest appearance on Big Changes), Sturgeon introduced the world to OMBIIGIZI in 2022 via their Polaris-shortlisted record Sewn Back Together. Regardless of which project Sturgeon is working on, though, the one thing that doesn’t change is how he treats it: like family, protecting it at all costs. Every reinvention, every reckoning, every return leads back to the same role: provider, protector, father. Big Changes (out March 6, 2026 on You’ve Changed Records) comes from living through what Sturgeon describes as “a war on people and their ways of being” while engaging in the everyday domesticity of dropping the kids off at daycare, heading into work, doing chores around the house, and figuring out how to survive “what is beginning to feel like a real apocalypse.” Inspired by his in-the-moment work with OMBIIGIZI, and with over 40 rough song ideas on hand, Sturgeon recruited Dean Nelson (Beck, Thurston Moore, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks) and Matthew Wiewel (of Deadpan Studios and engineer of Status/Non-Status’ previous album, Surely Travel) to build a home studio in the old church he lives in with his family in London, Ontario. Everything on Big Changes “Is centralized around our Monday morning recording sessions,” he says, “and this routine of caring for my young family in a disintegrating and tough city.” For Sturgeon, Big Changes also reflects his lifelong dialogue with duality, a dichotomy “…felt through the contrast of being a mixed person,” who sees “racism perpetuated against people more visible than myself, while also not feeling like I’m Indian enough.” The record tussles with that uneasy and impossible balance of simultaneously walking in two worlds with conflicting values. It’s less a statement of intent than a lived reflection, one that acknowledges tension without resolving it. “I don’t feel conflicted about where I stand, but I’m not sure I’m always seen,” Sturgeon says, adding that, “[on Sewn Back Together, OMBIIGIZI] found balance in the dichotomy of being damaged and using it as a tool to move forward. Big Changes, however, is foreboding and inquisitive about what is to come.”  Despite its title, one thing that Big Changes doesn’t mess with is the music. Status/Non-Status hold fast to their intuitive and fluid style, their musicianship grounded in connection, familiarity, and an overarching trust in the power of their glorious noise. If anything, Status/Non-Status is more refined on Big Changes, summoning a sound that’s deliberate while retaining the untamed energy that first inspired them. Big Changes is about survival, but also about making connections in order to endure. It is the big noise we make together when the world feels like it’s falling apart, and the harmony that comes when we keep time with one another.

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Steve Strongman

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Superstar Crush

Superstar Crush is a four-piece power pop group that packs a punch and a backbeat. Taking influence from the likes of Blondie, Arcade Fire, and Pulp, their stage show is packed with fiery hooks, explosive stage presence and their tender – oh, so very tender – pocket-poetry pedestrian lunchbucket lyrics. They first got together in Hamilton, Ontario as the house band for a series of coffeehouse-social-justice-conversational-arts-punk-global-consciousness-high-school-casual-fashion-social-electric-9-volt-action-oriented events organized by Marzieh Darling. The nights consisted of globally-focused conversation followed by live music from a rotating roster of vocalists and friends from local high-schools. Chloe Butler-Stubbs, Sam Hansell and Truaxe Fox, sat in on bass, guitar, and drums respectively, and Marzieh frequently filled in on vocals. Between decade-spanning punk/indie-rock covers the gang snuck in originals that quickly became crowd favourites. The four-piece was happily roped into high school basement parties and the Hamilton club and bar scene circa 2022, where their audacious good looks and uniquely pop-oriented songwriting made them local faves. As they graduated high school and learned how to drive and act normal they infiltrated Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and other cities across Ontario, soon naming themselves Superstar Crush after a local celebrity. The group dropped a self-recorded tringle (triple-single) titled Crushed to Meet You, in May 2024. The EP included three crowd favourite songs from their live set tracked on laptops in their former grade school – where they’re tight with the headmaster Tony Evans of Growl fame. That summer the band played monthly shows at their fave Hamilton venue the Casbah where Dwayne Gretzky frontman Tyler Kyte eventually saw them perform. After seeing them play at the club a few times Kyte, standing by the bar, produced a small hand-held noir-style detective’s tape machine from his overcoat and covertly recorded “Note to self: They’re ready.” He started producing the band soon after, recording their debut album in his studio in Toronto. They’ve release two singles from the album so far, “Fire Escape” and ‘They Keep Calling”, both great honestly. The full record, titled “Way Too Much” is available now. Over the past three years of shows around central Canada the Crush have amassed a loyal local following of wide-eyed teenyboppers and fairly-well-dressed 20 somethings. They’ve won Hamilton Battle of the Bands at Bridgeworks, played north stage at premiere Hamilton festival Supercrawl, and sold out the Casbah right before it was shut down. Marzieh, Sam, and Truaxe each take shifts lead-singing, Chloe has the best hair, and the group watches hockey and works odd unskilled labour jobs together in their free time. With hilarious stage antics, baroque-pop recording techniques and a danceable fury, they’re sure to keep your head spinning and your shoes moving. Fire.

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Jasmine T

A high-energy, soul-stirring staple of the local live music scene. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dianne Rintjema, the Jasmine T Band serves up an infectious, genre-blurring cocktail of roadhouse rock, deep-pocket blues, gritty country, and classic funk. Backed by a razor-sharp, veteran rhythm section, the group is celebrated for their versatile setlists—effortlessly pivoting from heavy, masculine rock classics (think Zeppelin and Aerosmith) to soulful, spellbinding Stevie Nicks-era Fleetwood Mac covers and chart-climbing original roots anthems like “Whiskey Makes Me Mean” – you can expect a tight, passionate performance!

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Julian Taylor

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Julian Taylor has been part of the musical fabric and landscape in Canada for over two decades. Taylor enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2020, when his second solo album, The Ridge which earned praise from press worldwide, and airplay from America to Australia to the U.K. In addition to winning Taylor Solo Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, The Ridge was also nominated for: two Juno Awards (Contemporary Folk Album of The Year, Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year), the Polaris Prize Long List, a Summer Solstice Indigenous Award (Contemporary Folk Album of the Year), a Canadian Music Week INDIES Award (Indigenous Artist of the Year), and an additional Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination in the English Songwriter of the Year category. The nominations and awards kept coming in 2022, with Taylor winning best male artist in the International Acoustic Music Awards, and scoring five Native American Music Award nominations. His latest full-length, Beyond the Reservoir, is an album that addresses identity, loss, sadness, hope, and redemption. The themes of resilience, courage, and strength are prevalent in every carefully-chosen lyric. It contains a gentle spiritual thread that runs throughout the album touching on each of the elements, like fire, water, air, and earth as they relate to humanity. It is a coming-of-age story and a beautifully-orchestrated successor to The Ridge. In 2024 Julian received a Juno nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for Beyond The Reservoir and sang with Alison Russell, Aysanabee, William Prince, Logan Staats, and Shawnee Kish in the In Memoriam performance of The Band’s “The Weight”. Julian’s recent single “Weighing Down” made waves on CBC Music’s Top 20.

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Téa Valentina

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Sarah Vanderzon

Sarah Vanderzon writes music the way some people tell the truth – carefully, and with an incontestable conviction that compels you to lean in. Rooted in a reflective strain of Americana, the Québec-born singer-songwriter turns life’s in-between moments – uncertainty, devotion, the push and pull of love – into something intimate and immediate. Her sound is shaped as much by intuition as experience, grounded in a creative life that began on the outskirts of Montreal, where music was less a career path than a steady, private companion. Raised on a quiet stretch of road, Vanderzon gravitated early toward songs as stories, developing a songwriting approach built on emotional clarity and narrative detail. After winning the Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase in 2024, it marked a turning point for Sarah. Soon after, an offer from Universal Music Canada accelerated a long-building trajectory.  In the months after the release of her 2025 major label debut EP, Fortune Teller, Vanderzon traveled to Seattle to work with Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Hadlock, best known for his work with The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, and Zach Bryan, spending several weeks at the storied Bear Creek Studio. For Vanderzon, Americana is a feeling of proximity – music built on restraint, intention, and emotional truth. Increasingly, her focus has turned toward music built for performance and connection. What comes next for her is more open in sound, unguarded in its storytelling, and more closely aligned with who she’s becoming as an artist.

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Emma Whale

Emma Whale is a million things at once. In her varying roles – producer, artist, songwriter, engineer – Emma knows how to make a song stand out. While her own music sits at the intersection of Lights, Paramore, and Phoebe Bridgers, she has worked on over 400 released songs with indie rock bands, pop artists, country musicians, DJs, and everything in between. Artists Emma has worked with include Whitehorse, Leith Ross, AHI, Jesse Adams, Low Life Lolas, Ariana Fig, FAYTH, and many more. Emma has been performing throughout the GTA for years, including appearances at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival, Supercrawl, and the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Emma is an alumnus of Music Publishers Canada’s Women in the Studio National Accelerator (2025 cohort). She has been working as a producer and engineer at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, ON since her graduation from Western University and Fanshawe College in 2021.

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YASSiN & Sean Terrio

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 and YouTube. In 2021, their musical journey took another big step forward when they placed second in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Musician Program. In 2024, the duo was 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 40 million eyes on TikTok and Instagram earning them over 100K followers, the duo released their debut album Just Try in October 2024.

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