Brass-Hop, Funk, Canada    

My Son the Hurricane is a brass infused funk beast. No dance floor is safe. 

Hailing from Niagara/Toronto, the perennial festival closers and dance floor inciters mix New Orleans style grooves with funk, jazz and hip hop.  Bolstered by a giant horn section and the well-oiled rhythm players, charismatic emcee Jacob Bergsma and charmingly sassy vocalist Sylvie Kindree drive the show, creating a spectacle of sound, and challenging the crowd to keep up to their collective energy.  My Son the Hurricane has “stood out like a sore, yet extremely talented thumb at every show they’ve played” (Pulse Niagara), and become revered for their live performances.

On one end of the spectrum there are varieties of the Begonia which can be a dark, grievous, rough around the edges. And on the other end, a petite and elegant flower. In between, the plant attempts to harmonize its two poles, forming an array of varieties that each borrow from the delicate and the unseemly. It is in this same vein that Begonia (Alexa Dirks) finds herself, trying to find a balance.

With a thunderous sound, Heavy Airship descends on the Kootenay region of British Columbia like a storm coming in from the Misty Mountain. In just a short time the Nelson-based Led Zeppelin tribute has gained a faithful following in the area and has shared the stage with the likes of Dr. Hook and the legendary BC/DC.

Recreating the classic sound of Led Zeppelin, Heavy Airship consists of Craig Thiessen on vocals, Gus Dixon on guitar, Quillan Hanley on bass guitar and Eddie Thomas on drums.

Toronto – Roots.

A traditionalist at heart, Sarah Jane Scouten shows her signature flair for the roots of roots music. With respect for these roots, she writes from her own perspective, and rather than copying a style, only writes about what she knows profoundly. This songwriter hits hard and close to home, then laughs it off. Somewhat of an itinerant musician, spending much of her time on the road, Sarah Jane has called Bowen Island, Vancouver and Montreal home. She now lives in the neighbourhood of Parkdale in Toronto with two cats named after Cajun musicians.  

Balkan Massive, Toronto

Lemon Bucket Orkestra is a guerilla-punk-balkan-folk-brass band massive like no other. Tracing their genesis back to the streets of Toronto, the original quartet of busking troubadours quickly amassed a battalion of like-minded musical souls and the full-blown, dozen plus strong Orkestra was born. The multi award winning ensemble has been heralded as a groundbreaking, genre-bending phenomenon by the Canadian and international media alike and over the past 8 years they have performed on streets and stages around the world, leaving a trail of new friends and dedicated fans in their wake.

Greek Rembetika, Canada

Canada’s premier Greek rembetika ensemble. Rembetika is one of the pillars of modern Greek music which made the bouzouki the standard, and what many have called the “Greek blues” for its songs of heartache & hashish.

Since 1996 the Hipsters have expanded the boundaries of Greek music, from Calgary, across Canada and all the way back to Greece.

Mexico City – Funk/Jazz/World

“… When you think about a bass player with expressive power, with exemplary rhythmic sense and creative imagination, you think Gabo Gonzalez. “

El Groove Capital is a unique sound from Mexico City, mixing rhythms of Mexico, Brazil, Spain, E.U., and Cuba. It fuses styles like Funk, Jazz, Son, Rumba Flamenca, House and Samba, with the special signature of the bass as the leading instrument.

BC – Folk/Family

RICK SCOTT is an award winning singer/ songwriter/ actor who combines music and laughter in lively, participatory concerts for all ages, and is a leading proponent of the Appalachian mountain dulcimer, known by kids around the world as “The Electric Snowshoe”.

With over 35 years of performing, 18 albums, & many projects in many countries, his gift  for combining wacky humour and poignant human commentary has earned him a devoted following from all ages.  His seven children’s recordings have sold over 90,000 copies and won numerous kudos including three Juno nominations, Parents’Choice, Family Choice, NAPPA Gold, iParenting Media,, West Coast Music, Pacific Music Industry, Canadian Music and Children’s Music Web Awards.  Of course, Rick is an integral member, along with Sheri Ulrich and Joe Mock, of the legendary folk trio Pied Pumpkin, who pioneered independent, rogue folk music in BC in the 70’s, touring nationally and selling 30,000 LP’s from the stage.

Now’s the time to plan for a great festival summer! For more information visit the Food Vendors page, Craft Vendors or the Not For Profit Vendor page.