Folk

Ron Sexsmith is a three time, Juno award winning singer songwriter from St Catharines Ontario. Born in 1964, Ron was drawn to music from an early age by the melodic songs of the era, which he heard on the radio and by his Mom’s record collection. His earliest musical heroes were Buddy Holly and Elton John. He always loved to sing and started playing guitar at age 14. Although he tried to write songs throughout his teens, it wasn’t until he was 21, when he had his first child, that he truly became a songwriter. Ron eventually moved his young family to Toronto in 1987 to further pursue a career in music. He worked as a courier by day, while performing in the clubs by night. He formed the band ‘Ron Sexsmith and The Uncool’ and started gaining attention from music label executives, though all passed on signing him.

Ron has released albums on a consistent basis since 1995 and has recorded with noted producers Mitchell Froom, Daniel Lanois, Steve Earle, Jim Scott, Don Kerr, Brad Jones, Bob Rock, and Martin Terefe. His extensive song and album catalog has garnered Sexsmith a substantive cult following and an international touring career. His early years of touring included opening for established artists such as, John Hiatt, Elvis Costello, Sarah McLaughlin, Squeeze, Aimee Mann, Coldplay, Nick Lowe, John Prine, Lucinda Williams and many others. His songs as well, have been covered by the likes of Rod Stewart, Nick Lowe, Emmy Lou Harris, Feist, Michael Buble, and Stevie Nicks to name a few. In the past few decades as a headlining artist, Ron has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, such as Massey Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and The London Palladium.

Ron will be making his theatrical composer debut in 2025 with the internationally renowned Stratford Festival production of ‘As You Like It’ in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. He currently lives in Perth County, Ontario with his wife, his piano, and his vinyl record collection and continues to be inspired to write, record and perform live worldwide.

2021 JUNO Award Nominees, Rum Ragged, take a bold approach to the distinct folk music of 

their home, the Eastern Canadian island of Newfoundland. With a reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge, this young band has quickly become known as the finest performers of their great, living, musical tradition. Boasting bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, guitar, and button accordion, these new champions of East Coast music enliven and enlighten audiences with their signature brand of Newfoundland folk. Always honest, thought-provoking, and often humorous, it’s Rum Ragged’s live show that makes them a fast favourite with any audience. Their combination of striking vocal harmonies, staggering musicianship, and captivating storytelling gives concert-goers an experience they won't soon forget. Since their inception in 2016, Rum Ragged has maintained a rigorous tour schedule, performing at some of the world's premier folk, celtic and roots venues all while managing to record four acclaimed, award-winning studio albums. Rum Ragged is not your run-of-the-mill folk band, they are the genuine article. 

A Voice That Commands the Stage and Captivates the World

Irish Mythen (They/Them) is a globally acclaimed artist known for their raw vocal power, magnetic stage presence, and ability to forge deep connections with audiences. Originally from Ireland and now based in Prince Edward Island, Canada, Irish’s career highlights include a JUNO nomination, multiple awards, and performances at iconic venues like the Sydney Opera House and Glastonbury Festival. Irish’s groundbreaking album Little Bones propelled them to global recognition, earning a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, seven Music PEI 2020 nominations (including two wins), and the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of the Year. Their previous self-titled album also received widespread accolades, including recognition from Music PEI, the East Coast Music Association, Folk Alliance International, and SOCAN. Their music and artistry have been featured in Rolling Stone, Australian Guitar Magazine, and numerous other influential media outlets, cementing their reputation worldwide. Irish Mythen’s live shows are unforgettable—immersing audiences in a whirlwind of emotion, stories, and unparalleled artistry that leave a lasting impact. A new album will be released in SPRING 2026

Séan McCann, the beloved Canadian troubadour and Order of Canada recipient best known as a founding member of Great Big Sea, is hitting the road for a different kind of tour in 2025—a tour not about charts, fame, or the “American dream”, but about connection, community, and commitment to country. Literally.

In the wake of tightening U.S. visa restrictions, rising touring costs, and the recent cultural backlash from artists choosing to avoid the U.S., McCann is embracing a path less travelled—right here at home. While others are cancelling American dates due to aggressive tariffs and threats to our sovereignty, McCann is leaning hard into Canada, launching his Great Big Canadian Road Trip, a coast-to-coast journey through many towns and cities he’s never played before. “I LOVE Americans!” says McCann. “I love them so much that I even married one, but I won’t return to the states until the current president is gone and our neighbours change their angry tone. In the meantime, I believe that Canada needs a little more singing, and a little less shouting.”

Armed with nothing but his acoustic guitar, his powerful voice, and a lifetime of songs that heal as much as they entertain, McCann will crisscross the country from Sudbury to Victoria and everywhere in between on the first leg of his national journey. This is not about sold-out stadiums or velvet rope green rooms—it’s about parking lots, prayer halls, libraries, and legion halls; places where local people still show up and sing along.

Best known for his stadium-shaking anthems with Great Big Sea, Séan has since carved out a deeply personal solo path, speaking and singing about mental health, recovery, and resilience.

His shows are raw, real, and—above all—relational. “Music is medicine,” he says, “and we all need a dose right now”

This tour is also a celebration of McCann’s independence—not just from the U.S. industry machine, but from the relentless noise of the mainstream. He’s hitting the road to bring music to the people who need it most, in places that don’t always make the tour poster.

The Great Big Canadian Road Trip is about more than than the 10,000 kilometres it will take to make the drive —it’s about finding harmony in a world that feels off-key. It's about reminding Canadians, from Kamloops to Kenora, that their stories matter and their voices count and that together we are strong enough to overcome every challenge we may face as a country moving forward.

Ben Caplan has always defied easy categorization. With his deep, commanding baritone and electrifying stage presence, he merges the raw energy of diverse folk traditions with modern innovation. His music isn’t just performed; it’s experienced. Now, with The Flood, Caplan takes his artistry to new depths, crafting an album that meditates on endings, resilience, and the art of carrying wisdom forward.

Scheduled for release in May 2025, The Flood is both timely and timeless. “The world is ending for someone all the time,” Caplan muses. “But endings aren’t absolute. Cultures, ecosystems, civilizations—they evolve, adapt. This album is about finding the pieces that survive and carrying them forward.”

Musically, The Flood is a collision of past and future. Melodically tilted towards the folk traditions of Eastern Europe, the album reinvents these sounds with timeless lyrics and modern production. Clarinet melodies soar over pulsing synthesizers; grand pianos give way to sequenced rhythms. The result is an intricate sonic tapestry—both ancient and urgent.

With nearly 2,000 performances across 27 countries, Caplan’s live shows are known for their raw energy and emotional depth. The Flood is designed with the stage in mind—its seamless transitions and dynamic arrangements promise an immersive concert experience.

“Music holds space for people. My hope is that this project allows listeners to confront the grief of endings, but also find joy in what’s ahead.”

Daniel Lanois is a name that deserves to be mentioned alongside the finest sonic experimenters of the 20th century – and the 21st century too. Yes, he's been willing to step back into the background as others take the limelight, but that shouldn't diminish his contribution, which ripples throughout practically every style and sound of the modern era. Whatever you're listening to – whether it be acoustic or electronic, roots or futurist, underground or pop – if you listen closely you'll hear traces of the sonic signatures of Daniel Lanois. And what's more he's still experimenting as eagerly as he ever has. At a point when most musicians with anything resembling his level of success would be resting on their laurels and playing on old successes, he still has more hunger for the new than people a third his age, and as a result is creating music as beautiful and new as ever before.

Daniel is currently working in the studio on his next musical body of work - Heavy Sun: 2“The road is calling as the music keeps on guiding me through the labyrinths of song, messages and inventions. Surrounded one more time by talent I admire, this new body of work features harmony singing with built in capacity to raise the spirit. This time, as Daniel Lanois and Heavy Sun. From electro dynamics to soul singing, this new entourage represents what I’m currently excited about. As music rides the airwaves, we continue to troubadour our way to the stage for that exchange we love; ‘live performance’. Heavy Sun is made up of a talented cast of characters, Rocco Deluca (guitar & vocals), Jim Wilson (bass & vocals), Johnny Shepherd (organ & vocals) and yours truly Danny Lanois (guitar & vocals). We sincerely hope to bump into you to raise the spirit together for a night of song and magic carpet ride. The more I travel, the more it all bleeds together, record making, radio, Internet, tv, festivals, life itself and of course SINGING!

The original instrument, that being the voice, is alive and well in this Heavy Sun configuration.” - DL

Daniel Lanois is a name that deserves to be mentioned alongside the finest sonic experimenters of the 20th century – and the 21st century too. Yes, he's been willing to step back into the background as others take the limelight, but that shouldn't diminish his contribution, which ripples throughout practically every style and sound of the modern era. Whatever you're listening to – whether it be acoustic or electronic, roots or futurist, underground or pop – if you listen closely you'll hear traces of the sonic signatures of Daniel Lanois. And what's more he's still experimenting as eagerly as he ever has. At a point when most musicians with anything resembling his level of success would be resting on their laurels and playing on old successes, he still has more hunger for the new than people a third his age, and as a result is creating music as beautiful and new as ever before.

Daniel is currently working in the studio on his next musical body of work - Heavy Sun: 2“The road is calling as the music keeps on guiding me through the labyrinths of song, messages and inventions. Surrounded one more time by talent I admire, this new body of work features harmony singing with built in capacity to raise the spirit. This time, as Daniel Lanois and Heavy Sun. From electro dynamics to soul singing, this new entourage represents what I’m currently excited about. As music rides the airwaves, we continue to troubadour our way to the stage for that exchange we love; ‘live performance’. Heavy Sun is made up of a talented cast of characters, Rocco Deluca (guitar & vocals), Jim Wilson (bass & vocals), Johnny Shepherd (organ & vocals) and yours truly Danny Lanois (guitar & vocals). We sincerely hope to bump into you to raise the spirit together for a night of song and magic carpet ride. The more I travel, the more it all bleeds together, record making, radio, Internet, tv, festivals, life itself and of course SINGING!

The original instrument, that being the voice, is alive and well in this Heavy Sun configuration.” - DL

Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to his credit.

Valdy’s recent CDs include “Contenders”, a collaboration with friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard, with whom he has an absolute blast touring, and a solo release, “Viva Valdy: Live at Last”, a two-CD package, one live, one studio, with a total of 25 tunes, and a lyric booklet.

One of Canada’s most influential songwriters, Valdy’s composition A Good Song was recorded under the title Just a Man by the venerable Quincy Jones ( he sang lead on the recording!). Play Me a Rock and Roll Song has been recorded by a few artists, including John Kay of Steppenwolf.

Along the way, Valdy has taken his music to a dozen different countries, from Denmark to Australia and been an often-invited performer at the prestigious Kerrville Festival in Texas. His past television appearances include Canada AM and Open Mike with Mike Bullard. Valdy has also been a panelist on Front Page Challenge, and played a lead role in an episode of The Beachcombers original series.

Whitehorse is the prolific partnership of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. Uninhibited by expectation, boldly adventurous and categorically talented, Whitehorse’s signature sound is always guitar-heavy, harmony-plentiful and lyrically deft.

With an expansive run of records that freely and thrillingly dip in psychedelic country, pop noir, squalling blues rock and celestial folk, Whitehorse have pushed their musical identity into new realms and sounds for over a decade. As attested by five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in many different genre categories, Whitehorse do a lot of things, and do them well.

On their new record, Whitehorse venture deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before, a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying is an immaculate collection of 70s country-inspired songs that showcase Whitehorse at their absolute best.

In a darkened bedroom, lit only by the amber glow from an old floor model radio, two young brothers aged 6 and 12 lay in their beds, listening to the country music broadcasts from the Grand Ol’ Opry, and practiced their harmonies. Two years later, the youngest one was playing the definitive 8-year-old’s version of “Desolation Row” on his ukulele. He soon abandoned that instrument to teach himself the flute, violin and guitar.

Within ten years, and barely out of high school, Garnet Rogers was on the road as a full-time working musician with his older brother Stan. Together they formed what has come to be accepted as one of the most influential acts in North American folk music.

Since then, Garnet Rogers has established himself as ‘One of the major talents of our time”. Hailed by the Boston Globe as a “charismatic performer and singer”, Garnet is a man with a powerful physical presence – close to six and a half feet tall – with a voice to match. With his “smooth, dark baritone” (Washington Post) his incredible range, and thoughtful, dramatic phrasing, Garnet is widely considered by fans and critics alike to be one of the finest singers anywhere. His music, like the man himself, is literate, passionate, highly sensitive, and deeply purposeful. Cinematic in detail, his songs “give expression to the unspoken vocabulary of the heart” (Kitchener Waterloo Record). An optimist at heart, Garnet sings extraordinary songs about people who are not obvious heroes and of the small victories of the everyday. As memorable as his songs, his over-the-top humour and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again.

“Garnet Rogers is capable of awe-inspiring and unpredictable stuff – and that includes more than just music”

Resolutely independent, Garnet Rogers has turned down offers from major labels to do his music his own way.