Rock

Jane Siberry is one of Canada's most original and influential singer-songwriters.

Adrian Sutherland is a roots-rocker-with-heart from Attawapiskat in Ontario’s Far North. His melding of roots, rock, folk, and blues creates a signature sound and style all his own, drawing inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree language and culture. Twice JUNO nominated, Adrian first book (The Work Of Our Hands) is being released by Penguin Random House Canada. One of the only professional recording artists who lives in a remote fly-in First Nation, Adrian carries first-hand perspective on many important issues. During this time of reconciliation, he is hopeful for Canadians to walk together in love and respect.

Tom Wilson | TEHÅHÀHAKE

Tom Wilson is a Canadian musician, author and visual artist. Wilson’s memoir, Beautiful Scars published by Penguin/Random House has become a national bestseller. The memoir has been adapted into a TVO Original documentary (directed by Shane Belcourt). More recently, Hamilton’s Theatre Aquarius completed a successful run of Beautiful Scars, the musical adapted to the stage in collaboration with actor /writer Shaun Smyth. Exposing incredible truths about Wilson’s biological family and Indigenous heritage, Beautiful Scars delves into the singer-songwriter’s lifetime quest to find himself and ultimately uncover his true identity as a Mohawk man.

“Over the course of discovering my true identity, the intention of my writing, my music and my art is to reduce the gap between my indigenous culture and colonialists to make a more patient, loving community. ” – Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson's extensive career and tireless efforts as a musician has bestowed upon him numerous nominations and awards from the Hamilton Music Awards to the Polaris Prize to the Juno Awards, including certified gold and platinum records. His songwriting has seen his works recorded by and with artists such as; Sarah McLachlan, City and Colour, Jason Isbell, Colin James, Lucinda Williams, Billy Ray Cyrus, Mavis Staples, The Rankin Family, as well as his own bands Junkhouse, the Canadian treasure: Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and the Clinton Street collective: Lee Harvey Osmond band awarded a 2020 Juno Award for the album “Mohawk”.

After the success of his exhibit at the Art Gallery of Burlington Beautiful Scars: Mohawk Warriors, Hunters and Chiefs, Tom’s paintings are now on display in various galleries across Canada, including successful shows at Toronto’s Cultural Goods Gallery and Tom Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton. His powerful installation piece Fading Memories of Home explores the systemic erasure of Indigenous culture in residential schools. Portrayinga colonial classroom, the exhibit includes nine rebuilt residential school desks with photographs of children’s families inside. As you move further in the rows, the images disappear representing the loss of identities, family, culture, and language.

In January 2024, New Brunswick book publishers, Goose Lane Editions released the Mohawk Warriors, Hunters and Chiefs The Art Of Tom Wilson Tehoháhake.

In 2020, Tom established the Tom Wilson Indigenous Bursary in Honour of Bunny Wilson at McMaster University, supporting year one indigenous students from Ontario secondary schools completing an undergraduate program in any faculty.

Wilson was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada in June 2023, with this citation:

For his multifaceted contributions to the arts in Canada, notably as an iconic musician, as well as for his advocacy of Indigenous communities in Canada.

Through his melodies, paintings, and words, Wilson invokes ancestral wisdom while addressing pressing issues of our time. His artistry serves as a bridge between past and present, inviting reflection and dialogue on the complexities of Indigenous identity and resilience.

THOMAS CUNNINGHAM WILSON was born June 9th, 1959 in Hamilton Ontario. He was raised in Hamilton by his adoptive parents, Bunny and George Wilson. In December 2021, Tom was officially added to the KAHNAWÀ:KE KANIEN'KEHÁ:KA REGISTRY as per KANIEN'KEHÁ:KA OF KAHNAWÀ:KE LAW.

Multiple Award-winning singer/songwriter and producer, Sarah MacDougall, is known for her poetic songs and passionate performances. Sarah mixes folk, pop, and rock elements into her infectious, often epic songs. Born in Sweden, now based in Canada, Swedish magazine Nöjesguiden declared her: “one of Sweden’s best singer/songwriters' and Rootstime Belgium described her as 'One of the greatest talents of our era”. Sarah has played festivals such as Iceland Airwaves, Edmonton Folk Festival, Reeperbahn, and has shared the stage with artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Tallest Man on Earth, Buffy St. Marie, Passenger, and more. Her most recent release, ‘All The Hours I Have Left To Tell You Anything’ is a record about strength, identity, death, the breakdown of relationships, birth, and the ghosts we honor and carry throughout. It was written during the death of her grandparents, the birth of her niece, and a break-up. The nine songs are also influenced by the places that made her and changed her: the dark beauty of Scandinavia the vastness of the Canadian North. Sarah is working on new music, with a new single ‘Blanket Skies’, set to be released in October 2025.

TUNES@NOON at the Aeolian is supported with thanks to The Paul Seed Fund through London Community Foundation and is a London UNESCO City of Music project.

Don Ross has just released a new solo album, WATER. It is his 18th solo album, and his 21st including collaborations. For this new recording, Don decided to launch a Kickstarter fundraising campaign and do the release 100% independently. The album features collaborations with legendary guitarist/songwriter Bruce Cockburn, fretless bass wizard Michael Manring, Washington State-based guitarist/composer Sean Hall, singer/guitarist Brooke Miller, Prince Edward Island-based quintet The Atlantic String Machine, and even one piece with the 70-piece City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Don Ross was born and raised in Montreal and has lived in various parts of Canada over the course of his life. The son of a Mi’kmaw Indigenous mother and a Scottish immigrant father, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) degree from Toronto’s York University and started working full-time as a musician in 1988. That year he won the US National Fingerpick Guitar Championship for the first time.

Don has released solo CDs with a multitude of labels, including Duke Street Records, Sony Music/Columbia Records, Narada Records and CandyRat Records.

In addition, Don has released three other albums independently, Live in Your Head (2006), Any Colour (2009) and Don Ross Louder Than Usual (2019). Over the course of that time, Don’s touring base has gone on to include trips to Australia, India, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and a dozen European countries.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Don went back to university, completing a Master of Arts degree in Orchestration through the University of Chichester (UK) and graduating in early 2021. He immediately started working extensively in the world of scoring orchestral and electronic music for video games, films and television.

In addition to his solo performances and recordings, Don also heads his quartet Don Ross Louder Than Usual, which focuses on his more jazz-leaning repertoire.

In 2021, Don won the prestigious Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts, administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.

Don currently lives in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Julie Malia (AKA Jule Malischke) is a highly talented guitarist, singer and songwriter who has made a name for herself in recent years with great compositions and impressive festival appearances. Originally from Swabia in southern Germany, she also works as a lecturer at the Carl Maria von Weber Music University in Dresden, Germany.

Julie is one of the most sought-after soloists on the European acoustic scene. Her repertoire covers an impressively broad musical spectrum – from self-penned heartfelt songs, very original song-cover arrangements, and diverse virtuoso styles on the classical guitar through to modern fingerstyle arrangements. There are few musicians who can boast such mastery of all these related but very different genres.

​Julie is known for her vibrant personality, great sense of humour, her wonderful voice and the virtuosity of her guitar playing. She has captivated audiences across Europe in her appearances at many of the most important festivals.

Julie recently released her new CD, Seagull, featuring her original songs and her stunning guitar playing. The recording was nominated for the prestigious German Record Critics’ Prize (Preis der deutchen Schallplattenkritik) in July 2024.

Juno award winning singer-songwriter-musician Cara Luft is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost from birth, yet willing to alter the fabric, stretch the boundaries and fearlessly bend genres and styles.  A founding member of Canadian folk super-group The Wailin' Jennys and the brainchild behind Winnipeg's acclaimed powerhouse duo The Small Glories, Luft deserves her solid reputation as one of Canada’s finest live performers, armed with amazing tenacity, vision, energy and a contagious hilarity. To quote the roots magazine No Depression, “Luft has a rich tradition in folk music – it’s safe to assume that she knows her stuff – and upon listening it becomes quite clear that she is indeed a formidable songwriter and performer... [The] lovely Ms. Luft sets the bar for the talented few who’ll follow in her footsteps.”

Cara has a spirit that drives her to connect with people, and for this she is loved everywhere she goes. Reviewers of her live shows talk about her compelling vocals, superb musicianship, humorous anecdotes, accomplished songwriting, ability to switch between styles and the charm of her stage presence. Cara’s the real deal, there’s nothing pretentious about her. And that sense of honesty, integrity, personality and spontaneity permeates both her music and her live shows. “Long may she reign!” (Lonesome Highway)

Renowned Canadian songwriter Stephen Fearing is posed to once again captivate listeners with the release of his next album, The Empathist. The 10-track record, produced in collaboration with Grammy-nominated drummer Ken Coomer (Wilco, Uncle Tupelo), showcases Fearing’s ability to blend heartfelt storytelling with rich, immersive soundscapes. Recorded in Nashville over a whirlwind week, The Empathist features contributions from longtime Blackie & The Rodeo Kings bassist John Dymond and Nashville multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, whose mastery of pedal steel, piano, and saxophone adds depth and texture to the album.

Following the release of The Empathist, Fearing will hit the road with his longtime collaborators, the award-winning Danish indie-folk band The Sentimentals. Their dynamic partnership, which began in 2018, has lit up stages across Europe and Canada, bringing a unique fusion of classic Tin Pan Alley songwriting and innovative folk elements to life. Their collaboration was first celebrated on Fearing’s 2022 album Vejpoesi (Danish for “Road Poems”), recorded over three days in Denmark’s Maskinhallen theater. Together, Fearing and The Sentimentals have developed a distinctive sound, blending tradition and experimentation into performances that captivate audiences night after night. 

As Stephen Fearing and The Sentimentals tour The Empathist, fans can expect an emotionally charged live experience that highlights the creative risks and bold musical interplay that have defined Fearing’s career. With each performance, they continue to push the boundaries of roots music, weaving together authenticity and innovation in a way that resonates deeply with listeners.

This special Smooth Rock performance is an annual fundraiser event for Operation Walk Canada. All proceeds support our surgical missions to Guatemala and Ecuador. Since 2006, Operation Walk Canada has been travelling to Guatemala and Ecuador to provide hip and knee surgeries to patients who have no access to care. Thank you for your support!

About Operation Walk Canada:

https://www.operationwalk.ca/about-operation-walk

The Yacht Rock Show pays authentic tribute to the 70s & 80s Smooth Rock/L.A. Studio Sound

Cruise through this nostalgic journey with faithful renditions of the iconic smooth rock sounds of the mid 70s & 80s that defined a generation. Experience an unforgettable musical voyage at this yacht rock party - layered with lush harmonies and smooth grooves, The Yacht Rock Show performs classic hits from artists that shaped the genre, including: Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, The Doobie Brothers, Box Skaggs, Steely Dan,, Player, Little River Band, Ambrosia, Toto & Styx & more.

Emm Gryner is a 3-time Juno Award nominated Canadian singer and multi-instrumentalist. She has been sought after by David Bowie and Def Leppard to sing and collaborate with them on tour and on recordings, including the new Stripped Version of “Pour Some Sugar On Me” featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Emm also helped make the first music video in outer space when Chris Hadfield enlisted her to create a new version of “Space Oddity” which was partially recorded aboard the International Space Station. Emm’s new album “Business & Pleasure” is a foray into yacht rock and features an all-star list of Nashville musicians who have worked with Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Taylor Swift and Toto. Emm is constantly crossing genres and defying the odds of what is possible in the music industry as an independent female recording artist.

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.