Music

Johannes Linstead's "From Spain to Cuba" follows the migration of the guitar from its origins in the Mediterranean to its journey across the sea to the Americas. Be prepared to be spellbound by the fusion of spicy Latin percussion, grooving bass, soulful accordion, and of course the incredible fiery guitar of Johannes Linstead.

From having over 500 MILLION streams, to being named Canada’s “Guitarist of the Year,” to winning eight “Best Album” awards, to seven Top-Ten US Billboard charting albums, Johannes Linstead has become recognized internationally as one of the best selling guitarists in the Instrumental, Jazz and World Music genres.

THE EAST POINTERS
Fans of The East Pointers have Koady Chaisson to thank for being the kinetic force behind the JUNO-Award winning indie-folk trio since the group formed in 2014. The dancefloor-shaking, electro-trad glorious combination of folk/pop has brought so much joy to audiences around the world. And now, even posthumously, Koady’s energetic fire continues to blaze the musical trail onward.

It was on January 6, 2022 that Koady Chaisson of The East Pointers passed away from an unexpected heart aneurysm at 37. Those who were lucky to have been influenced by his creative and generous soul felt like a black hole had suddenly formed where the supernova of Koady’s light had been.

But before his passing, Koady, Tim Chaisson, and Jake Charron, had recorded most of the tracks for two new EPs. Unlike any of the The East Pointers’ material to date, these precious songs are shiny and melodic, nostalgia-flared, folk experimental pop but with the same driving trad hooks for which the band has become known and revered.

The first EP, House of Dreams, was released in September 2022 and was nominated for a JUNO Award in 2023. The second EP, Safe In Sound, will be released in Fall 2023 in time for The East Pointers to return to the road bringing their music – shiny and melodic, nostalgia-flared, folk experimental pop – to fans around the world.

FORTUNATE ONES
Fortunate Ones is a contemporary folk duo from Newfoundland. Celebrated for their harmony-entwined songs of hope, resilience, and the human condition and their joyfully disarming live shows, they have toured relentlessly, bringing their open-hearted performances to thousands of people across North America and beyond.

Catherine and Andrew have been busy since the release of their debut album The Bliss in 2015 - thousands of miles, hundreds of shows, award winning albums and scores of fans have all been hallmarks of the success the duo has experienced since their humble beginnings in St. John’s. The Bliss was nominated for a JUNO Award and landed two #1 singles on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20.

On their sophomore album Hold Fast, the title track hit #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 Chart. The album also took home three Music NL Awards in 2018, was nominated for four East Coast Music Awards, and the 2019 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year. To date, songs from Hold Fast have over 16 million streams on Spotify.

Fortunate Ones released That Was You and Me in 2022 and embarked on the Anchor’s Up Tour with The Once and Old Man Luedecke across Canada.

Enjoy the timeless music of one of the most iconic pop artists of all time. Delighting audiences and playing to sold-out shows everywhere, SOS - The ABBA Experience recreates the music of ABBA almost note for note from the original studio recordings with no backing tracks.  This live experience will take you on a nostalgic journey back in time to when ABBA was performing live in concert.

This exhilarating production for all ages will have old and new generations singing and dancing to monster hits such as Waterloo, Dancing Queen, SOS, Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, Fernando, Chiquitita, Does Your Mother Know and countless others. Boasting a repertoire of close to 40 all-time hits, SOS - The ABBA Experience is sure to play all of your favorites!

Through years of professional experience touring with world-renowned artists, our musicians have come together to create one of the most authentic and entertaining ABBA shows on the market today.  With powerful lead vocals and harmonies, elaborate costumes, and rich instrumental backing layers, this sensational 10-piece show delivers an ABBA experience like no other!

Enjoy the timeless music of one of the most iconic pop artists of all time. Delighting audiences and playing to sold-out shows everywhere, SOS - The ABBA Experience recreates the music of ABBA almost note for note from the original studio recordings with no backing tracks.  This live experience will take you on a nostalgic journey back in time to when ABBA was performing live in concert.

This exhilarating production for all ages will have old and new generations singing and dancing to monster hits such as Waterloo, Dancing Queen, SOS, Mamma Mia, Super Trouper, Fernando, Chiquitita, Does Your Mother Know and countless others. Boasting a repertoire of close to 40 all-time hits, SOS - The ABBA Experience is sure to play all of your favorites!

Through years of professional experience touring with world-renowned artists, our musicians have come together to create one of the most authentic and entertaining ABBA shows on the market today.  With powerful lead vocals and harmonies, elaborate costumes, and rich instrumental backing layers, this sensational 10-piece show delivers an ABBA experience like no other!

Jazz is filled with many opportunities to blend in rich harmonies and powerful rhythms. Join Peter Karle as he writes a jazz standard style ballad on the spot. The workshop will introduce many jazz songwriting techniques that will turn a simple standard into a song with "A Little Spice". Audience members can feel free to participate and add their own suggestions to create multiple versions of the same song.
Peter Karle Bio

Armed with an eclectic taste in music and the experience to match, Peter Karle is excited to play all styles that come his way.  Throughout his undergraduate degree at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University, Peter actively sought out diverse musical projects to hone his craft as a musician.  Along with private classical guitar with Robert Kubica, Peter served as guitarist and rhythm section leader with the Western University Jazz Ensemble.  Peter has also sought out conducting opportunities outside of the faculty to continue his spirit for giving music. Peter served at the 2014-25 Western Chamber Ensemble (orchestra division) as director under the tutelage of Alain Trudel.  He also served as producer/ music director/conductor for Theatre Western’s Xanadu(2013) and Rent(2014) and Into the Woods(2015). Peter arranges and performs a yearly jazz show at the Aeolian Hall with his Peter Karle Combo. Peter is currently performing as a leader/sideman  and session player with various groups around London.

Hamilton-born but now a proud Londoner, Stephen is a multidisciplinary artist, working primarily as a musician/multi-instrumentalist, music director, composer, actor, performer, singer/songwriter, and music educator. Starting end of February, Stephen will be working his first season at the Shaw Festival, apprenticing under the Festival’s music director, Paul Sportelli. He has worked professionally in theatres all around Ontario for the past five years, and has worked as a music teacher when not on the road. He is an avid lover of craft beer, craft cocktails, and sharing plates (really anything ingestible), and writes music and plays extraordinarily long board games in his spare time. Stephen is releasing his debut album as a singer/songwriter, Fridge Magnet Symphony, this year.

Classic Troubadours Live: The greatest songs by James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne & Carole King...all in one unforgettable night!

Award-winning singer-songwriter Jacob Moon brings you a dynamic ensemble of incredible singers and musicians paying homage to these 4 icons. Join us as we dig into the catalogs of some of the most influential artists of our lifetime, including hits like Fire and Rain, Running on Empty, Big Yellow Taxi and You've Got a Friend and more!

Jacob Moon has released 12 albums of his own music and performed for RUSH and Gordon Lightfoot. He presented this show this past spring in two sold-out shows at the Westdale Theatre, to a rapturous response. Singer Alex Whorms has released 2 CDs under her own imprint, and scores for film and television. Singer Ashley St Pierre has been a sought-after jazz chanteuse for years, and brings her incredible musicality to bear on songs by Joni and Carole. Drummer Rob 'Beatdown' Brown has hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube and has rubbed shoulders with the greatest drummers of all time. Bassist Mark McIntyre plays for David Wilcox, Danny Michel and Dean Brody.

Don't miss your chance to see this incredible show!

Folk-pop artist Emma Cook has a glacially pure voice and years of life experiences to write about. At the heart of it all she is a storyteller, with music that plays between the lines of folk and chamber pop influenced from her youth – listening to mixtapes that included Ani Difranco, Tracy Chapman and Madonna. Emma released her 5th album Fight Left In Me in late 2021 but was unable to tour it at the time due to the world being shut down. Produced by Andrew Rasmussen (touring keyboardist for the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen, Wake Owl, Twin Bandit, Hannah Georgas, Hey Ocean) the album takes a deep dive into the nooks & crannies, and under the radar experiences of (mostly) women who are in the time of their life when their own personal identity is often tangled up with those around them. With Emma’s trademark vocal and harmony layering and gorgeously textured production, the album is her most extrospective so far, bringing the stories of those around her to life with an aching honesty.

The road to this new album was definitely not linear. In 2013 she was forced to take a 3-year hiatus from music following a bad head injury. In 2018 she came back strong with the album Living Proof  distilling her hardships into a collection of stirring and deeply earnest pop balladry. The album landed her in the finals of the CBC Searchlight competition and a headlining show at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. She was chosen to represent Canada on a musical trade mission in South America in 2019, with official showcases at SIM Sao Paolo and Fluviale Festivals.

Emma has logged 100’s of shows across Canada, the US and the UK, including showcases at NXNE, SXSW, CMW and Indie Week. Her four full length releases have garnered fantastic reviews and sought the attention of CBC Radio and SiriusXM The Verge.

Although music has always been Emma’s passion, her self-proclaimed restless spirit has taken her down many different paths, from backpacking in South East Asia for a year to white water canoeing down the Nahanni river in the NW Territories. Most recently, Emma and her husband moved with their two young kids from Toronto to Ontario’s cottage country, where they are working on creating a net-zero eco resort with tiny cabins in the forest where city folk can unplug in nature.

Andre Bisson performs with his 7-piece band for an evening upbeat soul/roots music! With a career spanning over 20 years, 10 Albums, and winner of this years Blues and Roots Radio International Song Competition for Song of the Year Award, Andre brings a unique sound that combines retro 60’s soul with the storytelling of folk music.  Andre will be performing songs from his latest album “Latchford”.

From a small town in Northern Ontario to lively crowds across England and Wales, André Bisson has proved that he has a message worth listening to. With a career that spans over 20 years, his musical resume includes 9 studio albums, countless awards, and sold out shows across Canada, US, UK, and Europe.

As the sole songwriter and arranger for a group that spans from 6-20 musicians, André has created his own musical brand infused with soul, roots, blues, and R&B. Using an eclectic combination of instruments, he creates a musical story that becomes the soundtrack for his lyrics.

Since first taking to the stage at age 15, André’s love and dedication has always been to the live show. Combining his powerhouse vocals with a group of world class musicians, André makes it a priority to always give the audience an exciting, intense, and memorable musical experience. The connection between the musicians, the song, and the audience is always the ultimate goal.

Throughout the years, André’s style and philosophy towards music has attracted attention in the music community. Since his first album release in 2009, Andre has gained notoriety with awards such as “Male Vocalist of the Year” – Hamilton Blues Awards, “Song of the Year” – Blues and Roots Radio International Song Competition, and a five time nominee at the Hamilton Arts Awards. André was also selected by the Grand River Blues Society to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee.

With a dedication to the live show and a sound that is constantly growing and evolving, each performance is unique in its own way. It is these qualities that keep the audience engaged, excited and returning time and time again.

Andre will be releasing his new album in September 2023.