MUSICONTARIO & CION @ FOLK CANADA 2026
October 14-18, 2026 (Sheraton Hamilton Hotel (Downtown), Hamilton, ON)

MusicOntario and CION are teaming up to present two nights of private showcases during the Folk Canada conference in October 2026!

Taking place in Hamilton, ON, this year, Folk Canada is the premier annual gathering of Canada's folk, roots, and world music community, and an essential platform for artists, presenters, buyers, and industry professionals from across the country and around the world. Now in its 40th year, the conference plays a vital role in connecting Canadian artists with market opportunities, supporting professional development at every career stage, and positioning Canada's folk and roots music sector on the international stage.

ARTIST BIOS 

ANGELA SAINI
Angela Saini brings powerful storytelling, uplifting melodies, and a grounded stage presence to every performance. Her empowering blend of rootsy folk-pop explores courage, resilience and authenticity, reaching listeners across North America on CBC Radio, Stingray, and Sirius XM. Hosting the “Living on the Bright Side” Acoustic Showcase in Room 921, Angela brings warmth and intention by creating moments of connection that linger long after the last note. A Toronto Independent Music Award winner and 2020 Independent Music Award Finalist for Best Alt Country, Angela has toured across Canada, Germany, England, and The Netherlands, earning praise from BBC Radio as “massively talented.”

ANIQA DEAR
aniqa dear is a Toronto-based experimental art pop project rooted in queerness, diasporic identity, grief, and the eternal interplay between belonging and isolation. aniqa dear weaves her intricate melodic sensibilities with ever-shifting synth-infused textures and polyrhythms, resulting in danceable music interlaced with stark vulnerability. She is currently crafting her second, intimate, genre-bending full-length album, to be released in early 2027. She asks intently if you have ever danced into your own abyss, and she invites you in.

EVAN REDSKY
On The Language of Fishermen, Evan Redsky embodies and relays Indigenous stories and perspectives in order to better understand his own. Raised on the First Nations Reserve of Mississaugi First Nation in Blind River, Ontario, and now based in Toronto, Redsky’s new album reclaims the music of his childhood—Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Blue Rodeo—to share vulnerable stories of longing and resilience. A former member of Juno-nominated Single Mothers, current member of “Turtle Island Hardcore” band Indian Giver, and sideperson with acts including Altemeda, Wyatt C. Lewis, and Nicolette and the Nobodies, Redsky’s latest sees this seasoned musical polymath digging deep. Inspired in part by the works of Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese, The Language of Fishermen reflects on intergenerational trauma and the healing process while deftly honouring profound moments of everyday fulfillment. As Redsky sings, ““If love and work is enough for them / It’s good enough for me.”

EVAN ROTELLA 
Evan Rotella is a singer-songwriter from Niagara Falls, Ontario, known for heartfelt, story-driven songs rooted in rock, folk and Americana. Since beginning his recording career in 2020, Evan has opened for acclaimed artists including Steve Earle, Southside Johnny and Steven Page, with upcoming shows supporting The Trews this summer and Julian Taylor this fall. He has also collaborated with artists including Dave Rave, Astrid Young and Stephen Stanley. His 2023 debut album, Happy To Be Here, was followed by the stripped-down Last Train Home in 2024. Evan has performed at renowned venues including The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, The Turning Point in New York, and Toronto’s historic Cameron House. Evan is currently recording the rock-leaning Abandon All Hope, produced by John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews, alongside a new folk album with Mark Rogers of LMT Connection."

FOR ERNEST
For Ernest is a musical act that stretches the definition of the traditional folk duo. They are just as comfortable leaning into fingerpicking guitar and piano based arrangements as they are delving into the world of live-looping and creating expansive soundscapes. Since forming in 2023, the group has received hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify, have been featured on the Spotify Editorial playlist “Renegades” and have been played on SiriusXM’s North Americana channel. On the performance side of things, the duo has played numerous shows and music festivals including NXNE, Cicada Music+Arts Festival, Mission Folk Music Festival, Robson Valley Music Festival and many more. Their live show can range from incredibly intimate to something much larger than the sum of their parts, through the live looping of both instruments and vocals.

JAMES GRAY
James Gray is a contemporary version of an old-school traveling folk singer. In the past decade, Gray has toured throughout Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand seeing the world and sharing his beloved songs along the way. A unique finger style guitarist, with a vocal that is hauntingly beautiful, Gray, often accompanied by a rather droll, humorous stage patter, immerses himself in each and every song with a soulfulness and attack that is infectious and disarming. James has released four albums, the most recent in May 2026 entitled “Daydreamer.” In 2019 James won himself a spot at The Mariposa Folk Festival through their showcase auditions. James has since been invited to perform at 5 Mariposa folk events, The Northern Lights Festival Boreal, 2 Troubadour Festivals and the Muskoka Music Festival in James’ home of northern/central Ontario.

JOHN MUIRHEAD
John Muirhead is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter crafting big-hearted indie-folk songs for dreamers, wanderers, and hopeless romantics. From fingerpicked confessionals to foot-stomping, full-band singalongs, John’s award-winning songs have connected with listeners from all around the world. With over 300K followers across social media, 8M+ streams, and 15M+ TikTok views, John is building a vibrant community rooted in story, sincerity, and connection.

KIRK DIAMOND
Kirk Diamond is a three-time Juno Award–winning singer, songwriter, producer, and cultural force whose music bridges reggae, Caribbean culture, and the global soundscape. Born in Jamaica and raised in Canada, Diamond has built an acclaimed career rooted in reggae while consistently pushing the genre into new spaces and audiences. A seven-time Juno nominee, Diamond’s influence extends beyond music. He is the recipient of the 2020 international Vigor Award, and in 2022, the City of Brampton named a park in his honour, making him the first reggae artist in Canada—and the only living reggae artist—to receive such a distinction. His 2023 album DREAD earned him his third Juno Award in 2024, while its lead single “Reggae Party” also won a JUNO and was named by CBC Music among the “10 Best Canadian Reggae Songs of All Time.” His songwriting credits include co-writing “Mudda Dey” for soca star Patrice Roberts, while “Bring It Good” was featured in the film When Morning Comes. Diamond has performed on some of Canada’s most significant cultural stages, including the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and Luminato, where he honoured the legacy of Quincy Jones. In 2026, he performed at the inaugural Kaya Fest Canada, representing Canada among a select group of Canadian reggae artists at the festival’s historic first Canadian edition. Currently on The Experience Tour and preparing his second full-length studio album, Kirk Diamond is entering a new chapter—building on his Canadian achievements while expanding his reach across the Caribbean, United States, Europe, and beyond.

LENNIE RAYEN
Lennie Rayen is an alt singer-songwriter and indie rock artist. Her music is direct and confessional, with a knack for turning personal moments into something universal. Her debut album, Entertain The Space, pairs intimate songwriting with a fuller, more expansive indie rock palette. Across ten songs, Rayen showcases the range and depth of her writing while leaning into a sound that feels fully her own.

LUKE WARM & THE COLD ONES
Inspired by genres as diverse as punk rock, grunge, metal, and everything else, the five life-long friends from Thunder Bay, Ontario that form Luke Warm & The Cold Ones craft a figurative “flickering light” within the vast, cold expanse of Northern Ontario. Along with the brutal, unforgiving geography, the challenges and struggles faced by members of their community have become channelled into the band’s universally appealing songs, evident by the presence of all walks of life at their shows. “Being in Thunder Bay influences the music two-fold,” describes Greg Chomut, lead vocalist and bassist. “There’s a mixture of isolation and freedom. There’s that constant battle against the elements. The closest Canadian city is an 8-hour drive away. You see the scars of that all over the city, but when you look at it with the right kind of lens, it’s actually beautiful.” By chronicling the resilience of their community in songs, Chomut and his band have been able to cultivate a loyal, devoted audience by giving a voice to those that otherwise go unheard. “It’s harder than ever to make music economically feasible, which is why it’s more important to look to your immediate local and regional community and put community first,” Chomut concludes. “I hope that resonates with people from other places in Canada too.”

MATTHEW BURKHART
Canadian singer-songwriter Matthew Burkhart has been touring the Ontario musical underground for nearly two decades. In 2019, writing solo material led to a creative explosion in songwriting that produced a more dynamic, visceral and honest sound. SiriusXM Radio called Burkhart’s music “both a journey and seamless synergy between music and words”, drawing inspiration from classic Americana and Folk ballads with dashes of Alternative Country and Rock. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Burkhart toured all over Ontario, performing shows from breweries in Sudbury to dive bars in Windsor, including full band headlining performances at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern and El Mocambo. In 2023, Burkhart released his most ambitious project yet - an 11-song LP titled “Runaway Star”. Produced once again by Brandon Fehderau at Mkondo Studio in Kitchener, ON, “Runaway Star” presents another large leap forward for Burkhart as a songwriter. He currently lives in Callander, Ontario with his family and two small dogs, and is working on his next full length album titled “A Light Beyond the Hill” scheduled for release in 2027.

MATTHEW JAMES
For Australian-born singer-songwriter Matthew James, music has always been a way to process life's highs and lows. Now based in Toronto, Ontario, and influenced by artists like Matt Maeson, Noah Kahan, Hozier and Sam Fender, he's found his voice in alternative and indie-pop/rock, crafting songs that explore themes of resilience and self-discovery. His emotive delivery and raw storytelling create songs that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable, music that lingers long after the final note. "I do my best to create honest, emotionally resonant songs that connect with my audience," says James. MERV XX GOTTI Merv xx Gotti is an award-winning Asian-Canadian singer-songwriter best known for his solo dream-folk project, Guitar Songs. After back-to-back official SXSW showcase performances in 2024 and 2025, Merv xx Gotti released his debut studio album, Guitar Songs: A Thesis on Low-Efficiency Emotional Excavation. The album’s first single, “Jiujitsu,” was named one of CBC’s Top 100 Canadian Songs and received airplay on over 21 CBC stations, including national music radio shows such as Marvin’s Room with Jemeni and Afterdark with Odario Williams. The album went on to chart on over two dozen campus radio stations across Canada and the US.

MINUSCULE
Anything but small, Minuscule is a five-voice army, striding into difficult conversations with equal parts therapy and harmony. They fearlessly explore playful and painful corners of the human experience, delivering the poeticism of Joni Mitchell and Gord Downie with the harmonic punch of Florence + The Machine and TuneYards. Audiences across Canada have been captivated by Minuscule’s invigorating live presence, summoning social responsibility and empathy through empowering anthems, riveting layered vocals, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.

NATASHA ROLDÁN
Colombian-Canadian singer-songwriter Natasha Roldán travels through the landscapes of indie Latin folk and jazz. Her music explores themes of migration, revolution, and love. The delicacy of her voice carries undeniable strength, breaking language barriers and creating emotional connections with audiences. Her self-produced record Ya No Estoy Aquí earned her three Latin Awards Canada nominations: Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year (2024 & 2025), while its title track spent 10 weeks in the Top20 of Colombia’s Radio Nacional. She has attracted attention from local and international media, including a feature on CBC Frequencies highlighting 12 Canadian producers making waves on the global stage. Natasha has graced local and international stages and in 2025 was selected as an Artist-in-Residence at Château d’Orquevaux in France. With a new album on the way, her songs continue to travel beyond borders, earning her recognition as a rising Latin-Canadian artist to watch.

OK NALEDI
OK Naledi is a high-energy, Afro-Fusion music project created by Naledi Sunstrum, a queer, Motswana Canadian full-time musician and producer based on the unceded Algonquin Territory referred to as Ottawa in Canada.

PHIL DROST
Phil Drost was born and raised in Thunder Bay, ON. Phil was actively songwriting and performing in various groups, before receiving formal training in a small college out in Alberta. It was there that Phil began honing his craft and developing his sound (began in 2014 - first album released in 2016) Phil wrote and recorded his first three albums while living in Alberta, and then moved back to Thunder Bay, where he wrote and recorded three more albums. Phil is a musical storyteller, with a sound that blends folk honesty, precision lyricism, and that unmistakable Northwestern Ontario charm. Phil is currently playing regularly with his four piece band in Thunder Bay, with notable recent performances like the Thunder Bay Waterfront series, and the Red Rock Folk Fest. Phil continues to seek opportunities locally, and is actively writing for album number seven. Phil recorded his last album in Thunder Bay at Blueprints audio with producer/engineer Jean Paul De Roover, and is planning on working with Blueprints again for the next project. Phil also regularly plays at the country market in Thunder Bay, as well as special functions. Phil continues to write and seek out opportunities to collaborate with other artists, and perform the songs he has written. Phil hopes to expand the reach of his songs by taking the stage as much as possible, both locally and further in the province and beyond."

SKYE WALLACE
A voice like a commanding instrument, unflinching lyricism, and a swaggering live show shaped by years on the road: Skye Wallace has earned a reputation as one of Canada's most compelling artists. Moving effortlessly between folk, rock, alternative influences and punk energy, her live show and raw, honest storytelling has won critical acclaim, a devoted fan base, and stages shared with the likes of Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Tim Barry (AVAIL), Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!), Sam Roberts Band, and more. The Act of Living marks Wallace’s latest artistic evolution, offering an exploration of death and its cycles. Produced alongside Hawksley Workman and released on Tiny Kingdom, The Act of Living finds Skye fully embracing the grungy, unbridled enthusiasm of her and her band's live performances, inviting listeners on a journey of near-death experiences, dreamworlds, loss, + rebirth. Skye's newest record is currently in the works, transforming death into life and the messy, beautiful pieces of new parenthood. With Matt Mays at the helm, the work returns to the acoustic rawness and haunting vocals of her early alt-folk material and is set to release in early spring 2027, with singles dropping throughout late 2026."

TEAGAN JOHNSTON
Teagan Johnston, is a multidisciplinary artist who’s work focuses on emotional rawness and communication. Born in the Yukon, raised between South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and the West Coast of Canada, Teagan brings a vast and ever layered perspective to her work. Beginning her career as a musician, under the name Little Coyote, Teagan’s debut album The Trouble with Teeth was released with the enthusiastic support of EggHunt Records. October 2026, Teagan released her sophomore album Big Time. The album has been featured by and praised by outlets such as CBC Q , Sirius XM and Exclaim! Teagan has toured North America, Japan and Europe, including performing a special set at David Lynch’s Paris nightclub, Silencio.
Additionally, she has opened for artists such as July Talk, Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus and Current Joys. "

THE BARREL BOYS
Ontario's The Barrel Boys are a bluegrass powerhouse, featuring rich 3- and 4-part vocal harmonies, flashy instrumental picking, and a fun, down-to-earth stage presence. Their music draws from the deep wells of traditional bluegrass and Appalachian old-time, but what sets them apart is their heartfelt songwriting and storytelling. In 2026 they were nominated for "Vocal Group of the Year" and "Traditional Album of the Year" at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and "Performing Artist of the Year" at the Ontario Folk Music Awards.

THE PAIRS THE PAIRS IS A TRIO This internationally touring band of celebrated songwriters greets every stage with a genuine, quirky presence and unbottled chemistry. Their sibling harmonies and familial banter quickly connect them to their audience. Whether The Pairs are playing an intimate house concert or a sold-out show at a Performing Arts Centre, these classically trained vocalists make it their mission to use three-part harmony and honest storytelling as powerful tools that soften and connect us. In October 2025, The Pairs released their fourth studio album, Together on a Rock, capturing the authentic, minimalistic, and acoustic performance style the trio has become known for. The album reached the top 10 on the FAI Folk Charts for three months, earned SiriusXM airplay, and led to a feature on Q with Tom Power. The group continues an exciting touring and recording schedule into 2026/27.

THE REDHILL VALLEYS
With powerful, earthy harmonies, rootsy guitar licks, and timeless lyrics, The Redhill Valleys emerged with a force onto the Canadian music scene in 2016. The three-piece Americana alt-country group, whose name pays homage to their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, is composed of Chelsea McWilliams (Bass/Vocals), Tim Allard (Lead Guitar/Vocals), and Matt Soliveri (Drums). The band doesn’t shy away from nostalgia, drawing influence from artists such as Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Neil Young, The Band, and Fleetwood Mac. WILLOW SWITCH Willow Switch is a dark folk music group that embodies the crossroads of tradition and subversion. The band consists of saw-player and guitarist Andra Zlatescu, banjo player Robin Henry, and bassist Timothy Popowich. Together they call upon the spirits of the land in haunting harmonies that sing open the doorways to other realms. Rooted in traditional Appalachian old-time music and land-based folkloric practices, Willow Switch spins tales of civilizations lost and reclaimed by nature, exploring themes of grief for old almost-forgotten pathways, and weaving those threads of memory into dreaming up new futures.

WRECKLESS HARBOUR
Wreckless Harbour is an indie folk band from Hamilton, Canada, blending the timeless warmth of acoustic string band instrumentation and four-part vocal harmonies with the energy and edge of contemporary indie folk. At the heart of their music is a dedication to melodious and narrative songwriting that honours folk traditions while speaking directly to the experiences of today’s audiences. Wreckless Harbour has been actively performing their repertoire of original music since 2022. Wreckless Harbour recorded their debut album, Step Lightly, with producer Steven Ryan of Canary Minor Music. Released in two digital EPs—Side A (November 2024) and Side B (May 2025)—the project culminated in a full album release in June 2026. Following their selection from the 2026 Emerging Artists Showcase for the Mariposa Folk Festival, the band is poised for a breakout year in Canada's folk music circuit. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s growing music scene, Wreckless Harbour continues to grow their audience while establishing their place in the Canadian folk music community and beyond."

YASSIN & SEAN TERRIO
YASSiN & Sean Terrio are an Ontario-based pop duo known for deeply emotional songwriting, infectious melodies, soulful vocals, and a unique blend of music and comedy. After meeting at Oakville’s legendary Moonshine Café open mic in 2019, the duo began writing and releasing music together, quickly building a devoted audience across Canada. Their growing list of accolades includes placing 2nd in Canada’s Walk of Fame Emerging Musician Program, being selected for the RBC x Music’s First Up Program and performing at some of Canada’s biggest stages and festivals, including Boots & Hearts Music Festival, the Sound of Music Festival, SuperCrawl, and many more across Canada. With over 95 million views across TikTok and Instagram and more than 200,000 followers, YASSiN & Sean Terrio have built a fanbase through a combination of heartfelt music, comedy, and an undeniable live presence. Following the release of their debut album JUST TRY in 2024 and standout singles including “HONEY B” & “Right Here, Right Now”, the latter having Sirius XM play, the duo is gearing up for the release of their sophomore album, Learn + Apply, later in 2026. Beyond music, their annual charity concert Rock The Halls has become a major part of their story, with the latest edition raising over $12,000 and collecting 350 pounds of non-perishable food for the Daily Bread Food Bank. YASSiN & Sean Terrio are building a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting entertainers—bringing big songs, big energy, and a whole lot of heart to every stage they play.

YORK STREET THOUGHT PROCESS
York Street Thought Process is a charming folk duo made up of Jaron Camp & Rachael Frankruyter. The duo has captured the hearts of audiences across Canada with their playful approach to folk music, blending storytelling with improvisation. In 2025, the duo released their single 'Dignity' and performed across Canada, including Mariposa Folk Festival and Winnipeg Folk Festival. This fall, York Street Thought Process is releasing music from their upcoming third album that displays a beautiful simplicity and intricacy of their signature duo sound that audiences have witnessed in their live performance; a stripped down, focused approach to their distinctive style.

ZEEGWON
Zeegwon Shilling is a 20-year-old Anishinaabe singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor from Wasauksing First Nation. He began teaching himself piano by ear at the age of three and grew up surrounded by music through his parents’ community radio station. In 2018, a video of Zeegwon singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” reached more than 600,000 views online. He made his television debut the following year as a guest star on CBC’s The Coroner. In 2022, he received the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Protégé Prize, presented in partnership with the Ontario Arts Council, and has since been mentored by Amanda Rheaume, Derek Miller, and Lacey Hill. In 2026, Zeegwon was selected for Reverie: The Indigenous Music Residency, presented by CBC and the SOCAN Foundation. He is currently recording his debut EP with award-winning producer Hill Kourkoutis, to be released through Littlebit Records in fall 2027. His music brings together pop, live instrumentation, and the influence of his Anishinaabe upbringing.

MusicOntario gratefully acknowledges our partners in this programming for making it possible, including Ontario Creates via the Ontario Music Investment Fund, and the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), the Government of Canada (through the Canada Music Fund), and Canada's private radio broadcasters. This event is also presented in partnership with the City of Toronto's Music Office.