Coming from a thousand miles and a border apart, Pharis and Jason Romero met in 2007 at an old-time fiddle jam. Both had been playing music for decades, and both were drawn to early country, old-time, blues and bluegrass. In 2010 they moved their home and the J. Romero Banjo Company north to the small BC town of Horsefly...
He’s been described as poetic, literate and “spacious”. Toronto’s NOW Magazine says, "For anyone following the folk/roots scene in Toronto, the serene work of Justin Rutledge is no secret, but it's easy to forget just how engaging and talented this gentle singer-songwriter is
Stefano Saletti and Piccola Banda Ikona brings together some of the most important musicians of Italian world music to play the music of the Mediterranean. The band features original compositions sung in Sabir, a lingua franca which sailors and other sea-going folk on the Mediterranean used in the ports to communicate with each other until the early decades of the 20th Century...
The Shirleys are six unique women with signature solo voices, who have come together to create a jewel-toned sextet. They will delight you with their humour, passion and enthusiasm, singing everything from Cuban Carnival music and tragic Russian love songs to sweet Mandarin flirtations and wrenching Appalachian protest songs. Their diverse repertoire includes original material and innovative arrangements of songs in seven different languages...
Formed in West African refugee camps, the Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars have risen like a phoenix out of the ashes of war and enflamed the passions of fans across the globe with their uplifting songs of hope, faith and joy . . .
Moira Smiley & VOCO is a visionary blend of voices - redefining harmony singing with the power and physicality of folksong, the avant-garde fearlessness of Bela Bartok and the delicious, vaudevillian accompaniment of cello, banjo, accordion and body percussion. Smiley leads an ensemble of extraordinary musicians who share a passion for spreading powerful, emotional music with lush four-part vocal harmony...
She’s been called “an enigma.” She can be unwavering, yet delicate; powerful, yielding, gentle and fierce. MC, singer, musician, poet, actress, artist, seeker Kinnie Starr is a trusted guide and a fearless explorer who’s name garners respect in almost any cultural or artistic conversation. Her extraordinary voice continues to provoke new thought and inspiration. She writes and performs songs in a range of genres...
Two-time Juno winning banjo-player Jayme Stone makes music inspired by folk traditions from around the world. His curiosity started early with the quirky physics of the banjo, led to a mysterious librarian who stocked his local public library with a vast trove of banjo recordings, and landed him long-lasting lessons with maestros like Tony Trischka and Bill Frisell...
Stringband was the little Canadian folk band that could. Over forty years ago they pioneered do-it-yourself- recording and touring and wrote endearing and enduring songs about this country, its people, places and personalities. From the early seventies until the mid-eighties they were in the forefront of folk music. Since then they have gone on to varied pursuits in the creative arts...
Vancouver is home to some of the most accomplished exponents of Chinese music in the country, the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble undoubtedly among the most renowned. Each member of the group, which was founded in 1989, is a highly accomplished instrumentalist and interpreter of traditional and contemporary Chinese music. Performing on a variety of traditional instruments, including Chinese violin (ehru)...