Upcoming performances
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Music at YYZ
Past performances
May 11, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Andrea Ramolo
Andrea Ramolo is a Canadian recording artist, dancer, actress, educator, and cultural enthusiast. She has released seven studio albums—five solo and two with the duo Scarlett Jane—and is a multiple Canadian Folk Music Award nominee. The triple-threat began her journey into the arts as a dancer and actor until she ventured into music in 2008 with the release of her album, Thank You For The Ride, which she supported with close to 200 shows across Canada.
May 12, 2022
Location: Terminal 1
1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Two-time JUNO Award winner and three-time JUNO Award nominee guitarist and singer-songwriter Donné Roberts was born in Madagascar and is presently one of the hottest acts on the world music scene in Canada. Now based in Toronto, he's earned a matchless reputation for the excellence of his song writing skills, musicianship, collaborations and the excitement of his live shows. Donné has led a prolific and varied artistic life since he left his home country of Madagascar as a boy. He came to wider recognition in his adopted home of Canada after earning two JUNO Awards and three JUNO Award nominations for his contribution as a composer and guitar player for the African Guitar Summit project and Okavango African Orchestra and with the release of his great albums: Rhythm Was Born, Internation, and Onward. His success led to CBC Radio asking him to compose the theme song for their popular morning show Fresh Air, which still runs today.
May 13, 2022
Location: Terminal 1
1st set: 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Hailing from the North, inspired by the South, Nate Daviau (pronounced dav-ee-o) is a Toronto-born artist and songwriter. Nate is an engaging performer who has a natural and easy connection with people. A country music artist inspired by alt-country greats like Chris Stapleton and Jason Isbell, Nate has broad interests from pop, folk, gospel and jazz which influence his music. Nate’s distinctive voice, meaningful turn of phrase and lyrical ease pair with hook-oriented melodies to make his songs catchy and memorable. He’s spent the last four years studying song writing at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and has released two independent EPs in that time. He’s an excellent demonstration of what a guitar-toting songwriter is capable of onstage. His recent single Listerine testifies to his bona fides.
Location: Terminal 1
1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Multiple award-winning singer-songwriter 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 Toronto, Ontario, 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 at festivals such as Iceland Airwaves, Edmonton Folk Festival and 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 is Sarah’s fourth record and was written amid the death of her grandparents, the birth of her niece, and a breakup. The nine songs are also influenced by the places that made her and changed her: the dark beauty of Scandinavia and the vastness of the Canadian North.
May 16, 2022
Location: Terminal 1
1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
With genre bending anthems translated through impactful and relatable emotions, New Friends are reinventing the standard for what popular music can be. As a product of their childhoods, they are nostalgic for the bands they loved growing up and continue to emulate those influences with a modern twist.
When Stefan Boulineau, Ayden Miller, Cole Wilson and Conrad Galecki crossed paths as music students in late 2018, the group clicked instantly and began working on demos in dorm rooms in London, Ontario.
It didn't take long until their hook-filled debut single Purple Candy was out in the world, since reaching over 3.5 million streams on Spotify and climbing. They were recently announced winners of the It's Your Shot contest in Canada worth $100,000 in Artist Development.
With a charismatic front man in Boulineau who displays dreamy originality in his voice, metaphorical yet relatable lyrics from Miller, rich guitar melodies from Wilson, and production magic and class writing from Galecki, New Friends is rapidly becoming a recognized sound around the world.
March 14, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Donné Roberts
Two-time JUNO Award winner and three-time JUNO Award nominee guitarist and singer-songwriter Donné Roberts was born in Madagascar and is presently one of the hottest acts on the world music scene in Canada. Now based in Toronto, he's earned a matchless reputation for the excellence of his song writing skills, musicianship, collaborations and the excitement of his live shows. Donné has led a prolific and varied artistic life since he left his home country of Madagascar as a boy. He came to wider recognition in his adopted home of Canada after earning two JUNO Awards and three JUNO Award nominations for his contribution as a composer and guitar player for the African Guitar Summit project and Okavango African Orchestra and with the release of his great albums: Rhythm Was Born, Internation, and Onward. His success led to CBC Radio asking him to compose the theme song for their popular morning show Fresh Air, which still runs today.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
NUA
NUA is an award-winning innovative trad trio, bringing a fresh and unique sound to traditional music, creating their own distinctive original compositions, balanced with traditional and contemporary tunes drawn from Irish and Scottish traditions. Based in Toronto, Canada, NUA consists of three award-winning members: fiddle player James Law, guitarist Graeme McGillivray and bodhrán player Jacob McCauley. The interaction between the three is what really makes the music shine, whether it be their soaring melodies or tasteful grooves.
March 15, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Kazdoura is a Toronto-based music group that presents Arabic fusion. The project was founded by Leen, a singer from Syria, and Johnny, a multi-instrumentalist (saxophonist and guitarist), in the summer of 2020. Johnny was very enthusiastic to learn and play songs from his Arabic background. Together, they fused old classical Arabic songs with many musical influences such as blues, funk and jazz and presented them in a reinvented and modern style. Their inspiration comes from the struggles and destruction in the Middle East, where they come from. To them, Kazdoura is a short nostalgic trip to their roots and past. Currently, Kazdoura is working on their debut EP, set to be released in May 2022.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Charlotte Fabro is a unique musical mind, born and raised in Toronto's west end. Charlotte's music runs the gamut of musical styles from soulful and upbeat to rich and sultry. Charlotte's song writing effortlessly marries poetry and harmony in a tasteful and honest way.
March 16, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Di Zhang is an emerging yangqin virtuoso active in Toronto’s music scene. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in music in 2021 and a Master's degree in 2018 from York University. She is especially interested in improvisation and contemporary composition. Her improvisation was featured in an album The Path to Contemporary, as well as two concerts that presented live transcontinental improvisation and performance. Her research thus far has revolved around the cultural study of the yangqin, Chinese notation systems, pedagogical approaches to improvisation, improvisation in ancient and contemporary regional Chinese music and Western music. The dissertation title for her Ph.D. is Creativity, Improvisation, and Pedagogy for the Chinese Yangqin. In addition to her research, she has performed at the Toronto Music Garden, Wilfred Laurier University, York University, and the University of Toronto, among others. Tours have led Di Zhang to performances in Vancouver, Montreal, Regina, Prince Edward Island, Saskatoon, Macau, Mainland China, and Portugal.
Location: Terminal 3, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Ken Yoshioka & Julian Fauth Blues Duo
Ken Yoshioka is a Toronto based blues musician, originally from Kamakura, Japan. He started his career as a harmonica player and developed into a singer, fingerpicking guitarist and composer. Julian Fauth is a piano player and singer whose style is based on the tradition of prewar barrelhouse blues and boogie woogie, with infusions of gospel and jazz. Ken and Julian fell in love with blues as youngsters. They came to Toronto in the mid-1990s and met in Kensington Market in 1997. Both are soulful singers and songwriters and knowledgeable interpreters of traditional blues and gospel. Seasoned by years of playing together, they complement each other very well and present a dynamic take on the blues that is rooted in the tradition, but interacts with it in imaginative ways.
March 17, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Kaleb Hikele is a Canadian singer-songwriter and prolific recording artist based in Toronto's east end. Under his stage name, The Sun Harmonic, he has released a new folk album Coast to Coast recorded in five studios across Canada. Kaleb has crafted independent music from his home studio since 2009 with over a dozen releases covering diverse genres. The Sun Harmonic's music has drawn attention from SiriusXM, CBC Radio, Stingray Music, Canadian Musician Magazine, including accolades from Record Store Day and Canada's Walk of Fame. Two new studio albums are in the works and are set to be released in 2022.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Using only their voices and innovative live looping techniques, international vocal sensation FreePlay sings you around the world without leaving your seat. New York jazz, UK pop, European classical, Indian ragas, Brazilian samba… FreePlay does it all, a cappella. Partners in music and in life, Canadians Dylan Bell and Suba Sankaran delight in sharing their unique and virtuosic a cappella style around the world, with performances in over 20 countries across 6 continents.
March 18, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Singing songs of love, life and justice, 5-time Juno nominee Ammoye delivers a wholly unique future forward reggae sound that incorporates old-school rocksteady, dancehall and dubstep with gospel, soul and R&B. With her infectious voice and messages of empowerment, Jamaican-born Ammoye is a lightworker and self-declared soul rebel.
Ammoye’s newly released 13-track album Water features the who’s who of the contemporary international reggae scene with contributions from Toronto’s own DJ Agile and Danny Maestro, The Senior Allstars from Germany, Thomas Blondet from Brooklyn, Adian Hanson Donsome of NYC’s Donsome Records and the legendary Lord SassaFras, as well as production from Natural High and executive production, mastering and sound engineering from Tandra Lytes Jhagroo, both based in Jamaica.
Ammoye participated in the Going Global x Mondo showcase, presented by Global Toronto and Small World Music. On the release of Ammoye’s new album, Water, it garnered consideration from the Academy Awards for a Grammy nomination.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Born in 2005, Simone is an actress and singer-songwriter from Toronto, Canada. From a young age, Simone has always enjoyed being a performer and has sung since she was able to speak. Her love for the arts was evident when she would take every opportunity to act and sing wherever she could and to whomever would listen. Her first big break came about when she was cast as a lead character named Raign Westbrook in the CBC’s kids’ digital original mystery and adventure series, Detention Adventure. Since then, she has been cast as young Dorinda Clark in the Lifetime movie The Clark Sisters (executive producers include Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige), the hilarious Workin Moms, and is currently on CBC’s Run The Burbs, where she plays Mannix!
Simone first got her feet wet in the music industry when she was given the opportunity—once the producers discovered her great voice—to sing on one of the tracks entitled “Lioness” in the 8th episode of Detention Adventure Season 2. From there she has also had the opportunity to write for well-known and up-and-coming artists in the Japanese market. Simone has been working diligently towards writing and composing her own original music and has released two original songs to date, Dry Eyes (produced by Rob Wells), and Older (produced by DR). She recently released the music video for Older, which you can watch online.
March 19, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Christina Smith is an international award-winning vocalist and versatile performer. She has a natural gift for classical music. Known for her powerful soprano voice, the Toronto-born, Jamaican-raised vocalist has been applauded by media and audiences across the globe. Christina was also the winner of the 2020 Deputy Mayor's Talent Search competition and the recipient of the 2021 Black Diamond Ball "Inspirational Youth" Award.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Running Red Lights have been performing and composing music together since 2006. They have won various competitions including the 2010 Youdiscover Competition/Kensington Sound Songwriting Contest and the 2018 Canadian Songwriting Contest. The band has toured extensively in Canada and Europe, performing thousands of concerts alongside acclaimed acts such as Counting Crows, The Trews, Barenaked Ladies, Great Big Sea, Stars and Jully Black. The band has a considerable catalog of original music, and a number of these songs can be heard on BBC, CBC and several Spotify curated playlists.
March 20, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
If there is one word to describe Freetherevolution as an artist, it is energy. He commands the stage with powerful vocals inspired by Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Prince, and Carlos Santana fused with Latin sounds like those of J. Balvin, Maluma, and Bad Bunny. His ability to intertwine old school with new school and Spanish with English allow him to create a state of hypnosis, while bringing the focus back to lyrics that inspire life, love and freedom. His swank and style dare the audience to resist the urge to move.
Freetherevolution has an unmatched ability to connect and transcend deep within the listener’s mind, body, and spirit. His vibration is palpable and he has one goal: To make the world feel good.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Tennyson King is a nomadic indie folk musician from Hong Kong and Canada. He writes chill soundtracks to rich, diverse landscapes as he explores the world's beauty, making connections with people, nature, and wildlife along the way. Having toured in Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Brazil and Southeast Asia, Tennyson has captured audiences worldwide with his reverberant and earthy folk-rock blend, jovial personality, and intimately humorous lyrical storytelling. In 2022 he released his record Good Company, produced by Juno nominee Ross Hayes Citrullo. It’s a raw, gritty, and organic sound that makes the soul feel wild and the heart comforted.
March 21, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Arlene Paculan (Solo)
Arlene is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario. She has enchanted crowds across Canada, UK, Europe and the U.S. since 2010. Arlene is also Executive Producer of Let's Make Good Productions, which is an artist and event promotion company with a goal to spread empowerment through original art. She is the host of her own TV show, Striving Artist, which is aired on Filipino TV. Past performances include: Rock the Coliseum, JUNO Fest (London), Aeolian Hall, Living Arts Centre, The Rose Theatre, tedX Mississauga, Meadowvale Theatre, Sound of Music Club Series, and Paisley Arts Festival (Scotland).
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Vixu
Victor Xu (Vixu) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for an aesthetically languid style that shifts between alternative R&B, hip-hop, and indie.
Since his early instrumental releases in 2014, Victor has been active as both a solo artist and a collaborator. Working with Canadian vocalists such as Chris Larocca, Andi, and Calm, Vixu has established an eccentric, yet deep-rooted sound in his approach to pop music. He is also known for his bands: Nigel Nigel, a sultry indie rock band, and Sly Why, a warped mingling of experimental hip-hop and jazz fusion. Vixu is most recognized for his two vocally immersed EP's: Naïve (2015) and Husht (2019).
From a Chinese Canadian upbringing in Ajax, Ontario, Victor took an active interest in music production, composition, and poetry from a young age. His classical training and active interest in song writing carried him through a post-secondary education in jazz piano. During this time, he formed the music that would eventually create Vixu.
His latest release, an EP called Husht, is a layering of irregularly swung percussion, vibrating synthesizers, and lurching vocal lines- in a tone both amorous and ruminative.
In the next couple of months, Vixu will be revealing new music from a possible upcoming album.
March 22, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Josh Piche is a Toronto based singer-songwriter and guitarist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is known for his smooth touch on the guitar and resonates with rootsy soulful tones. His song writing is a genuine reflection of his rural upbringing and tenacious spirit. He has collaborated as a side man with many great Ontario groups and released his first solo EP in 2021. He is also the founder of Canopy Music Theatre, an outdoor, socially distanced space where musicians can perform during the pandemic.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
From São Paulo, Brazil’s intense indie music scene, musician and producer João Leão skillfully infuses his Bossa Nova origins with new flavours of RnB, neo-soul and psychedelic mantras, while collaborating with a great number of artists in Brazil and Canada. João has already been featured in over 30 released albums and toured extensively in South and North America and Europe. His first album, Bilis Negra, was released in 2018.
March 23, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Lauriel Inc. is a singer-songwriter from Brampton, Ontario. The style of music she plays is more of an alternative R&B/folk mixed with neo soul. She’s been involved with music since her childhood, but only started releasing music in 2016. Her first full EP was released in 2021. Since releasing the project, she’s been performing with band members at Afrofest and hosted an EP release event. She’s also done a few solo performances and band gigs around Toronto. “I love playing music and can’t wait to participate in this series with my band mates!” says the talented artist.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
John Muirhead is a Canadian troubadour, a campfire storyteller, and a big-hearted folk-rocker. From fingerpicked folk confessionals to upbeat singalongs, John’s award-winning songs have touched audiences across Canada and beyond, building a community of over 50,000 fans online. Since the release of his debut EP Yesterday’s Smile in 2016, John has earned a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination (Young Performer of the Year, 2017), a Forest City London Music Award nomination (Folk/Roots Artist of the Year, 2020), and has graced the stages of Winnipeg Folk Festival, Sawdust City Music Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and more. John released his debut full-length album Traveller in November 2021.
March 24, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Canadian born, Shannon Dooks’ songs tell it like it is: Intimate, honest, and heartfelt. Her songs are her markers in time that portray her journey through the elation of love, the devastation of loss and the liquidity of life. Shannon creates a quiet landscape of music and asks only for her audience to step into the melodies and lyrics to see if they recognize themselves. Having worked with artists such as Daniel Caesar, Snoop Dog, Raff Pylon, Your Hunni, J3M and Nick Posthumus of Midnight Vesta, Shannon has just released a single called Do It Again. In the background, she is working on her upcoming second album and recording at the historic Kensington Sound in Toronto.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
A self-described musical chameleon, Việt is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Ontario. Combining the lush harmonies and rhythms of his Humber jazz education with the booty-shaking grooves of his first loves, neo-soul and disco, Việt has created a unique sound transcendent of the decades. Lyrically, he draws upon his experiences growing up as a queer Canadian youth of colour, seeking to spark a musical dialogue for issues like gender, sexuality, and cultural identity.
March 25, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Broke Fuse is a one-man blues band from Toronto, performing dynamic original songs alongside classic standards. Jay Moonah, the man behind Broke Fuse, has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for more than 30 years. Broke Fuse has been performing to rave reviews since 2014 and has released two EPs and two full-length albums. In 2021, Broke Fuse was nominated as "New Artist of the Year" at the Maple Blues Awards, Canada's national blues awards program.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Melissa Lamm is an independent singer, songwriter, and producer based in Toronto, Canada. A self-taught producer, classically trained pianist, and graduate of Carleton University’s music program, Melissa’s passion lies in creating pop songs with thoughtful lyrics and unforgettable hooks. Although many of Melissa’s songs have been released on labels such as Universal Music MENA, Paradise Music Group, and Chapter EIGHT, she is still an indie through and through. Look out for Melissa’s independently released sophomore EP, All This Time, dropping March 18th, 2022, or catch her performing live on her Twitch channel to her 22,000 followers.
March 26, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Bitter&Broke is a Canadian band and DJ/producer trio based in Toronto, Ontario. Curating the soundtrack to daily life, they cultivate smooth and soulful sounds that merge the classic pallet of soul, jazz, blues, and funk with the contemporary grooves of neo-soul, R&B, and hip-hop. This versatile group follows in the footsteps of the Isley Brothers, Erykah Badu, Prince and J Dilla, among other inspirations. When not producing beats and performing alongside Toronto’s emerging musicians, Bitter&Broke run a number of live-jams, DJ parties, open mics, cyphers, and concerts built for the community and cultures that inspire them every day!
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Singer-songwriter Jane Mathew is proud to announce that her debut album Such Perfect Lives is out now. Filled with songs that are letters she wrote to different people, this album is written as a response to the increasing inauthenticity seen in everyday life amplified through social media. Jane was a busker in Toronto for a few years after winning a Subway Musician License for the Toronto Transit Commission. She went on to receive grants from both Toronto Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts to create this album.
March 27, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Cory Hotline is a cosmic collision of funk, pop, rock and disco; the kind of band you might expect to see at a raucous dance party in space. Comprised of meticulously selected talent from Toronto's live music scene, Cory Hotline is a synthesis of retro nostalgia and future-facing funk with the pop sense of Maroon 5 and Michael Jackson.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Occupying a rare but accessible musical space between folk, pop, and Cali-style Americana, Toronto singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ben Kunder chronicles the ordinary and the extraordinary in luminous detail. With three highly acclaimed studio albums (2020’s Searching For the Stranger, 2018’s Better Human, and 2015’s Golden) and multiple international tours and festival appearances achieved to date, Kunder has amassed a devoted following while establishing himself as a sought-after collaborator and electrifying live performer. A committed social justice advocate, father to two young children and compassionate member of the human race, Kunder consistently yields exquisite musical insights.
March 28, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Effervescent, unpredictable, vivid & witty is the Songstress & Authour of Life's Surprises — Aieysha Haws — sharing her love of learning & to help others grow & thrive, as her fans, 'Wise Eyes' do. She is significantly placed on Listeners' Choice: Today's Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Eh!, Hip-Hop/R&B (Playlist/Channel) curated by Stingray Music, The Digilogue After Dark: Toronto on Audiomack, Distrokid R&B/Soul (x2), City of Toronto: Music 311, Contemporary Hit Radio & much more. Writer, visual artist, & RNB/Hip-Hop Soul-Fusion performer Aieysha Haws uses the arts to convey powerful messages.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Toronto-based folk band, Basset, will take you from a beekeeper’s fields to the haunted basement of a second-hand store, in a style all in their own. Basset brings a deep love of the natural world to their gorgeously meditative debut album, In The Clay, set to release in the fall of 2022.
March 29, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Blandine is a French singer-songwriter born in Congo, DRC and raised in Canada. Her music is a fusion between traditional African music with urban music sounds. She has been in the Toronto music scene for over eight years and has released one album titled l’antidote in 2019. Now working on her second album, she has released a few singles including Sonné and Mon Bebe that are available on YouTube and all digital platforms.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Catchfiyah is a Canadian electronic duo based out of Toronto, Ontario. The group consists of Lauren Barnett and Demetrios Petsalakis. Blending world beats with house and EDM, they weave social commentary with creative storytelling and hypnotic rhythms. In 2019, Catchfiyah released their first self-titled EP. In October 2021, Catchfiyah will be releasing their second EP titled Price to PayCatchfiyah.
March 30, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Kuné originated at the Royal Conservatory of Music out of an initiative by Mervon Mehta to celebrate Canada’s cultural diversity and pluralism as it turned 150, providing a platform for immigrant musicians living in Toronto. Kuné, which means “together”, is re-creating the sound of what it means to live in the most diverse city in the world. With musicians from Brazil, Iran, China and Burkina Faso, and who play different instruments like the Tar, the Ngoni, the Oud or the Alfaia, the band creates music that sounds authentic, soulful and organic. It is the challenge that Kuné has taken on as a collective that could only have come together in a city like Toronto. The group came together in 2016 to rehearse and create a new repertoire of cross-cultural, collaborative pieces. They recorded their first album in 2018 and have performed in different theaters and festivals across Canada from 2017 to 2020 and toured internationally in 2019.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Matti Charlton (they/them) is a transgender electronic pop & synthwave artist with autism. They live in downtown Toronto, Ontario with their dog, Quentin. Matti is a classically trained musician but swears by retro 80s synthesizers. Their songs The Ringing of the Bells and Something Different have each been streamed more than 33,000 times on Spotify.
March 31, 2022
Location: Terminal 1, first set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Formed in 2019, El Ceibo is a Toronto-based music group that performs a variety of Argentinian folk music. Among its repertoire, the audience can expect to experience arrangements of all time favourites as well as fresh new compositions that echo the rich and colourful sounds of this tradition. The group's distinct sound and refreshing repertoire was recognized by the Toronto Jazz Festival (OLG First Plays initiative) and by CBC Radio 1 ('Big City, Small World'), featuring music from their self-released EP in January 2022.
Location: Terminal 3, 1st set: 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm (15 min. break) 2nd set: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Known for her soulful voice and profound lyricism, the 18-year-old is making waves in the music community. Osé's latest video, Hurt Bae, has over 1 million views on YouTube. Her work's heartfelt lyrics and 90s R&B style provide a nostalgic yet refreshing feel. Her talent has also gained the attention of Omar E. Grant (Roc Nation), Jimmy Jam, landed her a co-sign from SZA, and is being developed by Jeff Robinson (H.E.R., Alicia Keys, Brandy).
November 18, 2021
iSpy
Terminal 1 (Domestic departures, post-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
The iSpy Trio plays jazz manouche, swing and blue notes, soul and spaghetti Western twang that brings the country to the city and glamour to the everyday. Rebecca Everett sings with a touch of Billie Holiday, vibrato of Edith Piaf and torchy twang of the 60s. iSpy includes Toronto music staples; Chris Kettlewell on stand-up bass and Tak Arikushi on gypsy jazz guitar. Get your dancing shoes on and swing with them!
Website: https://www.rebeccaeverett.ca/ispy-home
Social: https://www.instagram.com/ispyjazzmusic/
Kuné
Terminal 1 (International arrivals, pre-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Kuné was born at the Royal Conservatory of Music out of an initiative by Mervon Mehta to celebrate Canada’s cultural diversity and pluralism as it turned 150 and provide a platform for immigrant musicians living in Toronto. Kuné (which means “together”) is re-creating the sound of what it means to live in the most diverse city in the world. With musicians coming from far-away places like Brazil, Iran, China or Burkina Faso and who play different instruments like the Tar, the Ngoni, the Oud or the Alfaia, creating music that sounds authentic, soulful and organic is the challenge that Kune has taken on as a collective, a collective that could only have come together in a city like Toronto. The group came together in 2016 to rehearse and create a new repertoire of cross-cultural, collaborative pieces, they recorded their first album in 2018 and has performed in different theaters and festivals across Canada from 2017 to 2020 and toured internationally in 2019.
Social: https://www.instagram.com/kuneworld/
November 25, 2021
Girl Pow-R
Terminal 1 (International arrivals, pre-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Girl Pow-R is an all-girl pop-rock band that was nominated for a JUNO in March 2020. Their debut album "This Is Us" has garnered the group well over 2.2 million social and Spotify streams across all platforms in 240 countries around the world, including over 1.1 million on TikTok alone. The group consists of very talented young girls who create and sing original music, cover songs, play instruments and dance! With six original songs already launched, Girl Pow-R debuted their first album to phenomenal praise and awards.
Website: https://www.girl-pow-r.com/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/girl_pow_r/
Nastasia Y
Terminal 1 (Domestic departures, post-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Nastasia Y is a Ukrainian-born, Canadian electro-world-pop fusion artist. This multilingual singer and keyboardist seamlessly blends her Slavic roots with contemporary ideals, incorporating electronic textures, jazz, rock and R&B stylistics to create her sound. Nastasia is often backed up by her band DoVira, which means “trust” in Ukrainian.
Website: http://doviramusic.com/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/nastasia.y/
Terminal 1 (International arrivals, pre-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
December 2, 2021
M3L
Terminal 1 (Domestic departures, post-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
M3L (pronounced Mel) is a bilingual Afro-Reggaetton and R&B artist based in Toronto. Born in Cameroon and raised in six countries, his music embodies the lived experiences of a “Third Culture” kid, with roots in Anglophone Afrobeats and Hiphop/R&B, as well as Francophone Zouk and Coupé-Décalé music. His ability to flow seamlessly between English and French makes for a unique listening experience and showcases elite versatility. His single “No Problems” featured on Toronto’s main hip hop station FLOW 93.5’s Made in Toronto Takeover, highlighting the hottest rising acts in the city. Over the past few years, M3L has made a name for himself as a performer headlining two shows for the globally renowned Sofar Sounds. His music has featured on Joe Kay’s Soulection Radio on Apple Music Beats 1, BBC Radio 1EXTRA host Remi Burgz' "Remi's Recognition", As well as Seattle based Radio KEXP’s “Overnight Afrobeats” with Lace Cadence and Zimbabwe's Ejazz Radio hosted by DJ Mark Xtreme.
Social: https://www.instagram.com/m3l.muzik/
Alex Mason
Terminal 1 (International arrivals)
3:45 pm – 4:30 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Inspired in equal parts by alternative rock and indie-folk, Alex Mason goes where the songs are. The Toronto-based musician has been writing songs and gigging across Canada since the release of his first EP, "Wistow Lows" in 2013, with stints including a tour by VIA Rail train for 2015’s "Jasper " as well as cowriting in Nashville. The Canadian songwriter has also opened for acts such as The Strumbellas, Daniel Romano, and Peter Murphy (Bauhaus). Following the release of his live EP, "Salt and the Sea (Live from Dorchester)," Alex Mason is currently working on his first full-length record, poised to be his most personal and fully realized work to date.
Website: https://alexmason.bandcamp.com/
Social: https://www.facebook.com/alexmasonmusic/ and https://twitter.com/alexmasonband
December 9, 2021
Aline Morales
Terminal 1 (Domestic departures, post-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Born and raised in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Aline Morales began her performing career as a child, training in capoeira. By the time she reached her early twenties, she had performed in a number of traditional and contemporary bands including Brazil’s most well-known maracatu group, Nacao Estrela Brilhante do Recife, then-led by her mentor Mestre Walter de Franca. Since her arrival in Toronto in 2003, she has been a tireless promoter of the traditional rhythms of northeastern Brazil, continuing to perform with her percussion troupe, Baque de Bamba, at countless festivals and events.
Social: https://www.instagram.com/alinemorales1/ and https://www.facebook.com/aline.morales.1272
Ethan Ardelli
Terminal 1 (International Arrivals, Pre-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Drummer and composer Ethan Ardelli has been one of Canada’s most acclaimed jazz musicians for more than a decade. His debut album, The Island of Form, is a showcase for Ardelli’s highly developed compositional skills and drumming prowess. The album was recorded by James Farber, the engineer behind many touchstone jazz recordings, including works by Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, and Brad Mehldau. Ethan is on the faculty at the University of Toronto as well as the Humber College Community Music Program.
Website: http://ethanardelli.com/
Social: https://www.instagram.com/ethanardelli/
Terminal 3 (location TBD)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
December 16, 2021
Việt
Terminal 1 (Domestic departures, post-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
A self-described musical chameleon, Việt is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter based in Toronto, Ontario. Combining the lush harmonies and rhythms of his Humber jazz education with the groove of his first loves, neo-soul and disco, Việt has created a unique sound transcendent of the decades. Lyrically, he draws upon his experiences growing up as a queer Canadian youth of colour, seeking to spark a musical dialogue for issues like gender, sexuality, and cultural identity.
Social: https://www.instagram.com/vietlikestosing/ and https://www.facebook.com/vietlikestosing/
Donné Roberts
Terminal 1 (International Arrivals, Pre-security)
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm (1st set), 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (2nd set)
Two-time JUNO Award winner and three-time JUNO Award nominee guitarist and singer-songwriter Donné Roberts was born in Madagascar and is presently one of the hottest acts on the world music scene in Canada. Now based in Toronto, he's earned a matchless reputation for the excellence of his song writing skills, musicianship, collaborations and the excitement of his live shows. Donné was raised and educated in the USSR (modern-day Russia), fluently speaks Malagasy, Russian, French and English. From touring as a back up singer for Ace of Base, to a stint as the first black video jockey on MTV Russia, Donné has led a prolific and varied artistic life since he left his home country of Madagascar as a boy. He came to wider recognition in his adopted home of Canada after earning two JUNO Awards and three JUNO Award nominations for his contribution as a composer and guitar player for the African Guitar Summit project and Okavango African Orchestra and with the release of his great albums: Rhythm Was Born, Internation, and Onward. His success led to CBC Radio asking him to compose the theme song for their popular morning show Fresh Air, which still runs today.
Social: https://www.facebook.com/donnerobertsmusic/
Donné Roberts