2022 Line Up
REUBEN AND THE DARK with Bullhorn Singers
Reuben and the Dark is the spirited folk-rock outfit led by songwriter/vocalist Reuben Bullock. Introspective, painterly lyricism floats against a backdrop of soaring compositions with powerful imagery and lush sonic detail at the forefront, translating the language of emotion into song with haunting clarity. The band's penchant for exploring vulnerability through uplifting cinematic intensity makes their live show a transformative experience to remember.
The band's music inspires a heartrending yet free-spirited exploration of the finer details of experience, creating a psychic resonance between band and audience, revealing more with every listen. Anyone who has seen Reuben and the Dark perform knows that the bandmates share a palpable bond onstage, creating a heedless energy that reverberates beyond the songs.
THE HARPOONIST AND THE AXE MURDERER
“Combining Rock & Roll swagger & decades-deep blues style, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer are relentless touring artists known for their high-energy, sweaty, dance-floor-boogying performances. They have recently toured the UK with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, the EU with Dr. Dog and XIXA and the US with Tinariwen. They have also shared the stage with Taj Mahal, Booker T Jones, Mother Mother, The Sheepdogs, and Serena Ryder and have played their fair share of festivals including: Winnipeg Folk Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Calgary Folk Fest, Montréal Jazz Fest, Vancouver Jazz Fest, Festival D’Été de Québec, and Regina Folk Festival.”
BRASSTACTICS
Edmonton’s premier brass party band, serving up brass band originals and hot throwbacks from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's. The Brasstactics have been a staple of pop-up outdoor events and live party shows for nearly 3 years in the Edmonton area and are poised for more. New music, recordings, videos and shows are on the horizon for 2022 that are guaranteed to get audiences to dance and sing along. Throw your worries away and get down to the Brasstactics!
THE MISERY MOUNTAIN BOYS
You might hear the tunes of the Misery Mountain Boys drifting from behind a rotating bookcase of a 1930’s speakeasy. Harkening back to a simpler time, the MMB’s create a collaborative soundscape infused with humour, tongue-in-cheek wit, nostalgia, and playfulness. With a mix of catchy originals and contemporary songs reimagined in driving swing, the melodies of the MMB’s deliver themselves as both surprising and inevitable. The band offers a diverse range of sonic experiences, urging audiences to gyration in the tassel-clad, sweaty swing numbers, and swaying in the velvety jazz tunes.
DAVID ESSIG
"I am often asked “what kind of music do you play?” The best answer I’ve been able to come up with is “authentic.” I make songs that combine the narrative style of my literary heroes, Alden Nowlan, Raymond Carver and Richard Ford, with deep country guitar. I’m basically a finger-picker, working a lot in open tunings, and building songs out of blues and country traditions."
PETER PUFFIN
Guitar-slinger / songwriter Peter Lenton, aka Peter Puffins Whale Tales, has become a legendary addition to the Childrens Entertainer category around kids concert series and Festival circuits.
Every show is unique and inspiring! Audience volunteers could get to lead and write songs, play percussion instruments, and wear wacky wildlife costumes and so much more!
WARRIOR WOMEN
Residing from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Matricia and Mackenzie are a dynamic due who's haunting melodies and stories will keep you entertained. Currently residing in both Jasper and Edmonton, Warrior Women offer drumming shows to those travelling all across the Globe.
If you are looking to be moved by the heart beat of mother earth, hear the stories of the land and listen to legends of the Cree people that will stay with you forever, the Warrior Women is the group for you.
THE PROJECT
The Project is based in Jasper, Alberta, and features Jack on piano and vocals, Mike Day on guitar and vocals, Tony Mastrianni on bass and Keith Houston on drums. Playing reworked traditional songs mixed with originals, The Project takes you on a musical journey reminiscent of the great festival bands of past and present. The Project was started in 2020 as a way for two family members confined at home to play music in a pandemic escape. With a garage turned into a home studio, we began jamming and soon realized our musical tastes were far closer than we had ever imagined. Classic rock, popular music, jazz and jam band inspiration were all thrown into the mix, and the passion for playing and creating music began to grow. After quarantine restrictions were lifted we joined Habitat for the Arts as The Mastrianni Project, a part of their program to “Re-animate the Arts”. A four-part series of Saturdays saw us playing some of the music we had discovered in our isolation. The group started to expand as we welcomed friends to join us - we quickly realized there was a lot of common music to be explored. The result was an even greater satisfaction playing with friends outside our family, and in the spring of 2022 we simply became The Project, an ongoing exploration of music with friends. What does the future hold for The Project? Anything is the answer - this project may never be finished! Stay tuned…