ARTIST LINE-UP 2025
Adham Shaikh
Adham Shaikh is an Emmy- and Juno Award-nominated music producer, composer, sound designer, and DJ known for his global soundscapes. He has scored soundtracks for numerous films and TV productions, including National Geographic (Emmy nomination), Sacred Planet (Disney Imax), and Fierce Light (National Film Board). His music has appeared in BBC's Orphan Black and various media productions.
A skilled producer, Shaikh blends organic and electronic sounds into unique compositions, having released 14 albums. His work, including the Juno-nominated Fusion (2004), has been featured on labels like BlackSwann Sounds and Six Degrees. He’s produced for global fusion group Delhi 2 Dublin and remixed artists like Nickodemus and Kaya Project.
Shaikh's live performances and DJ sets have graced international festivals, including Waveform (UK), Envision (Costa Rica), and Shambhala (Canada). He’s toured across North America, headlining events like Basscoast Festival and Lightning in a Bottle.
Facebook: adhamshaikh.producer
Instagram: @adhamshaikh
Alien Boys
East Van political punk band Alien Boys (@alienboysvancouver) prefer no-last name anonymity. Dissonant instrumentals thrash beneath lyrics confronting complacency, gentrification, and loss in the face of the fentanyl crisis, dispelling hopelessness, driving inaction and malaise to rage and action. Having played the Canadian scene for many years, the five of them bring together a cohesive, captivating high energy show while embracing the chaos that is punk.
Facebook: alienboysvancouver
Instagram: @alienboysvancouver
Andre Sutherland Begin: The Man from Eldorado
It’s been many years since Andre Sutherland Begin rediscovered his love for poetry, drama and storytelling, on route to becoming a staple in Penticton’s arts and culture scene.
Now a member of the Federation of Canadian storytellers, he’s entertained locals with dramatic poetry recitement for the better half of the decade, following a return to English class in 2000 where he learned the works of U.K.-born poet Robert Service.
AR Uplifting
AR Uplifting is a hip-hop artist based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, known for his unique lyrical blend of introspective lyrics, storytelling, and positive messages. His music often revolves around themes of personal growth, overcoming adversity, and unity which is reflected in his artist name "Uplifting." He aims to provide a sense of realness and hope to listeners, offering a message of resilience and empowerment through his lyrics.
AR Uplifting continues to build his presence in the Canadian music scene, and his fans appreciate both his lyrical depth and his dedication to creating music that uplifts and inspires.
"Through Uplifting Music, We've Got Music Lifting Up"
Soundcloud: AR Uplifting
Facebook: ARUplifting
Instagram: @aruplifting
Balkan Shmalkan
Balkan Shmalkan is East Vancouver’s sweet dance party orchestra; think global music with local attitude. Their funky brass dance beats are rooted in the aural traditions of the Roma and Klezmorim of Eastern Europe and blended with a mixture of pop and jazz. Members of the group sing in 5 languages including Serbian, Romani, and Italian. The group contains six to twelve musicians playing reed, brass and percussion instruments of both eastern and western origin.
Balkan Shmalkan is exceptionally versatile and mobile, playing on and off stage with nothing more than the power of their lungs and a few horns.
Facebook: BalkanShmalkan
Instagram: @shmalkan
The Ballad of Georges Boivin
Summerland’s Ryga Arts Festival presents
The Creatus Project & Bouche Theatre Collective
In association with Presentation House Theatre & Western Gold Theatre
THE BALLAD OF GEORGES BOIVIN By Martin Bellemare
Translated by Jack Paterson with Johanna Nutter
Directed by Jack Paterson
Featuring Allan Toots as Georges
At 77, Georges Boivin “gives the dice a roll”. Georges just lost his wife, you see, the “centre of his universe”. But there is life after 70 and it must continue even after great loss. With his three friends, all older than him, he sets out on a road trip from Québec to Vancouver, in search of a first love whom he hasn’t seen in 50 years. A play about love in all its various forms.
Tempest Theatre 2:00-3:00pm, Sunday, March 30
The Barrel Maker
The Barrel Maker is straight up drinkin' music, not watered down. Telling it like it is, and keeping the country tradition alive with heavy rock & roll roots.
Ben Matchett
Residing in Northern BC, Ben resonates with the grittiness the North requires, but within that, good times seem extra sweet. Writing with that contrast around him, reflecting on the best and worst moments of life, song’s are relatable and raw. Ben loves to acknowledge his inspirations, enjoying the paths already discovered, walking them with the hopes of a new perspective. Playing guitar for the majority of life, it has become a natural extension of his hands, and making new combinations of notes is a never ending pursuit.
https://benmatchettmusic.com/
Blackberry Wood
BLACKBERRY WOOD!!! The band that can go from performing at the biggest festivals in the world to hangin’ out in your backyard! Imagine somethin’ like a private party in the back of a travelling Carnival! They whisk you away to a wild place full of debaucherous music, magic & dancing! Blackberry Wood is a fun chaotic party every stage they plunder on, like a bunch of booty-shakin’ pirates! Hypnotic story-telling & mesmerizing ballads add enchanting moments to their shows! Get ready to be rocked into this wild & mystical world, where Blackberry Wood is all dressed up to make ya smile inside!!! Whooooooopa!!!
Facebook: blackberrywood
Instagram: @blackberrywood
Bobby Bovenzi
Bobby has been a student of ethnic percussion and dance since 1994. He began studying the drum with Khalid Abdul N’Faly Saleem at the SUNY Brockport in upstate New York. “Khalid introduced me to the power of rhythm and it’s ability to unite communities. His philosophies and thoughtful teaching changed my life, and allowed me to explore an artful way to promote understanding, acceptance and appreciation for the arts and their impact on creating a society in harmony.”
As part of his MS Ed. at Brockport, Bobby studied and teamed with Clyde Alafiju Morgan bringing music and dance into the classroom. “Going to the schools with Clyde and seeing how the kids opened up to his passion and creative style gave me the confidence to begin a program for the school I was doing my internship work. The attendance rates and overall enthusiasm of the students notably increased. It was then I realized my Life work.”
Bobby Majxe’ now lives in Okanagan Falls, BC with his wife Theresa May, sons Amani Sage, Moses Azul and daughter Malaika Rose.
Body Breakz
Body breakz is a team of multi talented performers. We have breakdancers, poppers, hip hop, gogo, flow artists and fire performers. Many of our performers have graced the stages of big festivals such as shambhala and wicked woods to name a couple. We are a very diverse group of males and females that are top notch at what they do and love to please the audience..
Charles Ross:
Canadian actor and playwright Charles Ross has carved out a unique niche as a professional geek, entertaining audiences worldwide with his inventive solo shows. Best known for his “trilogy of trilogies,” including One Man Star Wars, One Man Lord of the Rings, and One Man Dark Knight: A Batman Parody, Ross has been delighting fans since 2002 with his high-energy performances that celebrate iconic pop culture franchises.
Facebook: charlesstuartross
Instagram: @onemancharlesross
Chloe Davidson
As one of Canada's premiere violinists, Chloe Davidson pairs musical virtuosity and human vulnerability with stunning grace. As a solo artist, Davidson commands over a decade of experience--writing and performing dynamic material that pairs incisive, earnest wordplay with lush, cascading swells of harmony. 'Your Turn to Go', Davidson's ethereal debut LP, was released in 2022--introducing her original music to the streaming world, and confirming what fans of her live sets have always known: Davidson's music is timeless and deeply meaningful; technical and heartfelt. Davidson's collaborative efforts--both in her bluegrass group 'Under the Rocks' and in her session work (Andrew Judah, Windmills, N. Sherman, Common Fires, Icelandia)--have established her as one of British Columbia's most accomplished and relied-upon working musicians.
Facebook: chloedavidsonmusic
Instagram: @chloedavidsonmusic
Corwin Fox
Corwin Fox is a Canadian songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist living on Vancouver Island. Having toured across four continents, Corwin has been spending an increasing amount of time recording and producing other artists across a wide range of genres. He still plays concerts and festivals performing his songs on banjo and guitar, and he teaches songwriting to youth each summer, but the studio has really become his focus.
Corwin continues to write, record and tour, although he is quite content that the bulk of his time is now spent hanging out with his kids and making soup.
Facebook: corwinfoxmusic
Instagram: @corwinfoxmusic
Dana Sipos
Dana Sipos coaxes silkworms out of their cocoons and spins them into song. She inhabited the far north before going nomad and her captivatingly nuanced songs are filled with a wild wind and a haunting surrealism. She now resides among the old growth of Vancouver Island, British Columbia penning songs in her cosmic brand of moon folk. With a new collection of captivating songs that hold the complexity of the human experience up to the light, she will begin releasing singles from her new album, Golden Molten, in spring 2025.
Facebook: dana.suppose
Instagram: @dana_sipos
The Dang Package
The Dang Package was born out of the concept that life moves on for some, while others won’t give up the road. During the great isolation, through chemical and electronic alchemy, they discovered a mutual affection for the unknown, the spectacle of space travel, the anomaly between sound and contentment; and all which eternally bind them.
The Dang Package unearths rare jewels from the gem store: hard rock, soft rock, ambient rock, psychedelic rock, surf rock, funk rock, country rock, and other varieties of precious stones. No matter how you break it down, they ROCK. The Dang Package is your cool aunt’s favourite band.
T-rav The Transformer on bass, Kurt Loewen on Guitar/Vox, Stefan Lake on Drums
Instagram: @thedangpackage
Danielle Savage
DANIELLE SAVAGE is a composer and songwriter whose passion is sound and music. She particularly loves working in various folk traditions, field recordings, modular synth, and editing. With compositions ranging from multichannel electroacoustic environments, orchestral and chamber works, to synth-rock and folk music and music for film, she has had work presented at: Ignite the Arts, San Francisco Tape Music Festival, Foro De Música Nueva, Visiones Sonoras, 60×60 festival, Montreal/ New Musics, Festival Días Diseño, ArtsWells, Lux Magna, among others. She obtained a BFA in Composition and a BFA in Electroacoustics from Concordia University in Montréal, QC. From 2019-2022 she co-realized a large scale, multimedia exhibition “Migration Parade: Holon” with her collaborator Alexandra Goodall. In 2022 she co-produced a short doc exploring the artistic practice of choreographer Charlie Prince, as well as co-produced/wrote a music video for her band “Loon Town” with director Kristen Brown. Last year, after 9 years in Montreal, she moved to the mountains of BC, where she currently writes and plays acoustic music with her pals and twiddles knobs on her modular synth.
Facebook: daniellesavagesounds
Instagram: @danielle_savage_sound
Daryl Oneill
Genre: International in Flavour
How does one describe the mutli-intrusmentalist Daryl? Really, only he can.
“I play a bunch of different instruments and do a bunch of different things. Try thinking of me as a very large but simple child playing at the shores of the great sea of music... An angst ridden child experiencing existential dread”
Daryl has no website, no social media, so if you'd like to get in touch with this eclectic conversationalist, your best bet is to hang out at the Penticton Art Gallery and wait for him to ride his bike on by.
DJ Degen
DJ Degen Dave is a 20+ year veteran performer. He fuses live Didgeridoo, percussion, and live electronic with all things upbeat and deep bass. His didge is played through a rig of guitar pedals and a Korg Kaoss pad. He enjoys shaking dance floors across the province. He is a co-founder of the Drum and Dance Circle at the Ness Creek Music Festival in Northern Saskatchewan. He is part of BC’s Way Too Loud Crew. He has an EP on Ear to Brain records.
Facebook: Djdegendnb
Instagram: @degendnb
The Divine Mz. D: Ann Doyon
Ann Doyon is a nêhiyaw iskwew from Regina, Saskatchewan. An accomplished multi-media artist with a career that has spanned decades, they have garnered national and international attention for their powerful design and intense performing style. Ann firmly believes that art can change the world and shape the views of the people who see it performed, spoken or felt. By sharing the deepest parts of ourselves through art we can learn about each others realities and expand the appreciation of the short time we have in this world.
Facebook: AnninKanada
Instagram: @anninkanada
Donnalee and The Flowin’ Wolf
Donnalee Davidson is a hypnotizing performer with an extensive dance background. Her performances are described as captivating, playful and elegant. Catch her with fans, poi and fire sword this year at Ignite the Arts.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100029115682763
Mark Eyjolfson, The Flowin' Wolf, co-founder of InnerLight Motion, has been entertaining audiences for over a decade. A mesmerizing fire spinner of staff, sword, rope dart, nunchucks, etcetera , etcetera. Sprinkle in some acrobatics and tomfoolery and you have Mark!
https://www.facebook.com/FlownWolf
Catch them perform as part of the Parade For No Reason, Friday, March 28, 6-7:30pm at the Elks Hall.
Down the Lees
This Okanagan-based post-rock trio, led by Laura Lee Schultz, blends thunderous guitars, driving rhythms, and emotive vocals. With roots in Vancouver and Belgium, their acclaimed discography includes Bury the Sun, recorded by Steve Albini, and the 2024 award-winning single Douse. Having shared stages with Brutus and KEN mode, Down the Lees delivers a bold, compelling sound at every performance.
Dr. Shawn Pinchbeck
Shawn Pinchbeck is an electroacoustic music composer, sound artist, performer, and educator based in Edmonton, AB and Viljandi, Estonia. His award-winning works have been presented at festivals across Canada and Europe, and he collaborates with artists from various disciplines. Recently, he has focused on composing for contemporary dance and solo electroacoustic performances, presenting works in Canada, the USA, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Ireland, and the UK.
Pinchbeck has released eight albums across various genres, including ambient music, noise, experimental sound, and film scores. His music has appeared in films such as The Corporation (2003) and Far From the Apple Tree (2019), which earned a Scottish Album of the Year nomination. He has composed for contemporary dance companies like Mile Zero Dance and Fine 5 Dance Theatre, and created immersive gallery installations blending sound, video, and interactive technology.
He holds an MMus and PhD in electroacoustic music composition from the University of Birmingham, UK, and currently teaches interactive art at Liepaja University in Latvia and music technology at MacEwan University. Pinchbeck is also President of the Boreal Electroacoustic Music Society and Treasurer of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community.
Facebook: shawnpinchbeck
Instagram: @shawnpinchbeck
Drag Kings & Things Showcase
Drag debut of those who took the community week workshop!
KDC: Don't cry, it's only Ken! KENDONTCRY is a sad and silly drag king living on the traditional,
ancestral and unceded land of the Westbank First Nation. KENDONTCRY has been showing off the softer side of masculinity since 2022. Mixing original poetry, song, and lip sync, KEN explores themes of mental health, sexuality, and gender. Follow all of Ken’s creative passions on instagram @dontcryken.
Calamine: Calamine Sweetheart has been doing drag for 5 months. It is however, only the most recent of Cain Critchlow's artistic iterations. Cain has been dancing for a lifetime, doing improv for decade, and drag for a couple of years (not all of it good). She believes everyone should and can try new things and create art.
Dream Heavy
Dream Heavy is a sonic and visual explosion of an experience unrivaled by any other. Ethereal vocals, Rich Harmonies, Intricate and melodic guitar and violin melodies, and a driving and diverse rhythm section guaranteed to keep you moving and guessing from the first snare crack to the last echo of enraptured melody.
Seth Macdonald(He/Him): Guitars/Vocals Shara Gustafson(She/Her): Lead Vocals David McKillican (He/Him): Drums Liam Randall (He/Him): Bassss
Facebook: dreamheavyproject
Instagram: @dreamheavyproject
Ellorie McKnight
A bilingual singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based out of Whitehorse, Yukon, Ellorie’s songs are shaped by delicate vocals and lyrics painting thoughtful reflections of both the individual and collective human experience. Her performance evokes deep emotion and contemplation about relationships, modernity, and what comes next. She will be joined by Jill McKenna on upright and Chloe Davidson on fiddle for Ignite the Arts 2025!
Instagram: @elloriemckinight_music
Evolve Arts Collective - Re:Collection
Evolve Arts Collective (EAC) is an emerging performance and creative hub based in Kelowna that strives to provide a capacity for artists across the Okanagan to promote and perform works that push the boundaries between art disciplines. In the creative process, they aim to create authentic and raw content in hopes that they can offer audience members a new perspective on matters and ideas.
Having debuted at Kelowna International Fringe Festival 2022, EAC's original piece Re:Collection is set to take the stage again as part of Ignite The Arts Festival 2025. Inspired by a collection of writings, this deeply personal narrative is punctuated by moments of contemporary dance, exploring the emotional parallels of words and movement. These writings explore navigating through the important stages of life and the handling of our mental health in times of need. Bringing the physicality of dance together with the tenderness of wordplay to draw audience members into this shared world of experience and greater understanding. All stories are supposed to have definable beginnings, middles and ends. But some stories just have light and dark. Some stories have to keep going before you know what happens. Some stories don’t feel like stories at all.
Written, directed, & performed by DeAnna MacArthur, choreographed & danced by Kurt Werner, music composed by Niki Kennedy.
**This production discusses themes of mental health, suicide, & abusive relationships. Contains harsh language.
Facebook: evolveartscollective
Instagram: @evolveartscollective
Fixed Media Diffusion: International Sonic Journey, in 3 concerts
***Concert Programs HERE***
***Artist Info HERE***
Your ears are in for a treat!
Immerse yourself in a stunning collection of electroacoustic sound works from 80 composers hailing from 27 countries around the globe! These sessions are dedicated to diffusing fixed media—an artistic presentation where carefully crafted compositions created for loudspeakers are played for an audience.
The pieces showcase a diverse range of approaches and techniques. Some may be ambient, while others incorporate field recordings, household sounds, synthesizers, voice, sound design, and more. Some are crafted using computer programs and coding, others use analogue techniques such as tape splicing, or modified acoustic instruments. Some works are highly spatialized, creating a dynamic sense of movement in the room, while others feature the enveloping textures of granular synthesis, voices, water, and more.
Works will be presented in stereo and/or quadraphonically. Each piece ranges from 3-10 minutes in length, and has been created by a composer who generously submitted their piece to this festival, including works from: Perú, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Austria, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Canada, Cyprus, USA, Indonesia, Ireland, Portugal, Greece, Chile, Scotland, China, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Germany, Poland, Norway, Tasmania, France, UK.
Whether you stop by for 10 minutes or 4 hours, these concerts are designed to give you a deeper appreciation for how sound can transform the way we listen & experience the world.
Come, sit, lie, listen. Open your ears, open your mind!!!
Location: The Legacy Den: 441 Main Street, Penticton, BC
CONCERT#1: Thursday, March 27. 4-9pm- FREE TO ALL.
CONCERT#2: Saturday, March 29. 11-11:45am- Open to Ignite the Arts Wristband Holders
CONCERT #3: Sunday, March 30. 11:00am-2:45pm- Open to Ignite the Arts Wristband Holders
Francis Baptiste
Baptiste is a songwriter who sings in both English and Nsyilxcən [nah-silk-sen], his Native language, which is currently an endangered language, with fewer than 100 fluent speakers. Through his music, Baptiste tries to keep his language alive. Every song is an opportunity for him to teach Nsyilxcən vocabulary to his son, himself, and anyone else who’s listening. A divorced, recovering addict, Baptiste balances being a single father and being a middle-aged musician, trying to survive in BC’s most expensive city with a musician’s meagre income. Sənk̓lip, the Trickster chronicles his struggles with fatherhood, addiction, and depression, through the lens of the urbanised Indigenous experience.
For Ignite The Arts he’s joined on stage by local musicians Will Shlackl & Terence Wendenberg
Facebook: francisbaptistemusic
Instagram: @francisbaptistemusic
Freshwater Jukebox
As friends and co-conspirators in the arts, all with roots in the Okanagan, members of Freshwater Jukebox have played and created together over the span of the last 16 or so years. This has taken form in many constellations of various bands, gallery installations, workshop spaces, musical duos and trios and … you get the picture. In 2022 the stars finally aligned and many of this particular orbit found themselves more permanently back in Okanagan Territory, elated to be able to make music as a group again! And so, Freshwater Jukebox, as its own entity; a cohesive, jubilant, and now named and dedicated band, has been born.
Freshwater Jukebox is Daryl O'Neill, Maiya Robbie, Alexandra Goodall, Jeff Andrew, Teresa Wiltse, Eleanor Edgar, Stephen Harrison, Danielle Savage, Mia Harris, and Spencer Hammond.
Garbanzo
Garbanzo (Paul Gibbons) is an electronic/electroacoustic producer, composer, bansuri player, and percussionist, creating music ranging from experimental to ethereal. He has recorded six full length albums. most recently working (as Curvesand) with Toronto electric guitarist Jeremy Down. He also makes soundtracks for live performance and video.
Garbanzo will be collaborating with Gandhaar Amin for an electroacoustic bansuri conversation.
Gautz
Alex "Gautz"(pronounced goats) Gauthier grew up in the humble little province of Québec town called Rouyn-Noranda, which is a tiny and vibrant community of Death Metal bands and concerts. His passion for playing electric guitar, composition, and video game music led him to leave home at the age of 17 to pursue higher music education. He attended college then university, but he never found his true vocation until he moved to BC where he discovered bass music, festivals, and sound system culture. With his music passion renewed, he began DJing, which led to producing music again with a focus on Drum & Bass.
Having now established his home base studio in Kelowna, he's been releasing lots of music and making a name for himself in the North American scene. He participates in the young DNB label UrbanHellAudio based in New Jersey. His first Liquid release on the label was an EP called Breathe in Fall 2023. Catch his weekly show “The Gauze Hour” online every Thursday.
Facebook: gautz
Instagram: @alexx523
Geo aka The Voice
George Ignace ~ Geo aka The Voice~, (Vocals, Beats) is Secwepemc and Cree, began working with The Melawmen Collective in 2007 through projects as artist, facilitator and producer.
He is also a prolific wordsmith, a talented visual artist, and has collaborated on written published works, as well as other film projects, and practices his traditional culture through harvesting and processing traditional foods.
Youtube
Get Spent
Get Spent is a freshly formed, high-energy, ‘70’s era punk band, from Penticton B.C. Formed by Rocka Roza, the main songwriter, & local legend. She writes simplistic lyrics that really go a long way. It’s a 3 chords & the truth kind of time. Forming a “cross-Canada” rhythm section with Rob Pie, from Winnipeg, behind the kit, & Jihad Krupa, from North Van, on the bass guitar. With only a few gigs under their belt so far they are sure making big noise!
https://www.instagram.com/get_spent/
Golden Raisins
A collaboration rooted in history that goes back centuries, Golden Raisins is the brainchild of Bansuri player Gandhaar Amin and Setar player Mehdi Rostami. Their music is improvised at its heart, borrowing from the rich melodic vocabulary of Indian classical music and the expressive presentation style of Iranian music. Golden Raisins takes listeners on a journey around the Eastern world, showcasing the similarities of improvisational music across cultures.
Gandhaar Amin is a Bansuri player and music producer from India. Having spent 2 decades getting intensive training in Indian classical music from his father and mentor, he has been making electronic music with a strong Indian melodic base for over a decade now. With 5 EPs and multiple singles released so far, he has made a name for himself in the world music scene. Based in Toronto, Canada, he plays to diverse global audiences, taking them on an immersive journey through the rich melodic world of Indian classical music, while sticking to the familiar form of ambient electronic music.
Mehdi Rostami was born in Kermanshah, Iran. Having started learning setar at the age of six, he pursued advanced studies with ostad Mohammadreza Lotfi and took masterclasses with Hossein Alizadeh and Kayhan Kalhor. In 2010 Mehdi started his own collaborative projects in the UK, working with musicians from different cultures such as Maya Yousef, Tara Jaff and Gilad Atzmon. ‘Melodic Circles’ is their first official release which was released internationally through ARC Music in 2016.
Grampa Groove
DJing for over 45 years. Your Pastor at the Dance Temple. Get your day started right. Family friendly. Kids welcome. Dancing cures everything!
High Society
Bringing some Neo-Soul nostalgia, High Society is an unstoppably dramatic rockin' Soul and Blues band, eager to fill you with euphoric excitement and inspiration. All incredible artists in their own right, they’ve only recently reunited under the name High Society after a six year hiatus. Featuring Kenan Sungur on drums, Leo D.E. Johnson on guitar, Adam Farnsworth on keys, Alex Macon bass, and Ashton Sweet on sax & trumpet, with every last one of them singing their hearts out.
eastvanhighsociety.bandcamp.com
Facebook: highsocietymusic
Instagram: @eastvanhighsociety
Inspired Word Cafe Open Mic & Poetry Slam
Inspired Word Cafe welcomes you to an Open Mic and Poetry Slam! This welcoming environment encourages new poets, professional poets, musicians, comics, and dancers to gather for a night of sharing. With featured poets from the IWC collective based in Kelowna, such as Erin Scott, Frantic, Miriam Cummings, and more, this event will host a 4 spot open mic followed by a 6 spot slam. Never heard of a poetry slam? You are in for a treat! Poetry slams are a high-energy poetry competition where the audience become the judges and poets throw down original poetry for the chance to win cash prizes and bragging rights as poet of the night. To compete in the slam, you need 2 original poems. To perform in the open mic, please come with one or two short pieces to share, and if you are a musician, your own instruments. Sign-up starts at 6:30pm.
Saturday, March 29th, 7:00 PM – 9:15 PM, The Elks Hall
What to Expect:
Open Mic: We have 4 spots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your poetry, stories, music, or comedy to share in a supportive environment.
Slam Poetry Competition: Prepare up to three original poems and compete for cash prizes! The slam will feature 6 spots, with participants performing their pieces in a friendly competition. Prizes for 1st place $60, 2nd place $40, and 3rd place $20.
J Daniel Cramer
J Daniel Cramer is a jazz musician and performer working in western Canada and has been active as an electronic musician for many years. Graduating from his studies in music at university in the early 1980’s Daniel took great interest in the electronic music studio on campus and became their first student to employ computers in the art of music making.
It was these early years that nurtured Daniel’s love of modular electronic instruments and while working as a performing musician and studio engineer/producer, he began to build his own experimental electronic studio. Fast forward to the 2000’s and Daniel was excitedly riding the wave of modular resurgence. Now a well known artist in the Eurorack Modular music making scene, J Daniel Cramer is best recognized for his work on large scale, complex patches that delve into polyphonic renderings of Barton’s ubiquitous Krell and multilayered generative patches that can take months to design and hours to unfold.
Facebook: J Daniel Cramer
J.T. Gladysz
J.T. Gladysz has studied music formally and informally for most of his life. Initially based in Saskatchewan before relocating to the West Coast in 2009, his musical pedigree runs the gamut from singer/songwriter to drumming in rock bands. His experience playing, touring, and releasing records with a variety of groups over the past decade is quite evident. In 2020, Gladysz expanded his repertoire to include more experimental and electronic realms of composition. Now taking a minimalist approach to both production and performance as a solo artist, Gladysz utilizes a sound palette of field recordings and tape loops coupled with DSP and feedback. With a modular synth and couple polysynths at the helm, he conjures new imaginary worlds that oscillate between blurred natural soundscapes and the dissonant rumbles of industrial machinery, with hypnotic melodies interspersed throughout. He envisions his sound as a sort of guided meditation, a gateway into the blissful exploration of one's own dreams.
Lush Vegetation, Gladysz's debut full length record arrived on January 27th 2025 courtesy of the newly minted Isohyet label, based in Montreal and spearheaded by Frédérique Duval and Christian Richer. A prolific musician for many years, this isn’t J.T. Gladysz’s first album, but rather his solo debut as a composer of ambient electronic music. Clocking in around 40 minutes across ten tracks, it was recorded between his home studio in Vancouver and a cabin on Gossip Island. An overall sense of stillness and seclusion permeates these sometimes melancholic, semi-improvised sonic meditations. Influence of the natural world is evident, with snippets of field recordings taken around the Pacific Northwest and Gulf Islands strewn throughout, striking a delicate balance with the musical elements. The resulting album feels deeply personal, akin to a diary or travelogue. Close your eyes and you can practically feel the vast expanse of the ocean and the aura of giant trees in the sacred, ancient forests of the region.
Instagram: @jtgladysz
Jack Garton
Jack Garton's show is a blend of folk and roots, steeped heavily in the rockabilly and doo-wop that were his first musical loves. Jack has performed solo and with many beloved bands and theatre companies throughout North America and Europe, and featured recently in the Firehall Arts Centre’s production of Chelsea Hotel: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen (Feb 2024). Original Skin, a new original full-length album recorded with Vancouver surf legends Kitty and the Rooster, was released in December 2023; Jack is excited to be bringing this strong, honest and vulnerable collection of songs to audiences everywhere.
Facebook: jackgartonmusic
Instagram: @jackgartonmusic
Jemma & The Good Thing
Known for her unique voice and heartfelt performances, Cortes Island-based Jemma Hicken (Jemma & the Good Thing) weaves together tender lyrics, funny storytelling, and catchy sing-a-longs to create a feel-good folk show. Drawing on the humour and sentimentality of John Prine and Dan Reeder, the innocence of Paul Simon and Ingrid Michaelson, and the fire of Ani DiFranco, Jemma is a songwriting force. Based in Edmonton for three prairie winters, Jemma was featured at the New Moon Folk Club, SkirtsAFire Festival, Kaleido Fest, and won the 2019 Bent River Songwriting Competition. The pandemic brought her back to her Gulf Island home, and in 2024 she can be found touring up and down Vancouver Island, most notably debuting at festivals such as Vancouver Island Music Fest, Filberg Fest, Quadrapalooza, and Woodstove Festival. Jemma released her debut album, Get It Together, in July 2023. Jemma & the Good Thing is a project of many iterations; the Good Thing is often other musicians, or sometimes it’s just Jemma’s tenor guitar. The common denominator is always Jemma and her songs.
Facebook: jemmaandthegoodthing
Instagram: @jemmaandthegoodthing
Jeremy Head
Emerging from the scenic Okanagan, Jeremy Head is a folk-rock artist who crafts an immersive blend of indie vibes and spacey soundscapes. With a style reminiscent of influences like Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, Pinback, Sufjan Stevens, and Justin Vernon, his acoustic performances invite listeners into an introspective musical journey.
Under the name The Motion Picture, Jeremy released the EP "A Moon Above Your Head," capturing a dreamy aesthetic that resonates deeply with his audience. Now, under the new moniker TASK MANAGER, he’s rolling out a series of singles that showcase his evolving sound and creative vision.
Having played with various bands, including Hardball, Jeremy is set to deliver a captivating set featuring his original songs and a few well-chosen covers. Get ready for authentic music and genuine emotion, as he shares his story through the art of song.
JGirl
Introducing JGirl, a veteran DJ with a passion for House, Jazz, Funk, and heavy bass. Originally from Montreal, she now calls BC her home and has been keeping the party going for over two decades. Catch her performing at festivals, ski towns, and block parties. She is a 15 year resident DJ with Shambhala Music Festival's Fractal Forest stage. She has been operating Footwerk Events with her husband since 2009, blazing the trail for the Okanagan electronic and fusion dance music scene. In 2015, she started up the groundbreaking Safewerk project, ensuring patron safety and harm reduction at venues across the Okanagan like Sapphire, Distrikt, Red Bird, and more. Let's show some love for an artist who not only knows how to keep the dance floor packed but also puts the safety of her community first.
Facebook: JGirlandManousos
Instagram: @footwerk
Joey Only
Joey Only went from hitch hiking and mountain climbing to organizing protests to touring the country singing outlaw folk music to settling back down in the mountains up in Wells BC. Since then he's forecasted weather, fought fires, made radio shows and became a popular YouTuber. But what Joey does best is stand on a stage and proceed to stomp a hole in it. There's lots of success in the music world we could look back on, but in his sober years Joey wants to write a new story and it starts at Ignite the Arts.
https://joeyonly.wordpress.com/about/
Joey is also known as the Cariboo Weather Dude, check out all his weather watching here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JoeyOnlyCaribooWeatherDude
John Vere
John has played in bands since back in the 1960's. by the 70's He found himself with an acoustic guitar and a Banjo. When his family moved to the interior he found himself playing in bands again. Bluegrass and a few dance bands playing covers. John played Bass a lot as well as during this time he developed a solo act. To this day John still plays both in bands and does his solo gigs at dances and fall fair type shows.
Johns latest act is returning to his roots from those acoustic day's of the late 60's and 70's. Country rock, Folk Rock, Blues and bit of Bluegrass. John has a whole set of originals and likes to mix in a few of those old songs everybody will remember but you don't often hear anymore. His new show is featuring John on vocals and a 6 and 12 string acoustics. Sometimes his son Jesse comes along.
Kansas-lee
Kansas-lee has spent over a decade honing her craft as a singer-songwriter, a journey that culminates in her latest studio album, “Ostara”. While her sound is unmistakably unique, it draws on a blend of influences, evoking the warmth of a cabin jam with the likes of Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, and Susan Tedeschi. Recently returned to the Okanagan after travels in Europe, she brings with her new songs and stories to share. As a soulful folk songwriter, she’s known for her powerful voice, intricate guitar rhythms, and beautifully potent lyrics that resonate deeply with her audience.
https://kansas-lee.bandcamp.com/album/ostara
Kevin Brightside
Are you ready for the ultimate house music experience? Kevin’s sets promise a seamless blend of deep, mystical, and dynamic House music vibes that inspire connection, movement, and celebration. He is also a very in demand wedding DJ in the interior of BC creating countless perfect memories for couples and families.
Facebook: kevinbrightside
Instagram: @kevin_heidt_brightside
Kitty & The Rooster
Kitty & The Rooster is a surf rock n’ roll duo from Vancouver featuring Jodie Ponto on the stand-up cocktail drumkit and Noah Walker on electric guitar. They are known for their big sound, laugh out loud lyrics, and ridiculously fun shows.
“Take the name Kitty and the Rooster, and combine it with the fact guitarist Noah Walker and drummer Jodie Ponto wear chicken and cat masks in their promo shots, and one might expect a barnyard version of Slipknot. Wrong. Because those things can be sweaty under stage lights, the masks tend to come off quickly as the duo unleashes a retro-spectacular sound that slots in nicely with Southern Culture on the Skids, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, and the Reverend Horton Heat. Those who like a serving of politics with their country-fried goodness will want to muscle their way to the front of the stage for the ode to local real-estate idiocy that is “Paid a Million Dollars (To Live Like You’re Poor)”—a song that might as well be modern Vancouver’s municipal anthem” — The Georgia Straight
Kitty & The Rooster has toured all across Canada, played a cluck-ton of festivals including Vancouver Folk Fest, opened for Shannon & The Clams, and released an album called 'One Gig Hard Drive'. New album 'Ain’t Pussyfootin’ Around' out now!
Facebook: kittyandtherooster
Instagram: @kittyandtherooster
Kiva Mh
Kiva Morgan-Hall is a Secwepemc/Nuu-Chah-Nulth Hip Hop artist and producer grounded through the roots of his people. He started his artistic solo and collaborative journey with The @melawmencollective at the age of 7 years old, as a participant of their workshops (visual, song writing), then as a youth facilitator, and later as a working lyricist of the group as an early teen.
He is a trained traditional cultural Nuu-Chah-Nulth dancer and performer, and his young wisdom shines through his verses, time and time again, relating to all generations.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KIVAMHMUSIC/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiva.mh/
LADY of the MIST
Lady of the Mist is a high energy artist (Producer, DJ, Flautist, Singer Songwriter) that harnesses the power to use music for self-expression and emotional healing. With her captivating sounds, she tells a new story of personal growth with a groove to get a crowd dancing with every song. Misty is also bringing together a festival within a festival on the BritBar stage, celebrating the EDM culture in the valley!
Facebook: lady.of.the.mist
Instagram: @lady.of.the.mist
Leo D.E Johnson
Leo D.E Johnson is a trans, Black, Scotian artist whose electrifying sound blends Dirty Soul, Galactic Gospel, House, and Rock 'n' Roll. With a vibrant mix of horns and infectious dance beats, Leo's performances are an anthem for resilience and joy that get audiences moving.
Living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, Leo passionately amplifies Black, Indigenous Trans and Queer voices while advocating for social justice. His unapologetic authenticity and soulful storytelling unite listeners in a transformative musical journey that radiates LOVE.
This Spring 2025, Leo D.E Johnson is releasing a new EP “PEICES OF ME” and doing what they do best- hitting the road for an unforgettable tour! Stay tuned and Let the celebration begin!
https://www.instagram.com/leodejohnson/
Levi Bent
Way' i p isnqsilxw. Greetings my relatives. Levi Bent is a deadly uncle artist. Levi can sing, paint a bit, tell traditional stories in a funny way. At the ignite the arts fest he'll be blending rock n roll nsyilxcn language and traditional style dancing to knock your socks completely off. Take some time to come check it out you never know what could happen at a Levi Bent or "qwyqwayaxn " show. See ya there way'.
Mary and Sara
Mary and Sara, we are from Ecuador and we show our indigenous culture by performing dances and it's a pleasure to show our traditions. We have three different types of dances, one of them represents the beginning of summer and spring. Another dance represents the joy and happiness and how we celebrate in the parties.
Mary and Sara will be sharing their Indigenous traditions and dances at the Elks Hall on Saturday, March 29 2:15 - 3:00pm.
The Melawmen Collective
A contemporary Indigenous alternative fusion woven together with elements of hip hop, folk/rock, righteous rhymes and rich harmonies, carried through with experience, manifestation, and visions of intergenerational stories of pain and healing. The Melawmen Collective is getting ready to rhizome release their first studio recorded album this 2025, with BC producer and multi instrumentalist, John MacArthur Ellis!
The Melawmen Collective brings a uniqueness to their sound like no other, drawing in a wide variety of listeners through sharing their own journeys of life through their musical evolution together. ‘Melawmen’ means medicine in the Secwepemc language, and the unceded territory of the Secwepemc People in what is now known as BC, is where co-founders Meeka Morgan (vocals, Secwepemc/Nuu-Chah-Nulth), Rob Hall (Vocals/Guitar ), Geo Ignace aka Geo The Voice (Vocals, Secwepemc/Cree), and Kiva Morgan-Hall (Vocals- Secwepemc/Nuu-Chah-Nulth), continue to grow.
The collective is honoured to be joined by Cass Gregg (Bass-Tŝilhqot'in/Scottish) and Victor Laso (Drums-Republic of Chile).
Facebook: Melawmen
Instagram: @melawmencollective
Melissa Bee
Melissa Bee is a poet, song-writer, teacher, mother, and life-time adventurer. She has been published in magazines and online, and has performed on various stages in B.C. Her poems speak to everyday experiences - the beauty and tragedy and everything in between - and touch on topics like motherhood, self-acceptance, and the monumental power of kindness. Currently, she teaches French, food studies and arts in Ashcroft, B.C.
Melissa will be sharing her spoken word poetry at Hillside Winery on Saturday at 2pm.
Murphy Luzod
Murphy Luzod uses guitar, samplers and synth to create a lush noise that is intended to soothe and transform the energies inside a space into a relaxing bliss through sonic exploration. Murphy Luzod is a musician and sonic explorer hailing from the mountain village of Salmo, B.C. The deep mountain valleys and the sound of the Salmo River helps define his musical and sonic journeys.
N.I.C.O.W.A.V
Penticton
Genre: Minimal House, Tech House
N.I.C.O.W.A.V is a DJ and producer who blends immersive Tech and House sounds with hypnotic rhythms, which crafts a unique sonic experience. With a signature style driven by sound design and texture exploration, his sets transport listeners into a deep and immersive soundscape.
Naomi Shore
Naomi Shore delivers performances that are at once contemplative and clever; vulnerable songwriting is buoyed by surging vocals as smooth and full as deep water. For this storyteller and lover of sad songs, crafting music has become more than her trade. It is a way to process life, to send a searching hand out through the mists of a melody and connect with the world.
Over the last few years, Shore has overcome her pandemic fuelled identity crisis and broken through her creative insecurities to record and release her sophomore album ‘Stability’ which, she has half jokingly categorized as Self Help Songs. Naomi has said that these songs were written during some very challenging times over the last few years. “Most of the lyrics on this album started as little affirmations, I was repeating to myself just to get through. I can’t speak for all artists but I know a lot of us really struggled with our sense of purpose and belonging when Covid shut everything down. Songwriting is the way I process my lived experience. It is how I find connection and validation. All I can hope for is that these songs will help someone, anyone, feel seen and understood.”
Facebook: naomishoremusic
Instagram: @naomishoremusic
Nice Verdes
Nice Verdes, a two-piece act, originated from a chance encounter during a peace march in Vancouver, Canada back in 2003. Their musical style encompasses a diverse range of melodies drawn from both original compositions and traditional Latin American tunes. Opting for a nomadic lifestyle over conventional norms, the duo finds inspiration in the spirit of adventure that fuels their artistic journey. Their music is characterized by infectious sunny melodies that evoke a sense of freshness and authenticity. Drawing on their experiences in various locations across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Latin America, and Europe, Nice Verdes infuse their organic sounds with the essence of the places, people, and landscapes they encounter. Through years of tireless touring, the pair has graced a multitude of venues, constantly refining their artistry. Immersing themselves in musical studies in countries like Cuba, Colombia, West Africa, and India, Nice Verdes absorb diverse influences, enriching their sound through collaborations with fellow musicians and the stories shared along their travels.
Live music set featuring button and piano accordion, cuban tres, acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocal harmonies. Playing original music and also world folk music from Colombia, Cuba and Brasil.
Experience the unique vibrant music of Nice Verdes, where original compositions intertwine seamlessly with Cuban and Colombian tunes. Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of sounds that uplift spirits and resonate with music lovers worldwide. Embrace the harmonious fusion that sets Nice Verdes apart.
Facebook: niceverdes
Instagram: @niceverdes
Nicolas Von Zil: The Walking Machine
A Conversation With The Walking Machine
Nicolas Von Zill is an author, actor, street musician and carpenter who built a cart in the 1980's and pushed it from Vancouver, BC all the way to Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina and has just published a book about the expereince titled, The Walking Machine. It took more than two years to get there, with much learning and suffering along the way. Come and sit in on a two part conversation between Corwin Fox and Nicolas to meet The Walking Machine himself and find out who he is, why he felt compelled to embark on this journey, how he survived and what he thinks of it all now that he is in his 80's. These will be unforgettable and inspirational conversations.
Get The Walking Machine Book Here or get it a signed copy in person at Ignite.
nightshades
nightshades is a collaborative indie rock band, featuring four esteemed Canadian songwriters (Andrew Judah, Common Fires, DL Ranney, and N.Sherman). In a Beatles-esque timeshare of accessible, vibrant music; nightshades' sound is rich with psychedelic flourish, but anchored in melodic hooks and pop sensibility.
With all four members swapping vocal and instrumental duties, nightshades' live show is both visually and sonically dynamic. Complementary (but distinct) timbres, abilities, and songwriting styles blend on-stage in real-time: nightshades assembles a jigsaw puzzle of talent in front of their audience with every performance.
Since the band's inception in early 2023, nightshades has released two EPs ('It's Not Weird', 'Yellow and Green'), and released their full-length debut record 'Reducer' on May 31st, 2024.
Instagram: @nightshadestheband
Noodling Poodles
With over 17 years of experience (in dog years) the Poodles have performed in all sorts of weird and wonderful circumstances and this years Ignite The Arts festival promises to be as weird and wonderful as ever! The Poodles are made up of three Edmonton musicians; Will Cramer, Daniel Cramer, and Gord Graber, whose unique musical interplay has been referred to as “three instruments with one mind”. Added into the mix will be some daring electronic musicians and the various multidisciplinary artists who join up to create spontaneous works of new performance art. At a Poodles show you can expect to see poets, dancers, actors and more, all working together to create unique, spontaneous artistic collaborations that have historically been know as ‘Happenings’ and it’s all happening at this year’s Ignite The Arts!
One Minute Play Festival
Can you tell your story before the clock runs out?
An audience favourite at IGNITE THE ARTS hosted by Paul Crawford and Charles Ross
The One Minute Play Festival is the brainchild of Paul Crawford who has been hosting this annual event for over 25 years as a core element of the Arts Wells Festival. Drawing inspiration from 'skit-night at summer camp' Paul brought to life a raucous, often off-the-cuff, many times brilliant collection of performers and ideas. Tempest is honoured to host it again at this year's Ignite the Arts Festival in Penticton.
We're accepting original works which can be performed in under 60 seconds to be performed (by you or your people) on the Tempest Stage on Saturday, April 1st as part of the 'Ignite The Arts Festival'. Your live audience and a select panel of judges will decide who will make it to the final round and then who will walk away with 1st, 2nd & 3rd place.
More Information here: https://www.tempest.ca/on-stage.html
Ounce of Flesh - Documentary Premiere
Independent theatres bring fresh, unique stories to the stage that might not be considered by mainstream, commercial theatres. These stories often reflect a wider range of perspectives and experiences, including those of marginalized communities.
Ounce of Flesh enters Tempest Theatre in Penticton BC as they navigate their uncertain future post pandemic, fighting for their own survival and asking bigger, universal questions of Art’s importance.
Produced for TELUS STORYHIVE, this will be the community premiere of the documentary which will be broadcast on OptikTV in the fall of 2025.
The screening will be followed up with a talkback session with: Paul Crawford, Kate Twa, Ronan Reinart and Jennifer Vincent.
More info here: https://www.tempest.ca/on-stage.html
Penticton Writers Connect
The Penticton Writers Connect is a small but mighty group of writers who connected just over a year ago. Our group meets at the Penticton Art Gallery on the first Friday of every month from 10 am-12 pm. We are different from your typical critique group; we chat and share ideas, questions and concerns about the industry, marketing, the process, and all other writing-related things. Some of our members have just begun, and others are multi-published. If you are in the Okanagan and interested in learning more about Writers Connect, please contact Angela Douglas at ang.lynn.douglas@gmail.com .
Four members of the group, Karen Barrow (https:/www.kamabarrow.org/), Angela Douglas ( angeladouglasbooks.com or @angeladouglasbooks), Norma J Hill and Aggie Stevens will be reading at Hillside Winery on Saturday, March 29, 1:00 to 1:45pm, go have a listen and enjoy some wine.
Pico’s Puppet Palace
Pico’s Puppet Palace presents a captivating 45-minute puppet show featuring live music. With a mission to connect diverse audiences globally, these engaging performances combine the art of puppetry, live musical accompaniment, and compelling storytelling to foster unity. Each show delves into the enchanting narratives from Pico's escapades, shedding light on environmental themes and innovative concepts.'Pico and the Golden Lagoon' chronicles Pico's courage, the importance of forging new relationships, and the wonders of the natural world. Journey alongside Pico as she traverses the globe in her iconic yellow bi-plane, uncovering eco-conscious practices through her encounters with a host of unique characters. Stranded on an island after running out of fuel, Pico encounters David, a passionate naturalist, and Lou, a friendly dragon residing by the shimmering lagoon. Will Lou assist Pico in overcoming her fuel dilemma? Discover the answer in this enchanting production crafted from sustainable materials, seamlessly blending puppetry, live music, and storytelling in a mesmerizing spectacle.
https://www.picospuppetpalace.com/
Pierogi
Kelowna/Kamloops
Genre: House and UKG
Pierogi is DJ Cheeno and Sawyer Gaetz joining forces. Their duo project comes from a spontaneous back-to-back set at Sun Peaks Resort in the summer of 2024. What started as a one-off session quickly turned into a dynamic partnership, where the two artists discovered a shared love for blending house and UKG at the distinct tempo of 140 BPM. This style gives Pierogi’s sets their signature energy—driving, but never frantic, with rolling grooves, looping & mash ups, and sharp garage rhythms that keep listeners engaged from start to finish.
The ReViberators
The ReViberators is an instrumental surf rock trio from Vancouver featuring Noah Walker on guitar and Jodie Ponto on drums (aka Kitty & The Rooster). The band plays the early surf guitar hits alongside their own originals with an intensity and authenticity rarely heard today.
noahwalkermusic.com/the-reviberators
Facebook: thereviberators
Instagram: @thereviberators
Richard Garvey with Bee Balm & Laura Sunburst
Richard Garvey is a guitar-strumming, banjo-plucking, and sing-along-starting performer and community organizer. His award winning songs explore the highs and lows of love, injustice, and the marbled mess of the human condition. Whether he’s playing to a living room or an amphitheater, Richard brings clever songs and a sly sense of humour to inspire solidarity, hope, and change. When you’re looking for the latest incarnation of world-changing, foot-stomping, and heart-filling folk music, see Richard Garvey. Guitar player Bee Balm and banjo player Laura Sunburst will be joining him on stage, lending both their strings and their vocals.
Brand new video Come out - Richard Garvey, Bee Balm & Laura Sunburst
Facebook: farfromrich
Instagram: @richard_garvey123
Ride-By-Night
Long time lovers of all folk arts Jenny Ritter and Ryan Boeur have come out of musical retirement to sing new songs into the world as the Ride-By-Nights. With a whoop and a flutter they swing and sway, Jenny's clear sweet vocals floating over complex guitar parts, evoking starry nights and warm hearths.
Both veterans of the Canadian Folk world, Ryan has toured the country multiple times with acclaimed art-folk band Fish & Bird bringing energetic, melodic rhythm and lead guitar. After a decade of playing with roots group The Gruff, Jenny sprung out on her own with dreamy unique albums Bright Mainland and Raised by Wolves, receiving a great deal of radio play and critical acclaim.
Instagram: @ritter_maker
Rolf Loth
Now in his eighties, Rolf Loth is proud to be one of the few concert zitherists remaining. Playing since the age of eight, music has always been a staple of his home. As an adult living internationally, many opportunities to perform came Rolf’s way. Due to the tonal similarities to the Chinese Guqin, he’s been part of keeping both his folk folk music and that of others alive. Concert Zither was once a commonplace instrument in Germany, but this sweet voiced instrument has been heard less and less in modern times. Performing mostly around the house these days, it is a rare delight to have Rolf performing at Ignite The Arts.
Saeda Rose
Saeda Rose is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from the teeny tiny town of McBride, British Columbia. Crafting creative melodies with an indie folk sound, Saeda uses clever and introspective lyricism to explore the range of human experience. Her songs are thoughtful, honest, and intimate, with a dash of humour thrown in because hey, this whole human thing is pretty absurd, ain’t it?
Shirley Gnome
A Juno-nominated cabaret-comedy-clown chanteuse from Vancouver, BC, Shirley blends satirical country, rock, and folk songs with dark pop parodies. Known for her clever, subversive lyrics and captivating vocals, she has garnered rave reviews and awards across five countries. Shirley has performed at notable festivals like The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Philadelphia Folk Festival, and Just For Laughs Vancouver. Her album Decoxification was nominated for a Juno Award in 2021, and her latest album, Live, Bare, and Natural, is set to release on March 27th.
Facebook: ShirleyGnomeOfficial
Instagram: @shirleygnome
shmani
Producer, vocalist - Vancouver
Genre: Bass Music * vocalist
shmani is an electronic producer and vocalist who experiments with the borders between dubstep, future bass, and trap styles in her music. shmani fell in love with electronic music from the minute she opened Ableton and has been creating brand new sounds straight from the sine wave ever since. shmani’s vocals integrate a punk style to her otherwise bass heavy electronic drops, creating a blend of genres and themes sure to please the bass heads and new age pop crowds.
https://www.instagram.com/__shmani_/
https://shmani.komi.io/
Snake In The Grass: Moving Theatre
Snake in the Grass Moving Theatre had a motto: “from the sublime to the ridiculous”. Renowned in Vancouver in the 1980’s the group created sometimes ethereal, sometimes irreverent and outrageous performances, culminating in its magnum opus Ghosts in the Machine. The piece combined physical theatre, masks. music, dance and massive sculptures to examine environmental destruction and the nature of power and oppression.
The group disbanded in 1993, but the three (now ancient) co-artistic directors have recently created a short ’30 year reunion’ work entitled The Rock on Which. It employs physical theatre with butoh-inspired elements, and an electro-acoustic soundtrack by Garbanzo, to create a dreamscape of human endeavour. It is a delight to feature such a group at Ignite the Arts 2025.
Spirits not Ghosts
Nyla Raney, cellist and multidisciplinary artist living in Salmo, B.C. Sinixt tamxúla?x', is the creative force behind Spirits Not Ghosts. Her work is an exploration of sound, blending the organic resonance of the cello with experimental sonic textures. Through a mix of live sampling, layering effects, and dark, atmospheric soundscapes, Nyla crafts immersive auditory experiences. Her music often features tape loops, field recordings, and on occasion analog synthesizers, resulting in compositions that range from expansive walls of sound to minimalist tonal contrasts. Spirits Not Ghosts is a constantly evolving project that challenges conventional musical boundaries while creating ethereal, otherworldly landscapes.
The Stubbies
At a Stubbies concert, you never know what comes next! Hailing from the Okanagan, their music spans genres from Celtic to Bluegrass to the Grateful Dead. They play music that makes us all feel good! Fiddles, banjos, a squeeze box, bag pipes and penny whistles can be heard on any given night. The Stubbies love to sing so sit back and enjoy it all.
Talel McBriar
Talel McBriar is a singer-songwriter who merges traditional folk with alternative rock influences. Backed by haunting melodies and an unforgettable voice, Talel's songs effortlessly articulate her observations of the world around and within her. At 18, She began performing and recording her songs alongside Ella Korth in the acclaimed duo group Ella and Talel, and in 2018, their song "October" won the group the Kootenay Music Award for 'Best Original Roots Song.' In 2022, Talel's musical journey culminated in her debut solo EP Flood Season, released via Catapult Records. She has since been performing extensively at festivals and venues across Canada with her band and solo. As her following grows, Talel is carving out a space for herself as a thoughtful songwriter and authentic voice in the Canadian indie music scene.
Facebook: talelmcbriarmusic
Instagram: @talelmcbriarmusic
Tasty Lix B2B Percusshunkidd
Penticton / Kamloops
Genre: Tech House, chart/pop
Known for her impeccable taste and versatile mixing skills, Tasty Lix (Nixon Prince) is set to take folks on a musical journey from infectious house rhythms to chart-topping hits. Her eclectic mix mastery ensures that every beat resonates with excitement.
Starting her journey as a promoter, Percusshunkidd now captivates audiences with Tech House characterized by rumbling basslines and catchy vocals that keep fans engaged and dancing. She incorporates surprises into her live sets with her production efforts.
Taylor Williams
Taylor Williams (they/them) is an American-Canadian Poet, born in Los Angeles California. Their poems stem from complex relations of loved ones struggling with addiction, finding and recovering from love, and finding oneself. The journey is bittersweet, but promising. Taylor currently resides in British Columbia, Canada, always writing, and redefining their world.
Instagram: @knottedword
Tereza Tomek
is a Vancouver Island based songwriter who draws inspiration from great stories both real and imagined. She uses colourful characters, vivid imagery, and a good dose of humour to bring unique tales to life. Tereza has been on the road sharing her songs across Canada and beyond since 2011. Audiences can expect an interactive show of magical storytelling.
"Tomek, a born storyteller, writes West Coast bluegrass with songs themed around striking characters. Tereza sang in a plain, strong way that conveyed emotional honesty, and with wry humour, drew laughter from the audience, which also enjoyed singing along" - The Island Grapevine (Denman Island Commmunity Newspaper)
Instagram: @terezatomek
DJ Thistle
As a pioneer of Canadian DnB, DJ Thistle's energetic style of turntablism & mixing has made him a RedBull 3style champion, Shambhala Village Stage headliner, and was selected by Public Enemy's Chuck D for the Flip Mash remix team. Stop by his website for free music downloads.
Facebook: djthistle
Instagram: @frontsiderecords
Three Jack Generation Hand Drummers
We are the 3 Jack Generation Hand Drummers. We have 3 generations of our family in the group. MotherSister, Daughter and Grandchildren. We perform as a family and are experienced Facilitators who can host hand drumming, and other cultural crafting in person workshops while sharing and respecting our Culture.
Vuya Kaya
Vuya Kaya means "Come Home. They sing mostly in Dino's mother tongue called shangana (Mozambique). Their style of music is Afro Jazz and uses traditional Southern African influences.
Dino Matias, Clay MacDonald, Phil d' Aoust, Dejan Nad, Dragan Kovacevic, &Andy Cawston
Yanti
For two decades, Yanti has performed locally in many different combos and venues. From Jazz Standards at weddings or retirement homes to rock ballads for fundraisers, either live or karaoke, Yanti has a diverse range of vocal talents. Yanti performs regularly with local jazz band Sax Among Friends, The Justin Glibbery Quintet, Crawford & Crossley Quartet and the SoCo Blues Crew. She also inspires others to find their voice and love of song through events like Song Catching, and teaching at the Penticton Academy of Music.
Yanti Sharples is a wise soul with a powerful love for life whose lifelong aspiration has been to build strength, hope and community through the shared human experience of music. Through writing, singing, playing instruments and teaching Yanti shares her unique frequency with her fans and students. Yanti believes that the vibrations we emit from our bodies are the best medicine for what ails us. She aims to keep encouraging positive change in her environment by leading by example, as she is driven to make a difference in the world.
Yanti is grateful to create on the beautiful unceded lands of the Okanagan Sylix people.
Facebook: Yanti
Instagram: @yantisings
