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Mama’s Broke is a unique and powerful folk duo that both honours and defies tradition with their original compositions. Two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion as part of their performance. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new. For a group defined by constant touring, it’s not surprising that the two artists that make up Mama’s Broke, Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, met on the road. As Lisa remembers it, “Amy was driving her old Mercedes from Montreal to Nova Scotia and I was looking for a ride. We spent the 17 hours in the car talking almost exclusively about music. By the time we reached Halifax we started playing together, and within a week or two became a band.” 

Alpha Yaya Diallo (prounounced “jallow”) is a revered Guinean-born guitarist, who has a longstanding relationship with the Harrison Festival ever since he first performed here with worldbeat group Fatala in the very early 1990s. His style draws on a range of West African guitar traditions, and reflects his own Foulani background along with other cultures and traditions of Guinea, Senegal and even the Caribbean and Cape Verde. The fluid melodic lines of his guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, are complemented by an echo of the balafon, kora, ngoni, bass and drums to create a West-African sound that is both nomadic and generous. Since settling in Vancouver he has primarily led his own bands and has been awarded multiple Junos.

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario of mixed French Canadian & Abénaki heritage, and is a member of Odanak First-Nation. Through her rhythm, story-driven songs, and generous spirit, Mimi’s music embraces the beauty of the land. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it. She performs with her husband Ryan Schurman on drums and percussion.