World Music & Arts Festival

In 2018, the musicians met in Glasgow, Scotland where a dream of impacting the folk music genre was born. With captivating melodies and energetic rhythms, they invite listeners into a rich soundscape of vibrant compositions. Thoughtful, engaging and skillful. At the concert, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy ANEMARA as their notes swirl across the Atlantic and meet in a lively dance.

East Coast songwriter Lennie Gallant has released sixteen albums of original songs which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the JUNOs, Les Prix Éloizes, and The ECMAs. His songs have been described as “true slices of life delivered with a poet’s flair and a rugged emotional sensibility”. His song Peter’s Dream, about the state of the oceans and those who harvest from it was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Take some of the hottest, award-winning, contemporary fiddlers from Western Canada, mixed with complex arrangements and a thrilling rhythmic underlay and you’ve got… Collage Trad. A musical melting pot of local fiddle traditions with a dash of swing, a pinch of jazz, a sprinkle of rock and pure folk. Their music and spirit is uplifting and energizing. Collage Trad has developed an explosive, exceptionally tight, cohesive sound. 

Formed in East Van, the vibrant musical hub of Vancouver, the Big Easy Funk Ensemble is a band that pays homage to the rich musical traditions of New Orleans while infusing their own distinct West Coast flavor. Founded on a shared passion for the diverse sounds that have emerged from the heart of Louisiana, the ensemble brings to life the infectious rhythms and soulful melodies that define the New Orleans sound. With a repertoire that spans across genres such as funk, jazz, soul, and blues.

Martin Harley has been making music and touring the world for over two decades. His sound has never been more down to earth. Exploring roots, blues and slide guitar in a style The Guardian referred to as ‘Spellbinding’, Harley has released eight albums to date, four recorded on home soil and four across the Atlantic in Texas and Nashville.