World Music & Arts Festival

Making Movies is a Latin Grammy-nominated band whose music focuses on the rhythms of Latin America— African-derived styles like rumba, mambo, merengue, and cumbia —combined with distorted guitars and atmospheric synths. They incorporate both English and Spanish lyrics into their songs, creating a unique and culturally diverse sound. Making Movies has toured with the likes of Enjambre, Rubén Blades, Maldita Vecindad, Los Lobos, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Bomba Estereo, Flor De Toloache, and many more. In 2024, the band is releasing their first live album and concert film, recorded at the historic Folly Theater in Kansas City.

At once elemental and unearthly, Jay Gilday’s voice is a raw and gorgeous siren of the Canadian north, fusing hymnal anguish with driving rhythm and blues. And he is about to inscribe a special chapter in Canadian music history.

As a songwriter, Jay threads together the colours of his own ancestral traditions: Dene spirituals, Irish ballads, Canadian folk and rock. He was raised in a family of accomplished musicians on the tundra of Yellowknife, where his music electrifies its never-ending days and nights.

Whether on the main stage of a summer festival or headlining a shadowy cabaret, Jay captivates. He is equally arresting as a solo performer, crooning over acoustic guitar and piano, as the front-man of an eight-piece rock band, baiting dance floors with infectious hooks and boundless energy.

Shooglenifty was formed in 1990 by musicians from the Scottish Highlands, Orkney and Edinburgh. Its bright spark was the idea of fusing traditional and traditional-sounding melodies with the beats and basslines of a mixed bag of more contemporary influences. As happy playing a small highland village hall as they are on an outdoor festival stage playing to tens of thousands, the Shoogles (as they’re known to their fans) have promoted Scottish music all over the world for three decades. The band has had a long-standing mutual love affair with west coast Canadian audiences, and we are thrilled to have their singular brand of “acid croft” music back in Harrison after several decades.

GRAMMY-winner Dobet Gnahoré is one of Africa’s hottest and most beloved talents. With her amazing voice, incredible dance moves, powerful presence, and colorful style sense, Dobet Gnahoré appeals to fans of Angelique Kidjo, Yemi Alade, Fatoumata Diawara and other divas of African music. While Africa has blessed the world with many recognized female artists, Dobet Gnahoré has proven herself to be a truly special talent. Hailing from Côte d’Ivoire, Dobet is a virtuosic singer, dancer, percussionist, and songwriter who has taken the modern Afropop sounds of her country in exciting new directions. Dobet is well-known for her jaw-dropping dance moves, powerful stage presence and richly emotional vocal style. She will be performing with her four-piece band.

The 35th Season of Performing Arts is well underway and off to a roaring start. With three shows under our belt, two of which sold out and the third being well attended, the winter and spring shows are looking as promising as ever!