2025 MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP
Tone Rangers | Veranda | The Lonesome Town Painters | Andrew Collins Trio | Braden Gates and Elliot Thomas | Lachlan Neville | Five Guys Named Dave | Joseph Desjarlais | Hotdog! Bluegrass | Sharptail
Featuring JMC Dances With The Salt Licks
and Sunday Gospel With Ken Olson
Veranda
Actress and songwriter Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle teams up with multi-instrumentalist Léandre Joly-Pelletier to create Veranda. The group delivers a bilingual show that blends high lonesome bluegrass with intimate folk ballads, all infused with their unmistakable Quebec spirit and energy. With Yukon fiddler extraordinaire Kieran Poile and upright bass virtuoso Johnny Slapper joining the lineup, get ready to dust off your dancing shoes and experience La Belle Province — bluegrass style!
The Lonesome Town Painters
The Lonesome Town Painters are a bona fide bluegrass band from Vancouver, British Columbia. These guys channel the raw, ragged spirit of traditional bluegrass with a look, style, and sound that stays true to its roots.
While they draw heavy inspiration from the golden era greats, it’s their original songwriting that sets them apart. Their songs are steeped in tradition, yet feel fresh and personal.
Each performance features soaring harmonies, driving rhythms, and melodic instrumentation. Together, these elements fuel the band’s spirited, high-energy shows—earning them a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting bluegrass acts.
Andrew Collins Trio
Braden Gates and Elliot Thomas
A duo of pickers from Edmonton, Alberta made up of fiddler extraordinaire Braden Gates, and avid six-string strummer and clawhammer banjoist Elliot Thomas.The combine to provide uplifting music and levity as they present a wide repertoire of tunes from the Canadian and American old-time traditions, and beyond.
Lachlan Neville
Lachlan Neville is a musician and songwriter from Rocanville, SK whose love of literature, paired with the influence of his father’s D35, inspired a deep commitment to songwriting. Influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, Guy Clark and John Prine, Lachlan spent much of his high school years during the pandemic developing and refining his craft, assembling a body of work that quickly earned recognition. Now, with fellow songwriter Blake Berglund at the helm as producer, Lachlan’s self-titled debut album will be released under the Western Seer Records imprint, marking an important step in his artistic journey.
Five Guys Named Dave
Saskatchewan’s first and only old-time party band, this five-piece string ensemble fuses the vibrant sounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Appalachian music with an unbeatable energy. They ignite the stage with foot-stomping rhythms and infectious harmonies, redefining what it means to throw an old-time party. Drawing from the rich roots of traditional string music, they craft a unique style that resonates with audiences across the province and beyond.
Michael Taylor anchors the band on mandolin, adding bright, fast-paced licks that charge the group’s sound with energy. Tim Sample fires up the fiddle, injecting excitement into every tune with his bold playing. Adam Clement drives the groove on banjo, weaving traditional techniques with a modern flair. On guitar, Rebecca Hammel delivers rhythm with infectious precision, keeping the crowd dancing with every strum. Holly Gilroy grounds the band on upright bass, laying down deep, resonant notes that form the foundation for the band’s intricate rhythms. Together, they create a sound that’s as fun as it is timeless.
Known for their high-energy shows and crowd-moving performances, they breathe new life into the old-time music scene — one party at a time — bringing the joy of traditional music into the heart of Saskatchewan’s music culture.
Joseph Desjarlais
Born and raised in the northern Métis community of Ile-a-la Crosse, Joseph Desjarlais began fiddle studies at age ten with John Arcand. And while he’s branched out into performing other fiddle styles, Joseph finds it hard not to turn every tune he plays into old-time Métis.
Hotdog! Bluegrass
Hotdog!: used to express delight or enthusiastic approval.
Bluegrass: a bluish-green grass that was introduced into North America from northern Europe. It is widely grown for fodder, especially in Kentucky and Virginia.
‘Hotdog! Bluegrass’ is a 5-piece bluegrass band from Regina SK.
Bill Monroe, The Carter Sisters and Jimmy Martin, seasoned, chopped, blended and rendered then forced into a tube. No filler
Salt Licks
Performing across Saskatchewan by popular demand, The Salt Licks burst onto the scene in 2021. It all began when six friends got together in Luke G’s basement to play their favourite country songs. From the start, they set an ambitious goal: learn 600 songs by 2030.
Their ever-growing repertoire includes country and country-adjacent hits from artists like Buck Owens, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, and Wanda Jackson—plus many more.
The Salt Licks deliver rippin’ fiddle tunes, mid-2000s pop country, western swing, folk songs, and early country and rock ‘n’ roll. All of it comes with their own unique twist. They launched their live show journey with monthly Honky Tonk nights at Amigos Cantina in Saskatoon, including two New Year’s Eve bashes. Since then, they’ve brought the party to The Longbranch, Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival, and the Fir Mountain Community Hall, making their mark in every festival lineup they join.
Each band member brings serious musical credentials, coming from projects like The Barrelmen, Kacy & Clayton, The Local Group, Ride ‘Til Dawn, and The Seahags.
Meet The Salt Licks:
Ellen Froese – vocals, guitar
Jody Giesbrecht – pedal steel, vocals, bass
Luke Goetz – drums, vocals
Jaxon Lalonde – vocals, bass, banjo
Clayton Linthicum – vocals, electric guitar, pedal steel
Lauren Tastad – fiddle
Ken Olson
Ken Olson, founding member of Ken Olson & Friends, began his musical journey with the bluegrass gospel group The Baler Strings. After the group disbanded, he recorded his first solo album, Just a Closer Walk. The Saskatchewan Country Music Association nominated the album for Country Gospel Album of the Year. Following this success, Ken formed Ken Olson & Friends. He recorded two albums with different lineups: House of Gold and Grandpa’s Way of Life.
Esther Bregg moved from The Baler Strings’ soundboard to the stage. She has been part of Ken Olson & Friends since the beginning. Esther sings harmony, occasionally takes the lead, and plays bass.
Since 2003, Ken and Esther have traveled across Canada and the U.S. to attend Country Gospel Music Association conventions. They often perform as a duo. Over the years, they have received multiple awards. These include Bluegrass Artist of the Year, Producer, Manager, and Bluegrass Artist of the Decade (2009–2018).
Now, Ken and Esther are shifting focus as a duo. They perform country, bluegrass, and gospel music. Their shows feature harmony singing, with guitar and bass accompaniment. They aim to entertain and inspire through music.
Sharptail
Blending old-time and Celtic styles with their Saskatchewan roots, Aryn Murray and Mitch Dureault captivate audiences with powerful storytelling and high-energy tunes. Their music reflects a deep passion for folk traditions and original songwriting.
With fiddle, banjo, and guitar, they explore themes of love, adventure, and human struggle. Their raw, emotional sound creates a personal connection with listeners. Each performance invites the audience into an intimate experience, capturing the earthy spirit of Saskatchewan folk music.
Sharptail is a Saskatoon-based duo featuring singer-songwriter Aryn Murray (Aryn El Hefe, Slashpile) and fiddle player Mitch Dureault (Camp Sask Arts, Eliza Mary Doyle). Together, they blend melodic old-time dance music with storytelling that’s both captivating and heartfelt. Expect foot-stomping fiddle tunes paired with emotional ballads that reflect the restless search for meaning in today’s changing world.
Aryn coined their genre “Frog Rock” because it “hops” between folk traditions. Their sound draws from Canadian and American old-time music, bluegrass, ragtime, Irish trad, and the ’60s folk revival, all mixed with hints of hip-hop and punk rock.
Their live shows are a rollercoaster of emotions. Aryn’s witty banter and bittersweet songs combine with Mitch’s face-melting fiddle playing and stories from his work teaching fiddle across Canada. Audiences can expect to laugh, cry, dance, and reflect on simpler times.
| Tweener Acts |
Tweener Performances Coming Soon!
Submissions are still open! If your band would like to participate. You can start your application by clicking here.