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

Featuring JMC Dances With The Salt Licks 

and Sunday Gospel With Ken Olson

Tone Rangers Promo

Tone Rangers

Saddle up and join The Tone Rangers, a ragtag band of troubadours whose songs echo across the vast plains and dusty trails. From campfire ballads to saloon showdowns, this eclectic posse serenades the frontier with tales of adventure, heartache, and redemption.

Veranda Promo

Veranda

Veranda is a collaboration between actress and songwriter Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle and multi-instrumentalist Léandre Joly-Pelletier. From high lonesome bluegrass to intimate folk ballads, the group offers a bilingual show, brightened up by their unique irrepressible Quebec spirit and energy. Joined by Yukon fiddler extraordinaire Kieran Poile and upright bass virtuoso Johnny Slapper, get ready to dust off your dancing shoes and enjoy La Belle Province, bluegrass style!

LTP Promo

The Lonesome Town Painters

The Lonesome Town Painters are a tried-and-true, bona fide bluegrass band hailing from Vancouver, British Columbia These fellas have a look, style and sound that harkens back to the raw and ragged edge of the genre. And while they draw deeply from the masters of the golden era, it’s their original songs that demonstrate just how far these fellas have come. Their songwriting is grounded in tradition, anchored by the soaring harmonies, melodic instrumentation and pushing drive that has come to define their spirited and highly entertaining performances.

ACT Promo

Andrew Collins Trio

7x CFMA winner /5x JUNO nominee mando-maestro Andrew Collins is joined by fellow Trio string-meisters Mike Mezzatesta and James McEleney to showcase a popular collision of folk, new acoustic roots, chambergrass and jazz, not to mention a dizzying number and energetic interplay of instruments on stage. This dynamic genre-hopping show is propelled even further by Andrew’s captivating lead vocals and James’ soaring harmonies. They just released a new double album, grafting 11 vocal cuts(tongues) to 11 instrumentals(grooves) to create a seamless finish with their cleverly monikered Tongue & Groove.
Braden Elliot Promo

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 Promo

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.

5GND Promo

Five Guys Named Dave

Saskatchewan’s first and only old-time party band, this five-piece string ensemble brings together the vibrant sounds of bluegrass, old-time, and Appalachian music with an energy that’s hard to beat. Their performances are an explosion of foot-stomping rhythms and infectious harmonies, redefining what it means to throw an old-time party. Drawing inspiration from the roots of traditional string music, they’ve created a unique style that resonates with audiences across the province and beyond. 

The band is anchored by Michael Taylor on mandolin, the perfect complement, adding bright, fast-paced licks that energize the band’s sound. Tim Sample on fiddle, whose fiery playing adds a burst of excitement to every tune. Adam Clement brings a steady groove with his banjo picking, seamlessly blending traditional techniques with a modern flair. On guitar, Rebecca Hammel lays down the rhythm with infectious precision, keeping the crowd dancing with every strum. And finally, the band’s pulse is kept strong by Holly Gilroy on upright bass, whose deep, resonant notes provide 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 ability to get the crowd moving, they’re redefining 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! Promo

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 Promo

Salt Licks

Performing on Saskatchewan stages by their own popular demand, The Salt Licks formed in 2021 as an excuse for six pals to hang out and play their favourite country songs in Luke G’s basement. They set a collective goal to learn 600 songs (projected completion: 2030). Their repertoire includes country and country-adjacent bangers by artists such as Buck Owens, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Wanda Jackson, and a whole whack more.

The band enjoys playing rippin’ fiddle tunes, mid-2000s pop country hits, western swing, folk songs, and early country and rock ‘n roll – all done in unique Salt Licks fashion. At first, they started out with a monthly Honky Tonk night at Amigos Cantina in Saskatoon (including ringing in two NYE bashes), and have since brought the party to the Longbranch, Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival, and the Fir Mountain Community Hall.The Salt Licks are made up of members from several musical projects, including The Barrelmen, Kacy & Clayton, The Local Group, Ride ‘Til Dawn, The Seahags, and more.

The band is: 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), and Lauren Tastad (fiddle).

Ken Olson Promo

Ken Olson

Ken Olson, the founding member of Ken Olson & Friends, was part of the bluegrass gospel group, The Baler Strings. When the group disbanded, Ken recorded his first solo project, Just a Closer Walk. The album was nominated for Country Gospel Album of the Year by the Saskatchewan County Music Association. From there, the group Ken Olson & Friends was formed. Two albums were recorded with two different configurations of the band, House of Gold and Grandpa’s Way of Life.

Esther Bregg moved from The Baler Strings sound board to the stage. She has been part of Ken Olson & Friends since its inception, singing harmony and later some lead, and playing bass.

Ken and Esther have travelled to conventions of the Country Gospel Music Association in Canada and the U.S. since 2003, often performing as a duo. They have received numerous awards for Bluegrass Artist of the Year, as well as for Producer and Manager. They also received the award Bluegrass Artist of the Decade, for 2009-2018.

Ken and Esther are now expanding their focus as a duo. They are presenting country, bluegrass and gospel music with harmony singing, accompanied by guitar and bass, as they seek to entertain and minister in music.

2025 Festival Header

And More!

Join us for a weekend of fantastic bluegrass and old tyme music this August. Click Here for ticket information.

For other inquiries, please reach out via email!

| 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.