| Headliners | Afternoon Concert | ||
| Old Man Luedecke | Ben Caplan | USS | Northern Cree |
Old Man Luedecke
Old Man Luedecke is the recording name of Juno Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and banjo player Chris Luedecke of Chester, Nova Scotia. His 2008 album Proof of Love won a 2009 Juno Award for traditional folk album of the year. His latest album Tender is the Night has just been nominated for a Juno Award in the Roots and Traditional album of the Year category.
Ben Caplan
Rugged, raspy, and roaring with charisma. Halifax’s Ben Caplan is to folklore, what smoke is to bourbon. Perfectly coupled. Ben’s songwriting is bold in both range and ferocity. Fuelled by a quality of melodrama and powerful lyricism, the romance and bravery in his voice gives Caplan a truly innovative and experimental artistry. A sound that bridges the gap between controlled composition and unruly passion.
Caplan has marked his place in the Canadian music landscape with a growling spirit similar to that of Tom Waits. Sometimes joined by his band, The Casual Smokers, Ben strides in pace with gypsy-inspired strings delicately blended with the sultry tones of clarinet and saxophone. Caplan’s tours have extended throughout the Commonwealth, and with the rhapsodic energy of his live show it is no wonder that his elegant cacophony is gaining attention around the world. Breaking between guitar, banjo, piano, and melodica, Caplan’s stage show is almost reminiscent of a burly and bearded Freddy Mercury; a raging, strong, and exploratory songwriter, it’s the blues in his soul and the heart in your chest pounding in sync that makes Ben Caplan an unmissable act.
USS
In 2008, Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker played main stage at 102.1 The Edge’s Edgefest alongside Sam Roberts, Linkin Park and Stone Temple Pilots. Next came the World Electronic Music Festival, playing alongside drum n’ bass pioneers Andy C., Mickey Finn and DJ SS. Crossing into 2009 and over the US border, USS veered to the infamous Viper Room in Los Angeles and then showcased the legendary Mercury Lounge in New York City. That spring, they shattered the Sonic Boom Festival in Edmonton to the frenzy of 11,000 fans. A spot at the Toronto International Film Festival, three successful western Canadian tours, two CASBY Awards for Best New Artist and Favourite New Single, a Canadian Independent Music Award for Favourite Group of the Year, a Canadian Organization of Campus Activities Award for Best Emerging Artist, and even an Applied Arts Magazine Award for album packaging for Questamation, along with global digital sales have the world embracing the strange they want to see.
Northern Cree
6-time Grammy nominee Northern Cree are the world’s premier Pow-Wow and Round Dance singing group. The group began drumming and singing together in 1982.
Though the group originates from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, it is currently made up of members from the Treaty 6 area, most notably the Frog Lake Cree Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Samson Cree Nation, Louis Bull Cree Nation, and the Poundmaker Cree Nation.
In 1998 they provided music and appeared in the major theatrical film, Grey Owl, starring Pierce Brosnan.
They have released 36 recordings spanning 22 years with Phoenix-based Canyon Records. Their recordings have won numerous awards including multiple Nammys (Native American Music Awards), Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, Aboriginal Peoples’ Music Choice Awards and Indian Summer Music Awards. In addition their recordings have earned them dozens of nominations over the years including 6 Grammy nominations.
Northern Cree are role models for all First Nations people and live by their founder’s motto: “If you believe in yourself, who you are, where you come from, your culture and more importantly your language, it will take you to places you have never even dreamed of.”
