As winner of
the 2006 Songs from the Heart award and voted Ottawa's Best
Singer/Songwriter in 04-05, Ana's reputation as a rising star
has extended deeply into her musical opportunities: She has
opened for Sarah Harmer, Jeremy Fisher, Teitur, Nathan Wiley,
Fred Eaglesmith and Joel Kroeker. From living rooms to main
stages, her smooth, melodic voice, fluid approach to guitar
and on-stage banter warms the hearts of each audience she encounters.
Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Ana has already toured the eastern
US and Canada and plans to take her music to fans in western
Canada and the US!
"Rheaume
has an undeniably powerful voice that fits perfectly with her
self-written material, or any other song she chooses to perform.
Like a light switch, Rheaume can go from a bright comforting
harmony to a dark hard edge at the crowd's request."
Capital XTRA
Hundreds of shows, fans and great stories are bringing Amanda
Rheaume to life on the entertainment scene in Canada. Having
just won $40,000 in Ottawa's "Big Money Shot" talent
showdown, Amanda is rapidly solidifying her position in rising
to the front of the pack of up and coming female artists in
Canada. Determin-ation, courage and strength typifies the high
energy and musically rich and diverse live performance Amanda
has perfected.
Over the past three years Amanda has received critical acclaim
from media across the country, opening for bands like The White
Stripes, The Trews, Sloan, Jeff Martin and Ani DiFranco to name
a few. Her early performing days go as far back as 1999 sharing
the stage with veterans Sarah MacLachlan, The Dixie Chicks,
and The Indigo Girls at Lilith Fair in Toronto.
Defiant and
vulnerable, Amy Campbell brings together classical training
and folk sensibilities to create music that reaches into human
experience and comes back with stories written from the soul.
An east-coast transplant originally from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland,
Campbell was voted best local female solo artist Halifax’s
Reverb Magazine in 2003. Since the release of Architecture that
same year, Campbell has toured Ontario, Quebec, and Eastern
Canada and the US extensively, winning over the hearts of audiences
across the province with her poignant songwriting and charismatic
stage presence.
In addition to her busy touring schedule, Campbell is currently
working on a conceptual project called Oh Heart, Oh Highway,
a double-disc album plus accompanying chapbook that will take
listeners on an artist’s journey from small-town dreaming
to the sometimes disillusioning complications of slogging it
out in the big city.
Rhonda Stakich
is an Alberta born, Toronto based singer and songwriter influenced
and inspired by dance, drama and old-fashioned ideals. Stakich
arrived in the spring of 2001 to Toronto with two guitars and
a suitcase full of songs. She immediately teamed up with producer/engineer
Nathan Handy to record There Were Years (2002) and Mary Mary
(2005) while slowly, steadily winning her way into the hearts
and ears of Toronto's live music community.
Rhonda has since been featured on many recordings including
the 2007 Joe Fresh Clothing Campaign, CBC's Steven and Chris
theme song and has collaborated with such artists as Leo37,
Chris Tarry and Milosh. Rhonda's own solo acoustic album "Twirl
Me", released last year has been featured on CBC's Fresh
Air.
The fall of 2008 promises to be an interesting one for Rhonda
as she returns to her roots of Dance and Drama in a collaborative
scheduled to be released in the spring of 2009.
NLX has been
covering her tracks. Rumor has it she served her time in Hamilton,
Ontario - a small steel town where the survivors are the fittest,
and the smartest ... those brave enough to escape its desperate
clutches.
So it was in the dives and hotspots of Hamilton and Toronto
- clubs like El Mocambo, C'est
What and The Drake - that she developed her signature sound
... a potent cocktail infused with Daniel Lanois, Tori Amos,
PJ Harvey and NIN.
Now a permanent fixture in NYC, the NLX momentum is accelerating
with gigs across the USA, major radio play, a shout out from
the ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame who described NLX as “extraordinary,
outstanding, compelling, distinctive and very, very special.”
She is still much in demand in her homeland, and recently had
the honour of opening up for
Matthew Good, David Usher, and Pilot Speed.
Early 2009 will find the release of the 3rd NLX CD.
Emily Fennell, a relative
newcomer to Kingston, Ontario, has been working as a full-time
musician for over three years since returning to South Eastern
Ontario after some time in British Columbia. Working professionally,
primarily as a solo act, for about ten years, Emily now plays
around 200 gigs a year and has opened for such artists as Jim
Cuddy, Chantal Kreviazuk, Jann Arden, Buffy Saint-Marie, Steppenwolf,
Sass Jordan and The Wilkinsons. Emily finally released her first
album entitled Green summer, 2004. With the production and release
of the album came the formation of The Emily Fennell Band, which
has been performing regularly throughout South Eastern Ontario
since June of 2004.
When Caridad Cruz immigrated
to Canada in 2003, she brought with her the skills learned over
a 10-year career singing in the hotels and night spots of her
native Cuba, and she also brought with her what The Globe and
Mail has called her “warm ocean of a voice.” Since
then, in Montreal, Toronto, New York and Ottawa, she has never
failed to excite audiences with traditional Cuban song styles
ranging from son to boleros and rhythms ranging from furious
to soulful. Caridad will be accompanied by Cuban guitarist,
singer, composer and musical genius César Ricardo.
JUNO
AWARD WINNER
Aboriginal Recording of the Year 2007
WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARD WINNER
Best Aboriginal Recording 2007
Indian Summer Music Award Winner
Best Folk 2007
Leela Gilday was born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
She is a singer/songwriter from the Dene Nation whose songwriting
reflects her northern roots. She sings about identity, death,
love and life from the urban Indian perspective.
Her unbound and naturally powerful voice transports her listeners
to a world where freedom and joy balance sorrow and injustice,
making you cry and laugh in the same breath.
As an independent touring musician, she has built a devoted
fanbase across Canada with her unique blend of folk, roots,
and traditional sounds. Her first album “spirit world,
solid wood” garnered her much recognition including a
place in Macleans “top 50 under 30”, the cover of
“Words and Music”, a Horizon award, a Juno nomination,
several Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and featured appearances
on various national CBC and APTN television and radio broadcasts.
Leela was just named Up Here Magazine's "Northerner of
the Year".
With the release of “Sedzé”, her second full-length
effort, Leela echoes the heartbeat of the north with a modern
rootsy acoustic interpretation. The album, whose title means
“My Heart” in Slavey, is the much-anticipated follow
up to “spirit world, solid wood”. It represents
the new spirit of rising northern voices and articulates the
bridge between worlds.
Ann Vriend is
a former spy. She worked incognito for an undisclosed western
European agency, posing as a freelance journalist, when she
met someone who was also spy — but for the other side.
Against all odds, they fell in love — thus entering an
increasingly complicated game of torn loyalties, clandestine
passion, and treacherous lies. It is these experiences which
inspired “When We Were Spies”; the cinematic new
pop album by former agent Ann Vriend.
Firmly rooted in pop music, Ann Vriend exudes originality and
flare, comparable to the likes of Kate Bush, Regina Spektor,
and Sarah Slean. Her double-entendre lyrics have had critics
liken her to Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon. Her voice is as much
Dolly Parton’s as it is like Eva Cassidy’s, making
her albums and acclaimed international performances a stunning
vocal experience. Ann’s songs are literary, poetic and
intelligent; in short, epic, and encompass the feelings of anyone
who longs for freedom, love, and meaning.
Tara Holloway
is an adventurer at heart, thriving in the unknown. She has
been hollowing out her musical capacities since she was 14 years
old and began singing in bars at 15. Now 27, Tara’s ability
to dig deep into the core of the human condition with torching
ballads, uprooting guitar riffs, and smouldering vocals will
leave a lingering light to any listener who is lucky to catch
one of her performances.
Kay Pettigrew writes songs
alone in her house, and then sings them in shady and not-so-shady
locations all over the city, province, and sometimes even other
countries. Her EP, "on kitchen floor", is forthcoming
this September.
Sarah Loucks
sees nothing but open doors. With a background in classical
piano, dance and theatre training, the stage is her second home.
Originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Sarah Loucks has spent
time in various parts of the country studying the performing
arts and working on the craft of song-writing. After graduating
from the Canadian College of Performing Arts, Sarah recorded
and released her debut album, “Keep What You Keep”
at SOS Studios in Peterborough and Bathouse Recording Studios
in Bath, ON.
Jessica Rhaye's
incredible voice and live performances have entertained audiences
from Canada to Britain and Niger, Africa. British magazine "Maverick"
described Jessica Rhaye's 2007 Short Stories as "the perfect
feel-good album". Jessica is the consummate artist - she
is an award winning songwriter and accomplished visual artist.
This synergy of artistic expression has led Jessica to the 2008
East Coast Music Awards where she was nominated for Solo Female
Artist of the Year and announced as the winner of the East Coast
Industry Award for Graphic Design Artist of the Year.
Just home
from her first self-booked and promoted east coast tour, Jess
has landed in Vermont after a successful showcase at the Atlantis
Music Conference in Atlanta, GA, and is the 2nd place winner
of the Flat Rock Music Festival Songwriting Contest.
Jess Clemons considers herself new to songwriting. But you wouldn't
guess it after hearing just a few of her soul-filled songs delivered
with her gutsy, smokey voice. At 22, this Vermont native has
self-released two independent records, toured across Canada
and New England, travelled through South America, and completed
a bachelor's degree in Canada. She plays everything from livingrooms
to festivals, and recently filled Nova Scotia's Al Whittle Theater
for her CD release show in February, 2007.
Jess writes personal songs. She spills what most people would
keep to their journals, and because of it, she captivates audiences
wherever she goes. At only 22, she’s got a unique knack
for songs that tell a personal story, but have global appeal
– her fans range in age from 8 to 88. Her voice is often
compared to that of Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman, and a raspy
Bonnie Raitt, and her shows have recently been likened to that
of Ani Difranco, telling (often humorous) stories of recent
travels and day-to-day happenings.
Jeanette Arsenault’s
music lifts you to a higher place. There is so much sincerity
and truth in her lyrics that everyone is touched and elevated
because she writes from the soul and sings form the heart. With
4 albums and appearances at two Olympic Games, Jeanette’s
music has touched many hearts far and wide.
Over the past
few years, Natasha Pasternak has played with a number of Ontario's
finest musicians including Bands such as Crush Luther, The Roman
LIne, Obsidian, The Emily Fennell Band, Magneta Lane and Low
Level Flight. This all follows years of extensive training (
graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts ) and
bar gigs throughout south eastern Ontario. This summer, Natasha
will be heading into the studio to record her new single "Broken
Chic Anthem" with a fantastic team behind her. And will
return to record in the fall, her much awaited EP. Check out
her website for tour dates and news! www.natashapasternak.com
I collect a
lot. colors, patterns, and times of day. Crossing cultures can
do that to you, for you know there is a different life. Musically,
I gather song forms, sounds, feel, and instruments that bring
out the best
of what i can offer. Not mainstream, love is in flirting with
pop and dissonance.
2006 Best Female Performer : SDHAT Awards
2007 & 2008 SONY's Pick on MYLO's Playlist
A self-described
"Sudbury girl," Sarah Craig's jazz is as tastey and
clean as (Canadian) Ramsey Lake water. In the tradition of Billie
Holiday, her smoky vocals set the stage for her bluegrass- and
gospel-inspired jazz songs. The Laurentian-educated musician
played with the Sultry Jazz Trio, The Sudbury Jazz Orchestra
and indie-rocker OX, which allowed her to tour the British Isles
and Canada. Her upcoming release "The Threshing Floor"
produced by Paul Dunn, is set for release mid-2008.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Shannon
Moan is the voice of your wool sweater that keeps you warm on
cool nights while camping in the north woods. She is the voice
of your favourite coffee blend from your favourite coffee shop.
She is the voice of that book that you keep reading over and
over and over but never get sick of. She is the voice of a Tarantino
heroine, always surviving, always strong but always vulnerable.
After a childhood spent
in the Alberta foothills, she began playing music in Sault Ste.
Marie at the tender age of fourteen. By sixteen, Shannon was
writing and performing her own material, performing in coffee
shops and local bars by seventeen. Honing her craft, her song-writing,
her voice, she played venues with names from a lost poem, The
Fireball, The Steamy Bean, The Downbeat, Loplops.
Whether solo or with a band or sharing the stage with local
artists, audiences are bewitched, enthralled, they are captured
in her gentle grasp, unwilling to escape.
Ottawa, ON
Q the Romantic
Revolutionary aka Queeverne Kirk was born on the island of Tobago.
As a child she imagined being a teacher, but as she grew older
developed a love for writing and performing poetry. Queeverne
began performing at the age of 19 in Toronto, and continued
her love for performance in Ottawa. During her years in the
Nation’s Capital Q was named the winner of Ottawa’s
2005 CBC Poetry Face Off, and further solidified herself as
the CBC’s poetry Queen by winning the 2007All Star Edition.
She has gone on to participate in such events as the Alanis
Morissette Tribute Concert in February 2008. Since her Poetry
Face Off win in 2005 Queeverne has created Spoken Word workshops
for high school students and conducted her classes in various
schools across Toronto and Ottawa. Q the Romantic Revolutionary
is a grounded individual who continues to spread her message
of respect through responsibility through her seductive tones.
Awesome Assitant Babe
Ottawa, ON
Untitled Document
Click
here and buy tickets to any of the Babes For Breasts 2008 Cross Canada
Shows!
Click here
to purchase tickets to the Ottawa Shows.
Tetra
Speakers has donated a pair of speakers worth $8000! So we've
decided to do a Cross Canada Raffle! Donate $50 or more on the website
and you will auto-matically get 10 tickets in the raffle!
