Balkan Shmalkan delivers funky brass dance beats rooted in the traditions of the Roma and Klezmorim of Eastern Europe, blended with pop and jazz. The group sings in five languages, including Serbian, Romani, and Italian, featuring six to sixteen musicians on a mix of eastern and western instruments.
From Horsefly, BC, Ciel Patenaude and Brent Morton create music that defies easy categorization. Backed by a full band, their symphonic arrangements and intricate harmonies build cathedral-sized spaces around intimate songwriting. These are songs that move intuitively—mining human experience with lyrics that linger long after the music fades.
Performing the biggest festivals in the world and hangin’ out in your backyard, CARNIVAL!!! Whisking you away to a place of magic! High-energy dance parties at every stage they plunder, booty-shakin’ pirates!!! Hypnotic stories & mesmerizing ballads add enchantment!!! A mystical world, all dressed up making ya smile inside and dance!!!
Checkdown Charlie pulls heartstrings, not punches. Their melodies make for a good time, while their lyrics paint a picture of community, nature, and connection. It’s not all roses: gritty and uncompromising, Checkdown Charlie invites you to come along and get curious.
There is a pureness to Claire’s voice that can silence a room. A moving songwriter and compelling guitarist, contemporary singer songwriter Claire Coupland combines her smooth signature folk finger picking, soaring melodies and a wee dose of jazz-school chord changes, with heart wrenching performances she delivers to listeners worldwide.
Crones are an alternative rock act incorporating the finest properties of garage, grunge, stoner, psych, art rock, and post-punk into an incendiary live experience built on a foundation of rock solid songcraft & sharp insightful lyricism. The band is currently supporting their critically acclaimed 3rd full length LP “Human Error.”
A band of longtime friends and musical collaborators who have spent much of their lives playing and listening to old time stringband music. D9 Stringband is Grace Forrest on fiddle, Jason Romero on banjo, Pharis Romero on guitar and Max Malone on dance calling (and bass).
Hello, I’m Duane Regretzky, a solo performer from Kamloops BC. In 2025 I played 46 shows all over Canada, from Vancouver to Quebec. I use my music to foster community and an inclusive, safe environment, and have been successfully gaining a following.
Hailing from the wild heart of Northern BC, Folky Strum Strum blends folk, rock, and blues into a gritty, soul-filled sound. Led by singer-songwriter Iyan Bruvold, the group delivers high-energy performances that feel like a gathering of friends. Celebrate their newest album, Little Miss Takes.
HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA fuse self-produced electronic music with live sign language and rich vocal harmonies. Ian Griffiths and Amy Braun sing together throughout each set, blending dream pop textures with earthy, organic voices for an inclusive, multi-sensory experience that captivates both Deaf and hearing audiences.
Interstellar Jays bring the kind of music you would be happy to have going on in the back of your head as you go about your day. Original arrangements of should-be-familiar and nearly-forgotten tunes from a wide range of musical traditions. Presenting both fiddle and clarinet and an irresistible groove, this iridescent flock has the drive to make you move!
Josh + Bex are a folk duo from British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, crafting intimate, harmony-driven songs that balance tenderness and truth. Their sound feels both timeless and immediate—raw, intentional, and deeply human—exploring the quiet beauty, hope, and heartbreak woven into everyday life.
Pharis and Jason Romero have steadily cultivating a devoted following in the folk genre; they are recipients of four Juno awards and seven Canadian Folk Music Awards. Cole Patenaude is the foundational guitarist and songwriter for the Screech Owls. Max Malone is the deeply grounded bass player and singer for the Lonesome Ace Stringband among many other acts. All four musicians proudly call the vibrant community of Horsefly their home and are thrilled to be performing at Arts on the Fly with their brand new super secret special band.
Kat and Amélie are a performance duo based in Vancouver who have been working together for the past 5 years. They are multidisciplinary circus artist with a focus on juggling props – hoops, clubs, and balls. Not traditional circus clowns, they focus instead on the visuals/illusory elements of juggling.
Kitty & The Rooster is a surf rock n’ roll duo from Vancouver featuring Jodie Ponto on the stand-up cocktail drumkit and Noah Walker on electric guitar. They are known for their big sound, laugh out loud lyrics, and ridiculously fun shows.
Last Birds is the creative partnership of Canadian Folk Music Award–nominated artists Lindsay Arnold and Mike Davis. Blending early country-folk traditions with modern prairie storytelling, their close harmonies and interwoven guitars create intimate songs rooted in rural myth and lived experience.
Mark Wonneck is a masterful songwriter and storyteller. “Honestly, he’s unique and the closest thing we have to a musical Stuart McLean. His brilliant songs will crack a smile as easily as a tear…sometimes during the same song.” (M. Sherlock, Oceanside Folk/Roots Club, Qualicum Beach, BC).
Marsha Thompson is an Okanagan-based singer-songwriter whose nature-inspired songs explore love, life, humour, and B.C. history. Her warm alto and poetic lyrics create a captivating, story-driven experience. She has released three albums and often performs with bassist and vocalist Ellie Young.
The Milltown Philosophers are a newgrass band from Quesnel, BC, blending bluegrass and country with rich harmonies and driving rhythms. Their 2024 debut album earned international airplay, with two songs reaching the top 10 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown, and the band receiving two BC Country Music Award nominations.
Mivule [mee-voo-lay] is an 8-piece Afro Reggae band. Brian Baroda, a South-Sudanese refugee, is the group’s frontman. The name Mivule comes from an East African teak tree, an East African gathering place. Under this tree, people come to seek justice and discuss issues.
Oh November performs introspective folk songs shaped by aching curiosity and glimmers of hope. From emotive piano ballads to intricate acoustic guitar, each piece is carried by smooth, soulful vocals, offering simple songs for hard times and weary souls.
5 friends bringing fast catchy riffs and driving socially aware vocals all with a punk attitude!
Ripple Illusion is a groove centric rock and roll band that brings a fresh take on a plethora of old styles. Using hints of funk, soul, surf and psych and fusing it into a style that smashes eras together, in particular that distinct and special sound of the late 60’s/early 70’s.
The bastard middle-aged lovechild of Porter Wagoner and Wanda Jackson, Rusty Ford wants to bring country music a bouquet of flowers and give her a hickey.
Phil Kikuchi is a Canadian musician from London, Canada, who has been active for over 30 years, performing in various venues across Canada. He is known for his skills on the acoustic guitar and continues to write, perform, and teach music in Vancouver, BC.
Spiritual Warriors feature father-daughter duo Leroy Joe (guitar, vocals) and Daisy Joe (vocals) of the Lil’wat Nation. Blending traditional St’at’imc songs, chants, and language with contemporary roots and reggae influences, their music reflects cultural strength, storytelling, and connection, creating a distinctive sound grounded in heritage and rhythm.
A dazzling burlesque showcase featuring Sasparilla Foxx, Honey Sh’Bam, Mina Marvais, Ivana Vodka, and Dickee Delight, with Tori Scarlet Romancing as host. Expect glamour, humour, bold costumes, and high-energy performances—from gold wings to fabulous flair—in a playful, unforgettable celebration of confidence, creativity, and classic burlesque charm.
Trista Bassett is a Hudson’s Hope-based singer-songwriter blending folk, rock, and storytelling with warmth, wit, and emotional honesty. Her songs draw on lived experience, connection, and a love of language, offering intimate, heartfelt moments with a playful edge and the occasional well-timed punchline.