Showcase PEI 2022

Award-winning, Americana singer/songwriter, Alicia Toner, writes songs that tell the truth built around her eloquently emotive voice. Produced by Peter Fusco and Stuart Cameron, her second FACTOR-funded album JOAN is both epic and personal. It signifies the arrival of a truly remarkable artist with the innate ability to tell stories we can all relate to.

Combining raw sound with electric showmanship, Andrew Waite’s passion for songwriting, stage performance and music education is undeniable. His songs are honest and rugged, making for an unforgettable experience when paired with his dynamic live shows. Waite’s last release won him a Songwriter award (MPEI) and 2 ECMA nominations.

Six-time Music PEI Award Nominee (including New Artist of the Year, Pop Recording of the Year), Brandon Howard Roy is queer singer songwriter taking the East Coast music scene by storm. Backed by an all-star band, his indie-pop sound is fun and groovy sung with a voice that reaches the stratosphere. With an electric stage presence cultivated from a life in the theatre, catchy hooks and relatable lyrics, his debut album called Tough Stuff is making a big splash in the island music scene and beyond.

The Burning Hell is the ongoing musical project of songwriter Mathias Kom (he/him) and multi-instrumentalists Ariel Sharratt (she/her) and Jake Nicoll (he/him). Their genre-shifting songs are packed with an abundance of literary, historical, and pop-cultural references. The Burning Hell’s albums and singles manifest from the edges of the music industry as collaborations with independent labels and publishers. Their newest album, Garbage Island, was released on June 24, 2022, through You’ve Changed Records.

Catherine MacLellan is a JUNO award winner, ECMA songwriter of the year, and has released 7 albums over the past 20 years while touring around the world. Her music takes you through heartbreak, loss and the joy of life. Catherine is dedicated to the craft of songwriting, and her desire for connection is at the heart of her work.

Since 2013, Dylan Menzie has been building a catalogue of critically acclaimed, award-winning music. Drawing inspiration from acts like Wilco, Fleet Foxes, and My Morning Jacket; Dylan Menzie is a combination of folk, rock, and pop elements best described as Indie Pop Americana. Constantly moving forward, Menzie’s latest single “A Heart That Doesn’t Want Mine” won Song of the Year at the 2022 ECMAs, and MPEI Awards.

There’s no other band out around like Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys. Led by fiddling wiz Gordie “Crazy Legs” MacKeeman, the roots quartet features all-star pickers and singers, with everything from down-home country to reckless rockabilly to intricate bluegrass.

Inn Echo weave hundreds of years of traditional tunes with contemporary originals and arrangements that both soar and make you catch your breath simultaneously. With technical precision, their mastery of instruments is the talk of the national and international folk music scene. From Music PEI awards to tours of Austria and Ireland, Inn Echo is bar none the traditional band to watch as they emerge as Prince Edwards Island’s greatest Celtic fusion exports in years to come.

Joce Reyome has been captivating audiences throughout the east coast of Canada, where they now call home. Originally from Attleboro, Massachusetts, Reyome has been honing their skills for the past six years. Joce has toured internationally as a session player, and has been featured on multiple recordings for artists across the Maritimes, such as Andrew Waite, Liam Corcoran, and Logan Richard. With inspiration from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, and Tracy Chapman, they bring old school vibes to the new times.

Justyn Thyme is the artistic emancipation of ECMA nominated and Music PEI award-winning Justyn Young—a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter from Charlottetown, PEI. Having developed from influences including East Coast Roots, Americana, Mongolian Throat Singing and Soul fusion, he delivers a freshness which reflects his relationship with self and the world. His rhythmic blend of Neo-Folk, Bluegrass, Acoustic, World, and Funk, rivets bare bones symposium against undeniable smoothness and flow, both sharp and mellow in its attempt to create something powerfully authentic in studio collaboration with some of the island’s most talented musicians whom he calls friends.

Kierrah is a pop R&B singer/songwriter from Syracuse, NY and currently resides on PEI. She starred in Secret Songs on Bell TV, and was nominated by Music PEI for Best R&B Recording of the Year for her song “Dedication.” Influenced by Beyoncé, Brandy, Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys, her songwriting is inspired by heartbreak, self-love, and motivation. She has been singing, dancing and writing since she was a little girl—performing in gospel choirs and auditioning for shows like The Voice.

Lawrence Maxwell cut his teeth on beer caps, rough waters, and country music. A 2021 ECMA award nominee and two-time Music PEI award winner, this Prince Edward Island singer-songwriter will tell it to you like it’s folk, and sing it to you like it’s country.

Spellbinding R&B grooves, pop hooks, a smooth voice and blues-tinged guitar licks prove why Logan is one of the best up-and-coming guitarists in the country. With his 2021 debut EP and over half a million listens on Spotify, and plays on CBC Radio 2, the ECMA nominee has garnered a legion of fans. His soundscape is a mix of pop, blues, R&B and indie rock, which pinpoint a creatively-crafted sound that spans across genres.

Originally from Ontario, Michel Lalonde was a founding member of the legendary folk-rock group Garolou, who originated in PEI in the seventies and went on to earn a gold record and numerous awards across Canada. Comme un Engin, recorded in Mont Carmel in 2019 is his twelfth studio album.

The Moneygoround is a new five-piece group from Charlottetown, PEI. Their name is inspired by The Kinks song about the trials and misfortunes in the industry, and The Style Council’s song of the same name. The band consists of Dennis Ellsworth, Josh Langille, Sam Langille, Katie McGarry and Dan Currie. Their songs are rooted in vintage sounds of roots, blues, the psychedelic, folk and rock ’n’ roll. Their debut album, Cruisin’ and Swingin’, was produced with songwriter Joel Plaskett at Fang Recording.

Nadia is an emerging Pop/R&B artist from Charlottetown, PEI. Within the last year, Nadia released 3 singles titled “On The Low” as to which she also released her debut music video for; “Mesmerized,” and her latest song “Off The High” feat. Vince The Messenger. She has since been spending her time recording and writing new music with her producer Ramzoid.

Noah Malcolm is a singer-songwriter who shares his time between Toronto and PEI. His debut EP, On Time, was a folk-pop manifesto on creative process, earning him New Artist of the Year at the 2022 Music PEI Awards, along with Digital Achievement of the Year. Well versed in many genres, his stripped-down sound spans contemporary Pop/RnB, Folk and Soul with an ear for juicy harmonies and melodic intricacy.

Nolan has gained listeners from across the globe after two single releases, “Unbelievable” and “Back To Sleep.” “Unbelievable” was the fifth-most downloaded country single on September 21/21, and Nolan was the most active indie artist during that week. “Back To Sleep” was the third-most downloaded country single on March 24/22, and Nolan was the sixth-most active indie artist during that week. Both songs were added to CBC and SiriusXM Ch. 171, and have radio plays across the country.

Rachel Beck is a PEI-based indie pop artist whose dreamy vocals wash over you, wave after wave. Her most recent release, Stronger Than You Know, was celebrated as Music PEI’s 2021 Album of the Year, and nominated for three ECMAs: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Pop Recording of the Year.

Imperial east coast boys, the Royal North, are true rock, strong and free. With a host of Canadian and UK tours under their red dirt belt, and a new album still simmering in the studio, Chris Dalziel, Donovan Morgan, Jordan Walsh and brothers Craig and Brady McDonald have gained music nobility and earned their sash sharing stages with the likes of The Trews, Matt Good, Haywire, Kim Mitchell, and Glorious Sons.

Awarded as Artist of the Year by Ontario Contact and the BC Touring Council, Sarah Hagen brings to the stage her unique combination of piano and humour. Playing “with great sensitivity and heart” – Vernon Morning Star. The Edmonton Journal says, “Her comic timing is as solid as her musical meter.”

Scott MacKay has an affinity for country music of the 1950s and ’60s; evident by the sounds of twangy Telecasters and swooning pedal steel. But the singer/songwriter from Charlottetown, PEI also has a sharp wit that shines through on his latest release and ECMA-winning recording, Stupid Cupid; an album that offers a fresh take on classic country.

Shane Pendergast is a folk singer from Tracadie Cross, PEI. He learned to play by ear at an early age, immersed in a culture of family kitchen parties. Shane is known as an old-school troubadour, and “might just become the East Coast’s de facto King of Folk.” (The East). His 2021 album, Second Wind, won Contemporary Roots Album of the Year at the Music PEI Awards.

Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has been an internationally renowned and award winning recording and touring artist for over 20 years. She’s written and recorded six solo albums and two with her band Shaye. A playwright, author, poet and a mother, Tara resides in her home province of PEI. She is preparing to release her first book and a new album in early 2023.

TNA, also known as Young Prodigy, is a rapper, singer/songwriter making his presence known in the Canadian music scene. TNA connects with listeners through sensational melodies and relatable lyrics. TNA, who uses music as his freedom, has gained attention following the release of his first music video for his single “Young Prodigy.” This young artist’s passion and talent continues to grow as he consistently proves there are no limits to where his music can travel.

Atlantic Canadian hip-hop/rap artist Vince The Messenger made his debut in 2018 with his award-winning album, Self Sabotage, followed up with his EP, Nowhere 2 Grow. His 2021 album, Trustfall, received Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year at the 2022 Music PEI awards. While his influences vary, his moody, boom-bap sound is unquestionably that of the future—much of it built with producer Niimo. His music references golden-era hip hop, with layers of personal-is-political lyricism that is timeless.