A festival of the performing arts featuring an array of music, dance, spoken word, visual arts, film, and more.
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Bring the Noise - Percussionists
Top students from the Bring the Noise Drumming Academy led By master drummer Zac Gauthier. “Our experience of playing the drums combined with our love for coaching is next level. We believe that life is so much better with rhythm, and in Kelowna, Bring The Noise Drum Academy’s mission is to equip budding musicians with the tools to succeed not only in music but in life as well”.
Digital Funk - Modern Dance
Are a dynamic modern dance group from Kelowna BC
Natalie H - Poet
Natalie is a lab technologist and writer currently residing on the unceded territory of the Syilx (Okanagan) people. Her work has been published by broke press. Her best days are spent with a good pop-rock playlist, eating pie, and/or screaming at the TV when the Vancouver Canucks are playing."
Andrew Judah - Singer-Songwriter
Is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, songwriter, and recording artist from Kelowna, BC. He also makes ambient music under the name Cultus and is 1/4 of the group Nightshades with N. Sherman, Common Fires, and DL Ranney.
A fearless and meticulous songwriter and composer, Andrew Judah's diverse sound is strung together by a love of evolving cinematic orchestrations and bittersweet melodies. Piecing together what others might dismiss as incompatible sounds, he has found a way to employ familiar, organic instruments with warped analog textures. The arrangements are playful and exploratory, with subtle rhythmic complexities. Controlled chaos. All of this diversity in sound is held together by a single thread, Andrew’s voice.
Kailee McGuire - Singer-Songwriter
Is a singer-songwriter who hails from Vernon BC. Her music has been described as soulful folk, and her vocals have been compared to the likes of Norah Jones and Amy Winehouse. In 2021 she mixed and produced her first EP titled 'Hindsight', available where you stream your music.
Kinfolk Nation - Ugandan Story and Music
Last night I dreamt about taking over the world with the Kinfolk Nation. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the best dream I’ve had in a while.” We are Kinfolk Nation, free like the Negmawon and guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu.
Kinfolk Nation is an artist coalition documenting the experiences and stories of contemporary Africans/ Caribbeans/ Spirits, and the kindred spirits they cross paths with. We are building a nation, people! We are building a nation. Everybody is welcome but only if you have love.
Aaron Ord - Harpist
Aaron is a former student of the Kelowna Community Music School where he studied the Celtic harp under the tutelage of acclaimed harpist Caroline Mackay. During his study, he completed his grade 8 harp practicum and music theory with honours through the Royal Conservatory of Music. To date, Aaron has performed at many various functions including weddings, social events, and concerts at many varied venues around the Okanagan and lower mainland. He has featured on CBC Radio, as an accompanist with Opera Kelowna, and with several touring performers, including a shared concert with renowned Canadian performing harpist and composer Sharlene Wallace. He also recorded “A Bouquet of Kindness” a compilation of acoustic pieces, songs, and poetry performed with his father Graham Ord.
Aaron is based in Kelowna BC, but can travel throughout the Okanagan Valley for various events.
Todd Ramsay - Artist/Cartoonist (Founder of Yeti Farm)
Todd Ramsay was born and raised in Kelowna, BC. After squeaking through high school with nothing more to show than doodles in his textbooks, Todd attended the Fine Arts program at Okanagan College for a year. With limited drive and a bigger need to skip class and skateboard, Todd once again barely squeaked by. The next year he found himself in Northern Alberta working in the Oil Fields. It was here that Todd learned how to work hard and make some money in the process. After a year of what seemed like a prison work camp, Todd returned to Kelowna where he took another two years of Fine Arts with a better mindset and a drive to never have to work in the Oil Fields again.
In 1999, Todd enrolled in the Classical Animation program at Vancouver Film School where he studied animation. He has worked in the animation industry since as a designer, animator, director, and studio owner. After working in Vancouver for many years, Todd moved back to Kelowna in 2014 where he started up Yeti Farm animation studio with his wife Ashley. Here he has worked on shows such as Hotel Transylvania, Pete the Cat and even games for EA Sports.
Going back to his Fine Arts roots, Todd still enjoys painting on large canvases. It’s a very meditative experience that allows him to escape the digital confines and rules of animation. A lot of his work has been influenced by the cartoons he makes and shows that he’s worked on throughout his career. Outside of commercial animation, Todd continues to create short animations as another creative outlet. When not animating or painting, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He loves being out in the woods, mountain biking, coaching his daughters Fastball team and coaching ski racing with the Big White Ski Club.
Kethra Stewart & Corinne Derickson - Cello/indigenous drum & vocals
Kethra Stewart is a Cree cellist from Saddle Lake Cree Nation on Treaty 6 territory. Kethra lived in Edmonton Alberta until she moved to the Okanagan in 2019 with her daughter. Kethra is an accomplished musician and played with an orchestra, duets at weddings, solos for galas, and fundraising. She is thrilled to be playing alongside Sylix member, Corinne Derricksen and sharing traditional Okanagan songs with the community.
In Kethra's spare time, she participates in fundraising for kids with cancer and has just completed her second sprint triathlon this summer in Penticton.
Kethra is currently studying her master's degree in health studies, through Athabasca University.
Corinne Derickson
Corinne is from Westbank First Nation of the Syilx Irish and Hawaiian descent and learned to play and sing the drum from her Mother who was the first to perform in Kelowna back in the mid-70s.
These two gifted Indigenous artists have performed as a duo for both public and private events in Kelowna throughout the year. They are honoured to be a part of this community festival.
Tickets $22.00 (16 and under free)
All proceeds will benefit the ongoing work of Metro Community in their work among those experiencing homelessness and relational poverty.