Performers

Matt Cook-Contois is a First Nations fiddle player from Northern Manitoba. He has been playing the fiddle most of his life and has performed at festivals, camps, and competitions across the country.

Shawn Bullshields was born and raised in Southern Alberta, a member of the Blackfoot Nation. In 2010, he began pursuing music professionally in Vancouver. Since 2015 Shawn has been performing full time on Granville Island; he is a singer/guitarist and has a natural charisma and professional delivery that combines a repertoire of songs from the genres of pop, blues, country and folk: The point where they intersect is through his masterful singing voice. He commands instant attention because his voicconveys the truth, beauty and deep meaning within each song, expressed with the full weight of his personal life experiences.  

Our musical spice is exotic and inspiring. We have been together since 2013 and we keep growing, with 25 official members. We consider ourselves a family, a community united in our love for sharing Afrobeat music, African culture and celebrating the vast and diverse human landscape of Canada and Africa. We are multicultural, multiethnic and everyone is welcome. Our purpose for the band and organization is to come together in community, share African culture and spread joy. No doubt our events and shows will get you dancing, connecting and feeling the love! 

Muévete is a marimba ensemble that loves to get people on their feet and moving. The group is composed of ten people, ranging from ages 15-25. The band has been playing together for seven years. In those years, they have played at festivals and concerts around the province. This year the group has been working hard on writing original songs that they can't wait for you to hear. 

Sound Cinema is a pair of brothers who are proud Huron Wendat nation members based in Vancouver. Sound Cinema was raised on the records of rock bands like Tears for Fears, U2, The Killers, The Kings of Leon and Oasis which they blend with their more contemporary influences in the pop-rock & EDM genres like Dayglow and The 1975. Their latest releases 'Planes' and 'Shock Me (Like You Mean It) have been featured on a number of Spotify playlists and will be followed up by their next release in July of 2023.

Rangla Punjab Arts Academy was founded in 2016 by renowned Punjabi folk singer Sarbjit Cheema. Their vision is to provide the upcoming generations with a platform in which they can connect to their cultural roots, and their mother language Punjabi.

Rangla Punjab Arts Academy provides everyone with a fun, safe, and friendly environment in which everyone can express themselves through the various arts taught. Rangla Punjab Arts Academy has always stood by teaching its members values and ethics. Rangla Punjab Arts Academy holds various teams, which can showcase the powerful and graceful dance of Punjab, Bhangra!

Argel Monte de Ramos also known as Argel MDR is a Filipino-Canadian singer/songwriter from Surrey, Canada. He was one of the Top 10 finalists of CBC's Toyota Searchlight 2021 and the Music Category winner of Surrey Board of Trade's 2022 Surrey Art and Business Awards. When he was 15 years old, he moved to Canada from the Philippines with his family to seek a better life and opportunities. With Sam Smith, One Republic, and Original Pinoy Music (OPM) as his music influences, Argel wants to use the power of storytelling to inspire Filipino youth and other immigrants through his music and theatrical performances. In addition, he is an advocate of representation, anti-racism work, and inclusion. Argel's most recent single, 'Sail Away' was featured in Spotify editorial playlists, including Fresh Finds Philippines. Argel recently received a Pop Artist of the Year Nomination and an Excellence Award by a BIPOC artist from Fraser Valley Music Awards 2021 by CIVL radio 101.7 FM. 

Karishma Deo is a Canadian-born singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada. She studied songwriting and composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and has trained in Indian classical music, western vocals and music theory since she was 10 years old. She has performed at the 2018 Juno awards and concerts for many Bollywood singers in Canada and America. Karishma has released original songs in English and Hindi languages named "Sansani” and "Jhumo to the Rhythm”!

Brother and sister rocking modern music on an ancient instrument.  Aiwen (11 years old) plays the guzheng, a 21-stringed traditional Chinese zither. Her brother Micah (7 years old) plays the drums.  They have been playing music together for as long as they can remember, combining classic Chinese songs with modern Western tunes and original compositions.

Amal and Malak are a mother and daughter duo from Lebanon they will performing Arabic folklore music. Along with Yaqoub Hawari who will be playing the Nay which is flute like instrument that is usually used for Palestinian Folklore music. 

Carla & Javi are loved for approaching dance with emphasis on connection and technique, fused with humour and theatrical exercises. Alongside a deep understanding of body conditioning and anatomy, they make dance accessible to students of all ages and abilities. Carla and Javi have trained extensively in Brazil to further develop their teaching methodology and to share a true cultural dance experience with their students.  Welcome to Brazilian Zouk!  

Cookin' With Brass is a high octane band that supercharges Top 40 Pop songs with their universal party groove. This Funky Brass Band will turn any event into a family friendly New Orleans street party. Cookin' With Brass has a repertoire that spans from early Motown songs like I Want You Back by The Jackson 5 to Flowers by Miley Cyrus and other Top 40 hits plus New Orleans Brass Band favourites.  

Known for their heart pounding energy, this adrenaline-charged band features an innovative blend of traditional New Orleans brass sounds, R&B, Blues, Funk, Jazz, Hip-Hop beats, Rock and Pop. Their genre-bending performances unleash brassy Funk and Street Beat rhythms that move people.

Celestial, sincere, youthful, and banging. Vancouver-raised singer-songwriter/producer and multi-in- strumentalist Haleluya Hailu has become a local musical staple.Hailu has managed to turn the stress and angst of growing up and not recognizing yourself into music that anyone could see themselves in.

Isaac Gasangwa, aka Izo Dreamchaser, is an educator, creator and ambassador of African cultures in Vancouver. He is the founder of Afro-Beats Van, an organization that offers dance classes and performances to initiate, educate and inspire Vancouverites to connect with African culture and history, as well as than to tackle the social problems of racism and police brutality.

Cultural dance group.

Leigh Kathryn is a 17 year old Filipina musician whose main purpose with her music is to evoke emotion out of others with it. Whether it be happiness, sadness, or a moment of grief, Leigh seeks to touch the souls of people who listen to her.