Performers

XL The Band is the Western Canadian Music Award nominated hip hop/ jazz/ alternative fusion side project of 4-time JUNO Award winning Vancouver group Swollen Members. The members of XL have decades of live experience rocking audiences of tens of thousands on festival main stages, playing in orchestras, and winding up jazz clubs.

XL is composed of Prevail and Rob The Viking from Swollen Members, Liesa Norman, a former Vancouver Symphony Orchestra flautist and singer who holds a doctorate in music performance and composition, and Neph from WCMA nominated rap group Alpha Omega.

Balaklava Blues is the brainchild of Mark and Marichka Marczyk, creators of the multi-award winning guerrilla-folk-opera Counting Sheep and leaders of the mighty Lemon Bucket Orkestra – Canada’s notorious 12 piece balkan-party-punk-massive. Falling somewhere between a traditional song cycle and a full blown multimedia techno show, the duo fuses Ukrainian polyphony and other folk traditions  with EDM, trap, dub step, and more as a launching pad to explore the  seemingly never-ending blues that have long emanated from the Ukrainian steppe.

Vancouver Okinawa Taiko has been performing in numerous festivals, charity functions and anniversary events for just about two decades. The group's aim is to promote and preserve Okinawan-style drum-dancing Eisa, and to share Okinawan cultural heritage. The membership consists of mixed generations to reflect the presentation of grassroots folk art. We hope to deliver the Okinawan spirit through the beat of our drums and the harmonies of our dance. 

A contributing soul to Vancouver music culture for nearly a decade, Filipino/Canadian artist Kardias Quing offers a message of love and sovereignty to her community. Through her collaborations with producer and long time friend Withinroots, they have cultivated and continue to create a repertoire that uplifts, and empowers. Influenced by Indie, R&B and Alternative Pop, her creative efforts cut through the woes of modern distraction, and bring us all back to our infinite possibility.