Performer Bios

John Wort Hannam – PAST EVENT

Born in the UK and raised in Alberta, John Wort Hannam earned a degree in Native American Studies and taught on reserve for five years. Things changed one spring morning ...

Willie Stratton – PAST EVENT

Willie Stratton’s show is made up of stories, singin’, and hot guitar pickin’.  In his art, Willie works to preserve and to promote the rich, and nearly forgotten, country music ...

Vishtèn – PAST EVENT

For over a decade, the Acadian trio, Vishtèn, has dazzled audiences with its fiery blend of traditional French songs and original instrumentals that fuse Celtic and Acadian genres with indie-folk ...

Union Duke – PAST EVENT

Union Duke is a Toronto quintet with a sound that is a mixture of folk, rock, country, and bluegrass.  Blending these sounds perfectly, the group belts out soaring harmonies with ...

The Once – PAST EVENT

Newfoundland’s indie-folk trio, The Once, has collected a trio of Canadian Folk Music Awards, numerous ECMA awards, and the title of Artist of the Year from the Newfoundland and Labrador ...

The Barrowdowns – PAST EVENT

Diverse instrumentation and soaring, five-part vocal harmonies characterize the distinct, alternative folk sound of the Halifax-based band, The Barrowdowns.  Born in a cold, dark Albertan winter in 2014, the band ...

Suzie Vinnick – PAST EVENT

Suzie Vinnick is a ten-time Maple Blues Award winner, a three-time Juno nominee, the winner of the 2012 CBC Saturday Night Blues Great Canadian Blues Award, and a finalist in ...

Sussex

Sussex is the brainchild of Michael Emenau and Rob Lutes, two renowned musicians with diverse backgrounds. Michael is a world-class jazz percussionist and composer while Rob is masterful fingerstyle guitarist ...

Shannon Quinn – PAST EVENT

Hailing from Halifax, NS, Shannon Quinn has been playing music professionally for over 16 years.  In that time, she has performed with Symphony Nova Scotia, with her father, Tony, and ...

Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar – PAST EVENT

Upon hearing the first few notes, audience members are struck by the sheer magnitude of Samantha Martin’s other-worldly voice.  Cigarette-ravaged and whiskey-soaked, her vocals can bring listeners to tears in ...

Rosie and the Riveters – PAST EVENT

Rosie & the Riveters are three fiercely talented and sassy dames from Saskatoon, SK, who perform upbeat folk music with a vintage 1940s flair.  Their original songs feature sophisticated harmonies, ...

Rev. Robert B. Jones – PAST EVENT

The Reverend Robert B. Jones, Sr. is a pastor, storyteller, teacher, and activist.  He is also a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, mandolin, harmonica, cane fife, and fiddle.  An award-winning ...

Red Moon Road

Red Moon Road is a Winnipeg-based trio consisting of Sheena Rattai (vocals, percussion), Daniel Jordan (vocals, guitar, bass, drums), and Daniel Péloquin-Hopfner (vocals, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, keys, and synthesizers). ...

Lennie Gallant

A native of Rustico, PEI, Lennie Gallant has released fourteen albums (11 in English and three in French), has performed with symphonies and for troops in Afghanistan, has participated in ...

Kim Dunn – PAST EVENT

Born and raised in North Sydney, Cape Breton, and now based in the Halifax region, Kim Dunn has been working on a successful music career for 30 years now, with ...

Hillsburn – PAST EVENT

2016 was a big year for the musical quintet, Hillsburn.  The group released its critically-acclaimed, full-length album, In the Battle Years, won a Canadian Folk Music Award for New/Emerging Artist ...

Heather Rankin – PAST EVENT

After over twenty-five years of performing with her siblings, Heather Rankin comes into her own with A Fine Line (2016), her debut solo record. This is Heather Rankin like you ...

David Francey

David Francey is a Scottish-born Canadian carpenter-turned-songwriter, who has become known as “one of Canada’s most revered folk poets and singers” (Toronto Star). Born in Ayrshire, Scotland to parents who ...

Dar Williams – PAST EVENT

Dar Williams is considered one of America’s best singer-songwriters.  Born and raised in small towns in New York, she started playing guitar and writing songs at an early age; it ...

Chelsea Amber – PAST EVENT

Halifax-based singer-songwriter Chelsea Amber brings soul to the stage with passionate vocals, uplifting lyrics, and grooving guitars.  As a songwriter, her goal is to bring hope and a sense of ...

Cassie and Maggie – PAST EVENT

Sisters Cassie and Maggie MacDonald grew up in Antigonish, NS, but now call Halifax home.  Their Celtic background influences their music, but they add an edge all their own.  Cassie ...

Ashley MacIsaac – PAST EVENT

Ashley MacIsaac first played Folk Harbour in 1992 as a 17-year-old and made his return appearance 20 years later at our 27th annual Festival.  Fans of his unconventional, hard-driving fiddle ...

Amelia Curran – PAST EVENT

Amelia Curran is a Juno-Award winning songwriter, activist, and mental health advocate from St. John’s, NL.  Her music is distinguished by her intricate and evocative lyrics – no wonder she ...

Alan Jeffries Bluegrass Band – PAST EVENT

Alan Jeffries is no stranger to the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, having accompanied David Myles over the years; Alan also headlined his own band in 2014. This year Alan returns with ...

Female Acts

Amelia Curran
Chelsea Amber
Dar Williams
Heather Rankin
Shannon Quinn
Suzie Vinnick

 

Male Acts

Ashley MacIsaac
David Myles
John Wort Hannam
Kim Dunn
Lennie Gallant
Rev. Robert B. Jones Sr.
Willie Stratton

 

Groups and Duos

Alan Jeffries Bluegrass Band
Cassie and Maggie
Hillsburn
Red Moon Road
Rosie and the Riveters
Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar
Sussex
The Barrowdowns
The Once
Union Duke
Vishten

 

Extra Sessions/Workshop/Sets Participants

Eilidh & Paul Buchannan
Jeff Davis
Leslee Barry
Rebecca Jordan

Folk Steps Conference

Alan Syliboy
Bill Plaskett
Shelley Posen

 

Ken Matheson Performers

Caribou Run
Erica Kulnys
Hodge Podge
Jamie Junger
Mady Frelick
Razzmatazz
The Dory Bungholes
The Yarmouth Shantymen

 

Tall Ships Stage

Cassie and Maggie
Clary Croft
Hillsburn
Hodge Podge
Jacque Surette
Jamie Junger
Joe Murphy
Kim Dunn
Mady Frellick
Mahone Bay Swing Band
On Tap Dance
Razzmatazz
The Dory Bungholes
The Maritime Marionettes
The Yarmouth Shantymen
Willie Stratton