Sam Singer & The Beautiful Movers

With a distinctive croon and backed by a razor-sharp band, Sam Singer blends elements of classic folk and new indie, delivered with the romanticism of an old-timey lounge singer. Performing in Winnipeg and across Canada since he was a teenager, Singer’s been praised in music publications such as Exclaim! writing, “Twisting languid folk-rock and bluesy alt-country into a distinct braid of sound all his own, Winnipeg’s Sam Singer makes music that floats free of time.” With now four Canadian tours under his belt, and Canada wide festival plays (Winterruption YEG, Real Love Summer Fest), Sam Singer is cementing himself alongside fellow Canadian independent folk artists as a staple. From winning the illustrious Schmolaris prize for 2024’s Where the Rivers Do to performing to a sold out hometown album release show at the West End Cultural Centre, 2024 was a fruitful year for the singer. Sam Singer has performed and collaborated with an array of acclaimed musicians and filmmakers. Such as, Micah Erenberg (The Secret Beach), Julianna Rioliono, Milos Mitrovic, ABRACADABRA (Mac Demarco’s band), Living Hour, Slow Leaves, Matt Foster, Dom Adams, to name a few. Currently Sam Singer has received funding from Winnipeg Arts Council and Manitoba Film & Music for his upcoming release.

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On The Language of Fishermen , punk-rocker / folk storyteller Evan Redsky embodies and relays an array of Indigenous stories and perspectives in order to better understand his own. This steady-footed and thoughtful record sees Redsky reclaiming the music of his childhood—the country heroes playing on his grandma’s car radio, like Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Blue Rodeo—to tell vulnerable stories of longing and resilience. Growing up in the First Nations Reserve of Mississaugi First Nation in Blind River, Ontario, Redksy was often compelled to hitchhike to Toronto to immerse himself in the city’s burgeoning punk and hardcore music scene. Redsky recalls sleeping under bridges and on construction sites, dedicated to making music happen. At 19 years old, Redsky started performing with punk outfit Single Mothers, going on to perform with the Juno-nominated group everywhere from local clubs to Primavera Sound to the Pitchfork Music Festival. However, as the group saw increasing success, Redsky felt more and more empowered to explore other musical paths and tell his own stories. These days, it’s tough to keep up with all of Redsky’s eclectic projects. He’s a member of “Turtle Island Hardcore” band Indian Giver; he performs with folk-rock duo Altameda and singer-songwriter Wyatt C. Lewis; he plays bass with groups like country ensemble Nicolette and the Nobodies. A stalwart of the Toronto scene, Redsky’s commitment to collaboration is evident in his impressive musicianship and impassioned songwriting, as he showcased on his debut solo album, 2022’s Oblivion . Seeking inspiration for this new record, Redsky happened upon the works of celebrated Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese. Many of the songs on The Language of Fishermen were inspired by Wagamese’s stories, especially those from his autobiographical book One Native Life. Redsky, like Wagamese, is Anishinabek, and the two share the experience of growing up in the bush, on reserve, and navigating between cultural worlds. Between honouring Wagamese’s words and sharing his own reflections, Redsky’s The Language of Fishermen contains a lifetime of feeling—including honouring the often overlooked positive moments of simplicity and fulfillment.

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Ian James Bain has always been hard to pin down.. The son of an air force man, Ian called many places across Canada 'home' for a couple of years before packing up and moving down the road. Maybe that's why he was so drawn to music. Something constant, something to come back to. When he was a teenager living in a small rural Ontario town he found a bunch of like-minded kids putting on DIY shows in church basements and legion halls – the rest just happened naturally. After many years working as a sideman in a range of genres Ian had come to feel most at home with the music that reflected his rural and nomadic upbringing – country. A student of classic country greats like Willie, Waylon, Jones and Merle, Bain's songs allow the essence of country music to filter through a lifetime of musical experience and reference, distilling into a complex creation that is as deeply steeped in tradition and nostalgia as it is unapologetically modern.

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