2026 Line-Up Announced!!
- The Crisp
- Aug 1
- 11 min read
We are so excited to share this year's artists...
JOEL PLASKETT FRIDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 2ND - TICKETS HERE
For over three decades, Joel Plaskett has proven himself a spinning wheel of reinvention. The Nova Scotia songwriter's eclectic body of work reveals a restless and playful spirit, always transforming and expanding.
While continuing to celebrate -- and be celebrated for -- his regional ties and embrace of East Coast musical traditions, Joel’s omnivorous appetite for new sonic horizons is an integral part of his work. His discography includes heavy riff epics, like Thrush Hermit's now-classic swansong Clayton Park (1999); low-fi and wide eyed solo records like In Need of Medical Attention (1999) and La De Da (2005); lean, loose and lyrical rock and roll with the Emergency on Down at the Khyber (2001) and Truthfully, Truthfully (2003); and a father-and-son nod to English folk traditions with Solidarity (2017). Then there are the endeavours that push the envelope further: the Emergency’s romantic epic concept album Ashtray Rock (2007); the months-long songwriting challenge Scrappy Happiness (2012); and Three (2009) and 44 (2020), Joel’s sprawling, multi-record ventures exploring love, loss, and existential investigation. For his latest release, the 4-track project One Real Reveal (2024), Plaskett strips his songwriting down to its raw materials, allowing everything in—all the human touches the tape could pick up—and letting (almost) everything out.
Coast-to-coast and the world round, Joel has rocked crowds at clubs, festivals and grand old theatres with longtime Emergency bandmates Dave Marsh and Chris Pennell as well as drawn audiences close with intimate acoustic shows, both solo and with his father, Bill. Then there are the special events that have really allowed Joel to reach the rafters, like headlining Toronto’s Massey Hall with everyone in tow, playing the NAC in Ottawa backed by the national orchestra, and warming up huge stages for artists like The Tragically Hip and Paul McCartney. Joel and the Emergency have also been roundly celebrated within the music industry for their work, racking up awards and nominations from the JUNOs, the Polaris Music Prize, the East Coast Music Awards,Music Nova Scotia, and numerous others.
While Joel’s songs are beloved far beyond the community that helped forge his sound, his creative heart is still found at home in Nova Scotia. At 45 Portland Street in Dartmouth there’s Fang Recording, the studio where he’s made many of his albums and produced records for other great artists like Mo Kenney, Steve Poltz, Shotgun Jimmie and Jimmy Rankin.
And through the door to the front of the building lies Taz Records, Morley's Coffee and Friction Books. Since 2023, Joel has used the space to present Window Inn Wednesdays, a monthly, no-phones-allowed variety show that pushes back—like most of his projects—against the speed and din of modern life, making space for real engagement between art, artist, and audience. 2025 saw the release of ‘Songs From The Gang – A Celebration of Joel Plaskett’ – a deluxe covers album featuring the music of Joel Plaskett performed by Arkells, Sloan, Jill Barber, The Sheepdogs, Julian Taylor, Jenn Grant, Bahamas, City and Colour, Rose Cousins, Frank Turner, and many more.
LEEROY STAGGER FRIDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 2ND - TICKETS HERE
Leeroy Stagger is a beloved, award-winning Canadian Singer-Songwriter, Producer and Master Storyteller. Stylistically his music moves between Folk, Roots and Rocknroll. He is Inspired as much by John Prine and Nick Drake as he is Tom Petty and Joe Strummer.
For the past twenty years, he has been touring North America and Europe, making records and gaining a strong and, more importantly, dedicated following. His music is written through the lens of a spiritual path through addiction and recovery; he cuts a trail through the human condition in only a way that a veteran observational traveller and artist can. Leeroy was signed to the infamous Canadian Label True North Records (Bruce Cockburn, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings) as well as industry mogul Danny Goldberg’s (Nirvana, Steve Earle, The Cranberries) Gold Lake Records.
He has supported and toured with Steve Earle, Josh Ritter, Buffy Sainte Marie, Frazey Ford, The Pixies, Modest Mouse, The Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell, and more. He is just as at-home in a cafe with an audience of 50 as he is on a festival stage with an audience of 10,000. These days Leeroy is raising kids and producing records in his studio, Neighbourhood Recorders. He is also the host of the weekly Dirty Windshields Radio hour on world famous CKUA radio.
REUBEN AND THE DARK SATURDAY NIGHT OCTOBER 3RD - TICKETS HERE
Reuben Bullock is a multifaceted artist, renowned for his role as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the acclaimed indie-folk band, Reuben and the Dark. The career of Reuben, a Calgary-born, currently Victoria-based singer-songwriter, skateboarder, carpenter, and preacher's son is marked by a series of milestones that underscore his profound impact on the Canadian music landscape over the last 10 years.
Reuben and the Dark have graced stages across the globe, captivating audiences with their raw energy and emotive storytelling. From hundreds of intimate club venues to prestigious music festivals, the band’s dynamic stage presence and charisma have left an indelible impression on all who witness their performances. Notable appearances include supporting Vance Joy, Mumford and Sons, Boy & Bear and The Paper Kites, festival performances as Osheaga and Austin City Limits and performing original music with Ulysses’s the Odyssey Greek Theatre of Siracusa Sicily to name a few.
Reuben and the Dark's music has also found widespread acclaim in the realm of film and television. Their haunting melodies have been featured in numerous film trailers,
television series, and commercials including but certainly not limited to The Highwaymen, El Camino, Celebrity Cruises, and Grey's Anatomy, earning praise for its ability to enhance and elevate cinematic storytelling. RATD’s collaboration with Bullhorn Singers - a Blackfoot Powwow singing group from Kainai - has become an unintentional
success story. Their recent placement in Martin Scorsese’s trailer for 2024 Best Picture Oscar Nominee, Flowers of the Killer Moon, put this collaboration project on
the world map ahead of planned activities throughout 2024/2025.
Across the last 4 full length record release campaigns with Arts and Crafts, Reuben and the Dark have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including nominations for the JUNO Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
FIONA BEVAN AND ADAM BEATTIE SUNDAY - OCTOBER 4TH - TICKETS HERE
Fiona Bevan is a multi-platinum Canadian-British singer-songwriter from Suffolk, with a delicate, passionate voice and a cinematic dream-folk sound, described by Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA as ‘daring and exciting’, and creating ‘startling odysseys that suggest Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush spine-tinglingly joined’ (The Guardian). Fiona has been teasing out singles from her self-produced EP, Girl With Telescope, including her dazzling exploration of post-heartbreak ecstasy ‘Faultlines’, and her acapella clarion call of female freedom and pleasure, ‘Peaches’. She is about to start releasing more self produced singles from her forthcoming EP ‘First Woman On The Moon’. Fiona has toured Canada, Australia and Europe, and is also a hit songwriter for Billie Marten, Aurora, Lewis Capaldi, Tom Walker, Kylie, Ed Sheeran, and has been working with ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus to raise awareness and help songwriters in the music industry. She is published by Concord Music. fionabevan.co.uk
Adam Beattie is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist who has just released his fifth solo album to critical acclaim. Beattie is a “master of powerful narratives” (★★★★★ RnR Magazine), writing original contemporary Scottish folk songs while also drawing rich influences from other roots genres. Adam uses beautiful, intricate, finger-picked guitar and a distinctive voice steeped in smoke and honey to create ‘uplifting reveries of love’ (MOJO Magazine). The press described Beattie’s latest album, Somewhere Round The Bend, as ‘Stirring Folk Balladry’ (Line Of Best Fit) with Loud And Quiet Magazine writing ‘the album is mesmeric’. Adam is about to start releasing singles from his forthcoming album ‘Home Fires Burning’. Adam is also a member of trad folk 12-piece supergroup Band Of Burns as well as hipster alt-folk band PicaPica on Rough Trade Records. As a multi-instrumentalist he has collaborated with Birdy, Lulu, Michael Chapman, Mikey Kenney and many others. Adam is published by Karousel / Wixen Publishing. Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist; Incredibly Beautiful Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC RADIO 6 MUSIC; Carefully crafted, gently affecting songwriting; - Roddy Hart, BBC RADIO SCOTLAND Website: www.adambeattie.com
LUKE WALLACE SUNDAY - OCTOBER 4TH - TICKETS HERE
Luke Wallace is a dynamic force in the world of folk music, using his talent as a songwriter, speaker, and choral arranger to champion environmental causes and inspire positive change.
Hailing from the Coast Salish Territory known as Vancouver, Canada, Luke has been on a decade-long journey of touring, recording, and organizing for the betterment of people and the planet. In 2023, Luke took the global stage as a feature performer at the
United Nations Water Conference, the first of its kind in a generation. With hundreds of concerts across North America under his belt, Luke has become a sought-after voice in the fight against climate change, spreading a message of hope and action
through his music. Luke's unique brand of politically charged folk has earned him a
loyal following and a reputation as a modern-day Pete Seeger. From festivals to rallies to venues, Luke's music is a rallying cry for a movement of people rising up to meet the social and environmental challenges of our time. With his latest album, The Dandelion Resistance," Luke continues to push the boundaries of folk music and prove that art can be a powerful tool for change. Website: www.lukewallacemusic.com
Q BROOKE BACHAND AND CHARLIE GANNON SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 3RD Plus Saturday afternoon dance
Q is a two-time Irish Music Award-winning nonbinary folk and Celtic artist, born and raised on the Esquimalt / Songhees and Lekwungen-speaking territories, where they are now once again rooted after years of study and performance abroad in Amsterdam
and Limerick. Of mixed ancestry, including Scottish and Irish heritage, Q brings a deep, ancestral pulse to their music and art. Formerly known as Qristina Brooke Bachand, Q is a dynamic and charismatic performer known for their powerful fiddle playing, emotive
vocals, and raw, engaging stage presence. Once a teen fiddle prodigy, they have since evolved into a bold, butch troubadour of rebel ballads, resistance songs, and foot-stomping traditional tunes. Their performances move between riotous energy and poignant stillness—capable of drawing tears or sparking collective joy.
Q’s journey has been one of transformation—embracing their nonbinary identity, mental health challenges, and life purpose through the healing and expressive power of music and abstract visual art. Their influences range from Phil Ochs and Dick Gaughan to the rich oral traditions of Celtic song and story-sharing. Whether singing a cappella protest ballads or launching into a whirlwind of fiddle fire, Q’s performances are both
soulful and subversive. With formal training in classical violin and an MA in Traditional Irish Music Performance (first-class honours, University of Limerick), Q’s fiddle playing is known for its rich tone, expressive nuance, and sheer passion. They’ve received numerous scholarships and accolades, including full scholarships to study Irish fiddle at Ceili Camp (Harrison Hot Springs) and Cape Breton fiddle at the Gaelic College (Nova
Scotia). They also hold an MSc in Infectious Diseases & Public Health from VU Amsterdam, where they conducted field research in Kasese District, Uganda—evidence of their curiosity, compassion, and commitment to a more just world. Q is the current president of the Victoria Fiddle Society and a sought-after fiddle teacher and mentor, having taught at festivals, schools, and camps across Canada, the US, and Europe. Highlights include the Leahy Music Camp (Ontario), Goderich Celtic Roots College, Fiddler’s Farm (Netherlands), and workshops with undergrad and graduate students at
the University of Limerick.
A proud mad artist living with schizoaffective disorder, Q finds inspiration and meaning through their experiences with mental illness, addiction, and recovery. Their music and art are vital tools of resilience—illuminating the struggle and joy of being alive in a body
and world that often defies easy understanding. Joined by accomplished guitarist Charlie Gannon, the duo delivers a captivating mix of Celtic, folk, and roots music, combining masterful instrumental playing with expressive vocals and engaging storytelling. Their performances move seamlessly from driving traditional tunes to
poignant ballads and contemporary folk songs, creating an experience that is both powerful and deeply authentic. Whether performing in concert halls, folk clubs, festivals, or community venues, Q and Charlie bring exceptional musicianship, warmth, and a genuine connection to audiences wherever they perform. Charlie Gannon is recognized as one of the best young guitarists in Victoria, playing a wide range of styles from Celtic to Rock. His playing is highly technical yet sensitive, with inventive harmonies and
chord voicings he has learned from many years of playing jazz. He brings new life to the simplest of songs and performs even the most difficult with ease. Charlie was born in Victoria, BC, and grew up listening to his large extended family play music together. He began his musical journey by taking classical piano lessons at age five, but then switched over to the guitar at age ten. Soon after, he and his friends formed a garage band, Electric Winter, which played many gigs around town. Charlie’s high school, St. Michaels, gave him plenty of opportunity to play music in the Jazz Band, Swing Band, Vocal Jazz Band, Concert Band, and Pit Orchestra. In 2013, he received a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music five-week program, where his Juno award winning
uncle, Oliver Gannon [ LIVES PART TIME ON PENDER! ], graduated from in 1969. Charlie has also attended the Tommy Emmanuel guitar camp in both New York and New Orleans, where he got to study finger style acoustic guitar with Tommy and perform for
him on stage. Currently, Charlie is the guitar player for the popular fiddle group in Victoria, Coastline. In 2015, they represented Canada at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and toured all over Scotland, even playing on the historic Culloden battle grounds.
TAEVAN AND ISABEL LOTAPECKI, BENEDICT AND LIZ BEATTIE FRIDAY NIGHT OPENERS
Taeven and Isobel Lopatecki are sisters who grew up on S,DÁYES (Pender Island). Taeven is a fiddle player, vocalist, and multi instrumentalist, whose music is inspired by various traditions of folk and storytelling. Isobel is a guitarist and bass player whose focus is on contemplative and exploratory music, from ambient to metal. They are
both completing diplomas in Music Performance at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and Camosun Collage. When playing together, they weave intention, emotion, and poetry into music that speaks of their strong connection to nature and their striving for a better world.
Based on Pender Island, Liz Beattie is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose work blends ethereal melodies with heartfelt, socially conscious songwriting. After spending the early 2000s playing bass with the band Machina, she released a solo album that led to a nomination for Female Songwriter of the Year at the 2009 Vancouver Island Music Awards, music placement in a Kirstie Alley Hallmark film, two cross-Canada tours, and performances at festivals including Rifflandia and Coldsnap. Liz has opened for artists including Dan Mangan, Great Lake Swimmers, Cara Luft, and Martyn Joseph. In 2012, she stepped away from music to pursue a career as a clinical counsellor, spending over a decade supporting clients through anxiety, grief, and loss. Returning to songwriting and performance in recent years, she now collaborates with fellow Pender artists at community events including Mosaic Festival, International Women’s Day celebrations, Art Off the Fence, Tour Des Iles, and The Crisp. Website: Lizbeattiemusic.ca
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/liz-beattie/345243201
Benedict Beattie is a singer/songwriter from the west coast of Canada. His music is characterized as whimsical and melodious. His influences range from Liz Beattie, Michael Franks, The Diogenes Club and Slowdive. Songwriting is a spiritual process, and the muses are deeply evocative. Benedict has played many shows in Canada, two in the United States, several in England, one in France. He also travels frequently to Brazil with his beautiful wife, Thais, who sings on his songs, and writes wonderful songs of her own. Papai to two little girls he is so glad to be back living on Pender Island with his family.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 TH , A SPECIAL MUSIC INDUSTRY DAY, GULF ISLAND SUPERSTARS! HANNAH EPPERSON, MAYA COOK, PEACH AND QUIET, LAUREN MANN AND MORE!
This day’s event is FREE but registration is required: bcmfc.tickit.ca/events/36124?goto=t-de092d57c
Industry panels, songwriting, poetry workshops, lunch time concert DETAILS TO COME!!
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