Bonnie

Bonnie Casey is an exuberant young artist who delivers passion through her music. Using music as a communication tool, she relates to her audience by putting her heart and soul into each song. She draws her influence from such artists as Etta James and Bob Marley, which contributes in part to her unique style. Bonnie has been performing for a number of years; gracing local stages such as: The Boathouse, The Flying Dog, and Wally's tavern. Her most recent performance was at the 2009 Miss World Canada competition where she was a national finalist. This artistic sensation has recently set her debut album in motion.

Watch Bonnie's single

Read Bonnie's latest news

CAZU "Candela & Azucar" (Candle & Sugar) Latin Ensemble.
This dynamic group of individuals was formed in September 2009.  CAZU uses influences from all genres of music; Classical, Rock, Brass bands, Jazz, Latin bands and Andine music to name a few. Collectively, they bring to the stage over 50 years of musical performance experience and as an ensemble create a mixture of music and cultures that is a constant reminder of the international language of music, using their individual styles to create a unique sound.  Come and enjoy a musical journey through Latin American with rhythm such as Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, Salsa, bolero and Guajira.

Website:
www.myspace.com/candelayazucar
www.lifeonmusic.ca

Colour Quest

Colour Quest has just released its first EP on August 18, 2007 called “Party Up” which can be purchased online at iTunes and many other online music stores. “Party Up” has something for every one and, is a great addition to any music collection. The band has added two new members to its fold and is poise to explode on to the Canadian and international music scene. On November 24, 07 at The Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario “Colour Quest”  opened for the number (1) one reggae artist in the world “Richie Spice.” This is something most bands dream of but for the group it was a reality. In March 07 the band was ask by the OPP to write and record a song for a DVD on bike safety. They came up with a spicy reggae jam called Safe When Yu Ride. The song is offered as a bonus track on their EP.

You can describe the band's music as an infectious blend of Soca, Reggae and R&B music. Colour Quest prides itself on putting on a great performance each time out. They will certainly leave you wanting more. To enter the world of "Colour Quest" is to take a journey through love, joy and peace through music. Come experience the journey.

Visit their website
Click to LISTEN to their new Single
Push Back is the first single off there yet to be titled first album, due out later this year.

The band is also gearing up to release a reggae track produced by Kemar 'Flava' McGregor, who is regarded as the number one roots reggae producers right now. After crafting big hits for artist such as Gyptian, Richie Spice, Sizzla, Beres Hammond, Etana and much more. You can see why he is regarded as the best in his field now. The song is in it's final stage. So be on the look out.

Errol Blackwood Injahband

SINGER, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN
 
In 1988, Errol started a band named Injah, playing several clubs and concerts touring across Canada and the USA.

FOCUS Magazine (Toronto) - had this to say about Errol:

The Skipah is a product of the courageous Maroons. He is a serious Rastaman. Errol's faith is the driving force in his life. It characterizes his being. With his sporting majestic dreadlocks, he pens plays and sings out his hunger for Justice and Equal Rights. He is certainly one of the hardest working entertainers in Canada today.

The Kitchener Record Newspaper (SHOWCASE) - had this to say:

Errol has a voice full of richness and is a masterful bass player. Errol sings of struggle, love and life, all with the same positive feeling. Not only does he write excellent songs, but he has also masterminded video renditions of his material. A performance by Errol and his band Injah transcends mere playing, taking you on an appealing versatile and spiritual trip through the heartbeat of reggae.

Visit Errol's site to read full bio

Lainey

Lainey is primarily a jazz singer who also enjoys performing broadway show tunes. She has been influenced by entertainers such as Lena Horne, Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday.   In 2008 she created her first CD “Cry Me A River.”

Listen to samples from "Cry Me A River"

Lorraine Harris

Lorraine Harris has been singing from a young age. In 1996, Lift Jesus Higher CD, featured two songs written and performed by Lorraine, soon followed by her self titled CD, Knock which aired on radio stations across Ontario such as CHRI 99.1 Otttawa, FM102 Timmons, AM 96 Cambridge, 91.7FM etc.

Knock features a variety of styles of music and at times combines elements or rock, dance, rap, classical and traditional gospel. There is something for everyone to enjoy on this CD.

Lorraine has performed locally and internationally and her album was presented for a Juno nomination. She was nominated  for songwriter and song of the year in 2003 at the Maja Award. She has been featured in local newspaper articles such as The Cambridge Reporter and The KW-Record and has performed live on television shows such as Breakfast Television and CKCO-The Beat. Lorraine credits her love for God as her driving inspiration.

Njacko Backo
A Biography for "The King of African Kalimba”
“Respect and work will heal the future.” – Njacko Backo

Entertainer, musician, composer, dancer, choreographer, author and educator NjackoBacko shares his uplifting music, energizing dance, and hope-filled stories with audiences of all ages and all walks of life. Njacko was born in Cameroon in 1958 and raised in the hills in a small village called Bazou, which means "The Walkers." Musically and spiritually Njacko draws on the lessons he learned in Africa from his musical family, mentors and village life.  The elders of the village taught him to play music starting with the hand drum (toumkak), kalimba (thumb piano), and African harp (zaa koua and ngoni).

Njacko has worked with several well-respected artists including Jane Bunnett, Yaya Diallo, and Ken Whiteley, and has been a guest artist on more than 15 albums. He has appeared at major festivals including the Hillside Festival (Guelph, ON), Sunfest (London, ON), the Montréal Jazz Festival (Montréal, QC), the Louisiana Folk Festival (Lafayette, LA) and the Houston International Jazz Festival. In addition, he has worked on music for films including To Walk with Lions, Born Free, Spirit in the Tree and a documentary on Jane Goodall.

To date, Njacko has independently released nine full length albums, three drumming instruction CDs, a drumming instruction DVD, and a DVD with nine music videos. The title song of Njacko’s most recent release, the DVD Mama Oh (2008), won Njacko an honourable mention in the World Music category of the 2006 International Songwriting Competition.

A versatile and energetic educator, Njacko has worked with a vast number of children, students and teachers throughout Europe and North America in classrooms, summer camps, institutions, after school programs, festivals and workshops. It is in working with young people that Njacko believes that he can truly make a difference. He says, “The more we bring arts to children and new audiences, the more we will see the colour of peace.”  Njacko has presented guest lectures at York University, University of Guelph and University of Waterloo, and teaches through many organizations including Club 2/3, Mariposa in the Schools, Haliburton School of the Arts, and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Njacko delights children and adults alike by inviting them on-stage to make music with him, and by captivating them with his talents as a storyteller and writer with a repertoire of over one hundred tales and legends.

www.NjackoBacko.com

Organic Groove

Organic Groove is an all-percussion group. They perform their own drumsongs and global rhythms on instruments from around the world to get you movin'.
Organic Groove is Gerima Harvey-Fletcher, Jason Jurchuk, Dale Young and Kat the Drumming Diva. Kat also facilitates drum circles and workshops and teaches great big group drumming classes.

Panwaves Steelband

This steelband was established in 1989 by Clyde Dookie in the little community village of Hespeler, now part of the city of Cambridge, Ontario. When it started, there were only 5 members, all of them, part of the Dookie family. Shows now consist of members from Detroit, Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo and Trinidad .

In 2002, Clyde Dookie was awarded the prestigious Bernice Adams award. The band, in keeping with the local community spirit, has won first place for music in the Cambridge Santa Clause parades in 1997, 1999 and 2000. It also won first place in the Hespeler parade in 1991 and 1994 and brought home first place in the Sarnia Kinsmen parade in 2001. But don't think for one minute that all the music is played for Santa Clause parades, every year since 1996, Panwaves has represented Cambridge in the annual Caribana parade in Toronto. Of the 34 bands that attend this event, Panwaves is the only band from outside the Toronto area that plays in the Caribana event. One of the proudest moments for the band was winning the Trinidad and Tobago Republic Day Award for developing an arts and culture centre in Canada for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. They have also played at numerous festivals and was picked to play the Canadian national anthem at the opening of the Caribana parade in 1997.

Starlite Steelband

In 1994, Wendell Claxton took an interest in Steelpan. Being from the Caribbean, it seemed a natural choice for him to bring the music of the Caribbean to his life in Canada. During this time, a friend mentioned to him that a Trinidadian Steelpan group in London Ont. taught complimentary pan lessons on Sunday mornings. The timing was perfect, and Wendell loaded up his kids, Chauntay and Andre, and headed to London for 3 months of lessons.

Sometime later, his youngest daughter, Jenneisa joined the band. The Starlite Steelband was formed in 1997. Their first album entitled “Sweet and Simple” was made in 2005.

In 2006, Wendell contacted the Victoria Hills Community Centre to offer steelpan lessons at no charge. This was a means of continuing the gesture of appreciation that he received from the Steelpan band in London . Nirala, Richard and Jordon were dedicated students at this event and decided to join Starlite Steelband in 2006.

Currently, Starlite Steelband plays all over Ontario at events ranging from private parties to City parades. Their songs include: Spanish Eyes, Tiney Winey, It's Carnival, Never on a Sunday and many more.

519-570-2433
claxtonwendell@hotmail.com

Videos:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD26_r5AyZc     The Hammer 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7-4hBmRz-Y      Footsteps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TnV9pbwe9A   It's Carnival

Talented Haze

Talented Haze is a very ambitious local  teenager who continues to be dedicated to his talent. He shows various diversities through his rapping and hip hop dancing while continuing to grow stronger as a young artist. For over 5 years now, Talented Haze has pursued his talent by performing at shows and collaborating with several dance artists.

http://www.facebook.com/talentedhaze

Titus

Titus is not your average hip hop artist. Most hip hop artists aren’t concerned with inspiring their listeners or painting a picture of hope for the future, but this seems to be where Titus shines and connects with his audience. Imagine an artist with the passion of a Tupac combined with catchy hooks and a lyrical content that comes from his own personal experiences. That would be crazy, right?! Well, that sums up Titus.

www.titushiphop.com

Waleed Abdulhamid Kush

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist and producer, Waleed Abdulhamid, has been an active member of the Toronto music scene, since his arrival in Canada in 1992. He demonstrates his versatility on guitar, bass, drums, flute, harmonica, kirin, bass kirin, darabhuka, marimba, balimbo, congas, bongos, djembe, dumbek and tama. He is known for his striking vocals, his innovative bass technique and his speed and precision on percussion.

Waleed has played, toured and recorded with the pop/rock band, The Claymen, African band, AfroNubians, world jazz artist, Mosa Neshama and reggae band, Solid Rock. Most recently Waleed has played and recorded with David Clayton Thomas from the Grammy award winning band “Blood, Sweat & Tears as well as with the Motown Legend Band “The Drifters.”  He was a founding member of award-winning African bands, Tikisa, Radio Nomad and Balimbo. He has recorded with jazz bass player Paul Novotny, most recently on a Honda promotion, and with jazz pianists David Johanns and Joe Sealy.

Waleed was born in Sudan in 1968. He began performing at the age of 6 when he appeared on a popular weekly children's television show and on a radio show in Sudan . Before leaving Sudan , he toured across his country, as well as Egypt , Syria , Kuwait and Emirate. Waleed was known for bringing traditional rhythms into popular music in Sudan . Many percussionists across the country emulated his unique percussion style. When he left Sudan at age 18, he performed, recorded and toured extensively, appearing at major music festivals in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Oslo, as well as in Finland and Iceland.

Waleed leads his award-winning African jazz band, Radio Nomad (Toronto African Music Awards, Band of the Year Award, 2000). He composed, arranged and produced all the material on Radio Nomad's first album, "Kalam Jamil," released in February 2000. He performs with Radio Nomad and as a freelance musician at venues and festivals across Canada . He has appeared at Canadian festivals such as Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, the Downtown Jazz Festivals of Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver, the Toronto Street Festival, Afrofest (Queenspark, Toronto), the CJRT Colour of Jazz Festival (Ontario Place), Rhythms of the World Festival and WOMAD (Harbourfront) of Toronto, the Vancouver Downtown Festival, the Atlantic Festival and the Hillside Festival. He has also written, composed and produced music for several TV shows (Discovery Channel, CBC, CFTO, History channel).

Waleed is also renown for his teaching abilities. He teaches a "World of Music" at Hart House - University of Toronto , Toronto District School Board where he has taught music in various high schools, Full Circle Productions and private tutorials. He has also facilitated many workshops in different music schools.

He recently directed the LET'S FIND A WAY Documentary which premiers on June 25, 2009 at the ReelHeART International Film Festival (RHIFF) in Toronto.  Read press release here.

Videos:

Bass Solo
Conga Solo
Percussion Solo
Marimba Solo
With Shawn Byfield

Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 1 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 2 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 3 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 4 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 5 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 6 of 7
Sudanese Interpretation of Bach 7 of 7

Band website:  www.tranestudio.com
www.myspace.com/waleedabdulhamid