Bring your dance shoes, sandals or bare feet, and your positive mental attitude as we enjoy a set of awesome neo-soul and funk music from The Grace Babies/Mae West of Montreal.

The Grace Babies/Mae West emphasize this idea through their natural, simple, elegant, honest, raw and unaffected approach to music. The 4 seasoned professionals were brought together through happenstance during an informal Montreal loft jam-session in early 2017. Despite the fact that this particular outfit was formed quite recently, the musical connection and mutual respect are immediately evident upon hearing their contemporary melange of Blues, Rock n Roll, Funk, Punk and RnB. A musical journey through past, present and future that is guaranteed to satisfy the soul. Featuring some of the city’s greatest groove ambassadors and former McGill University Jazz Program schoolmate to Seamus Cowan, Greg Ritchie who has just returned from living and playing for a few years in the music scene in New York City! Along with bass player/a cappella specialist Josh Goldman and soul singer number one, Snooky Alston!

One part truth-telling troubadour, one part guitar slinger and one part Country Blues howler. Each facet of his formidable on-stage persona carefully crafted over a 20+ year devotion to the composition and performance of song. Tom is a true believer and a disciple of melody, harmony, tempo and timbre. The Westport native pours his heart out of his throat every night, shredding his fingertips on the 1966 Guild acoustic he adores. He just recorded a new record in Kingston at North of Pine Studio with Zane Whitefield, toured the US and Canada twice in the last two years and plays solo, in his own group with these musicians and with his bluegrass inspired outfit, Foley Mountain Playboys. 

From the poignant ‘With You, Whiskey’ to the rollicking ‘Hell On High Heels’, ’25 To Life’ to the sassy “Canadian Pearl”, to the soulful “Lynchburg”, Brea captures emotions and stories in her music that have put her on the charts 6 times in the last 3 years. Her appearances at fairs and festivals have been with such greats as Brett Kissel, Tom Cochrane, The Road Hammers and most recently Dwight Yoakam.  She was the 2015 CMAO Nominee for Rising Star and Female Artist Of The Year! Welcoming back to the MUSICwestport stage featuring local stars Shawn McCullough on guitar, Wade Foster on fiddle and rhythm section Rocky Lafleur on bass and Mark Lemieux on drums!

Established in 2012, The Barrel Boys are a 5-piece traditional bluegrass string band based in Toronto. The band’s sound is built around rich vocal harmonies and virtuosic instrumentals and their repertoire finely balances standard tunes with their own original writing. Their instrumentation lends itself to classic bluegrass, but they are also fluent in old time, classic country, and Americana, and their original material is informed by all of these styles. Each of the 5 members writes and sings their own tunes, making for a wide stylistic range within the band’s sound.

An institution in Kingston for over 25 years, the current line-up of Anne Archer (flute), Shane Dunne (guitar and vocals),  have only been together 5 years. The band’s mix of lively traditional fiddle tunes, classical instrumentals, soulful ballads and rollicking pub songs is a hit wherever they play.
Sláinte (a traditional Irish toast meaning “good health”), the Céilí Band’s latest release.

A Fellow Ship is a Toronto band consisting of 7 close friends with a love for folk music. Their music is a unique blend of folk pop with a jazz twist. Their long-time camaraderie makes their live show incredibly captivating. Think Mumford & Sons! And they vacation in the area…
They have been described by Toronto music staple & promoter, Dan Burke, as having made the best first impression that any local band has made on him in recent memory!

For the past three years, Kasador have been bringing their blend of Canadian indie rock to cities across Ontario, Quebec and the US. Birthed from the acoustic styling of frontman Will Hunter, the group has evolved into an electric entity that has crowds closing the gap to the monitors wherever they go. With an indie rock sound built around powerful choruses, the band keeps audiences swaying and singing from the first chord to the last. Featuring The Tragically Hip offspring Angus, nephew of Johnny Fay and Boris, son of Rob Baker! Have shared the stage with such major bands as Walk Off The Earth, Arkells and July Talk, the band is becoming known for its energetic stage show mixing synth pop with funk and disco.

Her music spans genres, crosses barriers and creates bridges. Her voice soars to emotional heights and reaches down into the grittiness of the soul. Her performances are foot-stomping, heart-wrenching adventures in rhythm, blues, jazz and rock and roll. For more than a decade Miss Emily has captivated audiences across Canada, the US and the UK. Her most recent record ‘Rise’ featured Gord Sinclair and Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip as does her upcoming record. From working with legends like Gene Simmons of KISS and Bruce Springsteen, opening slots for The Tragically Hip and The Trews, Miss Emily is currently working on a new record that traces back to her roots in music and already includes some of the best song-writing of her young career.

Wandering Minstrels –

King of the Swingers (Westport)

King of the Swingers have energized festivals, fairgrounds, street concerts and parties with their upbeat, energized approach to Dixie music. With locals Steve Clarke, Marty Crapper, Stu Pike and Dawson Willsey. Catch them on a town corner or somewhere on Bedford St. ready to take you on a little trip down nostalgia lane.