The Gift weaves through 50 years of Tyson’s catalogue of memorable music from the days of Ian and Sylvia, through Ian’s honky-tonk years and on to the days of his cowboy culture pieces. In this tribute , all of Tyson’s hits find their way onto the set list from Four Strong Winds, Someday Soon and Some Kind of Fool, to Navajo Rug, Springtime in Alberta, 18 Inches of Rain and others.

Ian Tyson’s one-time sidemen, collaborators and musical admirers come together under the banner of The Gift.

Edmonton-raised Jenie Thai is tough, gritty, sweet and known for her barrelhouse piano playing steeped in the blues. Her contemporary R&B sound is mixed with old-school tradition and plenty of heart. With multiple Maple Blues Award and Edmonton Music Award nominations, plus an honourable mention in the International Songwriting Competition to her name, Jenie is mature beyond her years as a singer, keyboard player and songwriter and has a fiery passionate voice that will continue to take her far.

Southern Ontario jazz gem Miss Emily has an innovative spirit and creative?force, and her incomparable vocals are surpassed only by her electrifying, roof-rattling performances. With legends Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin as her mentors, her sounds of soul drenched blues, old-school R&B and jazz take audiences by storm. Her most recent album Defined by Love is described as “a 12-song meditation on deception, pain, resilience and finding strength among the ruins of heartbreak.”

Together they present an unforgettable night of blues that can’t be missed.

Composer and multi-instrumentalist, Huu Bac Quach founded his quintet in Montreal, skillfully combining his Vietnamese and Chinese heritage with Jazz music. Backed by a solid team of some of the most prominent musicians in the Canadian jazz scene, Huu Bac performs his compositions inspired by his numerous travels in Asia, Europe and South America. In concert, he charms a large public through the beauty and intensity of his musical pieces as well as through his playing of the dan bau (Vietnamese monochord), the erhu (Chinese fiddle), the quena (andean flute) and the guitar. The Huu Bac Quintet delivers a true dialogue between Asian, North and South American cultures in a contemporary, original and unique way! 

“Mysticssippi” blues man Harry Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas. He has developed a unique sound that is deliciously addictive to listen to. He has forged a distinctive style by studying with many legends and becoming a master of the 20-stringed Mohan Veena – his signature instrument which has its roots in India. Manx is a prolific artist, having received seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, a Canadian Folk Music Award for Best Solo Artist and more. Blending Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues, adding a sprinkle of gospel and throwing in some compelling grooves, Harry Manx has a recipe that goes down easy and leaves you hungry for more. 

In homage to the seminal Canadian band, Alberta’s award-winning country music stalwarts?The Dungarees?will play Blue Rodeo’s landmark album Five Days in July in its entirety, including the hits Bad Timing, Hasn’t Hit Me Yet and 5 Days in May.

A staple in the Canadian country, rock and roots music scene, The Dungarees have a definitive musical mandate – take the undeniable lyrical styling, soaring twang of a telecaster and steel guitar inherent in classic country, and inject it with harmony, modern intensity and pop sensibility to make it all their own.?Riding the momentum of their hit singles Don’t Hold Back, Anywhere With You, I’m Down and Twenty Something, The Dungarees are an undeniable force and here to stay.

Vancouver-raised Brendan McLeod and the long-running JUNO-nominated folk group The Fugitives perform Ridge, their unforgettable piece of musical theatre that pays tribute to the more than 10,000 Canadian casualties of Vimy Ridge.

Through direct storytelling, verbatim theatre and live music,?Brendan McLeod examines misconceptions and varying perspectives around the battle, while drawing parallels to other formative events in our nation’s past. Featuring inventive musical interpretations of WWI soldier songs,?Ridge? probes difficult yet necessary questions about how and why we grieve. A vivid, kinetic ride through history, as well as an intimate, personal examination of our connection to the past,?Ridge is a visceral work that passionately argues against the exploitation of young lives.

Self-taught multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jake Vaadeland has a traditional sound and unique style that can be defined as Bluegrass, 50’s Rockabilly and a bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Along with impressive vocals that leaves audiences hanging onto every note, the highly lauded musician puts on a foot stomping, high energy performance with The Sturgeon River Boys that takes us back in time, performing original songs with memorable stories and catchy melodies in what feels like a bluegrass cabaret. And while Jake is blessed with a world-class voice reminiscent of Eddie Arnold and Tex Williams, it doesn’t take listeners long to realize his pleasing vocal timbre is all his own.