Find Your Voice – Get to Know Some of Your New Favourite Mariposa Artists
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Ammoye
Ammoye is a Jamaican-born Canadian artist making waves with her distinct, reggae-fusion style. Taking influence from dancehall, gospel, and R&B, she’s a fiery vocalist, whose sultry, fierce tones are distinctly her own.
This six-time Juno nominee writes about life, love, and social justice, and is one of Canada’s most dynamic and multidimensional acts. She’s been invited to perform on stages all over the country, as well as in Brazil, the US and the Netherlands.
Ammoye’s been described by Exclaim! as “traditional yet future-forward reggae sound,” with Top Shelf Music confidently asserting that she’s “ready to take the world by storm.”
Fast Romantics
The band Fast Romantics is an established act with long-standing recognition in the Indie rock scene. The band won Pop Group of the Year at the Sirius XM Indies in 2014, and their single “Julia” won the SOCAN national songwriting prize in 2016.
The Fast Romantics’ infectious energy has won over listeners all over the country. Their singles “Why We Fight,” and “Do No Wrong” both reached the #1 spot on the CBC R2 National Charts.
The group has been constantly evolving over the last decade; today, the Fast Romantics is led by founding member Matthew Angus, a singer-songwriter, and features Orillia-born multi-instrumentalist Kirty, who’s an acclaimed artist in her own right.
Morgan Toney
Mi’kmaq fiddler and singer coming all the way from We’koqma’q First Nation in Nova Scotia, Morgan Toney is a rising star in the Canadian folk scene. The artist released his debut album First Flight in 2021, and just a year later was nominated for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, 2022.
Toney is a passionate believer in education and social justice. His song “The Colour Red” is a call to action for the missing and murdered Indigenous women all over the world, but especially here in Canada.
In addition to his work as a musician, Tony founded “Mi’kmaq Connections” with fellow Cape Breton artist Keith Mullins. These highly interactive workshops teach about Celtic and Mi’kmaq music, history, and culture.
Folk Alley writes,“Toney’s been a ferociously experimental artist, focused on highlighting the Mi’kmaq language and songs, an artist powerfully adept at bridging worlds.”
Showman & Coole
The old-time duo Showman & Coole are no strangers to Orillia’s folks scene. Fiddler John Showman and banjoist Chris Coole have played various stages here over the years in bluegrass outfits like The Lonesome Ace Stringband and The Foggy Hogtown Band.
Showman & Coole specialize in old-time, salt-of-the-earth Americana. They’ve played all over the world, including North Carolina’s prestigious bluegrass festival MerleFest, an official IBMA showcase, and festivals in the UK, Germany, and Israel.
Tanika Charles
Toronto musician Tanika Charles is one of Canada’s must-see acts. This is honest-to-goodness soul at its finest; it’s true to the genre’s roots, but updated for today’s listeners. She’s won praise from listeners all over the world, with Craig Charles of BBC6 Music saying she’s “One of the big hitters.”
Charles has two JUNO award nominations and has twice made the Polaris Music Prize long list. This soul artist released her debut album in 2017, and ever since, has been winning over fans on and off the stage; her music has been featured in TV series like Kim’s Convenience and Rookie Blue, and songs like “Endless Chain” and “Soul Run” played on regular radio rotation in Canada, the US, the UK and France.
Story credit: Sarah Milner