Earthy vocals, stunning harmonies, and transcendent original lyrics define Edmonton based mother-daughter duo, Wendy Gregson & Renee McLachlan. Their fresh and soulful take on Folk music is infused with masterful guitar, guitalele, banjo, violin, and percussion. Renee grew up watching her Mom, Wendy, write and perform, but never could’ve imagined that they would be touring and recording together. After some major life challenges, making music together became a lifeline and they haven’t stopped since 2013. They also co-wrote a song and performed with multi Juno award winning artist, Bill Bourne at the Heart Of The City Festival in Edmonton, AB. Wendy & Renee’s unique sound has taken them all over BC & AB, with notable live performances at CBC Music (Edmonton, AB), New Moon Folk Club (Edmonton, AB), Sasquatch Gathering (Metis Crossing, AB), The Blue Chair Cafe (Edmonton, AB), Pembina River Nights (Rangeton Park, AB), and Peach Festival (Penticton, BC).

Ellie Heath hails from Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB) and is a comedian, actor, producer and songwriter. Most recently, Heath has performed as part of Girl Brain Sketch Comedy, and Fake ‘n Bake, a multi-character solo play about the rewiring of a life. Fake n’ Bake is the first solo performance Heath has written and performed in, and she debuted it at the Roxy during the ‘22 Fringe. Currently, Heath is embarking on a new creative endeavor; in the Spring of 2022 she released her debut single, High Wire to much acclaim. Heath strives to create soundscapes that allow listeners to safely explore their own dark edges and feel less alone in their life experiences. With four singles and a music video under her belt, Heath is quickly becoming known as an artist to watch in the music scene. Ellie will be releasing her debut EP Let It All In, October 2023.

Photo by BB Collective

Jillian Treidler is a singer, songwriter, producer from Edmonton, Alberta. Her music has been described as “R&B that’s gone to school”, but she takes a lot of influence from bedroom pop as well. Treidler holds an admiration for artist’s, like Ariana Grande, light voice with big belts, and the ingenuity of self-produced artists like FINNEAS who make their songs have their own distinct sound. On top of those artists, she takes a fancy to Aurora, an indie pop artist who says what is on her mind and owns any stage with a gentle presence.

With songs like “Safe” and “Funhouse Mirrors”, she tastefully brings up complex topics, (such as the #metoo movement and body image issues), but softens the blow with fluffy, kind songs like “be gentle” and “Take Care”. Her music is readily available to stream or purchase on most streaming sites and she has begun scheduling shows for her original music around local Edmonton venues, hoping to expand right away. Jillian Treidler’s goal is to make people feel heard and understood while listening to her music, while staying true to herself and telling her story.

Treidler has her Bachelors of Jazz & Contemporary Music from MacEwan University with a performance major.

Photo by Joselito II De Los Angeles

Born and raised in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB, Canada), Ariana Brophy is no stranger to hard work, taking chances, and using creativity as a means for connecting with those around her. As an actor, writer, songwriter, and performer, Ariana channels her independence and ingenuity into creating her own opportunities, as well as spaces for others.

Brophy’s music has been described as the songwriting equivalent of mulled wine — sweet, tinged with nostalgia, and perfectly paired with a rainy evening and fireplace. Initially taking inspiration from her youth spent in the beautiful surroundings of her Northern Turtle Island (Canada), Ariana has been drawing listeners into her unique inner world since long before her solo musical journey formally began in 2015. Praised for her gorgeous vocals and heart-wrenching lyrics, Brophy skillfully pairs story and song in a way that is rich, transportive, and connected to the depth of human experience. Stephen Thomas of Folkroom Records (London/Brighton, UK) praised Ariana as “one of the [Folkroom’s] stars of 2019,” saying, “her vocals.. songwriting, and the gentle warmth of her guitar result in a wonderful listening experience [akin to] sitting alone by a freshwater lake in the waning twilight… Perfection, in other words.” Ariana’s performances celebrate the strength in fragility and—with her balance of conversational humour and tales of human pain— prove that laughter can share a stage with tears.

Ariana’s music has graced audiences across Canada and the United Kingdom, including Edmonton Folk Festival (2016), Canmore Folk Festival (2015, 2016), The Works Art & Design Festival (2016, 2017), and Elsted Summer Festival (2019). Brophy has also participated in two residencies at the National Centre for Folk Arts at Halsway Manor in Somerset, UK (2019, 2020), crafting songs that were later released on her acoustic album, Naked, and wrote a song for the film, I Had A King. After two years living in the UK, Ariana was endorsed by the Arts Council of England in 2020 while applying for a Global Talent Visa.

In March of 2020, while in Canada for two weeks to apply to stay in the UK, Ariana found herself suddenly stranded nearly 7000 km away from her community, partner, and home in London. Despite the devastating betrayal and loss of her relationship, job, home, and creative life, she released the single “Her Name,” (I Had A King (2021 film)).

Ariana Brophy balances her songwriting and performing career with an abundance of work as a Producer and Sound Recordist/Designer. In this domain, Brophy does more than just record and mix sound for films; she uses a combination of meticulously designed and recorded audio to bring stories to the ears of listeners. A longtime advocate for the empowerment of vulnerable people, Ariana’s work in film and television covers a wide range of documentary and narrative works. More information can be found on the page “Film” on her website. Overlapping her music and film interests, Ariana launched FemFolk, a UK based online platform for women, trans, non-binary, and intersex folk musicians. Notably, FemFolk reviewed music, hosted events, and organized hundreds of online shows in 2020, amidst the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2022, now two years since her departure from London, Ariana is currently in the process of launching FutureFolk, TheyFolk’s parent company, as well as her newest collections of songs, Under the Covers & Standing By the Window, anticipated in fall of 2022.

Photo by Luke Jansen

Artist Supported by Lilli Chevrier

Dara Schindelka is a Saskatchewan singer/songwriter with a touch of the north and the pull of the prairies. Her latest project is a full-length album entitled Saturn Returns which has received the support of a sound recording grant with Creative Saskatchewan. Her debut EP, Thou Art Loosed, was a celebration of female strength and gained her awards and followers throughout 2020-2021.

As 2022 started, Dara was granted a SOCAN artist career development grant to complete work on her album, Saturn Returns, and has partnered with Boreal Heartland in northern Saskatchewan to create a unique tea based on the music of the title track. She has been recently nominated for keyboard player of the year by the Saskatchewan Country Music Association. Dara is touring across the prairies with the generous support of Cherry Tree House Musical Education Fund through the Saskatoon Community Foundation as a musician and workshop facilitator. Dara supports music festivals and livestreams that bring awareness and help to women’s issues and has worked with Stay Human Productions, Rock Against Racism, Piwapin Women’s Shelter, Prince Albert Multi Cultural Council, and FemFolk UK and most recently with the Saskatchewan Council for International Co-operation. Dara was recently chosen as an artist to showcase at the Ontario Presents Showcase in Orilla, Ontario. This past winter, due to the independent artist grant with SaskArts, Dara is completing research and reimagining traditional folksongs that share the lives of women from long ago and make connections to the present day.

Photo by Colin Hubick Photography

I offer MUSIC; blues, jazz, funk, folk, whatever comes to mind; to entertain and stimulate. I offer WORKSHOPS, that empower and create hope, I offer CLASSES to grow knowledge and create skills. I offer PRODUCT created out of the old to cherish and recycle. I offer STORIES to take you to new places and ideas.

My message is simple… in the end…..it’s all about love. We are designed with love in mind and it seeps into every aspect of our existence! It permeates from our souls to our soles….And we reveal our hearts, in the way that we love each other, our families, our God, our work, our friends, our world, and yes, even ourselves.

I am: a mother of three, a sister of many, a friend to anyone, a servant, a builder, and artist, a songstress, an entertainer, I was a victim for years, I am dependent, I am fragile, I am unbreakable, I am joyful, I am stubborn and strong, I am expectant, I am excited.

I’m Natalie and this is my mission. To inspire, to love, to help you to find rest, to remind you that ‘You Can’, to give you a place to go to get away from the everyday and remember what we already have all around us….And never forget, You are Beloved.

Cheers!

Natalie B