Artist Biographies
Ron Whitehead
“I have long admired Ron Whitehead. He is crazy as nine loons, and his poetry is a dazzling mix of folk wisdom and pure mathematics.”
“Ron Whitehead is a real visionary. Ron Whitehead, out there in Kentucky, is sowing the dragon’s teeth of a new heroics. RonWhitehead is Bodhisattva in Kentucky.”
Poet, writer, editor, publisher, professor, scholar, activist, U.S. National Lifetime Beat Poet Laureate Ron Whitehead is the author of 30 books and 40 albums. A UNESCO Europe Writer-in-Residence, his work has been translated into 20 languages. The City of Louisville presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in The Arts. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer and the Nobel Prize in Literature. He has produced thousands of music and poetry events, festivals, and Insomniacathons across Europe and the USA. In May 2024 he produced his 3rd 24-hour non-stop music & poetry Insomniacathon in Estonia. In July 2024 he produced The Last Insomniacathon, a 57-hour non-stop music & poetry & arts happening, at the Chapel of St. Philip Neri in Louisville. At 73, he continues to perform and record with The Storm Generation Band and many others. His newest book, TAPPING MY OWN PHONE, was just released by the National & International Beat Poetry Foundation. OUTLAW POET: The Legend of Ron Whitehead (Storm Generation Films/Dark Star TV), a feature length documentary on Ron's life and work, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Films Documentaries.
Jason Benoit
Living on the rugged coast of Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada in the small town of “Fox island River” (pop.of 200), Indigenous Singer/Songwriter Jason Benoit may be from a small town but that has never held him back from making a big impact on the national country music scene.
Jason is the 2024 MusicNL "Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year" and Ecma “Country Recording of the Year” winner, and the 2023 Canadian Country Music Association “Alternative Country Album of the Year” Nominee for his co-produced album “Time Traveller” which has also received over 5 million streams to date. This album, plus Benoit's current EP "The Deadwood", was released on Benoit’s own record label "BMV Records" and distributed by “The Orchard” through “Jayward Artist Group”. “BMV Records” was established with the help of “Gerry Foote”, co-writer for the “Time Traveller” album, business partner, and long time friend of Jason’s in 2022.
A 2023 MusicNL Fans Choice Entertainer & Indigenous artist of the year Winner, plus with many Past CCMA, ECMA, and MusicNL Award wins & nominations, jason is just getting started. He has achieved 4 Top 30 hits, including his self-penned gold certified Top 10 single ‘Gone Long Gone’, and with over 13 million global streams total, Benoit has become a trailblazer for small town, indigenous, and independent artists in Canada today.
Besides performing as a main stage act on many nationally acclaimed Music festivals and events, Benoit has been direct tour support for many A-list country music artists such as Tenille Townes, Tim Hicks, The Washboard Union, and also the Multi-CMA award winning group out of Nashville, Old Dominion, among many.
Since September of 2023, Benoit has also taken on the roll of radio host with his brand new weekly Saturday night show of his own design called “That's Country” on the award winning Radio Station, 100.1 BayFM, Corner Brook, Newfoundland, where he plays the best in new and alt-country and speaks to new and established country artists every week. Past episodes of this program can be found on Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.
Benoit has become a mainstay in the Canadian Country Music industry today in Canada and never takes it for granted.
Kyleigh Brisson
Kyleigh is Montreal based musician, teacher, and certified music therapist. She is originally from Corner Brook Newfoundland, and graduated with a Bachelor of Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2021. She graduated from the Master’s in Music Therapy program at Concordia University in 2024 and currently works as a music therapist at a rehabilitation hospital. She attributes her music oriented career path to the many years spent involving herself in the vibrant Newfoundland music community. In her songwriting, she finds inspiration from local musicians such as Amelia Curran and The Once, and ties her love for Newfoundland into her music.
Adam Baxter
Adam Baxter is folky singer-songwriter and music educator based out of Campbellton, NL. His unique brand of folky pop songs combines thoughtful guitar arrangements, cleverly honest lyrics and catchy melodies that capture the musical essence of Eastern Canada. Baxter, a six-time MusicNL Award Winner has spent the last decade cementing himself as a staple songwriter and performer in Central Newfoundland.
Hannah Green
Emerging from the vibrant musical landscape of St. John's, Newfoundland, Hannah Green blends folk, alternative, and indie genres into an intimate and resonant tapestry. Her debut album, "Moving Fast in Slow Motion," a collaboration with the talented producer and drummer Nick Coultas-Clarke, delves into the nuanced themes of love, loss, and the bittersweet nostalgia of transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
The album's standout single, "Open Your Eyes," reached number 1 on the East Coast Top 30 and maintained its position for 15 consecutive weeks, earning a place in the hall of fame. Hannah's work has also earned her recognition as a nominee for Alternative Artist of the Year and Rising Star of the Year at the 2024 Music NL awards. Hannah's artistry weaves a deeply personal narrative, allowing each listener to find a reflection of their own story in her music.
Further Ado
Sandy Morris is the Easternmost Guitar Player in North America tuning thy rills since 1965. Jenny Gear is from Carbonear. She has loved to sing songs more than anything else, for as long as she can remember, and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to share the stage with these amazing musicians. Darren Browne is a downtownie who spent much of the 2010’s as a musicking globetrotter. These days home is where the art is and when not joining fabulous performers he dabbles in languages and practices. Erin Best likes writing songs and occasionally, bios. It has been said that Erin could sing the phone book and the Golden Phoenix menu, but she prefers Ron Hynes and Patsy Cline.
Together, as Further Ado, we only perform the good kind of music that almost everybody likes, except for evil people and they’re usually too busy to come to our shows. So suit yourself but if we weren’t in Further Ado we’d walk across the street to hear and see them. It’s almost as good as a livestream. Don’t miss us.
Ol Billy Bob Boy
Get ready to hoot, holler and hit the dance floor! Ol Billy Bob Boy is a St. John’s-based artist putting a unique spin on traditional country and roots music. Leading the way on upright bass and backed by a stellar group of musicians, Ol Billy Bob Boy’s tunes blend the sounds of old-time country, honky-tonk and Americana with signature tongue-in-cheek humour and moving lyrics inspired by life in Newfoundland and beyond.
Ol Billy Bob Boy’s debut album, Sweltering Sun, led him to be nominated for MusicNL Rising Star of the Year and Country Artist of the Year. His sophomore album Bad Decisions is being recorded now and is scheduled to be released in late 2024. He has been featured on CBC and campus and community radio, and has toured across Newfoundland and Canada, performing at festivals, summer concert series and local venues.
In 2024 he was nominated for MusicNL’s Side Musician of the Year. He’s played bass for notable artists like Abigail Lapell, Raine Hamilton, Cabot Power Productions, The Heavy Horses, Ptarmageddon and Matthew Hornell. He has also performed as a side musician at festivals including the St. John’s Folk Festival, Summerfolk, Home County, In the Soil, River Rock and Supercrawl, and was a member of the Stephenville Theatre Festival band.
Upbeat, playful and quirky one moment and poignant the next, Ol Billy Bob Boy is sure to keep audiences on their toes and contemplating his lyrics – both witty and profound – long after the show is over. If you love country and roots artists like Corb Lund, Old Crow Medicine Show, John Prine, and Hank Williams III, then you’ll love Ol Billy Bob Boy.
Sherman Downey
With his unique brand of radio-friendly folk and a natural ability for storytelling, Sherman Downey has solidified himself as one of Newfoundland & Labrador’s most treasured artists. His music has charmed listeners from his homeland to the mainland and beyond with MusicNL Awards for “Artist of the Year’, “Pop/Rock Recording of the Year”, “Album of the Year” and “Solo Artist of the Year”; he’s also been twice recognized as Newfoundland and Labrador’s “SOCAN Songwriter of the Year”.
When Sherman sings about letting loose in the local dance hall, people-watching from the front porch, or playing with love in out-of-the-way gas stations, it’s with a nod and a wink to those who feel the push and pull of their own small towns. He currently calls Corner Brook, NL his home, but he grew up in Coal Brook, a small town nestled in the Codroy Valley of Western Newfoundland.
Paul Pike
Paul Pike is from the Mi'kmaq Nation on the island of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). Paul lives in Stephenville Crossing and was raised in Corner Brook. He descends from the Gabriel and Young families and has two teen daughters. He is the Cultural Outreach Officer with Qalipu First Nation, sharing Mi’kmaw culture and history. He has toured and performed professionally for over 30 years as a recording artist and musician. He has created a unique flavor of Contemporary Indigenous Music. Paul has been the composer and vocalist for the Canyon Records award winning group Medicine Dream, of which he released three CDs internationally. While he is most known for his guitar playing and singing, he also plays the traditional drum and the Pipukwaqn “bee-boo-gwa-hun”(Mi’kmaw flute). In 2022 he released a cd called “Echoes of our Ancestors”, a recording devoted to highlighting the beautiful sounds of the Pipukwaqn. In 2022, this album was nominated from a Grammy Award, and was nominated for Instrumental solo artist of the year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards 2024.
In 1999, some people might remember Paul playing this instrument in the opening ceremonies of the Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook Newfoundland.
Paul has shared his music with many worldwide. International leaders such as King Charles, the Lieutenant Governors of Canada, provincial and federal government leaders, the Assembly of First Nations, various Tribal governments, and communities throughout the United States, as well as the United Kingdom.
Rob Gillard
Rob Gillard is an award winning multi instrumentalist hailing from the city of Corner Brook Newfoundland. His amazing style of singing and playing is like no other, and has wowed audiences around the island and across Canada since the age of 16 years old. Since the 80's Rob had shared the stage and opened for Canadian and US icons such as Collective Soul, The Stampeders, April Wine, Dam Roberts, Jan Arden, Trooper, Tom Cochrane, and Red Rider.... Just name a few.
Rob, is a long time songwriter.... With songs in American and Canadian movies and tv shows. He is also an award winning producer and recording artist who runs a world class recording studio nestled in the tiny village of George’s Brook located in the west coast of the island. He continues to produce, record and play 365 days a year while at the same time raising his beautiful family.
Angus Stewart
Angus is an excellent singer and songwriter. He sings traditional Newfoundland music which represents the province's history and culture forming a link between the past and present. See Angus Stewart singing “Rockin’ on the Water,” a song he wrote that was recorded by Newfoundland’s Shanneyganock and debuted #1 on the world chart on Canadian iTunes. This man who lives on an Island on the southwest coast of Newfoundland is rife with sea songs and stories, both traditional and contemporary.
Clare Follett
At 22, Clare Follett is already a seasoned veteran on the East Coast music scene. You may have seen her perform with the likes of Nick Earle and the Reckless Hearts, the Janet Cull band and countless others, or as a solo artist performing her original music. She debuted her self-produced solo album ‘Neck Deep’ at age 15, followed by her sophomore self-produced ‘Reclamation’ at 18. Clare has also worked as a producer and/or recording engineer on projects for Rosemary Lawton, Kelly McMichael, Quote the Raven, Kelsey Arsenault, Kellie Loder, Jenny Mallard, and many more. Over the course of her solo career, she has received nine MusicNL nominations, three MusicNL awards, and four Newfoundland and Labrador Arts & Letters awards for her songwriting. She was also selected as an ECMA Break Out Artist in 2018. She is currently in her final semester of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador’s conjoint Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Business Administration program, working as an audio engineer and producer out of Bond Street Studios, and signed to Scilly Cove Records, working on a solo album alongside Grammy award-winning producer, Greg Wells.
AnitA Best
Anita Best is a traditional singer and storyteller from Merasheen, Placentia Bay. She has made her living as a teacher, folklorist, broadcaster and performer since 1970. An original member of the legendary trad-rock band Figgy Duff, her more recent collaborations are with Pamela Morgan and Sandy Morris (three albums) and as a solo singer and storyteller (The Tin Table).
Anita has contributed to folklore publications, film and television projects, and audiobooks as a writer, singer and narrator since 1974. In addition to her own projects and featured appearances, she continues to perform with several other musicians on their recordings and live performances.