Although it's tempting to compare Mae Moore to other musical icons, her soulful blend of folk, jazz and roots is uniquely her own. Mae's latest CD Folklore harkens back to when an album was listened to, not for it's "singles," but as a concept in its wholeness. The song "Folklore" explores decisions made in life and how they form one's own folklore. "Love is Shattered" is the heartbreaking acknowledgment that important friendships can indeed be lost. Mae is a 21st century renaissance Canadian woman whose music goes right to the heart of the matter.

Road ghosts, fallen shows and the blur of years built by song, sweat and stage noise. Americana-edged rock and roll tangled with the continuous trail of broken strings, headlights and a hell of a lot of laughter. You're looking at the guiding force behind Dave McCann's strongest work to date - Dixiebluebird - a wealth of road and heart worn original material that lays a torch to the influence of Bruised Country Soul, Heartfelt Americana and Southern Tinged Rock and Roll.

A Northern Lights and Edmonton favourite, David Francey makes a return appearance at a new venue this year with a brand new recording in hand. Recorded in Nashville with Kieran Kane, Late Edition, is his first solo release since the 2007 Juno-winning album Right of Passage. Club veterans already know that this show will be something special. If you haven't seen David before, don't miss this chance to see one of Canada's absolute treasures.

Imagine if you can, a gathering of Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Hula Hattie, Flaco Jimenez and Bob Marley and Tim William's music would fit right in. Tim is a blues-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a 40 year veteran of the 'Roots' music scene in North America. His own roots stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60s. He'll bring the stories and songs from that time right up to today.

With eight-albums to his name (Ya Ain't Crazy Henny Penny just released) and a few hundred live performances a year for almost a decade, singer-songwriter Brock Zeman is well established as one of Ottawa Valley's hardest working musicians - and all before the age of 30. CKUA hails them.

After years of writing together, touring together and performing together, finally these two friends have recorded a wonderful new album together - Fearing & White. Canada meets Ireland in 13 deliciously crafted songs from two of roots music's finest. Stephen Fearing is well known as an accomplished songsmith, storyteller and guitarist. A double Juno award winner, he has experienced commercial and critical success in his solo career and with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Northern Ireland born and raised Andy White has earned a global following for blending folk and popstylings with a poet's sensibility. He has worked and written with artists such as Van Morrison, Sinead O'Connor and Peter Gabriel. Andy has won Ireland's top songwriting awards.

Self-taught and multitasking musician Al Brant writes modern folk that is soulful and reflective. Besides his solo career, Al is very active at the UofA Hospital as part of their Artists-on-the-Wards program, and with Tacoy Ryde - one of western Canada's longest running bands. He's also been involved with The Christmas Carol Project since its inception. icks for 2010!
T Buckley's stylings of country, folk and rock'n'roll, takehold of a young audience with edgy roots-rock and captivating traditional music lovers with timeless melodies. In November 2010, Buckley released his CD, Roll On, which immediately topped CKUA music charts. Buckley won the 2010 Calgary Folk Music Festival's songwriting competition and is considered to be one of Calgary's top emerging artists.
Capturing the essence of a bygone era when musical genres were less defined, Beth Portman weaves her dynamic voice through a fusion of folk, early jazz, old country, bluegrass, and blues she calls Acoustic Folk Jazz. Strumming her ukulele or guitar, she delights audiences by touching on life's emotions and stories that meld the past with the present. Beth previously performed with the beloved Edmonton-based acapella sextet Juba.

Originally a California girl, BC Entertainment Hall of Fame Inductee and Juno award winner Shari Ulrich is now joined by her 19 year old daughter Julia Graff on violin, piano, guitar and vocals. She continues to tour and record with the Pied Pumkin, UHF and Barney Bentall and Tom Taylor. Shari also composes for film and television, produces the Vancouver Bluebird North concert series, and just released a new solo album Find Our Way. Julia is currently studying psychology and music technology at McGill. Ulrich's collaboration with her daughter marks an exciting chapter in her rich and varied career. NLFC has welcomed Shari as part of UHF, Pied Pumpkin and with Bentall and Taylor in the past, so we're delighted to round it out with her latest incarnation

Known for her heart-rendering ballads and comfortable repartee, Eileen Laverty has performed across Canada and Ireland delivering her upbeat messages, strong vocals, and heartfelt lyrics. She received a Prairie Music Award for Outstanding Roots Recording, and has music featured in film and television programs. CBC writes, "Laverty's charismatic attitude combined with her soulful sound has her ranked among the elite of Canadian Folk singers."
Since the '60s, Steve Palmer has performed in almost every size of venue - from rock arenas to pubs, coffee houses and churches. With over 40 years of road experience, and three CDs to his credit, he has gone back to his acoustic roots, performing at folk clubs and festivals throughout Western Canada.

Ken Whiteley is a Canadian roots music legend. His musical journey has taken him from jug band, folk, swing, blues, gospel and children's music, winning him a Canadian Folk Music Award, a Genie Award, 2 Lifetime achievement awards, and nominations for 7 Junos and 13 Maple Blues Awards. Ken's live performances showcase his musicianship and powerful vocals, with his deep knowledge and infectious passion guaranteeing a good time for all.

Andrew and Zachari Smith are a folk, alt-country, tap style guitar father-son duo whose performance features powerful songwriting, engaging storytelling and a variety of acoustic instruments including guitar, dobro, mandolin and banjo. Andrew has won the prestigious Kerrville Newfolk Songwriting Competition and is a world class tap style guitarist. Zachari's songwriting is a sweet blend of original folk and alt-country. His political subject matter harkens back to early Dylan. Andrew and Zachari's voices meld, like only families can.

The Front Porch Roots Revue is a shifting group of western Canadian roots musicians who stir up a hearty gumbo of sounds that include blues, swing, gospel, folk and country. Ron Rault, Stewart MacDougall and Crawdad Cantera more often than not are at the core of any given Front Porch show. Over the past three years Front Porch has won over audiences at major festivals including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, established folks clubs and theatres. In 2010 Front Porch Roots Revue released a self-titled disc that includes performances from core members, as well as Winnipeg guitar ace Brent Parkin, who will be appearing with this edition of Front Porch. Brent was recently nominated for a Western Canadian Music Association award, for Blues Album of The Year.