What: Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and come enjoy the open air and sounds of talented local artists against a stunning backdrop of farmland and flowers. Stroll through one of Edmonton’s last plots of old growth forest to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, walk through Lady Flower Gardens’ vegetable beds and the beautiful array of flowers in Fern’s Flowers Garden. Enjoy food from the amazing Meat Street Pies and fresh homemade juice made by Fernanda from Fern's Flowers (this juice just won first place at Heritage Days!). Bouquets from Fern's Flowers Garden will also be for sale. Other activities include a garden-themed Amazing Race Game, a local artisan "market", and a silent auction. Kids 12 and under are FREE! The Edmonton Forest School Society will be onsite to keep your young ones entertained.
Program INTROS & WELCOME: 1-1:15 PM Brandon McDonald: 1:15-1:25 PM Eric Yaremko: 1:25 -1:55 PM Hannah Brown: 1:55-2:05 PM Strangers and Friends: 2:05-2:35 PM Nisha Patel: 2:35-2:45 PM Dale Ladoucer: 2:45-3:15 PM Amanda Penner 3:25-3:55 PM BREAK FOR ACTIVITIES: 3:55-4:55 PM Maddy Killoh 4:55-5:25 PM Jed and the Valentine 5:35-6:05 PM Kaeley Jade 6:15-6:45 PM CLOSING REMARKS: 6:45-7:00 PM
U-Pick Bouquets from Fern's Flowers Garden
Fresh Pies from Meat Street Pies
Freshly Made Watermelon Juice
The New Jubilee Forest
Artist Bios
Brandon McDonald Brandon is of Cree ancestry from Asiniwiche Winewak Nation. He loves riding and training horses, round dancing, and attending and singing at powwows.
Hannah Brown Hannah is an adult educator, musician, writer, published mathematician, and budding mycophile. Her work covers topics such as: mental health, social justice, lifestyle, science communication, poetry, and more!
Nisha Patel Nisha Patel is an award-winning disabled queer spoken word author & artist. She was the City of Edmonton’s 8th Poet Laureate, and is a Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion. She is also a dedicated teacher, mentor, and public speaker. Nisha has performed and taught workshops across Canada, participating in festivals, slams, and readings. After qualifying in Rio de Janeiro, she represented Canada in the 2022 Poetry Slam World Cup in Brussels.
Dale Ladouceur Her critically acclaimed original project "Dale Ladouceur and the Broke Ensemble" have two releases. Ladouceur also recorded a solo recording RuffTracks in 2010. Lately she has written scores for a number of Canadian theatre companies: (Workshop West's Language of Angels, Theatre Yes's Enchantment), and she scored and performed for Azimuth Theatre's acclaimed Freeman on tlte Land. Ladouceur also wrote the score for a documentary on the American Kidney Foundation of New York. As well, Dale works as a music producer with Levin E. Levin Productions. Branching into film, in 2011 Ladouceur co produced the critically acclaimed independent film Honest You Won't Get Hooked. Ladouceur is also a political writer and activist who has written a number of comprehensive articles that have been published internationally. Her articles have covered such topics as: the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, climate change, ozone depletion, water privatization as well as expose's on ethical misconduct in the media.
Eric Yaremko Edmonton born Eric Yaremko set down his roots in the music scene with his first public performance at a local music festival in the summer of 2016. Since then he has grown as a singer and performer, delivering his soulful versions of well known hits from beloved artists like Stevie Nicks and Bruce Springsteen, as well as tunes written by local songwriters. Thriving as an interpreter, his renditions are opulent to the point of songs often being mistaken for originals - Eric puts himself in the shoes of the songwriter and chooses each and every note with care to illuminate the essence of the song - sometimes uncovering facets that were unseen even by songwriters themselves.
Strangers and Friends Strangers & Friends is a 2 piece alt rock couple and band with blues, folk, and country influences. They are currently based out of Edmonton, Alberta where you can often find them playing at Naked Cyber Cafe. They now travel all over the province playing their hearts out solely for the love of the music and each other.
Amanda Penner Amanda Penner is a queer Edmonton Folk singer/songwriter.An observer of people and nature, their music communicates wonder, fear, hope, and a genuine interest in the tender beauty of humanity. Coping through creation, Penner delivers a familiar lyricism, similar to artists like Gregory Alan Isakov and Brandi Carlile. With each listen, Penner delivers complexity, wit, and wisdom far beyond their years. Penner is an established singer-songwriter who can guide a crowd from tears to laughter in a single evening. They played at the Canmore Folk Festival in support of their first EP, Honey & Heartache (2019). Penner has since had the joy of connecting with kindred audiences and musicians alike at festivals such as the Edmonton Folk Music Festival (2022) and the Lethbridge Roots Festival (2022).
Jed and the Valentine Jed and the Valentine is the love child of Alberta's Jonah Morris and Maria Khaner and blends a fresh fusion of soul-stirring harmonies with earthy roots and prairie pop. Irresistible charm and undeniable talent have led to sold-out performances and a rapidly growing fanbase of hundreds of thousands of followers. Like a dream unfolding in real time, Jed and the Valentine are thrilled to take part in the Stingray Young Performers Program at the Winnipeg Folk Festival this summer. This incredible opportunity sets the stage for their highly anticipated and unbelievably exciting musical debuts at the Canmore and Edmonton Folk Music Festivals.
Kaeley Jade Kaeley Jade is a Métis singer/songwriter, actor, and multidisciplinary artist based in Edmonton, Alberta (amiskwaciwâskahikan). Blending lush imagery and hooky melodic lines to create her own brand of pop-forward indie folk music, Kaeley Jade has performed at venues and festivals across Canada. Past performances include BreakOut West, Coldsnap, the JUNOfest, Canadian Music Week, and the Tkaronto Music Festival, and she has shared the stage with Digging Roots, Preston Pablo, Billy Joe Green, Anders, Delhi 2 Dublin, and Grammy-winner Bill “Birdsong” Miller. Alongside her career as a singer/songwriter, Kaeley also works as a professional actor for theatre and film; she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from the University of Alberta and is the current Festival Director of the Ukrainian Village Music Fest.