Al Qahwa is Maryem Tollar on vocals, riqq (Arabic tambourine) and qanun (Arabic table harp); Ernie Tollar on wind instruments; Demetri Petsalakis on oud (Arabic fretless lute) and Naghmeh Fahrahmand on percussion; Waleed Abdulhamid on bass and vocals; and Lauren Barnett on b.up vocals and sax. Al Qahwa performs original compositions, as well as popular traditional Arabic repertoire – from Sufi Devotional Love songs from the Arab World to popular folk songs, to classic Egyptian songs.

The release of Amos the Kid’s debut LP, Enough as it Was, followed the remarkable rise of Winnipeg’s Amos Nadlersmith from reclusive songwriter to hometown hero. Only a few years have passed since the not-quite-country musician was playing the odd diamond-in-the-rough set in a half-empty bar; now, he’s a stop-him-in-the-street performer playing for sold out crowds of hundreds and who released one of the “greatest Canadian albums you might have missed in 2023" (Exclaim!).

Arielle Soucy is a Montreal-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter who has quickly emerged as a rising star in Quebec's music scene. Her debut album, Il n’y a rien que je ne suis pas (2023), was celebrated as the Best Album of the Year by Le Devoir, CISM, Bandcamp, Exclaim!, and other influential outlets. The album also earned a spot on the Polaris Prize Long List, highlighting the impact of her organic and minimalist folk approach.

Aurora Fiddle Society (AFS) promotes fiddling in Yellowknife and the North Slave Region through fiddle jams, workshops and other fiddle related events. AFS brings people of all ages together to enjoy fiddle music and work cooperatively with other organizations to the benefit of fiddling.

The Bella Beats is a high performance dance troupe, with a focus on building connection in the community. 

Playing whatever floats their boat, this band is ready to rumble! Part of the École William McDonald Middle School Rock Band program, these gifted young humans have joined forces to challenge those who have rocked before them with some amazing tunes. No doubt, this band is excited to play their first show that is outside of a school gymnasium.

Carmen Braden is a creator and performer of new, beautiful and sometimes weird music. She brings her songwriting depths to the live stage in dynamic, chamber-pop shows with her full band. Drawing deeply from her latest album “A Hard Light”, Carmen gently shifts the focus away from genre-bound expectations to craft a journeying arc with moments of 90’s electro-pop, folk, jazz and country

Cassandra Blondin Burt is a two-spirit Dene Musician, Poet, and Earth Medicine Maker, whose work is grounded in the exploration of healing through co-creation with Earth. Through a deepening relationship with the land-body we call Earth, Cassandra explores a regenerative art and creation praxis that allows them to move through myriad contemporary settler-colonial social structures and ideologies with intent, and curiosity.

Caylie G (they/she) is a queer Pop-Roots artist based in Edmonton, Alberta, on Treaty Six Territory. With roots firmly planted in their country and folk upbringings Caylie has cultivated an ethereal pop sound that breathes life into their emotive storytelling.

DJTMixxy’s journey started with something simple—playing music for family gatherings, unknowingly setting the foundation for what would become a deep passion. As the one always controlling the vibes, he quickly realized that mixing music came naturally to him. Determined to take it further, he invested in his first DJ controller, practicing tirelessly to perfect his craft.

Slavic dub-punk missionaries Dumai Dunai have been winning the hearts of audiences all over the world since they first burst onto the scene in 2022. With members from Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Canada, the multi-lingual seven-piece combines the deep grooves of dub with the energy of punk rock, the raw ecstasy of the blasting horns of Balkan wedding brass bands, and the joys and sorrows of Ukrainian village polyphony.

Singing in her mother tongue Kinyarwanda, as well as Swahili, French, and English, Empress Nyiringango music influence combines her Rwandan roots and contemporary music. Empress Nyiringango is an award-winning and a self-taught musician based in Ottawa showcasing the self-coined Jablur sound, which blends jazz, blues and Rwandan.

Burlesque!

Aaron “Godson” Hernandez has been a hip-hop artist in the Northwest Territories for over 30  years. He has released 11 albums & has performed in various parts of North America. Godson received a Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond Jubilee award, was featured on CBC's hit shows Family Feud & Dragons' Den.

Multi-instrumentalist Hendrika is a folk fusion musician from the Yukon. Her love of many genres has led to a versatile and unique collection of original material that pushes the boundaries of modern music in all the right ways. Intricate melodies with grounding folk roots, classic rock riffs and soaring vocals will leave you absolutely captivated.

Hughes is the alternative roots project of Yellowknife musician, Benji Straker. Weaving heartfelt, ambient melodies with compelling vocals and country surf-inspired guitars, Hughes' introspective lyrics explore the human experience and self-discovery, offering listeners a serene yet vibrant journey. Infused with a blues rock twist, Hughes delivers dynamic energy, blending reverb-drenched guitar riffs with folk storytelling.

Jaya Bremer is a Canadian dream-pop artist based in Victoria, BC. Bremer’s lush, signature sound combines elements of soft electronic, dream-pop and indie r&b. Her music is a hypnotic blend of lyrical sincerity, characterized by stacked vocal harmonies, washed out guitars, and minimalist beats.

Camelot, Canadian songwriter Jennifer Castle’s extraordinary, moving 2024 chronicle of the artist in early middle age, charts a realer, more rooted, and more metaphorical place than the fabled Camelot of the Early Middle Ages (or its myriad depictions), but it too is a space more psychic than physical.

When Jeremie Albino was a teenager, he started busking around Toronto, setting up along the boardwalk or on a street corner downtown, wherever he thought he might find some passersby. “Usually nobody was listening,” he says, “but occasionally one or two people would tell me it sounded great. They had places to be and things to do, but they would stop and listen for a little while. That kind of interaction felt very special to me, and that’s when I realized I really do love performing. That’s when I realized I could hold a listener’s interest and give something back to them.”

Johnnie Melancholy is like the foreign exchange student you wish you were friends with in high school. If his charm and accent don't make you fall, the soul he puts into his original material and cover songs will.

Dehcho is a musician from the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́/Fort Simpson, located in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Dehcho has been playing music for years as a hobby and started to perform on stage in 2023. He performs folk music rooted in his Dene culture.

Inuk singer and songwriter from Iqaluit, Nunavut is venturing out with a new project as Josh Q.  Known for his contributions as a singer, songwriter, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of 2023 Socan songwriting finalist The Trade-offs, Josh will bring that raw powerful energy with similar Arctic Soul vibes. Look out for some new music soon!

High energy bass-led grooves, soaring vocals, and a tight horn section; this isn’t what you’d expect from a band coming from the Yukon in Canada’s North, but it’s exactly what you get with Whitehorse’s Major Funk. It’s also a great formula to get a crowd moving, and they’ve got this down to a science.

Mariya Stokes is a country-Americana artist known for her quick wit, candid storytelling, and for unapologetically stealing your Grandma’s clothes. With a voice as distinct as her retro style, Country Music Alberta’s two-time Female Artist of the Year is set to release her debut full-length album in May 2025. 

Meridian is a band consisting of members from two musical groups from Hay River and Yellowknife, NWT. These young artists met while competing in the 2024 Folk On The Rocks Main Stage Showdown as The Smith Sisters, Rochelle and Corrine Smith, and Refrijerater, Duncan Stewart and Joe Curran.

Merv xx Gotti is an award-winning Asian-Canadian singer-songwriter, best known for his solo indie dream-pop project, Guitar Songs.

MOOCH is a heavy psychedelic rock trio based in both Montreal and Yellowknife, Canada, known for blending down-tuned desert rock with the energy of 90s grunge and the expansive sounds of 70s psychedelia. The band features three lead vocalists and multi-instrumentalists Ben Cornel, Julian Iac, and Alex Segreti, whose layered vocal harmonies add depth to their rich, multifaceted sound.

MOONBEAN - queer, Ontario-based electronic duo who play a live, synth hardware set with lush vocals. Their psychedelic electronica weaves in acid-house, techno, disco, and their live performance gives off punk energy. Speaking to identity expression, inclusivity, and community their lyrics weave mantras to empower their audience.

Since the 2023 release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Vol 1, MOONRIIVR has quickly made a name for itself. Respected producer and bandleader, Gavin Gardiner (Wooden Sky, All Day Coconut) and renowned guitarist, “Champagne” James Robertson (Lindi Ortega, Dwayne Gretzkey) have respectively made their mark on Canada’s musical landscape, and together, are eying new frontiers.

Munya Mataruse is an Artist born in Zimbabwe based in Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada. He started his music career professionally in 2005 at Pakare Paye Arts Centre which is an arts organization formed and is managed by Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi (Zimbabwean Music Super Star. His music is a unique blend of styles ranging from Afro Jazz, Katekwe and Shangara (the local traditional Zimbabwean genre).

Filling in the industry thigh-gap, 5 piece femme powered Hip Hop/R&B group, NADUH, write, engineer, and produce all of their music - meaning they have crafted a sound that’s truly representative of their collective energy. Spreading unity consciousness through R&B infused beats that hit every chakra, laced with buttery-smooth vocals and HERstorical lyrics. This one-of-a-kind group aims to shatter earthly constructs, and pop pussies worldwide.

“We get the tunes and the post on time.” 

FREAK ROCK, guitar killer:  Winnipeg's , Paige Drobot. Heartfelt songwriting and weirdly spiritual guitar playing.

Peekaboo Kazoo is an Oldtown musical group performing for children and families in Yellowknife for over 15 years, featuring Ryan McCord, Kerry Wheler, and Claire Marchildon.

Running since 2017, the Performing Arts & Queer Justice Camp is a week-long joint project between Northern Mosaic Network and Folk on the Rocks.

Peter Dreams is the new solo project of Peter Dreimanis, co-lead of the three-time JUNO Award winning alt rock band July Talk. An artful, instinct-led exploration, the songs of Peter Dreams are sourced in a dizzy mix of anticipation, hesitation and introspection that accompanies the future, as it arrives.

Playing various rock anthems from the 90s to present day, this band is in its second year of existence with the École William McDonald Middle School Rock Band program. As their collective talent increases, their want to share those talents increases as well. That’s why these teens are pumped for their first opportunity to play music at FOTR this summer.

Snotty Nose Rez Kids tore into the music scene with unmistakeable talent and an unforgettable name. Showing off their lyrical prowess and natural storytelling ability, Yung Trybez and Young D jumpstarted the band with two back-to-back albums in 2017. Their follow up album, 2019’s TRAPLINE, really launched their career with hit “Boujee Natives,” and multiple awards including their first Juno nomination.

At Taiga Yoga, our goal is to make yoga accessible for all, respecting both Western and Eastern philosophies. We offer a safe and diverse class schedule, adjusting to seasonal changes. Taiga Yoga & Therapy Centre provides SAD lighting, a yoga reference resource, herbal teas, and complementary therapies for your well-being.

The Johnnys deliver three-minute blasts of jet-fuelled rock’n’roll, with cheeky lyrics and anthemic choruses! Veronica’s Cree heritage is reflected in Indigenous influences on topics of the environment, social justice, and political change. 

Since their humble beginnings as high-school best friends almost two decades ago (the band formed in 2006), they have been grinding away tour after tour - visiting over 25 countries - and album after album - this is their 10th LP. Their sound has always evolved as they have grown, and worked with different labels and producers, but it has always stayed true to the psychedelic vision those kids had years ago at the very beginning.

Veronica Blackhawk is a 2-spirit Anishinaabe & Cree multidisciplinary artist from Northwest Angle #33, Ontario. They are the leader and principal songwriter of the band Tinge, an indie-rock trio based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Following the release of their debut EP, “Big Deep Sigh”, Tinge garnered attention from the GRAMMYs - naming the band one of "five Indigenous artists you need to know.”

The Yellowknives Dene Drummers are from the communities of Ndilo and Dettah, and include all ages. The drummers can be booked for Northern style celebrations, event opening prayer songs and celebration songs, drum dances and hand games demonstrations.