SaskMusic

DONNY PARENTEAU

Donny Parenteau is a singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist and proud Métis country music artist born and raised in Prince Albert. Donny spent twelve years touring the world with country singer Neal McCoy; recording on multi-platinum selling albums & playing on numerous shows, including performances on The Grand Ole Opry & The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Alongside McCoy, Donny has shared the stage with country music icons such as Charlie Daniels, Merle Haggard, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, and Reba McEntire to name a few. After starting his solo career in 2003, Donny has garnered over one hundred nominations at eight major award shows, including three JUNO nominations and a Native American Music Award nomination. Donny is busy releasing new music, performing, giving school presentations and teaching at his Donny Parenteau School of Music.

NEW DAWN DRUM GROUP

New Dawn Drum Group is an all women's traditional drumming group from Treaty 6 Territory in La Ronge SK. Oldest to youngest our group consists of 4 sisters, Aleisha Charles, Margaret Bird, Marcia Bird and Ariel Charles. We have been singing healing songs together for 15 years. Our grandparents, Regina & Carson Poitras & Mabel Charles; our teacher Robert Ballantyne and late elder Fred Charles guided and encouraged us to continue singing. We began performing healing songs in our home community and surrounding communities during traditional ceremonies, round dances, culture camps and to honour others’ and their successes and to honour the lives of passed loved ones, then performing in surrounding cities and as far as Whitehorse to share our love of traditional music as well as our life stories. 
We continue to sing to pass along our knowledge of songs, our love of music and our story in hopes of finding our missing mother, Happy Charles, as well as inspiring other MMIW families to not give up, and in hopes of promoting/inspiring our people to lead healthier lifestyles. 

MYKAL GAMBULL

Mykal is a singer/songwriter influenced by daily life and the life lived. Currently releasing a couple singles to get back into the world of recorded art. Drawing influence from Rodney Crowell, Greg Keelor, John Prine, Erroll Ranville and many peers along the way, the songs written keep it simple and straightforward. It is hoped that the songs written will resonate within the listener or help to portray images with the stories and lines sung in his songs.

ROLAND CORRIGAL

Roland Corrigal’s life has been steeped in live country music from the beginning. It is no surprise that he upheld this tradition throughout his life playing with his family and various other bands. After receiving his first SCMA award in 2016, Roland has performed at concerts and festivals across Canada and an EP called ‘Small Town Life’. He also released a radio single called ‘Hot Summer Cool’ that has gotten airplay across the country and beyond. Along with another SCMA award win in 2017 for “Aboriginal Artist of the Year”, he was also nominated for “Emerging Artist” and “Album of the Year”. In the Spring of 2020 he released a new prairie themed single called ‘Prairiedise’.

BIG TONES

Anthony Pasqua aka Big Tones is an Indigenous Recording Artist born in Surrey BC. He grew up in Regina SK and has heavy ancestral ties to Treaty 4 Territory coming from Pasqua First Nation #79 & George Gordon First Nation #84. Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma, Big Tones uses music as an outlet, finding therapeutic release in storytelling through songwriting. Big Tones is a versatile artist, captivating performer and artist mentor. With a focus on old school hip hop sound, his powerful and soothing voice with intricate flows keeps listeners intrigued lyric after lyric. Big Tones shares his personal experience and offers perspectives on life through the eyes of Indigenous peoples. He moves audiences with his strong stage presence and masterful command of the mic. Big Tones uses hip hop as a vessel to communicate aspects of pain and trauma, moving through to healing, celebration and taking back pride through culture. Recently getting airtime on CBC Radio Active with his new single Creased AF1's, Big Tones is striving with a hunger for more. Big Tones has worked as an artist mentor with the Community Arts Mentorship Program, Paved Arts, Creative City Centre Regina and at Kilburn Hall. He appreciates the opportunity to encourage youth voices. He's recently paired up with the Remai Modern (Saskatoon) to premiere his music video "Open Ya Eyez" and his album with a live band on June 21 as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day. 

JARRID LEE

Immerse yourself in the soul-stirring world of Jarrid Lee, a rising country-rock sensation hailed for his unique blend of authentic narratives and compelling melodies. The Plains Cree musician, based in Saskatoon, is a multiple SCMA and Sask Music Awards nominee, cementing his place as a genuine voice in the country music scene. Fans of Don Amero, Brett Kissel, and Chris Stapleton will find a kindred spirit in Jarrid's artistry. Known for chart-topping singles like "That's How You Country," his music serves as a vibrant tapestry that weaves the cultural richness of Indigenous storytelling with universal themes of love, resilience, and community. Jarrid Lee isn't just an artist; he's a cultural ambassador echoing the calls for social change, showcased in his stirring guest blogs and philanthropic efforts.In this dual role of artist and advocate, Jarrid makes an indelible mark. His latest single, “I Don't Back Down,“ encapsulates this perfectly. The single explores themes of resiliency, shame, and being hurt by what you love - subject matter that resonates across cultural lines yet speaks to the unique experiences of the Indigenous community. And with guest blogs and advocacy work, he takes his message a step further, using his platform to speak on critical issues like his family's history with residential schools in Canada.

MAHIHKAN MUSIC 

Step into the electrifying world of Mahihkan Music, an electronic/EDM/industrial rock artist with influences ranging from Nine Inch Nails, The HalluciNation and Author and Punisher to GnR and Too Feet. Infused tracks with hypnotic feel and sound, including stunning light shows and visuals. Mahihkan Music has played Culture Days, Bringing our Children Home Protest Camp, First Nations Safety Association Conference, and various bar and pub gigs prior to COVID. Since then, Mahihkan has been writing and planning a genre change from hard rock into  electronic/industrial/indie, while keeping safe. This would be Mahihkan's first official live show since the pandemic.. Most recent achievements were opening and operating Mahihkan Music Studios, providing sound recording, production and live sound. From there, Mahihkan Music has branched into DJing and has performed many DJ sets post-COVID. Mahihkan has professionally released 8 professionally recorded tracks.

MELODIE GLIEM

"Soaring haunting vocals, hybrid picking style with a mix of smooth and gritty guitars, an infusion of musical influences, creating an original sound of rock inspired music." Melodie Gliem - lead vocals, rhythm guitar and songwriter for her band GLIEM - was a nominee in two categories in the Saskatchewan Indigenous Music Awards. The SaskArts Micro-Grant Program was received in support of attendance to this event. Various performances include Women in Music Networking Night and Song Share, interviewed for First Peoples Creating Interview Series, All Folk'd Up Music Festival, Telemiracle, The National Indigenous Peoples' Day Concert, Ness Creek Music Festival, live and streamed music performances, interviews, print articles and radio play. "Prayer for the One" is featured in a nature video of British Columbia Aerial Videography. New music is set for release this summer, including a song called "Strange Twist of Fate."

ALL GIRL CHILL

AGC recently performed for the Muskoday Music Festival on June 1st, and we got to share the stage with many amazing First Nations performers such as Eekwol and Rebecca Strong! We played for the Ness Creek Fundraiser at Amigos on April 14 and it was a huge success! We also played at the Ness Creek Drum and Dance circle last year and that was definitely a highlight for us. We were one of the selected musical acts for the National People's Day concert for SaskMusic and there were 16 acts. We did this in June of 2021 and it was a virtual concert due to COVID. We are currently in the process of writing some new original songs and we hope to record our songs over the summer. We will also be taking part in the music camp this year at the Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival this August and we cannot wait for this!

BRAIDED WAVES

Braided Waves is a blood brother duo currently residing in Treaty 6 Territory of Saskatoon. The brothers are originally from The Key First Nation in the Treaty 4 Territory. Both now share 10 years of sobriety each!! They have had the pleasure to travel to over 150 communities across Canada & the US, in 2024 the brothers hope share their stories of sobriety & struggles with addictions. Along with others topics such as Suicide, Bullying, Self-doubt, Grief & Loss & Mental Health. They have had the pleasure to showcase and share their music to thousands of people across Turtle Island in previous years. With the new year of 2024 Braided Waves hopes to pair their love of music with motivational speaking & storytelling a long with workshops. The brothers have trademarked their brand and sound, and plan to be a recognizable name all across the globe. They've had the pleasure to work in direct contact with people with Mental Health, Addictions & Homelessness over the past 3+ years. Along their journey they have been able to acquire Mental Health & First Aid, CPR & ASIST training. Braided Waves has a large catalog of music and content to share with the world and has begun to release music every 2 weeks! Music for people to witness and enjoy, Motivation to keep our children and peers alike on a positive path, Vision to see and chase our goals no matter the obstacles, what you believe in and hope to be, is worth fighting for! 

RAVEN REID

Indigenous folk singer songwriter Raven Reid was born in Yellowknife, NWT with genealogical ties to Mikisew First Nation, Alberta. She started writing short stories at the age of 6 and taught herself how to play the guitar in later years. As a self-taught musician, turning her poems and short stories into music was a natural progression into becoming the performer that she is today. Influenced by times of oppression and racism towards Indigenous people who were displaced as children by the Canadian Government, her music reflects with raw emotion, the very real experiences she has had in her life with love, hate, depression, happiness and growing up away from her biological family and community as part of the 60’s Scoop. Raven also sings about the generational trauma that many Indigenous families must battle with following policies implemented by the Government to assimilate the Indigenous people of Canada. After growing up in Prince Albert SK with her adoptive family, Raven now lives in Saskatoon with her two children, Elias and Willow. As a full-time performer, she has travelled to various music festivals such as Ness Creek, Dog Patch Music Festival, Doylefest, Waskesiu Lakeside Music Festival, and more to share her stories through song. Raven is also an accomplished public speaker and has shared her life experiences with schools, women’s summits, and sixties scoop survivor conventions. Raven recently signed with Merilainen Music Inc. and travelled to Toronto to record her upcoming EP, Changes.

SIREN CITY ENT (DONNY SAGE)

Nicholas Old Shoes (stage name Donny Sage) is a 24 year old rapper/ mc/ promoter from the Blood tribe reservation located on Treaty 7 territory. "I started my journey in music in 2016 when my friend introduced me to some local Lethbridge rappers, since then I’ve become a promoter, joined a rap group, and done a tour. I left that rap group and pursued my solo music career, Co founded and opened a studio in downtown Lethbridge for youth with a $25000 grant under the name EgolesAnonymous, but since then parted ways from the non profit organization to start my own promotion company Siren City Entertainment  based out of Saskatoon . Released my first EP “In Retrospect” and album “responsibly on one” with Alchemy, the Linguist, with who I collaborate frequently. Along with Alchemy, the Linguist and K.Stone (Siren City Ent. co-founder) we aimed to make more than just music, but to bring the community together with the artist showcases we host every couple months and annual festivals. I have 6 years worth of performance experience, headling shows, placing in competitions, and have opened up/performed with bigger artists such as Drezus, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Junk, Young Stitch, Afromanx Arrow c, Tony Yayo, Cartel Madras, and Charlie Fettah of Winnipeg's Most, Members of SDK, Tony Toosick and dave east.