Music NWT

DIY Touring and Showcasing: A Guide to Putting Yourself Out There
2025-07-18 13:15 (America/Yellowknife) | Northern United Place, 5403 Franklin Ave, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2N6, Canada
Join us for a FREE panel on Friday, July 19 at 1:15 PM at Northern United Place (5403 Franklin Ave, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N6).

Presented by Folk On The Rocks, the National Arts Centre, and Music NWT, this session is all about practical advice for getting your music on the road and onto festival stages. Join our five industry-expert panellists for an in-depth discussion.

No registration required—just show up, sign-in, and take notes. Coffee, tea, and light snacks will be provided.

Old Town Ramble and Ride
2025-08-01 - 2025-08-04
Get ready for the Old Town Ramble and Ride Festival, August 1 to 3 in Sǫ̀mbak’è (Yellowknife), located on Chief Drygeese Territory, home of the Yellowknives Dene and traditional lands of the North Slave Metis!

This year’s festival showcases incredible live performances, from jazz and classical guitar to Zimbabwe hip hop. Visual arts initiatives include a commissioned public art mural by Christopher McMillan, live painting with Diane Boudreau and the annual Trashformation Art Show organized by Ecology North and sponsored by Guy Architects. Local businesses will be offering specials and hosting events in their venues. Festival-goers can enjoy an array of local vendors, offering art, crafts and culinary delights.
Expect hours and hours of fun for kids, including bouncy castles, face painting and children’s performers.

The Friday night Kick-Off concert welcomes local feature performers Ryan McCord, who’s been singing and playing folk music in Yellowknife for over 20 years; Munya Mataruse, a high-energy crowd pleaser; Juno-nominated Carmen Braden and a band of talented contemporary musicians as well as Taylor Saracuse and Other Dead People which is sure to leave everyone in high spirits.

Saturday and Sunday performers include:– Jonathan Antoine– Alex Ketchum– 9 Sixx– Sunaira– Stray Dogs– Yellowknives Dene Drummers– DJ Sami– Peekaboo Kazoo– MT with Kerry Wheler– LJJ– Johnny Vu– Ben Cornel– Gi Debogorski– Andrea Bettger Duo– Great Shave Lake

Take a listen to a sample of the performers with the Old Town Ramble and Ride Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7DHxKUFw0NmQeWPVtAEe1Z

Other Festival Activities:– Over 35 vendors offering food, arts and unique gifts throughout Old Town– Family-friendly fun like face painting, bouncy castles and special children’s performers– Full-day garage sale (Saturday)– Hot dog BBQ and Ice cream sale– Passport to Old Town Prize Draw– Architectural Walking Tour with Wayne Guy– Far North Photography Festival Photo Gallery– Latham Island Neighbourhood Association Bike Parade– Somba K’e Paddling Club’s Annual Latham Island Paddle Race

Look out for the full festival schedule at http://OldTownYK.com

Fireweed Festival NT
2025-08-22 10:00 - 2025-08-24 19:00 | Fort Smith, Fort Smith, NT, Canada
Get ready for 3 days of epic music, arts, and culture under the stunning northern sky!

Live performancesIncredible artistsWorkshops & vendorsClassic car legend Mike Hall

Unforgettable experiences

Spread the word—tell your friends, family & road trip crew!

Mastering Conferences: Preparing for Artist Showcases
2025-09-02 19:00 - 20:00
Music NWT is excited to host Mastering Conferences — an online presentation with Claire Boning, co-owner of Misfit Music Management, on Tuesday, September 2 at 7pm MST.

This in-depth session is designed to help artists make the most of their showcase opportunities. Whether you’re stepping into your first official showcase or looking to refine your approach, Claire will cover:

– Understanding official showcases and export readiness– Setting realistic goals and expectations– Showcase timeline: before, during, and after– Reaching out to industry contacts and securing meetings– Available grants and travel best practices– Networking, safety, and wellness at conferences– Effective follow-ups and relationship building

About the Speaker:
Claire Boning is the co-owner of Misfit Music Management and Odd Doll Records, managing artists such as Kimmortal, Jade Turner, Kelly Bado, and Kaïa Kater. With extensive experience in artist development, export strategies, and years as both an artist and industry professional, Claire brings invaluable insight into navigating the conference circuit.

Free to attend — register today! https://us02web.zoom.us/…/register/ofoRn-m7SLCNSKPvr7b5fA

Funny Farm Presents:Slash Need, Slickeur, HYFY at The Underground
2025-09-04 19:30 - 2025-09-05 02:00 | The Underground, 4910 Franklin Ave,, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S5, Canada
The farm is happy to join HYFY and Slickeur as they welcome the Toronto-based industrial/goth outfit Slash Need.

Slash Need

A confrontational, camp and seductive dramaturge. Slash Need have earned a reputation for putting on high-energy theatrical live performances. The duo craft songs that slither, satirize, and scream. Sonically aligned with artists like Boy Harsher, Ministry, and Skinny Puppy, their live show traces an urgency familiar to anyone who’s ever felt combustible in their rage against systems of power. Served up raw, Slash Need’s distinct style of propulsive techno and metallic darkwave serves as the backdrop to a unpredictable, ever-changing, and communal performance piece.

Following a viral bout of unplanned, and gratifying, attention from right wing media in 2023 after their lore-making performance at Toronto Pride, the group has developed a cult following. (A widely-circulated video earned 2.3 million views with one comment calling the group ”nasty, filthy perverts”.) Conjuring the essence of cherry red lipstick smudged on the rim of a spilled energy drink, baby powder masquerading as Chanel perfume; pheromones, smoke machines, and crossed wires, Toronto’s Slash Need is an invitation: demanding that we blur the line between repulsion and desire, to arrive at a fierce reclamation of personal autonomy.

Slickeur
A self-declared “potato in drag,” Slickeur brings fierce femme and campy character to stages across North America. Slickeur dabbles in burlesque, drag, clowning, and countless other mediums for physical storytelling. They currently teach dance and make art in Yellowknife (Chief Drygeese territory and the traditional lands of the Yellowknives Dene).

HYFY
HYFY is Cat, Kay, René, and Peter. They play unlistenable music about intractable issues. If you’re high, bi, or just some guy, you’ll dig HYFY.

R&B: All White Edition
2025-09-06 21:00 - 2025-09-07 02:00 | Top Knight, 4910 49 St 2nd Floor, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 1P3, Canada
Join DJ Tmixxy for a night of smooth R&B, grown & sexy vibes, and straight fire on the dance floor. From timeless throwbacks to the latest slow burners, this night is all about celebrating good music and even better company — in style.

Tom Hudson Country Album Release and Dance
2025-09-12 19:00 - 2025-09-13 02:00 | Top Knight, 4910 49 St 2nd Floor, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 1P3, Canada
Tom Hudson is releasing a new album called “When We Are One”. An eight piece band will perform the music from Tom’s first album “Dance Among The Stars” and then perform the music from the new album. Featuring musicians Lee Mandeville, Shane Daniels, Bobbi Bouvier, Theoron Daniels, Norman Glowach, Pat Braden, Paul White and Dave Martineau.

The Underground Presents: The Reel Thing
2025-09-18 20:00 - 22:00 | The Underground, 4910 Franklin Ave,, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S5, Canada
Andrea Bettger and Gina Burgess will be having some fun Thursday night with some help from friends to start your weekend off right!

$20.00 admission. A jam night will follow after.

Kiuryaq
2025-09-19 19:30 - 22:30 | Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC), 4701 52nd Ave, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2N7, Canada
Kiuryaq is an immersive circumpolar theatre performance that explores our relationship with the Northern Lights. It is a multi-disciplinary piece created in collaboration with sound composers, digital media artists, and theatre artists from Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of Canada, Greenland, Sápmi territory and Alaska.

We follow these northern stories of connection that inspire us through the aurora borealis, or kiuryaq in Inuvialuktun. These stories – frightening, spiritual, epic and playful – are situated in our memories of then and experiences of now. All are held in our vast cosmologies, converging in ways that could not have imagined when this journey began.

Kiuryaq is about two siblings born in the North, an older sister and a younger brother. One is taken down south by a forced adoption and raised with no knowledge of their place of birth, the other is raised under the Aurora with their grandparents. Under the ancestral connection of the Northern Lights, choices are made that change both their realities.

Kiuryaq is a transformative performance work which brings the circumpolar region together to share wisdom, warnings and humour to all those who are curious. In form, Kiuryaq blends theatre, with three performers embodying multiple roles; concert, featuring original music played by a live string quartet; and film, with expansive, immersive projections.

Cold Fusion: Psychedelia
2025-09-27 19:00 - 23:00 | Top Knight, 4910 49 St 2nd Floor, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 1P3, Canada
Join us for an unforgettable experience with psychedelic light projections, jazz fusion and movement that will take you on a journey like no other.

Cold Fusion has been dazzling Yellowknife audiences for two years now with their heavy funk grooves, blistering guitar solos and screaming organ patches. For their next performance however, things are getting even trippier as Cold Fusion brings you a complete audiovisual experience with real liquid light projections and a carefully chosen mix of covers and new original music to trance out to.

Liquid light shows date back to the 1960s with modified slide projectors, oil dyes and alcohols being used to create swirling colourful psychedelic projections to accompany early electronic music and avant garde theatre performances. They were later used by rock and psychedelic music groups including Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane.

In a world that is increasingly leaning towards computer generated AI imagery, there is something about the organic, “goopy”, and often random and unpredictable nature of these old analog effects that just can’t be replicated.
Local multimedia artist Sunaïra will be at the helm of the liquid light journey, bringing their considerable experience with audiovisual art to the liquid light table.

Don’t miss out on this fusion of music and light that will delight all of your senses. Cold Fusion: Psychedelia is an event that will be talked about for years to come.

Venue: The Top KnightDoors: 7pmShow: 8pm-11pmAdmission: $30 cash

It's Getting Dark: Bowling Dance Party
2025-10-04 21:30 - 2025-10-05 01:00 | Kingpin Bowling Centre, Yellowknife, NT, Canada
Back by popular demand, it’s the “It’s Getting Dark” bowing rave fundraiser! All procceeds from the event will go towards putting on the second edition of Still Dark. Featuring local DJ’s Seb, DJ Puppy, and DJ Tmixxy, you’re not going to want to miss out on this.

Your ticket will entitle you to:-Bowling shoes-All you can bowl access between 9:30 PM and 1:00 AM-Sweet tunes courtesy of some amazing local talent

Tickets are $60.00, non-refundable.

Artist Development and Social Media Marketing
2025-10-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom, Canada
Music NWT is excited to host Artist Development and Social Media Marketing — an online presentation with Claire Boning, co-owner of Misfit Music Management, on Monday, October 27 at 7pm MST via Zoom.
The music industry is changing faster than ever, so how do we keep up?
In this session, we’ll cut through common industry myths and explore how today’s artists can build careers with flexibility, creativity, and business savvy. We’ll dive into how social media is one of the most powerful tools for fan discovery, community building, and visibility, even when you don’t have a full team behind you.
We’ll also take a peek at practical ways to treat your music like a business including how to create a strong brand, release strategies, showcasing opportunities, and relationship building. Whether you’re just starting out or growing your momentum, this session will help you better understand what modern artist development looks like and how to create meaningful partnerships that support your goals.
Register here.

Intro to Sync: How to Get Your Music in Film & TV
2025-11-07 18:30 - 19:30 | The Explorer Hotel, 4825 49th Ave, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2R3, Canada
Ever wonder how to get your music on the big screen (or your fave binge-worthy show)? ⁠Join Folk On The Rock for an Intro to Sync: How to Get Your Music in Film & TV. A free panel featuring top music supervisors, publishers, and artists ready to spill the secrets of sync.⁠
Panelists include:
-Host: Taylor Shephard, Funny Farm Music-Adrienne LaBelle, Wave Pool Sync-Amy Eligh, Arts & Crafts Publishing-Claudia Campos Jugo, Disco-Natasha Duprey, Music Supervisor-Carmen Braden, Artist

Participants who pre-register will also have the opportunity to book one-on-one meetings with panelists following the discussion.⁠ Nov 7, 2025⁠ 6:30 PM⁠ Explorer Hotel, Yellowknife⁠

About the panelists:
Adrienne LaBelleAdrienne LaBelle is the founder of Wavepool Sync, a sync licensing agency based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, colonially known as Vancouver. Wavepool is dedicated to championing independent artists and helping them to build sustainable careers by representing their songs for sync licensing opportunities, helping to place their music in films, television, advertising, and beyond. Adrienne first got involved in the sync world via Mint Records, where they co-managed the label as well as the sync licensing department. During their time at Mint, they helped to secure placements for Mint artists in popular shows such as Yellowjackets and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, as well as indie films Door Mouse and Infinity Pool, to name a few. Since moving on from Mint, Adrienne has built Wavepool, a new sync agency looking to grow and build lasting relationships with artists, composers, and music supervisors alike.

Amy ElighAmy Eligh began her career in Publishing at Casablanca Media / Red Brick Songs in the Copyright and Royalties department, before moving into Creative – where she successfully stationed herself for over a decade before moving to Arts & Crafts Music.Within her role as Director of Publishing & Licensing, Amy pitches large-scale catalogue of songs for film, trailers, advertising, video games, and TV (US & Canada) as well as oversees the day to day within the department. In addition to pitching, Amy organizes showcases for clients / songwriters with TV networks, music supervisors, and advertisers. She also develops new writers, arranges co-writing sessions, coordinates and hosts song-writing camps, and scouts for talent.At Arts & Crafts Music, Amy works with Broken Social Scene, Dear Rouge, Old Man Saxon, Marcus Paquin, Dan Mangan, bülow, Cary Brothers, Sarah MacDougall, David Vertesi, Jordan Klassen, Sylo and many more. Amy is also on the Board of Directors for Music Publishers Canada and the Chair of the FACTOR Board.

Claudia Campos JugoClaudia Campos Jugo is an Account Executive at DISCO.ac, where she helps music teams streamline their workflows and stay in sync. With a background in artist management and deep expertise in metadata, she specializes in bridging the gap between creative and operational teams. Claudia is passionate about helping users unlock the full potential of DISCO to connect siloed processes and keep projects moving smoothly. She’s excited to bring her perspective to “An Intro to Sync” and demystify the tools that power modern music collaboration.

Natasha DupreyNatasha Duprey is an award-winning music supervisor based in Vancouver who has supervised thousands of hours of episodic television including the series The L Word, Kids In the Hall, Snowpiercer, ConDnuum, The Terror and Let The Right One In as well as feature films like the Bobby Farrelly-directed Champions starring Woody Harrelson and documentaries including the 4-part EPIX series PUNK! and the Emmy Award winning Boys State and Girls State.Natasha recently completed a trio of epic horror films – the smash hit Nicholas Cage film Longlegs (the highest grossing independent film of 2024), the A-24 feature HereDc starring Hugh Grant (who garnered BAFTA and Golden Globe nods) and The Monkey (based on a short story by Stephen King who called it “batshit crazy”). She is currently working on the third seasons of the series Allegiance and My Life With The Walter Boys (Netflix #1 global series) and the new Oz Perkins films Keeper and The Young People and much more.Natasha is the founding Vice President and current board member of the Guild of Music Supervisors Canada.

Carmen BradenCarmen 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. Praised for her “charismatic vocal performances, engaging lyrics and magnetic beats” (FV Music Blog UK) and compared to artists as wide-ranging as Joni Mitchell and Radiohead, Carmen’s music and her groove-rooted band makes space for shining textures and crystalline melodies. Her lyric-driven writing delves into the beauty and struggles of the everyday: reflecting parenthood, relationships, and the female body with joy, stark realness, and undercurrents of quirky humour.Raised in Yellowknife, and now raising her own young family in the ‘knife, ya she likes it up north. Records ice sometimes, or ravens. Carmen has created lots of music for humans in groups like choirs, soloists and small classical cover bands (aka chamber music ensembles like string quartets), and the occasional orchestra. The occasional foray into music for film, theatre and dance. She’s got 4 super-diferent-sounding albums out in the world made with longtime producer Mark Adam and the latest one is so deadly: “A Hard Light” is all singer songwriter craft + studio crazy gorgeous. Some kind folks have said her songwriting is “quirky and clever…à la Joni Mitchell” (The WholeNote). That was sure nice of them to say!

Brenden Macintosh / Upper Mall Rats
2025-11-08 19:30 - 22:00 | The Underground, 4910 Franklin Ave,, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S5, Canada
Doors open at 7:30pm
Tickets: $20 at door

Punk Goes Acoustic YK - Volume 2
2025-11-14 20:00 - 2025-11-15 01:00 | The Underground, 4910 Franklin Ave,, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S5, Canada
Life’s Not Air-Fair Fundraising event featuring performances by TURTLE, Cat McGurk, Upper Mall Mike and Peepee.

Ben Cornel + Hughes Release with Special Guest Wyatt C. Louis
2025-11-15 20:00 - 23:45 | The Black Knight, 4910 49 St, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 1P3, Canada
Wyatt C. Louis joins Ben Cornel and Hughes for a special night celebrating the release of their new EP and album.

An Intro to Sync Part 2
2025-12-14 12:00 - 13:00
Following the success of the Intro to Sync Panel earlier this month, we invite NWT-based musicians to join us for a part two Q&A series.

After an amazing response to our in-person sync panel, we’re excited to keep the conversation going! Join Folk On The Rocks and Music NWT for Part 2: Online Sync Q&A, a relaxed follow-up session where musicians can ask anything about music licensing for film, TV, ads, and more.
Whether you attended the first panel or are jumping in fresh, this session is open to all NWT-based musicians interested in learning more about the world of sync. Bring your questions, big or small, and get direct insight into how the industry works.
Panellists will include:

Host: Carmen Braden, Black Ice Sound
Adrienne LaBelle, Wave Pool Sync
Amy Eligh, Arts & Crafts
Natasha Duprey, Must Be Nice Productions

It’s free to attend, but space is limited, so don’t wait to sign up! Sign up here and you will receive a link to the Zoom session.

Still Dark Festival
2026-02-05 - 2026-02-09
Still Dark Festival is inspired by the northern tradition of caring for one another during the long, harsh winters. By working together – artists, venues, and community – Still Dark aims to create a festival space that brings people together for warmth and celebration in the coldest part of the year.

Folk On The Rocks
2026-07-17 - 2026-07-20 | Folk on the Rocks, 5102 49 St, Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3R8, Canada
Dance under the midnight sun at the 46th Annual Folks On The Rocks Music Festival, happening from July 17-19, 2026!
