Join us for the Friday evening opening ceremony to kick off the Markham Village Music Festival 2025! The ceremony will be led by Kim Wheatley. She is an Ojibwe, Anishinaabe Grandmother from Shawanaga First Nation Reserve, who carries the spirit name Head or Leader of the Fireflower and who is Turtle Clan. Kim will perform a prayer, blessing and smudging ceremony. 

North of 49 is an exciting band that performs throughout the GTA playing some of the best classic rock & pop from the 70’s to the 90’s. You’ll hear favourites from bands like Journey, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Doobie Brothers and more. The band has been playing together for over 17 years.

A Markham resident his whole life, and currently a student at Toronto Metropolitan studying in his third year, he’s been making music professionally throughout and received a c-sign from Timbaland.

Tearing through Canada on a groundswell of breezy, gripping slacker rock, non-binary singer-songwriter CJ Wiley doesn’t waste any time. In ballads twanged slightly country, anthems skewed slightly grunge, Wiley’s musical project leads with their distinct voice, armed withthe wit, candour, and energy of an artist with a striking perspective and a heart that demands to be heard. In their wide-reaching catalogue, a spectrum of soulful Sheryl Crow Americana and the electric grumblings of Garbage, sometimes in the space of a single song, they’ve carved out a decisive path for themselves in tongue-in-cheek stories about starting fresh, loss, gender, and how expensive it is to be alive.

Get ready to rock and feel the pulse of electrifying melodies! The DNAS is a powerhouse band uniting Simon's dynamic bass, Ken and Daniel's captivating guitar riffs, Adam's thunderous drumming, and Natalia's soulful vocals. With our signature blend of rock and pop music, we'll take you on an unforgettable sonic journey. Join us as we make the stage come alive.

Eunice Keitan is a Malaysian-Canadian singer-songwriter who seamlessly blends her diverse cultural heritage into her music. Drawing inspiration from her Canadian, Malaysian, Chinese roots, she creates a rich sound that merges Soul with traditional global soundscapes and multiple languages. A dynamic force in the Canadian live music scene, Eunice captivates audiences both as a band leader and a solo loop pedal artist, building intricate sonic layers through live guitar, bass, harmonies, and beatboxing for an immersive experience.

Antonietta and Sandra are BESTIES who share the same LOVE of Country Music and line dancing. We wanted to offer a FUN place where people could go, meet new people, line dance, stomp their boots to GREAT music and not stress about a dress code, and simply have fun on any given night in Toronto, York Region and Durham Region.

The Human Rights first came together in 2007, around the talents and vision of lead singer and Toronto Reggae lion Friendlyness (Big Sugar, Culture Shock, Truth And Rights), drummer Eric Woolston (Maylee Todd, The Hooded Fang), versatile bassman Tyler Wagler and the band’s original keyboardist Bernie Pitters (Toots & The Maytals, Hit Squad), who passed away in 2023 and in whose loving memory the band continues forward. The band quickly gained a reputation as an up-and-coming original band warming the stage for the likes of The Wailers, Gregory Isaacs, Beres Hammond, John Holt, Freddie McGregor, Sanchez, and other top international Reggae artists. The Human Rights recently had the opportunity to open for American roots-rock legends The Black Crowes at Casino Rama in front of over 5,000 people.

Kingston, Ontario band Kasador have never been scared of change. And the three friends at Kasador’s core—Cameron Wyatt (vocals/guitar), Boris Baker (bass), and Stephen Adubofuor (drums)—have been through a lot of it. They’ve woven years of tumult through their mid- and late-20s into something powerful and real: a tight-knit, sincere, and caring rock and roll band hitting full sprint, with their new full-length record about youth, memory, relationships, and how the relentless passage of time shapes and constantly reshapes all of those things. It’s a bright, punkish, emotional guitar-rock record that ultimately tracks the process of learning to be okay with not being okay.


After sharing stages with Arkells, July Talk, Sam Roberts Band and The Glorious Sons, and racking up 350,000 spins of their 2019 debut full-length in six months, Kasador recorded their new LP ‘Youth’ with The Glorious Sons’ Brett Emmons producing and Nyles Spencer (Half Moon Run, July Talk) engineering. Vic Florencia (Olivia Rodrigo, Jason Mraz, Five For Fighting) mixed the record and Peter Letros (Beyonce, Duran Duran) mastered. The result on record is an essential document of a band realizing that things won’t—can’t—last forever, and how to make sense of the gap between youthful dreams and very adult realities. It’s all the more reason that the band is ready to burst out of the gate and storm stages across North America with Youth: nothing lasts forever.

Jessia is a Canadian pop sensation from Ucluelet, British Columbia, best known for her 2021 single "I'm Not Pretty”.

She won the Juno Award for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2022, and was nominated for Single of the Year for "I'm Not Pretty", Pop Album of the Year for How Are You? and the Fan Choice Award. "I'm Not Pretty" was certified gold by RIAA in April 2022

Simple songs for simple life: a concept the husband/wife duo from Bracebridge, Ontario are becoming familiar with lately.

After moving North in 2021, the pair decided to dive into the vibrant Muskoka music scene! Calling the Bracebridge Hall their second home, Todd & Robyn have had the rare opportunity to develop their live chops all while being supported to write original music. With soulful harmonies and lively tambourine, this Folksy Americana duo will not disappoint.

Los Moralitos is a Latin Fusion band in Markham, Ontario in Canada. Their latest single is "My House is Burning", Los Moralitos is an emerging band performing local festivals in Canada.

Video Of The Year at The 2024 International Portuguese Music Awards, Band Of The Year at The 2024 Gussapolooza Music Festival, European and U.S. tour dates in 2025... This is just the start of something much bigger.

Loves story telling through music and is inspired by people and life.

Hisko & Clarke is an alternative folk duo from Ontario, Canada. Featuring two powerhouse vocalists and recording artists who will impress audiences with their unique blend of alternative folk, rock, country and blues. Marlene Clarke (vocals, keys) and Jenn Hisko (vocals, guitar) met recently at a charity event where they were instantly drawn to one another’s voices.

They will captivate listeners with a unique soulful harmonic blend alongside heartfelt original songwriting and an eclectic blend of cover songs that showcase their broad range of influences and genres.

After just 1 year performing as a harmonic duo, Hisko & Clarke has captured audiences at various music festivals and music venues spanning York, Durham, GTA and Simcoe/Muskoka regions. 2025 promises to be a year of performing, songwriting and touring the east coast of Canada in July. Catch them while you can!

High Ceiling are a 4-piece Canadian Funk/Soul/Classic Rock band from Toronto, Canada. The band formed in 2024 from a collection of powerful, talented and committed artists who met in Toronto and who all just couldn't get enough of Eta James, CCR and Rush. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses tight musicality and Powerful Vocals with solid timing and personality galore, that will make you want to dance. You can't help but move!

The School of Rock Markham House Band is a group of 15-18 year olds who play a variety of music ranging from Rock to R&B and beyond. The group is audition-only and features the best kids in the school. Over the past 12 years, the house band have toured the United States 7 times as well as doing a week-long residency at the Hard Rock Resort in Punta Cana. In the past, the House Band has played at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH, and played in other American cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Nashville and many more. They’re getting ready for another tour of the United States this summer! School of Rock Markham is a performance-based music school in Markham, ON offering programs from the age of 4 all the way up to adult programs.

We’re not sure where it came from, maybe we had attended one too many funerals, but we both agreed that life was now, living our dream was now and that we weren’t going to wait until retirement to play a few gigs. fortysomething became our escape

Michael is a Markham-based singer/songwriter who has entertained audiences at music festivals, street performances, farmers’ markets and restaurant/bars in the GTA and surrounding areas. Michael performs unique folk/pop originals and covers of classic singer/songwriters and bands from the 60’s through 90’s including Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, The Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, etc. He is known for his captivating vocals and distinctive finger and flat picking guitar techniques.

Hey we’re Unit 2 a local band attempting to bring a more alternative rock sound to the Markham scene. We play music similar to Nirvana and Deftones and would love for you to come out!

Calling all kids and kids at heart ❤️ Join Dan the Music Man, one of Canada's favourite family performers, songwriters and recording artists of musical family fun for a musical adventure that will warm your heart, stretch your imagination and find your funny bone!

The Tonedogs are a 3 pc Texas Rock n Blues combo with a bit of Surf and vintage 60s music in the mix..The Tonedogs have been playing the Toronto and area for 20 years

Canadian indie-folk artist Evan Denley is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Denley’s music is rife with soulful melodies and earnest acoustic refrains, defined by the warmth and grit of his vocals. Each of Evan’s songs delves into confessional truths about life, love, and the times.

WhatAboutBob has been a staple of the Markham Village Music Festival since 1992.

A five-piece vocal classic rock group with great songs and audience participation

Kennedy LaPenna is an emerging indie-folk artist from York Region, Ontario.
An authentic story-teller, Kennedy doesn’t shy away from the “messy stuff”. Putting raw emotion at the forefront of their songwriting- they instead embrace and celebrate the vulnerability that accompanies the human experience. Her rich, textured voice, saturated with emotion that can be only described as wearing her heart on her sleeve, showcases her strength as both vocalist and songwriter.
Their debut single “Breakdown of Tofino” filled with cresting acoustic guitar and gentle, atmospheric riffs, is a bitter-sweet reflection on the never ending search for the place where you belong.
Drawing influence from her favourite artists such as Joni Mitchell, Big Thief, Half Moon Run, and Bon Iver, Kennedy blends simplistic acoustic guitar with modern sound, experimenting with open tunings and intricate finger-picking styles.

The Markham Concert Band was formed in 1978, and with over 80 members, we are one of the largest community bands in Canada! Band members include young and old from many fields of endeavour, all brought together with one purpose in mind - to serve the community with the best in concert band music

A cover band from Markham, Ontario playing everything from Traffic to The Tragically Hip.

We’re not sure where it came from, maybe we had attended one too many funerals, but we both agreed that life was now, living our dream was now and that we weren’t going to wait until retirement to play a few gigs. fortysomething became our escape

The Brian Wride Trio are a neo-skiffle band combining elements of folk, blues, and country into original takes on songs of love, loss, longing and dysfunction - songs old and new, well-known and obscure. Complementing Brian's guitar and lead vocals are Jon Grove on bass and vocals and Brad Jefferies on drums, harmonica, and vocals.

The Brian Wride Trio are exclusively a live act. They are nostalgic for the time before recorded music where music could only be enjoyed in a live setting.

With a captivating voice, Paige Warner, the “soulful Ontario songstress” (Billboard), creates alt-pop music with soul-inspired vocal licks layered on catchy hooks of poetic lyrics. Though her career started as a busker in her small Ontario hometown, it has led her to perform on stages such as Massey Hall’s TD Music Hall, Yonge-Dundas Square, Summerfolk, and share stages with iconic artists including Ron Sexsmith, Lori Yates, and Monowhales. Her songwriting is catchy and emotive, with lyrics touching on themes of heartbreak, female resilience, and love.

"STEPH is a young emerging artist/singer/songwriter from Markham. She performs around the GTA, fronting her own band and is also one of the two lead singers for The Blackboard Blues Band; a well known multi-decade GTA based band. STEPH is an active member of the local York Region music community that has performed as a returning artist at Markham Village Music Festival, Stouffville‘s Wintersong Music Festival, and more.

STEPH has released two singles on all streaming platforms and is currently working on an EP to be released in the near future.

As a student of Professional Music at the Toronto Metropolitan University, she connects with others through the universal language of music, and is making it her career to keep live music relevant in the GTA and abroad."

Ian Marc is a singer, songwriter, producer, multi instrumentalist who has been into music since he was very young. He learned to sing, play guitar, bass guitar, drums, piano. He has released several singles both in English and Spanish already on all music streaming platforms, which he has self produced, and plans to release more in the near future. His creations are fusions with an inclination to pop and latin music.

From personal, emotionally-driven love songs to fictional, lyric-based stories, Chris holds dear the craft of songwriting. Continuing to develop as a performer, he strives to transpose his passion to the best of his ability.

The Evelynne Ross Trio is a dynamic Canadian folk/pop/rock group hailing from Toronto and Markham. With over 20 years of musical synergy, this powerhouse trio blends experience, artistry, and undeniable chemistry to create an unforgettable live experience.

Featuring the extraordinary songwriting of Evelynne Ross, whose emotionally resonant lyrics and memorable hooks have earned her recognition as a rock luminary by Canadian Beats, the Trio delivers a sound that is both timeless and captivating.

Joined by Howard Rabkin (guitar/bass guitar, backing vocals) and Henry Lees (backing vocals, percussion), these seasoned musicians bring Ross’s original repertoire to life with tight harmonies, masterful musicianship, and infectious energy that will have you singing along from the first note.

Rooted in the vibrant Greater Toronto and York Region music scene, The Evelynne Ross Trio continues to win over audiences with performances that leave a lasting impression.

Thornton, Ontario’s Francesca Panetta is an old soul who describes herself as a “Transcendentalist Wayfinder”. With a heavy focus on songwriting, she is often stimulated by personal evolution. Francesca has released a six-song EP, titled When the Sunshine Rains, as well as a series of singles. With the release of her latest track, September Weather, Francesca transitions into a more avant garde, psychedelic sound. All while remaining strong in her messages of self-development. These fresh themes will continue on in new music, coming 2025. Francesca’s moody tones, introspective lyrics and 4-octave vocal range captivate any audience, leaving them entranced.

Wayne Madder, Songwriter, recipient Album of the Year OMAs2022 and Honorable Mention winner ISC2023.

The Commodities are a 4 piece rock n roll band from Toronto, ON. They perform covers of classic rock songs from the 1960s and 70s, and a handful of original tunes. The band formed in 2024 and are fronted by lead singer Avalon Tucci.

The Blackboard Blues Band are the GTA's foremost R'n'B band playing songs from the 60's to the present. Four horns , two singers and a tight rhythm section leads to great fun and lots of dancing!

I'm a live looper artist playing guitar, keyboard, and drums. Covering bands like The Kings of Leon, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and more!

Rise Carmine are swinging the doors wide open on the psych-rock scene in a new genreless world. With an unabashedly eclectic sound equally rooted in 90s alternative and new-age psychedelia, Rise Carmine is keen on leaning into genres outside of the rock/alternative sphere. Their sound can best be described as the perfect mix between Tame Impala, Radiohead, and Royal Blood.

Their electric live show has earned them recent support slots for The Mysterines, The Amazons, We Are Scientists and Kasador. Rise Carmine also made an appearance at Supercrawl, NXNE, CMW, Wintersong and Unplugged North at the El Mocambo.

With the release of the first singles ‘Razorblades’, ‘Do The Right Drugs, Kids’, and ‘Once A Lover, Now Undercover', and 'Sadistic, (I Like It Too)' Rise Carmine is preparing to release a debut album next year

I am inspired by the various musical styles of Louisiana from Creole, Cajun, Swamp Pop, Blues and New Orleans Jazz. My primary instrument is the Cajun Box and the Piano Accordion and I perform both solo and with my band. I have traveled extensively to southwestern Louisiana to learn the music, language and cultures from such a diverse region. In addition to my travels to Louisiana, I have traveled to the Maritimes in Canada to further my understanding of the Acadian culture and how it continues to connect with Cajun music.

While writing about her frustrating experiences as a young woman finding her voice and identity while navigating an ever changing world, Deanna Petcoff explores the ins and outs of love and heartbreak. Her rich, deep, textured voice juxtaposes her soft imagery and vulnerable, honest lyrics, welcoming us into a world where even a fleeting moment of emotion can become its own monument, and where gentle guitars can navigate otherwise messy waters.


Playing her own unique brand of beautiful and confessional indie rock, Petcoff grew up worshipping the music of David Bowie and Patti Smith. With heart-on-her-sleeve, emotive lyricism that showcases her strength as a songwriter and a vocalist, "Failing Upwards" is a shimmering track with a jangling, surfy chorus guitar riff that really makes it shine, an ode to falling in love hard and fast and reevaluating it after those heady initial days pass. Petcoff is an amalgamation of everyone she’s ever met, a tangle of emotions and a songwriting force.

Triple Play

I am inspired by the various musical styles of Louisiana from Creole, Cajun, Swamp Pop, Blues and New Orleans Jazz. My primary instrument is the Cajun Box and the Piano Accordion and I perform both solo and with my band. I have traveled extensively to southwestern Louisiana to learn the music, language and cultures from such a diverse region. In addition to my travels to Louisiana, I have traveled to the Maritimes in Canada to further my understanding of the Acadian culture and how it continues to connect with Cajun music.

Dear Rouge is a Canadian alt-pop duo formed by the dynamic husband-and-wife duo of Drew and Danielle McTaggart. With their infectious sound, blending electronic pop, rock, and indie influences, Dear Rouge has captivated audiences across Canada and beyond. Their music, both anthemic and intimate, is known for its emotionally charged lyrics, soaring melodies, and powerful vocal performances.

Since their breakout in 2013 with the release of their debut album "Black to Gold", Dear Rouge has consistently delivered hits that resonate deeply with listeners. The duo’s 2014 single “I Heard I Had” was a chart-topping success, earning them widespread recognition in the Canadian music scene. Their ability to create infectious tracks with a mix of dark and uplifting energy has earned them multiple accolades and nominations, including a JUNO Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year in 2015 and a nomination for Rock Album of the Year at the 2020 JUNO Awards for their album "Phases."

Dear Rouge has had several notable chart successes, with tracks like “Boys & Girls” reaching the top of the Canadian alt-radio charts. The duo's songs have been streamed millions of times across platforms like Spotify, where they boast over 25 million streams across their discography. Their music has also been featured on popular television shows and commercials, further expanding their reach.

In addition to their JUNO nominations, Dear Rouge has been nominated for multiple Canadian Music Week Awards, SOCAN Awards, and have won several Western Canadian Music Awards. Their electrifying live performances have made them a staple at major music festivals, including the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and Osheaga in Montreal.

Dear Rouge continues to carve their own path in the Canadian music landscape, bringing an energy and depth to their music that is both critically acclaimed and widely loved by fans. With a growing international following and a career that continues to rise, Dear Rouge’s innovative sound and boundary-pushing creativity make them a standout act in the Canadian music scene

The drums and beats of Samba Squad are a seething cauldron of pulsating rhythms.They bring the party to the street.

I am inspired by the various musical styles of Louisiana from Creole, Cajun, Swamp Pop, Blues and New Orleans Jazz. My primary instrument is the Cajun Box and the Piano Accordion and I perform both solo and with my band. I have traveled extensively to southwestern Louisiana to learn the music, language and cultures from such a diverse region. In addition to my travels to Louisiana, I have traveled to the Maritimes in Canada to further my understanding of the Acadian culture and how it continues to connect with Cajun music.