For over a decade, Alexis Normand has forged herself a path of authenticity with her down-to-earth sound and demeanour. With Mementos, her new and most personal album to date, the singer-songwriter sheds an honest and vulnerable light on herself. Drawing inspiration from the infinite horizons of her Saskatchewan home, she explores the dualities of a francophone identity on anglophone soil with a velvety voice and a candid approach to the contemporary folk sounds which suit her so perfectly. The result is a collection of delicate songs, each exploring an important moment of her life; overcoming a challenge, a defining moment in time, a deep understanding of the inherent contradiction that is her life.

Playing music out of Zimbabwe, by way of Edmonton, Alberta, The Mbira Renaissance Band delivers an afro-fusion sound like no other. The group fuses the mbira, hosho (traditional shakers) and other traditional instruments with contemporary sounds to produce a rich blend of vibrant polyrhythmic sounds. The result is an upbeat blend of the contemporary mbira sound with hints of reggae, afro jazz, and afro pop – inspired by the sounds of artists such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo and Chiwoniso Maraire.