Performers2025

Talesa Mandin

Talesa Mandin

Sunday • 1:15 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Talesa Mandin has been playing piano and singing since the age of 4. She studied RCM in both piano and voice, but took her piano studies the furthest— leading her to go on to study music at Grant MacEwan University majoring in jazz and contemporary piano performance. Although Talesa performs in varying musical capacities, her favourite niche is within choral accompanying work, and she has been highly sought after in this focus by Edmonton and surrounding cities for the last 15 years. You can currently find her more regular performances as accompanist at Victoria School of the Performing Arts, at Memorial Composite High School (MCHS), singing and playing with the TIME choirs: NufSed and FORM, pianist with EKO Singers, Accord Ensemble, Leduc Composite High School, Rutherford Elementary School, St. Martha’s School, and as the Music Director at Good Shepherd Anglican Church (to name a few).

Tom Snow

Tom Snow

Saturday & Sunday • 1:00 pm | Big Bear Yurt (92 St & 118 Ave)

Tom Snow (Tatâgagan) BGS, mBsc

Tom Snow is a Iethka Nakoda (Stoney, Assiniboine) from the Stoney Indian Reserve in Morley, Alberta. He has been a Facilitator of Traditional Nakoda Teachings and Ceremonies across Alberta, Saskatchewan, BC and Montana. He managed a Child Services business for 11 years where he provided youth work, language instruction, transportation and family reunification visits.  He developed a Wellness program for the Wesley First Nation to address Addictions before coming to Bentarrow Traditional Healing Society in Edmonton. Here he continued as an Elder leading ceremonies, circles, educating staff, reintroducing Families to their own cultural practices and teaching the Nakoda (Stoney, Assiniboine) language. Tom also developed a 96 page Powerpoint presentation on Historical Trauma to address the underlying causes of many Indigenous issues. He is a contributing member, as a Knowledge Keeper, to Alberta Child Services endeavour in making the Youth Suicide Prevention Policy. Tom is also involved with the Kihciy Askiy Edmonton project (Scheduled to be opened 2023), as part of the Elders group, in planning a place in Edmonton for Indigenous people to Gather for Ceremonies, Education and Cultural activities. Tom is also a member of the Edmonton Framework committee named Wahigicicobi. When not at work Tom enjoys being with his current wife, family from an earlier relationship, relatives and staying connected with his culture, hunting, fishing, camping and ceremonies. He is always in search of more material for Indigenous Antiquity in North America.

Zack Lim

Zack Lim

Sunday • 3:15 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Zack grew up in Sherwood Park, playing (and practicing!) piano since the age of 5. Classically trained in Royal Conservatory, he often participated in the Sherwood Park music festivals and was an active leader in his high school band program. Currently, he is studying jazz at MacEwan University as a composition major, and enjoys listening to a wide variety of genres from jazz and classical all the way to J-rock and alternative. When not studying, Zack teaches at the Sherwood Park School of Music in hopes to develop his student’s skills so they can learn the joy of music!

Ava Nayana

Ava Nayana

Sunday • 5:15 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Ava Nayana is a 17 year old local singer/songwriter who would like to pursue music as a career. She has released two songs that were produced within the last two years and has composed/written a number of songs that have yet to be released. In addition to her own songs, Ava also performs numerous pop cover songs from the 60's to the present. Ava loves doing live performances and meeting new people.

Verkhovyna School of Dance

Verkhovyna School of Dance

Sunday • 12:45 pm

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue)

Verkhovyna (Verk-ho-vin-a) School of Ukrainian Dance is happy to once again be part of the Deep Freeze Festival!

Named after the highlands in Ukraine, our north Edmonton dance school provides a platform for youth to express their culture, heritage and pride through dance. Our instructors have extensive dance and teaching experience and encourage students to strive for excellence while also fostering a positive and enjoyable learning environment.

Our dancers have performed in Disneyland, California Adventure Park, Stars at Sea Carnival Cruises, numerous festivals, showcases, Canada Day celebrations, Malankas and many city-wide events.

Now, more than ever, it is important to showcase the beauty, grace and athleticism of Ukrainian dance. We are proud and honoured to be here today with three of our dance groups to share our dynamic culture with you.

Edmonton school of Ukrainian dance

Edmonton school of Ukrainian dance

Sunday • 12:45 pm

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue)

In 2024, the Edmonton School of Ukrainian Dance celebrated its 36th year and we have gained much recognition in leading Ukrainian dance in the community. Experienced, caring teachers for dancers of all ages are an essential ingredient to the success of the school. Under the direction of Ken Kachmar and instructors Trish Kushniruk, Debbie Kachmar Potter, Shaughnessy Potter, Xavier Potter, Andrew Trykalo, Matthew Karpiak, Mikaila Petrov Bezovie and Kennedy Kachmar, we will continue to specialize in Ballet, Character Dance and Ukrainian Folk dance with a child development focus. Children are taught systematically, following sequential instruction and learning through fun and repetition.

Studia Shumka

Studia Shumka

Sunday • 12:00 pm

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue

In Fall of 2018, Shumka established a new program under the Shumka family, Studia Shumka. This junior performing ensemble acts as a bridging program between the Shumka School of Dance and the professional Shumka company. Many of the dancers are also Junior Instructors in the Shumka School of Dance.

These emerging young artists train over ten hours per week in Ukrainian, character, ballet and contemporary dance, and have built a repertoire for performances throughout the community. On occasion they train, rehearse and perform with the professional Shumka dance company, in anticipation of their evolution into the next step of the Shumka Family.

Braden Gates

Braden Gates

Saturday • 3:00 pm & Sunday • 4:00 pm (Kitchen Party with Braden Gates, Daniel Gervais, Alex Kusturok, Zach Willier, Byron Myhre)

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue

Saturday • 12:00 pm

The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351 - 118 Avenue)

Saturday • 7:30 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Braden Gates is at once the quintessential folk singer and a highly exceptional one, with three Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. His songs are both workmanlike and full of emotional nuance, and are delivered masterfully with unassuming stories and blazing-hot instrumentals.

Meera Sylvain

Meera Sylvain

Saturday • 1:00 pm

The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351 - 118 Avenue)

Saturday • 6:30 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Meera is a small-town artist from northern Alberta. Inspired by her country roots, she writes and performs, accompanying herself on guitar. Born into a multicultural home, her Francophone and Punjabi background is captured beautiful through her writing.

Quiet Talkers

Quiet Talkers

Saturday • 5:30 pm

Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts (9225 – 118 Avenue )

Saturday • 8:00 pm

The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse (9351 - 118 Avenue)

We never saw it coming; how perfect we would be for each other. Two quiet introverts who couldn't stop talking the first time we met. We were never meant to play our first show together, but the universe willed it and made it so. We've been writing and playing together ever since.

Our music has evolved over the years and continues to evolve the more we grow and change with each other.

Our foundation lies in the heart of telling our stories, the way we've told them to each other on a bright summer day, or in the dark in the middle of the night.

And with all of our conversations, you can bet that a guitar was always at our side.

Cristian de La Luna

Cristian de La Luna

Saturday • 7:30 pm headliner

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue

The musical universe of Cristian de la Lune is like a big house with red walls. His home. He says: mi casa es tu casa. Home is where we are together.

His music is heat and light. His words are invitations to the party, friendship words. His rhythms are those of the heart, the pleasure of life. His voice sounds the urgency to live in the present moment.

Sa musique est chaleur et lumière. Ses paroles sont des invitations à la fête, des mots d’amitié. Ses rythmes sont ceux du cœur, du plaisir de la vie. Sa voix sonne l’urgence de vivre dans le moment présent.

Jono

Jono

Saturday • 6:30 pm headliner

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue

Jono is a hip-hop artist hailing from the Moncton in New Brunswick. Now based in Moncton, the self-taught producer began captivating audiences in 2019 with instant reactions from the crowd. Opportunities unfolded for Jono, including performances at Pop Montreal and the Festival 506 in 2021.

In April 2022, collaborating with his DJ, Metaphyzik, the boom-bap style of Swedish artist BBZ Darney converged with Jono’s modern sounds to create his debut project, “Party Chenous.” A finalist for the Music NB Awards in the Recording of the Year category, the album is considered by some as the new classic of Acadian hip-hop.

In 2023, Jono was chosen to represent New Brunswick at the Jeux de la Francophonie in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He will also be part of the 56th edition of the Festival international de la chanson de Granby. He will kick off 2024 in a residency at Entr’Art in Dead Man’s Flat, Alberta, where he will focus on solidifying his stature in Acadian hip-hop through the creation of his next album.

Alex Kusturok

Alex Kusturok

Saturday • 3:00 pm (Kitchen Party with Braden Gates, Daniel Gervais, Alex Kusturok, Zach Willier, Byron Myhre)

Saturday • 4:30 pm

New Moon Pavilion (93 Street & 118 Avenue)

Sunday • 5:15 pm

The Hearth (9210 - 118 Avenue - Alberta Avenue Community League)

Growing up, Alex (3rd Generation fiddle player) followed his mother Patti to Old time dances around Manitoba where he was enriched with the Métis fiddle from a very young age. By age 7, the passion for music became apparent and fiddle became the focus of Alex's life.

French:

En grandissant, Alex (joueur de violon de 3e génération) a suivi sa mère Patti pour danser à l'ancienne au Manitoba, où il s'est enrichi avec le violon métis dès son plus jeune âge. À l'âge de 7 ans, la passion pour la musique est devenue évidente et le violon est devenu le centre de la vie d'Alex.