.png)
44th Annual Arts Northwest Conference
Juried Showcase Artists
Patricia Reser Center for the Arts
Beaverton, Oregon
.jpg)
Aliya Kanani: Where You FROM, From?
Genre: Comedy
Aliya Kanani
Title: Self-Represented
Email: ms.aliya.kanani@gmail.com
Website: aliyakanani.com
Los Angeles, CA
Aliya, an award-winning LA-based comedian and Canadian academy award-nominated actress, captivates audiences globally with her vibrant personality and sharp wit. Her one-woman show, ‘Where You FROM, From?’ celebrated for its humor and deep engagement with themes of identity and belonging, has won accolades at festivals around the world, including ‘Best of Fest’ and ‘Patron’s Pick’.
Aliya disarms audiences with her playful mischief, tackling complex topics like race, gender, and social labels with humor, sharing personal stories from her life as a nomad and debunking assumptions. Currently touring North America and developing her new show ‘Drink, Pray, Love’ in Australia, Aliya’s performances invite laughter while fostering a connection to humanity.
Notably nominated for her acting in 'Scarborough,' Aliya continues to expand her creative repertoire in film and television, maintaining a legacy of impactful entertainment.
Amelia Day & The Cloves
Genre: Folk - Rock
Amelia Day
Title: Self-Represented
Email: ameliahdaymusic@gmail.com
Website: linktr.ee/ameliaday
Nashville, TN and Seattle, WA
Amelia Day is a folk rock powerhouse entering the conversation with mainstays like Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, and Hozier. Underscoring her carefree melodies with gritty, confessional lyricism and raw, heartfelt delivery, she tells stories with an intimacy that makes even new listeners feel familiar. Raised in Western Washington, Amelia was deeply influenced by folk artists that also found their footing in the overcast forests and slick streets of Seattle (like The Head And The Heart, Fleet Foxes, and again, Brandi Carlile). Blending elements of her adolescent mixtapes of folk, rock, and jazz, Amelia creates music that plays freely with genre, but is still undeniably “Amelia Day”.
Whether you find Amelia through her live shows or her inventive online content, her humor, joy, and authenticity are bound to win you over. Without a label, manager, or agent, Amelia has sold out venues in Seattle, Boston, and DC; been booked for high-profile festivals like Capitol Hill Block Party, Bumbershoot, Folklife Festival, and Seattle PrideFest; and independently amassed over 4M streams and 100K monthly listeners on Spotify alone. Amelia Day just finished her headlining East Coast tour this March and is hard at work recording her highly-anticipated third EP, “Ego Trip”!
In early 2023, Amelia joined forces with Seattle Americana mainstay "The Cloves" as "Amelia Day & The Cloves." The group's unique sound, which features Wurlitzer, cello, and lush harmonies, originated in their shared small hometown of Sumner, WA. The band has recently been featured on KEXP's "Audioasis," 107.7 The End, and Local Roots Music NW, and they're excited to continue bringing their down-home folk rock sound to big stages throughout 2025!
Chris Funk - AGT Musical Illusionist - Redefining Wonder
Genre: Magic/Illusion
Kevin Cruz
Title: Agent
Company: KACA Group
Email: kevin.cruz@kcagroup.ca
Website: kcagroup.ca
Edmonton, AB
Chris Funk’s REDEFINING WONDER is an engaging multimedia experience that has audiences talking and scratching their heads for years to come. Finally, a MAGIC SHOW WITH LIVE MUSIC! Chris has pioneered the use of instruments like the violin, guitar, sax and more into his illusions. His parents wanted him to be a musician, but he wanted to be a magician. Chris tells his story on how he integrated his love for music and magic in a show unlike any other. Whether it’s a violin concerto to a magical dancing sheet of music to impossibly suspending various instruments on stage, his show is in a league of its own. The live-feed camera and interactive videos bring audiences up onstage and into the action, delivering a show that family audiences can call their own.
From NBC’s America’s Got Talent, CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us & Masters of Illusion, FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen and Syfy’s Wizard Wars, his unique approach to magic has garnered him performances at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, Rio, and Tropicana casinos as well as residencies at Disney. In addition to his own touring, Chris has starred in major touring magic productions Masters of Illusion LIVE.
REDEFINING WONDER is more than just a magic show. Chris shares his story, tying in his various passions, allowing him to connect with the audience on many levels—garnering standing ovations and a reputation for excellence!
Different Ships, Same Boat (A Production of Arts for Social Cohesion)
Genre: Spoken Word - Music
Julia Levitan
Title: Agen
Company: Cadenza Artists
Email: julia@cadenzaartists.com
Website: artsforsocialcohesion.org
Massachusetts
Different Ships, Same Boat is an interactive, multidisciplinary performance combining powerful spoken word, music and song to explore the multifaceted ways Americans risk, live, love and laugh. Unfolding through a series of chapters — each curating real world stories — literary performer Regie Gibson (MA poet laureate) and composer/storycatcher Guy Mendilow guide audiences with podcast-like narration, at turns humorous, poignant or poetic, over an evocative musical score. With stories from small towns, cities and ports of entry, along with music spanning lyrical American Blues and songs from older homes from which today’s Americans came (e.g. Ottoman Jews from present-day Greece and Hungary), Different Ships, Same Boat offers a stirring exploration of the joys, tensions and complexities of who we are and who we wish to be.
As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, Different Ships, Same Boat invites audiences to celebrate not only America but Americans. This is for those craving a powerful artistic performance of captivating music and stories — a moving, finely-crafted, anthology that connects audiences to American histories, perspectives, and experiences both familiar and different from their own.
Arts for Social Cohesion offers robust residency programming associated with Different Ships, Same Boat. Programs are designed to strengthen relationships within and between communities. These range from Ponder to Page storycrafting workshops giving participants tools to create resonant stories out of small moments (designed for the non-writer!); Crowdsourced poems (a spoken word piece made of community members’ words and reflections, set to original music and performed back for a community); and Listening Labs — community strengthening forums in which moving stories, told through powerful spoken word, musical score and song, facilitate generous listening with fellow participants in conversations that are honest, intimate, and alive.
.jpg)
Jeeyoon Kim
Genre: Classical
Jeeyoon Kim
Title: Self-Represented
Email: kim@jeeyoonkim.com
Website: JeeyoonKim.com
San Diego, CA
Jeeyoon Kim is an award-winning concert pianist known for her captivating artistry and passionate advocacy for making classical music relevant in today’s world. With a career that spans performances at renowned venues like Carnegie Hall, the Conrad Concert Hall, and the Stradivari Society in Chicago, Jeeyoon’s music transcends traditional boundaries, inviting audiences to connect deeply with the timeless beauty of the piano repertoire.
Born in South Korea, Jeeyoon’s love for the piano began at an early age. She later earned both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in piano performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Her performances are celebrated for their technical brilliance and emotional depth, transporting listeners on a journey that blends the power of music with personal storytelling.
Beyond the concert stage, Jeeyoon is dedicated to sharing music’s transformative power through community outreach programs and immersive concert experiences. She creates innovative performances that incorporate visual art and spoken word, inviting audiences to see classical music not just as an art form of the past but as a vibrant, living expression of human creativity.
As an educator and community leader, Jeeyoon brings music into schools, underserved communities, and spaces where its impact can be truly felt. Through her podcast, Journey Through Classical Piano, and her latest book, Beyond the Keys: Music and Stories of Inspiration, she continues to explore how music can inspire, heal, and unite us.
At the heart of Jeeyoon’s work is a deep belief in the power of music to uplift, connect, and bring joy. Whether she’s performing on stage, leading workshops, or sharing stories, she remains committed to using her artistry to create moments of beauty and meaning in people’s lives.
Jenner Fox Band & Paul Simon Tribute
Genre: Folk
Jenner Fox
Title: Self-Represented
Email: jf@jennerfox.com
Website: jennerfox.com
Bellingham, WA
"The Music of Paul Simon w/ Jenner Fox Band." This unique and dynamic co-bill opens with a set of Jenner Fox Band's critically acclaimed original music and then the band comes back on for a high energy headlining set of Paul Simon songs. The showcase will be a condensed 12-minute version of the show that features stories, Simon trivia, and audience participation. The five piece band has decades of experience performing and arranging music (Gregory Alan Isakov, Polecat, Petty or Not) and brings new life to Simon's beloved catalog from Garfunkel to Graceland.
Jenner Fox Band released their debut LP, "Anything" on May 9th. "Anything captures warmth, grace, and an open-hearted vulnerability that feels as timeless as it is timely. There’s a quiet magic in the way they play together — in how each instrument listens, breathes, and responds — the soul-stirring, spirit-settling debut is worth savoring from start to finish." - Atwood Magazine.
 (1).jpg)
Jesús Muñoz Flamenco
Genre: Flamenco
Jesús Muñoz
Title: Self-Represented
Email: jesus@flamencoworks.org
Website: jesusmunozflamenco.com
Albuquerque, NM
Jesús Muñoz Flamenco has performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Since its founding in 2010, the company has produced sixteen hours of full-length concert
works of outstanding quality, building a world-class reputation through collaborations with renowned artists. Because of the production process and quality of work, some of Muñoz’s pieces are among the few companies cited by the Ministry of Culture in Madrid, Spain. Recognized as a 2024 PAD Artist, the company was chosen to represent WAA at WOMEX last fall.
Jesús Muñoz Flamenco is dedicated to creating a physical, visual, and sonic vocabulary that intersects Flamenco with Latin, Jazz, and Hip-hop, reflecting the diverse experiences and backgrounds of the company's artists and audiences. Jesús Muñoz Flamenco is additionally noted for creating retrospective pieces that build upon original rhythms rarely performed in Flamenco, bringing this ancient message of human perseverance to a new generation.
They are a seasoned touring company, having performed on over 2,000 stages and introduced Flamenco to more than 60,000 people through artist residencies. Performance highlights include the Ford Theatre in Los Angeles, the Cowles Center for dance in Minneapolis, as well as other respected venues: Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hall, Detroit Institute for the arts, Jazz Cafe at Music Hall, Arvada Amphitheatre, Alegrias in New York City and the Lensic in Santa Fe. Muñoz has also had 13 successful seasons at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and Kimo Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Led by Jesús Muñoz, the company is deeply committed to building community through the strength and vibrance of Flamenco performance and education. In addition to creating world-class concerts, Jesús Muñoz Flamenco programs include master and introductory workshops, residencies, multi-generational and cultural outreach, and lecture demonstrations.
Jonathan Dely
Genre: Jazz and Classical
Jonathan Dely
Title: Self-Represented
Email: mgmt@jonathandely.com
Website: jonathandely.com
Sausalito, California; New York, New York
With credits including Lincoln Center, SFJAZZ, and the starring role in the 2023 biopic “Goodbye Jonathan’s Soul,” trumpeter Jonathan Dely has captured eyes and ears not only for his musical talent on stage and on screen, but also for the story that animates his career: turning down a lucrative career on Wall Street to become a musical artist.
Hailed by SFJAZZ as "performing material that undoubtedly appeals to lovers of [Wynton] Marsalis' clarion tone and Chris Botti's wide-ranging eclecticism," Dely performs one of jazz’s most extraordinary live concerts, masterfully interweaving musical styles of jazz, classical, rock, and more — a feat that has garnered praise from both critics and concertgoers alike who are enraptured by Dely’s smooth, virtuosic trumpet sound, the versatility of his razor sharp ensemble, and his live show’s ability to both earn and transcend the label of “jazz.”
.png)
Delusions and Grandeur
Genre: Theater, Music
Karen Hall
Title: Self-Represented
Email: karen@moreplayproductions.com
Website: www.inforthelonghall.com
Sausalito, California; New York, New York
A solo cello recital meets a clown show that's ”as irreverent as it is poignant" says the Australian Arts Review. Come for the music, stay for the existential crisis as genre-blurring jester and cellist Karen Hall peels back the layers of formality leaving you with only the humanity and insanity of the artist behind the instrument. And yourself.
Featuring Suite Number One in G Major by JS Bach and personal comedic pieces crafted in Idiot classes, Karen fuses in a healthy dose of pathos tackling identity, expectations, and success through the eyes of a fool.
Delusions and Grandeur won 2024's Best Solo Performance in Los Angeles Theater from Stage Raw and recently completed a successful run at Summerhall for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It has toured internationally earning five star reviews, sold out houses, as well as awards, nominations and credits in theater, music, solo performance, comedy, clown, spoken word and storytelling, and performance art.
Kutapira
Genre: Zimbabwean Marimba with West African and Afro-Cuban percussion.
Tom Landa
Title: Agent
Company: Cubby Hole Artists
Email: tom@cubbyholeartists.com
Website: kutapira.com
Vancouver B.C.
Kutapira masterfully weaves together Zimbabwean Marimba, Afro-Cuban and West African rhythms, Reggae, Samba, Afrobeat and Funk into an intelligently crafted and seamlessly blended musical fusion.
Born from a youth world music initiative two decades ago, Kutapira has evolved into the electrifying percussion powerhouse that captivates audiences today. The band's name, meaning "Sweetness" in Zimbabwe's Shona language, perfectly captures their distinctive sound—a rich fusion of Zimbabwean marimba with West African and Afro-Cuban percussion.
Kutapira's journey has taken them from prestigious concert halls across North America to the vibrant streets of downtown Vancouver, where they established themselves as a legendary busking sensation. Their infectious energy has transformed countless school gymnasiums into joyful dance celebrations. The band's international reach extends from Cuba to Aberdeen, Scotland, where they had the honor of performing a private command concert for Her Late Majesty, the Queen of England.
From grassroots beginnings to international acclaim, Kutapira continues to deliver their signature "sweetness" through a percussion explosion that moves both hearts and feet.
Mads Tolling & The Mads Men
Genre: Jazz
Jennifer Morris
Title: Agent
Company: Siegel Artist
Email: jennifer@siegelartist.com
Website: madstolling.com
San Francisco, CA
Internationally renowned violinist, composer and two-time Grammy Award-winner Mads Tolling is a former member of the Turtle Island Quartet and The Stanley Clarke Band. As a current member of Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, Mads has appeared on three record releases and performed at over a hundred concerts, including Radio City Music Hall and Red Rocks. Mads leads his own group Mads Tolling & The Mads Men, celebrating the 1960s with his own distinctive style and innovative flair.
Mads Tolling & The Mads Men bring a fun and exciting program that is as nostalgic as it is contemporary, with re-imagined classic songs from 1960s television, film and radio. Repertoire in 'Playing the 60s' ranges from “Mission Impossible” and “Meet the Flintstones” to “A Taste of Honey” and “Georgia on my Mind.”
So how did a Danish classical violin student growing up in Copenhagen in the 1980s discover his passion for the 1960s? When Mads was fourteen, his father gave him a Miles Davis cassette tape that changed his life. Mads was hooked. He found a sense of intimacy and freedom in the 1960s sounds of jazz, soul and early R&B, which inspired him to explore the possibilities of how to get there with his violin. The result is an exhilarating and thrilling musical adventure. Joining Mads on this journey are his Mads Men—world-class musicians Colin Hogan on piano and accordion, Gary Brown on bass, and Eric Garland on drums.
.jpg)
Molly in the Mineshaft
Genre: Bluegrass
Alison Moulton
Title: Agent
Company: Ottava Creatives
Email: alison@ottavacreatives.com
Website: ottavacreatives.com
Utah
The 2019 Showcase Winner Molly in the Mineshaft strikes a balance between celebrating the diverse heritage of bluegrass music and presenting it with a new twist. Their “Newgrass” style serves up saucy vocals and spicy solos in equally delicious portions, seasoned by remarkable players.
Members of the band have performed throughout North America and Europe, including the United States, Mexico, Croatia, France, Switzerland, and Spain. Their audiences range from elementary school children to international dignitaries and from mental hospitals to renowned folk festivals.
Awards and recognition include 2019 Arts Northwest Showcase Grand Award Winner; three-time national twin-fiddle champion; “Best of State” small instrumental group; and a combined 7 state instrument championships in violin, banjo, and mandolin. Molly in the Mineshaft has shared the stage with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Natalie MacMaster, Bar J Wranglers, Rory Feek, The Lower Lights, Jon Schmidt, Lincoln Highway, Evan J. Marshall, Cold Creek, and the Lux Singers.
Concerts include an interactive, kid-friendly “Grasshoppers” concert; the toe-tapping “Raise a Ruckus,” filled with classics with a twist; or “Americana à la Carte,” where the audience orders their favorites from a tasty musical menu. Add some sizzle to your season or some fun at your festival with Molly in the Mineshaft!
NIC+DESI: Song, Dance & Romance
Genre: Song-and-Dance
Ron DeStefano
Title: Agent
Company: EPIC Arts Management
Email: ron@epicartsmanagement.com
Website: epicartsmanagement.com
California
NIC+DESI sing, dance and share their love story in this duo celebration of classic and contemporary Broadway! Following star turns on Broadway and in numerous nationally touring musicals, theatrical power couple Nicolas Dromard and Desireé Davar created this duo act to be able to share their love of song and dance with venues worldwide. In their high-energy show, NIC+DESI bring audiences on their journey of love while performing stage and screen favorites, from Great American Songbook standards (“Shall We Dance," “Cheek to Cheek,” “I Won’t Dance”) to hits from their favorite roles in Broadway's JERSEY BOYS, WEST SIDE STORY, MARY POPPINS, WICKED, and more! NIC+DESI captivate crowds with spectacular Broadway song and dance both in the traditional style and with a fresh, modern twist!
.jpg)
Okaidja Afroso Ensemble
Genre: World music
Sue Bernstein
Title: Agent
Company: Berns Arts
Email: sue@bernsarts.com
Website: okaidja.com
Portland, OR
Okaidja is a multi-instrumentalist, Afro-Classical, Afro-Jazz, Ambient music, Singer-Songwriter and Traditional Dancer from Ghana, West Africa. His unique artistic vision has led him to combine his native rhythms with unforeseen pairings of musical flavors.
.jpg)
Taken By The Sky
Genre: Rock, Tribute (Fleetwood Mac)
Erika Finley
Title: Agent
Company: Live Arts
Email: erika@livearts.biz
Website: talenbythesky.com
Portland, OR
Step back in time and experience the thrill of Fleetwood Mac’s golden era with Taken By The Sky, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band based in Portland, Oregon. Known for delivering the timeless magic of Fleetwood Mac at their peak, this must-see tribute act consistently breaks city records for summer concerts, sells out venues across the region, and is a regular headliner at Harefest.
Capturing the spirit and energy of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic years, Taken By The Sky offers a fully immersive performance, complete with soaring harmonies, skillful musicianship, and magnetic stage presence. Jessa Campbell creates a stunning tribute to Stevie Nicks with her uncanny vocal tone and mystical energy. Audiences are consistently awestruck by her ability to channel Stevie’s iconic voice and captivating style. At her side is longtime collaborator Lawrence Orleck, who masterfully embodies the fiery precision of Lindsey Buckingham, delivering the electric chemistry and emotion that define Fleetwood Mac’s sound.
Colin Hogan brings warmth and richness to the band’s signature sound, expertly capturing the soulful voice and layered keyboard stylings of Christine McVie. Her elegant phrasing and emotional nuance add depth and harmony to every performance. Brian Link holds down the rhythm with rock-solid bass lines as John McVie, anchoring the band with a steady pulse that fans feel in their bones. Cheo Larcombe brings boundless energy and power as Mick Fleetwood, providing the heartbeat that fuels each song.
Rounding out the band is Aram Arslanian as Bob Welch, capturing the early Fleetwood Mac vibe with guitar work that’s both precise, passionate, and undeniably powerful.
Together, Taken By The Sky weaves an intricate tapestry of sound and spectacle, transporting audiences to the heart of Fleetwood Mac’s legendary era in a show that keeps fans coming back, night after night.
 1MB.jpeg)
TAP INTO SOUL with Solomon Jaye
Genre: Popular Music and Tap
Ron DeStefano
Title: Agent
Company: EPIC Arts Management
Email: ron@epicartsmanagement.com
Website: epicartsmanagement.com
Florida
Blending multi-octave vocals and world-class tap dancing on a soulful setlist featuring both classic and contemporary chart-topping hits, Solomon Jaye’s TAP INTO SOUL offers an exciting new take on a timeless genre of music. From “I Feel Good” (James Brown) and “Let’s Stay Together” (Al Green) through “Superstition” (Stevie Wonder) and “September” (Earth, Wind & Fire) to “Shape of You” (Ed Sheeran) and “Uptown Funk” (Bruno Mars), the incredible music featured in this high-energy show (accompanied by Jaye’s frenzy of fast footwork and even some surprise instrumental solos) transports listeners from the 1950s to today in the blink of an eye! Audiences may have previously seen or heard him via collaborations with a parade of Grammy winners and nominees, including Pentatonix, Jessie J, Robin Thicke, Jazz phenom Mindi Abair, and Broadway stars Shoshana Bean and Alyssa Fox… but if you haven’t yet experienced the incredible cross-genre mashup of music, dance, and electrifying energy created every time Solomon Jaye steps onto the stage, it’s time to TAP INTO SOUL!
Water Street Dance Milwaukee
Genre: Dance
Kevin Peters
Title: Agent
Company: G.L. BERG ENTERTAINMENT
Email: kevin@glberg.com
Website: WaterStreetDanceMKE.com
Milwaukee, WI
Water Street Dance Milwaukee is a dynamic and multifaceted dance company driven by a mission to explore and celebrate diversity across our art, our artists, and our audiences. With a reputation for athleticism, innovation, and entertainment, we create engaging and impactful experiences that invite all to connect with the power of contemporary dance. As Milwaukee’s premier repertory company, we are passionate about pushing artistic boundaries and redefining what is possible in the world of movement and performance.
Since our founding, Water Street Dance Milwaukee has built a powerful and varied repertoire, featuring works by some of today’s most exciting choreographers. We’ve had the honor of presenting pieces by Juilliard alumna Madison Hicks, Princess Grace Award winner Kam N. Saunders, and Diavolo resident choreographer Lean Damasco, among many others. These collaborations reflect our commitment to presenting bold, relevant, and emotionally resonant work on stage.
In 2024, Water Street Dance Milwaukee was recognized by Dance Magazine as one of its prestigious “25 to Watch,” a testament to our growing national presence and artistic impact. This recognition fuels our continued dedication to excellence and innovation. Each performance is crafted with purpose—to inspire, challenge, and uplift both the viewer and the artist. Through our performances, outreach, and education programs, we aim to leave a lasting impression on the cultural fabric of Milwaukee and beyond.
Water Street Dance Milwaukee is not just a company—it’s a movement. We welcome audiences of all backgrounds to join us on our journey as we redefine contemporary dance and celebrate the power of human expression.
The Zaniac - Alex Zerbe
Genre: Family Variety
Alex Zerbe
Role: Self-Represented
Email: alex@alexzerbe.com
Website: AlexZerbe.com
Washington
When's the last time you laughed as hard as your kids?
With the energy of 10,000 suns, The Zaniac, Alex Zerbe shines like a comedy beacon as he bounces from one end of the stage to the other like an untamed rubber band.
Weird, skillful, and utterly charming, the Zaniac performs wild tricks, kid-friendly, interactive hip hop, and unleashes sight gags and physical comedy that will leave a trail of confetti, smiling kids, and happy parents in its wake. The Zaniac Comedy show is the ultimate family comedy experience!
Alex is a two-time Guinness World Record holder, has appeared America’s Got Talent!, and is currently ranked Seattle’s Third Best Air Guitarist! He’s put smiles on the faces of kids and their parents for over twenty-five years.
The Zaniac offers two additional performances, Gravity Catastrophe: A Science Show (educational outreach), and A Zaniac Christmas. Gravity Catastrophe takes a tornado of juggling skills, combines it with a whirlwind of science knowledge and sends it crashing directly into your student’s brain - it’s, “Bill Nye meets Jim Carey.” A Zaniac Christmas is a heartwarming and side-splitting spectacle designed to bring joy, laughter, and a truckload of whimsy to audiences of all ages. It’s, “a Winterfest tradition,” according to the Seattle Center’s Pete Rush.
Most recently, The Zaniac has been presented by The Reser Center, The Gesa Powerhouse, The Columbia Theatre, The Ross Ragland, The Vernon Performing Arts Center, Arts Revelstoke, The Key City Theater, The Wheeler Opera House, The Tower Theater, and more.
Bring a whole truckload of joy and a bunch of excitement to kids and families in your community with The Zaniac!
SPOTLIGHT SHOWCSE
Alysha Brilla
Genre: Global Roots-Folk
Jason Sector
Title: Agent
Company: Arc Artists
Email: jason@arcartists.com
Website: alyshabrilla.com
Canada
Alysha Brilla is a 3× JUNO Award-nominated artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist whose mesmerizing live show blends global roots rhythms, rich storytelling and joyful audience participation. An LGBTQ+ songwriter of Indo-Tanzanian descent, Brilla creates genre defying music that’s both deeply soulful and universally uplifting; inviting audiences into a vibrant space where rhythm meets ritual and every voice is welcome.
Brilla made history in 2013 as one of the first self-produced female artists to receive a JUNO nomination for her debut album In My Head. Since then, she’s released four more acclaimed albums, been named Music Producer of the Year at the Independent Music Awards, and featured on a giant Spotify billboard in Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square.
Her concerts are more than performances - they are immersive celebrations. Touring with a dynamic, diverse band that reflects her commitment to equity and inclusion, Brilla’s shows have lit up stages across five continents - from The House of Blues in Los Angeles to WOMAD Chile, Sauti Za Busara in Zanzibar, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and festivals across Australia. Her sound; a blend of folk, soul, and global roots draws in intergenerational and intercultural audiences, leaving them dancing, singing and inspired.
Whether headlining a 30,000-person festival or leading a soulful, acoustic set, Brilla’s magnetic stage presence and powerful voice create an atmosphere of joy, unity and healing. Presenters consistently praise the way her show builds community and leaves a lasting emotional impact.
“Alysha Brilla swings down the path less travelled.”
– MTV International
“A self-produced artist on a mission to promote healing through music.”
– New Feeling
Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms
Genre: Folk, Bluegrass, Country
Matt Greenhill
Title: Agent
Company: Fli artists
Email: mattg@folkloreproductions.com
Website: Calebandreeb.com
Pillars of the West Coast music scene, they carry the torch of their music around the world, and can be found touring as a duo, as well as with the Caleb Klauder Reeb Willms Country Band, their bluegrass band the Cali Cutups, and with the Foghorn Stringband,. Fans old and new exude admiration for the timeless sound that these two produce, capturing the essence of American
roots music. Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms' new album, Gold in Your Pocket, released on Free Dirt records, is spinning its way to the top of the Americana, AltCountry and Folk charts, no surprise to the loyal fans that follow this international touring act. These two are known to music fans across the
globe for their soulful singing, driving dance music, and classic songwriting, embodying their commitment to American roots music.
The Campfireball by Cory Howard
Genre: Storytelling
Cory Howard
Title: Self-Represented
Email: cory@campfireball.net
Website: campfireball.net
North Carolina
Cory Howard wants to reimagine the storyteller. Centering the audience in the narrative and pushing the form of storytelling beyond its typical constructs, Cory hopes to subvert an audience's expectations to the point where anticipation gives way to participation and engagement leads to a brand new collective happening where relationality is just as much the end result as entertainment. Cory has performed at the National Storytelling Festival, is a Moth Story Slam Grand Slam winner, was a teaching artist with the Story Pirates for over a decade, and has an M.A. in Storytelling and Communication from East Tennessee State University where his original show The Campfireball was awarded ‘Outstanding Capstone Project’.
El Javi - An Eclectic Spanish Guitar Experience
Genre: Spanish Guitar
Javi
Role: Self-Represented
Email: eljavimusicllc@gmail.com
Website: eljavi.com
Denver, CO
El Javi is a gifted Latin American guitarist who fearlessly explores instrumental music, transcending the confines of traditional music genres. His music is a remarkable blend of various styles and techniques that come together to create an Eclectic Spanish Guitar Experience.
The Denver based composer, producer and performer incorporates elements of flamenco, progressive rock, classical, folk and world music to shape his compositions. Highlights of his career include; supporting act for Ziggy Marley and today’s biggest voice of flamenco Diego El Cigala. He was a featured artist in Coors Light’s national campaign My Climb, My Music and a featured artist at the Guitar: The Instrument that Rocked the World exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. He participated in the International Guitar Festival in Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
_0.2MB)
Makin' Cake
Genre: Theatre
Jennifer Morris
Title: Agent
Company: Siegel Artist
Email: jennifer@siegelartist.com
Website: DashaKH.com
California
Dasha Kelly Hamilton is a writer, performance artist and creative change agent. She has authored award-winning poetry, essays and fiction. She is a mainstage storyteller and host with The Moth, an alum of HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Poet Laureate Emerita for both the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin and a National Laureate Fellow with the American Academy of Poets. In 2024, Dasha was named a Living Legacy Honoree by the licensing agency for the legendary poet Gwendolyn Brooks. A skilled engagement practitioner and instructor, Dasha has facilitated initiatives in Botswana, Mauritius and Beirut as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy. Her nationally-touring stage show, Makin’ Cake, serves audiences a unique conversation on race, class and equity.
.jpg)
Rocky Peter
Genre: Soul, Pop, Folk
Rocky Peter
Title: Self-Represented
Email: info@rockypeter.com
Website: rockypeter.com
73218 Fiddleneck Lane
Palm Desert, CA United States
92260
Rocky Peter is an American IDOL Finalist, Opened Stevie, Performed in Rio Olympics, Sings for Nobel Peace Prize forums and the United Nations. Rocky uses proceeds from his shows to provide water for over 30, 000 in Africa and wants to do more. Millions of streams on SPOTIFY and YOUTUBE.