For just over 20 years, St. John’s, Newfoundland-based musician, Kirk Wells, has been writing songs. What started as a personal project – recording self-made albums on a small digital 8-track and sharing them amongst friends and family – has become more public since the release of his first studio-recorded album in 2020, titled “Dahlia”, for which he received a MusicNL nomination for Alternative Artist of the Year. This was followed up in 2022 with “Iris”, a 7-song album meant to be a companion piece for his debut. These were both alternative albums, exploring layered sounds and effects, but Kirk also has a love for folk, rock, and country music,  and plans to release a 3-song EP in February that will put these sounds front and center. These songs will be showcased at the Ship’s upcoming Folk Night on Feb 5th, in addition to many other songs, recorded and unrecorded, covers and originals. 

Kyle Gryphon is a folk singer/songwriter living on the Southern Shore, NL. Writing tunes and songs for
the past 15 years, Kyle has built up a repertoire of original and traditional music; raw, bare bones,
downbeat songs and tunes on the 5-string banjo, button accordion, harmonica, and a few homemade
contraptions from time to time. Lyrical subject matter is focused mostly on the darker side of folklore and
general society – turmoil, humor, despair, and oddities past and present.

A professional musician since 1975, Kelly has been a member of landmark groups Figgy Duff, The Wonderful Grand Band, The Plankerdown Band, Bristol’s Hope, Kelly Russell & The Planks and The Irish Descendants. Working closely for many years with legendary fiddlers Rufus Guinchard and Emile Benoit, learning, recording and documenting their unique music, Kelly has inherited genuine status as one of Newfoundland’s leading traditional music performers. A prominent musical ambassador, Kelly has performed in such countries as England, Ireland, France, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, Spain, the USA and all across Canada. His own record label, Pigeon Inlet Productions (est. 1979), has released well over 30 full length recordings on LP, Cassette and CD.He has published a 2 Volume Collection of NL fiddle music “Kelly Russell’s Collection”, documenting over 500 tunes in musical notation. Kelly has taught fiddle to many students, several now successful performers themselves.He has also been active in reviving the art of storytelling and recitation, inspired by his late father, Ted Russell (creator of The Chronicles of Uncle Mose – Tales from Pigeon Inlet). Kelly has been awarded the Nfld & Lab Arts Council Award for Music (1987), twice awarded the Tourism Industry Association Certificate of Recognition (1991 & 1997), the prestigious Marius Barbeau Award (1997) for his contribution to Canadian Folklore and the City of St. John’s Legend Award (1999). In March of 2010, Kelly was the first ever recipient of the “Tradition Bearer” designation from the Department of Tourism Historic Commemorations Program. In 2013 he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, in 2015 became a member of The Order of Canada and in 2021, received an honorary Doctorate from MUN.

Kevin Evans & Brian Doherty have been an integral part of the East Coast music scene for thirty four years. They have been together as Evans & Doherty for Thirty years. To capture the essence of an Evans & Doherty performance, take a lively blend of traditional, original and contemporary songs, add a liberal sprinkling of stories and humour, then sit back and enjoy these fine entertainers.

As well as performing front and center on stage, Evans & Doherty are involved with many aspects of the music industry. Brian owns and operates Eastern Entertainment Agency, a booking agency and production company which co-ordinates tours of Atlantic Canada for many Canadian and international acts. Kevin owns and operates Modtrad Music, a publishing company, through which much of the material performed by Evans & Doherty is published and licensed. Through Eastern Entertainment Agency, Evans & Doherty have produced recordings for a number of East coast groups, as well as three compilation recordings (A Taste Of The Maritimes, A Taste Of Atlantic Canada and An East Coast Christmas) for national labels.

As a songwriter and producer, Kevin has enjoyed success; his song “Christmas Memories” recently achieved platinum status in Canada for John McDermott. Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy recorded “The Orchard”, another of Kevin’s songs. Stompin’ Tom Connors has recently recorded Kevin’s “Silver Sea”, a great compliment considering Stompin’ Tom doesn’t usually record other people’s material.

Evans & Doherty along with Jimmy Sweeney, have a recording titled “Sailing Ships & Sailing Men”, the musical companion to a one-hour radio program written by the trio and broadcast on CBC’s Atlantic Airwaves. The program deals with life at sea and the songs used by sailors while they worked.

Equally at home in a pub-setting, concert hall, festival or convention, Evans & Doherty are first-rate musicians, singers, songwriters, promoters and producers. They also possess the ability to entertain any audience, any place, any time.

Kelsey Arsenault (she/her) is a singer-songwriter and certified music therapist. From the small town of Ferryland at the edge of the ocean, she grew up steeped in stories and songs. For the last number of years, she has been crafting a songbook of original music; sketching scenes of contentment, indecision, love, and overcast weather. Kelsey’s output is carved both by the waves of contemporary pop harmony, and tides of Newfoundland folk. A 2023 MusicNL “Rising Star of the Year” nominee, her debut album “Gallery Walls” was released this past October. She’s the first woman of her hometown to release an album of originals, and she hopes that something in her music connects with something in you. 

KILAUTIUP SONGUNINGA (“Strength of the Drum,” in Inuktitut) started in 2006 @the corporation of St. John’s The Rooms. Kilautiup Songuninga comprises three of the first Founding Members, Sophie Angnatok, originally from Nain, Nunatsiavut, NL, who is the first female, Inuit Throat-Singer, Singer, also a Speaker. Solomon Semigak, originally from Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, NL, also a Drum Dancer Inuit Drum Maker, Singer and Speaker. And Stan Nochasak, originally from Nain, Nunatsiavut, NL, also leading Inuit Drum Dancer, Storyteller, Invocative Singer, and Speaker. KS has publicly performed in over hundred of places, has taken trips to Ottawa, throughout the island of Newfoundland, Saglek Bay Labrador. KS has performed in the corporation of the St. John’s The Rooms; and practically all the hotels in the Capital City of NL. Has performed @the Confederation Building of St. John’s, Memorial University of NL; St. John’s City Hall; for cruise ships @the St. John’s Water front; Marine Institute; St. John’s Convention Centre; Belle Island, NL, for Canada Day for consecutive years; various public Festivals both in St. John’s and Mount Pearl; St. John’s Christmas Parade for three (3) consecutive years; St. John’s First Light Friendship Centre Association; at Vigils, Memorial Services, Caul’s Funeral Home, also at public rallies and protests. KS will also be performing for the 2025 Canada Summer Games in St. John’s, NL. KS also, for past two (2) years, has agreed contract with the corporation of the St. John’s The Rooms to use room, practice space in exchange for public performances, visitors, tourists & groups, if requested. We are proud Inuit, helping to keep the Spirit of Inuit Culture alive, indefinitely. NAKUMMEK!

Katie Baggs is an indie-folk singer-songwriter from St. John’s who has been writing and performing as a solo artist and in groups (such as Dead Language, All the Wiles, and Pilot to Bombardier) since 2008. She has sculpted her sound over the course of two solo records, Home Again, Home Again (2012), and Wonderful Strange (2015).

There is something truly captivating about Juno award nominee, Kellie Loder. It can be found in their poignant and timely lyrics set against magical melodies. It can also be found in the singer/songwriter’s electrifying live shows, inspiring profound emotion in listeners. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh, and you’ll tell your friends about it. CBC q’s Tom Power proclaims “If I were a betting man, I’d bet the house on Kellie Loder being the next big thing out of Newfoundland”. Loder is the first place runner-up of City TV’s Canada’s Got Talent where they triumphantly wowed audiences and judges with their outstanding mesmerizing performances. Included in their long list of accolades are 2022 ECMA nominations for Songwriter of the Year as well as Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year. They were named the 2021 Ron Hynes Songwriter of the Year at the Music NL Awards and received a 2021 ECMA Award for their groundbreaking music video and compelling song, “Molded Like A Monster”. Their 2019 single “Fearless”, received high praise and was chosen as the soundtrack behind CBC’s 2021 Tokyo Olympics coverage as well as the soundtrack behind an IMAX Trailer for Superpower Dogs, narrated by Chris Evans (Captain America/Avengers). Their continued accomplishments and hard work has placed them on the same performance stages as Melissa Etheridge, Steven Page, Paul Brady, Joel Plaskett, Alan Doyle, and more. Anyone who has heard Loder or watched them perform knows one thing is certain: they’re a towering talent about to explode on the world stage.

Kelly McMichael is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and songwriter based in St John’s NL. Her debut LP ‘Waves’ broke through the pandemic haze as a notable independent release in 2021, getting shortlisted for The Polaris Prize and winning The East Coast Music Award for Best Rock Album as well as three MusicnNL awards including Songwriter of the Year.

‘Waves’ has been praised for its dense collection of instant rock/pop classics. Accolades for rich production and lush sounds are due to Kelly’s collaborative work with drummer/producer/engineer Jake Nicoll (The Burning Hell) who helped create dreamy textures with unique analog gear. McMichael’s commanding vocals deliver contemplative lyrics and her playful melodies and arrangements serve up distinct originality and timelessness.

Kelly has worked with many acts in the studio and on the road, including Sarah Harmer, Regina Gently/Gentleman Reg, Thelma & Louise, Rouge, The Burning Hell and Allie X. She has recently been able to focus primarily on her own music with a second album due out spring 2024. The lead single “Tour From Hell” demonstrates McMichael’s deep well of creativity, signaling a new body of work that is getting wilder while maintaining its catchiness.

Photo Credit: Colin Medley