Raised in Bay de Verde, NL and influenced by his father Ray Walsh and the
singing and playing of his grandparents and extended family, Greg Walsh
became interested in music as a teenager and immediately took to learning
traditional songs and playing traditional instruments including fiddle, mandolin,
guitar, tenor banjo, piano accordion, bozouki, etc.
After moving to St. John’s in 1993 to attend university, he began frequenting
traditional music sessions and over the years went on to play, tour and record
with many groups including The Navigators, Irish Descendants, Foc’sle, Middle
Tickle and has appeared on hundreds of other musical projects, shows,
radio/television specials and events.
As a multi-instrumentalist and a singer of traditional songs, he has performed and
taught workshops around Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada and
throughout Ireland with a variety of groups and as a solo performer.
A founding member of the Walsh Family Band, Greg is also a permanent
member of the Masterless Men (since 2007), the Corner Boys (since 2024) and
is a regular on the St. John’s traditional music session scene. He still records and
performs with a variety of groups and artists and currently resides in St. John’s,
NL where he works as Director of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and
Labrador.

A native of Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, Jim Payne is a leading performer, collector and producer of Newfoundland traditional music. He is also one of the province’s most prolific songwriters, as well as being a singer of traditional songs, a storyteller, writer, actor, and instructor and caller of traditional Newfoundland set and square dances. He has directed, composed and performed music for some of the most popular theatre productions of the past three decades, as well as creating soundtracks for plays, documentaries and videos. He has performed extensively on radio and television in Canada and abroad, in feature films, and has toured throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Australia.

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).

Jing Xia is a professional guzheng artist and scholar based in Newfoundland, Canada. Born and
raised in Hunan, China, Xia started to study the guzheng at six years old and has degrees in
Music Performance (B.A.), Arts Management (M.A.), and Ethnomusicology (Ph.D.). As a
performer of all styles, her musical journey on the guzheng has encompassed Chinese traditional
and folk music to intercultural ensembles, improvisation, rock music, and beyond. Xia has been
active in the music scenes in North America and performed in diverse musical events. Her most
recent activities include world-premiering Jubilant Entanglements, a guzheng concerto by
Canadian composer Andrew Staniland with Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra in January
2023. Xia is the winner of the 2022 MusicNL award “Rising Star of the Year,” the 2022 Artist in
Residence at Lawnya Vawnya, and a nominee of two ECMA 2023 awards (Global Recording of
the Year; Roots/Traditional Recording of the Year).

High & Lonesome grew from a lively weekly bluegrass and country jam at Erin’s Pub. What began as a mix of concerts, open mics, and sweet (pie) prizes evolved into a dedicated house band featuring Daniel Banoub (guitar), Mark Finch (banjo), Matt Hender (upright bass), Dave Rowe (mandolin), and Lucas Rose (dobro). This crew brings plenty of joy to the stage, with their high-energy musicianship shining through a mix of classic and modern bluegrass tunes and instrumentals.

Karen Carroll is a storyteller, writer, playwright and recitationist living in
Logy Bay. Born and raised and raised on the North Shore of Conception
Bay in Carbonear, NL, Karen writes stories of Newfoundland based on
stories of her family, her personal experiences and those shared by friends.
She also shares other stories of NL. Karen released her first E-album,
Molasses & Homemade Bread, in 2021, which is currently available on
Spotify, Apple and Amazon Music.
A frequent performer with St. John’s Storytelling at Storytelling Circles,
Festivals, and other events, Karen is a familiar face to many in the
storytelling community locally.
Karen has been a member of the St. John’s Storytelling Board since 2017.
She is privileged to be the current President of St. John’s Storytelling.

Three time MusicNL award winner and two time ECMA nominee, Roddickton, Newfoundland and Labrador native Karla Pilgrim has spent the last 15 years winning over audiences from coast to coast. From performing for troops in The Middle East, May of 2007, to opening multiple sold out shows for country music superstar Tim McGraw in August 2015 at the Mile One Stadium in St. Johns, NL, Pilgrim’s experience as a performer knows no boundaries.

In June of 2009, after years of playing shows, writing and travelling, Pilgrim released her award winning solo album ‘I’ll Think of You’. Riding the success of her first record Pilgrim was selected to open for Alan Jackson when he rolled through town in August of 2010. She enlisted friends to join her for what would be three unforgettable nights. After rave reviews, they did the only thing that made sense – form a band.

Karla Pilgrim, Terri Lynn Eddy and Renée Batten joined forces in 2010 as country vocal trio The Secrets. In July 2012 they set out on a six week cross Canada tour which included stops at Saskatchewan’s Ness Creek Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Stan Rogers International Folk Festival, World Pride Festival (Toronto), Harmony Bazaar Festival of Women and Song, Acoustic Maritime Music Festival and Cavendish Beach Music Festival.

Following the much anticipated June 8th (2014) release of their Nashville recorded debut album ‘Break Even’, produced by Peter Daniel Newman, they toured consistently and made multiple trips across Canada and into the US. Riding high on lots of success, their time together would soon come to and end. In 2019 Pilgrim co-produced Jackie Sullivan’s critically acclaimed and MusicNL nominated sophomore album ‘Find Your Light’.

In Jan of 2021 following the departure of Batten, The Secrets decided to close up shop. In fine fashion Pilgrim and Eddy wasted no time and formed a brand new duo and headed into the studio. LadyLike released their new single Princess Charming in May of 2021

Karla continues to perform as a solo act as well as with duo partner of 18 years, Jackie Sullivan. 2021 onward has been very rewarding for Pilgrim – hitting the road with Sullivan and recording new music with LadyLike as well as making her debut with the Spirit of Newfoundland. 2023 is looking to be off to a promising start with Karla and LadyLike releasing their third single on the heels off a performance with The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.

Katie Anne Colbourne is a singer-songwriter from Corner Brook, Newfoundland. At 18 years old, she performs covers and original music, singing and playing the guitar and piano. She can attribute her vocal tone and musical understanding to many years of studying and performing classical music, although her recent songwriting could be described as a blend of indie-folk.