A decorated artist with MusicNL wins and ECMA nominations to her credit, Rosemary Lawton is no stranger to crafting an emotionally beautiful and soul-stirring tune. A classically trained violinist, with her roots firmly set in Newfoundland soil, Rosemary’s determination to learn and grow in her traditional heritage has taken her on a unique journey that has shaped her as a violinist, singer, songwriter, and storyteller.
Her latest album “Canvas” is Rosemary’s first complete album of original music. The songs cover topics of love, loss, empowerment, and positivity. In previous projects, her music has been a hybrid of both classical and traditional genres. Recently, Rosemary was able to contribute to Tony Award Winning Broadway Musical “Come From Away’s” latest album “Covers From Away,” in which, she had the opportunity to work with the writers of the musical to arrange a new version of the song “I am Here” for the album. In her albums “Untamed,” “Fierce,” and her song book “Resilience,” Rosemary explores traditional Newfoundland and Labrador songs that focus on tales of empowering women. Through these projects, Rosemary’s research is helping to bring female empowerment to the forefront of Newfoundland tradition.
Rosemary Lawton is a music educator, and focuses on bringing traditional music into schools, and advocating for marginalized groups through her work. Through her creativity, and positivity, Rosemary is helping to enrich her community, and help make the world a better place one song at a time.
Roger was born and raised in St. John’s, discovering the blues at a very early age thanks to exposure to a family friend’s record collection. It immediately resonated with him and he began with the record that had turned him on in the first place “The London Muddy Waters Sessions”. He soon realized that that recording paled in comparison to the 1950’s recordings by Muddy.
As he dug further back, he realized the influence of Robert Johnson on Muddy, and the eerily full sound achieved with one guitar and a vocal. This was a true epiphany for Roger and, having bought vinyl copies of Robert Johnson’s “King of the Delta Blues Singers”, volumes one and two, he sat down to try and figure out this haunting, soulful singer’s techniques.
Howse has released a 6 song EP of originals, two crafted during the pandemic and four previously released songs from the acoustic “Long Time Comin’” with Howse adding the piano and bass parts originally written for them. “Post Pandemic Blues” is Howse’s most personal work to date. All of these songs come from Howse’s personal life; there are more to come and, perhaps, more performances.
Veteran folk musicians Rik Barron and Kevin Evans have performedand recorded on and off with each other for 3 decades. They’re onagain at the moment and bringing their unique blend of Canadiana,Americana, Irish and Newfoundland folk music to the Ship for folknight. A grand time to be had by all.
A multi award winning solo artist, Rik Barron has been touring North America and Europe for nearly forty years. He is an accomplished and respected roots performer, entertaining his audiences with great singing, expert playing and irreverent humour.
Rik Barron was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland. There he worked extensively with Dave Panting of Figgy Duff and Rawlins Cross, making eleven studio recordings and touring Canada, the USA and Europe. He is a founding member of The Fousty Toutons, Newfoundland’s most famous folkabilly band. During the 1990s Rik lived in Prince Edward Island performing with many Island musicians including singer and songwriter Allan Rankin. In the US he has recorded and played with banjoist Dan Levenson and clawgrass originator Mark Johnson contributed to one of Rik’s East Coast Music award winning recordings. His relationship with banjo innovator and legend Tony Ellis has helped Rik develop a unique instrumental style combining the elements of Celtic, Newfoundland, Maritime and Americana music. These days he can be found playing with long time musical partner Chili Taylor.
Along with giving workshops at festivals Rik has been a faculty member of the Maryland Banjo Academy, The Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy, The Woods Acoustic Music and Dance Camp, WUMB’s Winter Acoustic Music weekend and the Summer Acoustic Music Week. Rik has been featured on the cover of the Banjo Newsletter and has been a long time endorsing artist for Deering Banjos.
Rik has garnered three Canadian Folk Music Award nominations, two Indie Award nominations and three East Coast Music Award wins.
Through the years Rik has also performed in schools, fairs and concert halls playing roots music for children and families. His enthusiasm for and popularity with young audiences is undiminished and he is a three time East Coast Music Award winner in that genre.
Richard Neville grew up in the coastal Labrador community of Black Tickle.
Richard writes and performs songs inspired mostly by the people, culture and history of Labrador. He is also an accomplished guitarist who has accompanied Labrador’s Harry Martin since 1997 and has also joined him on his award-winning recordings. Richard can also be found as a session guitarist on many other CD’s as well as a backing vocalist. Richard has been one of the most active sought after musicians in Labrador for 20 plus years now; his live shows has been a draw for many a venue during this time.
Richard has also performed live from one side of Canada to the other, and abroad as far away as South America, England and Antarctica. For over 4 years, he was a part of the Halifax folk music scene. He has performed as a solo act and played in several bands touring extensively throughout the Atlantic Provinces. Richard has performed on TV and radio many times over the years and has been a featured act at such festivals such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival and Trails, Tales and Tunes. Richard also taught guitar in school for 3 years on the south coast of Labrador. He released his first album of original songs in August of 2011-entitled “Old Souls”. In February 2023 he released his second album; a self-titled album of original songs on the indie label “SingSongInc, produced by Jim Payne. In 2017, he was awarded the Labradorians of Distinction award for his work in music over the last 30 years. In 2019, along with 2 other local Musicians, Richard was hired as a musical mentor for 3 months, mentoring students from the Goose Bay area in musical performance. Also, for over a period of 5 years Richard sat on the Board of Directors as one of the only two musical representatives for the NL Provincial Arts Funding Agency, ARTSNL. Richard has also been a board member for the NL Folk Arts Society representing Labrador. Richard often donates his time through his music every year to many people and organizations in need of a helping hand. He has been a fond supporter of the local SPCA for many years.
Richard resides with his family in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
RASA is a progressive folk band from Newfoundland fronted by Erin Best & Sandy Morris. Their first album NEOPREHISTORIC garnered incredible critical success and was quickly picked up by 2 national distributors. RASA has toured Canada and New England, played on the East Coast Music Awards and the Pantene Pro-Voice Finals. Their single SUMO from their second album URBAN AMBROSIA, was a great success nationally.
Rachel Cousins is an award-winning artist, emerging as one of Atlantic Canada’s most promising talents. She continues to be one of the hardest working and well-respected young artist. Rachel just won a prestigious spot with the Canada’s Walk Of Fame -RBC Emerging Artist program. With this program Rachel performed in Winnipeg opening for Grammy award winning artist K’NAAN and also performed at the legendary RIVIOLI for Canadian Music Week.
Rachel has grown her audience with an impressive list of sync placements in television and film since signing with Toronto’s CYMBA music publishing. She has had songs placed in TV, movies, video games, Hockey Night in Canada and reality tv shows.
Rachel has won Pop Artist of the year for Music NL in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024. In 2022 she also won the Solo artist of the year. Her self titled album earned her an East Coast Music Award nomination in 2019.
While pursuing a music career Rachel always finds time to contribute and lend her talents to many causes in the community. One of her most fulfilling is going to schools to speak to kids about bullying, mental health and music.
She is currently working on her 4th album with Grammy award winning producer Greg Wells.
