Events / artists / schedule subject to change

11:30 AM

Ghana Association Hospitality Group

Agoo or welcome to a cultural dance by the Hamilton Ghana cultural group. This is comprised by family and friends, and we will be doing the Adowa dance, one of the many dances performed in Ghana. This is a dance rooted in the Akan-Ashanti culture, and it is full of hand and foot expressions. The song that will be used for our performance is called “Aseda” and we have no rights, legal or otherwise, to the use of this beautiful song by Agyeiwaa. Relax and enjoy a taste of Ghanaian culture.

12:00 PM

Dundas Pipes and Drums

The Dundas Pipes Band has been in existence since 1947. During that time they have participated in many competitions, parades, concerts and tattoos. The Band’s mission is to provide musical services in support of its community, while maintaining and advancing the traditions of Pride and respect for Highland Bagpipe music. The band prides itself in being an inclusive, family oriented group which offers free piping and drumming lessons to any interested person. It is grateful to the City of Hamilton-Wentworth for its ongoing support through the City Enrichment Fund.

12:45 PM

Healthy Aboriginal Men’s Drum Circle

Healthy Aboriginal Men’s Circle Drum with Travelling Song and Thanksgiving Address to the Creation of Life and All of Creation – Giving Thanks to the Creator of Life.

With Al Loft and Thomas Reape.

1:15 PM

Parade of Cultures

1:30 PM

Official Canada Day Ceremony

Official Canada Day Ceremony

Just One Wish Kindness Awards

followed by Canada Day Cake

2:30 PM

Six Nations Smoke Dancers

The Six Nations Smoke Dancers are from the Six Nations of the Grand River located in southern Ontario near Brantford, Ontario. They share the unique culture and traditions of the  Haudenosaunee (Hud-deno-show-knee) and will showcase a variety of traditional social songs and dances.

3:30 PM

“As Tricanas” Portuguese Folk Group

4:00 PM

School of Serbian Folklore (SLOGA)

The School of Serbian Folklore (SLOGA) is based in Stoney Creek, Ontario and has been performing traditional Serbian dance and song since 2010. Preserving authentic traditional Serbian dance and perpetuating our cultural identity by performing at festivals both locally and across North America in that time, we have strived to present our culture in it’s truest form while serving the greater community. Our artistic director is Vladimir Spasojevic and senior instructor is Anastasia Velinovic.

Our program for Canada Day:

1. First and Second Ensemble Sopske Igre – Shope Dances
2. First Ensemble – Vlaske Igre – Vlach shepherd dances
3. First Ensemble – Serbian Dances from Bosnia

5:00 PM

Tim Gibbons & the Swampbusters

Steeped in a timeless blues tradition, Tim Gibbons and the Swampbusters evoke music of deep roots and feeling, touching on blues, soul, and good ol’ rock and roll. Tim Gibbons is a three-time Hamilton music award winner, Hamilton Spec Readers Poll Winner & he represented the Grant River Blues Society at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Tim Gibbons & The Swampbusters new  recording, ‘Boogalator,’ features 12 smokin’ blues and rock and roll tracks, & is working it’s way up the roots & blues charts.

7:00 PM

Lowdown Dirty Mojos

Winners of New Artist of the Year 2021 at Maple Blues Awards!

Paul Wootton and Stephen Foster were taking a break in the middle of a recording session in 2018, watching YouTube when Muddy Waters’ ‘Got My Mojo Workin” came on. Everyone in the studio stopped to listen. They had played it in the past and started jamming on it. Man, it sounded great! It was at that moment that Paul and Stephen realized, “HEY! That’s what we should be doing!” and while trying to come up with a name for the band decided that they should have something that was in keeping with their mentor.

Lowdown Dirty Mojos was born.

Lowdown Dirty Mojos hail from The Hammer – Hamilton, ON – and, as they say, “we want to make this a lot of fun.” Their style is original mid-60s rhythm’n’ blues with a twist and a modern sensibility. Their first album SCREAMIN’ HOODOO R’N’B was released in 2019 featuring 11 original songs “about Hoodoo, Mojos, Potions, Spells, Blues and Redemption”.

2:00 PM

Gospel Choir

3:30 PM

Miss Tania Lou

Tania Hernandez, known as Miss Tania Lou, is a Jamaican-Canadian and proud Hamiltonian, who struts her stuff on local and international stages, promoting and preserving the rich, vibrant culture of her birth country, Jamaica. Miss Tania Lou was a Top 7 finalist in the 2022 Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition, in Atlanta, Georgia, and is currently in the Top 11 semi-finals.  Her vibrant personality and exuberance capture the audience as she performs folk songs, poetry, dance, stories and riddles, always interacting with her audience to create a nice,” irie” vibe. Miss Tania Lou, as she is lovingly called by her avid fans, is a jack of all trades and a master of many – a teacher, philanthropist, Jamaican/ Caribbean folklorist, poet, social commentator, author, music and performing recording artist, mentor and sponsor at City Kidz in Hamilton, Ontario. Tania is an edutainer par excellence, which has gained her the designation as Goodwill Ambassador by the Jamaica Foundation of Hamilton in October 2022. In the same year, she was honoured by a Jamaican/International organisation, the XLCR 76ers, for her humanitarian service and keeping the cultural legacy of her birth country, alive. Her contributions to her community and elsewhere have won her a nomination at the 6th annual Women Who Rock Awards 2021 for her outstanding achievements. Tania has been performing at It’s Your Festival for many years, including 2021, where she was invited to sing Canada’s national anthem and showcase her talents. She looks forward to hitting the stage again during Canada Day celebrations to add to the multicultural flavour of the “the true North strong and free!”

4:00 PM

Russ Wilson

5:00 PM

KennyC

KennyC is a Reggae / Soca recording artist / performer from Grenada, West Indies, but feels proud to call Hamilton, Ontario home. He is one of Canada’s top Reggae/Soca artist. His songs are played on radio stations in Europe, the UK, USA, Canada and the Caribbean. He has performed his original Soca and Reggae hit tunes on international stages, including, Run Kirani Run, Feel So Good, Thank You Jah, Just What I Need , Give It To Dem and Never Give Up, along with all-time favourite cover songs.

He has performed at TASTE OF LAWRENCE FESTIVAL, NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE and the TORONTO HARBOURFRONT entertainment stage. He is an artist of choice for international and community festivals. The versatile song writer/singer has three albums: under his belt: LONG TIME COMING, LIVE LIFE & INFECTIOUS. He is currently working on his fourth album: FOREVER. New single from that album, “Soca Bubble Wine”, will be released June 2023.

6:30 PM

Steele

Steele is a versatile artist who has been making music for nearly two decades and is regarded as one of the most consistent reggae artists to call Canada home. He has made an indelible imprint on the reggae music-loving audiences with appearances at various venues in most major cities in Canada123. His music transcends all ages, gender and color. He has shared the stage with some of reggae’s most respected artists such as Freddie McGregor, Rita Marley, Tony Rebel, Sanchez, Luciano, and Queen Ifrica among others. He has also appeared internationally, performing in Africa and America, and in Jamaica on shows such Reggae Sum fest, Kite Festival, and Rebel Salute.

1:00 PM

Loralee & the Alley Cats

2:00 PM

Cadillac Bill & The Creeping Bent

CADILLAC BILL is a long stemmed Texan weed from England. Creeping bent grass is also a long stemmed weed than grows throughout this planet. Together, they form a blend of psycho surf and “garage” rock ‘a’ Billy—oozing together, ala The Cramps and The B-52’s. The circus like stage show includes 3 bubble machines, fire, lights, smoke and action.

CADILLAC BILL (Boyd-Wilson) studied film at the U.C.L.A. and animation at Sheridan College. His first band was THE EDNA, MONA HOUSEWIFE DEATH BAND and lasted a creative but uneventful few years. In the late 80’s, Bill moved in with THE COWBOY JUNKIES and it was at this time that he put aside film making to tell stories via music. THE CREEPING BENT soon sprouted and by 1990 had bloomed, flowerlessly, into the long twisted weed that it now is. The CADILLAC BILL experience has become a polished stage show of talented and eccentric characters and possibly the most enjoyable live fiascos in the Canada music scene.

C.B. & THE CREEPING BENT has toured Canada 6 times, opening for such acts as JUNK HOUSE, WEEN, THE HEADSTONES, WILD STRAWBERRIES, THE TUBES, RAY CONDO, TEENAGE HEAD, DREAD ZEPPELIN, BIG SUGAR, THE GRUESOMES and ALANNAH MYLES. The band were quarter finalists in the North by Northeast Internet Battle for the Bands and semi-finalists in CFNY’s Canadian Music Search. They also performed for the COCA National Showcase, resulting in many nationwide University shows. In 2007 Cadillac Bill’s album “Route 666” was nominated best album at the Hamilton Music Awards and was voted “best local band” and “best web site” by View Magazine. In Toronto, Eye Magazine honored Bill as being “Toronto’s Coolest Musician.” The band has been on the cover of View Magazine (3 times), Eye and Pulse.

3:00 PM

Barvinok Hamilton Ukrainian Dance Ensemble

Barvinok Hamilton Ukrainian Dance Ensemble has been in existence for over 60 years to over 40 students ages 3 and up. Based in the Holy Spirit Church Hall in Hamilton, dancers perform year-round at various church celebrations, festivals, concerts, and events within the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area, as well as the Niagara regions. Under the direction of Nadine Usyk and Taras Gulka, the group has flourished with an expanding repertoire of both traditional and modern dances. Barvinok Hamilton dancers are dedicated to the promotion of Ukrainian culture through music, song, and dance.

4:00 PM

Kostas Greek Music

5:30 PM

The Pistolettes

The Pistolettes are an all-female Canadian quartet absolutely stacked with powerhouse vocals, attitude and catchy original songs. Ginger St. James and Mary Simon first came together for a “Wild Women Wednesdays” showcase. The audience was thrilled with their unapologetic energy and authentic sounds. This would set the stage ablaze and the band quickly expanded, adding the outstanding talents of Justine “the bass machine” Fischer & Lulu Demoo on the drum kit and upfront on guitar.

With 3 songwriters, and an entire band of singers – the fire is hot, sparkling with great hooks and party vibes. A diverse and striking group of women who make it clear they aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.

Ladies and Gentlemen, It’s The Pistolettes

7:00 PM

ONE UGLY COWBOY

ONE UGLY COWBOY (OUC) is an original Toronto based country/rock band fronted by powerhouse female vocalist ‘Hurricane Jane’. OUC soulfully blends gritty country and in-your-face-rock with their up-beat … sometimes funny and often heartfelt tunes. 

OUC was formed and founded by vocalist JANE SOWERBY and guitarist RICHARD ZWIC.