Manitoba Music
Come Together: Artist from Across Canada Build Industry Connections at 4th Annual Showcases & Industry Meetings in Toronto
Thirteen Emerging Acts from Across Canada to Take the Stage at The Drake Underground (Nov 25) and Lula Lounge (Nov 26)
Artists and industry professionals from across Canada are converging in Toronto this November for the fourth annual celebration of live music at the Come Together showcases and industry meetings.
Eight music industry associations -- Alberta Music, Music BC, SaskMusic, Manitoba Music, Music/Musique NB, Music Nova Scotia, Music Ontario, and SODEC, Quebec -- have joined forces to spotlight Canada’s powerhouse independent live music scene.
The genre-spanning, invite-only showcases will run November 25 at The Drake Underground and November 26 at Lula Lounge, featuring performances from over a dozen acclaimed artists.
The Drake Underground
November 25 / 5 -10 PM
Aphrose (ON)
Kelly Bado (MB)
KROY (QC)
Kuzi Cee (AB)
NIKKAELA (BC)
Shanii (NS)
Lula Lounge
November 26 / 5-11 PM
Choses Sauvages (QC)
Kaeley Jade (AB)
Kylie Fox (NB)
Living Hour (MB)
Merv xx Gotti (SK)
The Bankes Brothers (BC)
Vikki Minor (SK)
Beyond the showcases, Come Together is a critical opportunity for the artists to build business relationships with key music industry professionals from Toronto and surrounding areas including labels, agents, managers, publishers, music supervisors, publicists, and more. Showcasing acts work directly with their Provincial music association to identify business contacts for industry meetings. Come Together is a push towards industry connections, team building, and business strategies for both artists and music companies.
“Canada’s independent music scene is a hub of diverse talent, creativity, and hard work that also fuels local economies and enriches our cultural landscape,” says Music BC’s Executive Director, Lindsay Macpherson. “Supporting emerging artists and music companies as they build their careers on the national and global stage while navigating the evolving industry is essential work for all of the Provincial Industry Associations. We’re always excited for the opportunity to bring this event to life as a united team, and to help facilitate carefully curated connections for the artists and their teams in one of Canada’s largest music cities. ”
This year’s event follows a successful return to the live stage in 2021 and the strengthening of the national music community in 2022 and 2023, capturing the dynamic energy and connection of live performance.
This project is made possible by the generous support from FACTOR, the Government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters; The Province of Alberta, Creative BC and The Province of British Columbia, The Manitoba Government, Manitoba Film & Music, The Government of Quebec, The Province of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Ontario Creates.
About the Artists
Aphrose
Ontario
Joanna Mohammed, known professionally as Aphrose, is a Canadian R&B and Neo-Soul singer who blends vintage and modern styles in her music. Her profound lyrics delve into personal themes of love, loss, and family, resonating widely and earning her international acclaim. Her breakthrough came in 2023 when her music video for "Roses" aired on BETSoul, enhancing her global recognition. Notable tracks like "Good Love" featured in CBC’s Top 100 Searchlight, and "Roses" was selected for CBC Music’s “SYNTH” series. Aphrose’s work has been celebrated across major European and North American radio stations, including BBC Radio 6 and RTVE in Spain.
Collaborating with acclaimed artists, she opened for Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida on their Moon vs. Sun tour. Her debut album "Element" received high praise from various outlets and her voice was featured in a 2019 NBA Finals commercial. Aphrose continues to impact the music scene with her sophomore album “Roses,” securing her status as one to watch.
The Bankes Brothers
British Columbia
With the release of their new In Waves EP, The Bankes Brothers are set to electrify Canada’s indie-rock scene. This Victoria, BC four-piece—brothers Nelson and Morgan Bankes on vocals and guitar, lead guitarist Carson Cleaver, and bassist Gray Oxley—formed spontaneously in 2017 and quickly made a name for themselves in the local scene. Their journey began with rapid songwriting and relentless gigging, leading to a residency at the Canoe Club in 2019.
Despite the pandemic's interruption, the band used the time to hone their craft, resulting in their latest release, In Waves. This six-track EP, produced by indie legend Steve Bays, blends influences from Elvis to The Strokes, coming together in a way that defies sonic parallels yet remains welcomingly familiar. The debut begins and ends with The Bankes Brothers on the move— “Walkin’ to the Beat” and “See Me Run”—a fitting reflection of a band that is about to hit its stride.
Choses Sauvages
British Columbia
With the release of their new In Waves EP, The Bankes Brothers are set to electrify Canada’s indie-rock scene. This Victoria, BC four-piece—brothers Nelson and Morgan Bankes on vocals and guitar, lead guitarist Carson Cleaver, and bassist Gray Oxley—formed spontaneously in 2017 and quickly made a name for themselves in the local scene. Their journey began with rapid songwriting and relentless gigging, leading to a residency at the Canoe Club in 2019.
Despite the pandemic's interruption, the band used the time to hone their craft, resulting in their latest release, In Waves. This six-track EP, produced by indie legend Steve Bays, blends influences from Elvis to The Strokes, coming together in a way that defies sonic parallels yet remains welcomingly familiar. The debut begins and ends with The Bankes Brothers on the move— “Walkin’ to the Beat” and “See Me Run”—a fitting reflection of a band that is about to hit its stride.
Kaeley Jade
Alberta
Kaeley Jade is an award-winning Métis and Settler singer/songwriter and multidisciplinary artist based in Edmonton, Alberta. Blending lush imagery and hooky melodic lines to create her own brand of pop-forward indie folk music, Kaeley has performed at venues and festivals across Canada, including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, JUNOfest, BreakOut West, the Canmore Folk Music Festival, and NXNE. Her music has received radio play across the globe (including a #1 hit on the Indigenous Music Countdown), has been reviewed by publications worldwide, and has been featured in several film and television productions, including Hockey Night in Canada (Sportsnet) and Warrior Up! (APTN). Her vibrant debut full-length album, Turpentine, has earned her significant recognition in the Canadian music scene—she is a Canadian Folk Music Award Winner and 3x Nominee, Western Canadian Music Award Nominee, Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award Winner and 3x Nominee, SOCAN Indigenous Songwriter Awards Finalist, and 2023 Henry Armstrong Award Recipient.
Kelly Bado
Manitoba
Weaving in influences from her African heritage, la chanson française, and American gospel, Kelly Bado’s music crosses cultural barriers to bring people together in joy and hope. Her striking vocals, uplifting melodies and advocacy work were recognized with 3 awards: Francophone Artist of the Year and Global Artist of the year at the WCMA in 2021, and the Art and Culture Award at the Black and proud Gala in 2024. Kelly’s songwriting reflects the beauty of the languages and rhythms encountered in her personal journey from Abidjan to Winnipeg.
Kelly was honoured to perform along artists like Alessia Cara, Serena Ryder, Walk Off the Earth and to open for 5 times Grammy winner Angelique Kidjo. She was a favourite in La Voix Quebec, winning the People’s Choice award. Sir Paul McCartney, after hearing Kelly’s performance on the show, exclaimed “WOW! What a fabulous, emotional and inspiring performance!"
KROY
Quebec
KROY is the stage name of pluridisciplinary artist Camille Poliquin. Her deeply personal approach to music and her bold pop explorations have seen her accumulate millions of plays on streaming platforms. The musician’s new album MILITIA features dark pop melodies inspired by love, sadness and depression. The body of work is as old as it is new, some songs rooted in late teen years, others from the dawn of one’s 30s. Every single one of them drenched in sadness and despair, from different perspectives of mania and depression. A portrait of a girl’s evolution through her twenties, gathering confidence, losing it entirely, testing out different personalities, just to come back closer to who she really is. In this case, a sad sad girl who loves alot and may be obsessed with the idea of death and cars and robots.
Kuzi Cee
Alberta
Zimbabwe born Canadian, Kuzi Cee moved around a lot while growing up; from London, New York, Pennsylvania, Toronto and then finally settled down with his family in Calgary, Alberta. You can hear all the different influences of where Kuzi Cee has lived in his sound. Kuzi combines Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, Trap, Afro Beats, Amapiano and EDM into his music .
Over the past year Kuzi has played multiple festivals like Soundtrack Festival, Calgary Stampede, and Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg Germany. Kuzi has also shared the stage with internationally renowned artists including Nelly, T.I., Ashanti, Mario, Michael Bublé, Roy Woods, and Jessie Reyez. With European touring plans for 2024, Kuzi is on his way to being Canada’s next major export.
Kylie Fox
New Brunswick
Kylie Fox is a Canadian singer songwriter, fusing folk storytelling with vintage elements of jazz and alternative rock. With influences like Kate Bush, Sharon Van Etten, and Joni Mitchell, her music is ethereal, lush and real. Her latest single “Brandi Baby” is a coming of age alternative rock song produced by ECMA award-winning producer Daniel Ledwell (Jenn Grant, Fortunate Ones) and is the first single to come from her forthcoming album “Sequoia”. Kylie has supported artists like Bahamas, Matt Minglewood, The Strumbellas and Joel Plaskett and showcased at events such as Canadian Music Week, the East Coast Music Awards, Folk Alliance International and Harvest Music Festival. She has participated in the Banff Centre for the Arts International Songwriting Residency, the Canadian Song Challenge and the SOCAN Equity X Music Production course. Recently Fox was awarded “Innovator of the Year” at the 2023 PrixNB Awards.
Living Hour
Manitoba
Living Hour is an indie rock band from Winnipeg. Their music is distinguished by lead vocalist Sam Sarty's emotive and creative singing, cinematic soundscapes, lush instrumentation, and a playful musical interplay between the band. Living Hour has toured extensively in North America and Europe, and have supported DUSTER, Porches, Dear Nora, Men I Trust, Alvvays and Car Seat Headrest.
Merv xx Gotti
Saskatchewan
Merv xx Gotti is the award-winning Canadian multi-genre artist behind the solo singer-songwriter dream-pop project, "Guitar Songs”.
His debut solo singer-songwriter release, Guitar Songs EP, was released March 2024 in anticipation of his debut 5-show run at SXSW (Austin, TX). The EP has already amassed over 300,000 streams on Spotify and charted on Earshot’s Top 30 campus radio charts for 8 consecutive weeks. The EP’s first single, “Jiujitsu”, was played on over 21 CBC stations, Canada’s national public radio and television broadcasting system, as well as on over a dozen campus radio stations across the US, the biggest syndication pickup of a Saskatchewan song in the past 5 years.
NIKKAELA
British Columbia
"My musical journey began early, shaped by my mother's encouragement to explore various artistic avenues. After a hiatus during high school, my return to the church community reignited my passion, revealing the healing power of music. In January 2021, I released my debut track, 'Moment,' which received overwhelming support from my Filipino community and beyond. Recently, I performed at BC's premier industry showcase event, Do It For the Culture Fest, alongside industry legends Shad and upcoming giants such as John Vinyl. This event provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with key industry professionals and showcase my music to a broader audience. My performance at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival on July 1st, 2024, was an overwhelming success, with nearly 800 festival-goers cheering me along.
Additionally, I've received an invitation to BC's premier Artist Accelerator program run by Music BC, called ARC Accelerator. Through each performance, I aim to connect with listeners on a deeper level, sharing stories and emotions through my music. As I continue to grow as an artist, I remain committed to authenticity and excellence, striving to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of my audience."
Shanii
Nova Scotia
Shaheen Alasmar AKA Shanii is an Arab poet and artist, currently residing in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with roots in Syria and Lebanon, having been raised in Kuwait. Shanii fuses Arabic and English lyrics, to express himself and his unique upbringing, leaving a fingerprint on music as we know it. Through his culturally complex and emotionally rich worldview, Shanii inspires children of the diaspora.
Vikki Minor
Saskatchewan
Vikki Minor is an award-nominated neo-90s alt-rock artist proudly from Saskatoon, SK, and partially based in Toronto, ON. The emerging artist has been compared to Alanis Morrissette, Avril Lavigne, and Michelle Branch with her in-depth songwriting and catchy melodies captivating music fans. Vikki Minor’s stellar releases this past year have shown her growth as an artist and individual, receiving support and admiration on numerous Spotify playlists and both commercial and campus radios all across the continent. She has been able to keep her complex lyricism while bringing her electric live performances’ musical attitude into the intimate studio, has performed at various showcases and festivals across Canada, and earned nominations for awards like Rock/Pop Artist of the Year at the SaskMusic Awards and Pop Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Vikki Minor’s rockstar artistry is noted by wide-ranging audiences, news outlets, and fellow musicians.