Jessica Pearson and the East Wind

Like the morning sun inviting sunflowers to turn toward her, Jessica naturally draws her listeners in. Her love for storytelling, drawing on folk, outlaw country, and Celtic traditions, is evident in her songwriting. In 2021, Pearson received the FMO 'Songs from the Heart' award and participated in Global Music Match.

John Murihead

John Muirhead is a Canadian troubadour, a campfire storyteller, and a big-hearted folk-rocker based in Toronto, ON. From fingerpicked folk confessionals to top-of-your-lungs singalongs, John's award-winning songs have touched audiences worldwide, resulting in tours across Canada and Europe and a growing community of over 50,000 fans online.

Musik Iz The Motive Entertainment

CEO

Dwayne Marcial

Dwayne (DJ $lim) Marcial is an artist manager at Musik Iz The Motive Entertainment based in Saint John, NB.

He is equipped to do many different things in the industry from management, promotion & marketing, sync placements, talent bookings, and artists development. Marcial is a graduate of NBCC from the Radio Studies program and TV & Video Production program with an extensive background working in both fields.

Dwayne has worked in all departments in radio and for companies such as Stingray, MBS, Bell, and Pattison. In TV and film, he has worked at NBC Studios, Rogers TV, and on classic indie films like Blue Hill Avenue.

Embassy of Canada to Sweden

Trade Commissioner

Maria Stenberg

Maria Stenberg is a Trade Commissioner working with the Creative Industries. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) provides strategic market information and market access solutions for Canadian companies looking to export, invest abroad, or develop innovation and R&D partnerships using our extensive network abroad and across Canada.

Ptchworks (Patchwork Services)

Manager

Patrick Twaddle

Patrick 'Patch' Twaddle is an entertainment manager, consultant, and post-secondary instructor. His company Ptchworks (Patchwork Services) provides full-service artist and project management, along with coaching and consulting services for artists, trade associations, and organizations working with or in the arts and entertainment sector. He specializes in rights management, emerging tech, branding, cultural exports, and A&R activities, with focus on the Canadian, UK and European markets.

Folk Music Ontario

Agent / Manager / President

Valerie Denn

Valerie is very active in the World Music/Roots/Americana/ community as an agent and a manager.. She is passionate about her artists and especially adept at helping her clients with export development and building global careers. Val served for four years on the Board of Directors for Folk Alliance International where she also served a term as President. She teaches and partners with other industry events to lead workshops/panels for the enrichment of the creative/artistic process. She has been a teacher/mentor at SXSW, Mundial Montreal, WOMEX, Folk Music Canada, ECMA's and participated on numerous panels at industry events. She currently is President of Folk Music Canada and a board member of the Live Music Society- which gives over 2 million a year in grants to small venues in the US. She is the Canadian Ambassador for The House of Songs based in Austin, TX. This organization matches songwriters globally for co-writing experiences and has residencies in Austin, Bentonville, AR, New York City, and now opening new “houses” globally around the world. She also manages human rights activist and musician Ramy Essam.

UNFIT Music

Agent Manager

Michael Owen

Michael is a Juno Award nominee and music entrepreneur with over 20 years experience. He has toured Canada, the United States, and Europe and worked with international partners on record releases and marketing campaigns around the world. Michael has strong ties to the Canadian music industry and works to support the export and development of Canadian music internationally.