TICKETS

Presented by the Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation

Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation invites you to join them as they present the third Annual Classics in the Park. This year two very diverse groups of performers will be gracing the stage. ShockolaD , a Ukrainian duo and the Brilho Trio.

ShockolaD was founded in 2004 by Igor Hnydyn and Anastasija Litvinyuk. Ukrainian roots meet modern jazz, creating a sonic journey that is as dynamic as it is heartfelt. Reimagining traditional Ukrainian melodies through vibrant grooves, soulful improvisations, and contemporary influences, the ensemble seamlessly blends jazz, funk, electronic music, and world music elements. This fusion results in a sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and boldly innovative. From the very beginning, ShockolaD's mission has been to bridge the past with the present by fusing Ukrainian folk songs and melodies with modern musical forms. Ukrainian music inspires the group because of its rich history, emotional depth, and natural affinity for jazz improvisation. This connection fuels their passion for cultural preservation while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of musical expression. Collaboration is at the core of ShockolaD's artistic vision.

The Brilho Trio , a violin, viola and piano trio formed by Dr. Vladimir Rufino (violin), Dr. Fabiola Amorim (viola), and Dr. Ryan Kolodziej (piano), brings to the stage their combined experience of chamber music and artistry, culminating in a blend of classical tradition and contemporary exploration.

Vladimir Rufino is a Brazilian-Canadian violinist and has brought his love of music to stages in South America and Europe as well as Canada and the United States. Vladimir currently performs regularly with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and as first violin of the Vaughan String Quartet, which released its debut CD in 2018. In addition to his performance schedule, Vladimir adjudicates for festivals and competitions in Canada and teaches at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music and Mount Royal University Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Fabiola Amorim is a Violist and, as a chamber musician, she was a member of the Camerata Brasílica (Brazil) and the Villa-Lobos String Quartet (USA). She is also a founding member of the Vaughan String Quartet, which has performed in Canada, USA, France and Italy, and made its debut recording in 2018. Dr. Amorim maintains an active schedule as a concert violist and educator. She holds a position of viola instructor at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music and Mount Royal University Conservatory of Music and adjudicates for festivals and competitions in Canada.

Dr. Ryan Kolodziej is enjoying a varied music career that has included solo and collaborative performances, accompanying nationally acclaimed amateur and university choirs, and individual instruction and group courses at the pre-college and university level. Ryan is also the Executive and Artistic Director of Primo Music Association, a not-for-profit that runs Centric MusicFest: a summer classical and art music festival in Alberta and has enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate and perform with Canadian musicians from coast-to-coast.

7PM Zach Willier

Zach Willier is a 20-year-old indigenous singer, songwriter and fiddler who comes from Sucker Creek First Nation. Since January 2024, Zach has been studying Bluegrass and Country music in Johnson City at East Tennessee State University.

8PM Travis Dolter

Get ready to experience Travis Dolter in concert! From the moment he steps on stage, Travis captivates audiences with his dynamic energy, powerful vocals and genuine charisma. His passion for engaging with the crowd shines through in his creative stories, humorous stage banter and gripping solos, creating a truly immersive experience.

Along with his talented band, Travis delivers a blend of 50s to current-day cover songs and originals, ensuring each performance feels fresh and exciting. From belting out heartfelt ballads to rocking upbeat anthems, Travis's show encompasses it all.

7PM Chantelle Marie

Originally from Yellowknife, Edmonton-based Chantelle Marie sings from her soul, taking the audience on a seductive journey.

The up-and-coming singer and songwriter works solo or in a band and caters performances to the audience, inviting them to join her on her musical flight.

In 2023, she sang at The River Cree Event Centre, Taste of Edmonton, Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and had a special guest appearance at the Edmonton Blues Festival.

In 2024, Chantelle Marie completed a 10-week musical theatre course at the Citadel, attended the Hornby Island Blues Camp and opened for Juno award winner Aysanabee at The Full Moon Folk Club. She also performed at the 20th anniversary of The Heart Of The City Festival and the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Blues Festival. With many shows already booked for 2025, it’s shaping up to be a great year!

8PM Twilight Time

TWILIGHT TIME celebrates the soulful music of the legendary group, The Platters. TWILIGHT TIME will take you back to the glory of the 50s, capturing the unique vocal style and the delicately balanced harmonies of The Platters. They will be performing The Platters greatest hits of all time, like ‘Only You’, 'Twilight Time', ‘Great Pretender’, and ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’.

You will also experience the biggest hits of the Doo Wop era like ‘Lollipop’, ‘Duke of Earl’, 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', ‘Be My Baby’, ‘Run Around Sue’ and so many more!

An incredible feature of TWILIGHT TIME is the leadership of Geris Guanzon and Thomas Alexander. Geris is the Music Director and Keyboardist and has toured both with the Buck Ram Platters and Martha Robi’s Platters in Los Angeles. Thomas brings powerful vocals who sang with The Platters when they came to Canada!

TWILIGHT TIME tours with six amazing vocalists whose harmonies will astound you! All vocalists have been carefully selected by the music director based on their ability to produce the unique tone of The Platters and to sing harmonies. Every singer has experience nationally and internationally.

7PM Nuela Charles

Known for her soulful vocals, introspective lyrics and cinematic alternative-soul style, Nuela Charles has solidified her place as a powerhouse in the music industry. Blending James Bond-inspired strings, soul-infused rhythms and a captivating stage presence, the Kenyan-born, Canada-based artist continues to captivate audiences around the globe.

Her latest self-titled project, Nuela Charles (2022), delivered more of her fiery, genre-defying sound, and she shows no signs of slowing down. 2025 started off with new music with the release of “History”, building to a highly anticipated album set for Fall 2025. With her ability to connect deeply with listeners and a sound that’s both nostalgic and modern, Nuela Charles is poised for a remarkable year ahead.

Join her journey as she reshapes the boundaries of soulful artistry, delivering fearless and authentic music that resonates deeply in today’s ever-evolving landscape.

8PM Rooster Davis

Edmonton-based pianist and organist, Rooster Davis, specializes in the New Orleans traditions of seminal players such as Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint and James Booker. His own style is a combination of everything he has learned from these great players, giving him a driving, rhythmic style of playing the blues and a heavy NOLA second line funk feel.

Roosters latest recording, For Saints and Sinners, won best blues recording from the Edmonton Blues Society, and was nominated for best blues and roots recording at the Edmonton Music Awards in 2016. The Rooster Davis Group went on to claim Best Band in the Memphis Blues Challenge for Northern Alberta. They also attended the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, a competition that features over 200 bands from around the world and became the first Edmonton band to make it to the semi-finals.

In addition to leading and fronting the Rooster Davis Group, Rooster Davis is a renowned freelance keyboard player. He has recorded with producers such as 10-time Grammy Award winner Joe Chiccarelli, John Whynot and Hawksley Workman. He is the musical director of Canadian gold platinum selling country artist Adam Gregory, and Rooster also regularly performs with award-winning roots artists such as Ridley Bent, The Dungarees, Jay Sparrow, Jay Gilday and many more.

7PM Gord Steinke

Former Global Edmonton/ITV news anchor, Gord Steinke, will be performing at Festival Place July 23 with his group The Big Stein Band. Gord has three rock albums under his belt and 4 Alberta recording industry awards, including best rock album. The Big Stein Band with Randy Rink and Mark Scholz has been playing festivals for the past 7 years. The trio is looking forward to rockin’ the Qualico Patio series at Festival Place.

8PM Susan O’Neill

Susan is a rare and compelling force in contemporary music - an artist who defies convention with a voice that can both soothe and sear. Described as “equal parts balm and blowtorch,” her performances strike a unique balance between raw emotional power and delicate nuance. A fearless songwriter and magnetic stage presence, Susan brings a deep sense of authenticity to everything she does.

In September 2024, Susan released her much-anticipated solo album, Now in a Minute. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Independent Album Charts, confirming her status as one of Ireland’s most vital musical voices. Critics were united in their praise; Hot Press hailed it as “a wondrous showcase of O’Neill’s bubbling creative prowess”, while Rolling Stone called it “an album of great intimacy… full of close-ups, like emotional macro photographs”.

As she continues to grow and evolve, Susan O’Neill stands as a bold voice in a world hungry for meaning, delivering songs that feel both timeless and timely. Whether on stage or on record, she invites listeners to lean in, feel deeply, and journey with her through soundscapes rich in emotion and honesty.

7PM Timothy Noel

Timothy Noel is a powerhouse vocalist and bandleader based in Edmonton, known for his high-energy performances and soulful delivery. As the frontman of The RearViews and a seasoned featured performer in the Edmonton music scene, Timothy has become a staple in the city’s live entertainment landscape. With roots in gospel and a deep love for Motown, soul and pop hits, he brings unmatched charisma and musicality to every stage he touches.

8PM Jolie Laide

Revered American singer-songwriter, Nina Nastasia, and Calgary artists Clinton St. John, Jeff MacLeod and Morgan Greenwood connected at famed producer Steve Albini’s studio two decades ago. The through-line on Creatures, their lush, sprawling new sophomore album, is St. John and Nastasia’s conversational, layered duet and disarmingly sweet, world-weary and laser-sharp voice buffered by St. John's signature emotive tones. Powerfully poetic, often anthemic, narratives soar over Greenwood and MacLeod’s layered multi-instrumental wizardry.

7PM Jordan Hart

Jordan Hart is a Gold-certified producer/singer-songwriter living in Toronto, Canada. His sound is often categorized as Contemporary/Roots with influences of Soul. Featured on YouTube performance platforms Mahogany, SOFAR and Alex Rainbird’s ‘Best of Folk’ series, as well as on Canadian mainstream television channels CTV, ETalk, Breakfast TV and Entertainment Tonight, Hart’s critically acclaimed music has struck a chord amongst tastemakers and now has over 32 million streams across platforms. The emotive cinematic soundscapes of his music made their way from studio to screen as his single “Whole” was featured on Grey’s Anatomy and Manifest. His single “Freedom” was featured on American Idol as well as an award-winning animated short called, ‘Free Bird,’ which doubles as the song’s music video. Hart’s music can also be found across Canadian radio stations with his latest single, “Get to You,” cracking Top 10 on CBC and his collaboration with Lucky Rose titled “Lost,” making it into Canada’s Top 40.

While it’s easy to talk about Hart's recent success as a recording artist, his live performance is what he has come to be known for. Before the pandemic, Hart completed a 100-Day Busking Challenge in which he played on streetcorners across Canada, often garnering audiences in the hundreds of unexpecting passers-by. While Hart is now a veteran headliner and is selling out shows across the country, you can still find him playing outside on the odd summer day, just like how he first fell in love with performing music.

Beyond his work as a solo artist, Hart is gaining an impressive track record as a producer and composer for other artists, working with the likes of Bulow, Kiesza, Lucky Rose, French Braids, Sugar Jesus and Lonely in the Rain, to name a few. While he continues to compose and produce for other artists, he has just begun working on his first full-length album which is released in early 2024.

8PM Misery Mountain Boys

You might hear the tunes of the Misery Mountain Boys drifting from behind a rotating bookcase of a 1930s speakeasy. Harkening back to a simpler time, the MMBs create a collaborative soundscape infused with tongue in cheek wit, playfulness and nostalgia. With a mix of catchy originals and contemporary songs reimagined in driving swing, the band’s performance delivers as both classic and fresh, offering a generous variety of sweaty jazz numbers, velvety love songs, and swingin' jump-blues.

7PM The Black and Blues Band

Formed in 2023, The Black & Blues Band is an Edmonton-based rhythm and blues show band dedicated to keeping the blues alive with a mix of old-school classics and contemporary hits. Comprising four talented local musicians, the band delivers a high-energy, soul-stirring experience that captures the essence of both traditional and modern blues. With a deep passion for the genre, they seamlessly blend their unique musical backgrounds to create fresh interpretations of legendary blues songs while forging their own signature sound.

The Black & Blues Band isn't just about playing music - they’re about creating an unforgettable experience. Their performances are interactive, inviting audiences to sing along, clap to the beat, and immerse themselves in the power of live blues. Whether delivering a fresh take on a blues classic or reimagining today’s hottest new blues tracks, The Black & Blues Band brings an exciting and passionate energy that keeps fans coming back for more.

8PM Celtic Frolic

Celtic Frolic is an ensemble group from Edmonton, AB, Canada. They offer a distinctive blend of traditional Celtic music, fused with Balkan flavour. They perform regularly in their hometown of Edmonton, hosting Celtic jams and providing engaging and joyful entertainment at a variety of venues.

Formed in late 2023, this young band performed a remarkable 39 shows in their first year. From the mainstage at The Heart of the City Festival to having the whole room clapping along at the Alberta Showcase for the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta, these talented musicians keep honing their craft and delivering thrilling and memorable performances across the city.

7PM Ty Koch

Vocalist Ty Koch is a young emerging artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia, who performs a variety of musical genres including blues, vintage rock, and classical songs.

Ty started writing songs as a teenager and, over the last few years, he has been collaborating with artists performing in a variety of genres at theatres, local clubs and festivals including the Nanaimo Big Band Festival, 39 Days of July in Duncan, B.C.; a tour of Northern B.C. and Vancouver Island (2023), and a tour in Atlantic Canada (2023). Ty has recently appeared with the Vancouver Island Symphony (2023); on the Port Theatre’s Discovery Series (Nanaimo, B.C.) in April 2024 and on two Rise Up Reality TV Tours (Roku TV). Ty has recorded and released two songs: Go to War and Waiting to Be Found.

8PM M*A*R*S

Vintage rock’n’roll that will thrill your soul! These middle-aged rock stars are a group of fine musicians who have one thing in common: they love music and love to entertain. With many years of collective musical experience behind them, they put this band together to play music and to have fun. It shows, and the band shines!

From Rolling Stones, Petula Clarke, The Bee Gees, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, The Four Tops, Chuck Berry, Sam and Dave, The Temptations, Roy Orbison and more. All are 60s favorites. They have great energy, presentation and punch, packed full of the songs you thought you had forgotten.

7PM Riwo

Nigerian-born singer/songwriter, Riwo, specializes in vocal composition and arranging. As the lead vocalist of Melafrique, an Edmonton-based, Afro-fusion band, she has gained recognition throughout the province.

Since moving to Canada in 2015, Riwo has collaborated with Titilope Sonuga, Callie Day, Arlo Maverick, K-riz, Martin Kerr, The Melisizwe Brothers, and more. With a passion for sharing her own stories, she delves into neo-soul, R&B, and Afro-jazz genres, curating her own distinct voice with each record released. Using music as the catalyst for new healing journeys, Riwo facilitates an atmosphere of connectivity, life, and a sense of homecoming for her audience. Reaching thousands of streams within the first three weeks of release, her 2022 single “Don’t Let Go” is the first of a set of singles designed to firmly establish Riwo within the Canadian Music Industry. Her highly anticipated debut album, "Grown Child", was released in January 2024 and can be found on all streaming platforms.

8PM Mariya Stokes

Mariya is a country-Americana artist known for her quick wit, candid storytelling, and for unapologetically stealing your Grandma’s clothes. With a voice as distinct as her retro style, Country Music Alberta’s two-time Female Artist of the Year is set to release her debut full-length album in early 2025.

Produced by Juno Award-winners, Justin Kudding and Spencer Cheyne, alongside frequent collaborator Lucas Gienow, the record’s anthemic choruses, gritty storytelling, and snappy bass-lines trace the edges of a sound that doesn’t settle neatly into one box. But neither does Stokes. Her next single ‘Fuck Pretty’ is releasing on January 24, 2025, and lives closer to pop than country, musically and thematically.

Whether she’s travelling to Austin, TX to represent her home province internationally or moonlighting as a ghost vocalist for a pop project, Stokes’ authenticity and unapologetic 1970s-inspired style continue to shine through. With a new album on the horizon, Stokes is ready to share her next chapter—a sound that’s as bold and unapologetic as the stories she’s been telling since day one.