Entertainment at the Festival
This is what it's all about, after all. Music in every form. Whether your tastes run to jazz, bluegrass, rock n roll, bigband, classical, world or country, you'll find something to enjoy.
Already booked for 2008:
- Angel Choir of Toronto
- Bluesers
- Brain Rose and the Little Big Band
- Cat 'n the Fiddle
- Family Quarles
- fortysomething
- Gypsygrass
- John Stewart Band
- Kick Up A Fuss Cloggers
- Liza Williams Trio
- Main Street Dance
- Marion Drexler Band
- Markham Concert Band
- Markham Jazz Festival All Stars
- Memories Unplugged
- MusicGo Kids
- No Class
- Not Affiliated Big Band
- Project Phoenix
- Pulse Danceworks
- Suburbanaires
- The Family Quarles
- Too Drunk To Fish
- What About Bob
- Wonder Years Choir
Headlining Friday Night
Brian Rose and the Little Big Band
The band plays a unique blend of listenable, danceable music: jazz, swing, jive, pop, ballroom, latin and R&B. When you add Brian's smooth MC style and a stunning vocalist, you have an evening to remember!
• Brian Rose - alto sax/flute
• Carol Olson - keyboard
• Jim Shea - trumpet
• Kurt Lund - tenor sax/flute
• Jim John - bari sax/clarinet
• Steve Kostashuk - drums
• Kim Schofield - bass
• Rob Bulger - guitar
• Bob Barton - trombone
• Larisa Renée or Rachelle Courtney & Dave Statham - vocals
Project Phoenix
Toronto's premier dance, funk and R&B band. Honouring the greats of old school dance and funk, balanced with funky contemporary grooves.
They deliver a show that will flood your senses with a fullness that only a ten-piece band can. Funky rhythms, tight horns and powerful vocals drive the desire to party as Project Phoenix radiates its heat.
Project Phoenix is the party!
Featured Performers
fortysomething's Alan Kennedy and Harry James have been working on their harmonies since they met in high school, almost 30 years ago.
From gigs in local coffee shops to opening for Brian Roman at Roy Thompson Hall, fortysomething's reputation for recreating the sensibilities of the Everly Brothers, the Beatles and a great sound of their own, has a growing contingent of fans who show up anywhere the lads end up playing. "Their sound is so right, you can't help but come away feeling great."
The Not Affiliated Big Band is a 20-piece, all-age, jazz/swing band. They specialize in energetic music of the jazz persuasion. The musicians are a diverse and intriguing blend of dynamic musicians who love performing fun and powerful music for appreciative audiences. Not Affiliated kicks their way through all kinds of jazz, swing, standards, Latin and fusion.
Over the band's eight-year history, Not Affiliated has developed into an exciting show band, blowing away audiences with both their musicality and their amazingly fun and relaxed stage presence.
"The all-age band is from the Markham area and has a wide repertoire. They sound rehearsed, they swing, and they're tight!" Geoff Chapman, Jazz Critic for the Toronto Star
Over the past 4 years the Band has had the opportunity to play at various outdoor festivals and events including the Windsor Blues Fest, Burlington Jazz and Blues Fest, Oakville Midnight Madness, Oakville Jazz Fest ( at Prime Time venue ), Dundas Cactus Festival, Port Dover Friday the 13th , Parti Gras at the Distillery District (in Toronto ), Empire Sandy Blues Cruise as well as benefit and charity events including cancer benefits and various smaller local venues.
The band is made up of Chris Cotton (age 15) on guitar, Mike Cotton Jr. (age 18) on drums, John Cotton on bass and Mike Branton on guitar & vocals.
The Band is delighted to be performing their 29th concert season. You can expect an extra special variety of music, contemporary pieces, marches, show tunes, light classics and, occasionally, a little jazz - the kind of music that appeals to any audience. Special guest performers are featured at many of the concerts.
The Markham Concert Band was formed in 1978, and with over 65 members, it is one of the largest community bands in Canada! Band members include young and old from many fields of endeavour. All brought together with one purpose in mind - to serve the community with the best in concert band music
Memories Unplugged
A revolving mix of players, some younger, some older, all great. Lead by Jan Hanko, Memories Unplugged covers Gypsy, eastern european folk and bluegrass music. Always an entertaining mix.
Bob Laporte formed "What About Bob" in 1994. A very talented and energetic Classic Rock band, it's comprised of Bob Laporte on drums & vocals; Russ Blakely on bass, guitar and vocals; Bruce Bamford on bass and vocals; Andrew Heathcote on guitar and vocals and "Bongo Bob" Baron on percussion & vocals. The band has performed on Markham stages a number of times. We're looking forward to hearing them again this June at the Festival!
Family Quarles
Pure Celtic music at its best played all in the family.
John Stewart Band
Hard thumping Rock & Roll. What more can be said?
Kids Entertainment
For any occasion, lively interactive music for children of all ages!!! Dance and sing with Dianna Banana her GUITAR and Honza! The amazing Cat, his FIDDLE and mandolin too! Singin' Sister Anna, and kids Eliza, and Shanna Banana. A fun filled musical show The Banana Bunch Family and... you! Under the famous Lollipop Tree.
Herbie the Clown
Ontario's only "stage clown".
Lots of fun for the kids.
Musigo Kids Entertainment
Join Keri and the PKS Dance Elite team for a lively activity concert. Children of all ages will move groove and play along to the sounds of the MusiGo Kids’ debut album Going Places. Multiple Juno award-winning producer Paul Mills has done it again with this delightfully energetic new sound. Featuring styles ranging from Motown, to Pop to Jazz, the MusiGo Kids are the hottest thing to hit the playground this year! For more information check out www.musigokids.com.
As we book our entertainers, we will be posting information about them on this page. Come back again to see who's new.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Morgan Park
Just for the kids, fun for three days at Morgan Park. To find out more, click here.
