Please Note: -All ages event. Children 12 and under are free! -All passes are non-refundable. -Once wristbands have been picked up they are non-transferrable. -ID required for beer gardens. -No dogs allowed on festival grounds.
Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abigail Lapell’s deft lyrics jostle with love song tropes, grappling with love’s finitude and the irony of how codependency and longing are revered in popular music. Lapell has garnered three Canadian Folk Music Awards, hit number one on Canadian folk radio and has over 40 million streams on Spotify alone.
Sam Langille, Josh Langille, and Daniel Hartinger are Absolute Losers, a rock trio from Charlottetown, PEI. Since forming in 2019, Absolute Losers have earned a reputation for air-tight live shows that deliver one burst of energy after the next. In August of 2023, they released their anticipated debut album, At The Mall, a danceable 12-track offering that confronts hardships without taking itself too seriously.
Canadian prog-trad quintet Aerialists alchemizes Scottish, Irish, and Nordic folk traditions and post-rock influences into a sound with striking clarity. It’s ethereal yet precise, technical yet visceral. Now with three albums, a JUNO nomination, and a Canadian Folk Music Award under their belt, Aerialists have staked their claim on the leading edge of the neo-folk world. With their new record, I Lost My Heart On Friday (coming Fall 2024), Aerialists reaches beyond their introspective history to capture the celebratory, sunset-on-the-grass feeling of a summer festival.
From Nova Scotia’s rugged coastline to the untamed wilds of Dawson City, Yukon, Alex MacNeil has left an indelible mark on Canada’s DIY rock scene from coast to coast. Former frontman of Alexander & The Great Ones and sideman to acclaimed acts like Willie Stratton and Braden Lam, Alex now ventures into uncharted territory with his new band, Alex MacNeil and The Revenants. This four-piece exudes Yukon powerpop charm. Get ready for Far Out Man, the upcoming five-song EP that merges ‘60s psychedelic pop nostalgia with punk sensibilities. Alex’s wry lyrics and contagious melodies find a deadly complement in The Revenants: Jess van den Broek on keys, Matt Sarty on drums, and Dane Armstrong on bass. alexmacneilsongs.com
The Animal Warfare Act
The Animal Warfare Act is a horror metal band, originally from Whitehorse, Yukon, and now based in Toronto. The Animal Warfare Act is known for over-the-top theatrical live performances and music that’s as catchy as it is heavy. Already garnering a dedicated cult following in their now-home city, there’s only one direction The Animal Warfare Act can go from here: up.
Since his debut, Church of Better Daze (2020), Boy Golden has been immersed in the journey: one where he’s traveled inward towards himself and the other traversing the observable world. Touring for hundreds of days, spending time at home in the studio alone or with friends, Boy Golden has been writing, writing, writing. From the lyrics, to the music, to the accompanying behind the scenes stories and newsletters, Boy Golden’s honesty and clarity are magnificent. At times they magnify small wells of sadness, bringing forth the tears; other times they widen smiles, decimate guilt and fear, and others still, his songwriting eases the boundaries between folk, bluegrass, Americana and pop music. boygolden.ca
Elijah Bekk Trio
Elijah Bekk is a singer, guitarist, pianist, bassist, drummer, songwriter, and more, living with a non-freezing cold injury, meaning negative temperatures can cause his arms to swell and limit his use of them. Though the icy climate of the Yukon can exacerbate this condition, Bekk still calls the territory home, originally hailing from the community of Faro, and now based in Whitehorse. Bekk’s Yukon roots run deep in his music, with the folk tendencies of the territory saddling up next to elements of soft rock and R&B. Bekk leads his own band, The Elijah Bekk Band, as well as his new folk act Tumbleweed. He’s hard at work on his debut album these days, and is looking forward to releasing his first material this year. elijahbekk.soundcloud.ca
FONTINE
A hush sweeps across Turtle Island. Birds flock to perch on towering maples and the waving prairie grasses still. There is a name upon the tongue of every creature from the elk to the shrew. FONTINE. A gust of wind blows open the shutters of every home and young and old kneel in reverence to the dawn of a new era. FONTINE. Queen of the road, king of the song, FONTINE is here with a brand new EP, Yarrow Lover. Taking inspiration from her Nêhiyaw Iskwew roots, the natural surroundings of her prairie home, and her musical surroundings in Winnipeg, FONTINE’s EP presents as a beautiful introduction to a powerhouse songwriter and vocalist. @fontinemusic
Hän Singers
The Hän Singers, who recently recorded their first studio album here at the DCMF studio, have been performing at local events in the community in Hän, the traditional language of the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation, since forming in the early 90s. The album is expected to be released during this year’s Moosehide Gathering from July 25 to 28.
Born into the warm embrace of the Yukon music scene, multi-instrumentalist Selina Heyligers-Hare spent her childhood years on the floor of her dad’s music store, watching her luthier mom’s busy hands, and socializing at weekly community jams. For her, the stage is home. Her love of many genres has led to a versatile and unique collection of original material that pushes the boundaries of modern music in all the right ways. Intricate melodies with grounding folk roots, classic rock riffs and soaring vocals will leave you absolutely captivated.
Toronto-based electronic collective Holy Fuck have played by their own rules since their inception in 2004, when they began creating lo-fi electronic noise music with old analog musical and non-musical instruments, including a 35mm film synchronizer. Known primarily for improvising on-stage with a variety of electronic devices strewn across a table and held together with duct tape.
Raised on the Prairies and salted a while on the East Coast, Jared Klok has long since fallen for Dawson City’s trappings. A little bit country, a little bit tongue-in-cheek, his songs follow the long gaze of a flatlander with wit and whimsy to boot. After an extended hiatus from recording, Klok brings a new album with material that floats above a pedal-steel mirage, touching down in honky tonks, drive-in movie theatres, and rear-view mirrors—all the while inhabiting the vistas of an unreleased Wim Wenders film. soundcloud.com/jared-christopher-klok
Kim Barlow
Kim Barlow launched her first album, Humminah, in the Yukon, and led a lively musical career in Whitehorse for twenty years before returning to her Nova Scotia roots. Barlow is a creative and eccentric songwriter, skillful on guitar and clawhammer banjo. She’s recorded seven albums of her own work, earned two Juno nominations (solo and with stringband Annie Lou), and has many collaborations, including improvising quartet, Quilting. Her 2019 album, How to Let Go, was nominated for a Nova Scotia Music Award for Folk Recording of the Year, and she runs a busy non-profit cooperative called Music In Communities, connecting musicians in their communities in rural Nova Scotia. Barlow is absolutely thrilled to return to the scene of so many wild times and great musical moments, at the Dawson City Music Festival, and will share some musical history and new songs, accompanied by harpist Mairi Chaimbeul. kimbarlow.ca
Mobb Diggity
In his own words, Mobb Diggity is a “student of hip-hop.” Mobb grew up in the small northern community of Haines Junction, Yukon, and started rapping outside the local youth centre when he was 13 years old. After years of writing in his notebook and practicing all day, every day, he released his first single, ‘“Dreamscape”, in 2021. With his newest track, “Hayley’s Comet”, released and an album on the horizon, Mobb Diggity has built up his catalog with hard work and dedication, and has major plans for 2024.
Ombiigizi— pronounced om-BEE-ga-ZAY, meaning this is noisy—is a collaboration between Zoon (Daniel Monkman) and Status/Non Status (Adam Sturgeon), Anishnaabe artists who explore their cultural histories through sound. An amalgam of their Indigenous heritages and personal musical architectures, Daniel and Adam imbue their lyrics with their families’ storytelling, revealing truths and finding common ground amidst their differences.
Quilting is a supergroup that formed in an old church in Annapolis Valley, NS during the quiet winter of 2020/21. They are: Holy Fuck’s Brian Borcherdt on electronics, folk guitarist and banjoist Kim Barlow, harpist Màiri Chaimbeul, and Sahara Jane Nasr, on the rare Indian sarangi. They create spontaneous compositions, listening and supporting each other deftly and playfully. Their improvised, instrumental music is dreamy and weird and takes listeners deep into beautiful, sometimes unsettling landscapes, where even at its loudest parts a sense of intimacy persists.
Sahara Jane is a vocalist, composer and sarangi player. She is a multi-faceted musician blending influences from South Asian and Canadian musical styles in a unique and uplifting way. Sahara Jane plays with her husband, rhythm master and multi-instrumentalist, Ken Shorley. In their new show and album, Something Good, Sahara Jane and Ken Shorley create a soundscape of global electro-acoustic fusion.
Klondike County Dance Band is a collection of Whitehorse and Dawson locals with a passion for country, oldtime fiddle and Cajun/Acadian dance music! Dust off your dancing boots and come out for some high-energy sets complete with some light dance instruction and wholesome community fun!
Status/Non-Status
A folk band in nature, Status/Non-Status is the name of the ongoing musical work of Adam Sturgeon – artist and Anishinaabe community worker and his collaborators. Known for a heavier than heavy sound, SNS have made a name for themselves through relentless touring, intense truth seeking, and a heart on the sleeve musical output. Status/Non-Status exists because of a desire to connect communities, particularly Indigenous communities, through art and healing.
Super Duty Tough Work are an art-rap/hip hop group from Winnipeg, Manitoba] Their 2019 EP, Studies in Grey, and their 2024 album, Paradigm Shift were both nominated for the Polaris Music Prize.The project is led by Brendan Kinley, who performs under the stage name Brendan Grey, fronting an eight-piece band of musicians whose music uses live instruments to recreate the sound and feel of classic hip hop production tools.
At a young age, Tia Wood was a seasoned entertainer having toured the powwow trail extensively with her family (many of whom are members of Grammy Award-nominated group, Northern Cree). Tia has an iconic sound and look that reflects a growing cultural awareness and shift in mainstream media. She is singing the anthem for a generation of Indigenous voices rising up in mainstream music.
U.S. Girls is a Toronto-based experimental project formed in 2007, consisting solely of American musician and record producer Meghan Remy. Her 2023 album, Bless This Mess, was longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, marking the fourth U.S. Girls record to receive the honour.
Though a slight twang sometimes reveals her Montana roots, ZINNIA is a Toronto-based artist with songs that cut right to the bone. ZINNIA has a way of spinning tiny mirrors ‘til they catch the light like a disco ball. This is music as a bedazzled catharsis, in the form of divorce anthems, rebound ragers, and indie ballads.
In the Ojibway language, the word Zoongide’ewin means “bravery, courage, the Bear Spirit.” It’s no wonder Daniel Monkman adopted Zoon as their musical moniker. With sophomore album, Bekka Ma’iingan (Bay-ka Mo-Een-Gan), a broad spectrum of possibilities, lush orchestration, resources, collaborators and friends all supported the process. Their debut, “Bleached Wavves”, provoked listeners to face many difficult questions and reckon with a deeply uncomfortable and painful history. Bekka Ma’iingan continues to explore their Indigenous and life experience, and while still clutching to the unresolved, it moves us more softly and sweepingly towards acceptance.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Dawson City Music Festival. Many people also consider it the best way to see the festival – from the inside.
UPDATE: We had an overwhelming response from folks who wanted to volunteer! THANK YOU! The last of our volunteer shifts are just about filled! That being said, life happens, and we will inevitably have some shifts open up over the weekend! If you would like your name on a list for us to contact if we need you, please email volunteer@dcmf.com or stop by the volunteer tent at Minto Park!
Can I volunteer?
Yes, absolutely! Every year, people from near and far volunteer with our different crews to help make the festival the best it can possibly be. There are positions suitable for people of all ages, ability, and availability and we are happy to accommodate specific needs. Between July 19 and 21 we are looking for help in the merch booth, at the door, ushering, serving drinks, helping out in the kitchen, and more!
What is expected of me as a volunteer?
We require all volunteers to be reliable and responsible. You will be representing the festival and our community so we ask that you be polite, professional, sober, and courteous at all times. Please stay in touch with our Volunteer Coordinators before the festival – and of course, show up for your shifts!
Volunteer duties are divided into 5-hour shifts. You can choose to volunteer for one, two, three (or more) volunteer shifts. Learn more about these options below.
How do I sign up?
UPDATE: We had an overwhelming response from folks who wanted to volunteer! THANK YOU! The last of our volunteer shifts are just about filled! That being said, life happens, and we will inevitably have some shifts open up over the weekend! If you would like your name on a list for us to contact if we need you, please email volunteer@dcmf.com or stop by the volunteer tent at Minto Park!
What do I get for volunteering?
Listen to great live music, contribute to the Yukon’s biggest summer event, and get awesome perks like festival passes and a VIP volunteer party!
Volunteer duties are divided into 5-hour shifts. If you volunteer for…
5 Hours: you get a Friday wristband OR a Sunday wristband. Your choice! This is a great option for those who want to participate but are very busy during the festival weekend.
10 Hours: you get a Friday wristband AND a Sunday wristband. We’ve got morning, afternoon, evening, and night shifts so you can make sure to see all your favourite bands and plan your weekend in advance.
15+ Hours: you get a full weekend pass. This is the most popular option, as you get to be in Festival-mode the entire weekend, earn a full free pass, make a ton of friends and work on up to three different super fun crews!
Celebrate the 46th annual Dawson City Music Festival in the land of the midnight sun!
The DCMF Association would like to gratefully acknowledge the support of:
GOVERNMENT FUNDERS AND SPONSORS:
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
GOLD SPONSORS:
SILVER SPONSORS:
BRONZE SPONSORS: Goldrush Campground & RV Park Jazz Yukon Uniglobe Travel sprucetip designs Peabody’s Gallery + Photo Parlour Molotov & Bricks Tattoo Northern Superior – NAPA Auto Parts North of Ordinary
VENUE SPONSORS: Parks Canada Yukon Klondike Institute of Art & Culture St. Paul’s Anglican Church Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre The Westminster Hotel
The Dawson City Music Festival Association is located on the territory of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. We are inspired by the music, traditions, and culture that Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in have shared along the Yukon River since time immemorial. We work to support this living legacy.
