You can call Carmen Townsend's music many things, but reserved isn't one of them. As polite as she may be in person, within Townsend lives a voice much louder than she lets on in conversation. It's one that manifests itself onstage through her raucous live sets, full of an intensity that has been building throughout Townsend's career as a musician.

As an artist, Townsend knows how to keep listeners on their toes. "There's a whole lot of energy with us onstage," says Townsend in her charming and pleasant drawl. "I'd rather be onstage playing live than anything."

With his soulful voice and virtuoso guitar playing, Matt Andersen has sparked a remarkable career that's built on a tour schedule of between 200 and 250 shows each year. Having opened concerts on tour with Randy Bachman, the late Bo Diddley, Delta blues icon David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Little Feat and many more, he's now a headliner himself. Andersen has played throughout the UK on four occasions, toured with CBC Radio's Stuart McLean (and sold 5,000 CDs on the way) and is certainly one of Canada's hardest working solo musicians.

In the past three years, Andersen has released an introductory EP along with two critically-acclaimed live releases and the full length release Second Time Around, followed by a studio album, Something in Between. His most recent release, Piggyback, is a series of duo performances with international harmonica star Mike Stevens. His total record sales in this country now exceed 30,000 units. (CHC Network credit)

Haunted Hearts write a loose blend of music, most identified as Alt-Country or Americana, though a deeper look into their music reveals a much longer list of sounds, styles and influences.

Formed in October 2008, the band is comprised of Dennis Ellsworth (songwriter, vocals, guitar), Mike MacDougall (drums and percussion), Johnny Ross (piano and organ), and Mark Geddes (bass and vocals), and Thomas Webb (pedal steel, guitar, banjo).

Her earliest musical influences were sounds of Makem and Clancy, Planxty and Bob Dylan being played by her parents as they drove around the Caribbean island of Trinidad where she lived as a child. She later moved to the Middle East with her parents and this is where she took up the guitar, singing and writing songs.

Formed in 1987 at a time when canned music had depressed the local live music scene and when "downtown had the blues", the Downtown Blues Band has evolved from a casual group of like minded Blues enthusiasts to a professional R n' B Show Band. As Carl Davies of the Saint John Telegraph Journal puts it, they're

"a bunch of regular Frederictonians who can cook with the best of them ... sending crowds home with big smiles on their faces and sore feet from too much dancing. Kind of like the Blues Brothers meet Wilson Pickett, meets Joe Cocker, the highlight is the three piece horn section that adds that little something extra to each song."

Chris Colepaugh and the Crew return to their southern rock blues roots with their latest award-winning album "Missed A Page". With subtle homage's to their intense live show and a focus on deeply personal songwriting, Chris Colepaugh and the Crew have crafted the perfect blend of rock and blues.

Relentless touring over the past several years with support spots to artists such as Gov't Mule, The North Mississippi Allstars, Grady, and Big Sugar as well as countless headlining shows in Canada and the United States have allowed Colepaugh & Crew to develop a legendary live show and a reputation for musicianship. Such that, in the last six months, Chris Colepaugh has lent his skills to fellow Canadian Roch Voisine for tours throughout France, Belgium and Switzerland while the new Colepaugh & Crew album was being prepped for release. With this recent launch of "Missed A Page", Chris Colepaugh and The Crew have enjoyed continued support from Canadian radio and plans are underway to develop their market in the U.S.

Canada's hardest working blues rock act, Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin' Bastards, do it right. They take their strong, timeless material to the place that matters. The People. Three years, 600 shows, 240 000kms, five national tours all executed 100% independently.

In a time of corporate cookie cutter music this is the return to real. Proving hard work pays off Ross Neilsen has been honoured with a nomination for Best New Artist at The Maple Blues Awards in 2010, two Rising Star nominations from CBC, back to back Blues Album of the Year nominations from the East Coast Music Association and more recently Ross won Best Blues Recording for Redemption at the 2010 MusicNB awards. Ross Neilsen is the real, old school kind of artist. Write. Tour. Record. Tour. Repeat.

2010 ECMA nominee Kim Wempe has a fight in her. It fuels her fierce passion, radiating the moment she steps on stage. Recognized as Atlantic Canada's 2010 Galaxie Rising Star, Wempe is a vocal powerhouse. When she opens her mouth she lets loose a full, smoky sound that can't help but turn heads in the loudest rooms. Kim is making waves from the Atlantic coast clear across the country with the release of her third record, "Painting with Tides".

Winning both an ECMA and Music Nova Scotia Award for her 2009 "Where I Need to Be" EP, Wempe follows up with a powerful collection of contemporary Canadian roots music featuring collaborations with Joel Plaskett, Old Man Luedecke, Thom Swift, and Geoff Hilhorst.

RAZZMATAZZ FOR KIDS will get you hugging someone you love, clucking like a chicken, bumping up and down on a bumpy bus, singing, clapping your hands, or performing on stage with them at their concerts of fun, original children's songs. They have been delighting young children in Canada and the U.S. for over 15 years, at festivals, theatres, special events and schools.

Razzmatazz's many awards include "Children's Recording of the Year" from the East Coast Music Awards, a "Recommended" Award from Parents' Choice, "Our Choice" from the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and "Children's Groups of the Year" from Music Nova Scotia. A video of their song, "Going to my Grandma's", was produced for Sesame Street. Razzmatazz was chosen to perform for the "First Ladies" of the U.S. and Canada, along with school children at the National Library in Ottawa.

Known for his sincerity, soulful voice and skillful musicianship, multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Swift performs a distinctive blend of roots-blues.

After releasing his latest album blue sky day (GroundSwell/Warner) in early 2010, he was chosen by CBC as one of Canada's top songwriters as part of the 2010 Great Canadian Song Quest.  He was also nominated for a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Producer of the Year and won Music Nova Scotia's 2010 Blues Recording of the Year Award.

Recently nominated for three 2011 East Coast Music Awards (ECMA), including Factor Recording of the Year, Male Solo Recording of the Year and Blues Recording of Year, Thom toured extensively this past year, including showcases at the Olympics in Vancouver and Folk Alliance in Memphis, TN.

Rik Barron is a rare and engaging artist. His rich baritone vocals compliment his extensive repertoire of folk songs and sea shanties. A veteran whose unique vocal, guitar and banjo styles have caught the attention of audience members and critics alike, he was once named Best Instrumentalist by the Newfoundland Folk Arts Council, nominated for Traditional Singer of the Year by the Canadian Folk Music Awards and has won three East Coast Music Awards for his Children's Music. A jack of all trades and a rare master of them too.

Scoring three 2010 East Coast Music Awards nominations (FACTOR Recording of the Year, SOCAN Songwriter and Male Solo Recording of the Year), along with four 2010 Music Nova Scotia Awards (Folk Recording of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Male Artist and SOCAN Songwriter of the Year) and honored a Finalist in the Great American Song Contest and International Songwriting Competition (for his song, Before The Morning Sun, co- written with James Keelaghan), Gunning is on the move.

Dave has eight critically-acclaimed CDs to his credit. His recent recording project, 'Dave Gunning...a tribute to John Allan Cameron', the Godfather of Canadian Celtic Music, is an inspired, heartfelt and uplifting dedication to a true pioneer and musical legend.

ECMA 2010 and 2008 winners for Country Recording of the Year!

In 2005, five easygoing New Brunswickers decided to take their love of Willie, Waylon, and The Boys from the back porch to the stage and share it in true outlaw fashion. Since then, Canadian Country Music has never been the same.

They are The Divorcees - The Great White North's original Honky Tonk Heroes.

Winner of the 2011 ECMA for Alternative Rock Album of the Year!

With infectious and captivating lyrics, reinforced by a commanding groove, Slowcoaster takes you on a ride to the heart of the party with no apologies. Throwing down their high-energy danceable tunes, the Cape Breton trio fuses ska, reggae, hip hop, and classic house influences with their unique brand of funky rock and roll. Having spent the past ten years infiltrating the Canadian live music scene, Slowcoaster has firmly established themselves as one of the country's most popular jam rock bands.