2025 Musicians
eD Robertson
Ed Robertson is the lead singer, songwriter, and a founding member of Barenaked Ladies (BNL). The band has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, won eight Juno Awards, earned multiple Grammy nominations, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. BNL has built up an arsenal of hits, including If I Had $1,000,000, One Week, Pinch Me, and many more.
Ed wrote the theme song for The Big Bang Theory and co-wrote the first-ever “space-to-Earth musical collaboration” with astronaut Chris Hadfield. BNL’s 18th studio album, In Flight, was released in 2023 and features 14 brand-new studio recordings. It’s available on all streaming platforms.
The Once
The Once is a modern indie folk trio from Newfoundland that has won three Canadian Folk Music Awards, multiple ECMA Awards, and was named Artist of the Year by the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council. They have also received two JUNO nominations for Roots Album of the Year and continue to share their music worldwide.
With the release of Out Here (2024), The Once blends their Newfoundland musical roots with folk, bluegrass, country, Americana, and modern indie rock. Members Geraldine Hollett, Andrew Dale, and Phil Churchill have created a sound that represents their home province while pushing the boundaries of the Canadian folk tradition with lush vocal harmonies and rich acoustic instrumentation.
Lyrically, the album explores themes of loss and resilience, with a belief in the inherent goodness of people. The first single, Oh You, was written in the Gros Morne mountains—“a place where you can catch all the stars looking down on us looking up and wishing on them,” says Phil Churchill.
The album was written across Newfoundland and recorded in the band’s GingerBeard House studio, allowing them the space to take their time. “Sometimes music takes a while to flow,” says Geraldine Hollett. “If you don’t panic and surround yourself with people who love and trust you, magic can happen.”
The group formed in the tiny ex-fishing village of Trinity, Newfoundland, and their name comes from local vernacular—the once means “imminently, but not necessarily so.” “We wanted something that would embody who we are, where we’re from, and would elicit a smirk and a nod among Newfoundlanders back home,” explains Andrew Dale. “But it would forever require an explanation anywhere else.”
Duane Andrews and The Hot Club of Conception Bay
Duane Andrews casts a wide net in the musical world. Uniting what would seem to be impossible – traditional Newfoundland music with the swing jazz of the legendary two fingered guitarist Django Reinhardt, Andrews makes it not just work – he makes it soar. The Juno award winning composer, arranger, producer, conductor and globetrotting performer’s latest album is the best evidence yet of his inimitable musical vision and is the sound of him, literally, bringing it all back home. He’ll be joined by the hottest swing band in the bay The Hot Club of Conception Bay which features Erin Power (vocals/mandolin), Andrew Dale (bouzouki) and Isaac Andrews Power (fiddle).
Noah Guthrie
Americana singer-songwriter Noah Guthrie has been described as blending Chris Stapleton’s country/rock grit with the authenticity of Jason Isbell. His richly textured voice and unmistakable Southern influence allow him to convey emotion in a way that few artists can in today’s musical landscape.
Noah’s latest album, Blue Wall, pays homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he grew up and still resides. Passionate about making honest music that resonates with listeners, he strives to create songs that feel personal and meaningful.
Noah has built a strong following through live performances, social media, and television. He has released three critically acclaimed albums and has performed on NBC’s Today Show and The Tonight Show, Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, and ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The producers of the hit FOX TV show Glee discovered his YouTube channel and were so impressed with his voice that they recruited him as a cast member for the show’s sixth season. He was also a semi-finalist on the 13th season of America’s Got Talent.
As a solo performer and with his band, Good Trouble, Noah has played at major festivals, fairs, and clubs across the United States and Europe. He has opened for an impressive roster of artists, including Ed Sheeran, Ben Rector, Corey Smith, Sister Hazel, Matt Nathanson, and Dwight Yoakam. He has also had the rare privilege of opening 12 shows for the legendary Willie Nelson.
Noah Guthrie & Good Trouble continue to build a devoted fanbase through their high-energy live performances. With powerful storytelling and raw, emotional delivery, they are poised to be at the forefront of a new wave of artists who have something to say—and the ability to inspire audiences to listen and come along for the ride.
Matthew Byrne
Matthew Byrne has established himself as one of Canada’s foremost traditional singers since releasing his debut album, Ballads, in 2010. His rich, powerful vocals, refined guitar style, and compelling interpretations of unique traditional songs have made him a favorite among folk audiences in Newfoundland and beyond. After a long hiatus from the studio and the road, Byrne is set to release his fourth studio album, Stealing Time. Recorded at Yellow Arch Studios in Sheffield, UK, and produced by folk legend Martin Simpson, the album features contributions from some of the finest musicians on the English folk scene, including Nancy Kerr, Andy Cutting, and Liz Hanks. Stealing Time will be available on CD, vinyl, digital streaming, and download on April 4th.
Kim Stockwood
Kim Stockwood is a born entertainer, an accomplished songwriter and an award winning recording artist. Kim started her career singing at folk nights in her hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland. A move to Toronto, found her in the offices of EMI Music Publishing, where she stood on a piano stool, sang 2 cover songs, and walked out with a publishing deal. She signed with EMI records 5 months later. Her career includes multiple hits, as a solo artist, and as a member of trio Shaye. Her version of It’s a Marshmallow World has become a Christmas classic. Her latest release, Cryin’ Too, was co-written by Gordie Sampson. “When Gordie and I sat down to write, I was thinking about all the music I grew up hearing in my house,” Stockwood says. “My Dad’s music of the 50’s and 60’s—timeless artists like Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams and their most beloved songs. We reach for those songs when we really need them. They’re going to outlive us all.”
Hit Piece
Newfoundland super-duper-group Hit Piece boasts a 9 large cast of the finest players money can't buy. Debuting in 2024 at the WOWP Saturday Night Legion Bash, this original dance band had everyone hopping and all leather hitting the lumber. And they're back again to showcase more new tunes and lots of huge beloved covers. Ask around, this is the place to be and the company to keep. Good times by any means necessary. Check the roster! (Bill Brennan, Dan Smith, Nicole Hand, Jodee Richardson, Grant King, Amy Joy, Terry Campbell, Dave Rowe and Chris Harnett) Great Gravy! Also every year at the festival, visiting stars and local heroes step up to perform with the gang, so expect some radly righteous surprises!
Rasa
Sandy Morris and Erin best are both long-time Woody Point favourites who this year take the stage together as RASA.
Erin has a voice that could melt even the iciest of hearts. Sandy, the most easterly guitar player in North America, is a living Newfoundland legend and we are proud to have him as our Woody Point musician-in-residence. Together, they're a musical force to be reckoned with. Their debut album, "Neoprehistoric", blends rock, folk, and a hint of something indescribable, much like the feeling of finding a lost sock in the dryer.
When they're not making music, Sandy is likely in some lake or river practicing his front-stroke, backstroke, and fancy diving. Meanwhile, Erin can be found navigating the legal waters as a lawyer with Stewart McKelvey, probably arguing that all disputes should be settled with a jam session.
Sherman Downey
With his unique brand of radio-friendly folk and a natural ability for storytelling, Sherman Downey has solidified himself as one of Newfoundland & Labrador’s most treasured artists. His music has charmed listeners from his homeland to the mainland and beyond with MusicNL Awards for “Artist of the Year’, “Pop/Rock Recording of the Year”, “Album of the Year” and “Solo Artist of the Year”; he’s also been twice recognized as Newfoundland and Labrador’s “SOCAN Songwriter of the Year”.
When Sherman sings about letting loose in the local dance hall, people-watching from the front porch, or playing with love in out-of-the-way gas stations, it’s with a nod and a wink to those who feel the push and pull of their own small towns. He currently calls Corner Brook, NL his home, but he grew up in Coal Brook, a small town nestled in the Codroy Valley of Western Newfoundland.
Matthew Hornell
Matt Hornell is a singer and a songwriter from Newfoundland and Labrador. After bursting onto the St. John’s music scene with live shows that showcased his unflagging energy, Hornell’s award-winning debut album, released in 2010, firmly established him as a vital new voice in the songwriting community of Atlantic Canada.
On the heels of his debut release, Hornell received four Music NL awards – including Entertainer of the Year and the Rising Star Award. He has shared stages with such talented musicians as Elliott Brood, Sloan, David Francey and Brian Borcherdt and brought his songs to shows and venues all across Canada.
Matt currently makes his home in Gros Morne.
TheLma & Louise
Thelma and Louise have been offering rocking interpretations of your fave hits from the 70s to the Riot Grrrl Era and beyond since 2017. Known for their fun, energetic sets, a Thelma and Louise gig will have you dancing, singing along, and screaming at the top of your lungs with a smile on your face.
Band members Geordie Dynes, Kelly McMichael, Mara Pellerin, and Krista Power are seasoned musicians with Polaris Prize-nominated projects and international touring experience under their belts—and they are ready to show you a good time.
Lawnya Vawnya’s Get Out of Town concert series began in 2019 and presents LV shows across the province throughout the year. They focus on showcasing emerging and established performers outside of the capital city, in more rural regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. Past performances have taken place in Port Rexton, Port Union, Clarke’s Beach, Corner Brook, Steady Brook, St. Anthony, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, and Lab City.
About Lawnya Vawnya
Lawnya Vawnya is a non-profit arts organization that presents multidisciplinary and collaborative artistic experiences focused on new independent music in Newfoundland and Labrador. The name comes from an old Newfoundland expression meaning “To have a good time at a dance or a party with plenty to eat.” It is a good time by the sea.
Ellie Hamilton
Ellie is a creative and passionate young musician who has been immersed in Newfoundland’s musical community her whole life. She performs with her family band, The Hamiltones, alongside her father and two brothers. Since childhood, Ellie has spent summers attending festivals at the Woody Point Heritage Theatre and enjoying all that beautiful Bonne Bay has to offer.
Hannah Russell
Hannah is a vibrant and energetic soul with a deep love for music and community. She has been involved in local music scenes for the past 7 years and spent many childhood summers adventuring around Gros Morne—from collecting rocks along the shore and exploring lighthouses to hiking its breathtaking trails.
In her spare time, you’ll find her playing guitar and hanging out with friends at the beach. This summer, she’s especially excited to meet new people and connect with the amazing artists who visit Woody Point. Fun fact: like Ellie, Hannah will be attending Acadia University this fall, where she’ll study Psychology with hopes of working in Criminal Justice.
