JULY 31 - AUG 2 2026
S,DÁYES / PENDER ISLAND, BC
2026 ARTISTS
HEADLINERS
LESTER QUITZAU with DAMIAN GRAHAM
Friday @ 8:30 PM
Soulful Folk, Blues, Funk and Roots music, with an open improvised Jazz approach … like a cool blue stream, flowing over luxurious tones that rock…shapeshifting.…this is the music of Lester Quitzau and Damian Graham. With understated mastery and grace, these Juno Award winning musicians explore the space between the notes, as much as the notes themselves. Their music goes many places… rockin' slow and easy front porch style, moving on down a long winding road, covering many a mile, with heart and soul at the wheel.
Damian Graham's amazing spontaneity and technique on drums and percussion w/ Lester's unique style and fluidity on slide, acoustic and electric guitars, coupled with his well-crafted songs and warm vocals, are the fruits of these two musician's 35 year musical journey.
Canadian blues broadcasting guru Holger Petersen sums up his appreciation of their talents, reminding us that “Lester’s slide playing is in that rarified category and he has that great combination of skill, tone, and studied knowledge. He’s a class artist, whose music has a direct connection to the heart and soul."
"Damian is the real deal... ! ”
- Host, Saturday Night Blues, CBC Radio.
Saturday @ 8 PM
DAWN PEMBERTON
Vibrant, genuine and soulful, Dawn has deep musical roots that take her powerful voice from gospel and soul to jazz, funk and world music. Dawn has her B.Mus in Jazz Studies from Capilano University and is a certified teacher in Somatic Voicework™ The LoVetri Method. She has become a staple of the Vancouver music scene and can often be found tearin’ it up as a vocalist, pianist, teacher, adjudicator, choir director and “go to girl” for live performances and studio sessions. She currently is on faculty in the Musical Theatre Department at Capilano University and hosts her own funk, soul, and r&b show called, “Get on The Good Foot” on CKUA Radio. She has also spent her time touring with her own original music project as well as, Moira Smiley + VOCO, Vox.Infold, The Bluesberries, and Canadian blues juggernaut, The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer. Dawn’s debut solo album, Say Somethin’, released on DoRight! Music won Best Urban Recording at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards and has received praise from around the globe forecasting her as “…the new queen of Canadian soul.” Her newest album SUPERNOVA is set to be released in late 2026. A passionate educator and performer, Dawn approaches music with a sense of adventure, quirkiness, and serious groove and shapes it into her own unique and dynamic package. Tight, expressive and bold, Dawn will hit you where it counts, funk you up and make you say “Go ‘head!”.
MAC DEMARCO & THE DIP
Sunday @ 8 PM
Mac DeMarco is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. DeMarco has released nine full-length studio albums, his debut Rock and Roll Night Club (2012), 2 (2012), Salad Days (2014), Another One (2015), This Old Dog (2017), Here Comes the Cowboy (2019), Five Easy Hot Dogs (2023), One Wayne G (2023) and Guitar (2025)
The Dip is a local teen band formed on Pender Island in 2023. Playing a mix of classic rock, blues, pop, and crowd favourites, they bring youthful energy and a passion for live music to every performance. The band features Isamay Bowes, Liam Harrison, Sydney Boyte, Faisal Lewney, Koda Hartwood, and Kieran Wilkinson.
EVENING
PEACH & QUIET
Friday @ 6 PM
"Peach & Quiet, the musical duo of Jonny Miller and Heather Read have been enchanting audiences since they burst onto the music scene in 2020 with their debut album "Just Beyond the Shine". The album quickly gained popularity, topping folk and roots music charts in North America and receiving international acclaim, including a spot on BBC Scotland's Record of the Week and four Best of the Year lists.
In early 2023, they released their second album, "Beautiful Thing", which debuted at #3 on national folk charts and remained on the North American charts for over a year. Critics praised the album for its unique combination of 1960s Laurel Canyon nostalgia and contemporary sounds, calling it "divine" and "utterly original", all expertly produced by Nashville's Steve Dawson and a stellar lineup of musicians—including Jeremy Holmes on bass, Gary Craig on drums, and Chris Gestrin on keys.
Peach & Quiet are now evolving their sound to embrace a West Coast roots-soul vibe. With new releases scheduled for summer 2025 from renowned producer Daniel Klenner including "Bright Side of the Road", "One of These Days", and "Life's Basket", get ready to be swept away by their irresistible melodies and heartfelt lyrics—this duo is just getting started."
Friday @ 7:15 PM
PONDSIDE
Truly homegrown and multi-generational, PONDSIDE includes six members from Pender Island BC, four of which are from same family. The PONDSIDE band stemmed from an acoustic folk trio that included principle songwriter Jim Stafford (guitar and vocals), Wendi Lopatecki (Mandolin and Vocals) and Colin Hamilton (Banjo). This trio expanded to include the big sounds of percussionist Brent Baker, bouncy bassist Cedar Lopatecki and violinist Taeven Lopatecki. Influences include classic west coast folk as well as reggae, punk, rock and popular music from the mid to late 20th century.
The PONDSIDE goals are simple… play music and have fun.. record songs… be human. Members currently have day jobs and/or are in school. A variety of passions inspire, including carpentry, artistry, archaeology, with a focus on the interconnectedness between humanity and ‘nature’. The music itself represents decades of walking through and protecting and respecting old growth forests and our respective pasts, surfing, laughing and loving on the west coast of BC. The lyrics explore family, history, technology and an ever-changing world.
SMALL TOWN ARTILLERY
Saturday @ 6:30 PM
Small Town Artillery plays very earnest, almost orchestral rock music with big grins on their faces.
Born out of the small mountain town of Kaslo, BC, brothers Tom (Guitar, Vocals) & Derek van Deursen (Drums, Vocals) began learning side-by-side at a young age. Both cut their teeth deep into the flank of the indie band path, learning each required hat and chasing a sound that has evolved significantly since those basement jams in high school.
Musically, dynamics abound. Horns bring the big yellable melodies and violin enters the mix now to gasp and evoke over charged guitars and expressive pounding rhythms. The live show is a jumpy, heartwarming and earnest songfest, performed best in lightning storms during hometown festivals and under the last golden rays of a valley spring-turned-summer evening.
The band has carved their own corner of the Pacific Northwest towns and cities over the last 10 years, and between multiple handfuls of long-ranging BC tours and night time slots at some of the region’s best known festivals (Kaslo Jazz, Edge Of The World), they’ve played over 350 shows. Signed to JumpAttack! Records out of East Vancouver for their 2018 sophomore album, Don’t Talk Away The Magic, the band is currently nearing completion of their 3rd LP - to be titled:
“I’m Glad You Stayed Here”
ÉLISE LEBLANC
Sunday @ 6:30 PM
Élise LeBlanc (They/Them) channels the spirit of classic country, bluegrass, and western swing—spinning stories of queer love, longing, and the wild west.
With heart-rending vocals, timeless twang and a band that swings hard, this songwriter delivers two-steppin’ swagger with front porch soul.
Based in Victoria, Elise has toured across Canada, the UK and US, has been featured on CBC radio, Country Queer, and was listed in Bandcamp's "Top 10 Country" reviews. They just finished producing their third record and recently co-founded Victoria's hottest new honky tonk dance community "Honky Tonk Tuesdays".
AFTER DARK
GÖERTZ / LOPATECKI
Friday @ 10 PM
Owen Göertz and Isobel Lopatecki are childhood friends who have been making music together since the beginning. The duo’s music draws inspiration from the nature that surrounds them, while exploring the electronic possibilities of our modern world. GÖERTZ / LOPATECKI invites you to embark on journey through soft beats, strange melodies, and harmonious moments.
DJ DENNY
Saturday @ 9:30 PM
After Dark Vinyl Selektor Denny Goertz…Rare Grooves. Funk. House. Techno.
DAYTIME
PENNY BELLE
Saturday @ 10 AM
Penny Belle is a soulful folk rock band that performs original songs in French and English with intricate vocal arrangements, harmonies and a brass section. Our music is joyful, upbeat and fun for the whole family. Expect dance parties, sing-alongs and deep thoughts.
“Penny Belle’s songs are earworms of multilingual delights -catchy, memorable, and uplifting.”
- Tera Greene, Bad Rabbit Radio
“Penny Belle quickly became one of the highlights of our festival. Their bilingual approach, engaging storytelling, and commitment to inclusivity shone through in their music, making their performance resonate with audience members of all ages.”
- Ben McConchie, Mosaic Festival
PENDER YOUNG VIOLINS
Saturday @ 10:30 AM
The Pender Young Violins is a multi-generational community music program led by Denny Goertz for over two decades. The ensemble is dedicated to sharing classical and traditional fiddle music, fostering confidence in young musicians, and strengthening community through music.
The Pender Young Violins have long been a beloved presence on the Mosaic Fest stage. Over the years, the festival has provided a meaningful platform for these young performers to share their musical growth, celebrate their island roots, and pass along their fiddling traditions to the next generation in a cherished community legacy.
MADDIE GLOVER
Saturday @ 11 AM
Photo + bio coming soon!
MAYA COOK
Saturday @ 3 PM
Maya Cook weaves folk, blues, and jazz into a world of rich melodies and stories. Raised on Pender and hailing from Mennonite-Anglo-Celtic ancestry, Maya is both a musician and a circus artist, crafting evocative stories across genres. Writing with "a spare, economical grace" (Richard Flohil) and the "versatility and range of a seasoned artist" (Cups N Cakes Network), Maya recently returned from touring her debut album salt in Greenland. Swinging between pulsing energy and dreamy reflections, you will hear rhythms to move your body and a voice to quiet your mind.
MBIRA SPIRIT
Saturday @ 4 PM
Mbira Spirit is an internationally touring and recording duo that proudly bridges the cultures of Canada and Zimbabwe through music. Having performed extensively throughout Zimbabwe, South Africa, and six European countries, their dynamic performances have captivated audiences across continents.
Their diverse repertoire spans Country, Folk, Reggae, Gospel, and beloved North American classics, delivered with rich harmonies, infectious rhythms, and an unmistakable spirit of joy. Their country roots include recording sessions in Nashville, Tennessee, while notable festival appearances include Sunfest 2022, one of Vancouver Island’s premier music festivals, and the renowned Cloverdale Rodeo in British Columbia.
With over a decade of performance experience, educational outreach, and international touring, Mbira Spirit creates meaningful cultural connections that inspire, entertain, and celebrate the shared humanity of audiences around the world.
“Where Canada and Zimbabwe meet through music.”
MADAME B MUSIQUE
Sunday @ 11 AM
For the past two years Madame B has sailed the seas of Vancouver Island festivals with a band of scurvy pirates, entertaining kids from age 0 to 90 with her catchy tunes. This year the Madame B Musique crew is back with a brand new mystery spectacular that will have you dancing and singing along in French and English.
Madame B Musique is a kids’ band that’s not just for kids. It was created by Kimara Brilling in 2023 when the songs she’d been writing for her French immersion classes demanded to be heard outside the classroom. She gathered the most talented musicians she knew, got her class to be backup singers, and recorded an album. This evolved into a full musical theatre production with a 5 piece band, costumes, puppets, giant heads, charming characters and danceable songs that will get stuck in your head.
MORANZ AND FREMLIN
Sunday @ 2 PM
Like a summer wind’s last ride through falls first turn, Moranz & Fremlin are harbingers of a time on the verge. A dynamic Canadiana and bluegrass duo, multi-instrumentalist Ryland Moranz and mandolin aficionado Dan Fremlin champion the love and spirit to a disappearing art. Evoking a simpler ethos of string and timber; smoke and dew, joy, sorrow and the remembrance of all we hold most dear.
Ryland Moranz is an internationally touring singer-songwriter whose 2021 album XO, 1945 was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Contemporary Album of the Year. In his spare time Ryland plays with Leeroy Stagger, the Lucky Ones, John Wort Hannam, Allen Dobb and more.
Dan Fremlin is an internationally acclaimed bluegrass mandolinist and songwriter from the Meadows, British Columbia. An integral member of the Blue Wranglers as well as a cherished collaborator with songwriter Allen Dobb and Barney Bentall’s Cariboo Express, Dan has the pedigree of one of Canada’s finest bluegrass pickers. Any time you hear outstanding mandolin, there’s a one in three chance that it’s Dan.
Formed in 2023, Moranz & Fremlin’s debut album “Williwaw” is a collection of original and traditional songs and instrumentals scheduled to be released in June 2026 on Tonic Records.
In 2025 Moranz & Fremlin toured Canada and Australia performing at the Cowichan Bluegrass festival (CAN), Dorrigo Bluegrass festival (AU), Soulfest, Waynestock (CAN), Majors Creek Folk Fest (AU), Mountaingrass Bluegrass Festival (AU)
BUCKMAN COE
Sunday @ 3 PM
Buckman Coe is a seasoned performer, touring and performing in Canada, United States, Australia, UK, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Indonesia. Buckman Coe’s release Gathering Storm is about taking a stand for what you believe in and who you love. With Coe’s signature stylings of soulful R&B and rootsy world rhythms, it dances between the revolutionary and romantic. The two are inseparable–once we realize that it’s not about being radical–it’s about humankind and human kindness. Like his soulful influences who deliver messages of social justice, humanity and love, Buckman Coe doesn’t shy away from facing today’s issues and does it with a booty-shaking feel-goodness. He believes in Universal Love and is saturated with a shameless optimism for humanity.
THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS
Sunday @ 4 PM
The Spiritual Warriors, create music inspired by the land and life in the coast mountains of the Lilwat Nation. With their unique blend of indigenous chants and contemporary roots, rock, reggae, The Spiritual Warriors are distinctly west coast. The band perform most of their songs in U'cwalmicwts and are passionate about preserving and promoting their language and culture. The uplifting reggae rhythm only underlines the beautiful harmonizing of the vocals sung bilingually in English and U'cwalmicwts, the Lil'wat Language. The Spiritual Warriors, formerly known as Kalan Wi, are led by father and daughter, Leroy Joe ( vocals, guitar) and Daisy Joe ( vocals) and are accompanied by Richard Doucet (drums) Mike Rowe (bass) Cuyler Biller (lead guitar) and Quentin De Lorenzis (keyboards). The band regularly collaborates with other First Nation artists and musicians to write and perform live. Ancestors, their debut Album was released in 2019 and has received 4 nominations at the Native American Music Awards in New York and won for BEST WORLD RECORDING. This truly unique band will take you on a cultural journey to the natural heartbeat of the Indigenous drum and the St'at'imc people.