Music
curated by crystal eyo and angela proulx of mercy funk
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NEXTFEST HAPPY HOUR: DELAVOYE CHOCOLATE
featuring ESTER FORSETH
Tuesday, June 9 at 5:00 pm
Delavoye Chocolate (10639 124 St Unit 101 &105)
Esther Forseth is an Edmonton-based Alternative-Pop artist, songwriter, and producer. Influenced by artists such as Bon Iver, Daughter, and Feist, Esther twists her life experiences into thoughtful metaphors to give herself and listeners a fresh perspective of the complex emotions and situations we experience as humans. With the combination of her soft vocal performance, haunting melodies, and figurative lyrics, Esther’s songs are a safe-haven for self-reflection and vulnerability. Forseth released her debut EP titled ‘Lost’ in 2025, followed by a single, ‘Summer at Night’, and will be releasing her second body of work in 2026.
NEXTFEST HAPPY HOUR: THREE VIKINGS
featuring HOLLY SANGSTER
Wednesday, June 10 at 5:00 pm
Three Vikings (10713 124 St, Edmonton, AB)
Holly Sangster is a saxophonist, vocalist, composer and educator whose atmospheric sound draws the listener into a vast and imaginative musical landscape. With a voice that feels both personal and expansive, Holly creates music that lingers long after the last note. A recipient of Jazz YYC’s Tune-in Tune-up scholarship for young women in jazz, she is an active facet of Alberta’s music scene, playing with groups such as the Brasstactics, Funk the Matriarchy, Saint Idiot, the Oilers Brass Band, Cikwes, and the Edmonton Jazz Orchestra. She has also played with Juno nominated artists such as Audrey Ochoa, Feven Kidane, Allison Au, and Aretha Tillotson. Along with her performing, Holly is an emerging music educator, adjudicating for Edmonton’s Jazzworks festival and a member of MusiCamp Alberta’s Jazz faculty. Currently, Holly is channeling her cross genre influences into her debut EP, set to release in September 2026.
NEXTFEST OUTDOOR MUSIC SHOWCASE
featuring Shaylon Bourque, Addison Wall, and friends!
Thursday June 11 at 5:00 pm
Helen Nolan Park (12327 108 Avenue NW)
Mercy Funk proudly presents a handpicked lineup of live music for Nextfest! Curated by the band themselves, this showcase brings a range of incredible talent to the Helen Nolan Park stage—conveniently located beside the lively Grand 124 Market. Come enjoy an afternoon of local shopping and genre-spanning sounds, all thoughtfully selected by Mercy Funk. Let’s celebrate music, community, and creativity together!
shaylon bourque
Shaylon Bourque is a Plains Cree-Canadian singer-songwriter known for her intimate, folk-pop, and country-influenced music, releasing her first single on all streaming platforms this past year “Like it’s the End”. Originally from Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement, this influences her sound that can be characterized by raw, confessional songwriting. Shaylon is constantly songwriting and is excited to be releasing new music this year.
addison wall
Addison Wall is an Edmonton based singer- songwriter, composer, and guitarist set on exploring the sounds of the past within a modern context. He has a diverse range of influences, combining inspiration from old-era swing and blues such as Django Reinhardt and Duke Ellington, with the style of folk-rock songwriters like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and Joel Plaskett. Addison’s range of influences give his songs a timeless quality that blurs the lines between genre. He is known for his clever and somewhat strange approach to lyricism. Often focusing on his anxiety-ridden everyday life, but with a satirical edge and tongue-in-cheek humour. Listeners are treated to sarcastic folk blues or even apocalyptic jazz tunes; however, his catalogue is balanced out by softer, acoustic ballads. Addison recently made his recording debut with his EP, “Somewhere In Between,” which was released in September.
