Ahead of International Women's Day, join the National Music Centre (NMC) for an afternoon of female-led tunes from a lineup of artists who are making their mark on the Canadian music scene. Hosted by roots singer-songwriter Jess Knights, see live performances from five-time CCMA-nominated country band Nice Horse, Calgary-born Americana songwriter Mariel Buckley, and Nehiyawewin Métis blues-rocker Bebe Buckskin.
Can't make it in person? We'll also be live streaming the event on NMC’s Amplify platform, Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo channels, so you can take in the show from the comfort of your living room.
About Nice Horse
Nice Horse is wild: wildly talented, wildly entertaining, fun, fresh, fierce and feisty, and they’ve established themselves as one of the most buzzed-about and fast-rising groups in the Canadian music industry. A live act to be reckoned with, the self-contained all-female group has played high-profile festivals across Canada including Boots & Hearts, Big Valley Jamboree, and the Calgary Stampede, and has performed in Spain and France. They have also toured as direct support for legendary artists such as Tom Cochrane and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The band, made up of Katie Rox (vocals / banjo / acoustic guitar), Brandi Sidoryk (vocals / bass), Tara McLeod (vocals / electric guitar), and Krista Wodelet (vocals / drums), has garnered significant accolades since forming in 2015, including five Canadian Country Music Award (CCMA) nominations, five Country Music Alberta Awards, and the 2021 Western Canadian Music Award for Country Artist of the Year.
About Mariel Buckley
Unapologetically genuine, wry, and soft-hearted - Mariel Buckley has planted her flag firmly as a songwriter who’s in it for the long haul. She aims to find herself squarely on the fringes and exactly where she belongs: singing and writing songs for the underdog. Her candor and magnetic live show have been charming listeners across North America since her debut LP, Driving In The Dark. With some impressive accolades on the way, including Roots Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards in and taking home the grand prize of $100,000 from the year-long Project Wild commercial radio artist contest, Mariel was ready for her next move. Now with her debut album and thousands of miles under her belt, Buckley looks to turn country/folk music on its head with her follow-up album, Everywhere I Used To Be, coming in 2022. Anchored by the haunting whine of the pedal steel, rounded out by heavy synth pads and produced by Marcus Paquin, the resulting collection is a driving, swooning, toe-tapping catharsis; sealed and delivered by Buckley’s signature crooning brand of angst-ridden alt-folk. Perhaps her mysterious ambiguity around genre, traditional storytelling, and identity is what gives these new songs such an honest shine. Buckley continues to be a trailblazer in her own right, with a firm grip on the steering wheel and a destination in mind—we’re just happy to be along for the ride.
About Bebe Buckskin
"Making her way from the bush of Northern Alberta, Bebe Buckskin, a Nêhiyaw singer song-writer and matriarch, cultivates a delightful fusion of rhythm & blues, classic rock and soulful roots that warm the hearts of all who hear her perform. She is the power through song we’ve all been waiting for..." - Indigenous Resilience In Music. Bebe Buckskin is a Cree/Metis artist with deep roots in the muskeg and boreal forest of Northern Alberta, Canada. Naturally bluesy, nostalgically rock 'n' roll and undoubtedly soulful; her sound is a fresh amalgamation of vintage genres. This former rodeo princess has grown to become the unbridled and generational talent that is Bebe Buckskin. Her last release entitled “Asiskiy” (meaning “earth” in Cree) arrived in mid-2020, during a global pandemic, to wide-spread critical acclaim. Showcasing her wide range and enthralling vocal abilities along with her band’s smokin’ chops; this gave way to a defiantly distinctive EP which continues to solidify her as one of Canada’s newest musical treasures.
Scotiabank Backbeat provides regular weekend activations for families, children, and general visitors of all ages, including pop-up music performances, hands-on activities, presentations from community partners, and more.
