Start your day with a relaxing breakfast overlooking the water Enjoy fresh coffee, a hearty meal, and beautiful views a perfect way to set the tone
Afternoon to Early Evening
Drinks & Happy Hour at Islands Patio & Lounge
Head to Islands Patio for refreshing cocktails, small bites, and great ambiance Ideal for unwinding, socializing, and good vibes
Evening
Dinner, Live Music & Dancing at The Copper Room
Wrap up your night in style. Enjoy a classic dinner experience with live music and dancing in this iconic, elegant venue. Timeless charm meets lively entertainment.
Produced by the Harrison Festival Society for 46 years, the Harrison Festival of the Arts is known world-wide for its professional artistry and small town hospitality. It is and will remain a beacon for growing acceptance of diversity and purpose-fueled arts programming.
Harrison Festival Society Box 399, 98 Rockwell Dr Harrison Hot Springs, BC, V0M 1K0 www.harrisonfestival.com info@harrisonfestival.com 604.796.3664
Plaza • on the weekends, Harrison Lake Plaza is the main Festival Info/Sales Centre. Tickets and buttons are available here. Beach Stage • located on the grass at the edge of the Plaza. Memorial Hall • located at 290 Esplanade Ave, one block east of the Plaza. Artisan Market • spread out along the waterfront each weekend. Look for the colourful tents along the paved walkway. Festival Office/Art Exhibit • located at the Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr). Open 9am to 5pm daily during the Festival. Tickets and program info are available here as well. Lagoon Stage • Directly accross from the Memorial Hall facing the lake.
Acknowledgments
The Harrison Festival wishes to recognize its partners and sponsors whose generous support has enabled us to present the 2025 Festival.
Funding Partners
Media Partners
Hospitality Partners
Community Partners
Agassiz Agricultural & Horticultural Association | Chilliwack Mural Festival
The Hawthorne Foundation | Diane Jacobi | Christine Zyla
Globe Printers | Chilliwack Pedal Sport | Long & McQuade
Harrison Corner Café | Crystal Spirit Healing | Kent Harrison Arts Council
Mission Folk Fest Society | Valley Water | Back Porch Coffee
Len Davidiuk Tax Services | Muddy Waters Café | CSOPA
Vista Shades | Little Mountain Greenhouses | Chilliwack Players Guild
We would like to acknowledge the sacred land on which we gather, as the unceded territory of the Sts’ailes Peoples.
The Agassiz ❖ Harrison
Welcome to the 46th Harrison Festival of the Arts!
This summer we continue our tradition of bringing a global mix of sounds and styles to the Beach Stage and Memorial Hall in Harrison. Our goal, as always, is to celebrate cultural diversity and to foster community through the arts. And in this somewhat divisive time, festivals are a mighty balm!
This year we will hear sounds originating in Europe, the Caribbean, West Africa, and of course from across Canada. African music has a special prominence in the program this year, which connects our organization with its history. Since the Harrison Festival's early days, we've been at the forefront of presenting African music in western Canada. In fact, Harrison was the first North American performance for the famous, Grammy Award winning Ali Farka Toure, right here in our plaza! It was also one of the first Canadian shows for Alpha Yaya Diallo, the phenomenal Guinean guitar player who ended up making Vancouver his home in the early 90s, after touring here with the celebrated group Fatala. Alpha will be returning to our beach stage on the first weekend. More masterful African guitar work will be on the bill midweek, when Bamba Wassoulou Groove from Mali will light up the hall with their joyful grooves.
While Alpha and Bamba Wassoulou Groove draw on a range of traditions and influences from their home countries, other African-rooted artists on the bill bring a more contemporary edge. BAWAH is the latest project of Ghanaianborn Chilliwack resident, Ransford Laryea, whose dynamic, large ensemble show will draw on pop, soul and hip-hop influences, alongside those of his country of origin. Winnipeg resident Kelly Bado, born in Ivory Coast, likewise combines intimate and soulful singing with pop stylings. Finally, a totally different approach is taken by the Vancouver-based African Chamber Music Ensemble, who combine western string instruments with Zimbabwean and other African styles.
Of course, African music is only one component of a festival that includes many more sonic styles, theatre, family programming, visual arts, and participatory workshops in dance, rhythm, singing, and drum making. There is so much here to discover, so take a gander through the program and see what's in store, whatever your taste - we, the staff and board of the Harrison Festival Society are looking forward to celebrating with you!
Andy Hillhouse Artistic and Executive Director
Tickets & Admission
Early Bird deadline is June 16th
Music on the Beach, Artisan Market, and Art Exhibit admission is with a $5 FESTIVAL BUTTON, one button for each day of the Festival. Souvenir buttons are available for $25 and are good for the entire Festival. Festival buttons are a great way to support the Festival. If you are able to make a larger donation when buying your button(s), that would be very much appreciated.
Tickets are available online at www.harrisonfestival. com, by phone 604.796.3664 or in person at the Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr, Harrison Hot Springs).
Photo Cred: Vickie Legere
Evenings in the Hall
Kobo Town Saturday, July 12th @ 8:00pm
Named after the historic Port-of-Spain neighbourhood in Trinidad where calypso was born, Kobo Town has been described as “an intoxicating mix of lilting calypsonian spirit, dancehall reggae and tromboneheavy horns” (Guardian). Since its inception in 2005, the band, based in Toronto, has brought its calypso sound and ska inspiration to audiences around the world. Kobo Town is led by Drew Gonsalves, a songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist whose music has been covered by many other artists, including Carlos Santana, Manu Chao and Calypso Rose. At once disturbing and joyous, intensely poetic and highly danceable, the group’s songs are rooted in the rich tradition of Caribbean musical storytelling and are delivered with an indomitable energy that has thrilled audiences from Montreal to Malaysia and from Havana to Berlin.
The Jeremy Ledbetter Trio | Sunday, July 13th @ 7:30pm
Forged in a cauldron of raging, inspiring, contemporary jazz, the Jeremy Ledbetter Trio pushes the boundaries of jazz and world music, providing an undiluted display of rampaging energy and captivating musicianship. Jeremy has been creating genre-bending original music since forming the Caribbean Latin jazz outfit CaneFire in 2004. Since then, he has worked closely with an international array of artists, including Harrison Festival alumni Eliana Cuevas and Okan. With his trio he has achieved new levels of recognition for his outstanding musicianship, winning Best Jazz Album at the 2025 Juno Awards. With Grammy-winning drummer Larnell Lewis (Snarky Puppy) and renowned electric bassist, Andrew Stewart, the trio creates a type of jazz that is incredibly groove-oriented, accessible, and emotionally captivating.
Bentall Taylor Ulrich | Monday,
July 14th @ 7:30pm
We are always delighted to have any of these three artists back to the festival, but to have them all here at the same time, blending their voices in harmony, is a treat indeed. Barney Bentall, Shari Ulrich, and Tom Taylor first played together at the songwriter concert on Bowen Island in 2007. They released “Live at Cates Hill” soon after, an eclectic mix of the work of these three distinctive yet complimentary voices. All three have very different backgrounds as performers – Barney of course is well known for his albums with the Legendary Hearts, Shari for her work with Pied Pumpkin and UHF, and Tom as a member of rockers She Stole My Beer – but if you talk to them about their songwriting influences they run deep and wide, from traditional folk and country to the great Texas songwriters.
Christine Zyla Christine Zyla
Very Very Improv
Very Very Improv, is a relatively young professional improv comedy company, wrapping up only its second full season, but boasts of seasoned performers with decades of experience with some of the most notorious companies and stages across the nation.
The ensemble's managing producer, Chilliwack resident, Cliff Prang, is a former touring partner of the internationally renowned, Panic Squad Improv Comedy, alumnus of Vancouver TheatreSports League, Canadian Improv games, but is now fronting this company of exceptionally talented improvisers from across the lower mainland.
“They [Vancouverites] call us the “Bridge People”… Ha! Fine! We’re happy to stay over here and as a result have made quick work to establish a professional improv company in the Fraser Valley” says Prang “all the while saving big on gas for us and our audiences. The Bridge people deserve to have fun too!”
Very Very Improv offers a full season of all-ages improv shows and classes at The Bez Arts Hub in Langley, but also have been appearing at many other events and stages across BC.
The Cast: Cliff Prang, Joshua Wilson, Tia Cooke, Russ Brummer
Wednesday, July 16th @ 8:00pm
Bamba Wassoulou Groove was born in Bamako, Mali in 2013 on the initiative of the late Bamba
Dembélé, percussionist and co-founder of the Super Djata Band, the mythical group of Zani Diabaté, the most original and funky guitarist to come out of Mali following that nation’s independence. Bamba Wassoulou Groove is composed of six musicians (three guitars, one bass, a drum and a singer) who create a wall of sound with intricate guitar interplay, Hendrix-level guitar solos, and intense bass and drum groove. The band is a heavy dance machine that electrifies Malian music and recreates the excitement of hot nights in Bamako. We are excited to present this band, fast rising as one of the premier Malian touring acts, in their first ever performance in Canada.
Ruthie
Foster | Thursday, July 17th @ 8:00pm
Fresh on the heels of winning the Best Contemporary Blues Album for her latest album “Mileage” at the 2025 Grammy Awards, Ruthie Foster is making her debut performance at the Harrison Festival of the Arts. However, she is no stranger to Western Canada, having been a returning headliner at major Canadian festivals like Vancouver and Edmonton for the past few decades. Ruthie was raised in a family of gospel singers in the small rural town of Gause, TX, and first learned to sing during worship services at her community church. With a chapel-bred bravado trained on the works of powerful women such as Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, her sound grew into an inspired blend of blues, folk, and gospel. “Mileage”, released on the legendary Sun record label, finds her reflecting on a life full of professional triumphs, personal loss, and a musical journey that has garnered her multiple Grammy nominations and collaborations with luminaries such as a Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, Susan Tedeschi, and Derek Trucks.
Bamba Wassoulou Groove
BAWAH
| Friday, July 18th @ 8:00pm
Born in Ghana and raised between the UK and Western Canada, BAWAH, now a resident of Chilliwack, exists between many worlds, his spirit anchored by the rich traditions of his birthplace, yet shaped by the ebb and flow of life far from home. BAWAH's Afro-fusion sound is unmistakably his own. He blurs traditional boundaries and defies categorization with his unique blend of influences, spanning Afro, Pop, Hiphop, Alternative, and Electronic genres. In 2025, BAWAH will pour his soul into one monumental project: MAUVEY TO A BAWAH. This project is a symphony of creative expression - a four-part album series, a film series spanning 48 episodes, and a 48-chapter book. BAWAH’s songs are interpreted with arrangements that include a collection of talented vocalists and instrumentalists that make for a powerful musical and visual experience.
Five Alarm Funk
| Saturday, July 19th @ 8:00pm
Five Alarm Funk are returning to the Memorial Hall hot on the heels of their latest album, “Force Majeure”. The band metaphorically lit the hall on fire three years ago, being the first festival act to play there following the pandemic closures. It was a memorable evening of funky, sweaty fun! This Vancouver musical powerhouse is a festival favourite across Canada, with their intensity, humour, and grooves that don’t stop. With a drummer as a frontman, a high octane horn section, psych rock guitar, percussion, and a style that evokes the greatest funk from James Brown to Parliament Funkadelic, this band will be sure to fill the dance floor and make it a Saturday night to remember.
Broke | Wednesday, July 16th @ 6:30pm
Ye Vagabonds consists of Brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn, who grew up playing music together around their hometown of Carlow, a small town in the southeast of Ireland. After moving to Dublin in 2012, they quickly became a staple of the live music and session scene in Ireland, playing their own original songs as well as folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America. Their music is distinguished by hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies that cut to the heart, set with simple yet powerful instrumental arrangements. They are multiple award winners in their home country, and have toured relentlessly across Ireland, the UK, Europe, and beyond. Their 2022 album, Nine Waves, was released online last year with an accompanying, stunningly shot full length video. Ye Vagabonds | Sunday, July 20th @ 7:30pm
Mama’s Broke is a unique and powerful folk duo that both honours and defies tradition with their original compositions. Two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion as part of their performance. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new. For a group defined by constant touring, it’s not surprising that the two artists that make up Mama’s Broke, Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, met on the road. As Lisa remembers it, “Amy was driving her old Mercedes from Montreal to Nova Scotia and I was looking for a ride. We spent the 17 hours in the car talking almost exclusively about music. By the time we reached Halifax we started playing together, and within a week or two became a band.”
Children's Day
Come play and experience the world of performing arts! Drop into the activity stations and explore music, drama & physical arts! Enjoy three different live performances on our outdoor and indoor stages. A full day of interactive activities and performances.
Wednesday, July 16th 11:00am - 4:00pm | Harrison Memorial Hall Admission : $6.00 (Children 3 & under are free, group rates available)
On the Hall Stage:
Performances
The Swinging Belles - 11:45am & 1:45pm A swing band for kids
On the Outdoor Stage:
Boris Sichon - 12:30pm & 2:30pm
One of the Fraser Valley’s most beloved musicians
Norden the Magician - 11:00am & 1:15pm Let yourself be amazed!
Ongoing Activities
Acting Out | Join in & dress up for dramatic activities. Craft Central | Playful crafts for you to wear or use. Play Zone | Free play for little ones to explore. Face Painting | from 1pm onward, get your face painted! | Crafty Beading Join the Chilliwack Optimists for some fun beading. Climbing Wall | Climb to the top of the mountain with a safe and fun climbing wall.
Children's Day would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors and donors:
Agassiz-Harrison Lions Club | Fraser Valley Library Chilliwack School of Performing Arts | Prospera Credit Union
RE/Max Nyda Realty | District of Kent | Hub International Insurance Brokers
SEASON OF PERFORMING ARTS
Experience live music all year round in the scenic destination of Harrison Hot Springs with our 36th annual Season. Presented by the same folks as the Harrison Festival, this Season is sure to strike your fancy, no matter what it is!
Sneak Peak:
Prairie Singer Sonwriter - Jeffery Straker
Cowboy Blues to Western Swing - Over the Moon
A History of Motown - Krystle Dos Santos
Legendary Cape Breton guitar - JP Cormier
Many more to come! Full Lineup coming this August!
World Music & Art: Small Town Roots
SEPTEMBER - APRIL
ATES, TIMES AND ALL OTHER
Opening Ceremony
Photo Credit: Haslett Photo
Our History
The Harrison Festival Society is an independent, charitable, not-for-profit organization with a Board of Directors and paid staff. The organization came into being at the end of the 1970s, and can trace its birth to three founding entities: Fraser Valley College (now UFV), the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, and the Kent-Harrison Arts Council. The local Rotary Club also played a crucial role in the early years. The currently stable structure of the organization and Festival as it exists today was spearheaded by the visionary work of Phyllis Stenson (ED/AD) and Ed Stenson (GM), and supported by the many board members over the years. The Society's main event is the Harrison Festival of the Arts each July, but the Society also produces a Season of the Performing Arts in Harrison from September to May. Over the history of the organization there has been sacrifice, experimentation, and risk undertaken by a lot of dedicated peopleand with it a lot of heart, thought, and plain old hard work. The festival is now under the direction of Executive/Artistic Director Andy Hillhouse, General Manager Bryan Cutler, and Bookkeeper/Administrator/ Market Coordinator Jenny Andrie.
Shpilkis
Minuscule Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons
Franklyn Woods For Ernest
Ryan Young
Tio Chorinho with Flávia Nascimento
VOU Inn Echo
Julian Taylor
Empanadas Ilegales
Mimi O’Bonsawin
Photo Credit: Haslettphoto
46th Annual Harrison Festival of the Arts
Festival Opening
Saturday, July
Saturday July 12 Sunday July 13 Monday July 14
1:00pm Kate Weekes
2:20pm Lache Cercel & the Roma Jazz Ensemble
3:40pm Mimi
O'Bonsawin
5:00pm Alpha Yaya Diallo
1:00pm African Chamber Music Ensemble 2:20pm Kate Weekes
3:40pm Alpha Yaya Diallo
5:00pm Mimi
Gallery Opening Reception/Tea
Friday, July 11th 7:00pm
Small Colourful Life
Lagoon Stage
Friday, July 18th
All Beach Stage performaces will take place at the Lagoon stage across from the Memorial Hall due to the size of the Rock Choir and to make more room for the Barn Dance!
July 15 Memorial Hall
Tuesday
O'Bonsawin 6:30pm Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception
1:00pm West African Dance Workshop 11:00am Clawhammer Banjo 1:00pm Songwriting on the Fly 8:00pm Kobo Town 7:30pm The Jeremy Ledbetter Trio 7:30pm Bentall Taylor Ulrich 8:00pm Evening of TheatreVery Very Improv 11am-6pm Artisan Market 11am-5pm Artisan Market
9am - 5pm daily Art Exhibit featuring A full gallery display featuring Waterfront Beach Stage Stay in the know! Follow for any last minute
12th @ 12:00pm Traditional Sts’ailes welcome with The Sasquatch Dancers 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach
Arts - 2025 Programming Schedule
Andrews Club Bay
6:30pm Mama's Broke 6:30pm Kris Drever
11am - 4pm
Children’s Day with The Swinging Belles 11:00am Harrison Ukulele Gathering 1:00pm Rhythms of Cuban Music 1:00pm Indigenous Drum Making
9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach 9:00am Yoga on Beach Beach Lagoon Stage 11:00am Impromptu Rock Choir
2:00pm The Ranters 3:20pm Chilliwack Rock Choir 6:30pm Community Barn Dance 1:00pm Do-Si-Duo 2:20pm Minor Gold 3:40pm Miguelito Valdes Trio 5:00pm Kelly Bado 1:00pm Minor Gold 2:20pm Marc Atkinson Trio 3:40pm Kelly Bado 5:00pm Miguelito Valdes Trio
8:00pm Bamba Wassoulou Groove 8:00pm Ruthie Foster 8:00pm BAWAH 8:00pm Five Alarm Funk 7:30pm Ye Vagabonds 12pm-7pm Artisan Market 11am-6pm Artisan Market 11am-5pm Artisan Market
featuring Small Colourful Life - Ranger Station Art Gallery featuring artists Ember Muninn & Aaron Moran
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram minute scheduling updates & changes!
Artisan Market
This vibrant Artisan Market showcases the diverse skill and creativity of some of BC's finest artisans and designers. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery as you stroll and shop amongst a dazzling array of genuinely handcrafted items. Pottery, jewelry, glass, clothing, painting, woodwork, food and much more.
Under the tents along the waterfront
July 12, 13 and 18,19,20
Friday 12pm-7pm
Saturdays 11am-6pm
Sundays 11am-5pm
For a full list of our artisans, including links to any available websites or pages, please visit our website at www.harrisonfestival.com/festival/artisan-market
Yoga On the Beach
Back and better than ever, we have Yoga on the Beach daily July 12th-20th at 9:00am-10:00am by the Beach Stage. A creative blend of experiences... the precision of the Iyengar tradition, the flow of a Vinyasa class, and the deep realization of Ancient Kriya
Join Elizabeth each day to inspire the mind, awaken the body, and enlighten the spirit.
The Crystal Spirit mission statement is to bring peace and balance into the lives of this community and beyond, helping them achieve health and wellness of mind and body, by offering a wide range of healing methods all rooted in culture and knowledge that comes from wisdom and the heart.
Known in the community for a compassionate approach and experience adapting classes to meet individual needs, Elizabeth offers a supportive and welcoming space, where students of all ages and physical abilities can come to unwind and explore the healing benefits of Kriya Yoga.
What is Kriya Yoga?
Kriya is a system which deals directly with the mind, its structure and dynamics. Embodied within it is a mystical psychology which offers a profound recognition of how we create, sustain, and dissolve the circumstances of our life.
Sessions are only $6 each. No registration is required but can be made at harrisonfestival.com. Sessions are appropriate for all skill levels. Bring your own mats and be prepared to take in the sweet fresh lake air.
Music on the Beach
Kate Weekes | Saturday, July 12th @ 1:00pm Sunday, July 13th @ 2:20pm
Kate Weekes is a multi-instrumentalist and singersongwriter based in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec. As a touring and recording artist, Kate has released four albums of original material influenced by her time spent in the northern parts of the world working as a dog musher, canoe and hiking guide. Her latest album Better Days Ahead dives deep into “the liminal space created by lockdowns and cancelled plans” to unearth a stirring, picturesque collection of 10 original songs ranging from Appalachian-influenced murder-suicide ballads to anthemic folk-pop to whimsical instrumental waltzes, all buoyed by an eclectic assortment of instruments including (but not limited to) fiddle, flugelhorn, frame drum and fretless bass.
Lache
Cercel and the Roma Jazz Ensemble
Saturday, July 12th @ 2:20pm
Originally from Bucharest, now in Vancouver, violinist Lache Cercel has created the new musical genre Roma jazz, by merging Eastern influences with western musicology. In celebration of his multicultural influence in music, this unique collaboration features a selection of highly regarded musicians, singers and dancers. He plays with the outrageous virtuosity found in contemporary European Roma recordings, and adds his own vision to this deeply rooted tradition, revealing the history of tragedy, struggle and ultimate survival that is part of Roma music.
Saturday, July 12th @ 3:40pm & Sunday, July 13th @ 5:00pm
Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singersongwriter born in Northeastern Ontario of mixed French Canadian & Abénaki heritage, and is a member of Odanak First Nation. Through her rhythm, storydriven songs, and generous spirit, Mimi’s music embraces the beauty of the land. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it. She performs with her husband Ryan Schurman on drums and percussion.
Mimi O'Bonsawin
Alpha Yaya Diallo and Bafing
Saturday, July 12th @ 5:00pm & Sunday, July 13th @ 3:40pm
Alpha Yaya Diallo (prounounced “jallow”) is a revered Guinean-born guitarist, who has a longstanding relationship with the Harrison Festival ever since he first performed here with worldbeat group Fatala in the very early 1990s. His style draws on a range of West African guitar traditions, and reflects his own Foulani background along with other cultures and traditions of Guinea, Senegal and even the Caribbean and Cape Verde. The fluid melodic lines of his guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, are complemented by an echo of the balafon, kora, ngoni, bass and drums to create a West-African sound that is both nomadic and generous. Since settling in Vancouver he has primarily led his own bands and has been awarded multiple Junos.
The African Chamber Music Ensemble
Sunday, July 13th @ 1:00pm
The African Chamber Music Ensemble is a groundbreaking intercultural collective that reimagines the rich traditions of Zimbabwe and Ghana through a decolonial lens. By placing the mbira, Ewe singing, and percussion in conversation with classical strings, the ensemble challenges the colonial history of chamber music and expands its role to include African storytelling, rhythm, and ancestral connection. The group features internationally acclaimed artists Kurai Mubaiwa (mbira, voice, percussion) from Zimbabwe and Kwashie Kuwor (voice, percussion) from Ghana, each deeply rooted in their respective musical traditions. Their performances highlight the meditative mbira songs of the Shona people and the intricate vocal music of the Ewe community, both of which have endured and thrived despite historical suppression. With arrangements by Curtis Andrews, a musician and ethnomusicologist dedicated to African musical traditions, the ensemble is supported by a dynamic string duo featuring Meredith Bates (viola) and Peggy Lee (cello).
Duane Andrews and the Hot Club of Conception Bay
Tuesday, July 15th @ 6:30pm
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 ReinhardtAndrews doesn’t just make it work, he makes it soar. While Duane seems like a musical anomaly amidst the fiddles and accordions of his home province, it is difficult to imagine Newfoundland’s music scene without his idiosyncratic and creative musical spirit, and his virtuosic guitar work that continues to inspire players in Newfoundland and beyond. The Hot Club are a family affair, and includes Duane’s partner Erin Power on mandolin and son Isaac on fiddle and bass.
Mama’s Broke is a unique and powerful folk duo that both honours and defies tradition with their original compositions. Two strong voices blend to create haunting harmonies, while they artfully juggle fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin, and incorporate traditional dance and foot percussion as part of their performance. Drawing from old-time, Quebecois, blues, punk, Celtic, Balkan and doom metal, they create a soundscape that is both familiar and new. For a group defined by constant touring, it’s not surprising that the two artists that make up Mama’s Broke, Lisa Maria and Amy Lou Keeler, met on the road. As Lisa remembers it, “Amy was driving her old Mercedes from Montreal to Nova Scotia and I was looking for a ride. We spent the 17 hours in the car talking almost exclusively about music. By the time we reached Halifax we started playing together, and within a week or two became a band.”
Kris Drever | Thursday, July 17th @ 6:30pm
Cherished and admired in equal measure by listeners and fellow musicians, award-winning guitarist, singer, songwriter and prolific collaborator Kris Drever has been a leading light on the UK roots scene for well over a decade. Orkney-born, now living in Glasgow, his solo career arose concurrently with his membership in the stunning trio Lau, with whom he toured internationally. With the release of his album “Black Water”, which has since become a classic of new Scottish folk, his reputation as a solo performer took off. A highly skilled guitarist who adroitly blends traditional folk and flat picking with more contemporary influences, Drever is an astonishingly fine interpreter of others’ songs, with an increasingly frequent knack for concocting seriously smart lyrical observations and earworm melodies of his own.
The Ranters | Friday, July 18th @
2:00pm
The Ranters are the folk/roots duo of Rockland Moran (guitars, mandola, harmonica, vocals) and Gillian Wale (autoharps, mandolin, vocals). Longtime residents of this part of the valley will recognize guitarist Moran, who now lives on Vancouver Island, but who grew up in Chilliwack and was a vital part of the musical scene in this region for years. The Ranters were formed in 2019 and soon embarked on a tour to California and Arizona. The burgeoning duo’s touring was interrupted by Covid in 2020, at which point they hunkered down in the studio to record their first album of mostly original music, “Rant On, Children”. They are joined on the bass by Harrison resident, and Rockwell member, Fred Webber
The Chilliwack Rock Choir |
Friday, July 18th @ 3:20pm
The Chilliwack Rock Choir was formed in the Fall of 2024, and has since performed their first show at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre in April 2025. It consists of over 100 local singers who get together every Monday night to celebrate the joy and energy of rock music, singing exciting arrangements of some of the great rock and roll tunes with the accompaniment of a full band. The group is the brainchild of Nick LaRiviere, who is well known to Harrison Festival audiences as the dynamic and virtuosic trombone player with The Paperboys and Locarno. The choir is directed by Harrison Festival AD Andy Hillhouse
Community
Barn
Dance | Friday, July 18th @ 6:30pm
Lagoon Stage
This is a special community dance featuring fiddlers Mark Sullivan and Shamma Sabir backed by Andy Hillhouse on guitar and called by Merrie Klazek. The dance will include square dances, contras, and other types of social dances. No experience necessary! All dances will be taught on the spot. All ages are welcome!
Do-Si-Duo | Saturday, July 19th @ 1:00pm
Do-Si-Duo brings together Canadian fiddlers Shamma Sabir and Mark Sullivan in a vibrant mix of original and traditional tunes, rich vocals, and dynamic musical interplay inspired by the square dance move they’re named for. Shamma was raised in the Fraser Valley’s best known fiddle family, the Sabir Sisters, and has been performing and teaching fiddle since a young age. Mark is a multiple Grand Masters award winning fiddler, originally from Bowmanville, Ontario and now living in Abbotsford.
Minor Gold | Saturday, July 19th @ 2:20pm & Sunday, July 20th @1:00pm
Powerhouse Cosmic Americana duo Minor Gold are awardwinning songwriters Tracy McNeil (CAN) and Dan Parsons (AUS). Since releasing their critically acclaimed self-titled debut album in August 2023, the pair have navigated life on the road without missing a beat. Their sound echoes
Masonry Services Built to Last
The Miguelito Valdes Trio
Saturday, July 19th @ 3:40pm & Sunday, July 20th @ 5:00pm
We are fortunate out here on the west coast to have some of the world’s finest players from a range of global genres. Miguelito Valdes is one such luminary. Born in Cuba and now living in Victoria, Miguelito will be known to Harrison Festival audiences for performances here with Locarno, but his experience is massive, having begun his musical life at age 11 and then developed a career in music that saw him playing alongside many of Cuba’s top performers. Among the best known of these to Canadian audiences are the performers of the Buena Vista Social Club, including Ibrahim Ferrer. He is a master of the trumpet but also is a percussionist and singer, and will be joined on the piano and percussion for a set that will be sure to get folks up on their feet and swinging their hips.
Kelly Bado | Saturday, July 19th @ 5:00pm & Sunday, July 20th @ 3:40pm
Inspired by her African heritage, la chanson française (French ballad), and American gospel, Kelly Bado creates music transcending cultural barriers, bringing audiences together in joy and hope. Born in the Ivory Coast, Kelly’s songwriting captures the beauty of the languages and rhythms she has encountered on her journey from Abidjan to Winnipeg. Collaborating with Grammy and Juno award-winning producers Brian West and Chin Injeti, her latest music blends traditional sounds with modern influences, creating a unique alchemy that sparks curiosity and a desire to explore traditional languages. Kelly’s dedication to her francophone and African heritage is evident in her work, as she strives to keep these cultures and languages vibrant for future generations.
Marc Atkinson Trio with Cameron Wilson
Sunday, July 20th @ 2:20pm
Marc Atkinson, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and producer, is renowned throughout Canada for his exceptional playing on a range of string instruments, particularly guitar and mandolin. His catchy compositions have a fiery but elegant guitar style, combined with the laidback humour and casual ‘good time feel’ of Canada’s West Coast. Atkinson’s picking has been described as flawless, surprise-filled, sizzling and supremely melodic. His music is original, complex, and challenging in its conception and delivery but remains accessible and absorbing. Marc is well known to Harrison audiences through his time as a member of Canadian acoustic super group The Bills. The music of the Marc Atkinson Trio good-naturedly welcomes all listeners aboard for an intriguing, exhilarating and unforgettable ride.
Workshops
Best Wishes
Here is a look at our great Workshop Lineup! Most workshops will be held in the Harrison Memorial Hall. Each workshop only costs a $5+ minimum donation to participate with the exception of Drum Making. RSVPing is not required but showing up a few minutes ahead of time is encouraged.
The following businesses extend Best Wishes to the 2025 Harrison Festival of the Arts. We encourage you to support these local community-minded businesses.
West African Dance with N'nato Camara
Saturday, July 12th @ 1pm - 2pm ($5 donation)
Learn about West African dance from N’Nato Camara, who is one of the best African dancers in North America. She is originally from Guinea West Africa, and has been teaching dance for the last 20 years around the world. Now based in Vancouver, she continues to dance with different groups, including the Juno Award winner Alpha Yaya Diallo.
Clawhammer Banjo with Kate Weekes
Sunday, July 13th @ 11am - 12pm ($5 donation)
Come learn the basics of this fun, rhythmic style, otherwise known as frailing banjo, from Kate Weekes. Banjos not provided.
Songwriting on the Fly with Mimi O'Bonsawin
Sunday, July 13th @ 1pm - 12pm ($5 donation)
Write a new song with the group within 30 minutes! See what creation emerges.
Impromptu Rock Choir
Friday, July 18th @ 11am - 12pm ($5
Festival Artistic Director and Chilliwack Rock Choir director Andy Hillhouse will create an insta-choir in one hour, teaching one of Nick LaRiviere’s rock choir arrangements! All voice types welcome, no choir experience necessary.
Harrison Ukulele Gathering
Saturday, July 19th @ 11am - 12pm ($5 donation)
Summer is ukulele season; come join enthusiastic locals in some fun music making. Bring a ukulele and good humour to our gathering. We’ll share beginner tips on how to play and gather, then dive in to play old favs and new-to-you tunes. Visit the Festival link or FB’s Harrison Ukulele Gathering page to download Play Music on Your Porch songbook.
Rhythms of Cuban Music
Saturday, July 19th @ 1pm - 2pm ($5 donation)
Learn about the rhythms that are behind the wonderful musical traditions of Cuba, from a master of the tradition, Miguelito Valdes.
Pre-registration advised. Contact the Festival office at 604.796.3664
Learn the traditional art of drum making from Sts'ailes First Nations member Darren Charlie. Under Darren's guidance each participant will create their own drum. This is always a popular workshop so registration is recommended.
Art Exhibit
The Festival Visual Art Exhibit is on display in the Ranger Station Art Gallery (98 Rockwell Dr) from July 11- August. 3rd. Hours during the Festival are 9am to 5pm daily For the remainder of the month the gallery is open 10am to 4pm weekdays and 1pm to 5pm on weekends.
Small Colourful Life
Artists: Ember Muninn & Aaron Moran
The acts of play and creative exploration are some of the earliest entry points into art making. As children we are encouraged to make art not only to express ourselves, but to learn about basic principles such as colour, shape, texture, and materiality. As we grow older, most people stop playing through art or expressing themselves creatively altogether. The act of play can also be lost on artists as they balance administrative tasks, emphasis on concept, and project deadlines that do not make space for experimentation. The exhibition “Small Colourful Life” includes two artists using play to reignite their creativity and find joy in art making.
Special thanks to Rosa Quintana
Harrison Hot Springs Art Festival
Welcome to the 46th Annual Harrison Festival of the Arts! This incredible event continues to inspire artists of all ages, bringing joy, creativity, and fresh perspective to our communities. The arts connect us, celebrate individuality, and leave lasting legacies. Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, and supporters for making this festival so special We are especially grateful for the continued support from the BC Arts Council and BC Gaming Wishing everyone a memorable and uplifting festival experience
Tony Luck, MLA Fraser Nicola
Harrison Festival Staff & Site Crew
Vicki Bolan | Shawna Lawson | Toley Smith | | Liz Webber | Zenia Nejadkay | Connie Coffey
Makailla Palliyaguru | Kara Vinchoff | Peter Lepine | Jamea Lister | James Law
Mike Evans | Cathey Crawley | Lyndsay James | Vicky Sparks | Marian Termeer
Executive & Artistic Director | Andy Hillhouse
General Manager | Bryan Cutler
Administrator and Bookkeeper | Jenny Andrie
Harrison Festival Board of Directors
Len Davidiuk | Lisa Kenney | Heather Robertson | Jasmine Laurenson
Fred Talen | Ernie Eaves | Liz Webber | Adam Balfour | Jill Colvin
The Harrison Festival Board of Directors and staff would like to take this opportunity to extend a huge THANK YOU to the people who really make the Festival happen... our AMAZING VOLUNTEERS! We could not do it without you!!
We’d also like to thank everyone who joined the Festival "Family" this year, with special thanks to the following individuals and businesses who made an extra donation along with their 2025 family memberships:
Jean Howsam * Kate Berkiw * Sharon Blaker * Berit Christensen
Christine Foell * Meriel Low * Ian & Sharon Meissner * Leo Facio
Vern & Rebecca Schram * Joan Laurence St. Pierre * Karen Bartlett
Harold & Donna Bruins * Dominique Ah Loy * Anne Ah Loy
Cindy Brown * Inge Gilbert * Sandy Tait * Leonne Beebe * Len Davidiuk
Trevor & Jennifer Todd * Maureen Wendt & Bruce Turner * Allan Jackson
Michelle Drummond * Dave & Cora Hampson * Lynda Scobie
Ed Stenson * Leo & Emmy Wenk * Heather Robertson * Coral McFadden
Lorraine Van Grol * John & Jacquie Zuidhof * Dennis & Tegwyn Bakken
FOR THE LOVE OF EARTH! We feel so incredibly fortunate to live and work amongst such breathtaking scenery. Please help us keep its natural beauty pristine - discard your trash in designated garbage bins and recycle this program (unless you’re keeping it for your collection, of course)!
Experience the Magic of Manning
Cabins, Chalets & Lodge Rooms
With a variety of accommodation options, we have something for everyone including Cabins (Standard Cabins, Premium and Premium+ Cabins), Chalets and Lodge Rooms to fit every budget and need. Manning Park Resort also offers a Loon Lagoon (indoor pool, hot tubs, sauna and steam), the Pinewoods Restaurant and the Bears Den Pub.
summer time family friendly fun camping - hiking - biking - lake
Looking for a fun-filled way to spend the day? Why not float your boat on Lightning Lake! The Boathouse at Lightning Lake offers Kayak, Canoe, and Paddle Board Rentals. If water isn’t your thing, then explore our variety of stunning hiking trails, head out mountain biking, or enjoy a leisurely walk amongst the wildflowers.
A winter wonderland retreat with the best snow on the west coast seriously
Look no further for your ticket to fresh powder and Winter Adventures. Hit the slopes and carve your day away with epic views and chill vibes, crosscountry ski Manning’s pristine trails, or explore the backcountry with Snowshoes in the heart of the Cascade Mountains.
