ARTIST ROSTER

FERAL MINKS

Kitchener-based rock band Feral Minks started as lead singer and guitarist Kent Merriam's solo project during the pandemic. After releasing the debut EP Loam in 2021, the band caught the attention of Jay Emmons from The Glorious Sons, who, along with Steve Kirstein, produced their second EP. Merriam was joined by Kitchener rock veterans Algernon Friolet, Jay Hogle, and Ryan Whitney.

Since releasing their self-titled EP in 2023, Feral Minks have gained momentum, winning HTZ FM’s Rock Search in 2024 and performing with City and Colour and The Glorious Sons. This fall, they’ll release their sophomore EP Young Desire and embark on their first headline tour across Southeastern Ontario.

STEVE KIRSTEIN

Steve Kirstein is a dynamic South African-Canadian rock musician, record producer, engineer, and mixer. With a rich background in the industry, Steve has been an integral part of 745 Music, collaborating closely with Jay Emmons since the label's inception. Recently, he joined The Glorious Sons as their newest member. Before his role with the band, Steve engineered the hit single “Hold Steady,” which topped the Canadian Rock chart, and the critically acclaimed album Glory, which earned a Juno nomination for Rock Album of the Year in 2024. In addition to his work with The Glorious Sons, Steve is the frontman of the Hamilton-based folk rock band Local Pressure and is currently crafting new music with The Trews.

LAKE PORTER

Lake Porter is a new singer-songwriter trio blending Folk Americana and Rock and Roll, born from a casual collaboration that quickly revealed a sound too powerful to keep quiet. Featuring Martina Lake (Harlette), Taryn McKenna (Three’s Company), and Jonny Porter (Staylefish), the band merges three distinct voices into a dynamic mix of acoustic warmth, banjo rhythms, and haunting violin lines. Their music is raw, personal, and deeply resonant, while their live shows are intimate, high-energy experiences that draw you into every lyric, harmony, and stomp.

BOSTON LEVI

Boston Levi is a band that recognizes the wars that live inside of us, and wants their listeners to know that they’re not alone in waging them. Mixing arena-ready rock with alt-country flourishes and pop elements, the Ottawa-based four-piece processes the trials and tribulations of the human experience with a soaring sound and down-to-Earth lyricism. Members Mike McNamee, Ryan Williams, Mike Montgomery and Claud Northey are a true testament to the ‘it’s-never-too-late’ mentality.

NICK EARLE

EDDY

& THE DIRTY BOYS

Nick Earle is a rising force in Canadian rock, known for his explosive guitar work, sharp songwriting, and no-apologies live shows. Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, he made waves as one half of the award-winning blues duo Earle & Coffin before launching his own high-octane project, Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts. With 21 MusicNL Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards, and a growing list of major support slots (The Killers, ZZ Top, Nickelback, Matt Mays, The Trews), Earle’s sound blends technical grit with East Coast swagger. His 2022 album No More Hiding marked a bold reinvention, with the breakout single “Born to Lose” earning over 4.8 million plays on TikTok and a Rock Album of the Year nomination at the ECMAs.

It started with two old friends, two guitars, and two cases of Heineken. During lockdown, Jay Emmons and Mike “Monty” Montgomery wrote a song that became the DNA of Eddy and the Dirty Boys - a loud, loose, unapologetically fun return to rock and roll. Blending country grit with rock swagger, they channel The Faces, The Rolling Stones, and even Jimmy Buffett on a bender, crafting songs for sticky bar floors, spilled drinks, and full-throated singalongs. Their live show hits like a shot of whiskey, driven by Emmons’ growling vocals, Montgomery’s leads, Steve Kirstein on rhythm guitar, Adam Paquette on drums, and Claude Northey on bass. Their debut single, a raucous take on Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” drops this summer as they hit the road, guitars in hand and trouble not far behind.