Ken Yates is an award-winning singer-songwriter known for his introspective storytelling and his signature blend of folk, indie, and rock influences. His latest album, Total Cinema (2025), marks a defining evolution in his sound. Working with producer Dan Ledwell in Halifax, Yates explores themes of gratitude and self-awareness with characteristic precision and emotional depth.
The album has earned widespread acclaim from outlets including NPR Music, Rolling Stone, The Toronto Star, and No Depression, with NPR’s Ann Powers declaring, “I’m obsessed with this song by Canadian troubadour Ken Yates,” while Atwood Magazine called the music a “bright, cathartic reckoning.” The release has also sparked a wave of artist support from Sam Fender, Medium Build, Lori McKenna, Kathleen Edwards, and others, while bringing a wave of new listeners to his music.
Total Cinema follows Yates’ 2022 album, Cerulean, which earned a Contemporary Album of the Year nomination at the Canadian Folk Music Awards. With new music on the horizon, Yates continues to assert his place as one of the most incisive voices in rising indie music.
Tristan Konkle
Performance sits at the centre of Tristan Konkle’s musical identity, though it has never told the whole story. Raised in Peterborough, the self-produced multi-instrumentalist and songwriter was drawn early to the architects of late-20th-century pop, pairing energetic performances with a deep commitment to the craft behind the songs. Since picking up a guitar at twelve, Konkle has built a rich catalogue through years of patient writing and live refinement at hometown venues like Jethro’s Bar + Stage, Sadleir House, and the Pig’s Ear Tavern, developing a reputation for sharp songwriting and magnetic live shows.
Alongside his work as a performer, Konkle has become an active studio collaborator within the Peterborough music community. In the latter half of 2025, he produced a handful of songs for indie-folk band VANCAMP and also co-produced a full-length album by Edmonton songwriter Ellie Heath alongside acclaimed Canadian producer Hawksley Workman, scheduled for release in mid-2026. Now releasing music under his own name for the first time since fronting the band Tapes In Motion, Konkle blends modern indie pop with a vintage personality, guided by thoughtful production and a sharp pop sensibility.