2026 Performer Line-Up at Home County Music & Art Festival
Looking for the 2026 Home County Music & Art Festival lineup? You're in the right place. Join us July 24 and 25, 2026, in Victoria Park as we celebrate Home County's 50th anniversary with an incredible lineup of Canadian and international artists spanning folk, roots, Indigenous, world, and contemporary music.
For five decades, Home County Music & Art Festival has brought together exceptional performers and music lovers in the heart of London, Ontario. This year's anniversary lineup continues that tradition with established artists, emerging voices, and unforgettable live performances.
Home County 50 Artist Lineup
Friday, July 24, 2026
The Rural Alberta Advantage
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The Rural Alberta Advantage is a live band’s live band, and, when it comes to creating new music, the charged folk-rock trio relies on the same thunderous energy they bring to the stage. The jam space is where their songs erupt, and the live show is where they get pummeled into shape. The RAA’s greatest strength is that they wear their hearts on their sleeves on stage and bring that same excited authenticity to their songwriting.
The band is currently working on their sixth album with the first single, Falling Apart, available now.
Boogát
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‘‘High Energy Latinx Rhythms Redefined!’’
In Spanish, French or English, Boogát raps and sings the universality of cultural minorities exploring themes related to identity, migration, belonging and love through thought-provoking lyrics that bounce between seriousness and humour.
Boogát is one of the blue chips of the Canadian Global Music scene, with an innovative proposition that is always a party starter. His unique blend of styles, mixing hip-hop with modern Latin-American music, electronica and more traditional genres has made his global renown with constant touring, nonstop collaborations and numerous accolades & awards (1 Juno prize, 2 GAMIQ prizes, 3 Félix prizes at ADISQ, etc.)
His new EP, Mucho Love, is the first part of a trilogy (2 EPs and 1 LP) that addresses the subject of Love: for Life, for Fans, for Music, for Culture, for Family; and has collaborations with Bïa, Galamba and Ana Lía.
Boogát’s side projects are The Deadleez (w/ Shub), Grand Sud and BØØG4T.
School House
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After moving in together in 2021, three best friends discovered their new home was a century-old schoolhouse - inspiring the name and giving them a dedicated space to create. Since then, the group has rapidly gained attention, opening for Canadian music icon Alan Doyle, being named Group of the Year at the 2024 Ottawa Music Awards, and having their debut release awarded Album of the Year by Faces Magazine. The band then secured a coveted spot in the 2024 Mariposa Folk Festival lineup by winning the Artist Showcase - where they were celebrated as “fan favourites” by the festival. In 2025, they further cemented their place as one of Canada’s most exciting acts by winning the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase.
Their sound was born around a campfire, taking turns sharing songs and joining in three-part harmony. They combine upbeat singalongs with emotive folk ballads to bring a wise, yet youthful perspective to the Canadian music scene. After releasing their debut album in 2023 and an Acoustic EP in 2024, the band has entered a new chapter - releasing their highly anticipated sophomore album Homeland in early 2026 and following it with a successful 14-show Canadian tour across the East Coast and Ontario.
Emma Lamontagne
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Kingston, Ontario-born singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Emma Lamontagne landed a single’s deal the very first time she performed a bonafide gig in 2016, winning Ottawa Bluesfest’s She’s The One contest and recording “I Don’t Sleep” with songwriter/producer Robyn Dell’Unto.
The teenager at the time went on to achieve close to half-million streams for the song. Just out of high school, she released two more singles, “Love Games” and “The Art of Reality,” and her 2019 debut full-length, Uncomfortable Eye Contact.
Now, with an audio engineering degree under her belt and a new home studio, Emma is back with a sound that she wants: lyric-focused folk-pop. “I wanted it to feel very intimate and essentially the way how I perform on stage with a guitar and vocals,” she says.
Emma's intense empathy forms the basis of many of her new songs as well as her newly sprouted romantic life, but don't doubt Emma’s between song banter is downright hilarious. “You may have a career as a comedian who is also a singer OR a singer who is also a comedian,” wrote one fan on her Instagram.
“I wish I could predict what I talk about on stage but at least everyone is as surprised as I am by what I say,” Emma posted.
Saturday, July 25, 2026
The Halluci Nation
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The Halluci Nation is real.
After starting a new cycle, 3-time Juno Award Winners- Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill of A Tribe Called Red reintroduced themselves as The Halluci Nation to reflect the evolution of their music and mission. The Halluci Nation, took its name from a phrase coined by John Trudell, to describe the vast global community of people who remember at their core, what it means to be human. As a visionary artist and activist, Trudell recognized the connection between his accomplishments and what ATCR did intuitively through music and art.
Trudell’s voice was the first heard on Tribe’s record, We Are The Halluci Nation, and fittingly, and is also the first you hear on The Halluci Nation’s record, One More Saturday Night. The album is a love letter to the Electric Pow Wow gatherings launched at Ottawa’s Babylon nightclub in 2007. It represents an imagined denouement to the biweekly Saturday-night parties that ended abruptly in 2017, without ever getting the proper send-off. One More Saturday Night thus pays homage to the parties’ energy and momentum that elevated The Halluci Nation to this pivotal point in their career of fully mastering their own music style while also moving beyond club music; or “mixing dance music with dance music,” as Bear Witness succinctly puts it.
This is a beginning, not an end, after all. The Halluci Nation maintains focus on what they feel they can impact most: how Indigenous people are seen. Through groundbreaking stage shows and ever-changing visuals, Bear Witness and 2oolman are working to create media that reflects the modern day Indigenous identity. They see themselves simply as contributors to a necessary conversation around a subtle and complex representation of the contemporary Indigenous experience.
In November 2023 The Halluci Nation continue to contribute to that conversation with their next project, “The Road To Halluci Mania”, a 2-part EP themed around their love for Professional Wrestling and overcoming obstacles by remaining to be an authentic representation of oneself.
“The last album we wrapped up a whole decade of experience up and closed that cycle. In doing so we gave the coordinates of where the future was headed. So that’s what this EP is,” says Bear. “it’s where we are in this present moment and gives another look into plans for the future of The Halluci Nation. It’s a project that people can dance to, but it still has the strong message we are known for. This time we wanted to show it through a bit of a different lens to help further push the conversation about indigenous representation and how we can all impact change”.
“Path of The Heel” exposes listeners to the “Heel” side of Professional Wrestling and the plot to take down the “baby face” Tag Team Champions by a group named “The Alie Nation”. This concept is played out through the production of hard hitting Dub-Step and Drum & Bass tracks, combined with further experimentation of cross-genre collaborations featuring Damian Abraham, and drum group Northern Cree. The result catapults The Halluci Nation’s classic sound and their message into the present and beyond.
“We wanted to take our music to a place it’s never been before and really challenge our abilities with this project,” says 2oolman. “We showed a little bit of our ambitious side on our last record by making a lot of songs that we’d been wanting to do for a long time. But that was just the beginning. We are at a point where we are making music we love, that is inspired by our everyday lives and all the incredible people that we have been lucky to surround ourselves with. This isn’t even a fraction of it… We’ve got so much more coming.”
This is just the START of THE HALLUCI NATION.
Wyatt C. Louis
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Walking the line between genres like an easy path rather than a tightrope, carried by textural and ethereal songs lifted up by stunning vocals, Wyatt C. Louis’ debut album, Chandler, refers to simply their middle name. Louis (they/he), a Plains Cree singer-songwriter born and raised in parts of Treaty Six, now lives in Moh’kinstsís (Blackfoot name for Calgary) and lets that amalgamation of place shine through on these tracks, some of which came to life in the quiet and contemplative days of deep pandemic lockdown.
Out via Royal Mountain Records, Chandler is suffused with a soft comfort that glows with feelings of familiarity and ease. Louis found levity through collaboration. A new experience, the result is upbeat yet cozy, the kind of songs that show off Louis’ contradictions of paying homage to the country music ingrained in the geography of their childhood, with an indie and roots spin that makes it something different.
Nicolette & The Nobodies
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Nicolette & The Nobodies are a Canadian alt-country and honky-tonk band based in Hamilton, Ontario. Fronted by singer-songwriter Nicolette Hoang, the child of Vietnamese immigrants, the group brings a fresh perspective to classic 60s and 70s country music. Hoang’s powerful, twangy vocals lead a gritty sound that blends heartbreak with the raw energy of outlaw country. They released their debut full-length album, The Long Way, in 2024 to critical praise and earned a spot as semi-finalists in the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition. Known for their high-energy, fringe-filled live shows, the band continues to tour across major Canadian folk festivals and music venues.
Ariel Posen
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Ariel Posen is an acclaimed Canadian guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer known for his incredible roots-rock music. Born in Winnipeg into a musical family, he first gained widespread fame as a member of the Juno Award-winning band The Bros. Landreth before launching a highly successful solo career. Celebrated by Rolling Stone as a "modern-day guitar hero," Posen blends heartland rock, blues, soul, and Americana into a unique sound defined by his masterful slide guitar playing and soulful vocals. Today, he tours the world as a solo artist, collaborates with legends like John Mayer, and designs signature instruments with top guitar brands.
Alysha Brilla
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Alysha Brilla is a 3× JUNO Award nominated songwriter, producer and electrifying live performer, as well as the 2025 Women in Music International Leadership Honouree and a 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominee. Sounds of earth, songs of stars.
Rooted in her Indo-Tanzanian heritage and shaped by the Great Lakes in Canada, Brilla’s sound is distinctly unique. Driven by global percussion, percussive guitar and soaring vocals, Brilla’s sound is a transcendent call and response - creating a live show that is more than a performance; it is an interactive, embodied experience.
On stage, Brilla is a luminous musical storyteller, performing with a powerhouse ensemble featuring reggae legend Gerima Harvey (percussion and vocals) who has played music with The Wailers (Bob Marley) and Sammy Duke (bass guitar, cajon and vocals), an internationally touring multi-instrumentalist. Together, the trio weaves voices, heartbeat percussion and string fingerpicking into a living rhythmic ecosystem.
Brilla has captivated audiences worldwide at major international festivals including WOMAD (Chile), The Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada), Woodford Folk Festival (Australia), MIDEM (France), Singapore GP and Iceland Airwaves. With a new album releasing in 2026, Alysha Brilla offers a rhythm-led, participatory show that creates genuine connection and leaves audiences uplifted long after the final note. In addition to live performances, Alysha Brilla and her ensemble offer engaging workshops in group singing, drumming and improvisational songwriting, designed for all ages and experience levels.
The Bookends
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From foot-stomping reels to soaring airs, The Bookends bring their audiences along for a truly musical adventure. Drawing on their diverse musical backgrounds to craft a compelling repertoire with distinct arrangements and original compositions, these multi-instrumentalists explore a library of traditional gems and contemporary favourites from the world of Celtic music.
After serendipitously discovering a shared love of music in 2016, The Bookends began to forge their distinctive sound through countless live shows before releasing their debut album, Chapter One, in the spring of 2020. Their second album, A Celtic Celebration, released in 2023, was recorded live with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, and garnered a nomination for the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards 'Traditional Album of the Year’. In August of that same year, The Bookends had the honour of joining internationally acclaimed Canadian artist Loreena McKennitt in a series of performances at select folk festivals in Ontario. Some of these shows were captured for McKennitt’s latest live album The Road Back Home, released in the spring of 2024.
The Bookends have appeared at numerous Celtic and Folks festivals including the IRL Festival, Stratford Summer Music and Streetside LIVE! festivals and were headlined at the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival.
Currently, the band is working on completing their second studio record, Chapter Two, which will be released in early 2026.
Valdy
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Valdy, born Valdemar Horsdal in Ottawa, Canada has been part of the fabric of Canadian pop and folk music for almost 40 years. A man with a thousand friends, from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island to Texas to New Zealand, he’s a singer, guitarist and songwriter who catches the small but telling moments that make up life.
Remembered for Play Me a Rock and Roll Song, his bitter-sweet memory of finding himself, a relaxed and amiable story-teller, facing a rambunctious audience at the Aldergrove Rock Festival circa 1968, Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has two Juno Awards (Folk Singer of the Year and Folk Entertainer of the Year), a total of seven Juno nominations and four Gold albums to his credit.
Valdy’s recent CDs include “Contenders”, a collaboration with friend and fellow singer/songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard, with whom he has an absolute blast touring, and a solo release, “Viva Valdy: Live at Last”, a two-CD package, one live, one studio, with a total of 25 tunes, and a lyric booklet.
One of Canada’s most influential songwriters, Valdy’s composition A Good Song was recorded under the title Just a Man by the venerable Quincy Jones (he sang lead on the recording!). Play Me a Rock and Roll Song has been recorded by a few artists, including John Kay of Steppenwolf.
Along the way, Valdy has taken his music to a dozen different countries, from Denmark to Australia and been an often-invited performer at the prestigious Kerrville Festival in Texas. His past television appearances include Canada AM and Open Mike with Mike Bullard. Valdy has also been a panelist on Front Page Challenge, and played a lead role in an episode of The Beachcombers original series.
Ken Whiteley
with Ciceal Levy & Gord Mowat
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Ken Whiteley is a Canadian folk legend. He has won many awards including Canadian Folk Music Award, Genie Award (for Best Original Song in a feature film) and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Maple Blues Awards, Mariposa Folk Festival and Folk Music Ontario. Ken changed the course of children’s music working with Raffi and dozens of others. He’s shared stages and recordings with Pete Seeger, John Hammond Jr., Tom Paxton, Stan Rogers, Blind John Davis and countless others and written over 400 songs. He is a powerful singer, a stellar multi-instrumentalist and deeply versed in gospel, blues and a broad range of traditional folk styles. With over 50 years of performing and touring across North America and 37 albums, he continues to grow and evolve as an artist. He has released 4 albums since 2020 including CFMA award nominees “Long Time Travelling” and “So Glad I’m Here”. The aptly titled “Keep Going” was released in March of 2026 and was in the Top Ten for the North American Folk Music dj chart.
With Ken will be the wonderful singer, Ciceal Levy. Her singing is deeply rooted in the Black church and she has sung and recorded with such diverse artists as Tom Cochrane, Andy Kim, Pete Seeger and many others. Her musical roots with Ken go back over three decades with many recordings and performances at festivals together across Canada.
Gord Mowat is a string bass par excellence with a solid grounding in roots music and the chops of a great jazz musician. Together they bring their vast experience to each performance as a way to allow all of us to come together and experience connection through the power of song.
Emily Garber
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Emily Garber and The Preconceived Notions is a London, Ontario–based folk/Canadiana band known for emotionally resonant songwriting and intimate, story-driven performances. Led by singer-songwriter Emily Garber, the band explores themes of motherhood, relationships, grief, and resilience through a deeply personal lens.
Built around Garber’s upcoming concept album Broken Home, the band has performed at Beer Kitchen and the Richmond Tavern, appeared at Roots Roundup (hosted by The Rizdales), and headlined Spillith Fair. They are also set to open for Joel Plaskett in an upcoming show.
With a focus on authenticity and connection, the band is building a strong presence in the local music scene and growing a dedicated audience.
TAURO
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Cynthia Tauro and Brendan Canning, a founding member of the indie rock band Broken Social Scene. The project blends elements of indie, soul, R&B, and jazz to create a smooth, down-tempo, and genre-fluid sound. Their music features keys-forward arrangements, rich vocals, and thoughtful lyrics about change and emotional growth. They released their debut full-length album, Act I, through Birthday Cake Records, collaborating with various local musicians to build their unique sonic style.
SD Henhawke
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S.D. Henhawke is an Indigenous indie-folk and dream-pop musical project based in London, Ontario, led by Haudenosaunee artist Shawn Durant alongside his brother Derek. The group crafts an atmospheric and emotive sound by blending soothing flute melodies, warm acoustic guitars, and ethereal synths to explore themes of nature, human connection, and personal reflection. Active in the southwestern Ontario music scene, they have released heartfelt projects like their 2020 album Last Train and singles such as Heavy Sky Construction, earning a reputation for their captivating, cinematic live performances.
Lua Sol
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Lua Sol is a stage-blazing, curly-haired soul sextet from London, Ontario. Formed in the celestial oven of Fanshawe College’s MIA program, the ensemble represents a coalition of diverse musical backgrounds which all make you wanna DANCE. Reggae, RnB, Soul, Funk, Bossa, Jazz, Blues, and all those classic New World sounds shine out from whatever club stage the band happens to be occupying tonight. Improvisation takes a core role in Lua Sol’s music, blending the spaces between their strong ensemble parts and tight songwriting with the broad brushstrokes of spontaneous musicianship. While the band primarily features the radiant vocal talents of frontwomen Konejo Girum and Raquel Sanchez, every member eventually takes up centre stage to shine with a blistering solo or an indispensable, song-defining hook. Audiences report sensations of overwhelming euphoria, spiritual ascendence through dance, and sunburns on uncovered stage-facing skin. Lua Sol is a bright light in the dark.
Jonathan Williams
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Jonathan Williams is a Canadian country singer-songwriter based in Vernon, British Columbia, who turned to music to heal from PTSD after a career as an RCMP officer. Known for his story-driven live shows, he brings deep emotion and honesty to the stage as an acoustic performer and recording artist. He has earned recognition in the Canadian country music scene, including 2nd ballot nominations at the BCCMA Awards and a successful "Boots, Bars & Battle Scars" tour. Today, he continues to write powerful songs, release popular singles like "That's What a Heartbreak Tastes Like," and connect deeply with audiences across Western Canada.
Plan Your Visit to Home County 50
Get ready for two unforgettable days of live music, artisan vendors, local food, and community celebration in Victoria Park. Explore the lineup, check the schedule, and join us July 24–25, 2026 for Home County's 50th anniversary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Artist lineups are subject to change. Check this page regularly for the latest updates and announcements.
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Performance schedules will be posted closer to the festival date once all artists and production details have been finalized.
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Yes. Home County is a family-friendly event that welcomes music lovers of all ages.
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The festival takes place in Victoria Park in downtown London, Ontario.
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Some artists may participate in merchandise signings or community activities throughout the festival. Details will be announced when available.
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Yes! Artists can apply through our performer application page. Please note that applying does not guarantee a performance slot, as most of the lineup is curated by our Artistic Advisors.