Anthony Snape - Degy Booking International
AUSTRALIA
Known for his powerful vocal style, Anthony Snape has wowed audiences from his native Australia and across the USA. With the release of his album Disappearing Day and radio airplay across three continents (USA—Lighting 100, Europe—Big FM and Australia—Triple M, Nova), Anthony has won numerous awards (MusicOz, Rising Star, ASA Awards) and has appeared on TV stations in the UK, USA (Fox 19 Morning Show and the Nancy James Show in Ohio) and Australia (Scout TV). Anthony is a straightforward pop-rock acoustic artist with a singer-songwriter twist who has performed at a variety of venues from clubs (The House of Blues, BB King’s NYC, Park West Chicago) and theatres (The Birchmere, The National, The Majestic) to performing arts centers (in Virginia, Nashville, Texas, Kansas and Wisconsin), colleges (Chico, CNU) and festivals (SXSW, Bondi Beach Festival). Anthony’s passion and infectious energy spill out into the audience, making him a real crowd pleaser.

The Arkanes - Auburn Moon Agency
UNITED KINGDOM
The Arkanes are a four-piece alternative/rock band from Skelmersdale just outside Liverpool. Founded by vocalist/guitarist Chris Pate in late 2007, the band was made complete with guitarist Adam Sheeran, bassist/vocalist Lee Dummett and drummer Andy Long. The band have been described as an “untouchable live act,” with high-energy live performances. Their first gig just 18 months back in The Gravy Train, Newton Le Willows, went down a storm and the band have since gone on to play in 21 different cities and towns across the UK, giving us incredible shows in venues such as Dublin Castle, InTheCity at Manchesters Drybar, Matthew Street Festival (Europe’s biggest free festival), Summer Rockwerk festival and The Boardwalk in Sheffield. They have also had some truly memorable nights at venues such as “Moho Live” in Manchester, Liverpool’s Zanzibar and The Cavern club. It was there that they where spotted by their current management and the band’s cause started to pick up pace. Preparations are under way for a tour in the States come 2010.

Art of Fresh - Auburn Moon Agency
ONTARIO, CN
Art of Fresh is on a mission to bring butterfat boom-bap to the funk nation! Rapper D.O. (Defy the Odds) and Slakah the Beatchild make up Art of Fresh, who are doing their part to bring funky hip-hop for the soul to the masses! Formed in 2003, D.O. and Slakah the Beatchild both bring their own distinct style and energy to the group. Both artists bring their vocal talents to the group, while Slakah the Beatchild also focuses on providing the beats and production elements. The group’s first single, “Get Free,” quickly became a summer anthem for the club scene in 2007. The song was a hit with deejays internationally, receiving light rotation on Much Music and Vibe TV, as well as being highly viewed on YouTube. With buzz growing over Art of Fresh, the group released their debut album, Back to the Earth, on Nova Music Group/Universal on Sept. 2, 2008. The first single, “Out This World,” featured catchy beats with a laidback, yet playful, vibe.

Beast - William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC
QUÉBEC, CN
Montreal-based Beast began as something of an experiment. Drummer/composer Jean-Phi Goncalves, leader of his own cutting edge electro band, Plaster, and also an established platinum level producer, asked acclaimed chanteuse Betty Bonifassi (DJ Champion, The Triplets of Belleville soundtrack) to lay down vocals on a work-in-progress track. Something clicked during that first recording session, and Beast was born. With Jean-Phi as engineer/producer, the tracks came together at various locations, including Betty’s house and Jean-Phi’s home studio. The process, says Jean-Phi, was akin to that of a scientist, one who is searching for something, uncertain of what exactly it is he’s hunting for. What Betty and Jean-Phi uncovered was a sound unlike anything else. Beast’s self-titled debut (Pheromone Recordings/Vega Musique) inhabits a place where Portishead meets Rage Against the Machine. Soul, rap, electro, rock and jazz (complete with a Charles Mingus bass sample on “Satan”) collide with a cinematic flair.

Hanne Hukkelberg - Degy Booking International
NORWAY
Norwegian singer Hanne Hukkelberg started singing and playing instruments in her hometown of Kongsberg, Norway, at age three and later played in various rock, jazz and free jazz bands, including a high school doom metal band called Funeral. A graduate of the Norwegian Academy of Music, she has also gained a reputation as a powerful live performer, her shows full of typically Scandinavian absurdist humor. Her 2005 debut album, Little Things, was an impression of life in Oslo, notable for its imaginative use of found sounds and eclectic array of instrumentation. Her elfin but idiosyncratic persona, coupled with a lazily seductive voice, drew comparisons to everyone from Nina Simone, Joanna Newsome and Bjørk to Radiohead and Billie Holliday. Two albums and several years later, Hanne had a very active 2009. She toured Europe and North America in the spring, and then played various festivals in the summer. In the fall she again took to the road and covered areas she did not visit in the spring.

Idlers - Auburn Moon Agency
NEWFOUNDLAND, CN
Idlers are an 11-piece, self proclaimed “reggae circus” from St. John’s, Newfound-land (CN). Their unique sound comes from a love of reggae, ska and afro-beat, peppered with their Atlantic influences. Ringmaster Mark Wilson fronts a solid rhythm section with heavy horns and tight harmonies and has been bringing audiences to a dancing frenzy since the band came together in 2006. The band includes Mark Wilson (vocals and trumpet), Paul Schiralli-Earle (guitar), Craig Millett (guitar), Aneirin Thomas (bass), Chris Power (drums), Luke Power (keys), Chris Harnett (tenor sax), Susan Evoy (alto sax, flute), John Duff (trombone), Curtis Andrews (percussion) and Erin Best (vocals). Idlers have cultivated a loyal following and are expanding their fan base on a national level. The band has also achieved its fair share of accolades. They were the winner of the Galaxie Rising Star of the CBC Awards and were named Alternative Artist/Group of the Year at the 2008 Music Newfoundland (MusicNL) Conference and Awards Show in Gander, Newfoundland.