2025 PINE NEEDLE FESTIVAL BAND LINE-UP

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Patrick Moon Bird is a Indigenous Lo-Fi bedroom pop artist from Prince Albert Saskatchewan Canada.

Patrick Moon Bird on stage

11am to 11:30am

Taya Lebel is a vocally trained country/rock artist from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Taya has been singing since she could talk and made her first appearance on a stage by the age of 8. She has performed at countless events across Saskatchewan including the CCMA’s, the SCMA’s, the Prince Albert Winter Festival, as well as the Tralapa Music Festival. In 2022 Taya received an “Emerging Artist of the Year” nomination for the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards. Taya has recently started recording her original music with Andy Schumack at OldSchool Recording and she is set to release her debut single in mid 2025.

Taya Lebel on stage

11:45am to 12:15pm

Former Lovers are a new band of old friends, originally hailing from Prince Albert/Saskatoon, SK. Coming from a small town, they share in making a big sound. With driving rhythm, ethereal guitar stylings and catchy hooks you'll be singing long after the next show, you certainly don't want to miss this.

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Consisting of bandmates LJ Tyson (vocals), Cale Hretsina (drums), Kayanna Wirtz (vocals,bass) and Colin Klassen (guitar), all names you've seen around the Saskatchewan music scene, Former Lovers has already been called 'almost a supergroup'.

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Drawing inspiration from 90's teen centric rom-coms, you dad's record collection and topics that make dinner at your grandparents uncomfortable. This crew is sure to wow you with an energetic show as they draw you in with catchy melodies and angsty anthems you'll wanna belt out on that familiar drive into Saskatoon, and the world beyond.

Former Lovers on stage

12:30pm to 1:15pm

 $l33py_boy_bazinga thinks a lot about things and sometimes writes songs about them. He is the leader of bluegrass band The Local Group and banjo player for Juno award-winning Jake Vaadeland and The Sturgeon River Boys. His solo debut comes after many years of performing as a multi-instrumentalist in different musical outfits, recording, and touring across Canada and internationally. His original songs are semi-serious, semi-silly, caked in layers of irony and influenced by many things including folk, rock, hip-hop, bluegrass, hyperpop, the internet, science, nature, life on the road, and feelings that are sometimes hard for sleepy boys to understand.

 $l33py_boy_bazinga on stage

1:30pm to 2:20pm

 Anthony Pasqua aka Big Tones is an Indigenous Recording Artist born in Surrey, BC. He grew up in Regina, SK and has heavy ancestral ties to Treaty 4 Territory coming from Pasqua First Nation #79 & George Gordon First Nation #84. Breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma, Big Tones uses music as an outlet, finding therapeutic release in storytelling through songwriting. Big Tones is a versatile artist, captivating performer and artist mentor. With a focus on old school hip hop sound, his powerful and soothing voice with intricate flows keeps listeners intrigued lyric after lyric. Big Tones shares his personal experience and offers perspectives on life through the eyes of Indigenous peoples. He moves audiences with his strong stage presence and masterful command of the mic. Big Tones uses hip hop as a vessel to communicate aspects of pain and trauma, moving through to healing, celebration and taking back pride through culture. Recently getting airtime on CBC Radio Active with his new single Creased AF1's Big Tones is striving with a hunger for more. Big Tones has worked as an artist mentor with the Community Arts Mentorship Program, Paved Arts, Creative City Centre Regina and at Kilburn Hall. He appreciates the opportunity to encourage youth voices.

Big Tones on stage

2:40pm to 3:40pm

Saskatoon’s second most popular folk/roots/punk three to five-piece band that sometimes features a trombone (probably). Not quite folk, not quite roots, not quite punk, but all unhinged. Three-part vocal harmonies? We got em. Trade-off solos? We got em. Set lists for all occasions? WE GOT EM! – Disclaimer: May not always contain trombone, keyboard player sold separately.

Matt Remenda Ensemble on stage

4:00pm to 5:00pm

From the first time stepping on stage it was only 9 short months later that Kelly was headling. In just his second year of comedy, Kelly Taylor shocked the comedy industry by placing second in the prestigious Just for Laughs Homegrown competition. Competing against comics who have been in the business for ten plus years, Kelly Taylor firmly made his mark at JFL. His performance did not go unnoticed as creative heads from NBC Universal, Happy Gilmore Productions and Jimmy Kimmel quickly approached with interest. Later that year Kelly did a tour of the Canadian Colleges, and was Named Canadian College Comedian of the year.

Already conquering Canada he has now moved on to being one the busiest comedians on the American college scene. Kelly Also starred as the lead role in the movie Sure Shot Dombrowski. Kelly's ability to headline clubs, corporate and college events at just three years into his budding career is evidence that this kid is the real deal. Aside from Just for Laughs, he has already appeared at The Vancouver and Halifax Comedy Festivals. Kelly has performed all across the country including LA and New York City at some of the most well respected clubs in the industry.