Performer's Café
Open Mic Night at The HIVE
September 25th - 7PM
Headliner: Aria Swanson
Aria Swanson is a genre-blending singer-songwriter based in Moose Jaw, whose work weaves together elements of pop, indie, rock, and jazz. A vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Aria performs both covers and original songs, sharing powerful storytelling through music that subtly reflects queer perspectives and lived experiences.
Aria has taught songwriting workshops to youth, performed gospel music in London addressing racism and colonialism, and continues to be a strong advocate for mental health and inclusion through music. Their recent performance highlights include Sidewalk Days, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon Pride, and YMCA’s Music for the Mind. They are a familiar presence at local pubs and coffee shops and have performed at the Moose Jaw Music Festival.
October 30th - 7PM
Headliner: Chris Weber
Chris Weber learned to play guitar in the golden era of folk music 55 years ago. He began writing songs as soon as he learned three chords. To date, he has recorded five full-length collections of his original work.
Chris began building mandolins in 1992. In 2004, he transitioned from thirty years of construction work to operating his own business on River Street in Moose Jaw. He serviced, repaired and built stringed instruments there for the next 13 years. The dream that he never dared to dream had come true. It was a way to make a living that was completely in tune with who he was.
A high school student from Moose Jaw recently dubbed Chris as “The grandpa we all wish we had.” He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, but quickly recognized it for the compliment it was meant to be. Chris has a daughter, but no grandchildren of his own. He is currently accepting applications.
This new title is in keeping with what Chris has told people whenever they insist on saying that he is talented. Here is how he replies to that: “I am just living proof that if you do something long enough, you can get good at it…even if you don’t know what you are doing.
November 27th - 7PM
Headliner: Mark Fenton
Mark Fenton is a local writer whose works have appeared in Road Maps and Life Rafts, Montreal Writes and Vaughan Street Doubles literary magazines. He is a husband, father, grandfather, and a retired Royal Canadian Air Force veteran.
The Performers Café has been running for a number of years and is a free open mic at a local café in Moose Jaw for emerging and established artists. We feature ‘headliners’ who are intended to serve as mentors for aspiring musicians, writers, storytellers, etc.
The Performers Café provides local artists with a venue to showcase their talents while also allowing new artists to gain experience performing in front of an audience, and an opportunity to network with one another. It is a non-judgemental forum with the goal of encouraging the expression of creativity with no barriers due to age, gender, race, religion, artistic discipline, or sexual orientation.
​
If you would like to be considered to be a headliner for the next season, please send an example of your work to performerscafe@festivalofwords.com.