Makin\u2019 Waves, presented by Sydney Credit Union, is a free Thursday night concert series taking place in Sydney from July 9 to August 6, 2026, at Wentworth Park.<\/p>\n
Lineup:<\/strong><\/p>\n Headliner:<\/strong> Joel Plaskett Emergency<\/p>\n Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the Joel Plaskett Emergency is a Nova Scotia rock trio known for its raw chemistry, sharp songwriting, and powerful live shows. The Emergency (Joel Plaskett, Dave Marsh, and Chris Pennell) has built a lasting reputation as one of Canada\u2019s most dynamic live acts.<\/p>\n With acclaimed albums, major tours, and a diehard audience built through decades of performances and recordings, the band remains a uniquely recognizable group effort within Plaskett\u2019s wide-ranging body of work.<\/p>\n Their road history highlights include U.S. dates supporting The Tragically Hip, touring Australia, opening for Paul McCartney in Halifax, and headlining the legendary Massey Hall. Rooted in Nova Scotia, Joel Plaskett Emergency has earned awards and nominations from the Junos, Polaris, CBC, ECMA, Music Nova Scotia, and more, while bringing its joyful energy to audiences across Canada\u2014from Newfoundland and Labrador to Iqaluit and Dawson City.<\/p>\n Opener:<\/strong> The Jaynes<\/p>\n The Jaynes write the catchiest songs you\u2019ve never heard\u2026 unless you\u2019ve had the chance to catch one of their infrequent live performances over the past 15 years.<\/p>\n Led by songwriter Shane O\u2019Handley, perhaps Cape Breton\u2019s most prolific musician who\u2019s performed as part of the Tom Fun Orchestra, Carmen Townsend Band, and Mhira Blood amongst many others, the band evokes nostalgia for the best of the 90s Halifax indie scene while blossoming into something entirely fresh and timeless. The resulting songs present an earnest voice amongst melodic guitars and driving rhythms that transcend expectations.<\/p>\n Headliner: <\/strong>JRDN<\/p>\n JRDN first emerged on the national stage with his 2010 debut album IAMJRDN, with Gold-certified hits \u201cU Can Have It All\u201d and \u201cLike Magic\u201d reaching #1 on the Much and MuchMore Music video charts.<\/p>\n Nova Scotia born and raised, JRDN was at the forefront of Canada\u2019s R&B scene and recognized with awards and nominations from SOCAN and the Junos for his efforts.<\/p>\n Now, in 2026, JRDN is entering a new chapter. With an eye towards evolution and authenticity, JRDN is commanding the stage alongside Classified, as frontman of new Halifax-based soul collective Lane Hall, and as a revered solo artist while staying rooted in the heartfelt storytelling that first captured audiences across Canada.<\/p>\n Opener: <\/strong>Nicole Ariana<\/p>\n Nicole Ariana is a Billboard #1, Gold-certified songwriter and award-winning artist originally from Sydney, Cape Breton, whose debut album CRYBABY earned an ECMA and four Music Nova Scotia Awards. Blending alt-R&B and neo-soul-inspired pop, her music is cinematic, moody, and confessional.<\/p>\n With performances in Estonia, Wales, London, and Sweden, and songwriting credits from Los Angeles to Paris, she has built an international presence rooted in honest storytelling and emotive vocals.<\/p>\n Her 2025 single \u201cReturn to Sender,\u201d featured on CBC\u2019s Q with Tom Power, introduced a more stripped-back, soulful direction, launching a new body of work unfolding throughout 2026.<\/p>\n Headliner: <\/strong>Jah\u2019Mila<\/p>\n A beacon for Jamaican music and culture in Atlantic Canada, Jah\u2019Mila\u2019s music embodies the spirit of traditional Jamaican roots reggae music. From touring with renowned reggae acts like The Wailers, Black Uhuru, and the Groundation to collaborating with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony Nova Scotia, Jah\u2019Mila\u2019s skill as an artist and cultural reggae ambassador make her one of the East Coast\u2019s most prominent voices.<\/p>\n With authentic appreciation for both her roots and her present home, as well as an unwavering resolve to stand up for what she believes in, Jah\u2019Mila brings a performance that is as inspiring as it is remarkable.<\/p>\n Opener: <\/strong>Tamar Ilana & Ventanas<\/p>\n Founded in 2011 by powerhouse vocalist (Downbeat Magazine) and Jewish-Indigenous artist Tamar Ilana, Ventanas is a cross-cultural flamenco and world music group that blends incredible musicianship, infectious melodies, and unmatched energy. Pulling from Sephardic, Balkan, Greek, Turkish, Jazz, Pop, Classical, and Mediterranean folk traditions, Tamar Ilana and Ventanas create soundscapes that take you on a journey through place and time while enriching you with language and dance.<\/p>\n With tours on three continents, being nominated for four Canadian Folk Music Awards, and fresh off the release of their 2024 album AZADI under their belts, Tamar Ilana and Ventanas are the perfect soundtrack for your hot summer nights.<\/p>\n Headliner: <\/strong>Tim Baker & All Hands<\/p>\n Following 15 years as the frontman of award-winning indie rock outfit Hey Rosetta!, Tim Baker has transitioned well to life as one of Canada\u2019s most profound songwriters and producers. Over three LPs, three EPs, and his 2024 holiday album Full Rainbow of Light, Tim\u2019s remarkable output has cemented him as one of Canada\u2019s leading troubadours.<\/p>\n With an uncanny ability to create moments and build emotion into song, Tim Baker \u201ccaptures complex feeling in a big hearted way\u2026I think he\u2019s such a special songwriter and performer.\u201d (NPR\u2019s World Cafe)<\/p>\n From the esteemed Massey Hall to sweaty festivals across Canada, packed audiences are in agreement that Tim\u2019s performances are a shared experience that borders on ritual and connects like few others.<\/p>\n Opener: <\/strong>Jeremy Fisher<\/p>\n A melodic songwriter in the tradition of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Jeremy Fisher has been writing tunes that stay with you for over 25 years. From an early tour across Canada by bicycle to hitting the road alongside Great Big Sea, The Proclaimers, and Xavier Rudd, Jeremy\u2019s road-tested performances and unmistakable energy have made him one of Canada\u2019s favourite live shows.<\/p>\n A 4-time Juno Award nominee, Jeremy Fisher has recorded music with the likes of Hawksley Workman, Serena Ryder, and Jakalope, while his music has appeared in film, commercials, and as the theme for Global TV\u2019s \u201cFamily Law.\u201d Jeremy is also creator, songwriter, and voice actor in Jeremy and Jazzy, an animated children\u2019s series airing on CBC in Canada and around the world, captivating the minds of the next generation of music lovers.<\/p>\n Headliner: <\/strong>Dave Sampson<\/p>\n Dave Sampson writes with a steady hand and an unmistakable voice. Raised on Cape Breton Island, the songwriter has built a body of work rooted in folk tradition, yet restless enough to drift into indie rock, country, and late-night confessionals. His songs carry the grit of coastal bars and the experience of a songwriter who understands when to leave space.<\/p>\n A seasoned performer, Sampson has toured extensively across Canada, sharing stages with kindred artists and winning over audiences one song at a time. His live shows feel less like performances and more like unguarded, intimate, and story-grounded conversations. Performing solo or backed by his fiery band, he\u2019s a crowd favourite who lights up the stage.<\/p>\n In an era obsessed with noise, Dave Sampson chooses resonance, writing songs that linger long after the needle lifts.<\/p>\n Opener:<\/strong> Elyse Aeryn<\/p>\n Elyse Aeryn makes music for the wild hearts\u2014those who crave connection, catharsis, and a little rebellion. Whether you discovered her on a TikTok scroll or her voice found you through the radio airwaves, know this: there\u2019s a depth behind that first impression\u2014a catalog full of hard-won truths, fearless energy, and moments that will make you feel seen.<\/p>\n She\u2019s not just building momentum\u2014she commands it. Elyse was crowned Music Nova Scotia\u2019s Entertainer of the Year in 2024 and her song \u201cCowboy\u201d spent 15 weeks in the Billboard Canadian Country Top 100, while \u201cUnstoppable,\u201d from her 2026 album Everyone Loves You, was featured by Rogers Sportsnet to soundtrack Canadian tennis sensation Vicky Mboko\u2019s historic National Bank Open victory in 2025.<\/p>\n Known across the Maritimes for her dynamic stage presence and compelling vocal delivery, Elyse has quickly become one of Atlantic Canada\u2019s most promising breakout acts\u2014an artist with the talent, determination, and heart\u2019s fire to go the distance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Makin‘ Waves presented by Sydney Credit Union is the soundtrack to your Summer with free concerts each Thursday evening from July 9 – August 6<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":166549,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","_tribe_events_is_hybrid":"","_tribe_events_is_virtual":"","_tribe_events_virtual_video_source":"","_tribe_events_virtual_embed_video":"","_tribe_events_virtual_linked_button_text":"","_tribe_events_virtual_linked_button":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_embed_at":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_embed_to":[],"_tribe_events_virtual_show_on_event":"","_tribe_events_virtual_show_on_views":"","_tribe_events_virtual_url":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"campaign-category":[],"tribe_events_cat":[139,140,176,142,144],"class_list":["post-83714","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tribe_events_cat-arts-culture","tribe_events_cat-community","tribe_events_cat-festivals","tribe_events_cat-food-drink","tribe_events_cat-music","cat_arts-culture","cat_community","cat_festivals","cat_food-drink","cat_music"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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