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EQLive 2024

Presented by SiriusXM Canada

EQLive is an exciting new showcase series dedicated to uplifting women and gender-diverse artists and crews as they develop toward the biggest stages.

This fall marks the inaugural season, with live performances in Calgary, Whitehorse, Ottawa, and Toronto. All events feature accessible ticket pricing.

CALGARY - Oct 19, 2024
The National Music Centre | Oct 19

Sacha & Hailey Benedict
with Jade Turner &
Ashley Ghostkeeper

Sacha was Sirius XM’s 2022 Top of the Country winner.  Hailey Benedict was Sirius XM’s 2023 Top of the Country winner.  Jade Turner was named Emerging Artist of the Year by Manitoba Country Music Awards and took home Best Country Album at the Indigenous Music Awards (2017).  Ashley Ghostkeeper has reached top 5 on the Canadian Indigenous Music Countdown and was also one of the Top 10 selected to participate in the Anishinaabeg  Gaa-Wiid-Anokiwiiwad Chi-Gidochigewad Indigenous Music Residency.

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• Sacha

When it came to picking a career, SACHA always knew there was only one option: singing country music.
Not because she loved it, but because she lived it.

Growing up in Warkworth, Ontario a town of under 1000 people she was living the life countless
country songs depict: backyard bonfires, farm land, the rodeo. And with parents that were in a band, singing
was, as SACHA puts it, “part of my DNA.” But unlike her three siblings, music didn’t just feel like a family trait
it felt like her destiny.

“For me, it wasn't just singing to a song. I'm actually feeling this thing happening when I'm singing,” she says.
“I'm seeing the whole production. I'm seeing the crowd, and I’m feeling it.”

Living on her own by the time she was 17, SACHA knew it wouldn’t be easy to make that vision a reality. As
she worked full-time, she found a community within a local church that helped her find her voice and her
confidence while also reassuring her that the stage is where she’s meant to be.

Soon enough, she headed to Nashville, where she hustled her way through Music Row while honing her
playful, yet meaningful artistic style. “I was on a mission,” she says. “For me, it wasn’t just a dream it was
a conviction.”

Her first major breakthrough came in 2021, when SACHA was named to CMT’s Next Women of Country
class, a distinction once bestowed upon the likes of Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, and
Gabby Barrett. “That was the door that opened up the rest,” she suggests.

Later that year, she scored her first platinum Canadian single alongside The Reklaws with their viral hit
“What The Truck,” which became the fastest Canadian country song to be certified platinum in the streaming
era. The momentum continued, as SACHA released her second EP, We Did; won her first CCMA Award for
“What The Truck”; was named winner of SiriusXM’s Top of The Country contest; and joined Maddie & Tae on
their U.S. fall tour.

But it was 2023 that ultimately proved SACHA’s time is now. Kicking off the year singing the Canadian
anthem at the 2023 NHL All Star game, she released her third EP, Confident, in May, and showed her global
appeal with a performance at the UK’s Long Road Festival in August. And just two days before performing
“Confident” alongside Tyler Shaw at the 2023 CCMAs in September, she landed a record deal with Sony
Music.

As SACHA preps her major label debut, she vows that she isn’t losing sight of the motivated dreamer that got
her to this point. But rather than dwelling on the past, she’s aiming to offer a sense of hope to those who may
need a little inspiration in times of adversity as she once did herself.

“I want to be able to lift you up, because I know what it's like to feel like there's no way,” SACHA says.
“Wouldn't it be cool to make room for empowering, anthemic tunes in country music?”

Her first release will reflect just that. As SACHA declares “Hey Mom (I Made It),” the uplifting, heartfelt tale
“ain’t talkin’ ‘bout bein’ famous,” but rather about the personal growth that’s led her to success. “I finally found
my way,” she proudly proclaims in the chorus.

“Hey Mom (I Made It)” is just one of many new songs SACHA is excited to share with fans in the coming
months, as she continues to blaze her own trail as a proud woman in country music. While she’s already
envisioning a Grand Ole Opry debut and world tour, her main focus is to spread a positive message: “Having
these people, all in one room, sharing the same struggles and the same joy.”

And even with all of the ebbs and flows that her journey has entailed, SACHA has no doubt that the timing
couldn’t have worked out better.

“I'm more aware of who I am, what I want to do, what I want to say, and where I want to go,” she declares.
“I've sacrificed everything to live this life. I’m not looking to slow down. I’m so ready to run and ready to
take people with me.”

• Hailey Benedict
A dynamic performer, multi-award winner, and charitable advocate, Hailey Benedict continues to make her mark as a rising talent in country music. This guitar-wielding singer-songwriter has defied gravity, climbing the ranks from the emerging artist who waspulled in front of a sold-out crowd at a Keith Urban concert to perform an original song to national charting and touring artist in a few short years.2023 has been a monumental year for Hailey, topped off with being crowned the winner of the SiriusXMTop of the Country competition during the CCMA Awards weekend. Throughout the year, Haileycontinued to soar to remarkable new heights in her musical journeyincluding a coveted slot at CMAFest in Nashville, appearances at major events including Montreal's Lasso Festival and JUNOfest, her third CCMA Award nomination, the release of her captivating and acclaimed singleDamn You July,national media appearances on CTV's Etalk and YTV, tours supporting the likes of Aaron Goodvin andTim Hicks, and co-hosting the Country Music Alberta Awards, where she also took home three awards ofher own. In her young career, she's already won 13 different awards, including a CCMA Award for InteractiveArtist of the Year, in recognition of her mastery and embrace of social media. Her quarter-million-strongfollowing on TikTok is one of the most of any Canadian country artist. Her songWanted You Towas thehighest-charting independent CANCON single by a female in 2021, reaching #25 on the country charts. A strong advocate for mental health and anti-bullying, Hailey supports several charitable foundations, and was honoured as one of the youngest-ever Global Woman of Vision award recipients
• Jade Turner

Canadian Americana artist Jade Turner is an exceptional storyteller and emotive vocalist, with an innate ability to make anyone who listens to her music feel as though they too have had the experiences she writes and sings about. A proud member of Misipawistik Cree Nation, Jade was raised in Northern Manitoba with an upbringing rooted in the nature of storytelling. Her lyrics tell personal tales that range from serious topics to satirical, and are delivered with her dynamic vocals that span from gritty and raw, to spirited and energetic. Jade's exposure to Indigenous artists, Country, and Folk music paved the way for her to take home the Best Country Album at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards, and the Emerging Artist of the Year award at the 2018 Manitoba Country Music Awards. From a career that seemed nearly impossible due to the absence of Indigenous female representation in mainstream music, Jade credits Blues artist Crystal Shawanda as one of her major inspirations. Through Crystal's presence, Jade knew a career in music was possible for her too. In an incredible, full-circle musical moment, Jade and Crystal teamed up to write "Deadweight," which was released in 2023 and received two awards for Song of the Year and Single of the Year at the Manitoba Country Music Awards in the same year. Most notably, Jade made it as a semi-finalist in the 2024 Top of The Country with Sirius XM competition. From this experience, she created the song "That Wind," which was released in May. Jade is busy working on her next full-length album, which will be set to release next year in 2025.


WHITEHORSE - Oct 30, 2024
Yukon Arts Centre | Oct 30

Begonia
with Bria Rose N' Thorns
& Jasmine Netsena

Trailblazer and NPR “Artist to watch” Begonia touches down for her first-ever appearance in Whitehorse.  Supported by Bria Rose N’ Thorns and Jasmine Netsena.

Presented in collaboration with Music Yukon.

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• Begonia

Pegged as Canada’s breakout alt-diva, Begonia has built a legion of fans online and at her legendary live shows. Her critically acclaimed discography includes Lady In Mind EP(2017), Fear (2019) and Powder Blue (2023). Among her accolades, she has a JUNO nomination(2021, Adult Alternative Album of the Year), two Polaris Prize nominations, multiple #1 songs onCBC Radio, and was named one of NPR’s Artists You Need to Know. Her sophomore album, Powder Blue, emerged in early 2023 and confronts themes of sexuality, self-discovery,acceptance, and empowerment. The album was named one of CBC Music’s Best Canadian Albumsof 2023 (#7) and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.Begonia’s live performance is world-class. She has been playing sold-out clubs and theatres in North America, and recently supported indie-all-star Leith Ross on their European tour. Her vocalprowess has the power to absolutely floor an audience, evidenced at her Polaris Gala performance. She is riding a wave of momentum with a record number of people discovering Powder Blue andbecoming super-fans. Begonia is a standout Canadian talent, and the world is beginning to take notice.

• Bria Rose N' Thorn

On the wings of the north wind, Bria Rose shakes the room with soulful energy. Each song tells a story from the eyes of a young Tahltan/Cree woman finding her hope and way in the world around her. Her folk rock sound is complete with rasp and a deep alto flavour that bridges heart and grit. Bria Rose released her debut EP: Sprout, which boasts positivity, playfulness, and power through a rural lens, on May 31st 2024. 

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OTTAWA - Nov 29, 2024
National Arts Centre | Nov 29

Savannah Ré
with Witch Prophet & Silla

Three-time consecutive JUNO-Award-winning R&B artist Savannah Ré is joined by WIMC Honors Award winner Witch Prophet and acclaimed Inuit throat-singing duo Silla

Presented in collaboration with Axé WorldFest.

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• Savannah Ré

Three-time consecutive JUNO Award winner for Traditional R&B/Soul Recording of the Year Savannah Ré has become the one to watch in Canadian R&B. By making music with the unyielding intention to craft songs that forfeit polished stories for authentic ones, the Toronto artist has become the go-to collaborator for R&B’s upper echelon having written with artists like Babyface, Jessie Reyez, Normani, Wondagurl and her mentor, Grammy Award-winning producer Boi-1da. Savannah Ré’s critically-lauded debut EP Opia earned her multiple award nominations. On her second body of work, No Weapons, Savannah holds firm in her commitment to expressing vulnerability through potent songwriting with a newfound understanding of herself. From the perspective of an ever-evolving woman brimming with confidence, clarity and drive, Savannah Ré continues to establish herself as an impactful voice in R&B.

• Witch Prophet
It’s been 3 years since the release of her Polaris Prize shortlisted album ‘DNAActivation’; an ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop,Soul and RnB. Touring across North America performing along side and opening for actslike Lido Pimienta, Sudan Archives, Tash Sultana, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and more.Now, Witch Prophet returns to the spotlight with a new soul/adult contemporary LP‘Gateway Experience’ due out May 3rd, on Heart Lake Records.A soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz andsoul-inspired beats produced by her business partner and wife SUN SUN.*File next to Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Greentea Peng and Portishead*
• Silla
Silla are an Inuit throat singing duo known for blending traditional songs across a wide range of contemporary genres. Performing together since 2005, Silla’s members Charlotte Qamaniq from Iglulik and Cynthia Pitsiulak from Kimmirut, Nunavut, have crafted a hypnotizing live performance that is not to be missed. The name Silla, is derived from the Inuktitut word ‘Sila’, its definition includes concepts of weather, land, spirit, cunning, and intelligence. The name acknowledges the powerful spirituality and traditions that have kept the practice alive despite historical threats posed by settler colonization in Canada. Silla has received two Juno nominations for their work as Silla and Rise and are winners of two Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards.

TORONTO - Dec 28, 2024
Stockyards, Toronto | Dec 28

Öona Dahl, Sydney Blu, Jenner w/ Shera B2B Videri

day-to-night dance party with Öona DahlSydney BluJenner, and Shera B2B Videri. This all-female lineup is coming together for a massive collaboration between EQLive (a cross-country concert series showcasing women and gender-diverse talent) and the finale of Change the Beat's Canadian tour. Presented by SiriusXMWomen in Music CanadaChange the Beat, and Darkest Hour Records.

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