Million Dollar Unicorn Show Artists Announcement, Part 2
We’re Celebrating Big and Giving Back in a Big Way
Before we hear from our Co-Founder and CEO Laura Simpson announcing our next round of Artists (we're so excited!!), we wanted to introduce you to the charity where all the proceeds from the million dollar unicorn show are going: Unison Benevolent Fund. We've chosen to support Unison which provides counseling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music community - a fund created and administered for the music community by the music community because Side Door shares similar values of serving artists.
It’s no secret the live music industry has taken a big hit during the pandemic, seeing a 79% drop in income and it’s estimated the industry won’t fully recover until 2024. Unison is here to help, and has surpassed over $2M in funds dispersed through their COVID-19 Relief Program alone.
You can help Unison continue to be there for music-makers who need mental health crisis services at this crucial time and be a part of a magical unicorn show while doing it.
Now, push play to find out who Laura has added to the bill and how they're part of the Side Door story!
Will there be more Artists to announce? Stay tuned.
The Artists
Maya Killtron
Maya Killtron makes music that is fun, feel-good and makes you want to dance. Her playful style and lush upbeat take on Modern Boogie have landed her features in Noisey, Earmilk, & Huffington Post. Singles have appeared in episodes of Broad City, Kim’s Convenience & soundtracked collections for Swedish fashion house Gina Tricot. Her vinyl 12” and limited edition 7” have sold out to collectors and boutique record shops around the world. The Multi-facetted artist returns in 2020 with Fired Up, her follow up to 2019’s Never Dance Alone. The Toronto based singer, violinist and DJ’s now finds herself at home in Modern Boogie and Funk boasting a new EP full of lush strings, horns & big vocals. 2020 also marks the launch of her own record label Never Dance Alone Records. It is currently the only female POC owned & operated Boogie label in Canada.
Gabrielle Papillon
Gabrielle Papillon is looking at a life in music differently. She’s pulling the balance back, away from endless touring, toward her favourite part about music: The creation of it. Gabrielle has in recent years turned to co-writing with other writers and producers for their own projects, for sync placement, and to present to other artists. That process includes taking trans-Atlantic flights to write with multiple producers and songwriters in the UK, finding a special knack with Jonas Persson, and back home in Halifax, Nova Scotia with the likes of pop mastermind Corey LeRue.
Minanzi Mbira Band
Sharing a love for ethnic instruments and a deep urge to create a new vibe of good African - inspired music, two highly talented musicians formed the Minanzi Mbira Band in 2014. A fusion of traditional Shona music from Zimbabwe with South African dance beats, Minanzi Mbira Band has a unique sound that unfailingly mesmerizes diverse audiences!
“We want to perform and entertain as well as create a substantial mark of art which is driven by our core talents and values in our role as musicians. We want to share the rich history and culture behind our musical style with the world.”
Stewart Legere
Legere is a genre-hopping, multidisciplinary artist situated in Halifax/Kjipuktuk. Honest, charming and open-hearted, his songs are lovingly crafted with vivid storytelling and luscious harmonies. His performances have been presented at festivals across Canada & UK. He also composes music & sound for theatre & film. An avid & passionate collaborator, his work is fascinated w/ vulnerability, sexuality, intimacy, the destruction of persona and the celebration of performance.
Terra Spencer
Since her solo debut in 2018, Nova Scotian funeral director-turned-songwriter Terra Spencer has charmed audiences in the Maritimes, Ontario, the UK, and Europe with her onstage ease and humour, honest voice, fingerstyle guitar and church bench piano. Showcased on her acclaimed 2019 debut album Other People’s Lives and recent release Chasing Rabbits, Terra’s uncanny knack for crafting intimate storytelling songs has caught the attention of mentors and collaborators like David Francey and Dave Gunning. To see her play is to sit knee-to-knee with her, in a room of 5 or 500. “The real deal.” - Ron Sexsmith