Ani DiFranco Headlines 2025 Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival

Widely considered a feminist icon, Grammy winner Ani DiFranco is the mother of the DIY movement, being one of the first artists to create her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in 1990. She has released 23 albums, traversing folk, punk, hip-hop, soul and electronic genres and addressing a range of autobiographical, political and social issues. DiFranco is also a poet, author and Broadway performer. She released a collection of poems and paintings titled Verses in 2007. Her memoir No Walls and the Recurring Dream was a New York Times Top 10 best seller in 2019, and her children’s books The Knowing and Show Up and Vote are out now.In 2024, DiFranco completed a 5-month run on Broadway as ‘Persephone’ in Hadestown. Her latest musical release is Unprecedented Sh!t.

Aysanabee is a two-time JUNO award-winning alternative indie artist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and singer-songwriter. He is Oji-Cree from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Aysanabee’s music blends rock, soul and electronic sounds, and has drawn comparisons to artists like Bon Iver and Hozier. He made history in March 2024, as the first Indigenous artist to win JUNO Awards for both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for his EP Here and Now. His debut album, Watin, was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize. Aysanabee has shared stages with prominent acts such as The National and Sarah McLachlan.

Judith Hill is a versatile vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, recognized by icons like Elton John, Spike Lee, Prince and Michael Jackson. She gained global attention after singing at Jackson’s memorial service and was featured in the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. Hill’s solo career includes albums like Back in Time (2015), Golden Child (2018), Baby, I’m Hollywood! (2021), and Letters from a Black Widow (2024). Her diverse collaborations span artists such as Stevie Wonder, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton. Hill holds a degree in music composition from Biola University.

Jackson Hollow, from British Columbia, Canada, has a timeless sound that resonates across generations. Co-founded by lead vocalist Tianna Lefebvre, a four-time BC Country Music Association Award winner, and fiddle player Mike Sanyshyn, the band has performed with renowned artists like Shania Twain. The band also features BCCMA Award winner Charlie Frie on upright bass and JUNO nominee Eric Reed on guitar/banjo. Their debut album Roses led to multiple award nominations, including a 2024 JUNO Award nomination for Traditional Roots Album of the Year. Jackson Hollow continues to stand out as a steadfast international bluegrass presence.