Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 must-see acts at the Mission Folk Music Festival, July 24 to 26

Brass-band fusion, soul-stirring singer-songwriters, fiery fiddle, and more spread across the fest’s five stages on the scenic shores of the Fraser River

By Janet Smith

Kellie Loder

The Mission Folk Music Festival takes place at Fraser River Heritage Park from July 24 to 26

SEASONED FOLK FANS flock to the riverside site of the Mission Folk Music Festival each summer, assured of making new discoveries in the carefully curated program of genre-spanning international and local acts—25 in all this year.

Offerings spanning everything from danceable brass bands to empowering Canadian roots music are spread out across daytime stages and on the evening Main Stage on 25 acres of shaded, pastoral parkland overlooking the Fraser River. Artisan markets and food trucks abound.

Here are just five of the acts worth seeking out at the fest, with info on everything from arrival to camping-chair rules here.

#1

Kellie Loder

July 25, Ursa Minor Stage at 12:30 pm and Main Stage at 7 pm; July 26, Ursa Minor Stage at 2:10 pm

Kellie Loder has been praised for a warm, soulful voice and profound emotional honesty in songs like “When It Comes to You”. But what visitors to the Mission Folk Music Festival are about to find out is it’s really Loder’s live shows—called everything from “electric” to “towering”—that have solidified the Newfoundland artist’s reputation. The singer-songwriter, who grew up in the tiny community of Badger (population: 700), made a name as first runner-up on the 2022 season of Canada’s Got Talent, and went on to earn a 2025 JUNO Award nomination and two East Coast Music Awards for their latest album, Transitions. You might also recognize their empowering anthem “Fearless”, the rousing soundtrack for CBC’s Tokyo Olympics coverage: “’Cause I’m fearless/Nothing that can beat me/No one to defeat me/I’m a champion.”

#2

LowDown Brass Band

July 26, Fraser Stage at 3:40 pm and Main Stage at 9:30 pm

With its sharp horn arrangements and live emcee (MC Billa Camp), Chicago’s LowDown Brass Band fuses everything from New Orleans street brass and smoky jazz to hip-hop, soul, and reggae. The group was formed in the early 2000s by multi-instrumentalist and sousaphone master Lance Loiselle, grounding big trombone and trumpet sound in dance rhythms. Listen to “Ghost Town” in the video above, featuring Chicago hip-hop crew the Dread, and you’ll hear a sound a bit like the Specials if they’d grown up on the South Side. Don’t be surprised if the outdoor pit transforms into a sweaty, NOLA-style dance parade, as it often does at the Montreal Jazz Festival, where these guys are a staple.

Brianna Lizotte

#3

Brianna Lizotte

July 24, Main Stage at 6:10 pm; July 25, Ursa Minor Stage at 11 am; July 26, Ursa Minor Stage at 3:50 pm

You can always rely on the Mission Folk Music Festival to bring some old-style fiddle energy to the table—and this year is no exception. Meet Métis Canadian fiddle player Brianna Lizotte, the Edmonton-based artist who honed her skills growing up in the kitchen parties of Sylvan Lake. A grad from MacEwan University’s music program, Lizotte gets the party started with jigs, reels, and waltzes—all given a distinct Métis flourish as she keeps her family traditions alive.

#4

Burnstick

July 24, Main Stage at 8:45 pm; July 25, Fraser Stage at 11:10 am and 3:30 pm (Jason Burnstick); July 26, Ursa Minor Stage at 3:50 pm

Think intimate storytelling, transcendent harmonies, and cinematic atmosphere as husband-and-wife team Jason and Nadia Burnstick draw on their respective Plains-Cree heritage and francophone-Métis roots. But what really sets this folk duo apart? Jason’s striking Weissenborn lap slide guitar, a century-old, all-wood acoustic instrument that features a hollow neck and a distinctive resonant sound. Poetic songs explore love, loss, and sacred ties; just listen to the moving “Closer” above, which captures the profound emotion that connects two people after the birth of a child.

#5

The Fugitives

July 25, Ursa Minor Stage at 3:40 pm; July 26, Ursa Minor Stage at 2:10 pm and Main Stage at 6:10 pm

These Vancouver folk-roots favourites are headed by well-known singer-songwriters Brendan McLeod and Adrian Glynn, joined by banjo player Christopher Suen and violinist Carly Frey. The band’s work is so grounded in strong storytelling that it has stretched into other disciplines—think shows like Over the Ridge, a production that debuted at Massey Theatre in 2024, reflecting on the Battle of Vimy Ridge with music, Ballet BC dancers, historical readings, and more. But at the Mission Fest, look forward to hearing the masterful folk melodies of the group’s self-titled 2026 album, from the beautifully contemplative, banjo-and-fiddle-driven ode to perseverance “Wolf Road” (above) to the lush, anthemic power of “Holy Strength”—every song scattered with imagery from rugged Canadian landscapes.  

Related Articles