NOMFA 2026 Music Nominees

Thea May

Anishinaabe artist Thea May from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek creates music from raw emotion and necessity. Her debut EP, Brought To You By Tragedy, offers a powerful, compassionate space for healing, inviting listeners to find connection and renewal through shared pain.

Peach Pact

Peach Pact is Northern Ontario's juggernaut femme-punk trio. Not just another Riot Grrrl band, their lyrics are shaped by their lived experiences as women and queer artists, and explore themes of agency and exploitation. Like a banshee that discovered electricity, their debut album is a brash, unapologetic salvo of empowerment.

Aysanabee

Aysanabee (Ace-in-abbey) is an award-winning Oji-Cree artist blending indie, soul, and rapid-fire fingerpicking. In 2024, he became the first Indigenous artist to win JUNOs for Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and the first to reach Number 1 on Mediabase Canada’s Alternative Rock chart.

Shy-Anne Hovorka

Shy-Anne Hovorka is an award-winning Ojibwe singer-songwriter, educator, and advocate whose work blends storytelling, healing, and cultural revitalization. Her 2025 releases—Fly Away and the orchestral Granddaughter’s Song—reflect her commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, weaving Indigenous knowledge and heartfelt artistry that resonates across communities.

Sara Kae

Sara Kae is an Ojibwe and Cree artist, writer, and performer. Sara got her start touring northern Ontario with her counsellor father, singing in communities from the age of 12.  Sara’s career accomplishments include her single reaching #6 on the CBC Top 20 and opening for Juno Award-winning Aysanabee.

Crystal Shawanda

Crystal Shawanda, an Ojibwe Potawatomi powerhouse from Wiikwemkoong First Nation, rose in country music before redefining herself as a trailblazing blues artist. A multiple JUNO Award winner, she broke Billboard barriers, earned Maple Blues honors, and captivates audiences worldwide with soulful storytelling, resilience, and genre-defying artistry.

Die Hydrated - Peach Pact

Andrew Sowka at Studio P1B in North Bay and Matt Wiewel at Deadpan Studios in Sudbury have recorded, performed and supported music in the North for over 15 years. The two collaborated for the first time on this Peach Pact debut

Old Soul – Pillory

Producing music since since 2015, Dustin has offered various services like recording, mixing, mastering at his recording studio, Unsalted Audio, located downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Dustin is in the process of finalizing construction while continuing to record new projects.

Maadaadizi: She Starts a Journey – Sara Kae 

Rob Nickerson is a veteran producer/engineer that has produced many award-nominated and winning projects both independently and through Boreal Oasis Studios. Rob is guitarist, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist who is well versed in many genres, like rock, country, folk, flamenco and many more.

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” (Live in Banff, AB) – The Honest Heart Collective 

Ryan MacDonald is the owner/operator of Lionheart Sound Co. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He has produced and engineered many projects for Thunder Bay artists over the years, including traveler, Nick Sherman, Loughlin, The Honest Heart Collective, and more. He is the primary songwriter and frontperson for The Honest Heart Collective.

Traveler - traveler

Ryan MacDonald is the owner/operator of Lionheart Sound Co. in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He has produced and engineered many projects for Thunder Bay artists over the years, including traveler, Nick Sherman, Loughlin, The Honest Heart Collective, and more. He is the primary songwriter and frontperson for The Honest Heart Collective.

"Contrecoeur", "Promis, juré", "Dans tes yeux", "Noël chez nous"

Céleste Lévis, autrice-compositrice-interprète originaire du Nord de l’Ontario, charme par une voix à la fois douce et puissante qui touche droit au cœur. Récompensée à plusieurs reprises et reconnue comme une figure marquante de la francophonie canadienne, elle poursuit son parcours avec sensibilité et authenticité. 

Best Of

Dayv Poulin, a professional artist for over 30 years, with a very successful French career. His songs have received number one spots across the country, with massive airplay on radio and Sirius XM.  He’s just released a “Best of” compilation highlighting his biggest French songs over the past 15 years.

Salon des refusés

Edouard Landry façonne un univers folk aux accents pop rock, porté par des mélodies accrocheuses et une liberté stylistique. Fort de multiples nominations à des prix musicaux, il a lancé huit albums, dont Salon des refusés, et se positionne comme une voix marquante de la scène francophone canadienne. 

DEMAUX

Maux Marquis est un groupe Anarcho Oi de Sudbury, Ontario.

Precious Diamonds

Adrian Sutherland from Attawapiskat First Nation has the voice of a songbird, a boatload of talent, and an ocean of muses from the waters of James Bay. His melding of folk, rock, roots, and blues draws inspiration from his northern life, traditional lands, and Cree culture. 

Edge of the Earth

Aysanabee (Ace-in-abbey) is an award-winning Oji-Cree artist blending indie, soul, and rapid-fire fingerpicking. In 2024, he became the first Indigenous artist to win JUNOs for Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and the first to reach Number 1 on Mediabase Canada’s Alternative Rock chart.

Sing Pretty Blues

Crystal Shawanda, an Ojibwe Potawatomi powerhouse from Wiikwemkoong First Nation, rose in country music before redefining herself as a trailblazing blues artist. A multiple JUNO Award winner, she broke Billboard barriers, earned Maple Blues honors, and captivates audiences worldwide with soulful storytelling, resilience, and genre-defying artistry.

"P8GWAS"

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario. She is  French Canadian & W8banaki (Abénaki), a member of the Odanak First Nation. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instrumentation.
 

Brought To You By Tragedy

Anishinaabe artist Thea May from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek creates music from raw emotion and necessity. Her debut EP, Brought To You By Tragedy, offers a powerful, compassionate space for healing, inviting listeners to find connection and renewal through shared pain.

"Midnight Parade"

Energetic rockers The Johnnys, known for fun shows and consistently charting singles, released Midnight Parade in 2025, produced by Stevie Salas, world-renowned guitarist and filmmaker. Lead by cofounders Veronica Johnny (2Spirit First Nations vocalist/guitarist) and Dave Johnny (drums), the band has featured BIPOC and Queer players for 20+ years.
 

Vanessa Tignanelli, Holly Cunningham, Linds Sullivan 
Animation: Adrian Venti

"A.ajax"

Peach Pact is Northern Ontario's juggernaut femme-punk trio. Not just another Riot Grrrl band, their lyrics are shaped by their lived experiences as women and queer artists, and explore themes of agency and exploitation. Like a banshee that discovered electricity, their debut album is a brash, unapologetic salvo of empowerment.

Heidi Meier

"Numb"

Heidi Meier is a singer/songwriter born and raised in rural Northern Ontario. She takes pride in her ability to paint a picture with metaphors in her songwriting. She loves visual arts as well which comes to light through her music video story telling and cover art.

Scott MacKay, Ryan Novak

"Outrun"

The Honest Heart Collective are a modern rock band from Thunder Bay, Canada, led by brothers Ryan and Nic MacDonald. Blending the energy of punk, the drive of heartland rock, and the storytelling roots of folk, the band has earned a reputation for their honest songwriting and dynamic live shows.

The Trenches Media Inc.

"P8GWAS"

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario. She is French Canadian & W8banaki (Abénaki), a member of the Odanak First Nation. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instrumentation.

Lee Cochran

"Where Death Dwells"

A voice like a commanding instrument with unflinching lyricism, Skye Wallace has earned a reputation as one of Canada's most compelling artists. Her blend of folk, rock, and alternative has won critical acclaim, a devoted fan base, and stages shared with Tori Amos, Alanis Morissette, Matt Mays, Television, and more. 

“The Least I Can Do” – Knownish

Knownish is the project of Sudbury, Ontario native musician Blaise Gaudrault, who functions as the keyboardist, vocalist, bassist, songwriter, arranger, and producer of all music released under the pseudonym. He creates alternative noise pop/rock music with a heavier tinge and much experimental/progressive influence. 

"Don"t Leave Your Baby” – Chanelle Albert & the Easy Company

Chanelle Albert & the Easy Company bring bilingual indie folk-rock from Sudbury with grit and poetic charm. Featured at Northern Ontario’s top festivals and heard on SiriusXM, their songs sway between tender intimacy and fiery intensity.

“If You Were a Stranger” – summersets

summersets is the duo of Juno and Polaris nominated singer-songwriter Kalle Mattson, and longtime collaborator Andrew Sowka. Influenced by the storytelling of John Prine and the harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel, their debut album was nominated for both a 2024 Ontario Folk Music Award and 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award.

“Writer’s Block” – TIBO

Originally from North Bay and now in West Nipissing, Matt Thibeault has continued to push the boundaries of musical expression, receiving NOMFA awards for his debut album Cycles in 2015, his 2018 full-length album I Own a Bittersweet Flashlight, and his 2023 debut French album under artist name TIBO Catalepsie. 

"P8GWAS" - Mimi O'Bonsawin

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario. She is French Canadian & W8banaki (Abénaki), a member of the Odanak First Nation. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instrumentation.

“Would You Know Love” – Crystal Shawanda

Crystal Shawanda, an Ojibwe Potawatomi powerhouse from Wiikwemkoong First Nation, rose in country music before redefining herself as a trailblazing blues artist. A multiple JUNO Award winner, she broke Billboard barriers, earned Maple Blues honors, and captivates audiences worldwide with soulful storytelling, resilience, and genre-defying artistry.

“Writer’s Block” – TIBO

Originally from North Bay and now in West Nipissing, Matt Thibeault has continued to push the boundaries of musical expression, receiving NOMFA awards for his debut album Cycles in 2015, his 2018 full-length album I Own a Bittersweet Flashlight, and his 2023 debut French album under artist name TIBO Catalepsie. 

"P8GWAS" - Mimi O'Bonsawin

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario. She is French Canadian & W8banaki (Abénaki), a member of the Odanak First Nation. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instrumentation.

“Die Hydrated” – Peach Pact 

Peach Pact is Northern Ontario's juggernaut femme-punk trio. Not just another Riot Grrrl band, their lyrics are shaped by their lived experiences as women and queer artists, and explore themes of agency and exploitation. Like a banshee that discovered electricity, their debut album is a brash, unapologetic salvo of empowerment.

"Midnight Parade" - The Johnnys

Energetic rockers The Johnnys, known for fun shows and consistently charting singles, released Midnight Parade in 2025, produced by Stevie Salas, world-renowned guitarist and filmmaker. Lead by cofounders Veronica Johnny (2Spirit First Nations vocalist/guitarist) and Dave Johnny (drums), the band has featured BIPOC and Queer players for 20+ years.