Meet Our Next Artists

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In an act of creative affirmation in 2019, George Woodhouse challenged himself to write “a-song-a-week” for one year. The journey led to the formation of The Public Service, a Dartmouth-based indie band only ever meant to play one show. Seven years later, George has performed solo and with The Public Service on stages from The Yukon to Newfoundland. In 2025, he toured his childhood homeland of Ontario with The Public Service, with landmark performances at The National Arts Centre and TD Music Hall (Massey Hall’s little brother). When George is off-leash without a band, his solo performances veer off the trail into the woods of story, lit with humour and forged with tenderness.

Recipient of the first Musician Special Achievement ECMA award, and a Music Nova

Scotia award, Kim Dunn is a dynamic, experienced, engaging, performer who offers a versatile

blend of heartfelt well crafted tunes, with elements of blues, folk, pop, country and

gospel, displaying his talents as producer, writer and arranger, anchored by pitch-perfect

soulful vocals and incomparable musicianship. His music has been featured on local and

national radio, and has toured Canada and abroad.

Carleton Stone is an award-winning artist, a songwriter with a growing list of credits, and a founding member of the hugely successful Port Cities. He has recently added producer to his list of accomplishments with both Willie Stratton’s award winning “Drugstore Dreamin” and his own self produced, Papercut – a collection of sophisticated singer-songwriter pop with well-crafted lyrics and memorable melodies.

An outstanding writer, Carleton has written songs for and with such diverse artists as Ria Mae, Matt Andersen, The East Pointers, Quake, Donovan Woods, Classified, Bobby Bazini, and Neon Dreams.

Carleton has three solo records to his credit, multiple awards, and has toured internationally, most recently in the US with The Crash Test Dummies where he received an outstanding response to his solo show.

Andre Pettipas is best known as the charismatic frontman of the rock group, Andre Pettipas and The Giants. With a relentless passion for live music, Andre performed over 180 shows in 2024 alone, captivating audiences from coast to coast.

His magnetic stage presence and genre-defying sound have cemented him as a standout force in on the East Coast scene. Andre’s music blends rock, electronic, and country influences into a sound that is both familiar and fresh.

His lyrics are grounded in themes of resilience, self-discovery, and optimism—encouraging listeners to find the silver lining and become the best version of themselves. Andre’s solo work showcases his collaborative spirit, often bringing in diverse voices and perspectives to further expand his musical palette.
 

In addition to his work as a performer, Andre is a dedicated community builder. He is the driving force behind Giantstock, an annual festival held in Merigomish, Nova Scotia. Through this event, he provides a platform for emerging artists and fosters a sense of unity through music.
 

Whether on stage or behind the scenes, Andre Pettipas brings authenticity, creativity, and an undeniable love for entertaining. With his tireless work ethic and evolving sound, he continues to make a powerful impact on the Canadian music landscape.

Jim Hanlon, a native of Canso, has drifted in and out of the east coast music scene since the late seventies. He and his brother John toured the maritime pub circuit in the mid eighties as the duo O'Hanlon. Having worked in the local seafood industry Jim would eventually end up in Lunenburg. The employment there would lead to Jim being a founding member of the string band Starb'ard Side. The group produced a self-titled album with CBC and performed  as the Lunenburg Folk Harbour house band for many of the first 15 years.

During this time Jim was continually writing songs and eventually won the 89/90 CBC Maritime song contest with his ballad Annie's Promise. This success would lead to three additional songwriting albums. His originals such as Wooden Ships and Iron Men, From the Heart, Harbour Town Waltz, Jessie Haines and  Remembrance Day have gained him international recognition as a singer songwriter..

Cape Breton–born singer-songwriter Terry MacQuarrie has been steadily and quietly building an impressive catalog of folk, country, and blues songs that many artists would envy. His writing draws deeply from lived experience, personal reflection, and the landscapes that shaped him, allowing every lyric to feel honest and immediate. Terry’s music is delivered with simple, unpretentious language and understated playing, yet behind that simplicity lies a complex and thoughtful soul whose storytelling resonates long after the final note fades.

Elyse Aeryn makes music for the wild hearts—those who crave connection, catharsis, and a little rebellion. 

Serving soulful roots-rock with a gritty edge, her songs feel like the windows rolled down on a late-night drive—equal parts raw power and tender reflection. Whether you discovered her on a TikTok scroll or her voice found you through the radio airwaves, know this: there's a depth behind that first impression—a catalog full of hard-won truths, fearless energy, and moments that will make you feel seen.

Elyse was crowned Music Nova Scotia's 2024 Entertainer of the Year, with her debut Joy State of Mind earning an East Coast Music Association nomination for Rock Recording of the Year and winning Country Recording of the Year at the Music NS Awards. Known across the Maritimes for her dynamic stage presence and compelling vocal delivery, Elyse has quickly become one of Atlantic Canada’s most promising breakout acts.

Elyse’s sophomore album is set for release in February 2026. "Everybody Loves You…" captures the soulful vocals, roots-rock edge, and pop sensibility that make Elyse Aeryn stand out. Reviving the spirit of the female rock archetype, this is something music fans have been waiting for.

Brooklyn is an award-winning country artist from Nova Scotia, known for her soulful sound, boho spirit, and powerhouse vocals. With influences ranging from Stevie Nicks and Shania Twain to Miley Cyrus, she brings a one-of-a-kind energy to every stage she steps on - whether it’s across Canada, down in Nashville, or in the heart of Halifax. She’s been named Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year by the North American Country Music Association, and won the Global Country Star Search. Her debut album Get a Little Crazy earned nominations at both the East Coast Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia Awards, and her video for “Great Minds Drink Alike” was a Fan’s Choice Video of the Year nominee at the 2024 ECMAs.

Telling stories of love, loss, and life, Cape Breton singer-songwriter Steve MacIntyre takes you on a journey; one that is dripping with images of the East Coast. 

Hailing from Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton, MacIntyre carries on the tradition of the region’s great songwriters, having grown up listening to the likes of John Allan Cameron, the Rankins, and a slew of Cape Breton fiddlers. Throughout his songs, which have recently earned him a Music Nova Scotia Award nomination, MacIntyre hopes to describe the things that move him well enough that they move you, too. The good and the bad take equal footing in Steve’s songs; they describe the things common to the human experience and do so through beautifully crafted words and music. 

“Steve MacIntyre is a rare original. He brings you in, effortlessly, to an intensely personal place you may not have expected, with his heart on his sleeve and a huge, bear hug of a voice.” - Jamie Foulds, Producer (Rita MacNeil, The Barra MacNeils, JP Cormier)