Write On! Showcase 2025 Program| April 20
2 Sets with intermission
MC Nancy Laberge
Nancy Laberge leads this intensive eight-month songwriting mentorship program. Write On! is in its 4th season and is tailored for Alberta's emerging talents. With personalized mentorship, industry insights, performance coaching, and a focus on music business essentials, participants not only refine their craft but also foster a tight-knit music community. Nancy's program shapes the next generation of Alberta's music scene, cultivating a legacy of artistic excellence and community support.
Performance | Set 1
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Feature Performer Write On! Alumni
Craig McIvor - From the moment I first heard Billy Joel’s “Piano Man,” I knew I wanted to create music that could transport others the way that song did for me. I began learning piano at age 6 and guitar at 8, quickly diving into experimenting with chords and transitions. Throughout junior high, high school, and college, I was the primary songwriter in every group I played with, continuing to hone my craft into my late twenties. Music has always been my way of connecting with others and sharing stories that resonate deeply.
Zoë Elle - born and raised in Calgary, has been passionate about music and performing for as long as she can remember. With a deep appreciation for all genres, she brings a powerful voice and an intuitive musicality that captivates audiences. Her vocals are rich, expressive, and unmistakably compelling. Guided by the belief that every song has its perfect moment, Zoë has graced a wide range of stages—but her heart now lies in songwriting and playing live whenever the opportunity arises. With authenticity at her core and a love for connecting through music, she’s an artist to watch.
Madi Adele - a bold new voice making waves in the music scene with a sound as honest as it is infectious. Her thoughtfully crafted songs blend the raw emotion of classic rock with the vibrant pulse of contemporary pop and country, delivering stories that resonate with anyone navigating the twists and turns of young adulthood.
As both a rising artist and dedicated elementary music teacher, Madi lives and breathes music—whether she’s performing with Calgary’s dynamic vocal group Revv52 or inspiring the next generation in the classroom.
Olson - grew up in the wide-open fields of Manitoba, where music was as much a part of the landscape as the prairie sky. Her journey has taken her across Canada—from coast to coast—each place and its people leaving a lasting imprint on her voice and her stories. A natural storyteller with rich, expressive vocals, Olsen weaves together lived experience and the deep histories that move her. Her songwriting blends folk roots with a timeless sense of place, creating a sound that feels both personal and universal—an invitation to sit down, listen close, and feel something true.
Christie J. Simmons - is a Calgary-based singer/songwriter whose eclectic musical journey spans from the haunting tones of renaissance recorders and the bold sounds of highland bagpipes to the soulful twang of the Appalachian banjo. Her elegant, Celtic-inspired originals showcase a deep reverence for traditional folk music, while her poignant lyrics and raw melodies draw from the heart of roots and Americana. With an instinctive musicality and an undeniable stage presence, Christie delivers her songs with a captivating authenticity that leaves a lasting impression.
Miarlequin - is a whimsical pop artist and self-proclaimed casual interdimensional traveler, whose music effortlessly blends playful absurdity with raw emotion. Emerging in 2023, she quickly made her mark with highlights like the TD Music Residency, her single “Manual Expression” (which has garnered over 4,000 streams), and her involvement with the Write On! Program. Miarlequin’s eclectic sound and fearless creativity set her apart in the pop scene. In addition to her solo work, she also performs as a keyboardist and backing vocalist for SHY FRIEND, further showcasing her versatility and depth as an artist.
Zoe Clara - is a rising artist, singer-songwriter, and accomplished multi-instrumentalist whose talent spans genres—from the intimacy of folk to the sophistication of jazz and the elegance of chamber music. As a vocalist, she brings depth and versatility to every performance. As a songwriter, her lyrics consistently reflect authenticity, emotional intelligence, and artistic integrity.
Amber Williams - a powerhouse country artist hailing from the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. Rooted in her rural upbringing on a working farm, Amber brings an authentic voice to the stage—one that fuses gritty country, high-energy rock, and a bold hint of hillbilly soul. Her performances are unforgettable: raw, heartfelt, and bursting with charisma. Known for her commanding vocals and vibrant, down-to-earth style, Amber took time to raise her family and now returns to the music scene with fresh fire. Her new songs reflect the real rhythms of life—from motherhood to backroad living—and she’s ready to take her sound across Canada, one stage at a time.
Performance | Set 2
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Feature Performer Write On! Alumni
Eden Taylor - is an award-winning singer-songwriter whose dynamic sound blends cinematic pop, blues, and country. With a voice that recalls the soul of Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys, Eden weaves heartfelt storytelling and rich melodies into every performance. A former member of the Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede, she’s played over 300 shows across North America, including the Blind Pig Festival in Vancouver. Her original song Big City Dreams earned her a spot at Nashville bootcamps and a country music competition. With the release of her debut single Jealousy, Eden is poised for a breakout solo career.
Veronica Raine - is an up-and-coming singer/songwriter local to Southern Alberta. Her infatuation with writing music began at age thirteen after picking up the ukulele, which then in turn led her to guitar—a natural progression that opened the door to a lifelong creative outlet. Attending any bar with an open mic who would let her through the door, her musical education only strengthened with time, recently being featured on 88.1’s Southern Alberta Songwriter Showcase with over 50 performances under her belt (even now still playing at any and every bar that will let her in). Known for her heartfelt lyrics and captivating melodies, Veronica has cultivated a distinctive musical style that blends folk, pop, and indie elements.
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Kate Pereversoff - is a multifaceted musician whose instruments speak to her mood and spirit—piano when she’s feeling introspective, fiddle when she craves movement, and guitar when she’s ready to take bold risks. With a background in music therapy, Kate has spent years immersed in a century of music that has touched lives at every stage of existence. This deep connection to diverse genres, the wisdom of our elders, and the timeless power of music have inspired her to write and perform with passion and authenticity. Her music is a reflection of both her personal journey and her belief in the transformative power of song.
Garry Stickel - a seasoned singer-songwriter whose roots run deep in the heart of rural Alberta. A lifelong writer, he weaves lyrically rich stories with quiet wisdom, clarity, and strength, all set within a country, roots, and blues framework that is as uniquely personal as it is easy to embrace. Many of Garry’s songs reflect his rural upbringing, inviting listeners to take a journey through Alberta’s landscapes and history while connecting their own memories to his. His music is defined by an authenticity and originality that can only come from someone so deeply embedded in the traditions and rhythms of his surroundings.
Ainslie Ayres - (pronounced “ayn-slee airs”) is a multi-genre vocalist and composer whose music weaves the richness of classical vocal tradition with the soul of contemporary folk. With a voice likened to the ethereal stylings of Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy, Ayres brings her academic background in classical music and opera to life through intricate melodies and unexpected harmonic turns. Her delicate yet emotionally resonant fingerpicking forms the foundation for songs that feel both intimate and expansive. Drawing inspiration from the rhythms of the natural world and the complexities of the human spirit, Ainslie invites listeners into a space of deep feeling and reflection—where every note is a conversation, and every silence, a shared breath.
Paulina Morgan - has spent over a decade crafting songs that intertwine life, love, and raw emotion into an intimate storytelling experience. Based in Alberta, her latest releases—We Can Talk for Hours (2024) and The Night is a Woman (2023)—mark powerful new chapters in her musical journey, following the release of her debut Soliloquy (2021). Drawing inspiration from the quiet moments in nature and her travels, Paulina's music speaks to those yearning for authenticity and deep connection. With each note, she invites listeners into her world, where storytelling is not just heard but felt.
B. Bicker - is a self-taught musician, songwriter, and the unapologetic purveyor of maple whiskey rock ’n’ roll. Based in Calgary, he’s the creative engine behind the Brother Bicker Band, an original Americana/roots rock outfit known for their raw energy and gritty storytelling. Bicker’s co-written tracks “Breaking Glass” and “Storm Chaser” were finalists at the YYC Music Awards in 2020 and 2023, while the band itself was nominated for Group of the Year in 2024. Their growing momentum also includes two second-round nominations from the Country Music Alberta Awards. The Brother Bicker Band recently caught the attention of Spectra Music Group (New York), who signed on to re-release their third studio album, Another Kind—a gritty, soulful collection that marks the next bold chapter in the band’s evolution.