Band Details

From the Promoter

LORA RYAN

Singer/songwriter Lora Ryan is poised to make some noise in the independent music scene. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, she recently relocated to the Hollywood of Canada: Toronto, Ontario.
Lora initially started her career in performing arts including hip-hop dance, acting, and musical theatre – all before graduating from high school. She studied at the Montreal School of Performing Arts in her teens but it wasn’t long before she realized her first passion is to write, record and perform her own material. She then made the switch to pursue singing with a private vocal coach at the Montreal Academy of Music for seven years.
The petite firecracker continued her post-secondary education at Vanier College (Montreal) in music studying voice, but opted for a more hands-on experience in the field instead. She quickly gained recognition for her talent and attracted help from a manager/publisher, and investors who helped her record her own 15-track Pop/Rock Debut album, Perfectly Imperfect (2012). The album was never released to the public but received industry-wide praise for its catchy hooks and relatable lyrics.
Lora spent an invaluable six years as a vocal coach/mentor at West Island Music Academy (WIMA), helping mould the talent of today’s youth. From vocal lessons to songwriting classes and how to work together in a rock band, Lora took pride in helping her students grow as artists and she was always a positive role model/influence.
Lora’s musical expertise enables her to develop and write for fellow artists in various genres (country, rock, indie, hip hop, acoustic, etc.).The vivacious blonde, who participated in two Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC) SongWorks pro writing camps in 2015, is actively writing/composing her upcoming EP.
Lora Ryan draws on personal experience to pen her lyrics, which can only be described as original and emotionally driven, sometimes angry, often angst-ridden, but always heartfelt and honest. “My world revolves around music,” she emphasizes.
Since the release of Perfectly Imperfect, Lora has matured and her music has grown and revamped alongside her. She’s has just released her brand new single “Best of Me” – An empowering pop-ballad with a strong message about being happy in your skin and knowing your self-worth.
The unstoppable talent is beyond eager to share her music with the public.
“Music is my passion, my life. I would be nothing without it,” she expresses. “In one way or another, music affects us all.”
Lora Ryan is about to take the world by storm!
******
Fun Facts about this pop starlet:
– Lora is obsessed with her two cats, Romy and Milo.
– Lora loves to cook, bake and most importantly eat. Seriously, this girl has an appetite.
– Lora is a shopaholic! She has more clothes than she knows what to do with and a mild obsession with liquid matte lipsticks.
Lora’s Mantra: “I believe in having fun and living life to the fullest. Even doing groceries should be fun. There’s never a dull moment in my life.”

CHARISSA

Charissa is a singer/songwriter from Burlington, Ontario. As a young child, she began singing along to Disney songs and later, began curiously strumming on a guitar and learning basic chords in order to accompany herself. She enrolled in vocal and guitar lessons and began to play acoustically at a local coffee house, helping her gain valuable performance experience in front of an audience.
In the summer of 2009, she entered the CNE Rising Star Talent Competition as a timid 12 year old. But, it didn’t take long for her to impress the judges in each of the preliminary rounds. The maturity and conviction in her voice along with her guitar skills, secured her a spot in the finals and was ultimately crowned junior and grand champions of the competition. A feat that no one had ever accomplished at such a young age.
With titles in hand , she embarked on her musical journey, gaining local recognition and awards along the way. She has spent the last 8 years performing on many stages and in many venues, from small backyard get-togethers to large outdoor stages and a little bit of everything in between, and always making time to support local charities.
Often described as an old soul, her powerful vocals command your attention every time she steps up to a microphone. The warm distinctive tone in her voice, combined with her gentle natural vibrato creates a unique and inspiring sound. Her love and passion in performing is evident every time she gets in front of an audience, delivering dynamic and emotional performances impressing audiences of all ages.
Notable appearances include performances at the award winning Sound of Music Festival, City of Burlington Canada Day Festivities, CHCH TV Live Music Fridays, and Nashville’s legendary Blue Bird Cafe.
She is currently writing and recording for her first solo project, a unique country blend, revealing musical influences spanning across genres.
“I like all kinds of music and all kinds of sounds. It’s just more fun that way.”

SAMANTHA LAFONTAINE

Samantha Lafontaine is a 26 year old country music singer/songwriter from Hamilton, ON. Her love of music began at a very young age, and singing quickly became a passion. It wasn't until June 2014 when her mother tragically passed away that she decided to make a lifelong dream into a career goal.
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"Singing is always something I loved to do but wrote off as a talent that I possessed. I never thought I was good enough, I didn't realize that I had this skill inside of me that had been waiting to shine my entire life. It took something horrible to happen for me to realize that I need to live my best life, because life is too short."
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She picked up a guitar in July 2014 and hasn't put it down since. Little did she know writing country music would come naturally to her. She has been showcasing her music at various venues across southern Ontario.

Writing through the love, the heartbreak, the truth, and the ugly. Her lyrics paint a relatable picture that make you feel, think, and want to know more. Her first single "What You Do To Me" will be available on all platforms early 2018.

SARAH FAZACKERLEY

Sarah Fazackerley is a female blues-rock singer/songwriter based out of the GTA. Previously under the name “Mayfly’s Landing”, her self-titled debut album came out in January of 2016. Her most recent album, titled “Growing Pains”, launched in September of this year, and features a more developed sound created with horn sections, background vocals, and keys on top of her existing core band of drums, bass, and lead guitar. Sarah is a multi-instrumentalist, bringing flavours of saxophone, flute, rhythm guitar, and dynamic vocals to her songwriting.

Her songwriting comes from a place of experience and emotion, speaking to her struggles with addiction and mental illness among other things, and has been a key element to her recovery of now 5 ½ years of sobriety.

LISA MARIE KRUCHAK

Toronto has a way of wearing people down. With the constant noise, hustle and hurry there leaves little room for quiet reflection. Miles of Prairie, Lisa Marie Kruchak’s first full-length album, was crafted as an antidote to the claustrophobia of city life.

Singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Kruchak has been playing music in Toronto for the last 10 years, crafting moody folk songs played with her distinct, percussive guitar style and compelling vocals. Kruchak grew up in Winnipeg, engrossed in the vibrant music scene. She drew inspiration from her hometown for this album. “When surrounded by prairie there’s a feeling of being small, surrounded by vast sky and grasslands. Being lonely in such a big universe, yet feeling at one with nature – a very serene feeling. I wanted to try and recreate that feeling, sonically.”

Miles Of Prairie was recorded and mixed at Slaughterhouse 754, in Toronto’s east end, by Mitch Girio (Emma-Lee, Tamara Williamson, Flashlight Brown). Girio also played upright bass, piano and organ on the album. Golden, BC’s Gord Light also helped to flesh out the songs on guitar, banjitar and mandolin. Rounding out the band on percussion was Adam Warner (Jill Barber, Alejandra Ribera, Royal Wood). Sandra Fitzsimmons and Christina Foster (Lady Racers) provide the sweet vocal harmonies.

Miles of Prairie is a collection of songs written over the last decade, dealing with loss, loneliness and betrayal. The title track “Miles of Prairie,” is a gentle acoustic meditation upon these themes.

Kruchak, also an accomplished photographer, is a fixture in Toronto arts community. She has played the Junction Music Festival several times, showcased at Folk Alliance International and recently toured Western Canada.

LORA RYAN

Singer/songwriter Lora Ryan is poised to make some noise in the independent music scene. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, she recently relocated to the Hollywood of Canada: Toronto, Ontario.
Lora initially started her career in performing arts including hip-hop dance, acting, and musical theatre – all before graduating from high school. She studied at the Montreal School of Performing Arts in her teens but it wasn’t long before she realized her first passion is to write, record and perform her own material. She then made the switch to pursue singing with a private vocal coach at the Montreal Academy of Music for seven years.
The petite firecracker continued her post-secondary education at Vanier College (Montreal) in music studying voice, but opted for a more hands-on experience in the field instead. She quickly gained recognition for her talent and attracted help from a manager/publisher, and investors who helped her record her own 15-track Pop/Rock Debut album, Perfectly Imperfect (2012). The album was never released to the public but received industry-wide praise for its catchy hooks and relatable lyrics.
Lora spent an invaluable six years as a vocal coach/mentor at West Island Music Academy (WIMA), helping mould the talent of today’s youth. From vocal lessons to songwriting classes and how to work together in a rock band, Lora took pride in helping her students grow as artists and she was always a positive role model/influence.
Lora’s musical expertise enables her to develop and write for fellow artists in various genres (country, rock, indie, hip hop, acoustic, etc.).The vivacious blonde, who participated in two Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC) SongWorks pro writing camps in 2015, is actively writing/composing her upcoming EP.
Lora Ryan draws on personal experience to pen her lyrics, which can only be described as original and emotionally driven, sometimes angry, often angst-ridden, but always heartfelt and honest. “My world revolves around music,” she emphasizes.
Since the release of Perfectly Imperfect, Lora has matured and her music has grown and revamped alongside her. She’s has just released her brand new single “Best of Me” – An empowering pop-ballad with a strong message about being happy in your skin and knowing your self-worth.
The unstoppable talent is beyond eager to share her music with the public.
“Music is my passion, my life. I would be nothing without it,” she expresses. “In one way or another, music affects us all.”
Lora Ryan is about to take the world by storm!
******
Fun Facts about this pop starlet:
– Lora is obsessed with her two cats, Romy and Milo.
– Lora loves to cook, bake and most importantly eat. Seriously, this girl has an appetite.
– Lora is a shopaholic! She has more clothes than she knows what to do with and a mild obsession with liquid matte lipsticks.
Lora’s Mantra: “I believe in having fun and living life to the fullest. Even doing groceries should be fun. There’s never a dull moment in my life.”