Moonfruits + Nyx and Lightsmith

Nyx and Lightsmith

Nyx and Lightsmith (Maddy O'Regan and Ethan Mitchell) do what few artists can do - bring soulful, heartwarming (and sometimes heartwrenching) music to their shows. With a focus on genuine emotion and relatable storytelling, their performances leave a lasting impression, showcasing the power of music to create connections and evoke profound emotions. The duo draws on diverse influences from alternative, folk, and country. They cite artists like Alex G, Phoebe Bridgers, Nick Drake, Tom Waits as well as Gillian Welch, Colter Wall and Nick Shoulders among their recent inspirations.

Moonfruits

Moonfruits—led by Ottawa-based partners Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy—craft contemporary folk, organically alternating between French and English, that addresses our collective humanity with heart, wit, and wonder.

This Stingray Rising Star, SOCAN and Dora award-winning group has toured their transportive live show across Canada, the US, and Europe. Recent winners of a Capital Music Award for Best Production & Arrangements, Moonfruits was also nominated for Emerging Act & Producers of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Moonfruits’ sophomore album, Salt (2022), delves into what it means to live, dream, and raise a child in an era of climate change and deepening inequality. It tells the stories of Alex & Kait’s families and the kinds of communities they strive to help build.

Live, expect a dynamic performance with warm, welcoming harmonies ranging from raucous to whisper quiet, innovative arrangements with bowed guitar and banjo, a little knob-tweaking and a hefty dose of family-fueled storytelling. Singing in English and French, they love to open our audiences’ ears and hearts to sounds unfamiliar, and adore a good singalong.