NDIDI O with Kinjo & Young

Chinook Musical Society presents nine "Saturday Night Special" concerts every year, featuring a range of genres from folk and country, to blues, Celtic and folk rock. While we do present acts from all over North America, and some international, we are especially proud to showcase our Canadian and local Alberta artists.
The evening starts with one set from our opening artist, followed by two sets from our headliner.

We’ll wrap up our 2025-26 season in style on April 11, 2026 with the dynamic and soulful Ndidi O and Calgary’s own Kinjo & Young!

For nearly two decades two-time JUNO award nominee Ndidi O (Onukwulu) has carved out an adventurous career that deftly moves between soul, blues, contemporary roots, folk and Americana. A force of nature from the wilds of British Columbia where she grew up, she is the daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother and represents a distinctly Canadian experience - standing astride lines blurred between contrasting cultures and heritages. Once she discovered her voice and collected a diverse range of sounds and styles, her talents took her away from home to New York City, Toronto, Paris and Los Angeles. Her music, like her lineage, explores the globe while keeping ‘home’ at the centre of it all.

Ndidi’s soulful, uplifting performances smooth over the rough edges and encourage her audience to listen deeply. With a voice that exudes the rawness of Etta James one moment, and Dionne Warwick’s delicate soul the next, listening to Ndidi O is a master class in phrasing. Every breath and nuance that comes from her serves the songs and brings them home. A truly masterful performer, Ndidi O’s live performances crackle with electricity and passion, seeing music as “an emotional way of understanding the world.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BnmfNvOwU   

Kicking off the evening will be Calgary’s dynamic duo: Kinjo & Young.

Jory Kinjo brings a unique history to his music and draws from his experiences playing and performing Soul, Ska, Reggae and Rhythm & Blues all over the world. From playing old-school soul music with long-standing soul band, Mocking Shadows, and warming the stage for Canadian tours for B.B. King, ZZ Top and Buddy Guy... Jory has also toured Europe playing bass for Montreal’s third-wave ska kings, the Planet Smashers and then formed “JK & the Relays”.

He launched Kiai Music Inc. as an umbrella under which to operate, and producing larger tours and local shows and showcases for developing Calgary and Edmonton artists. In 2010 Jory joined with his brothers, Kaley, Tashi Shaw and they were invited to perform in Okinawa, Japan at the Naha Matsuri Festival and at the World Uchinanchu Taikai festival. Jory has appeared with a wide array of artists from UB40 to South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela. Most recent shows of note being with Ziggy Marley on his Canadian tours.

By the time Aaron Young was just 23 years old, he had already produced, arranged and performed on over 15 albums.

Aaron performed in the world-beat stage show Barrage for 5 years, touring Asia, Scandanavia, the UK, Canada and the US. You may have even seen the odd glimpse of his work on PBS, CBC, MTV, Bravo and the BBC. He has produced and/or played on over 180 albums and played on over 7500 live stage performances spanning across the globe! Over the years he has continued to hone and shape his brilliant guitar skills and prolific song writing, evolving into the well-known and well-respected artist that he is today. To date he has lent his skills as Producer and Guitarist to such groups as Barrage, Sillan & Young, The Polyjesters, Simon Fisk, John Wort Hannam, Tyler Hornby, Brent Tyler, The Mocking Shadows, Jory Kinjo, Sykamore, Susan Aglkark, KellyLee Evans, Amy Bishop, Blake Reid Band, No Roads In documentary, The Blackbelts and Ghostboy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78BnmfNvOwU