Tiger Balme with Evan Redsky

November 29th 2023 Tiger Balme
Performance at 8PM
30.00 Advance $35.00 Door 

Toronto-base indie chamber band Tiger Balme combines the enchanting forces of Yang Chen, Estyr, Danielle Sum, and Anda Zeng. A collective of Asian-identifying women and non-binary artists formed in 2018, they began creating sonic spaces of tender resilience at art shows, festivals, and grassroots venues around Toronto and southern Ontario. Grounded by a standard indie rhythm section, they add a unique blend of shimmering harp, vibraphone, and vocal harmonies, musically and lyrically juxtaposing fierceness with warmth and calm. Their artistry “thrives on the power of contrast,” as described by RANGE Magazine, “the sound of disparate influences, musical backgrounds, and skills all aligning—an approach perfectly represented in the dichotomy of their name.”

Leading up to the November 2022 release of their debut self-tilted album, Tiger Balme played Venus Fest, POP Montreal and Ottawa’s Pique Fest, and shared the stage with Madison McFerrin, Hannah Georgas, Emily Soon, and Cutsleeve. Songs from the album were played on local and national radio programs, peaking at #1 on Toronto’s CJRU’s Top 30, and were placed in CBC Gem's series “The Lunchbox Dilemma”. They have been covered by outlets such as CBC Music, RANGE, and Dominionated, and their live show was named one of BlogTO's '10 must-attend concerts at NXNE 2023'.

Evan Redsky, a songwriter from Mississaugi First Nation, now residing in Toronto, intertwines his deep-rooted First Nations heritage with contemporary storytelling in his latest work, "Oblivion." Raised amidst Canadian roots music in Blind River, he channels this influence to express his experiences as a Canadian and a member of an indigenous community affected by colonialism. Redsky, who previously joined the punk band Single Mothers, has been actively involved in advocacy, particularly addressing the clean water crisis impacting his family's reservation, Shoal Lake #40. His artistry is deeply connected to his lineage of storytellers, including his great grandfather, a translator of ancient pictographs and a member of the spiritual Mediwiwin group. "Oblivion" reflects his journey through personal growth, healing, and resilience against intergenerational trauma, underscoring the importance of self-help before assisting others, and symbolizing the ongoing healing and forward path of First Nations people in Canada.

“...an unfeigned country ballad about his indigenous bloodline and life on the reserve...an allusion to the residential-school system and its effects on his kin. Warm acoustic tones are cut with Redsky’s sandy drawl...a record showcasing a rugged sound that’s interspersed with whining lap steel and palatable twang.” The Globe & Mail

“Though the songs’ content is rooted in Redsky’s Indigenous heritage, the sound is pure Americana, equal parts Springsteen and Petty...” CBC

This performance is curated by Adam Moffatt and Emma Steen of AM/PM Toronto with generous support from Ontario Creates.

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