Ground Zero Productions

GROUND ZERO PRODUCTIONS is a professional Popular Theater company which has been involved in May Week since its inception, supporting the Day of Mourning ceremony, the Labour Cabaret, the May Day March and various dramatic productions. 

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Notre Dame des Bananes Choir

Notre Dame des Bananes is a choir that sings songs of peace, freedom and equality. Its members are from diverse backgrounds and include different political philosophies-- communist, anarchist, social democrat, green, but all are firmly committed to struggles against a rapacious capitalism.  Visit the Notre Dame des Bananes Choir website.

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Memi von Gaza

Memi von Gaza is an Edmonton based artist whose involvement in activism dates back to the Mulroney era. In conjuction with Catalyst Theatre and various local and national groups at that time she helped create a wave of protest that had a global impact. Since then she has been involved with many events both in and out of the province creating cutting edge activist art. 

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Bob Fenske

One of Alberta’s most preeminent percussionisst, Bob is in high demand for wide variety of musical genres. He spent 10 years touring with the acclaimed group "Barrage", with whom he’s been showcased in Disney Land and Disney World, and has been featured on PBS, Much Music, C.M.T, and the C.B.C. During his global travels he has accumulated a vast array of rare and interesting percussion instruments. Fenske is a Bachelor of Music (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta, and has a Masters degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Calgary. Bob is a teacher, has a great rapport and love for working with children, participates regularly in Children's Festivals; he’s also an accompanist for the University of Alberta’s dance classes and Dance Alberta, and is a session musician for several local recording studios. He has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, the Alberta Ballet, Calgary Opera, Shumka Dancers, Edmonton Composers' Concert Society, Tom Cochrane, Amos Garret and more. 

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Humberto Medeiros (Bass)

Born on planet tetris in galaxy NGC 2112, humbo, bored one millennium, happened to hear "earthly" sounds coming from the dairy galaxy. he quickly became fascinated with a particular noise emanating from the land called toronto. taking an escape worm hole via cygnus, he accidently landed on a black hole location knows as Edmonton where a multitude of life forms were reproducing different sounds. hum instantly took to the process of making what the earthlings refer to as music and soon became a proficient bass player in music styles called "rock", "blues", "folk", "reggae", "latin" and most recently "gypsy". He has infiltrated several gatherings of life forms called "bands"; including: the Fireseeds, Jared Sowen, Dark Horse, Papaduff, the Channel Surfers, Chris Durrand, Barry Campbell, Bob Cook and the Unheard of, Soul Beat revival, One Fever, Frank Carroll, Darcy Greaves. 

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Notre Dame des Bananes

Where do these Bananas come from? Over twenty years ago, in a Garneau area co-op house named Banana Manor, a rag-tag group of music enthusiasts gathered to perform songs of the festive season and to solicit libation and figgy pudding.Taking their name from the de-consecrated statue of the Virgin Mary who graced their entry way, the Notre Dame des Bananes Choir was born.Since the early 1980s, the Notre Dame des Bananes Choir has been performing songs of struggle throughout Alberta. At home singing on picket lines, at political rallies and in concert halls, the Bananas always offer spirited musical perspectives on local and world events. In 1995, the choir recorded its first CD, Ripe for Revolution followed by their second release Left Side Story in 2001. In 2002, the Bananas performed in concert with Bruce Cockburn and others at the Anti-G8 Summit in Calgary. Anyone who may be interested in joining this bunch of lefty-wing-nutty-type singing people should contact Naomi Rankin @ 465-7893 or send email to info@notredamedesbanances.ca 

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People’s Poets

The people’s poets are three Edmonton MCs who rap about social justice issues, local and global. Rosouljah, 4 Life and solidario joined up in the fall of 2006 with the intention of making critically conscious hip hop. They then hooked up with Edmonton's renowned cut artist DJ Dice, who has over two decades of experience in contributing to the local Hip Hop scene. This hip hop collective mixes rhymes about life experiences with political commentary. Visit the People’s Poets website.

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Aroot’s Bazaar

This quartet has been performing together since 2005. Fronted by Alin Rogoz and Allan Suarez, they deliver three high energy sets of latin and eastern music. Their song writing is nostalgic and progressive and has developed into one of Edmonton’s most beloved and cherished musical acts. Aroot’s Bazaar is a seamless blend of cumbia, salsa, belly dance, gypsy manea, rumba and Polka (to name a few). They have been dubbed “our house band” by the residents of the University of Alberta’s International House for the last four years. They have performed at the Meyer Horowitz Theatre, North country Fair, Wild Mountain Music Festival; are regularly hired by some Edmonton’s most recognized non for profit organizations such as Change for Children, Edmonton Festivals and Places Council, Alberta Craft Council and many more on a regular basis to entertain their galas and fundraisers. As CBC’s Edmonton AM host Ron Wilson puts it “they’re one of Edmonton’s hidden gems! Run, don’t walk, to their next concert; you’ll be glad you did." Read more info here »

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Low Flying Planes

The Low Flying Planes are a four piece band hailing from Edmonton Alberta. Their song writing is as diverse as their influences based in traditional folk, roots, reggae and gypsy beats. Their haunting harmonies are delicately woven into each song, while the banjo’s soulful rhythm keeps those feet tapping, and the groove of the bass lets the listener sit back and enjoy the ride. They have performed at the North Country Fair, Kaleido Festival, and The Sasquatch Gathering to name a few. As Edmonton Musician Scott Cook wrote, “The Hotplates' new band, the Low-Flying Planes, is sounding stellar. These four wonderful women sang my tune "Worried Blues" to me as I lay on the sofa and I decided that I can die happy now, having known life at its sweetest.” 

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Khadija Jetha

One of Edmonton's most seasoned voices and lyricists, Khadija has been performing as a singer since the age of 7. She speaks 5 languages, is an East Indian Muslim with a great cosmopolitan musicality; it is not strange to hear Khadija sing hot salsa, Indian Bhangra or even hip hop. She has recorded and performed with some of the city's most beloved DJs, was the lead singer of Radiovacana, and has had the honor of singing prayers for His Highness Prince Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. Khadija is a multidimentional deep soul in Canadian music. 

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Guy Smith

Guy Smith is an Edmonton based political singer/songwriter and Union activist with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. Guy has performed on many occasions in clubs, bars, community halls, union halls, at rallies and on picket lines. Most recently he can be seen performing with his band The Revtones on Edmonton’s independent music scene. Guy has released 2 CDs of original material: “Red Square Dance” and “We’re All In This Together”. 

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Rh’ena Oake

Canadian Labour Congress – Alberta Representative (acting)

Rh’ena is acting Canadian Labour Congress – Alberta Representative as well as President of CUPE Local 1169, City of Calgary and Cochrane Public Library Workers. Prior to her employment with the Calgary Public Library Rh’ena was an educator and a Senior Manager with Peat Marwick Management Consultants. A committed labour activist, Rh’ena is the President of the CUPE Calgary District Labour Council, a Board Member of the Parkland Institute (an independent political and economic research network situated within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta) a former Executive Vice President of the Alberta Federation of Labour and sat for two terms as the Recording Secretary of the CUPE Alberta Division. With a keen interest and commitment to protecting our natural resources, Rh’ena is Co-Chair of the CUPE National Environment Committee and the CUPE Representative to the Canadian labour Congress’ National Environment Committee. Rh’ena holds a Bachelour’s Degree in Education and a Masters Degree in both English Literature and English History. 

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