Aysanabee discusses his first Canadian headlining tour ’Now and Then’

Two-time Juno Award-winning Oji-Cree artist Aysanabee is currently in the middle on his first Canadian headlining tour, Now and Then.

SWOMP caught up with Aysanabee to discuss the tour, which is coming back through Ontario this month, including:

- Wednesday, Mar 19 - Guelph, ON - Sonic Hall (ALL AGES)

- Thursday, Mar 20 - London, ON - Rum Runners (ALL AGES - w/ special guests Brothers Wilde and Thea May)

- Friday, Mar 21 - Toronto, ON - Axis Club (w/ special guests Sebastian Gaskin & Natasha Fisher)

After supporting Allison Russell and Dan Mangan on tour and performing at festivals worldwide, Aysanabee is stepping into the spotlight to share his music and storytelling.

Fans can expect performances of his hit singles "Nomads," "We Were Here" and "Somebody Else."

An alternative indie artist from the Sucker Clan of Sandy Lake First Nation, a remote fly-in community in northwestern Ontario, Aysanabee now calls Toronto home. He began making music under his mother’s maiden name, finding his artistic voice in moments of stillness. His sound has been compared to Hozier and Kings of Leon.

In March 2024, he became the first Indigenous artist to win the Juno Awards for alternative album of the year and songwriter of the year for his EP Here and Now.

His debut album, Watin, released in November 2022 and named after his grandfather, combined music and journalism and was shortlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.

Since 2021, he has played more than 300 shows across Canada and internationally, including appearances at Reeperbahn in Germany, The Great Escape in the United Kingdom, SXSW Sydney in Australia, Tallinn Music Week in Estonia and AmericanaFest UK.

Follow him at https://www.aysanabee.com/.

Photo credit: Lindsay Duncan