MUSIC LINEUP
Meet your new favourite acts taking the ANCHOR Fest stage in October
SLASH NEED
A confrontational, camp and seductive dramaturge. Slash Need have earned a reputation for putting on high-energy theatrical live performances. Heralded as the most talked about touring act in Canada, their commanding style of propulsive techno and metallic EBM serve as the backdrop to an unpredictable, ever-changing, and communal performance piece. Their debut album, SIt & Grin, is a blistering industrial debut, as unapologetic and brash as it is groundbreaking.
Following a viral bout of unplanned, and gratifying, attention from right wing media in 2023 after their lore-making performance at Toronto Pride, the group has developed a cult following. (A widely-circulated video earned 2.3 million views with one comment calling the group ”nasty, filthy perverts”.) Conjuring the essence of cherry red lipstick smudged on the rim of a spilled energy drink, baby powder masquerading as Chanel perfume; pheromones, smoke machines, and crossed wires, Toronto’s Slash Need is an invitation to demand more.
HEAVENLY BLUE
Heavenly Blue nearly succeeds in hiding their hooky songs beneath the layers of hairy guitars, grunt-like vocals, and 60’s freak-out aesthetics, but not quite. Made up of Nova Scotian punk-rock mainstays, Heavenly Blue shares members with bands like Booji Boys, Black Dog, and about 100 others. Their latest release, “Knife EP” is available through Don’t Wanna Talk Records.
PENNY & THE PITS
The Pits as in bad times, shit luck, sweat stains… but also cherries. Penny & The Pits is the new project from Maritime stalwart, Motherhood’s Penelope Stevens. Liquid Compactor, their debut statement, is a gritty, adventurous punk-rock album that manifests feminist joy, rage and revenge, processing pain into power through the symbolic element of water. Baths come to a boil. Period blood is summoned as strength. Local bar chuds are haunted ‘til they sweat. But for every drop of darkness, there are corresponding sparks of levity. Penny & the Pits is a celebration of healing cloaked as a gnarly romp.
CAPTAINS OF EVERYTHING
A city skyline, an infinite day, the aftermath of a hurricane — these are the spaces that the Captains Of Everything inhabit, navigating the choppy waters of contemporary life with grace & gratitude. Their songs speak of movement, of kindness, and of finding solace in ordinary life. Musically, the Captains take the deep roots sound of Southern Ontario as their starting point and underpin it with sea shanties & swamp boogies. On their debut album, Avast & Belay, co-songwriters Andy Maize and Aaron Comeau take their role as artists seriously while retaining a necessary levity, donning various masks throughout yet leaving a treasure map behind. The band took up residence at the Cameron House in their Toronto hometown for the month of March to release the album, and will continue to perform this the year, with dates planned for both coasts of Canada.
Sam O
Sam O is one of the most unique up-and-coming solo artists in the PEI music scene. In the past couple of years, they have dropped three albums, “Reach for the Stars” in November 2024, “Strange Power” in July 2025, and “DON’T FAIL ME NOW” in May 2026. Front to back, all the albums were entirely self-recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered. They are also a commanding performer, showcasing high energy, and a dynamic vocal range. The best part about Sam O is you never know what you’re gonna get...
Green Eyes, Witch Hands
Green Eyes, Witch Hands is a folktronica band from Bathurst, New Brunswick whose music is born out of the purgatories of small-town Canada and the cyberworld. Maintaining lightheartedness, William Morrison (drums/vocals) sings about love and nostalgia through his autotune screen while the band walks the tightrope behind him, carrying moody acoustic and evocative electronic sounds along for the balancing act. Written and produced by William and his brother Nick Morrison (respectively), their music– whether you are listening to an acoustic set, a full set, or through your headphones– is a wistful but welcomed déja-vu: rooted in faded feelings but paramount for the present and future.
Space Bud
Space Bud is an art rock band from Charlottetown, PEI. Formed In early 2021 playing in a garage in the suburbs, they found a style drawing from many influences including Canadian classic rock of the 70s, New York art rock of the 80s, and Seattle art rock of the 90s. After receiving good feedback on stage, they began home-recording their debut album, Speak Louder, releasing singles Decisions and Satellite that got attention at he singles that got airplay at CKDU Halifax, CHSR Fredericton, CJBU Cape Breton, and East Track Mind. After making a limited run of the album on fully-packaged, homemade CDs, Space Bud is making a formal debut in 2026.
Dear Blossom
Dear Blossom is an up-and-coming post-hardcore band from Charlottetown, PEI. Emerging from the island’s underground music scene, this young band emits the confidence and craftsmanship of a seasoned group, reaffirming their position as leaders of the local youth revival with every show. Their debut self-titled EP is set to be released July 13th, 2026.
UNCLE
UNCLE is a two-piece powervilence band from Charlottetown, PEI. Originally formed in 2012 and active until 2018; UNCLE is back after a long hiatus, as pissed and violent as ever.
Bilge
Bilge is a hardcore-punk band from Charlottetown made up of a group of pals that play ass-shaking hardcore. Featuring members that usually play different instruments in a bunch of other bands, or in Jo's case, no other bands at all.
Nick Doneff
Tom Power, host of CBC’s “Q”, describes Nick Doneff as a cross between Joel Plaskett and John Prine, citing him as an artist that “you need to hear.” Doneff is a current member of the indie rock band Two Hours Traffic and also works steadily as a multi-instrumentalist in Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island.
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove is a brand new alt-rock band formed at Colonel Gray High school. Though they're just starting their engines, you can expect to a lot of noise about this promising young band before the year is out.