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Submitted by Mills Drew on
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Salomé Perli

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An elusive sonic creature, Salomé Perli stands out through her remarkable versatility as a violinist, pianist, vocalist, author, arranger, producer, composer, and improviser. Her singular artistic universe moves fluidly between songwritting, contemporary jazz, electronic and experimental music, driven by bold writing and boundless expressiveness. Fueled by an insatiable artistic curiosity, she continuously expands her practice through interdisciplinary collaborations with choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, circus performers, and dancers, while engaging with musicians from a wide range of backgrounds. Rejecting labels and conventions, she has developed a deeply personal and immersive artistic approach that has led her to perform internationally across Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States, as well as to take part in numerous creative residencies (CEM, Codes d’Accès, Le Vivier) and festivals, including MUTEK and OFF JAZZ. Alongside her performance and creative work, she is also active as an educator through free improvisation workshops. With two experimental songwritting albums to her name, Salomé Perli follows in the footsteps of artists such as Björk, Thom Yorke, and Esperanza Spalding, asserting a musical identity that is powerful, sensitive, and resolutely unclassifiable.

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Submitted by Mills Drew on
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Alfred Yun

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Alfred Yun is a Korean-American jazz pianist and composer. His music is influenced by his upbringing in both Korea and the United States. You can hear influences ranging from jazz, hip hop, and K-Pop to traditional Korean music in Alfred Yun’s compositions.


Alfred was honored to be chosen by the Music Center At Strathmore as an Artist-in-Residence for the 2023-2024 season. This includes featured concerts at Strathmore’s prestigious AMP club in January and participating in programs throughout the season.
 
In 2025, Alfred Yun released his album, Voice and Phenomenon, which investigates the different ways we use the voice — gibberish, games, poems, singing, spoken word, laughter, and more. The album invites the listener into an intimate account of these disparate voices and sounds. It is the most personal and revealing work of his career. Voice and Phenomenon was listed on Capital Bop's Top DC Jazz Albums of 2025.

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Submitted by Mills Drew on
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Mason Jeffrey-Off

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Mason Jeffery-Off is a Canadian bassist, composer and bandleader based in Montréal. Originally from Ottawa, Ontario, Jeffery-Off is a graduate of McGill's Jazz Performance program. There, he studied with Ira Coleman and Rémi-Jean LeBlanc. An on-call Montréal bassist, he performs frequently with the likes of Jean-Michel Pilc, Darrell Green, and Kevin Dean. At age 18, Jeffery-Off was one of 16 international jazz musicians under the age of 25 to be selected for Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead, a performer-composer residency located at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In 2024, he received the Hnatyshyn Developing Artist Grant (Oscar Peterson Grant for Jazz Performance).  Jeffery-Off leads a seven-piece ensemble called Marvelous Creatures, which features compositions of his that are derived from written and spoken language, such as poetry, speeches and interviews. A full-length album is currently in the works with this ensemble. To Jeffery-Off, “Musicians share a special bond and to nurture it we must be open to each other's ideas, making them work in tandem. My goal is to abandon my preconceptions and serve the spirit of the moment. It is this humanity and spontaneity that bridge the gap between music and listener and, in turn, connects us all.”

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The Ramblin' Hey Ho Ha's, photo by Abigaile Edwards
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Bring the whole family to AMP Sessions, returning for two weekends, July 17-19 and 23-26. Featuring free live outdoor music at the Shaw Amphitheatre, food, drinks, and a 360° view of Banff's gorgeous surroundings, catch local favourites like The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s and Lost Decade from Calgary and Joshua Burnside from Northern Ireland, as well as a partnership with Canmore Folk Festival.

BANFF, AB, MAY 21, 2026 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity’s AMP Sessions returns this summer with an unforgettable lineup of local artists and Alberta favourites as well as from as far away as Northern Ireland. Hosted at the stunning Shaw Amphitheatre over two weekends in July, this concert series brings audiences together for live music, food, and drinks with the Canadian Rockies as a backdrop. 

AMP Sessions brings the Bow Valley together for two weekends of free live music from talented local and Alberta-born artists, with performances beginning at 6 p.m. each evening. Gather friends and family of all ages, pack a picnic or grab something to eat and drink from our BBQ, and settle into a lawn chair to soak up the summer sun and mountain air.

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AMP Sessions is about bringing people together to discover great music, spend time in the mountains, and enjoy the memorable nights that only happen at Banff Centre. There’s something incredibly special about gathering at the Shaw Amphitheatre, and we’re excited to bring audiences together for two unforgettable weekends of fantastic music.

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Josephine Ridge, Executive Director, Arts
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Each performer takes the stage at 6 p.m., but audiences are encouraged to arrive early with picnic blankets and foldable chairs in hand. Banff Centre’s food and beverage team will be on site, preparing backyard-barbecue-inspired meals, and the bar will serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Audience members may also bring food or soft drinks, but outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.

AMP Sessions is only the beginning. As the Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival enters full swing, Banff Centre will feature a series of concerts, dance performances, readings, and more events. Make AMP Sessions part of your Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival experience—visit our website to see the full lineup of events.

AMP Sessions

  • July 17-19, 23-26
    6 p.m. daily
    Shaw Amphitheatre, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
    FREE
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The lineup of performers at AMP Sessions is: 

July 17-19

  • Kayla Williams – July 17 
    Kayla Williams is making waves in the world of yacht-pop. Based in Calgary, Alberta, she brings her own modern twist of glitter and femininity to the sounds of the ’70s and ’80s, fusing soulful vocals with feel-good grooves. Her sound is described as Hall & Oates meets Olivia Dean, with a little Huey Lewis levity and a splash of Lake Street Dive.
     
  • The Motown 6 – July 18
    The Motown 6 is an Alberta-based soul and funk collective that delivers super-charged rhythms with vibrant vocal harmonies. Made up of members Jo Marillier, Arif Boga, Daniella Rubeling, Matt Mueller, Tony Berthelet, Michael Maher, and Darren Reeder, their passions intersect at a love for all things rhythm and blues. Together, they present a musical homage to Motown, Stax, and Chess straight through to the swampy sounds of New Orleans.
     
  • Side Hustle and Cave Arcade – July 19
    In collaboration with Canmore Folk Festival’s Artist Development Program, July 19 features two local bands from Canmore, Alberta.

    Side Hustle is a local, family experiment that started during the pandemic years. This opportunity allowed them to combine musical interests into a grassroots band. Influences and formal training are rooted in fiddle and guitar alongside traditional folk, Celtic, country and western, and popular music. The group has performed original music and cover songs at open mics, busking, and at private and public events such as the Banff Centre Mountain Book and Film Festival and Hockey Day in Canada.

    Cave Arcade is an indie rock band, crafting shimmering, guitar-driven songs that balance sharp wit with a hazy sense of nostalgia. Fronted by Louis Trautman, alongside Andre Laver, Eli Panning-Osendarp, and Austin Novakowski, the band brings a tight, dynamic chemistry to a sound that feels both expansive and immediate.

 July 23-26

  • Joshua Burnside – July 23 
    Banff Centre alumnus Joshua Burnside is an experimental folk songwriter, singer, and producer. Keeping his Belfast roots central to his music, he draws influence from alternative electronica and Irish folk, chopping and blending them with found sounds, world music, and unorthodox production methods.
     
  • John Wort Hannam – July 24 
    John Wort Hannam has been on a roots-fueled troubadour journey for over two decades, spinning songwriting gold from the lives he encounters and those within his imagination. After twenty-plus years, he shows no sign of slowing down, winning the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Award for both Solo Artist and Contemporary Album of the Year.  Audiences and critics alike hear something special in his narrative, lyrically driven songs.
     
  • Lost Decade – July 25
    Lost Decade is a Calgary-based synthwave band with a love for timeless music. Members Derek Leugner and Brandon Smith’s earliest ideas came to life after hours at the Cantos Music Centre, where the glow of vintage keyboards and synths set the stage for their sound. Joined by vocalist Chenelle Roberts with classical, blues, and Caribbean roots, they craft soulful synth-driven music inspired by the energy of 80s and 90s music.
     
  • The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s – July 26
    Banff’s own The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s bring a foot-stompin’ good time to the Rocky Mountains. Known for their boot-kickin’ blend of bluegrass, roots, and rock with a twangy twist, this hometown group brings big energy and bigger heart to the stage.

    Featuring a mix of acoustic guitar, mandolin, harmonica, and tambourine, their sound is steeped in mountain air and prairie soul. With crowd sing-alongs, high-spirited originals, and a few reimagined classics, The Ramblin’ Hey Ho Ha’s turn every performance into a celebration of community, rhythm, and storytelling.

AMP Sessions appears as part of the 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, Canada’s celebration of art in the mountains since 1950. This year’s festival features over 100 events from May to September at Banff Centre and in the local community. Find the full lineup of events at banffcentre.ca/summer-arts-fest

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See Banff Centre’s Media Room here.
For photos, information, or interview requests, please contact:

Carly Maga                             
Director, Communications                         
Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity             
tel: +1.403.763.6210
cell: +1.403.431.3423
carly_maga@banffcentre.ca                                    

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become a global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines, from the fine arts to Indigenous Wise Practices. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus - artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences - to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach. banffcentre.ca

Banff Centre
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T1L 1H5
403.762.6100
www.banffcentre.ca

We recognize, with deep respect and gratitude, our home on the side of Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain. In the spirit of respect and truth, we honour and acknowledge the Banff area, known as “Minihrpa” (translated in Stoney Nakoda as “the waterfalls”) and the Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney Nakoda) – comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations – as well as the Tsuut’ina First Nation and the Blackfoot Confederacy comprised of the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Shuswap Nations, Ktunaxa Nations, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Rockyview District 4. We acknowledge all Nations who live, work, and play here, help us steward this land, and honour and celebrate this place.

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Submitted by Jessica Brende… on
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RISA STEINBERG (Artistic Advisor) is active in many facets of the dance community as a performer, teacher, re-constructor of the works of José Limón, rehearsal coach, and choreographer mentor. A native New Yorker, Ms. Steinberg attended the High School of Performing Arts. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School, where she has served as full-time faculty since 2004 and held the position of Associate Director of Juilliard Dance from 2008-2016. Ms. Steinberg has been a guest teacher worldwide and in many summer intensives.

In 2022, she received the DanceTeacher Magazine Award of Distinction. As a performer, Ms. Steinberg was a principal dancer with the José Limón Dance Company and guested with companies worldwide.

She was a cast member of Punchdrunk’s, Sleep No More from 2015-2020.

As a choreographic advisor, she has mentored many emerging and established choreographers. Ms. Steinberg is the co-director of the Ann and Weston Hicks Choreography Project at Jacob’s Pillow.

Artistic Advisor

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DAN SCULLY (Lighting Design) is a New York-based lighting and projection designer. He has been the resident lighting designer for A.I.M by Kyle Abraham since its founding, including designs for the full-length evening works Pavement, Live! The Realest M.C., and the Bessie Award winning The Radio Show. Recent dance work includes designs for New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, BODYTRAFFIC, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Misty Copeland, among others. Theater and concert credits include Rocky (Broadway), Jedermann (Salzburger Festspeile), The Orchestra Rocks! (Carnegie Hall), and Peter and The Wolf (John Lithgow / Carnegie Hall). Regional: Trinity Repertory Company, Geva Theatre Center, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, and the Two River Theater Company. MFA NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Lighting Design

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GLENN LIGON (Set Design) is an artist living and working in New York. Throughout his career, Ligon has pursued an incisive exploration of American history, literature, and society across bodies of work that build critically on the legacies of modern painting and conceptual art. He earned his BA from Wesleyan University (1982) and attended the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program (1985). In 2011, the Whitney Museum of American Art held a mid-career retrospective, AMERICA, organized by Scott Rothkopf, that traveled nationally. Important solo exhibitions include Glenn Ligon: All Over the Place, The Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge, England (2024); Post-Noir, Carre d’Art, Nîmes (2022); Call and Response, Camden Arts Centre, London (2014); and Some Changes, The Power Plant Center for Contemporary Art, Toronto (traveled internationally) (2005). Select curatorial projects include Grief and Grievance, New Museum, New York (2021); Blue Black, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, St. Louis (2017); and Encounters and Collisions, Nottingham Contemporary and Tate Liverpool, England (2015). Ligon’s work has been shown in major international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale (2015, 1997), Berlin Biennial (2014), Istanbul Biennial (2019, 2011), and Documenta XI (2002).
 

Set Design

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SAM CRAWFORD (Additional Sound Editor) Sam Crawford’s compositions and sound designs have included works for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company (Venice Biennale, 2010), A.I.M by Kyle Abraham (Untitled Love, 2022), Camille A. Brown and Dancers (BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play, 2016), and David Dorfman Dance (A(Way) Out of My Body, 2022).

Recent film works include 32 Sounds, directed by Sam Green, for which Crawford acted as the headphone experience designer; the film was Oscar shortlisted for Best Documentary Feature in 2024. La Medea, a live film collaboration with director Yara Travieso for which Crawford composed the music and wrote the libretto, premiered at P.S.122’s Coil Festival in 2017.

Since 2020, Crawford has taught sound design at the University of Maryland's School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. He became Co-Director of UMD’s Maya Brin Institute for New Performance in 2023.

Additional Sound Editor

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As a creator and director, CHARLOTTE BRATHWAITE (Artistic Advisor)’s genre-defying works illuminate the realities and the dreams of the marginalized and center unheard, unseen, and overlooked stories. Dealing with subject matter from the historical past to the distant future, her work brings to light issues of social justice, race, sex, power, and the complexities of the human condition. Awards include Art Matters, Princess Grace, Creative Capital, United States Artist and Map Fund. She is an Associate Professor Theater Arts Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). www.charlottebrathwaite.com

Artistic advisor

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REID BARTELME and HARRIET JUNG (Costume Design) Harriet Jung and Reid Bartelme met in 2009 while pursuing fashion design degrees at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. They started designing collaboratively in 2011 and have focused their practice primarily on costuming dance. They frequently design costumes for works by Pam Tanowitz, Kyle Abraham, and Justin Peck. They have devised costume centric performances for commissions from the Museum of Art and Design and the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. In 2023 they made their Broadway design debut with Bob Fosse’s Dancin’. Reid and Harriet have completed research fellowships at NYU Center for Ballet and the Arts and the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. They continue designing costumes and sets for dance productions around the world while expanding the scope of their practice outside the theater.

Costume Design
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