Mary Winspear Centre Presents
Song Warriors of the North
Ft. Kym Gouchie, Rachelle van Zanten, Naomi Kavka
Thursday, July 11 at 7:30PM

A collaborative trio of independent artists, uniting musical forces. 

Kym Gouchie
With ancestral roots in the Lheidli T’enneh, Cree and Secwépemc Nations, Kym Gouchie is fostering change through her music and art. Her music and storytelling bring awareness to First Nations and women’s issues, promoting reconciliation and community building while reminding us that we are all in this together. Gouchie’s stories are a testament to the human spirit, weaving together threads of her own journey from personal tragedy to triumph. Her Indigenous-folk and country sound, traditional hand drum, acoustic guitar, fullbodied voice and authentic storytelling are a powerful force that have a lasting impact on audiences of all ages, instilling messages of inspiration and hope. Gouchie is releasing a new album in 2024, featuring several songs in her ancestral languages written for children yet enjoyed by all. Kym Gouchie currently resides in Lheidli T’enneh, otherwise known as Prince George BC.

Rachelle van Zanten
Rachelle van Zanten is a roots-rock-blues warrior known for her “straight from the heart, gutsy, and intimate” songs that “give voice to thunder and fire the hearts” of all who join her in a passionate calling to protect mother earth (Wade Davis, National Geographic). Her “punishing slide guitar“ has her listed as “one of Canada’s best slide guitarists” by musician Randy Bachman and garnered her the fitting description of “Lucinda Williams meets Led Zepplin.” Van Zanten has spent most of her life on the International Rock ‘n Roll Highway, paving the way for the next generation of female rock musicians. Van Zanten co-fronted the notable all-female rock band, Painting Daisies until 2005; has performed with Feist, Blue Rodeo, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Sue Foley, and has opened for the Indigo Girls, Eagle Eye Cherry and Dar Williams. She has toured across Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, India and Nepal and carries a deep and loyal fan base around the globe. Currently, van Zanten is combining her music career with her new self-defined role as “badass northern BC bush mother”, raising kids and chickens and coaching indigenous youth to ski and bike the wilderness trails in her rural hometown in northern BC.

Naomi Kavka
Naomi Kavka is a songwriter and multiinstrumentalist who demonstrates a fearlessness and diverse range as a performer. Kavka brings a myriad of influences to her songs, forming a daring indie-rock sound that is musically polished, lyrically visceral, and emotionally raw. She is classically trained as a cellist, vocalist, and guitar player, and writes songs from the unique perspective of a queer woman, a child of a refugee, and a resident of the precipice of the wilderness of Canada. Her upcoming album, “Then and Now” (June 2024) blends sounds of jazz, classical music, folk traditions, and rock with songs ranging from driving indie jams and melancholic ballads to snarky anthems and art rock improvisations. Kavka currently resides in the northern mountain town of Smithers BC.