Throwdown Thursday w/ Poppa Don Gernie & Élise Leblanc

Poppa Don Gernie plays certified bluegrass bangers with Americana inspiration. a multi instrumental unit, with kazoos, banjos,mandolins and more, Poppa Don Gernie wants to take you on a foot-stomping journey, so get those hands clapping, and get ready for a knee slapping night of ass-kicking acoustic action.

A poet at heart, Canadian singer-songwriter Élise LeBlanc (She/They) is inspired by the romance of wild things. Heavily influenced by classic country, Appalachia, and western swing- her songs explore queer desire, betrayal, hope, and nature lore. Her gentle twang and rich, expressive vibratto nods to classic crooners Patsy Cline and Peggy Lee.

Her 2024 record “The Fiddle & The Fire” – produced by Leeroy Stagger (Canadian Folk Music Award-Winner whose roster includes: Corb Lund, Joel Plaskett, Mariel Buckley), was listed in the top 10 “Best Country Records on Bandcamp” review in 11/2023, and featured in a CBC Radio-Canada interview on “Culture et Confiture”.

Between 2022-2024, Élise has played over 75 shows from Vancouver Island to Nashville, and has been a mainstage performer at prominent BC festivals including Cowichan Bluegrass Festival, Islands Folk Festival, Filberg Festival, and Tofino Jazz Festival.

In 2011, FACTOR Canada funded the launch of her debut album Runaway Kites.

Élise is currently based on the unceded traditional territory of the Lukwungen People, the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations (Victoria, BC, CANADA.)