“The crowd swayed and moved with her music and then when the drumming began there was a joined response, up and down, back and forth, slowly and respectfully offering a collective space for grief and remembrance.” - Ernie Boldt , Mission Folk Festival Attendee
Show Intro
Award-winning alt-folk singer-songwriter Mimi O'Bonsawin creates music rooted in nature, storytelling, and connection. French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation, she blends folk traditions with groove and playful experimentation into a sound all her own. Her forthcoming album, Evoke (August 28, 2026), explores identity, language, and the natural world through richly textured songs and heartfelt collaborations. Named Solo Artist of the Year at the 2025 Trille Or Awards, O'Bonsawin continues to captivate audiences with immersive live performances and the belief that music, like a garden, is meant to be shared.
Courte Bio
Mimi O’Bonsawin est une autrice-compositrice-interprète franco-ontarienne et W8banaki (Abénakise), membre de la Première Nation d’Odanak. Sa musique, à la fois influencée par ses origines autochtones et la pop acoustique, est portée par des textes sensibles, des rythmes organiques et une profonde connexion à la nature.
Accompagnée de son partenaire Ryan Schurman à la batterie et aux percussions,elle propose une performance à la fois intime et vibrante, mêlant poésie, groove et émotions sincères.
Lauréate et finaliste de nombreux prix, Mimi s’est produite en France, en Australie et à travers le Canada, séduisant les publics grâce à sa voix unique et sa présence lumineuse.
Pour Mimi, « la musique est un jardin que nous partageons ».
“Her words and approach are thoughtful, sensitive, considered and soulful, and the result is fabulous songwriting.”
- Americana UKMimi O'Bonsawin's music is hard to fit neatly into one genre, and that's what makes it special. Her sweet vocals combined with groovy rhythms, folk influences, and funky ukulele effects create a song that is completely her own.
-Deanne Gagnon at The WalleyeD'une générosité remarquable et profondément à l'écoute de son public, elle a littéralement charmé l'auditoire par musique enveloppante et le partage touchant de ses traditions
- Festival St-Zénon de PiopolisEvoke
Album Press
PR by What’s The Story/ Beth Cavanagh
Mimi O’Bonsawin and Ryan Schurman Receives SOCAN No. 1 Award for “Steady”
Steady reached No. 1 on the Indigenous Music Chart on May 18, an achievement well worth celebrating with a SOCAN No. 1 Award plaque. Indie88 FM Studio Interview & Performance with host, Lana Gay. FULL INTERVIEW
Worthy Music Video Premier on The Bluegrass Situation HERE
Album Release Day Concert at the Red Bird Live in Ottawa is Sold Out
CTV Ottawa Morning - Interview and Performance HERE
APTN News- Interview HERE
SiriusXM Indigiverse - Track By Track
& In Conversation with Kim Wheeler
Radio Canada -Les Matins D’ici ICI
AMERICANA UK - ‘Steady’ Single (2026)
NCPR- North Words: Mimi O'Bonsawin puts a groovy swing on folk music
The Intelligencer: Music Junkie
I Can Be Sure added to SiriusXM North Americana . Steady on SiriusXM Indigiverse
Pass the Time added to CBC Music After Dark with Odario Williams
“the music breathes with a sense of joy and honesty, and sounds like sunshine.”
Career Highlights
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
2026- SOLD OUT Album release day concert . Redbird Live Ottawa, ON
2026- Opened for Serena Ryder SOLD OUT at Muskoka Music Festival, ON
2026- Toronto Botanical Gardens, ON
2026- Hillside Festival, ON
2026- Mariposa Folk Festival, ON
2026- Festival en Chanson de Petite-Vallée, QC
2026- Place Laval Opening for Basia Bulat, QC
2025- Mission Folk Festival - Mission, BC
2025- Vancouver Folk Festival- Vancouver, BC
2025 - Harrison Festival of the Arts- Harrison Hot Springs, BC
2025- Midsummer Music Festival- Smithers BC
2025- Elisapie’s Le Grand Solstice - Odanak FN, Qc
2025- Les Francos de Montréal - Montréal, Qc
2025- Opening for Aysanabee (SOLD OUT) Ottawa,ON
2024 Pop Montreal Rialto Theatre Direct Support for Beverly Glenn Copeland
2024 Canada Life Center Winnipeg for National Truth and Reconciliation Week
2024 Uxbridge Music Hall / SpringTide Festival. Opening for The Good Lovelies (SOLD OUT)
2024 Festival Changez D’air - Lyon, France (And Spring France Tour 8 dates)
2024 National Art Center Fourth Stage SOLD OUT - Ottawa, ON
International
Touring
FRANCE 2023 & 2024
Notable Performances:
MaMA Convention Paris
Festival Changez D’Air
Festival Zébrures d’automne
AUSTRALIA 2024/2025
Notable Performances:
Woodford Folk Festival
Cygnet Folk Festival
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2026 - Nomination for Performing Artist of the Year at the Folk Music Ontario Awards
2026 - 4 Nominations at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards (NOMFA). Vocal Performance, Songwriter, Indigenous Artist & Music Video P8GWAS
2025 - Awarded ‘Artiste Solo’ at Trille Or 2025.
2025 - Prix Distinction Desjardin & Réseau des Grands Espaces à Contact Ontarois 2025.
2025 - 5 Nominations Prix Trille Or Artiste Solo, Album “Boréale”, Export Ontario, Auteure-Compositrice et Coup de Coeur Public.
2024- Native American Music Awards Nominee for Best Americana Recording, Best Folk Recording, Best Music Video Narrative.
2024 - Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominee for Mimi O’Bonsawin ‘Live in Concert’
2024 - Ontario Folk Music Awards Nominee for Performing Artist of the Year
2024 - Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards (NOMFA) Nominations Outstanding Album by an Indigenous Artist & Meilleur Album Francophone.
2024 - Capital Music Awards Nomiations: Solo Artist of the Year, Album of the Year ‘Boréale’, Songwriter of the Year ‘Willow’
2023 - Grammy Consideration for Best Regional Roots Album “Willow”
2023 - Nominated Solo Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Music Video of the year at Capital Music Awards.
2023 - Trille Or Awards WINNER Fiddleheads & Ferns-Best Folk/Country/Trad Album of the year
2020 - Nominated Best EP & Best New Artist at TRILLE OR AWARDS
2019 - Awarded Best Pop Album at INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS
2017 - Nominated Best Music Video for Beautiful Place at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards (NOMFA)
2017 - Nominated Best Songwriter at Toronto Independent Music Awards
2017 - Awarded Best Music Video for HOW LONG at Toronto Independent Music Awards
2015- Nominated Best Songwriter at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards (NOMFA)