HONEYBEAR ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

Date: Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

Doors: 7PM

Show Wrap-Up: 10PM

19+

 

Outline:

Honeybear (Vancouver, BC) is a vintage inspired soul, blues & roots quartet, taking you on an old school road trip through the dusty back roads of American music. As music blog “B- Side Guys” puts it “It’s as if The Teskey Brothers decided to collaborate with the ghost of Muddy Waters”. While Honeybear is a relatively new band formed in 2023, the 4 band members are old friends and have been playing together in other formations for well over 20 years, crossing paths on tours across Canada, down the West Coast, and beyond. As individual performers, they’ve played at most major Folk, Jazz/Blues festivals in Canada. When the pandemic struck and live music was at a standstill, the 4 friends found themselves jamming outdoors in parks, with amps and PA’s hooked up to jerry rigged motorcycle batteries, just to bask in the joy that is playing live music with like minded souls. Necessity is the mother of invention, etc. The rest is history.

Their debut album “I Was Wrong“, self released in June 2025 on their own Playmor label, has received over 8 Million streams on Spotify and have been featured on official Spotify editorial playlists like Retro Soul, Got blues and Best Blues of 2025. The band is also receiving airplay on CBC, NPR, CKUA and other indie/co-op radio stations across the globe.

The band is fast becoming a festival favorite with appearances at Rifflandia, Barnside Harvest Fest, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Calgary Blues Fest, Kitchener Blues Fest, Harmony Arts, Wapiti, Starbelly and many more, as well as recent sold out club shows at some of our favorite dive bars in the country, like The Horseshoe in Toronto, the Rainbow in Ottawa and the Ironwood in Calgary.Honeybear has been recently nominated for a Blues Music Award from the Memphis based Blues Foundation, WCMA “Blues Artist of the Year”, as well as being included in the Vancouver Sun’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2026”. The band was also named Roots Music Canada’s “New Discovery of the Year”.Fun fact: Keyboard player Mike Kenney has the distinction of playing more sold out shows at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena than any other musician – as the organ player for the Vancouver Canucks!Emmett Jerome is happy to let the music do the talking; that’s why this singer-songwriter is unapologetic in his pursuit to bring authenticity and grit to his music. With a soulful, weathered voice and honky-tonk guitar chops, it’s clear Jerome has spent time ample at the crossroads of country and rock crafting his unique sound.Starting his career as a busker on the street corners of Vancouver, Canada, he quickly found his into the rough and tumble life of a travelling band. His first record ‘Rocky Mountain Son’ (2024) is a continuation of the troubadour tradition, with acoustic ballads of heartache, life on the road, and anthems to a sense of place. His latest release ‘It Ain’t Me’ (2025) is far more expansive in its influences from heartland Americana. It draws deep from the well of classics, and emerges as a record reminiscent of a Springsteen B side or forgotten Bob Dylan outtake.

To witness a live show is to experience a precocious musician whose art is the sharing of truth and lived experience.

Entry Requirements: All patrons must be 19 years of age or older with two pieces of valid ID (one of which must be government issued with a photograph). We do not allow gang or fight related apparel. We are members of the BarWatch program, so entry may be denied due to previous incidents at our or other participating venues.