$10
door cover
Performance will take place in the Marigold lobby
Blending authentic songwriting with modern indie flare, Braden Lam is forging the path to a new 21st century sound. The young artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia meets the moment on The Cloudmaker’s Cry, his debut album that makes good on the promise of this folk wunderkind, with music reminiscent of a bygone era set to lyrics pulsing with the urgency and anxiety of today.
Over the last few years, Lam has earned a reputation as a compelling songwriter and performer, leading to multiple award nominations and industry recognition while earning praise from Billboard, Exclaim! and Range Magazine. His recent single Beautiful Neighbourhoods climbed to #7 on the CBC Top 20 chart and was named in the top songs of 2024 by CBC Music.
As a performer, Lam pushes his voice to emotional depths, unravelling stories of love, longing, and life’s quiet reckonings onstage, which has captivated audiences around the world including The Great Escape Festival in England, Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival, in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and across Canada. Whether playing intimate solo sets or backed by a full band, his shows are marked by a deep connection with listeners, creating an equally introspective and electrifying experience.
Produced in Toronto by Eli Browning (Spencer Krug, Sister Ray) and mixed by Braden Sauder (Luna Li, The Kount), The Cloudmaker’s Cry marks a shift for Lam, who previously built his sound across Atlantic Canada’s folk scene. Here, he leans into the spirit of the ‘60s and ‘70s—blending pedal steel swells, crisp acoustic textures, and analog warmth into something both classic and immediate. Recorded through a city springtime in a converted church studio, the album features instrumentation from Matt Kelly (City & Colour), John Sponarski (Johnny 99, City & Colour), Lauren Dillen (Burs), and more.
After moving in together in 2021, three best friends discovered their new home was a century-old schoolhouse — a place that not only inspired their name but became the creative heart of their sound. Since then, School House has quickly become one of Canada’s most talked-about emerging folk acts.
Fresh off their November 2025 tour dates opening for legendary Canadian group The Strumbellas, the band has also shared the stage with Canadian East Coast icon Alan Doyle, earned Group of the Year at the 2024 Ottawa Music Awards, and saw their debut release crowned Album of the Year by Faces Magazine. Their momentum continued with a standout win at the 2024 Mariposa Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase — where they were celebrated as “fan favourites” — and in 2025, they solidified their rising star status by winning the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase.
Rooted in campfire beginnings, their music blends three-part harmonies, heartfelt folk ballads, and uplifting sing-alongs, offering a wise yet youthful voice in the Canadian music landscape. Following their debut album in 2023 and Acoustic EP in 2024, School House is gearing up to release their highly anticipated sophomore album “Homeland”, which is set to be released at the end of February 2026.