Award-Winning Young Canadian Artist Brings Her Magnetic Live Show to Port Hope
PORT HOPE, ON — SONG, with presenting sponsor Kawartha Metals, is thrilled to announce acclaimed young Canadian artist Mary Frances as the featured artist for SONG’s sixth annual Headliner Concert at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope on October 10, 2026.
This year’s Headliner may be the most exciting yet.
At only 20 years old, Mary Frances is rapidly becoming one of Canada’s most compelling young performers. A 2025 Canadian Folk Music Award Young Performer winner, she has already performed more than 650 live shows, appeared at major festivals across Canada and internationally, and is growing a dedicated online audience with social media content attracting hundreds of thousands — and even millions — of views.
From the celebrated MacMaster–Leahy family, Mary Frances grew up immersed in music, dance, and storytelling. For SONG, that story reflects many of the values the organization hopes to foster in Northumberland: music woven into everyday life, families creating together, and young people finding confidence through artistic expression.
A fiddler, pianist, composer, and step dancer, Mary Frances blends Celtic, jazz, and Latin influences into a sound that feels joyful, fresh, and utterly magnetic. Her debut solo album First Light earned critical acclaim and the 2024 Cape Breton Tourism Award, cementing what audiences quickly recognize: dazzling musicianship paired with an unmistakable artistic voice.
But beyond the accolades, Mary Frances has something harder to teach: a rare ability to light up a room. Her performances are energetic, intimate, and filled with the kind of joy that leaves audiences grinning long after the final encore.
“Part of what makes Mary Frances so exciting is that audiences are witnessing an artist with enormous talent and a truly unique voice,” says Miles Bowman, Executive Director of SONG. “Her performances are filled with joy, energy, and connection — exactly the kind of experience we love bringing to Northumberland audiences.”
For SONG, the concert is also a celebration of the next generation of Canadian artistry and the role rural communities can play in nurturing culture close to home.
All concert proceeds support SONG’s music programs for youth across Northumberland.
Tickets available through the Capitol Theatre Box Office: [LINK]
🎟️ Students: $35
🎟️ Adults: $50
Mary Frances is available for interviews with the media.
SONG Executive Director Miles Bowman is available for interviews regarding this concert and other upcoming initiatives.
SONG extends special thanks to venue sponsor the Capitol Theatre for its continued commitment to arts and culture in Northumberland.