Exploring some of those transitional, hard-to-put-your-finger-on moments in life, Soft Animals will transport you with their blend of original melody-infused tunes with a distinctive progressive folk sound.
Soft Animals is the musical project of Sean Aileen, Iain Ellis, Graham Morley, and Jordan Phelan. With songs written by singer-songwriter Sean Aileen over the last three years, the band’s music attempts to capture the transitional and hard-to-put-your-finger-on moments of life. The band continues to flesh out an ever evolving sound with its elements of ethereal progressive folk. With a mix of seasoned musicians, theatre veterans, and good friends, Soft Animals aims to create musical experiences that connect audiences in an intimate and more deeply felt human way.
Festival Launch Event Schedule:
Sean Aileen: Vocals, Guitar
Iain Ellis: Vocals, Guitar
Jordan Phelan: Bass
Graham Morley: Drums
Sean Aileen McClelland is a singer-songwriter, theatre creator, and teaching artist from St. Catharines, Ontario. A graduate of Brock University’s Dramatic Arts Program and École Internationale de Théatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, Sean has performed, created, and trained professionally with companies within Canada and abroad for the past 10 years. Since the pandemic, Sean has dove headfirst into the world of songwriting and is interested in further exploring and connecting the worlds of movement and sound. Sean strives to use her skills to bring more empathy, imagination, and embodied play into our ever-changing world and hopes to continue creating connected experiences within communities near and far.
Iain Ellis Lidstone is a queer, trans-masculine, non-binary multi-disciplinary artist, performer, storyteller, musician, and activist from St. Catharines (on the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, and Neutral peoples). They are interested in exploring and envisioning new futures, and new ways of being through a trans-feminist lens. In particular, unpacking and understanding personal and collective trauma to masculinity, and how trans and non-binary identities offer new ways forward. They are the vocalist and guitarist of the band SAINT STONE, winning the 2020 Pride Niagara Johnathon Crawford Award for their community involvement in the arts. They were a core member of St. Catharines-based physical theatre ensemble Twitches & Itches for five years, during which they accepted the 2017 Best Emerging Artist Award of the city of St. Catharines.
Graham Morley is a drummer and multi-percussionist who has over two decades of experience playing and performing locally in the Niagara music scene and beyond. In that time, he has been honing his own authentic sound; fusing Jazz, Funk, Rock and World music while continuing to challenge himself and broaden his perspectives along the way. A versatile player who can adapt to any setting, Graham aims to captivate audiences with his deep passion for music.
Jordan Phelan is a bassist and producer who has been an active member in the Niagara music scene for nearly 20 years. He studied music at Humber college with a focus on jazz performance, and currently teaches privately at Long & McQuade. Jordan has performed with a variety of original Niagara artists including Joe Lapinski and Fat Moth, and is looking forward to the release of a debut EP with new band Aeronaut.
Access with Festival Pass, Pick 6 Pass, Music Series Pass, or single event ticket.
