It is with great excitement that we invite you to join us for the
Hydra Fest Weekender!
The Hydra fest weekender marks a significant moment: a revival of creative gathering, and, at the same time, the final days of The Effie Arts Collective theater space which has hosted the festival in years past and served as an intimate home for so many performances, collaborations, and artistic memories.
Come enjoy the interdisciplinary acts that make up this special edition showcase and to also peak your interest in the larger Hydra Performing Arts festival being planned for later this year.
The audience waits patiently for Tamarack House Productions' 'Sumthing' to start, Hydra Festival 2022
The When:
April 23, 2026 - Artist meet and greet
FRIDAY EARLY SHOW
Friday April 24, 2026
Doors 6:00pm Show 6:30pm
MINORS ALLOWED ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT
Featuring: Julien Marcano, Sarah Doan, Chris Bose,
Jeremy Gutoski, The Dream Agency, Brad Finnen, Spiegel Im Spiegel
FRIDAY LATE SHOW
Friday April 24, 2026
19+ NO MINORS ALLOWED
Featuring: Alex Hobson, Thom Vernon,
Kate Belton, The Kwote, The Soundwriters,
Half-Cut Conspiracies, and Kamloops Burlesque
SATURDAY SHOWCASE
April 25, 2026
Doors 6:00pm Show 6:30pm
16+ PARENTAL GUIDANCE STRONG ADULT THEMES
Featuring: Matt Baker, Amanda Rose,
Pâte à Crêpes, Lia Bennet, Humphrey Cockburn,
Bill McLean, Gene Debender, Joey Commisso,
Freudian Slips Improv, Rob Wikstrom
The Where:
The Effie Arts Collective - 422 Tranquille Rd
Peter "nav" Navratil - One of many festival
appearances
TJ McCallum and Brendan Law of the Freudian Slips (left) as guests on the award-winning 'Tonight's the Night with Zorblax, Destroyer of Worlds', Hydra Festival 2019
Paul Rancourt, Kennedy Crane, and Nich Gulycz take a bow after a rousing performance of 'Brothers', Hydra Festival 2019
Julien Marcano will be your host for the evening
Julien is a young up & coming comic bringing you a special flavour of comedy you can only find in the stress & caffeine fueled mind of your local adolescent.
ACT 1 - Sarah Doan - LIVE MUSIC
Sarah Doan is a local artist with music that has been released across all platforms. She writes all her own songs, & doesn't have one genre that defines all her work. She is excited to share her music with you!
ACT 2 - Spiegel im Spiegel - piano & meditative dance
Daniela, Jyelle, & Vanessa are experimental artists from diverse zones of the Kamloops arts scene whose practices intermittently collide when their creative forces align on small stages.
ACT 3 - Jeremy Gutoski - Saxophone
Jeremy started playing music during covid, playing in parks,
moved on to open mics & now plays 40 plus shows a year.
15 minute Intermission
ACT 4 - The Dream Agency - Paranormal THEATRE
The Dream Agency is an art collective that believes in you! Creating magic since 2017 they use tools of love, hope, peace, family, trust, belief, & courage to bring the unknown to life.
ACT 5 - Chris Bose - Music & Spoken Word
Chris has been a touring performing musician since 1986. Inspired by Tom Waits & Leonard Cohen, his gritty acoustic performances reflect his influences but also carves a new path.
ACT 6 - Brad Finnen - Magic
FOR BRAD FINNEN AKA THAT CANADIAN MAGICIAN, kamloops is where the magic happens
alex hobson will be your host for the evening
Alex Hobson is a stand up comedian based in the Interior of British Columbia. He shares a fun & energetic approach to comedy. He has been seen by millions on Kill Tony, & in person at comedy clubs & coffee shops throughout Canada.
ACT 1 - Thom Vernon & Sean Luciw - READING/music
thom vernon is a writer, & academic. His whole things is getting curious about sites of harm (failure, stigma) & transmuting them into sites of creative and critical agency & connection.
ACT 2 - Kate Belton - Standup Comedy
Kate Belton is a standup comedian known for her sweet, silly & often spicy stage presence. She produces a monthly comedy show aptly named “Silly Sally” in Kelowna Kate’s comedy can be heard on Spotify, the CBC LOL Podcast &/or at a small town legion near you
ACt 3 - 6cell Ent: The Kwote - hip hop
Cody the kwote is a well rounded artist of all kinds. His linage comes from Bella Bella BC &
the heiltsuk nation. For 15+ years he has been active in the local hip hop scene here in Kamloops.
15 MINUTE Intermission
ACT 4 - The Soundwriters - LIVE Music
Sam & Emma arE an indie-pop duo from Kamloops, BC! THEIR first full-length album, “Better Than Before” came out in September 2025. Many of THEIR songs touch on the joy of falling in love, the complexity of growing up, & the challenges of finding yourself.
act 5 - HALF - Cut Conspiracies: LIVE PODCAST
Todd Sullivan & Carlo Sia enjoy conspiracy theories & alcohol, especially when combined
ACT 6 - Kamloops Burlesque: Between Sin & Salvation
135 shows later, Kamloops Burlesque still refuses to behave. Since 2010, they’ve been crafting bold, subversive, & delightfully offbeat performance - celebrating accessibility, uplifting marginalized voices, & proving that great art doesn’t have to play nice.
MATT BAKER & AMANDA ROSE will be your hosts for the evening
Your goofy guide to laughter, Matt Baker’s comedic style is light hearted, observant & seriously silly. Matt's writing & delivery will have you laughing& giggling throughout the evening!
Amanda Rose is a strong, budding comedian with a quick wit & a bubbly demeanour. she will keep you entertained with relatable tales chock-full of charm & wordplay.
ACT 1 - Lia Bennett - live Music
Lia Bennett is a trans singer, guitarist, & songwriter.
act 2 - Gene Debender - DRAG
Gene Debender, the bedazzled androgynous king, is fresh on the Kamloops Drag scene. He is reminding you that we can all be heroes by being our most authentic, shining selves. He will lip sync the night away while leaving a trail of sparkles & yearning hearts.
act 3 - Humphrey Cockburn & Beau Sardonik - theatre
Glenn Hilke AKA HUMPHREY COCKBURN is a Performance Artist & a regular Kamloops Burlesque Performer. Bill McLean - AKA Beau Sardonik is a singer, dancer, actor & general oddball performer.
act 4 - Frere et Soeur - comedic cooking
Brother sister duo has plans to make crepes on stage in the hopes of feeding their souls
& perhaps yours too? These clowns live in town... and want to practice their french!
20 minute Intermission
act 5 - Rob Wikstrom - Music/Comedy
ROb was almost switched at birth which his dad says is the biggest mistake he ever made. But He’s proving his dad wrong by being in the arts! ROB plays sad songs & fumbles his way through stage banter in between them.
act 6 - Humphrey Cockburn & Gene Debender - theatre
Humphrey Cockburn has been performing for 50 years touring shows in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, New York City, Boston, Wash DC & Atlanta. He also volunteers in support of the unhoused (homeless) community.
Gene Debender is inspired by 70s-90s pop & rock. He is serving pure Bowie at the Hydra Fest this weekend.
act 7 - The Freudian Slips - Wombo Combo Improv
Chimera Theatre's The Freudian Slips are Kamloops bestest Improv team.
act 8 - Kayly erno and Aaron shufletoski - Goodbye
THE co-owners of the effie will leave you with one last message: so long & thanks for all the fun!