Ken Yates

Ken Yates

singer_songwriter

About

Ontario-born indie-folk artist Ken Yates has a penchant for saying what the rest of us are thinking. Cerulean, his latest album, finds Yates at his darkest and most vulnerable - "the worst pain comes with no bleeding" he writes - as he explores the complicated reality of navigating the world through half-clenched teeth. Yates' "earworms of sadness" have gained him a new legion of fans, who have shared numerous fan covers on social media and helped spur a dedicated surge of audience growth. The new album found great success at streaming, where songs were shared on playlists including "Your Favorite Coffeehouse," "Infinite Indie-Folk", "Fresh Folk," and more. Guest vocalists Tiny Habits, Kathleen Edwards, Katie Pruitt, and Stephanie Lambring lent their talents to the new songs, produced by Ottawa's Jim Bryson. With praise in FLOOD, Atwood Magazine, NPR Music Live Sessions, and two Canadian Folk Music Awards under his belt, Yates has expanded his touring in recent years, supporting acclaimed artists including Passenger, Kathleen Edwards, and Stu Larsen, as he brings his "lyrical vessel of yearning and emotional reckoning" (FLOOD) on the road.

Upcoming events

  • Wolfe Island Music Festival Weekend Pass
    Wolfe Island Music Festival Weekend Pass
    St. Margaret’s Hall
    Fri 07.08.2026 17:30
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  • Kathleen Edwards
    Kathleen Edwards
    Massey Hall
    Fri 18.09.2026 20:00
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  • Kathleen Edwards
    Kathleen Edwards
    HISTORY Ottawa
    Sat 19.09.2026 19:00
    View event
  • Medium Build Presents The King of Having Fun on Tour
    Medium Build Presents The King of Having Fun on Tour
    9:30 Club
    Sun 04.10.2026 19:00
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  • Medium Build - The King of Having Fun on Tour with Ken Yates
    Medium Build - The King of Having Fun on Tour with Ken Yates
    Mr Smalls Theatre
    Mon 05.10.2026 20:00
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  • Medium Build Presents The King of Having Fun on Tour
    Medium Build Presents The King of Having Fun on Tour
    Theatre of Living Arts
    Tue 06.10.2026 20:00
    View event