Shanty Sweets and the Top Ranking Band

What can the audience expect from hiring Shanty Sweets?

An immersive, high-energy Caribbean festival experience curated by an award-winning artist alongside her sophisticated musicians/Dj. Accommodating crowds for small intimate events to hosting 200+ attendees, we deliver a dynamic showcase that blends live musicianship with non-stop entertainment. As a cornerstone of Canada’s music landscape, I provide a premium, deeply soulful musical experience that bridges generations, genres, and eras.

Shanty Sweets and her team offers 3 Distinct Performance Acts Tailored to Your Venue, Staging, and Budget:

Act 1: The Jazz & Ska-Fusion Band

The Lineup: live ensemble featuring lead vocals, bass, keys, drums, a backing vocalist, and a dynamic horn section.

The Vibe: Classic jazz standards ('Misty', 'All of Me', 'My Blue Heaven') inspired by Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald, seamlessly fused with upbeat, vintage ska rhythms (Toots and The Maytals, Amy Winehouse).

Act 2: The Top Ranking (Reggae & Ska Band)

The Lineup: Premium, powerhouse 6-piece live band delivering an infectious, festival-grade main-stage performance.

The Vibe: Award-winning original music alongside iconic covers of reggae royalty (Bob Marley, Phyllis Dillon, Dennis Brown). Also features our signature reggae flips of classic jazz and neo-soul hits (Erykah Badu, Sade, Jill Scott, (link hidden)ie).

Act 3: Shanty Sweets & DJ Black Heart iNiVERSAL (Duet Act)

The Lineup: A compact, high-energy sound system showcase featuring live vocals alongside a professional live DJ.

The Vibe: A powerful, continuous island soundscape perfectly optimized for streamlined budgets, limited staging, or closer crowd interactions.

What Every Client Gets:
Main-Stage expertise, Veteran festival performers experienced in commanding massive corporate crowds, intimate art galleries, and major outdoor stages.

Turnkey Production: We can arrive fully self-contained with our own professional PA sound system, microphones, and DJ gear to take all logistical stress off the event planner.

Polished Professionalism:
Elegantly presented, and highly adaptable to your venue’s specific timeline and layout constraints.

Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist Shanty Sweets is an eclectic singer, composer, and DJ/"Selectress" whose sound is a rich tapestry serving a bridge between generations and eras of Roots-Reggae, Ska and Jazz.

Influenced by the timeless poise of Phyllis Dillon, the neo-soul depths of Erykah Badu and the haunting phrasing of Billie Holiday, Shanty has spent over two decades mesmerizing audiences with her sweet and soulful sound.

Shanty Sweets has graced iconic stages from the Art Gallery Of Ontario, The Royal Botanical Gardens to Yonge- Dundas Square performing at the T.U. Jazz Fest, Rastafest, Sistahfest and many others, earning the Reggae Xclusive Canada Top 5 Performer award in 2024.

Her 2025 single “Grey Roses”- A Tribute to the Legendary Sly and Robbie - captured the #1 spot on the Starliners, Canadian Reggae Music Charts, with the personal endorsement of the late Sly Dunbar. Her Fall 2022 single, "Let it Burn," earned widespread acclaim for its hard-hitting rhythm, sharp songwriting, and timely message. The track resonated across the scene, showcasing Shanty’s ability to pair powerful reggae grooves with lyrics that truly matter. With her highly anticipated LP on the way, Shanty continues to push the boundaries of her sound.

Whether she’s fronting her band, the “Top Ranking”, performing alongside DJ Black Heart iNiVERSAL, or spinning tracks on the iconic "Reggae Riddims" program with host Patrick Roots (CIUT 89.5 FM), Shanty is a cornerstone of Canada’s Caribbean-Jazz and Reggae landscape. A staple on major festival stages, she continues to shape the scene as both a vital artist and a cultural architect.

Technical requirements varies depending on events and acts.