Rising Sun Artists

Eagle & Hawk

“North America's most celebrated Indigenous music group.” — CBC

Eagle & Hawk is a Canadian roots rock band founded in 1995 by Winnipeg, Manitoba-based guitarist Vince Fontaine and former CFL all-star Troy Westwood.

With milestones, such as Canada Day on Parliament Hill and nationally-televised performances, Eagle & Hawk has deep roots in Canada’s musical history. Their journey has taken the band from its beginnings in Winnipeg to American, Canadian and European capitals and on to more than 12 European tours. Blending their inspired vision with phenomenal stage energy and musicianship, Eagle & Hawk’s progressive style of rock, roots and solid songwriting has earned them fans and worldwide praise. The band's lyrical ability brings exceptional depth to their sound with hits shedding light on the universal human experience and life seen through an Indigenous lens.

Widely considered the most celebrated Indigenous music group, Eagle & Hawk's engaging style continues to impress music industry veterans and fans alike with the band receiving, to date, 75 nominations and more than 30 wins at awards ceremonies across North America including a JUNO Award, Western Canadian Music Awards, 10 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, three Native American Music Awards, six Indian Summer Music Awards, and nine Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards.

In November 2019, Eagle & Hawk released “Liberty,” the band’s ninth studio album. The seven-track album took a pointed look at topics and issues front and centre in today’s world. Lyrics on the album highlighted the rise and presence of women in society, the great divide, and other universal questions of the contemporary human experience. These themes, which were visually expressed in a series of music videos, resonated and captured international public and media attention in 2020-2021. In particular, the music video that featured “Sundancer 21” — the band’s most well-known song — honoured frontline and essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The song, with lead vocals by original Eagle & Hawk band member Lawrence (Spatch) Mulhall, reached #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown in May 2021.

In 2020, Fontaine wrote and co-directed with Andrew Wall of Refuge 31 Films “Eagle & Hawk Take the Stage,” a half-hour award-winning documentary produced in association with CBC. The documentary, which aired on national television, showcased Eagle & Hawk’s rise to fame and enthusiastic, widespread international renown. It’s currently on the international film festival circuit, where it continues to dazzle audiences with the inspirational story and musical journey of this legendary band.

With their more than 25-year story continuing to unfold and always with a focus on the pulse of Mother Earth, Eagle & Hawk remains at the forefront of the Indigenous music world. Seen by millions worldwide, Eagle & Hawk has joined the ranks as one of the longest-running success stories in Canadian music history. In 2021, Eagle & Hawk is poised and ready to carry on its legacy under Fontaine’s inspired direction and vision.