Salt Beef Junkies

The Salt Beef Junkies are three dynamic young musicians dedicated to preserving and energizing traditional Irish-Newfoundland music. Known for their lively, infectious tunes, they’ve built a strong local and international following. The band features Luke Mercer on accordion, guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Ty Simms on guitar, banjo, bass, and vocals; and Alex Mercer on vocals and bodhran.

Since forming in 2019, they’ve performed extensively across Canada and Ireland at festivals, venues, and events, including a feature on HGTV’s “Rock Solid Builds.” Their 2024 debut album, Somewhere in Between, earned critical acclaim with nominations for Celtic/Traditional Group of the Year at the 2024 Music NL Awards, Youth Performer of the Year at the 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and the 2025 ArtsNL Emerging Artist of the Year. In August 2025, they showcased their talents at Ireland’s Fleadh Cheoil festival in Dublin and Wexford, which attracts over 850,000 attendees.

Building on their momentum, they released three new singles in 2025, leading to another Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination in 2026 and expanding their global streaming audience.

Committed to community impact, the Salt Beef Junkies regularly perform at fundraisers and non-profit events. Their leadership and volunteer efforts earned them the Quinn Rockstar Award, recognizing outstanding youth contribution and community service.