The Joy, Brendan McLeod

How does a baby react to hearing Whitney Houston for the first time? Beethoven? Metallica? JUNO-nominated musician Brendan McLeod takes you on a funny, heartfelt journey through his newborn daughter’s reactions to the first 500 songs of her life. Blending music, storytelling, and humor, The Joy explores how we experience sound, how music connects us, and how rocking your baby to sleep is like drumming. This touching and entertaining show is a tribute to music, family, and all the emotions that stir within us when we truly listen. Best known to Victoria audiences as the creator of BRAIN (Best Male Performance, Victoria Fringe, 2015), RIDGE (Virtual Pick of the FrInge, 2020) and TEN THOUSAND THINGS (Intrepid Incoming Festival, 2025), Brendan McLeod is the former Canadian SLAM champ and the founder of 7 X Canadian Folk Music nominated group The Fugitives. “The Joy is a truly superb reflection on the essential role that music plays throughout the duration of our lives — from before birth into adulthood and beyond. When engagement in and access to music and the arts may be considered a frill, a luxury, or even inconsequential, this carefully crafted exploration of music and meaning in our lives is a must see.” – Ardelle Ries, Music Professor, University of Alberta Credits Created by – Brendan McLeod Written by – Brendan McLeod About the Artist Brendan McLeod is a writer, theatre creator, and musician. He’s the author of a poetry collection, Friends Without Bodies, a novel, The Convictions of Leonard McKinley, and seven theatre shows, including Ridge, his award-winning musical on the Battle of Vimy, and Brain, his comedic monologue on consciousness. His music group The Fugitives has been nominated for a JUNO, as well as multiple Canadian Folk Music and Western Canada Music Awards, including Best Roots Group, Best Songwriter, and Best Vocal Group. He was the Poet of Honour at the 2012 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and the 2015 Victoria Spoken Word Festival. https://brendanmcleod.ca Accessibility Content warnings: None. Sensory warnings: None. Know before you go, learn about this venue with our Venue Guide. For more accessibility information see the Accessibility at the Fringe page on our website.