OUR STORY
We're a steel string band in a steel city
a short history
Wreckless Harbour is an indie folk band from Hamilton, Canada, blending the timeless warmth of acoustic string band instrumentation and four-part vocal harmonies with the energy and edge of contemporary indie folk. At the heart of their music is a dedication to melodious and narrative songwriting that honours folk traditions while speaking directly to the experiences of today’s audiences.
Wreckless Harbour formed in the summer of 2021 when Trevor Roach, Lawren Helder, and Jon Harley met at a uniquely socially-distanced open mic event that involved musicians performing on a raft at Bayfront Park. After the sun set and the event had closed for the evening, Trevor led an impromptu jam session on the beach sparking an instant creative bond for the trio. That same night, Trevor was inspired to write "Step Lightly," the group’s first song. The band, initially called the "no name folk band," solidified their lineup with the addition of Mark Korczynski, officially becoming Wreckless Harbour.
Trevor, who grew up on bluegrass festivals around his family’s home in Cape Breton, contributed the band’s first songs that established their emerging identity as a steel string folk band in a steel city. Lawren and Jon soon added their own contributions, blending influences from folk and indie rock to expand the band’s distinctive sound.
By the summer of 2022, Wreckless Harbour had built a full set of original songs and made their debut at the Dundas Cactus Festival. Since then, they have become regular performers in Hamilton and surrounding areas. Wreckless Harbour has performed across Ontario and beyond, recreating the intimacy of traditional acoustic gatherings while tailoring their performances for modern stages. Their live shows spotlight the intimacy of singing around a single microphone, creating a communal experience that is both deeply personal and vibrantly contemporary.
Wreckless Harbour recorded their debut album, Step Lightly, with producer Steven Branchaud of Canary Minor Music. Released in two digital EPs—Side A (November 2024) and Side B (May 2025)—the project culminates in a full album release in June 2026.
Following their selection from the 2026 Emerging Artists Showcase for the Mariposa Folk Festival, the band is poised for a breakout year. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s growing music scene, Wreckless Harbour continues to grow their audience while establishing their place in the Canadian folk music community and beyond.
Photo credit: Jared Helder
Band Members
Trevor Roach
Vocals / Banjo / Guitar / Mandolin
Trevor grew up on bluegrass festivals and trips along the east coast to his family's home in Cape Breton. Picking up a guitar at 18 felt natural and the banjo and mandolin came soon after. From front-manning vocals in his first band, The Letter 4, to collaborating with his family band, Kitchen Full of Roaches, Trevor naturally dove into songwriting. Trevor's "Gold" and "Step Lightly" are the first songs that brought Wreckless Harbour together as a band. Trevor's songwriting has been the driving influence for the band's sound to be rooted in traditional bluegrass styles, but also for the band's generation of original songs. The band's repertoire now features songs written by Lawr and Jon, but Trevor's contributions have been primarily responsible for the band's evolution of sound and style.
Photo credit: Don Gleeson
Lawren Helder
vocals/ guitar / banjo / mandolin
Raised on the likes of Fred Penner, Neil Young and the Rankin Family, some of Lawr's earliest memories include belting out Down by the Bay with a plastic toy guitar, and assembling a drum kit from the best sounding Tupperware bins. After a few years of piano lessons, Lawr found his true love, the guitar. Over the years Lawr has taken deep dives into many genres, from classic rock to synthwave, shoegaze to techno, but acoustic music has always felt like home, and Wreckless Harbour has rekindled that love. These days he's developed a clawhammer banjo habit that borders on unhealthy - we're considering an intervention.
Photo credit: Don Gleeson
Mark Korczynski
Vocals / Electric bass / Guitar / Mandolin
Mark fell in love with music at a young age. He began to play guitar at 9 and picked up the bass for the first time at 14 in music class. Soon after Mark was playing and singing in the high school jazz band and began teaching himself the drums. A career ending injury led Mark back to music after a brief hiatus to be a member of Western university’s football team. Mark and Jon met playing in a local band (Strathcona) in 2018 and have been making music together ever since. From jazz to grunge, Mark’s musical taste is only matched by his encyclopedic knowledge.
Mark also hosts the The Big Mark Podcast - released weekly covering a variety of topics from music to sports.
Photo credit: Don Gleeson
J.J. Harley
Vocals / Violin / Guitar / Mandolin
Jon trained in the Suzuki method for violin from the age of six. From an early age, Jon’s musical interests extended beyond classical influences which motivated him to explore non-classical sounds with the violin. Jon's influences in non-classical violin playing and songwriting came primarily from indie and alternative rock figures; such as Andrew Bird, Kishi Bashi, Owen Pallet, Sophie Trudeau, and Warren Ellis.
Outside of musicianship, Jon is a social worker and psychotherapist. Jon is also an avid practitioner of yoga.
Photo credit: Don Gleeson