About the Band

Gasper is a four piece Canadian rock band based in Ottawa. Drawing from shared experiences in 2000s rural Nova Scotian culture, Gasper developed their sound and identity playing late night shows in maritime pubs.  They have released a string of well-received DIY projects, gaining over 80,000 streams on Spotify. In 2026, the band relocated to Ottawa. 

Gasper members Hayden Payson (Lead singer & rhythm guitar), Blair Brown (Bass guitar), and Sam Elgee (Lead guitar & backing singer) began playing music together live at the age of 14, covering popular 60s music for crowds in Cafes, hotels, and markets in Truro, Nova Scotia with drummer Ty MacEachern. They are named after Gasper Cross, a walking bridge over train tracks they would often frequent nearby to Sam and Blair’s childhood homes.

Upon reaching the age of 19, the band began to play in bars and developed a sizable following in Truro. They attained success in the university town of Antigonish in 2024, selling out 500+ capacity rooms regularly, eventually playing the graduation show of St. Francis Xavier University in 2025. Gasper released its self-recorded and produced demo record, Family Jewels, in 2025, and collaborated with producer Mike Trask on their second demo tape, Gasper 83, in the same year. In May 2026, Gasper relocated to Ottawa, Ontario, to reunite with guitarist Sam Elgee, and added Ottawa-native drummer Quinn Beneteau. The band continues to focus on performing potent and entertaining live shows, and producing quality music.