For Mimi O’Bonsawin, defining her sound goes far beyond genre. She invites listeners into her woodland world, leading them through gardens, celebrating the joy of growing food and living in relationship with the land, and revealing how those passions bloom into song. Those inspirations are at the heart of Evoke, her new studio album, due August 28, 2026.

An award-winning alt-folk singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario, Mimi O’Bonsawin is French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation. Her music blends folk traditions, playful experimentation, and heartfelt storytelling into a sound that feels entirely her own.

Evoke features ten richly textured songs, from vibrant instrumentals like "Blueberry Jam" featuring OKAN, to collaborations such as "Better Than Before” with The Pairs, alongside deeply personal works including "Pass the Time" and "Steady." The latter reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and was praised by AmericanaUK as "so heartfelt and disarmingly emotive that the feeling remains with you long after listening."

Creating Evoke became an act of empowerment, allowing O’Bonsawin to leave behind people-pleasing and embrace the music that she really loves to make alongside her favourite collaborator and person: her husband, drummer, and co-producer Ryan Schurman.

“In a time when AI and social media seem to be taking over the creative process, making a record like this feels like an act of resistance, and I love that. We’ve spent the last three years touring and honing our craft on stage, my favourite place to be. I wanted to bring all the good medicine people give us at shows into this album and let it fuel the fire that makes it a living piece of art.”

As both artist and gardener, O’Bonsawin sees the two practices as inseparable.

“Making music and growing food are very much the same. They both start with a seed and, with proper care, can grow into a beautiful garden that we all can share. I put intention and love into every seed and every note.”

As her audience continues to grow across Canada and around the world, O’Bonsawin remains guided by a simple philosophy:

“I want to invite audiences into my world because, for me, music is medicine. It’s not mine, it’s not yours alone. Music is something we all share. It is our garden.”

https://www.mimi.ca/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Mia Kelly’s new album is so full of life, energy and fun. Mia shares many aspects of her creative process – “the emotional rollercoaster”, that resulted in this very evocative new set of songs. Continuing on her Canada wide tour, Mia took the time to talk to Backstage Pass in this refreshing, lively conversation.
Bio: Mia Kelly is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec. Kelly is ready to release her third full-length album, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling (May 2026). For the new collection, she ventured to acclaimed producer Connor Seidel's (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Leif Vollebekk) studio, The Treehouse, in Sainte-Adèle, QC. "This is my most joyful album to date," shares Kelly. “I was so excited to have the chance to work with Connor and see where the new songs would take me.” As snowstorms battered the surrounding landscape, Kelly embraced the studio’s cozy isolation, living out of her van just steps away while bringing the record to life. Featuring 11 original songs, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling celebrates all the juicy good bits of life: falling in love (title track), community (“Coin in the Cake”), dreams (“Strange Cocoon”), friendships, and creativity. The album also reckons with systemic inequality (“Blind Horse”), and deep grief (“Salish Sea”, “Medicine”, “Le vent qui m’enmmènera”). Throughout, Kelly digs deeper into her own story while continuing to share the powerful, empathetic portraits of the people she meets along the way.

With Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling, Mia Kelly broadens her horizons, digging into her core values while continuing her touring adventures and discovering new fans, one bottle of hot sauce at a time.

https://miakellymusic.com/home https://youtu.be/h01LL4QrKpQ?si=EpwSppM9Dst-j8La

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

In a special episode of Backstage Pass, I speak to legendary songstress and songwriter, Catherine MacLellan about her upcoming mini-tour of Ontario with special shows locally in North Bay and Port Sydney. For most of Catherine’s dates she will be accompanied by Lisa MacIsaac of Madison Violet fame. Catherine speaks about her upcoming album and touring especially, with her new trio comprised of Sarah MacDougall, Lisa MacIsaac, and Catherine MacLellan who will touring Germany in the fall.

Tickets available here: https://www.catherinemaclellan.com/shows

Presented by East Coaster Studios Catherine MacLellan with James Gray Chippewa Secondary School • 539 Chippewa Street West • North Bay, ON https://ticketscene.ca/events/61413/

Catherine MacLellan has been captivating audiences around the world with her music for over two decades. Born and raised in the idyllic province of Prince Edward Island, Catherine's songs reflect her deep connection to the land and the people that call it home. Her passion for songwriting runs in the family; her father, Gene MacLellan, wrote beloved hits like "Snowbird" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand."

While Catherine's music is rooted in folk and roots, her sound has evolved to embrace a wider range of influences over the course of her 7 albums. From heart-wrenching ballads to uplifting anthems, her music has a universal appeal that speaks to the struggles, triumphs, and joys of life.

In addition to her musical pursuits, Catherine has also dedicated herself to shining a light on her father's legacy, producing an award-winning documentary and stage show that explore his life and struggles with mental health.

Through it all, Catherine remains committed to the craft of songwriting and the art of connection. Whether she's playing to a packed theatre or an intimate gathering, Catherine's warm presence and heartfelt music create an unforgettable experience for all who hear her.

The Long Way Home Night Crossing Copyright Catherine MacLellan

https://www.catherinemaclellan.com/ https://youtu.be/v9edk6x4RFM?si=kYzJ08ofIeoKuhIn

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Based in Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario, TRIBZ have built their reputation on a warm and deeply felt brand of pop and soft rock, music that prioritises melody, genuine emotion, and the kind of songwriting craft that holds up across repeated listens.

Backstage Pass lucked out with a long conversation Juno nominee and Six Nations Tuscarora tribe member Earl Johnson. He learned his chops as a teenager touring the world with blues legend King Biscuit Boy and then founded the legendary Canadian rock band Moxy. Sharing the stage with legends AC-DC, Boston, and Black Sabbath, Earl is steeped in the blues with a “take no prisoners” style of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Earl expands on these roots, and delivers this new music with authority.

TRIBZ have released their new single "Memories," a luminous and emotionally expansive pop-rock ballad about love that endures long after loss. The quartet is Earl Johnson (lead guitars), Errol Starr Francis (lead vocals), Donny Hill (bass), and Dave Davidson (drums/percussion). Written by Johnson and Davidson and produced by the band on their own TRIBZ imprint, the song is among the most personal and fully realised work of their careers.

Their 2024 self-titled album established them as a band with both range and conviction, and "Memories" pushes that creative vision further, arriving as a centrepiece single that showcases the full depth of what TRIBZ are capable of at their most focused and inspired.

https://tribzmusic.com

https://youtu.be/lOhSiaIfk1s?si=wOIDGlYYSMuTI-Be

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

SÉAN MCCANN Brings his songs to Haliburton.

The modern world, with all its technological advancements and pervasive influence, has led us into a world that seems increasingly polarized and isolated from the fun, joy and beauty that life creates all around us almost every minute of our lives, that we somehow forget to marvel in and celebrate.

Legendary singer songwriter, Séan McCann, ‘The Shantyman’, formerly of Great Big Sea, brings a new set of original songs, along with worldclass audience favourites, to Haliburton United Church, 10 George St, Haliburton, Friday September 04,2026 TICKETS : Sean McCann

With his beloved guitar ‘Brownie’, and a vast repertoire of self-penned songs and traditional Celtic tunes, Séan promises a night of revelry, collective fellowship and merriment.

“All my songs are written on guitar, so underneath any production stuff that you'd hear on the albums, you'll hear my guitar; but a song is not worth its salt unless you can stand there on your own two feet and sing it and have it impact people in front of you. What I do at my live show is I enlist the audience to become the band. I convince them and encourage them to make that larger sound, so every night it's like you are part of the audience but you're really part of the choir. And together we're going to sing this song and then together we're going to sing the next song. Don't worry if you don't know the words, I'll tell you what the words are -you know, clap your hands, sing along, stamp your feet.”

“The challenge is to put your phone down for two hours. Look to your left and right. Remember who your neighbors are and meet some new friends and just be present in a human-to-human capacity. This is a form of resistance. This is an act of rebellion now.”

“My heroes are Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley and Joe Strummer. This is what we do, this is how we respond. And that's where I come from. I'm a folk musician, and that's part of it.”

https://seanmccannsings.com

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://greatbigsean.bandcamp.com/album/sink-or-swim

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

As Hannah and Nathan head out on their August leg of their tour for their debut collaborative album, ‘Love & Labour’ released May 15, 2026, it is great honour to post this conversation about the songs chosen and production of this incredible album.

Hannah Shira Naiman and Nathan Smith are award-winning Ontario folk musicians known for their authentic songwriting and pristine vocal harmonies

Their collaboration began with double-bill performances in 2022, where Hannah’s clawhammer banjo seamlessly intertwined with Nathan’s fiddle and guitar work. What quickly became undeniable was the power of their vocal blend — precise, expressive, and deeply rooted in tradition.

While their sound is often described as Appalachian old-time, each brings a distinct musical lineage. Nathan draws from extensive bluegrass and old-time experience, as well as his upbringing in Celtic and traditional Canadian fiddle music. He performs regularly with touring bluegrass band The Barrel Boys and acoustic trad quartet Vinta. Hannah’s songwriting is grounded in old-time Appalachian and English traditional music, crafting songs that retell personal stories through timeless themes and tropes — so convincingly traditional that they are often mistaken for century-old ballads.

Together, they create original music that is heartfelt, poignant, and occasionally raucous — rooted in deep respect for tradition while speaking through a contemporary lens. Within the folk community, their pairing has been met with palpable excitement, with presenters and fellow artists alike noting the rare chemistry and musical precision they bring to the stage.

https://hannahandnathanmusic.com https://youtu.be/u2KRhMHK2FM?si=wHyAR9JVo60Z4Re7

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Hard to believe that Ken Whiteley has been making music since the 1970’s and still presents a vital, riveting and compelling message to his loyal fans and new listeners alike. “Keep Going’ is an album for our times, filled with intellectual, emotional and spiritual resilience. Drawing on his own expansive artistry and the traditional music from which his enduring sapiential creativity flows, Whiteley takes us on journey of the heart to what is fundamentally essential in living right here, right now.

Backstage Pass Episode 95 is proud to bring this wonderful conversation to your podcast listening pleasure.

Ken Whiteley on making his 37th album, “Keep Going”

I broke a bone in my ankle in February, 2025 and wasn’t supposed to walk on it so I began sitting, playing guitar and writing the songs that became the album, “Keep Going”. As I was writing and compiling the songs for this recording, the theme of perseverance emerged. Keeping going in these troubled times is an expression of powerful determination and survival, tempered by the recognition of earthly transience. I immersed myself in old blues and gospel tunes and that message kept coming up. May listeners find the inspiration to themselves keep going!

“Keep going” is also symptomatic of where I’m at in my life and career. I began performing in public at the age of 14 and I’m about to turn 75. In those more than 60 years of professional music making I have done so many different things from producing recordings and accompanying other artists, writing film scores, making music for children and a long list of musical collaborations (including The Original Sloth Band, The Junior Jug Band, The Whiteley Brothers, Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley among others). These days I’m more likely to be performing at a yoga ashram than a bar, while drawing on the rich storehouse of blues, folk and gospel to make music that speaks to ways forward in this troubled world and brings people together.

https://www.kenwhiteley.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Finally, I have the chance to share this wonderful conversation with Jessica Rhaye about her newest EP ‘Foolish Heart’ and the heart felt tender songwriting that created this magical set of songs. Beautifully produced and performed by her remarkable band ‘The Ramshackle Parade’.

‘Foolish Heart’ was released on March 20,2026 and it is deep honour to share this wonderful interview.

Foolish Heart is a five-song EP that leans into love, reflection, and quiet vulnerability. Produced by longtime collaborator Dale Murray and recorded across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Nashville, the songs move easily between country-folk warmth, confessional moments, and cinematic swells — including an incredible Laurel Canyon–inspired reimagining of KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”

While each song on Foolish Heart stands on its own sonically, they are bound together by a shared emotional thread. These are love songs, but not only the romantic kind—some are tender, some restless, others quietly questioning.

Jessica Rhaye is a Canadian independent singer-songwriter, performer, and visual graphic design artist with a 25-year career rooted in folk and Americana. She performs solo, with her folk trio Preeper Rhaye MacKay, and with her folk-rock band The Ramshackle Parade.

My Heart Belongs to You. https://youtu.be/c42kkEx9bFw?si=uC4WJW0gtv-2Pspc

https://www.jessicarhaye.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Marc Jordan brings his remarkable story to life at Huntsville’s Algonquin Theatre on June 12,2026 with the launch of 'Rhythm of My Heart', his authorized biography. With a night full of songs and stories, the evening offers an intimate look into the five-decade career of a songwriter whose work has sold over 35 million units and shaped generations of pop and jazz. Known for his poetic lyricism, distinctive voice, and collaborations with artists like Rod Stewart and Bonnie Raitt, Jordan invites audiences into his creative world through stories, music, and reflection, making this a rare and personal event with one of Canada’s most enduring musical voices.

Marc Jordan, the visionary Brooklyn-born, Toronto-raised singer-songwriter whose work has defined the landscape of popular music for over fifty years, today announces a multi-dimensional celebration of his storied career. With the release of his authorized biography, Rhythm of My Heart, a chart-topping audiophile collection, and an intimate series of live performances, Jordan continues to expand his legacy as one of the most essential voices in the musical canon.

The biography offers a vivid window into Jordan’s unique creative process, including his "savant-like" ability to visualize music in three dimensions—a gift he cultivated while navigating profound dyslexia. The song serves as the heartbeat of a narrative that celebrates redemption through art and the unwavering dedication to the craft of songwriting.

https://www.marcjordan.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

‘Field Notes’ is one of those rare, memorable albums that comes along once every generation reflecting not only the urgency of the times, but reveals an artist in full force and flight, sharing the craft, precision and imaginative power beneath the song writing

With his Ontario tour continuing, Dave Gunning joins Backstage Pass in a wide-ranging conversation about his phenomenal new album and writing songs in a modern turbulent world.

With over two decades on the road and fifteen albums to his credit, Nova Scotia’s Dave Gunning has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most engaging and respected folk singer-songwriters. A multiple East Coast Music Award and Canadian Folk Music Award winner, Gunning is celebrated for his warm stage presence, razor-sharp wit, and songs that honour everyday heroes while tackling hard truths.

His music has long reflected his deep roots in Pictou County, where stories of working people, small-town struggles, and local pride shape his songwriting. Whether he’s shining a light on unsung community champions or confronting social and environmental issues close to home, Gunning brings an honesty and empathy to his work that have become his trademark.

Over the years, Gunning has shared the stage with many folk greats, yet he continues to carve his own path, grounded in the values of community and craftsmanship.

In June 2025, Gunning travelled to Point Lonsdale, Australia, to record his fifteenth studio album, Field Notes. Stripped-back and emotionally rich, the new collection returns to the heart of what he does best: telling stories that remind us who we are, where we come from, and what matters most. https://www.davegunning.com

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Alternative-folk singer-songwriter Kaeley Jade crafts full-hearted songs that dig deep. Growing up on the outskirts of North America’s most northern metropolis, the Edmonton-based Métis artist has been sculpted by icy winter winds and sweeping prairie skies. Whether through gently textured acoustic ballads or rip-roaring full-band cuts, Canadian Folk Music Award-winner Kaeley Jade’s powerful voice captures life’s most challenging moments with sincerity and precision. Her cinematic forthcoming album, The Great Unknown, invites listeners to release what no longer serves them and celebrate the beauty found within the ever-shifting tides of experience.

https://kaeleyjade.com YouTube | Kaeley Jade | Includes live performance videos and official music videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/KaeleyJade Facebook | @kaeleyjademusic https://www.facebook.com/kaeleyjademusic Instagram | @kaeley_jade https://www.instagram.com/kaeley_jade/ TikTok | @kaeley_jade https://www.tiktok.com/@kaeley_jade?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/0uHvg2Vc2T0NrCvSkbSb2t Bandcamp https://kaeleyjade.bandcamp.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Her 2026 album, Queen of the Strait (2026), is her most personal work yet. Co-produced with Joshua Van Tassel and longtime collaborator Daniel Ledwell, it is a modern-day classic of country and Americana, elevated by Jenn’s unmistakable pop-infused charm.

The title draws its name from the MV Abegweit passenger ferry - Abegweit being an anglicized version of the Mi’kmaw word Epekwitk, meaning “cradled by the waves” - which carried Jenn and her brother as children between two parents after a tumultuous separation. That crossing becomes both a literal and metaphorical passage in her work, weaving together the Canadian landscapes of her childhood and universal stories into a profound reflection of the human condition; exploring life’s deepest thresholds: childhood wonder, love, abuse, aging, childbearing, loss, survival, and resilience.

To celebrate the album, Grant has created a groundbreaking live tour ‘Cradled by the Waves’ - The Live Experience, which will take place across Canada, beginning in Charlottetown, PEI, on March 5th. This tour will transform the album into a stunning multimedia performance blending music, film, theatre, and dance.

With Queen of the Strait, Grant affirms her place as one of Canada’s most compelling storytellers - an artist whose songs feel both timeless and urgently present, carrying us across waters both real and imagined.

https://www.jenngrant.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

“The idea will keep going. It’s not like it’s dead. Whether I do it or anybody else does, it’s got to keep going.” Gram Parsons 1972

Chis P James in converstation about the new album from The Burrito Brothers,The Magic Time Machine of Love, which was released in November through Think Like a Key Music. How can music that sounds so completely new and inventive sound so familiar at the same time? Well… it does. That’s The Burrito Brothers for you!

The legacy and experiences that inform the wonderful music of today’s BBs is so rich, so fertile, and so far-reaching that it sounds like an old friend even as your ears are treated to something quite unlike anything you’ve heard before. It’s an amazing alchemy. But being amazing is standard practice for The Burrito Brothers. Ever since two Byrds left the “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” mothership nearly 60 years ago, The Burrito Brothers have been ever evolving and putting out wonderful albums.

The musicians in today’s group, Chris P James, Tony Paoletta, Peter Young and Steve Allen, have performed and recorded numerous notable previous works of their own and with countless other artists. This is a fully realized, forward-looking group of masterful musicians and vocalists. Essentially, this current lineup of Burritos has been carrying the ball, Gram’s baby, for more than a decade now.

This cool album not only features the current lineup but has wonderful guest appearances from Gram Parsons himself, as well as Al Perkins, Ian Dunlop, Jon Corneal, Michael Curtis, Bob Hatter and others. The circle is complete. https://www.theburritobrothers.net/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Releasing two singles a week throughout February 2026 on Bandcamp, Graven has finally released his newest stellar album. Thoughtful and inventive, as always, Graven captures the mood of the times with this exception set of songs.

‘Geographics’ was sonically birthed in 6 days in Halifax, NS at Ocean Floor Recording with Matty McKechnie (Graven), Melissa Payne, Charles Austin, Jamie Kronick, Jordan Murphy and Franc Lopes. The album has a real travel theme to it, and spans across many real geographic locations, but it's also sort of a statement on the world at large today and a bit of a map of Matty's sometimes chaotic mind. It was an album that congealed quickly but it took a ton of time to form the cinematic shape and colour of these songs in the editing room. I've never had another vocalist on any Graven material so to see Melissa step up to the plate and hit melodic homers almost every time was a beautiful thing. She added so much to this record and I'm forever grateful.

GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) is an independent folk-rock singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. An innovative Nepean-born songmaker with a key focus on cultivating joy and wonder in Canadian geography, Matty (Graven) is a wiley wordsmith whose passion is to create a highly accepting and inclusive community of music lovers. FIND GRAVEN ON BANCAMP.

https://www.graven.ca

https://graven.bandcamp.com/album/geographics

https://www.facebook.com/gravencanada

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

From the opening track to its beautiful closing, Steve Jensen’s 2026 album, ‘mrSTEVE and friends’, is a gentle reminder of all that is good and loving in this tumultuous world. The gifted British Columbia songwriter has crafted a set of songs that in lyric and melody, span genres and musical approaches with an airy hopefulness and enthusiasm reminiscent of a time when music was meant for dancing in the streets and lifting our hearts and voices high in good faith and enduring acceptance.

Guitarist and songwriter, Steve Jensen released his third full length studio album in early 2026. Backstage Pass took the opportunity to talk to the journeyman musician about its creation and his current situation as a working musician in the Vancouver / Burnaby area. Steve talked about the musicians who helped bring the songs alive including the guests and friends who made the album possible. Notable for some inspiring music, ‘mrSTEVE and friends’ is filled with delightful performances, witty and truly catchy tunes that pay homage to his influences but also showcase his continued grace and power as a pop-rock song master. A man of wry humour and social conscience, Jensen cover themes of home, love, attraction and appreciation for each other, channelled through anthemic and deeply personal reflections. A must have album for 2026.

Featured: All Around the World/ City Girl Steve Jensen Productions.

https://stevejensenmusic.com/ https://www.facebook.com/steve.jensen.441960 https://www.youtube.com/@stevejensenmusic6380

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

“You make your own luck” Bob D'Eith

Highly accomplished musician, lawyer, author and consultant, Bob D’Eith shares details and foundational advice from his book, ‘A Career in Music: 10 Steps to Success’, a master class in developing a solid, universal approach to achieving success in real terms in every changing and evolving music business. With insightful lessons from songwriting to social media presence, Bob outlines a path to establishing and maintaining a viable, sustainable and life long career as a working musician.

Bob D'Eith has worked in the music industry for 30 years as a lawyer, musician, author and consultant. He was appointed King's Counsel in 2021.

Bob was the CEO of Music BC, the trade organization for the BC music industry for 14 years. He was the co-creator of the award-winning PEAK Performance Project. Bob was also the executive chair of the 2009 Vancouver JUNO Awards Host Committee.

As a musician, Bob started his career in Rymes with Orange and is celebrating 25 years with the group Mythos. Bob has been nominated for two JUNO Awards.

Bob is the author of A Career in Music: 10 Steps to Success (text book) and The Displaced (novel).

Bob was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia representing Maple Ridge - Mission from 2017-2024 serving as Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film. He served as the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, and sat on Treasury Board (cabinet committee) and the Legislative Review Committee (cabinet committee).

https://www.adagiomedia.ca

https://www.bobdeith.com

https://www.facebook.com/adagiomedia?pnref=lhc

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

On October 7, 2025, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Carmen Toth released ‘Fix the World’, her most personal and politically charged album to date. Anchored by its searing title track - written in a single burst of inspiration - the record blends raw honesty with lush, guitar-driven instrumentation to deliver a message that is both intimate and universal: break free from prescribed roles, embrace authenticity, and reclaim power.

Toth wrote Fix the World after attending a women’s gathering where she felt alienated by performative femininity, inspiring her to examine deeply ingrained expectations placed on women. “I feel like from birth, my generation of women was collectively brainwashed to put others first, cater to men, compete with each other, and obsess over beauty and having a perfect home and family,” she shares. “We need to hold ourselves accountable for enabling the patriarchy and start rebelling against it. The only way we’re going to fix the world is by supporting each other fiercely and stepping fully into our power.”

The album’s tarot-inspired artwork, illustrated by Peter Guidon (also behind Toth’s Pretty Dresses animated video), reflects that message of liberation. It reimagines the World tarot card, depicting Toth with both acoustic and electric guitars, drumsticks in place of batons, and her two late cats - Snowshoe and Fritzy - as spirit guides. “The woman on the card is liberated and joyful, dancing without caring what others think,” Toth says. “That’s what my music and art represent for me. We must not be afraid to be who we really are and express ourselves authentically. Only by doing that can we fix the world.”

Produced by Joel Wasson (The Discarded) and John Critchley (Lowest of the Low), the 11-track album features Wasson on drums, Drew Atkins on bass, Michael McKenzie (Lowest of the Low) adding guitar textures, and Lee Rose (Ace of Wands) on viola for the haunting ballad Ghost. The record was mixed by Critchley and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer João Carvalho, reflecting a team effort rooted in Toronto’s indie community.

Carmen Toth is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter known for her hook-driven power pop, heartfelt storytelling, and retro-influenced sound. Drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, and Sheryl Crow, her music blends vulnerability with classic pop-rock grit.

Over the past two decades, Toth has evolved from solo acoustic sets and her early duo Social Potion into a fully realized indie artist, performing in both band and solo formats and building a loyal following through regular livestreaming. Her 2018 EP Safety Net, produced by Derek Downham, marked a shift toward a modern pop sensibility.

https://socialpotion.tumblr.com/

https://www.facebook.com/CarmenToth111/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

On his way to NAMM in California, 2026; Lloyd Spiegel took time before his mini-tour in Ontario to talk to Backstage Pass.

Bakehouse Dozen (2023) is a masterclass in tone and soul. Band is cooking and Llyod is in fine form with incredible guitar mastery and deep soul blues vocals. Great album with a baker’s dozen of powerhouse songs.

Melbourne Blues artist Lloyd Spiegel has been touring the globe for 30 of his 40 years.

The 14-time Australian Blues Award Winner has one of the most interesting stories in music, having grown up on stage, learning from and touring with the founding fathers of modern Blues.

Spiegel’s guitar wizardry, powerful lyrics and knack for humorous story telling delivers a truly unique performance that reinvents the genre and dispels the cliches associated with the Blues.

https://www.lloydspiegel.com

https://www.facebook.com/lloydspiegelmusic

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Comprised mainly of newly arranged blues and country material and two originals, this album stands out for its authentic, resonate connection, that singer- guitarist, Errington makes with the material. She embodies the essence of blues-soul singing with song choices, some of which date back to the earliest of recorded music. In a voice, filled commanding authority, Clela plumbs the depths and intricacies of blues songs written long before her own time, making them sound as vital and prescient as if they were composed this year. More importantly, she has chosen to present tunes that are synchronized with the mood and sorrow of our times in a poignant, clear vocal that makes you proud to be human, moreover proud to be a courageous, self-defined woman.

Produced by Jimmy Bowskill of Blue Rodeo and Brooks and Bowskill, with a collection of meritorious studio musicians, Clela and band recorded straight to tape as it were, the mood and feeling she drew out of the songs. It more than amply demonstrates the power that music holds in our life and the emotional revelations that they bring. Thematically, the songs are about standing up, standing tall and standing firm in your faith and love and out stretching a helping hand to bring us all back home safe and out of harm’s way.

Born in Montreal and raised on the St Lawrence River in Brockville, ON, in the 1000 Islands region, Errington followed the river to Prince Edward Island on Canada’s East coast. There, she was first introduced to blues, folk, country and Celtic music. She lived in PEI and performed throughout the Maritimes in a duo with Island vocalist Dawne Fraser. Eventually returning to Ontario and settling in Toronto, Errington is now part of the city’s rich music scene – as a featured performer and a backup vocalist, often collaborating with other artists, both onstage and in the studio.

Most recently, Errington’s composition “White Dove” was arranged for choir by Toronto musicologist Mike Daley, and was performed in March 2025 by the University of Toronto Hart House Chorus under the direction of Daniel Norman.

https://clelaerrington.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

In an extensively researched and detailed study into the background training and inspiration for the teachings of George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, Layne Negrin takes the reader on a profound journey of one man’s path to self-discovery, against seemingly impossible odds, to become one of the most influential thinkers and teachers of the twentieth century.

Layne Negrin is a writer, publisher and musician. Layne began his spiritual path in 1988, practicing the Gurdjieff tradition exclusively for 19 years, then Mahayana Buddhism (primarily the Soto Zen of Shunryu Suzuki but also the Shambhalian Buddhism of Trungpa Rinpoche) exclusively for the next 13 years, and since 2020, after having realized that the two ideologies are the same in essence, practices both.

Gurdjieff in Tibet is divided into three parts: Part One, looks at the evidence of Gurdjieff's presence in Tibet; Part Two, researches the direct students of Gurdjieff who explored Tibetan or other Buddhist sects to one degree or another; and Part Three is a collection of comparative studies showing the influence of Tibetan Buddhism upon Gurdjieff's teaching. Interspersed with the author's writing on the individuals discussed in Parts One and Two are relevant texts by them, many of which were previously unavailable in English.

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff was a philosopher, mystic, spiritual teacher, composer, and movements teacher. He taught students throughout Europe and America from 1913 to 1949. His approach to inner development influenced many scholars and artists during his lifetime and continues to impact many seeking solutions to the conundrum of human existence today.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561963072520

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/gurdjieff-in-tibet/9780974107905.html

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

“Romance and ramblin’ There’s two hearts, one’s free the other bleeds Tumbling dice, paying the price, the winner who walks with it all Teardrops of diamonds will fall” Romanticized Cowboy

Rarely do artists give us the type of lyrics that take the listener on deep inner journey that provoke wonder and pondering at the same time. In an easy going, refreshing conversation, Jena “Goldie” Gogo and Eric “The Duke” Duquette talk about their newest EP, Romance and Ramblin’- their second EP of powerful evocative songs. As they embark on a eastern tour, please welcome DUKE & GOLDIE to Backstage Pass.

Duke & Goldie blend the soul of warm folk storytelling with an upbeat, mystical country twang to create a sound uniquely all their own. The Vancouver-based musical partnership of Eric “The Duke” Duquette and Jena “Goldie” Gogo (longtime members of roots rock band Blue Sky Miners) has forged a style that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. Described as a revival of the sun-kissed Laurel Canyon vibes of the ‘60s and ‘70s, their music invites listeners to journey through heartland stories and wide-open landscapes.

The collection showcases Duke & Goldie’s range within Americana and country, from the free-spirited singalong “West End Queen (Abattoir)” to the gritty anthem “Outsider,” which celebrates individuality in defiance of conformity. On the dreamlike “Romanticized Cowboy,” Goldie’s ethereal vocals explore love, longing, and myth, while “Small Town Talk” delivers fire and humour in a sharp critique of small-town gossip. Closing with “The Low Desert,” a sweeping and poetic reverie, the EP demonstrates their ability to balance nostalgia, grit, and cosmic wonder—all while staying rooted in heartfelt storytelling.

On stage, Duke & Goldie weave cascading harmonies over acoustic guitar-laden arrangements, bringing stories to life that travel from the towering Rocky Mountains to the quiet mystery of remote deserts. They explore the complexity of their roles as modern-day settlers, grappling with identity, place, and purpose in the beautiful land they call home. Yet it is their magnetic on-stage chemistry—playful, intimate, and deeply connected—that truly hooks audiences, making every performance feel like an invitation into their world.

https://www.dukeandgoldie.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

October 24, 2025 - After stepping away from music in 2019, acclaimed folk singer-songwriter Jory Nash returns with his 10th album, The Light Still Shines On The Main, co-produced with longtime friend Chris Stringer (The Wooden Sky, Elliott Brood, Timber Timbre, Megan Bonnell, Holly McNarland).

The road to this record has been anything but easy. In 2019, Nash experienced a breakdown that led him to quit music, facing depression and financial struggles. The pandemic compounded these struggles, and in early 2021, his partner, Brittany, was diagnosed with multiple cancers, beginning an intensive journey through chemotherapy and surgeries. That summer, a fire damaged their Toronto rental, prompting a move to Cobourg, ON, where Brittany could focus on recovery and their young son could start kindergarten. “This album is about coming through the darkness,” says Nash. “It’s about hope, resilience, loss, and finding beauty in new beginnings.”

https://jorynash.com

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

JUNO Award-winning Canadian contemporary folk group The East Pointers are excited to announce their anticipated fourth full-length album, ‘Schoonertown’, which will be released on January 23, 2026, via Nettwerk. To celebrate the news, The East Pointers' have released a series of new singles which showcases the power and strength of what’s to come on the upcoming new record.

Schoonertown, Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron share, “is rooted in our early years as a band, and depicts what it’s like growing up in a small East Coast seaside town. Through the eyes of a young fisherman, each song traces the highs and lows of life on and off the water—the struggles and triumphs, love, growth, and self-realization that come with finding your place in the world. It's also the first album we've written, produced, and recorded entirely on our own, and we're so excited for you to hear it!”

The East Pointers have always been furiously energetic, musically complex, and technically brilliant. Their fusion of folk, pop, electronic, and dance sensibilities has generated strong fan bases worldwide. Representing the seventh generation of traditional Prince Edward Island and Ontario-based Celtic players, The East Pointers pay homage and advance the art form by parlaying folk music into the pop arena.

https://theeastpointers.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgmweY4XKtvfpFLPukMP8Mw

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Music journalist, editor, publicist and musician, Jason Schneider has written extensively about Canadian Music legends such as Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, in his book ‘Whispering Pines’ (2009); Art Bergmann, in ‘The Longest Suicide: The Authorized Biography of Art Bergmann’ (2022).

In his most recent book, ‘That Gun In Your Hand: the Strange Saga of ‘Hey Joe’ and Popular Music’s History of Violence’ (2025), Jason Schneider explores, in minute detail, the creation of one of the most enduring and re-recorded songs in rock history, “Hey Joe”.

“This is the story of a song, a song that binds nearly every strand of 20th century American popular music. “Hey Joe” was written at the dawn of the 1960s by a man named Billy Roberts, an obscure singer and guitarist from South Carolina who moved to New York City, drawn by the burgeoning folk music scene in Greenwich Village. It was a time when new, original material was scarce, leading other singers to quickly adapt songs of quality in the spirit of folk music’s oral traditions. Thus began the long journey of “Hey Joe” from New York coffeehouses to the bars on L.A.’s Sunset Strip to the ears of a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix who launched his career with his radical, electrified interpretation.”

In exacting detail, with newly uncovered stories, Jason Schneider maps the intricate elements of a song that has provoked dramatic response from the multitude of musicians who have recorded the song, to audiences who still find the track irresistible. In its unusual construction, and mythical history, “Hey Joe”, remains a powerful reminder of what makes rock music such an exciting, complex and influential art form. Its history is, in many ways, a history of the foundations of modern pop and rock music.

https://jasonschneidermedia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560292990370

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Released September 12th, 2025

Toronto-based Grant Lyle is a powerhouse frontman known for his electrifying presence and dynamic guitar playing. Grant blends raw, punchy chops with smooth, fluid phrasing, crafting a sound that captivates audiences from start to finish.

Lyle's guitar solos are sharp and emotive, effortlessly blending technical skill with soulful improvisation. His commanding stage presence keeps the audience on their toes, while the rhythm section locks in tight, creating a groove that's impossible to resist.

Grant Lyle's performances transcend the setting - whether he's playing a small, intimate venue or a festival stage, his music connects with the audience no matter the distance. His ability to command attention with just an acoustic guitar and his voice is a testament to his skill as a musician and storyteller. With every note, Grant captures the essence of the blues, making even the most familiar classics feel fresh and raw.

On September 12th, 2025 Lyle is set to release his eighth recording, aptly titled And Now. The new songs highlight Lyle's many talents both as a guitarist and a singer-songwriter, showcasing deep respect for the traditions of blues and roots music while putting his own spin on it. With eight original songs and one masterful cover of The Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'"

With And Now, Grant Lyle has created an experience that speaks directly to the soul.

https://grantlyle.com/home

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

International touring award winning Canadian (Yukon) artist has arrived. This authentic road poet travels North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, UK/Ireland and Scandinavia with 9 records under his belt. From Celtic Connections (UK) to the National Folk Festival (AU) his ability to hold an audience, weave melody, while juggling the dark with the light is infectious.

Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane

2023 International Acoustic Music Award (IAMA) winner Gordie Tentrees (Yukon) met Jaxon Haldane (Manitoba) in 2005 (Fred Eaglesmith Picnic, Ontario) and swapped records before hitting the road with disparate musical aspirations. Gordie performed over 3000 concerts around the world, often touring as Eaglesmith’s opening act, learning about the music business, and leveraging his previous experience in the boxing ring (3x Golden Glove champ). Tentrees also toured with James Cotten, Mary Gauthier, Kelly Joe Phelps, Steve Poltz, and Ray Wylie Hubbard, to name a few. Jaxon was meanwhile tearing up stages from Churchill to Belfast (D.Rangers bandleader/banjo player), producing records for his indie label (Dollartone), and touring with the likes of Petunia, The Sadies, Jon Spencer, and Romi Mayes. His close relationship with lifelong musical hero and mentor Willie P. Bennett led to Haldane recording Willie’s last record, Sharpen The Plow, just prior to Bennett’s passing in 2008. Haldane founded the Willie P. Bennett Legacy site to pay tribute to his deceased friend. Interestingly, Bennett and Eaglesmith spent 25 years performing and touring, setting an example of camaraderie and excellence that still guides the way for Tentrees and Haldane.

Fast forward to 2014 in Beaumont, Texas. Gordie and Jaxon made their stage debut and quickly realized their friendship off the stage made for something special on it. Armed with an arsenal of instruments (Fiddle-Saw, Harmonica, Resonator, Cigar Box Guitars, Foot Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, and Mandolin), they have performed over 1100 concerts in 11 countries, creating an unscripted, dynamic electric/acoustic show built on brotherly harmonies and masterful storytelling. In 2018, they released GRIT, their debut live album recorded over 5 nights in Western Canada by Scott Franchuk (Corb Lund, Old Reliable, Mariel Buckley, Del Barber), propelling appearances at major festivals such as Celtic Connections in Glasgow, UK, the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia, and the Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah, USA.

They recently recorded a studio record in Nashville TN titled Double Takes with acclaimed Australian Nash Chambers (Paul Kelly, Archie Roach) with special guests Charlie McCoy (Elvis Presley), Tania Elizabeth (Avett Brothers) and Lucky Oceans (Asleep at the Wheel). The music of Tentrees and Haldane draws from a century of North American music traditions and is rooted in truth, social justice, and the human condition. Their performances are heartfelt and honest, seldom shying away from challenging topics and tough subject matter.

https://www.tentrees.ca/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

"I have been writing songs for over 50 years. Each song is a map that helped me navigate through the ups and downs life put in my way. I'd have been lost without them." - David Francey

One of Canada’s most beloved folk voices, David Francey, is set to release MAPS, a new album that looks back on a songwriting journey spanning more than five decades. This poignant and powerful collection draws from both fan favourites and the songs most meaningful to Francey himself, and includes one brand-new track, "Corpus Christi."

David Francey, born in Ayrshire, Scotland, is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter. He is the recipient of four Juno Awards and three Canadian Folk Music Awards. He has no formal training in music.

Francey worked as a rail yard worker and a carpenter for 20 years. At age 45, he began a career in folk music, finding success on the folk festival circuit Francey's experiences in working-class life strongly influenced his 1999 debut album, ‘Torn Screen Door’.

Maps is David Francey’s fourteenth album. It is a breath-taking compilation of a master songwriter’s work to date, deeply moving and inspiring. For any artist for knows what it means to follow the muse, this is a conversation about the grace and humility that one needs to pursue a life in art and music.

https://www.davidfrancey.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

“Wake Up!” is a high-octane punk-rock country blends country storytelling with lyrics, including the evocative line “Saw you kiss her on a Tuesday / But you call me on the daily,” confront the rawness of unreciprocated love with a frankness that feels both personal and universal. Bree’s commanding vocal delivery cuts through the song’s driving instrumentation, making it clear this is your new breakup anthem and a call to recognize what’s right in front of you before it slips away.

Co-written with Alex Seier and Kelly McKay, the song emerged quickly, capturing a real-time emotional urgency. Bree has said she wanted to craft a song with an edge reminiscent of Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me,” but infused with her own unmistakable bite. The result is a vibrant, energetic anthem perfectly timed for the summer season and for Bree’s ongoing rise.

The single builds on the foundation laid by her breakthrough track, “Standing Still,” which garnered significant recognition including a spot in CBC Searchlight’s Elite Top 50 and finalist placements in the Unsigned Only and International Songwriting competitions. Her raw vocal power and candid songwriting also earned her the Established Vocalist MARTY Award from the Mississauga Arts Council—a nod to both her artistry and her growing influence.

Bree’s music reflects a lineage that spans from the storytelling traditions of Carrie Underwood to the rebellious spirit of Joan Jett. Her sound embodies a genre-defying spirit, pairing country’s emotional directness with the raw power of rock ’n’ roll. Her journey, marked by overcoming a hearing impairment, informs the authenticity and resilience that resonate throughout her work.

Her debut full-length album is set for release on October 10, 2025. https://www.breetaylor.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

With over twenty years of relentless touring and recording, Steve Marriner now enjoys his hard-earned reputation as one of the most hard-working and talented musicians in Canada and beyond. In addition to being one of the world’s foremost blues harmonica players, ‘The Swiss Army Knife’ is also known to be a wildly skilled multi-instrumentalist, soulful singer and creative record producer.

Since 2008, Marriner has been a celebrated co-founder, baritone guitarist and lead singer of the acclaimed blues outfit MonkeyJunk, with whom he has won two Juno Awards (2012, 2018) for Blues Album of the Year. Another career milestone was achieved with MonkeyJunk in 2010 when they became the first-ever Canadian band to be recognized with a win at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee.

For the past decade, Marriner has been touring and recording with the legendary Canadian blues-rock staple, Colin James, lending his skills on both harmonica and bass guitar. While touring with James, Steve realized several long-time dreams by performing in such hallowed halls as The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, The Moody Theatre in Austin, and Massey Hall in Toronto.

As a songwriter, Marriner has earned critical praise for the depth and vulnerability of his works. “Everybody has a story to tell, and I try to write songs that let people know they aren’t alone in this world. That somebody has been through the same trials they face, and come out the other side.”

As a dynamic performer, Marriner has shared the stage with many legends across the blues, rock, and folk genres. In the world of blues, he’s accompanied bonafide legends like Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Sam Myers Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson as well as contemporary masters such as Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson, Sue Foley and Mike Zito.

His rock collaborations include Colin James, Big Sugar, Sass Jordan, JJ Grey & Mofro and Randy Bachman while his folk connections have put him on stage with Harry Manx, Foy Vance, Sue Foley, Blue Rodeo and Xavier Rudd.

Today, Marriner continues to explore his ever-expanding musical boundaries, blending a wide range of influences to forge his own, unique musical identity. He is currently set to release his latest album, Hear My Heart, in 2025 via Cordova Bay Records.

https://www.stevemarriner.com/

https://www.facebook.com/stevemarrinermusic/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Film School is one of those impressive albums filled with songs that simply stay with you like a call for a forgotten friend of long ago.

For decades, Eddie Schwartz has remained one of the most respected figures in the music world—an iconic Canadian songwriter, producer, performer, and rights advocate whose songs have echoed across generations. With his new single “We Win,” Eddie marks a bold and inspiring return to his roots as a solo artist, leading into the release of his new EP Film School, both out now. The project showcases the full spectrum of his brilliance: lyrical poignancy, musical craftsmanship, and the indomitable spirit that has defined his legacy.

“I wrote ‘We Win’ as a song of hope,” he says. “I hope people hear it and feel the power of standing up again. Because there’s always a reason to try again, to keep moving forward.” With Film School, Eddie Schwartz continues to do just that—creating music that uplifts, empowers, and endures.

A Member of the Order of Canada and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Eddie Schwartz is the architect behind enduring hits like “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” popularized by Pat Benatar, and “All Our Tomorrows,” later covered by Joe Cocker. His catalog spans more than 200 recorded songs and over 65 million physical sales worldwide—long before streaming platforms entered the conversation. With Film School, Eddie adds a powerful new chapter to his discography and creative journey.

The lead single “We Win” pulses with optimism and resolve, themes that mirror the artist’s own return to songwriting after a prolonged pause. “We’ll break down the walls, we’ll tear up the rules / Come out swinging, fighting, not afraid to lose,” Eddie sings in the chorus—his words now layered with personal and cultural meaning. “We get up off our knees / We stand up and believe / No matter how the story ends, we win.” Delivered with trademark sincerity, “We Win” feels as timely as it is timeless.

“These songs didn’t come easily,” Eddie writes in his artist notes. “After stepping away from writing, I wasn’t sure I’d ever return. But with encouragement from my wife Joanne and friends in Nashville and beyond, I found my way back.” His creative rebirth is deeply felt throughout Film School, a collection of mostly new songs that channel reflection, purpose, and an undiminished creative spark.

Born in Toronto in 1949, Eddie Schwartz holds a degree in music and English literature from York University. He first made his mark in the band Icarus alongside industry titans Bob Ezrin and Ben Mink, before launching a solo career that led to multiple hit singles and an enduring role as one of Canada’s great musical exports. “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” may have been dismissed by a publisher early on, but Benatar’s iconic recording turned it into a cultural lightning rod. Eddie, ever gracious, always let the music speak for itself.

His songs have been recorded by an astonishing roster: Paul Carrack, The Doobie Brothers, Carly Simon, America, Donna Summer, Rita Coolidge, Rascal Flatts, and Mountain, among many others. As a producer, his credits include the Doobie Brothers’ Cycles, Carrack’s Groove Approved, and his own albums, all resonating with an unmistakable blend of craftsmanship and soul.

https://www.eddieschwartzmusic.com/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

After more than three decades of two-tone swagger, punk attitude, and brass-blasted joy, Montreal’s beloved ska lifers The Planet Smashers return with “Meet Me On The Dancefloor,” the first single from their forthcoming tenth studio album, On the Dancefloor lands August 22,2025 on Stomp Records. It’s a summery, anthemic invitation back into the band’s world of groove-driven rebellion, self-deprecating humour, and dancefloor catharsis.

Formed in 1994 and still going strong, The Planet Smashers have carved out an impressive and enduring legacy in the global ska-punk movement. With over 30 million streams on Spotify, countless sold-out shows, and a catalogue that soundtracked everything from MTV’s Undergrads to Japan’s cult animation series Catman, the band has remained a fixture through every wave and reinvention of the genre. They've toured extensively across North America, Europe, and Japan, and shared stages with icons while remaining staunchly DIY and true to their fans. Founding frontman Matt Collyer also co-founded Stomp Records, a label that helped launch some of Canada's most celebrated alternative acts.

“Meet Me On The Dancefloor” is pure Planet Smashers—hooky, high-energy, and deeply fun. It channels their signature up(off)beat sound with a sharp rhythm section, cheeky lyrics, and that unmistakable horn section that still hits like a confetti cannon. The track also teases the range and spirit of the full-length album: On the Dancefloor features 13 tracks spanning love songs, breakup anthems, protest tunes, and party bangers, all threaded with the band’s infectious optimism and biting wit. And they’ve brought reinforcements: ska legends Neville Staple (The Specials), Charley “Aitch” Bembridge (The Selecter), and Sara Johnston (Bran Van 3000) all contribute to the record, bringing extra depth and pedigree to the chaos.

The band’s live show is still a thing of sweaty, horn-laced legend—equal parts punk rock and carnival—and the new material was crafted with that experience in mind. “On the Dancefloor was the funnest of our 10 albums to record,” says Collyer. “I can’t wait to play these songs live! The process was rad from start to finish. All of my bandmates got their hands in there. Plus we had the pleasure of teaming up with ska legends and longtime friends. Fun times!” That spirit of collective joy and resistance runs throughout the record, offering a little light in a world that sorely needs it. Whether you’re a lifelong skanker or just discovering the band through a playlist rabbit hole, The Planet Smashers deliver exactly what the name promises: fun, energy, and total sonic uplift. With new music, new videos, and new tour dates on the horizon, “Meet Me On The Dancefloor” isn’t just a single—it’s a reminder that no matter how weird or bleak things get, there’s always room to move your feet and turn up the volume.

https://youtu.be/iaYiFSefQ6A?si=mrZciEm7fKdXrkbg

https://planetsmashers.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanetSmashers/

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Indie-folk singer-songwriter Ellen Braun shares her debut solo album, The Doldrums, on August 22,2025 (Independent). Ellen’s musical journey has taken many turns — from growing up in Ottawa to studying Biology at the University of Guelph, earning a Master’s in Environmental Science at the University of Calgary, and eventually settling in Canmore, AB.

Produced by Grammy-nominated Howard Bilerman at Montreal’s Hotel2Tango, the 10-track LP is a deeply personal collection written over five years - a time marked by co-parenting, creative delays, and Ellen’s journey back to herself. Inspired by the likes of Brandi Carlile, Sarah Harmer, Indigo Girls, and Kim Richey, Ellen’s songwriting is rich with emotional clarity and poetic honesty.

From the slow burn of recent single “You Had My Love” to the powerful title track and the soaring album focus single “Nashville” - a triumphant anthem of artistic reclamation - The Doldrums reflects on love, loss, identity, and the courage to be authentic. With contributions from a trusted circle of collaborators, the album is as much about healing as it is about craft. “I only wanted to work with people I loved and who loved me back,” says Ellen. The result is a stunning, full-band debut that’s both intimate and expansive.

https://www.ellenbraunmusic.com/

https://youtu.be/CLIIxE_hP-A?si=fiFbBpTMF55xg7ZR

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Trombonist, RJ Satchithananthan, joins Backstage Pass in an informative conversation.

After 15 years of bringing the party wherever they play, The Heavyweights Brass Band are ready to make you dance, strut, and testify with their fifth full-length album, Knockout, dropping June 27, 2025. With a sound steeped in New Orleans brass traditions, Toronto’s reigning brass band champions fuse jazz, funk, and soul into a heady, horn-heavy celebration of everything that makes music joyful and alive.

Knockout was recorded over two days at Taurus Studios, with the entire band playing together in one room. That energy — that sweat-on-the-walls, live-off-the-floor magic — is the soul of the album. With 11 songs and contributions from a new generation of jazz trailblazers like Kae Murphy (trumpet) and Nolan Murphy (tuba), the album is both a celebration and a passing of the torch. “The Toronto brass scene has grown so much,” the band says. “Including younger musicians who are pushing boundaries was vital for this project.”

In their own words, “The Heavyweights Brass Band is a flag planted in the middle of the dancefloor. We hit hard with groove, energy, and originality. We’ve always believed in putting our personalities in the music, from gritty funk to bold soul to pure brass band joy. This record shows where we’ve been — and where we’re going.”

Formed in 2010, HWBB has carved out a unique place in Canadian music. From sweaty club gigs to festival stages, they've opened for The Roots, jammed with Trombone Shorty, and recorded with everyone from Giovanni Hidalgo to Joe Lastie of Preservation Hall.

https://heavyweightsbrassband.com/ https://youtu.be/2fXQmfpoCV8?si=DNoBJywkz9HRHQNY

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Recorded on tape at Little Bullhorn in Ottawa and co-produced by Maki and Dave Draves, the acclaimed Sudbury songwriter has created a powerful, emotional chapter in her musical saga.

In an open and long ranging conversation, Kate shares the inspirations and process that produced this extraordinary set of songs and their deep felt meaning. Impossible Knot is an album that sneaks up on you and then stays in rivetted in your thoughts for a good long while. Take the time to listen for yourself. https://katemaki.bandcamp.com/album/impossible-knot

Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Kate Maki’s voice and musical style are as wide and expansive as her hometown’s moon-like terrain. She began writing songs during her first-year of teaching as a way to deal with the sudden death of a friend, and recorded her first record, Confusion Unlimited, in 2003 with Dave Draves. Originally intended to be a Christmas gift for her family, the record received international attention and quickly sold out of its initial pressing. Finding it impossible to maintain the teacher-by-day, musician-by-night lifestyle, Maki quit her day job and began crisscrossing the country on self-booked, self- promoted tours.

Fast forward to today, six records, two kids, and countless tours and collaborations later, Maki returns with Impossible Knot. “I suppose I have come full circle, teaching high school and writing songs to help deal with life-changing circumstances. After a long period of grief, it was a relief to be reunited with the songwriting process, and of course, reunited with Draves and his trusty tape machine.”

During the summer and fall of 2024, Maki travelled back and forth from Sudbury to Ottawa to work with Draves in his backyard, analogue studio where she recorded her first three records in the early 2000s. Little Bullhorn’s familiar, creative environment combined with her longtime friendship with Draves and his family, provided Maki with the comfortable space needed to share her first new material since 2016’s Head In The Sand. With Maki on guitars and Draves on keys, they formed a core band with Peter Von Althen on drums, Jon Hynes on bass, Dale Murray on pedal steel, guitars, and background vocals, Dan Levecque on guitars, and Anne Boulton on background vocals. Celebrated songwriters, Jim Bryson, Ruth Minnikin (The Guthries), and Ryan Levecque (Ox), also make guest appearances. The result is a warm, eclectic collection of “beautiful hurt” as described by Draves, and Maki sounds confident and hopeful despite the heavy subject matter. https://www.killbeatmusic.com/media-releases/2025/3/5/kate-maki-returns-with-first-new-music-in-nine-years-announces-upcoming-album?rq=Kate%20Maki

"All I Get" by Kate Maki https://youtu.be/8pNcaW8ZsAQ?si=ScjQBLU48ICfeH7R

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Taking place Friday, August 1 at Massey Hall and Saturday, August 2 at TD Music Hall, this two-day event marks 10 years to the day since Rush played their final concert in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015—and brings together fans, friends, collaborators, and tribute artists.

Curated by RUSHfest Scotland founder Steve Brown and Canadian superfan and music journalist Paul Beaulieu, RUSHfest Canada is more than a fan convention—it’s a legacy event with heart, history, and an extraordinary mission: all profits will be donated to Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto in honour of Neil Peart.

Steve Brown is a lifelong musician from Scotland who launched RUSHfest Scotland in 2014, inspired by his late songwriting partner Angie Townsend, who passed away from cancer in 2016. To date, the events and albums have raised over $265,000 CAD for cancer charities. His tribute band, Moving Pictures, will perform. https://www.movingpicturesuk.com/

Paul Beaulieu is the founder of The Canadian Music Scene and a longtime Rush historian. He has interviewed band members, road crew, and chronicled Rush’s rise through Canadian and international media. https://thecanadianmusicscene.com/

Limited tickets remain and can be purchased here: Friday, August 1 at Massey Hall – masseyhall.mhrth.com/tickets/rushfest Saturday, August 2 at TD Music Hall – tdmusichall.mhrth.com/tickets/rushfest VIP packages are available via www.RUSHfestCanada.ca. To learn more visit - RUSHfestCanada.ca Facebook.com/groups/RUSHfestCanada

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Sit down to a relaxed conversation with legendary songwriter and performer Lennie Gallant, speaking about his newest album and some of his adventures such as a working with Jimmy Buffet and others, and particularly his inspirations for this powerful new set of songs.

“In the song, ‘Shelter From the Storms’, I kind of took the voice of one of a particular character and his partner and, you know, she's a bit drawn by conspiracy theories, and they're off on a journey. They feel, like many people, very disenfranchised, very outside of what is happening in the world that seems to have passed them by and they're looking for some answers to their questions and so they're taking off to a journey made perhaps to some mountain what they see they expect to find some answers there that they heard about perhaps online and so it's a bit vague fill in the dots you know in a way but at the same time as you say it is kind of specific to some things that are happening in the world right now. And I think the way so many people are, you know, just searching and trying to reach out for something to latch on to and believe in, whether it's real or imagined.”

Lennie Gallant, from Rustico, PEI, an acclaimed East Coast singer-songwriter with 16 albums and numerous awards, returns this June with Shelter From the Storms, his first English album in seven years. The album reflects on the turbulent times we live in, while celebrating the human ability to navigate through hardship with community, love, and laughter.

"One of my favourite Canadian songwriters" Jimmy Buffett

East Coast musical icon and masterful storyteller Lennie Gallant releases his first English-language album in seven years. Shelter From the Storms released was June 6th. The accompanying lyric video of his acclaimed first single, “Counting on Angels” is available on YouTube. https://youtu.be/UHDgJZ30fn8?si=yzPyQDlP-dcOyxkc

https://lenniegallant.com

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Matthew Holtby, Canadian singer-songwriter, is a delightful conversationalist. Affable, immediately likeable, with a trademark smile and an easy-going, relaxed charm, Matthew shares some of the inspiration and approach he takes to writing and producing his growing collection of heartfelt and quietly hopeful songs.

On Episode 64 of Backstage Pass, Matthew discusses the geneses of ‘This Old Heart’, ‘A Certain Place in Time’, and his newest single, ‘This is Bliss’.

“Matthew Holtby has been slowly adding to his collection of singles, one song at a time for the past two years. Working with Peterborough Producer, Michael Phillips, the pair have been digging out the sounds Holtby creates on his acoustic guitar with the help of his bandmates, best friends and even his father. Last year saw the release of two independent singles which caught the ear of the CBC, and also helped to land him a few festival spots. He also had the pleasure of opening for legendary blues rocker David Wilcox to a sold-out crowd in his hometown of Oshawa. He's just released a brand-new EP, and is looking forward to a very busy and exciting year ahead.

https://www.matthewholtbymusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/officialmatthewholtbymusic

This podcast is hosted by CANOE FM https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

"I love origin stories,” says Vancouver musician Suzie Ungerleider. “I love finding out where people are and how they got there, so I'm constantly thinking about that. Everybody's carrying around their own narrative.” Among the Evergreens is the latest chapter in the revered Americana singer-songwriter's own story. The thrice JUNO nominated artist continues her tradition of storytelling on her eleventh release, due out on June 6, 2025, via MVKA.

“At the beginning of my musical journey, I was afraid to show myself, so I took on a persona, and I wrote songs in a fictionalised way," Suzie reflects of her lifelong journey towards becoming more comfortable with the vulnerability of revealing herself. “It is this idea of trying to merge the musical person and the human being that I am, and get closer to what is important to me. And it's interesting, because the more specific I get, the more universal it is.”

Indeed, Suzie’s beautifully evocative and atmospheric songs may draw the listener into her world but they are universally relatable, traversing the typical chapters of a person’s life. These are tales about teenagehood, the loss of innocence, the breakdown of relationships, young love, marriage, motherhood, survival and second chances, fights and forgiveness. And they are utterly captivating.

Among The Evergreens is divided into two parts: “Then” and “Now” – songs inspired by the past and by the present. Suzie reflects on what it means to be in the middle of life, seeking answers to who she was and who she is now. “It’s about being like a tree with all those rings around you, the layers of your life telling you who you were and where you've been,” she says.

Imagery of the outdoors, of green valleys and trees shedding their leaves, infuses this new collection. It was written in America-born, Canada-raised Suzie’s hometown of Vancouver, a city among the evergreens – the cherished place to which she returned after being lured by the thrill and promise of Toronto.

Her long-time collaborator Jim Bryson produced the record, augmenting the atmospheric intimacy of Suzie's evocative songs. Suzie credits him with pushing her out of her sonic box when he stepped in to produce her 2014 album Namedropper. He was also the one who encouraged her to tell her own stories instead of hiding behind a character.

What makes this album so compelling, and ultimately one to long treasure, is the delicate poetic lyrics that Suzie spills into these alluring melodies. Sung and played with an intuitive simplicity that lays the foundation for the sorcery, the alchemy, that producer Bryson wands through each. Moreover, Suzie creates the space and depth for these fine musicians to explore and propel these memories and the heart-rending questions that Ungerleider poses to herself and the listener.

https://suzieungerleider.com

This podcast is hosted by CANOE FM : https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

In a relaxed, informative and generous conversation, guitarist Lance Lopez joins Backstage Pass to discuss his impressive background and extensive history as a lead guitarist for Two Wolf and their new album, along with anecdotes about legends Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and his own prodigious output as a stellar rock and roll and southern blues guitarist.

This is a band not to be missed.

Born from the raw spirit of American hard rock, Greg T. Walker’s Two Wolf is a high-voltage powerhouse straight out of Florida, setting stages ablaze with their electrifying fusion of Southern grit and thunderous rock energy.

Two Wolf released on June 6 on Los Angeles-based Cleopatra Records their self-titled debut album; a hellacious, blistering, absolutely kickass new album that is rife with energetic Southern rock and hard rock/hard blues influences.

Lance Lopez and Kris Bell lead the charge, while Greg T. Walker’s legendary bass lines and Rusty Valentine’s seismic drumming drive the band’s relentless groove. https://www.twowolfrocks.com

The band’s two leading lights are founding member bassist/songwriter Greg T. Walker, who was also a co-founder of the classic Southern Rock/hard rock band Blackfoot and an early member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and original member Lance Lopez, a blues rock/ singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose primary influences are Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Johnny Winter, Billy Gibbons and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The band also includes Kris Bell (vocals/guitar) and drummer Rusty Valentine.

With a twin-guitar attack that cuts like lightning and vocals that roar with untamed intensity, Lopez and Bell lead the charge on guitars, while Walker’s legendary bass lines and Valentine’s seismic drumming drive the band’s relentless groove.

https://www.twowolfrocks.com

This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM : https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson join me to discuss their new album and more. For my part, this is a powerful new set of songs perfectly in tune with the times and the creative energies of this legendary band.

Iconic songwriter Harlan Howard believed that songs exist in the air all around us. That’s how these new Skydiggers songs began — in the air. There were no charts given in advance. There were no tunes that were road-tested. It began with some off days during a busy November tour, with a revisit to the Tragically Hip’s Bathouse Studio.

This studio, a heritage home transformed into one of the unique recording rooms in the world, is not just part of Skydiggers history, but is also part of our Canadian Music DNA.Surrounded by trees on three sides, and water on the fourth, it is a setting without distraction. The silence of the vast lake provided the perfect tone for what was to occur.

The creation would begin when each song was first played in the studio’s kitchen by Josh with a guitar and Andy’s voice — many of these songs heard by the larger group for the first time.

Led by original band mates Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson, and featuring Noel Webb on drums, Derrick Brady on bass, Jessy Bell Smith on vocals, Aaron Comeau on guitars, and Michael Johnston on keyboards, Dreams & Second Chances reveals these Skydiggers at the peak of their ability - a collective with the intrinsic ability of finish each other’s musical sentences and weave a sound that is uniquely their own. https://skydiggers.com/

https://www.facebook.com/skydiggers

This podcast is hosted by https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

It’s the sound of someone coming into his own—and it shows. Produced by Joshua Van Tassel and David Myles, ‘Character Traits’ balances raw honesty with lush, genre-blurring production.

Logan Richard is one of music’s rarest creatures—a compelling and diverse songwriter who shreds. The PEI-born-and-based artist has been sharpening both skills since he first picked up the guitar as a pre-teen, building a reputation as a deft, genre-fluid songsmith and peerless hired gun for some of Canada’s most exciting musicians. Influenced by his axe-slinging brother, artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer, his dad’s record collection, and his Acadian mom’s fiddle-playing family, Richard hit the stage at just 12 years old, cutting his teeth playing gigs around the island with a blues group filled out by his fellow young peers. He’s built his career as both a solo artist and in-demand live and session player, racking up experience over more than a decade and playing everywhere from dim blues dives to historical soft-seaters. An award-winning songwriter, many of Logan’s songs have been placed in an array of film and TV programs. All the committed hours have refined his work with nuances in technique and composition that allow him to express his many multitudes—a predilection that powers and deepens his new record, and reveals the wide scope of Richard’s artistry.

https://www.loganrichardmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/loganrichardmusic

HOST: https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

In a long ranging interview, Nashville songwriter, John McAndrew shares some of the inspiration for his beautiful and haunting new album release,'Better Side of Me'.

Better Side of Me is a collaboration with notable producer Denny Seiwell, the co-founder and drummer of Wings, and Fernando Perdomo. Their combined expertise promises to deliver an exceptional listening experience.

John McAndrew is a unique storyteller and it can truly be said that it is his passion for telling a tale that is attracting the attention of Americana listeners and blues/pop fans. With his jagged and soulful voice, his music is uplifting, inspiring and is captivating audiences across the United States. https://www.johnmcandrew.com https://www.facebook.com/johnleomcandrew

This podcast is hosted by [Canoe.FM]https://canoefm.com/listen/podcasts/

“In early 2022,” says Fearing, “as the pandemic's lockdown grip was loosening, I got a phone call from Ken Coomer, who'd heard my version of Gordon Lightfoot’s ‘Early Morning Rain’ and asked if I wanted to record with him. Not recognizing the name, I dug in and discovered that Coomer was in Uncle Tupelo and a founding member of Wilco, playing on their first four albums, and now is a producer/drummer who's worked with everybody from Al Green to Steve Earle to Sheryl Crow to Emmylou Harris, and many more.”

Which is how Fearing came to record THE EMPATHIST at Coomer's studio, Cartoon Moon Recording in Nashville, alongside producer Coomer, doubling on drums; his Blackie and The Rodeo Kings bandmate John Dymond, on bass; and masterful multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, on almost everything else. They also wrangled accomplished guest performers Colin Linden, Sue Foley, Dala, and Kelly Prescott. Inspired by such creative colleagues, Fearing recorded stellar versions of songs written at the peak of his storytelling skills.

“Being called a storyteller is one of the best compliments I've ever received,” he says. “I love telling stories, but it wasn’t until I realized that my story is just a small part of ‘The Story’ that I found my true voice as a songwriter. Writing songs means opening to the emotions and experiences of others, as well as my own. That’s what inspired the album title – these songs are my stories, written through the lens of all the truths I’ve seen and felt around me.”

The 51tst State? Take off, eh! The Cooper Brothers are back with a song that’s as Canadian as a double-double, a frozen pond, and a game-winning goal in overtime.

“That’s What Makes Us Great!” is a love letter to the True North, strong and free, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and unshakable pride that defines this country.

Inspired by a chance encounter with young soldiers returning from Afghanistan, Richard Cooper channeled their passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in making a difference into lyrics that remind us of what it means to be Canadian. “We never seem to toot our own horn,” Cooper reflects, “but we have so much to be thankful for.”

From universal healthcare to Tim Horton’s, from beavertails and poutine to the coldest beer and the hottest women, “That’s What Makes Us Great!” captures the essence of a country that doesn’t brag—but has every reason to.

Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Colin Linden, this track is infused with the classic Cooper Brothers sound: heartfelt storytelling, undeniable energy, and a chorus made for singing at the top of your lungs—whether you’re in a packed hockey arena or a campfire up north.

The Cooper Brothers first gained international attention when they signed with Capricorn Records (famous for producing several of the most popular southern-rock acts of the time including The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker) in Macon, Georgia. Over the next few years, the Cooper Brothers released two albums under the Capricorn label, the eponymous Cooper Brothers and Pitfalls of the Ballroom. Subsequent singles “The Dream Never Dies”, "Rock and Roll Cowboys" and “I’ll Know Her When I See Her” all charted on The Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.

The twelve new songs cover genres from folk to jazz to folk/rock to world music.

Howard Gladstone, Toronto-born singer/songwriter, is releasing his eighth album of original music in September 2024. He is also publishing a book of his collected lyrics titled "Timepieces." Veteran Canadian songwriter James Gordon has called the work a "remarkably compelling collection."

Gladstone is continuing with his monthly residency at Toronto's Tranzac Club, where he is accompanied by regular band members (Tony Quarrington, Laura Fernandez, Bob Cohen, Ambrose Pottie). Previously Gladstone co-founded and produced the not-for-profit Toronto City Roots Festival from 2004 to 2010. He recovered from a life-changing spinal cord injury in 2014 and released the album Hourglass inspired by his healing journey, in 2017. While in recovery, he found new strength, resolve and solace in music, and understood more deeply its healing power. His follow-up album The Promise was recorded and released during the pandemic lockdown, with musicians working remotely. Gladstone continues to write, record, perform, and occasionally guest host "Corby's Orbit" radio show. Back in his university days, he was a journalist, and his interview with Robbie Robertson was re-published in Rolling Stone magazine.

He and Laura Fernandez formed the boutique record label Sonic Peach Music.

Bywater Call has received many blues music award nominations, including most recently, Best International Artist for the 2024 UK Blues Awards. They have toured extensively in Europe where shows have been praised by Dutch, German and UK media, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.

The band’s music is an exploration of life’s highs and lows. From intimate ballads that lay bare the complexities of human emotion to electrifying anthems that demand to be played at full volume, their catalogue is a journey through the human experience, incorporating influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, among others.

Bywater Call is a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada, featuring: Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), John Kervin (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet) and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).

Looking For Redemption is a roots/americana/alt-folk genre is a concept album of 9 tracks telling the story in film noir style of a man on the run from his past and a woman he meets along the way also on the run from her past.

Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, now based in Toronto I’ve been involved in music since my early teens. I remember vividly the music I heard on the radio in the ’50s and ’60s – the local stations with their mix of country and pop and faraway places like Chicago, Detroit and Wheeling West Virginia that my brother and I could pull in on an old tube radio at night when the weather was right. It was my older brother who really got me playing an instrument. He was playing electric guitar and big on Dwayne Eddy, the Ventures and ’50s/early sixties rock & roll. Somewhere he heard Gordon Lightfoot’s self-titled first album, went out and bought it, a Guild 12 string guitar (which I still have) and became a folkie. I began playing folk and bluegrass on the banjo, later picking up the guitar and more recently the mandolin. This all led to the folk groups we were in together in Sault Ste Marie. As The Natural Men together with some friends we were one of the top folk groups in the Sault during my high school years. All that music has stuck with me and forms part of my musical DNA.

Over the past few years, I’ve channelled my songwriting output into a series of original solo albums. “Songs of Love and Longing” was released in May 2020. “Northern Reflections” was released in January 2022. In 2023, I celebrated the release of “Shades Of Blue.” All three albums were recorded and produced by Vezi Tayyeb at his legendary studio, Kensington Sound, he founded for more than 50 years ago recording over the years with an incredible range of artists and styles.

Jesse’s sophomore album, The Shimmering Divide, set for release September 20th, 2024, sees him collaborating with long-time musical partner Marc L’Esperance. The storytelling on Divide is deeply personal, delivered with the acuity of Jesse’s poeticism and Marc’s glittering harmonization and multi-instrument contributions. The songs are watercolours of people and places Jesse has encountered and truly cared about, presented humbly and gorgeously as an acoustic-based collection of alt-folk ruminations. The album holds a fresh wisdom gained since Mansion but maintains the virtuosity of playing and delicate ear for arrangements, serene and richly lulling like that of a train, which some of the songs just happened to have stirred from, jotted down in journals from the West Coast to Ontario.

Reflecting on the album title, Jesse shares, “For me the title ‘The Shimmering Divide’ represents the age-old battle between good and evil, which path to take to do the right thing in your life. Those points are charged with possibilities that can change you forever.”

“The music of Cactus has always been steeped in blues tradition,” says Appice, who wanted the group to re-visit its best songs within a modern rock approach to traditional blues. “We kept hearing from so many of our music celebrity friends how much Cactus influenced them and how they would love to be a guest on a Cactus album. Even our label President, Brian Perera from Cleopatra Records, suggested to us that this album happens. So, Temple Of Blues was the logical next step.”

In addition to Appice on drums and vocals on all tracks, original Cactus guitarist Jim McCarty also appears on Temple of Blues. Current band members vocalist/ guitarist and harmonica player Jim Stapley and bassist Jim Caputo also appear on many of the tracks. Appice announced today a new member to the band’s line-up: guitarist Artie Dillon will handle guitar duties for live tours and plays on one track for the new album. Founding member Jim McCarty currently contributes as a writing and recording member of Cactus on occasion but no longer does live tours.

The current line-up of Cactus came together in 2021. Lead vocalist Jim Stapley comes from England and had worked with ex-Faces/ Who drummer Kenny Jones in the Jones Gang and Humble Pie. “Nearly five decades after I formed this band, the time had come to re-invent Cactus once again,”

“We started playing music together from the very beginning, but it really only started as “The Janzen Boys” after we moved back to Canada in 2012 after a childhood spent in Japan. I (Mick) was 9 years old and Simon was 12 and he wanted to try busking at The Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dad (JJ) likes to talk about how I would never sing when we played together, so for me to join them at The Forks, I would have to sing harmonies. That was the condition. It was here that “the father-and-sons trio, The Janzen Boys” started.

“In the summer of 2014, sticking with what we knew, we went on what we call our “Western Canada Busking Roadie.” This “tour” took us all the way to B.C., playing in music venues, farmers markets, on the street, and public spaces from Winnipeg to Kelowna, where we bought a baritone guitar from a friend and then turned around. It was the beginning of realizing that we could have a lot of fun doing the thing we love while getting paid for it.

“In 2018 after a successful showcase at the Manitoba Arts Network Emerging Artists series, we booked concert dates in towns and cities all around Manitoba. We didn’t know what to expect but it turned out to be a great series of shows, in little historic theatres, many of them in the out-of-the-way parts of the province.

During fingerstyle guitar legend Don Ross’ spring, 2024 tour, I had the incredible opportunity to have long conversation with Don about his latest album, 2023’s “Water”, a stunning collection of tracks which includes “Seabright” and “Three Views of a Secret” (a rendition of the Jaco Pastorius classic).

His 17th solo release—not counting numerous collaborations with other artists— “Water” was inspired by the aquatic vistas that surround Ross’ home in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The 10-song collection is a thoroughly modern version of a Don Ross album, blending solo guitar music with instrumental and vocal touches from pedigreed collaborators like Bruce Cockburn, Brooke Miller, Sean Hall, Atlantic String Machine and The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

Ross possesses almost supernatural skills, which made him the first two-time winner of the prestigious U.S. National Fingerpick Guitar Championship. In his 36 years as a recording artist and performer, he’s become widely recognized as one of the all-time greats in his field, possessing an uncanny ability to slap out percussive backbeats while speeding through a dizzying cascade of melodic runs. Styles from new age to Americana to jazz to pop to folk all fall effortlessly into the repertoire he’s performed on stages across the globe—on his way to picking up the Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts, administered by the Canada Council for the Arts.

In addition to his landmark work as a solo player, Ross has been a member of the combos Eye Music, Men of Steel and Don Ross Louder Than Usual. During the COVID pandemic, he earned a master of arts in orchestration that’s led to a thriving sideline as a scorer of orchestral and electronic music for video games, films and TV. https://donrossonline.com/

Graven's first release was a basement recording in 1999, and since then, he's shared stages with the likes of Steve Poltz, Jim Bryson, Danny Michel, Sarah Harmer, Elliott Brood, Joel Plaskett, Kathryn Calder (New Pornographers), Stephen Stanley, Ron Hawkins and many more. Focusing on the guitar and vocals, and having eclectic and broad contemporary Canadian musical influences with more than 16 major releases under his belt, Matty has toured all the way across Canada thrice, with a powerful mission to empower his listeners to embrace their authentic selves without judgment. https://www.graven.ca/biography

Briar Summers is a singer-songwriter from Muskoka, and now based in Toronto.

Produced and mixed by Wayne Cochrane, mastered by Chris Crerar, at Metalworks Studios, Mississauga ON, it features the incredible talents of Ben Riley (drums), Drew Jurecka (viola, violin), Jack Gaughan (guitars), Cole Jodouin (bass), Daniel Dennis (cello), and Louis Tusz (trumpet).

Briar has performed on many stages throughout Muskoka and beyond - Summerfolk Festival, Muskoka Pride, Muskoka Music Festival, Bala Cranberry Festival and Huntsville's Festival of the Arts, and has played countless other concerts and venues as well. She is performing in Europe for the first time this summer.

Her debut album FROM THE ASHES (2021), was produced and mixed by 3x Grammy-award winner David Bottrill.

Adrian Glynn McMorran is a Vancouver, Canada-based actor and musician. Raised in Vancouver, Adrian received a BA in Theatre from the University of British Columbia and studied acting at New York's Atlantic Theatre School.

Adrian also records and tours as a singer-songwriter ("Adrian Glynn") and has spent the past few years playing shows in Canada and Europe, both as a solo act and as a member of the Canadian modern folk group, The Fugitives.

The Fugitives 2014 release, Everything Will Happen, garnered them nominations for the Canadian Folk Music Awards and the Western Canadian Music Their most recent album ‘No Help Coming’ is a stunning reflection on the looming environmental crisis that we can’t seem take seriously.

Between writing his debut Clever Hopes album, Artefact, and the songs that comprise New Kind of Familiar, Shaver experienced his fair share of significant events—falling in love, moving to Nova Scotia, becoming a father. These are the things occupying his mind on the new record, and yet, they don't exist in a vacuum; Shaver rejects tidy narratives and time's linear arrow, and instead lets the album take shape with the same flow and verve of real life, bouncing back and forth in his lyrics between memory, the glorious, the complicated present, and anticipation.

The result is appropriately dreamy, drifting, rhythmic, and charged. On the record's soulful, simmering opener, "The Only One," Shaver's dusky delivery plays foil to longtime collaborator Eva Foote's airy vocals as he tentatively moves into new romance while acknowledging the lingering sting of a past breakup. The horn-blasted "Thrown It Open" finds him fully fallen into a big love and embracing the unknown; haunted pedal steel colours the reflective "Holes" as the relationship shifts and unsettles; with the quick-shuffling "Blue Parachutes," hazy memories of a lost year in Australia convince the songwriter's present self to pull it together.

"There was a lot of looking back on Artefact," Shaver says. "New Kind of Familiar is far more forward looking; there are songs on which I've been able to celebrate the place I'm in now - a place of stability and clarity.

As Shaver puts it: "I love a slow fade to black."

Nate Silva has made a name for himself as a consummate guitarist, songwriter, singer and entertainer. On June 07,2024, Nate will return to Huntsville, in concert, with his trio, showcasing a new album- ‘the Chase’, tour and triumphant set of songs at Canvas Brewing Company.

Known primarily for his virtuoso guitar stylings with the Slyde (2009-2021), an internationally successful recording band, he was much beloved for his exhilarating cover sets where he displays his artistry and melodic flourish on acoustic guitar. http://natesilvamusic.com/

Nate is also highly regarded for his extensive studio work as session player and producer. He has toured with an impressive variety of artists, in almost every genre available in today’s music scene, such as Gabrielle Goulet, Cindy Doire, Reuben and the Dark, Tim Piper and many more.

His powerful, multi-octave singing range, often compared to Geddy Lee and Freddie Mercury, is beyond thrilling. Above all, Nate is a dynamic, exciting presence on stage and engagingly charismatic considering how thunderous his music can get.

http://www.nathandasilva.ca/

“Matador," released on January 29, 2024, is an exciting, thoughtful album from a veteran songwriter and performer. In this delightful, easy-going conversation, Lori discusses the album and what it means her and her many years thriving in the music industry.

Lori Yates is a renowned voice, a respected singer/songwriter in roots music, and a pioneer of “alternative country music” in Canada.

The Band's Rick Danko once described Yates as having "that desperate Canadian sound," sealing her legendary status.

Yates returns with her eighth album, "Matador," released on January 29, 2024, a testament to Yates’ enduring influence and artistic evolution.

https://loriyates.ca/

'No Help Coming', to us, isn't a negative," says Glynn. "It means humanity's alone in this, but we're alone in this together."

The Fugitives are: Adrian Glynn: vocals, guitars, bass, balalaika, piano, additional percussion Brendan McLeod: vocals, guitars, ukulele, bad banjo Carly Frey: vocals, violin Chris Suen: vocals, banjo, ukulele

BIO: Formed in Vancouver, Canada in 2007, The Fugitives are a folk collective headed by songwriters Brendan McLeod and Adrian Glynn. The band has toured extensively in Europe & Canada, won multiple folk music awards and released 5 critically-acclaimed albums. On "No Help Coming" they took the learnings from months of research from their JUNO nominated previous release, "Trench Songs", to playfully take on deadly serious topics. "No Help Coming" is concerned with the climate emergency, and how humanity's only choice is to work together.

The Fugitives are an acoustic folk-roots group headed by songwriters Adrian Glynn and Brendan McLeod. They’re joined by banjo player Chris Suen (Viper Central) and violinist Carly Frey (The Coal Porters).

Over their first five albums, they’ve amassed a JUNO nomination, numerous CFMA and WCMA nominations, and toured extensively through Canada, Europe, and the UK. Performance highlights include most major Canadian folk festivals, a slot at Glastonbury, and a tour opening for Buffy Sainte-Marie. In 2020, the band created “Ridge”, a WW1-centered theatre show, which was named a Globe & Mail “Top Arts Pick of the Year”, and has toured to over 30 theatres across Canada.

The band has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows, brimming with complex harmonies, infectious storytelling and top-notch musicianship. As the CBC has it: “This show is simply brilliant.”

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the band achieved even greater success with albums like "Show Me" (1987) and "Dear Dear" (1992), “Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret” (1994). The latter featured the hit single "Ocean Pearl," which became one of their most recognizable and beloved songs.

OTIS website: https://theotisband.com

A lot has happened for the band and its principal songwriters, Candace Lacina and Mike Little, since they garnered world-wide attention with their debut. The lock down, Mike’s recovery from a worrisome health issue, the loss of family and friends, an extensive 2023 tour in support of Go by Feel and the rigorous demand placed on them as preeminent, highly sought after, studio musicians.

The Alders and the Ashes is a masterfully written and produced, sophomore album. For fans, eagerly awaiting more material from the songwriting duo and their esteemed bandmates, it is generously playful, soulful and dare I say, spiritual - a bountiful sonic feast of Americana Roots, Rock and Country.

Americana Roots singer-songwriter JJ Shipplet’s breathtakingly personal new album, A Way Through Time, released on March 15,2024 via Red Buffalo Records under the exclusive license of Jayward Artist Group (distributed by The Orchard). 

This new album showcases the Calgary, AB-based artist's evolution both sonically and lyrically, as he explores a sound he has been searching for a long time. And please, please, please listen to the last track, "You and I Will Never End"... it is devastating and heartbreaking. 

A Way Through Time was written throughout the course of a few years, in and around my house here in Calgary. These were the songs and melodies I would hold tightly to; something inside said they mattered and constantly drew me in further every time I’d sing them. When I’d pick up my guitar, or play the piano, these were the songs that would come out.

As a thread began to weave itself through each song, it became clearer and clearer that each song had a purpose, a story to tell, and something to work towards. It was the recognition that life barrels on, lap after lap, and as we learn to ride the wave, we begin to take advantage of the very moment, allowing us to give it away and to love recklessly.

Armed with the songs and time running out, I went to Fort Records in Fort Langley, BC, with Jay Stewart at the helm. His positive mental attitude, attention to detail, and willingness to dive deep into the songs was so crucial to making this album. Together, with close friend Jeremy Friesen, we set out to capture the truth of each song by connecting the lyrics and melody to the rhythm and emotion. It was extremely important that these songs be recorded with Jeremy, as he was battling stage 4 cancer. With each session, I could see him fading away. We knew we had to make the most of each moment. The very last session we did, finishing vocals for You and I Will Never End, was the last time I saw him.

https://www.jjshiplett.com/

• Chris James – keyboards, vocals (2010–present). LEADER SINCE 2009
• Tony Paoletta – pedal steel guitar (2013–present)
• Peter Young – drums (2015–2016, 2019–Present)
• Steve Allen - guitars, vocals (2022 - Present) 

The band was formed in 1968 in Los Angeles as The Flying Burrito Brothers. Its classic lineup featured country rock pioneer, the late Gram Parsons, and former founding Byrds members bassist Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke, along with eventual original Eagles member Bernie Leadon on lead guitar and pedal steel guitar genius Sneaky Pete Kleinow. The band’s first two albums, The Gilded Palace of Sin (which Rolling Stone listed at number 192 on its list of 500 Greatest Albums of All Time) and Burrito Deluxe, remain highly influential, acclaimed works which helped put country-rock on the map. Because Parsons and Keith Richards were good friends, Burrito Deluxe contains the first issued version of the Mick Jagger/Keith Richards-written song "Wild Horses," released almost a year before the The Rolling Stones own take on it appeared on Sticky Fingers. These days, the band, now based in Nashville, features Chris P. James (who’s been involved with the band since 2009), guitarist Steve Allen, Tony Paoletta on pedal steel and drummer Peter Young…all extremely talented musicians who love being involved with the band’s legacy and creating new music to keep that legacy alive. The current lineup has continued for over a decade to carry the Burrito Brothers torch via the Christmas release, which features the band’s trademark tight ensemble playing, beautiful harmonies, excellent songwriting, and the ability to turn other artist’s songs into their own.

Autogramm has a long-standing connection to the art, punk, and skateboarding communities world-wide. They are: Jiffy Marx - vocals, synths, guitars The Silo - vocals, drums, synths, guitars CC Voltage - vocals, bass, guitars Lars Von Seattle - guitars and vocals

“It’s like as if David Bowie, The Fixx and Cheap Trick partied with Prince and recorded the whole thing. Most of the songs should probably be on the Fast Times At Ridgemont High soundtrack.”

“Autogramm is a weird and wild synth-heavy, power-pop new-wave four-piece with members spread across Seattle, Chicago, and Vancouver. Drawing on influences from some of the best of the best like Devo, The Cars, Gary Numan and The Go-Gos, the band also flirts with elements of retro-punk, modern pop and rock. Autogramm has a long-standing connection to the art, punk, and skateboarding communities of the various cities and scenes they have been a part of (Vancouver, Berlin, New York, Calgary, Seattle, and Chicago). They have channeled their dedication to the DIY approach into a cohesive and self-sustaining concept wherein recording, visual art, and video production are all handled by members of the band themselves. In doing so, their primary focus remains creativity and good times. Speaking of the band members, they boast a stacked line-up of players from some of the most primo international acts around; Jiffy Marx (Hard Drugs, Night Court, Blood Maridian), CC Voltage (Black Halos, Spitfires, Dysnea Boys), Lars Von Seattle (The Catheters, Bread and Butter), The Silo (Black Mountain, Destroyer, Lightning Dust). They’ve toured extensively in Canada, the US, Mexico, the UK and Europe. They’ve charted across North American campus community radio and have been in rotation at Sirius XM’s The Verge, Rodney On The Rock and Steven’s Underground Garage. So, yeah, they’re kind of a big deal :)

A twelve-piece funk/soul band ready to get you dancing!

“They’re hot, sizzling, fun, and funky.”

Putting the motion in The Commotions are 12 band members including two lead singers and a wild five-piece horn section. Directed by Brian Asselin, these high caliber musicians will rock your heart and soul.

VOLUME III, is a riveting, stellar album which will set your feet and fire and get you singing along. Enjoy this wonderful conversation with Brian Asselin about one of the great albums of 2023 and the plans for the band moving forward.

THIS IS THE COMMOTIONS:

1. Brian Asselin - Musical Director - Tenor Sax
2. Jeff Rogers - Lead Vocalist
3. Rebecca Noelle - Lead Vocalist
4. Mackenzie Di Millo - Lead Vocalist
5. Ed Lister - Trumpet
6. Eric Littlewood - Trumpet
7. Mike Lett - Tenor Sax
8. Caelan Roberge-Toll - Baritone Sax
9. Ken Seeley - Bass
10. David Gaw- Guitar
11. Deniz Lim-Sersan - Piano
12. Jeff Asselin - Drums

His latest project, ‘You Get Bigger As You Go’, a detailed book on the influence and evolution of the music and artistry of Bruce Cockburn, has garnered enthusiastic praise and reviews for its insightful breadth and depth into the master guitarist and lyricist work, including an exhaustive examination of Cockburn’s entire recorded catalogue.

Dunn, who resides in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, an enduring follower of Cockburn’s exhilaratingly productive career, realized after several interviews with Cockburn as a music journalist that he had begun to formulate the basis of a book. Over years of research and interviews with associates and fans, Dunn has published a definitive study that will delight admirers of one Canada’s most notable troubadours.

In a relaxed and spirited conversation, Mark Dunn outlines the path and challenges that lead to the publication of this outstanding achievement, ‘You Get Bigger As You Go,’ on a thriving body of recorded art spanning over 50 years which still continues.

Meanwhile, tuba player, Jay Burr was working on a singer songwriter album and had asked Jim to contribute drum parts. Jim decided to ask Jay if he would try to add a tuba part to the shelved project. Jay agreed and it was magic.

While the first album took time discovering what the sound of the Green Lanterns was, "Canboro Canborough" focuses on the core group of Casson on drums, Burr on tuba, DeAdder on guitar, Branton on slide, with a guest appearance by Mark Lalama on keyboards.

The new album sounds more like a band than some of the cinematic adventures of the first. The recording concept remained the same with most of it done remotely in the member's home studios.

Once again, the song titles pay tribute to the history of the Niagara Peninsula and some vintage radio clips are back along with some other notable audio samples.

Funky and uplifting, there is a lot of laughter on this album.

“Before the Collapse of the Hive” is one of those astonishing, long-awaited set of songs that is startling, contemporary, and completely relevant for the unsettled times we live in, as well a moving personal statement from a gifted artist in full command of his craft. Certainly, one of the best for 2023 and one that reminds you, as Stanley perfectly ascribes in his song the Owl, “everything worth knowing is hidden in your record collection”.

Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Stephen Stanley is best known from his many years as a founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist with The Lowest of the Low. After years of touring and sharing the stage with the likes of Billy Bragg, The Violent Femmes, The Jayhawks and Lloyd Cole, a gold record for their “genuinely timeless album” (Exclaim!), ‘Shakespeare My Butt’, Stanley now leads his own band, The Stephen Stanley Band.

Americana UK described the band’s 2018 album ‘Jimmy & The Moon’ and Stephen’s artistry this way: “The songs are big and bold, unafraid, unashamed to flaunt their heritage. Stanley’s voice being not a thing of beauty but a workman’s tool skillfully used to create just the right effect...” A new record called “Before the Collapse of the Hive” is currently in the final stages of recording and slated for release on November 10th, 2023.

Shred Kelly is Tim Newton, Sage McBride, Ty West, Ryan Mildenberger. Their music is vast, infectious and beyond cheerfully uplifting.

Emerging from the majestic landscapes of the Canadian Rockies, Shred Kelly is a powerhouse band that seamlessly blends elements of alternative, folk, and rock music. With a captivating live act that leaves audiences in awe, they have become a mainstay in the Canadian music scene. But it's not just their energetic performances that set them apart—Shred Kelly's heartfelt songwriting strikes a chord with listeners, connecting deeply as each band member brings their eclectic musical influences to the table, shaping the group's unique musical direction. Shred Kelly's ascent shows no signs of slowing down as they prepare to release their highly anticipated sixth studio album, produced by the acclaimed Nygel Asselin.

Blurry Vision delves deep into the overwhelming world that surrounds us while searching for glimmers of hope. Recorded with Asselin, with whom they previously collaborated on their 2020 release Like A Rising Sun, the album reflects the band's ability to confront the complexities of existence with both vulnerability and resilience. Through their songs, Shred Kelly paints a picture of dark times illuminated by slivers of light.

With a fervent commitment to their craft, Shred Kelly has garnered praise from critics in Canada and beyond, earning Amazon playlisting, Spotify Playlisting, international radio play, and regular rotation on influential platforms such as SiriusXM, Radio Eins in Berlin and CBC Radio. The band was nominated for Rock Artist of the Year at the 2021 Western Canadian Music Awards.

Two amazing EP’s soon to be presented as a vinyl record experience

These songs are truly inspiring and touching in scope and in their depth of feeling.

To tell the story of Skydiggers is to tell the story of a thriving musical collaboration that was born in friendship and has abided with trust. Over the course of 15 studio albums and countless miles on the road, Skydiggers have grown from enthusiastic youngsters into husbands, fathers, and mentors. And while band members have changed over the decades, Josh Finlayson and Andy Maize remain its beating heart. With new collaborators bringing their unique musical histories into the circle, the sound of Skydiggers continues to evolve.

Their new music is a captivating collection showcasing Skydiggers' ability to weave rich narratives around complex characters navigating complicated times. The first EP, Hide Your Light, is a celebration of life, community, and connection. The second EP, Bide Your Time, features another stellar collection of six new songs including “One Song at a Time” - a heartfelt tribute to their dear friend Dallas Good of The Sadies.

Though some of these new songs veer from the traditional roots of their folk-rock beginnings, the sound and spirit of the music is distinctly Skydiggers - music made by friends, for friends.

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

On Sonic Mojo founding member, drummer and leader of the pack Roger Earl is joined by stalwart guitarist, engineer, and co-producer Bryan Bassett (formerly with Wild Cherry and Molly Hatchet), fun-loving bassist Rodney O’Quinn (longtime member of the Pat Travers Band), and on lead vocals and guitar, Scott Holt (who toured and recorded with the legendary Buddy Guy for 10+ years).

“I will rock until I drop,” is Roger’s favorite saying when it comes to Foghat and his life in general. SONIC MOJO proves that without a doubt.

Foghat website: https://foghat.com

An obvious uniqueness that identifies and sets apart the band is that Blackburn Brothers is a band of brothers. Duane (lead vocals, organ, piano), Brooke (guitar, vocals), Cory (drums, harmony vocals), Robert (guitar, harmony vocals), and Nathan (bass guitar) all share the Blackburn name. This name has become truly connected to Toronto's music history.

Musically, the Blackburn name has been forever imprinted in Canadian Music by the patriarch of the family, Bobby Dean Blackburn, a veteran R&B artist who gained legendary status on the Toronto music scene, performing the city circuit for over 50 years.

On September 1, 2023, Blackburn Brothers release their long-awaited third recording, aptly titled ‘SoulFunkn'BLUES’.

In conversation with Cory, Brooke and Duane, we discuss their long legacy of making soul satisfying uplifting music, their family history, and how they make their music so soulful, funky and the bluest in modern music.

After her side project with Rosie & the Riveters, Alexis making her long-awaited return as a solo artist brimming with warmth and vulnerability.

“The album explores the dualities of a francophone identity on anglophone soil and features 9 original songs and 4 scored field recordings produced by James Bunton.”

"This album is about how we view our past," shares Zoe. "I dedicated it to my grandmothers to pay homage to my own Southern roots. Every song has a story to tell - literally. "I Miss You (But My Aim is Getting Better)" started with a collection of horrible jokes my mother found in my grandfather's personal effects after he passed away. "Just a Trickle, Just a Nickel" is a reflection of my own experiences with homelessness and a recent experience with a mentally ill friend who disappeared into the streets. "What’s a Little Fire?" is about me burning down the cabin in the woods I lived in as a child. But just as they did in my grandmothers’ time, I talk about many heavy subjects with the tenderness and lightheartedness still expected of women." https://www.zoeackah.com/

BIO – Zoe Ackah Zoe Ackah is a genre defying and imaginative singer/songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto, Canada.

Known on the Toronto scene as a singing drummer and studio backup vocalist, Ackah is now forging a solo path with fierce determination and a trunk full of creative ideas. In late 2020, she released her debut album, The World Inside, and is now readying the May 2023 release of a second full-length, This Hen, a record steeped in classic country. “I wrote This Hen for my mother and grandmothers, true ladies of the South,” Zoe explains. https://www.youtube.com/@ZoeAckah

SÉAN MCCANN (the Shantyman) is a founder of the iconic Canadian folk rock band Great Big Sea and an Order of Canada recipient for his recovery advocacy. A survivor of sexual abuse and subsequent addiction, Séan has spent the last ten years touring North America as a solo concert performer and musical keynote speaker, singing and sharing his story with theatre audiences, front line workers, teachers, students, patients, inmates, veterans, and anyone who struggles with their mental health.

Séan believes that music is strong medicine and a song is never more powerful than when it is sung with a friend. 2023 marks the XXX anniversary of one of Canada’s favourite bands and Séan will be celebrating the legend with fans across the country. Armed only with his solo voice, bodhrán (Celtic hand drum), and guitar, the Shantyman will lead us all in a great big singalong as we sail back in time to the brighter bays of his native Newfoundland. Filled with foot stomping favourites and hilarious stories of life on the road, this is the only “tribute” show you need to see this decade and a nostalgic tip of the hat to the legacy of a truly iconic Canadian band.

The SHANTYMAN continues the GREAT BIG SINGALONG as he tours throughout late summer and the fall.

2023 marks the XXX anniversary of one of Canada’s favourite bands and Séan will be celebrating the legend with fans across the country. Armed only with his voice, bodhrán (Celtic hand drum), and guitar, the SHANTYMAN will lead us all in a GREAT BIG SINGALONG as we sail back in time to the brighter bays of his native Newfoundland. Filled with foot stomping favourites and hilarious stories of life on the road, this is the only “tribute” show you need to see this decade and a nostalgic tip of the hat to the legacy of a truly iconic Canadian band.

BIO: https://seanmccannsings.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@SeanMcCannSings

Three-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner (Traditional Singer, 2015; Solo Artist, 2012 & 2008), Recipient of the Blues With A Feeling Award at the 2020 Maple Blues Awards (with 35 nominations since 1999), five-time Juno Award Nominee in both the Roots/Traditional and Blues categories, Kerrville (Texas) New Folk Finalist -- Michael Jerome Browne is a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American Roots music.

After three years of sporadic performing, Michael is hitting the road again and will be releasing his new album “Gettin’ Together” in May of 2023. He traveled to different places to record with old and new friends: Harrison Kennedy, Mary Flower, Eric Bibb, John Sebastian, Colin Linden, J.J. Milteau, and many others. Getting together with these great musicians in the studio was highly therapeutic.

Whether he's gliding a slide across his resonator guitar, creating an intense mood with his tremolo 12-string guitar, or “hammering the claw” on his gourd banjo, Michael's passion and virtuosity always shine through. In the true tradition of folk music, his performances inspire us to see the interconnections between the many cultures and influences that gave birth to American Roots Music. Gospel, Blues, Old-Time, Country, Soul and Cajun, expect to hear all of this and more from a performer who's been called a street-smart archivist and an absolute treasure.   Born in South Bend, Indiana, Michael is the son of English professors whose love of music and poetry inspired them to take their nine year old son to the great jazz, blues and folk clubs in their adopted home of Montreal. By the age of fourteen, MJB was already a regular on the vibrant folk and coffee house scene adding banjo, fiddle, and mandolin to his masterful command of all variety of guitars and harmonica.

https://www.michaeljeromebrowne.com

FEATURED SONGS: Please Help Fixin_ To Die Blues Diamond Joe Living With The Blues

A songwriter’s songwriter, Marc Jordan is best known for writing (along with John Capek) “Rhythm of My Heart,” the 1991 smash for Rod Stewart. Marc’s songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross, Cher, Chicago, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Kim Carnes and the Manhattan Transfer, to name a few.

Waiting for the Sun to Rise sees Jordan turning his gaze outward, writing from a place of weathered wisdom. “Rio Grande,” is the album’s centerpiece, is a hymn to what’s left of the world. Squandered potential and abiding hope live side by side, and a soaring solo by Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker tops off producer Lou Pomanti’s arrangement. The stunning “Coltrane Plays the Blues” continues Jordan’s penchant for mid-century jazz references. Like his thematic cousin Paul Buchanan of the Blue Nile (whose “The Downtown Lights” is covered here), Jordan sets his stories in an after-hours netherworld populated by lonely lovers and disappointed dreamers.

Jordan is a Juno Award and Genie Award winner, and in 2019 was Juno-nominated for his last album Both Sides. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Sky, and in 2022, the duo recorded an album of duets entitled He Sang She Sang.

https://www.marcjordan.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@marcjordanmusic

FEATURED SONGS Rio Grande Intro / Frontier Rio Grande Bad Time to Say Goodbye Cradle to the Grave Everybody Wants to Rule the World

https://youtu.be/Upw5hSY34k0

Musician, Adventurer and Playwright

I first met Ian Tamblyn at Northern Lights Festival Boreal close to 50 years ago and it’s been a joy to watch his continued skill and craft grow over these many years. His music is beyond an inspiration, delving poetically and figuratively into Canadian and Universal themes as only a master such as he can achieve.

It’s a great honour to have him on Backstage on the Sound Café, in conversation about his newest album, his 30th, A Longing For Innocence , his upcoming tours and his approach to songwriting, production, playwriting and more.

Bio: Ian Tamblyn has been a working musician since 1972. He has released dozens of albums of his work as well as acting as producer for many other artists. Over the years Ian has written too many songs and has given up on counting them. He has also written fourteen plays and over one hundred theatre soundtracks.

Mr. Tamblyn has received a number of awards and nominations. In 2012, Ian was made a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society for his guiding and creative work in the Canadian Arctic. He has been awarded the Estelle Klein and Helen Verger Awards for his contributions to Canadian folk music; he has a honourary doctorate from Lakehead University, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Trent University and was voted English Songwriter of the Year in 2010 by the Canadian Folk Music Awards, amongst other awards and nominations in the music and theatre world. https://www.iantamblyn.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ian.tamblyn/

“Something Easy” is album and set of songs of rare beauty, each song is a world unto itself and yet draws you into a compelling narrative of discovery and understanding.

Indeed, it was the arrival of Rutledge’s first son that convinced him he should level up on this record. As any new parent knows, free time is at a premium when there’s an infant in the house, and the Toronto-born-and-bred singer/songwriter didn’t want to waste any of that time. He took guitar lessons for the first time in his life, even though he’s been making a living as a professional musician for 20 years now. He went back to school and got a degree in Arts Administration, taking an internship behind the scenes at iconic Canadian concert venue Massey Hall. And, of course, he learned how to make a record by himself while simultaneously learning how to be a parent.

“It started after Jack, our firstborn, came along,” says Rutledge. “I had no time to go into the studio, so I started learning how to engineer and record myself. I ended up producing the whole album at home, working for 45 minutes to an hour each night for 2 years and calling friends for advice about the recording process. It was probably the slowest album I’ve ever made, but at the same time, I was teaching myself the basics of engineering.” He continues, "All of these songs are about youth, and I hadn’t realized that. And it’s interesting because I feel that, as a new dad, there’s this transition that’s happening where suddenly I’m realizing I’m in my 40s. And what’s happening is that our wild-and-free years are suddenly over there, and our ‘middle-aged’ years are now right here. I feel like I’m at this apex where I’m thinking a lot about my youth, But I’m not lamenting anything. I’m not old, I’m just shocked at how suddenly this new phase of life has begun.”

“In ‘Old News’, Spencer weaves a mysterious aura around finely etched portraits of faces, places and faded memories, as only a songwriter of her imminent promise can. Almost in cinematic, slow motion, a series of characters materialize, share their hard-won lessons and dissolve, cross fade into another. An old teacher, a loving dog, a long-lost love, a small engine repairman, a lonely girl longing for love, each comes into focus only long enough to be recognized for their humble place amongst the human tide.” Great Dark Wonder

“Raised on the mud banks of the Avon River, award-winning Nova Scotian funeral director-turned-songwriter Terra Spencer has won over audiences in Canada, the UK, and Germany since her 2018 debut. She has already crafted a catalogue of startlingly intimate songs, marrying fingerstyle guitar, gospel piano, and her butterscotch voice with sly humour and 70s wood-paneled warmth. Terra recently released her third album, Old News, created with Ben Caplan and celebrated with a cross-Canada and UK tour. In a room of 5 or 500, every show is a knee-to-knee conversation with a natural storyteller. Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell, and Karen Carpenter walk into a bar.”

https://terraspencer.ca/home https://www.facebook.com/terraspencer/

Tara has recently received the Senate of Canada Medal for her activist work in her community. She finished a run of three summer seasons with her hit theater show that she wrote, produced, and directed called, “Atlantic Blue-The Stories of Atlantic Canada’s Iconic Songwriters” in Charlottetown. The summer of 2019 saw Atlantic Blue produced and directed by the world famous Charlottetown Festival playing three nights a week to sold out crowds.

Tara received the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year award as well as Solo Recording of the Year for her latest album, Deeper at the PEI Music Awards. Deeper was nominated for Pop Album of the Year at ECMA 2020. Her duet with Catherine MacLellan, "This Storm", received the award for Song of the Year. She performed “Songs from Atlantic Blue” in Concert with the PEI Symphony Orchestra. Last year, Tara received the Stompin' Tom award by the East Coast Music Association, marking an outstanding contribution to music in the region.

Tara MacLean is an environmental and social justice activist, a zen student, a poet, author and a playwright. She resides primarily in her home province of Prince Edward Island, and also lives part time on Salt Spring Island, BC. She considers herself bi-coastal. Her greatest joy is being a mother to her three beautiful girls.

Her first book, Song of the Sparrow, will be released on March 14th, 2023 with Harper Collins Canada, followed by a new album that is the soundtrack for the book on March 31st.

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Behind the seemingly endless stream of award winning musical output (he has produced and/or played on more than 200 albums since the turn of the millennium, 7 of which have won Juno Awards), is one of the hardest working musicians this country has ever produced. Whether he’s turning heads on the concert circuit with his incendiary playing, or pulling the best possible performances out of the many artists that he works with in the studio, Dawson is always striving to take things to the next level.

A native of Vancouver, Canada, but currently residing in Nashville, where he works as a solo artist, sideman, and record producer, Steve has forged an impressive career full of highlights and awards, including:

7 Juno Awards as artist/producer, 18 times nominated

3 times named "Producer Of The Year" at Western Canadian Music Awards

4 times named "Producer Of The Year" at Canadian Folk Music Awards

      Recipient of many other awards including Maple Blues Awards, Grand Prix De Jazz De Montreal, Blues Blast Awards, and many Western Canadian Music Awards and Canadian Folk Awards as an artist and producer.
        Steve's studio, The Henhouse, located in Nashville (and previously in Vancouver)  has hosted countless artists and been the home to over 80 releases. With a beautifully warm and organic setting to stay and record, it promises to become a destination for many more to come.

Topics discussed:

1. Topic A
2. Topic B
3. Topic C

Links mentioned in this episode:

• http://example.com
• http://second-example.com

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Lynn Harrison joins Douglas in conversation about her newest album, Treasure and performs three songs acoustically during our talk, letting the magic of these songs speak for themselves.

“A gifted artist known for thoughtful, heartfelt songs of uncommon beauty, power, and insight; Toronto singer-songwriter LYNN HARRISON is an inspiring presence on Canadian stages. Her new seventh solo album TREASURE (produced by Douglas September) features musicians David Woodhead, Bob Cohen, and Ambrose Pottie.

Lynn Harrison is a concise storyteller, prolific songwriter, and an expert turner of memorable phrases. Her previous, highly acclaimed album Something More was ranked among the Top 20 albums of 2020 by Jan Hall of Folk Roots Radio, among others. Also, as an ordained Unitarian Universalist (UU) minister currently serving at First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, it’s clear that in all paths of her work, Harrison presents an inspirational message of love, hope and justice.

Treasure is an album about staying sane in a mad world; about facing change with love and optimism; a 12-song prayer cycle that's both personal and universal – from a songwriter's songwriter, whose deft lyricism, melodic sensibilities, and captivating voice are second to none.

www.lynoleum.com https://www.youtube.com/@lharrison77 https://www.facebook.com/lynn.harrison

Lynn plays three selections from Treasure: "Let's Talk to Each Other Like Trees" is a thoughtful, poignant meditation on communicating at the soul level, with other people, and with the earth.

To the hypnotic, percolating sound of Harrison's fingerpicked rhythm guitar, "Punctuation" ingeniously parallels an author's periods, question marks, and run-on sentences with those of our lives.

"Good Songs" is a tender-hearted acoustic solo piece featuring Harrison's intimate vocals and sparkling guitar, affirming the value of songs to inspire love and heal the world.

February 3rd, 2023 Release Date

On her 4th album, Better Days Ahead finds the Quebec-based singer-songwriter Kate Weekes exploring “the liminal space created by lockdowns and cancelled plans”. Given that Weekes’ song writing has typically been inspired by travel, Better Days Ahead required an entirely new way of writing, using internal cues to map a moment in time. Composing mainly in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec, Weekes found “the boreal forest and Canadian Shield were beautiful places to pass a challenging period.” Indeed, the wildly eclectic songs assembled on Better Days Ahead — which Weekes variously describes as “Appalachian-influenced murder-suicide ballads, anthemic folk-pop, whimsical instrumental waltzes,” and “moody, horse-riding cowboy meets British rock”— announce an artist fiercely unbound by musical convention yet precisely able to articulate her vision. BIO: All albums are travelogues of sorts, deep dives into foreign (sometimes familiar) worlds undertaken with little more than a guitar, a notebook, and an unquenchable desire to explore. Few artistic journeys have been as expansive as the one mounted by Kate Weekes as she assembled ‘Taken by Surprise’, recorded in 2019 with James Stephens in Chelsea, QC. This dazzling third solo album charts a tumultuous period in Weekes’s life; her first album to fearlessly chronicle not just the physical landscape around her but also the emotional one within. Now based in Wakefield, Quebec after nearly a decade spent immersed in the Yukon’s vibrant music scene, Weekes drew on an astonishing array of experiences including dog mushing-for-hire in Norway, touring China with a swing band, canoeing from Whitehorse to Dawson City and, notably, several intense personal relationships to write these by turns mournful and joyous songs. That unique backstory explains why a one-genre description simply cannot capture the album’s musical scope.

https://kateweekes.com/home

The Salt Cellars come from the south side of Algonquin Park. The Salt Cellars are currently a 5-piece band made up of Virginia DeCarle (Lead Vocals and Harmonies), Rob Bersan (Lead Vocals and Harmonies, Guitars), Ron Kapitain (Harmonica, Accordion, Keyboards, Harmonium), Richard Joudrey (Bass guitar), Anne Wilde (Harmonies).

Virginia deCarle and Rob Bersan are the singer/songwriter foundation and in 2016, they formed the duo, ‘The Salt Cellars’. The two have also played music together in previous years with other musicians. Drawing from their love of Americana, Folk, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Rock and pretty much any other music that tickled their ears, they have written an eclectic mix of songs over the years. After many years of writing individually they brought their lyrics and music to each other. They also write collaboratively and have played in many venues in different parts of Ontario (Rob in Sweden too), getting great feedback from audiences who attended their shows. People loved the tight harmonies and skilled musicianship.

In 2017, Ron Kapitain, consummate harmonica, accordion & keyboard player from the Maynooth area, joined the duo. In late 2017, the trio met Anax Junius Music Studio producer and JUNO winner, Richard Joudrey (Blue Peter/Rational Youth). Impressed by their originality, he was excited to begin production of their first CD entitled, ‘Truth’.

The band became a six piece, including Rick Joudrey on bass, Anne Wilde on backing vocals and Brendon Burgess on percussion and drums.

Most comfortable slinging an acoustic guitar and crooning to an attentive audience, Barber has been known to plug in and get sweaty in the din of a rock club as well from time to time. Like his heroes Neil Young and Bob Dylan, he feeds off of the contrast of intimate solo performance and electric band energy and this balance has been reflected in his body of work. From his early Paper Bag Records and Warner Music Canada days and continuing throughout his longstanding relationship with Outside Music, Barber’s album Ghost Notes has garnered millions of streams, was nominated for a Juno Award, with almost every track from the record licensed to both film and TV spots, including Hockey Night in Canada, Heartland, Gabriel’s Inferno and more.

As the road miles have accumulated, Barber’s live shows have leaned away from the raucous and more to the mellow side of things. In 2016 Matthew collaborated with his talented sister Jill Barber and the result was The Family Album and an extensive tour with three generations along for the ride. Many memorable tours happened before and after, including a 20-city tour of China, a couple of forays in Europe, several trips Down Under and countless miles on the trans-Canada highway.

2022 will see Barber releasing new music of his own for the first time since 2018’s Phase Of The Moon and he is very excited about it.

Our most fundamental questions—about how to exist in this world we share, and how best to love the people we love—so often keep us awake at the end of the day, at a loss for answers. From the plaintive opening notes of David Myles’ It’s Only a Little Loneliness, the New Brunswick-based songwriter testifies that he’s no exception: “I could try to explain what goes on in my brain, but I’d have to pretend that I knew,” he sings on “Certain.” On his introspective 15th studio album, Myles establishes himself as a seeker—of paths, of new sonic expressions, of God. Concrete answers, however, elude him the same as they elude the rest of us. All of that seeking reveals one clear conclusion, though: we are bound to each other. “But it’s late at night, and I’m reaching for the light,” he continues over soft, arpeggiated guitar on the album’s opening track. “And I want to spend my whole life with you.”

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Rock and Roll Warrior is a unvarnished, no-holds-barred, stories of his life in the rock ‘n roll fast lane on the road, backstage, on private jets and inside notorious after-show parties with music legends in the era of free-spirit, hard driving rock ‘n’ roll and R&B. It’s life on the road in technicolor. A roller coaster ride peek behind the curtain at the good, the bad and the ugly in the music biz of years gone by.

The book is a riotous, humorous, intimate, provocative story of Libert’s life in music. He has absolutely no qualms about sharing stories of all aspects of his life that will amaze, titillate, impress, and endear him to those who read his fascinating life journey in music.

From his tenure as co-lead singer of 60s pop hitmakers, The Happenings, to his role as tour manager for Alice Cooper’s most legendary 70s tours, to managing funk/R&B legend George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic to eventually being imprisoned for dealing drugs in L.A.,

Bruce Cockburn’s conversation with Douglas McLean covered his stellar career of over fifty years in the music industry . Recorded in February 08, 2022. For 50 years, this Canadian musical legend has been capturing in song the essence of human experience – while fiercely striving to make it better.“One of Canada’s finest artists, Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles while travelling to such far-flung places as Guatemala, Mali, Mozambique, and Nepal, and writing memorable songs about his ever-expanding world of wonders. “My job,” he explains, “is to try and trap the spirit of things in the scratches of pen on paper and the pulling of notes out of metal.” That scratching and pulling has earned Cockburn high praise as an exceptional songwriter and a revered guitarist. His songs of romance, protest, and spiritual discovery are among the best to have emerged from Canada over the last 50 years. His guitar playing, both acoustic and electric, has placed him in the company of the world’s top instrumentalists. And he remains deeply respected for his activism on issues from native rights and land mines to the environment and Third World debt, working for organizations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, and Friends of the Earth. Throughout his career, Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song. Whether singing about retreating to the country or going up against chaos, tackling imperialist lies or embracing ecclesiastical truths, he has always expressed a tough yet hopeful stance: to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight. “We can’t settle for things as they are,” he once warned. “If you don’t tackle the problems, they’re going to get worse.”

Episode 1 - Julian Taylor

“Beyond the Reservoir is an album that addresses identity, loss, sadness, hope, and redemption. The themes of resilience, courage, and strength are prevalent in every carefully-chosen lyric. It contains a gentle spiritual thread that runs throughout the album touching on each of the elements like fire, water, air, and earth as they relate to humanity. It is a coming-of-age story and a beautifully-orchestrated successor to The Ridge.” https://juliantaylormusic.ca/

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm