How we spent this week:

• Jay Aymar’s road-tested music, laden with country influences, maintains a strong sense of storytelling and deeply expressive lyrics. He’s a philosopher of the everyday and a poet of small town life, and he brought some of his songs to the Woodshed this week, including the one that Ian Tyson recorded.

• After visiting Memphis, TN last week, our Editor in Chief, David Newland, wraps up Black History Month with a reflection on race, music and where they intersect.

• The Donefors embody a contemporary pop and progressive folk sound which they’ve coined “Canadiana Vanguard” — a musical expression that spans genres, stretches boundaries, and stays rooted in an instrument’s organic sound. They brought their bold lyrics, unpredictable arrangements, experimental style-merging, and engaging live show into our Woodshed for a chat and performance.

• Spoken word poet Tanya Davis’ newest album was produced by Ottawa singer-songwriter Jim  Bryson, prompting Davis to venture deeper into the music. Read our Meghan Sheffield’s review of Clocks and Hearts Keep Going.

• The Johnny Max “Bigger” Band kicked off the Blues Summit weekend, and our Eric Thom was lucky enough to be there.

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