How Cuban cigars helped shape Kat Danser’s new album
In December of 2019, Edmonton-based blues singer-songwriter Kat Danser was in Havana, Cuba. In May of that year, she found a musical thread to the blues called Trova, which could be referred to as the roots music of Cuba. She ...
Shannon Dooks eliminates all ‘Doubts’ on her new single
Ahead of the release of her new album, Do It Again, Shannon Dooks, is lending her supple voice to its earnest and heartfelt lead single, “Doubts.” When a once-thriving connection turns dubious, acknowledging the signs can be a tough experience ...
5 emerging artists you must see at the Ottawa Grassroots ...
The Ottawa Grassroots Festival kicks off online on Friday, and there are plenty of headliners on the bill who need no introduction, including Juno winning artists James Keelaghan, Lynn Miles and Leela Gilday. But part of the fun of festivals ...
Steve Paul Simms pays tribute to Back Alley John on ...
Toronto singer-songwriter Steve Paul Simms has some “Blues for Back Alley John” in his latest single. The song serves as a celebration for one of Ottawa — and later, Calgary’s — finest bluesmen, the late, great Back Alley John Wilson, ...
Curve Music is reviving some 90s Queen Street nostalgia with ...
If you spent any time in Toronto in the 80s and 90s, I don’t need to tell you that Queen Street West was the place to be for live music – well, one of the places to be. The scene ...
Roots Music Canada’s lockdown survival guide; a.k.a the Canadian roots ...
Phase three – or is it phase four now? – of the COVID-19 pandemic is now in high gear in a lot of provinces, and a lot of us are stuck at home again, waiting until we can all ...
Tommy John Ehman serves up a cover of Springsteen’s ‘Hungry ...
Roots country singer-songwriter Tommy John Ehman is serving up his timeless new take on the Bruce Springsteen classic hit, “Hungry Heart.” It’s Tommy John’s first official cover offering, and it lands a month after his not one, but two, 2021 ...
Alec Fraser Jr. builds on the tradition of Opry bass ...
In the 1950s, the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville wouldn’t allow drummers on stage during their nationwide radio broadcasts. In fact, drums were frowned upon in country music in general as being “too loud” or “not pure” One legendary ...
The Ottawa Grassroots Festival has announced this year’s lineup
The ninth annual Ottawa Grassroots Festival takes place over the weekend of Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25, as a virtual event this year, providing an opportunity to extend the festival’s reach to the public both nationally and globally. ...
Corby reflects on 20 years of community radio
In addition to writing for Roots Music Canada, Paul Corby hosts Corby’s Orbit on Radio Regent in Toronto. This month, he is celebrating 20 years on air, and he wrote this lovely piece in celebration. I am but a ...