PEI raised, Nova Scotia-based artist/songwriter Christine Campbell is a true representation of her diverse influences – from hard rock and 70’s rock to roots and blues. A killer guitarist, classically-trained pianist, dynamic songwriter and incomparable singer, Christine is a rare multi-faceted talent. She has released two critically acclaimed solo albums.
As a performing artist for almost a decade, Christine has toured Canada, opened for Chantal Kreviazuk, Bob Seger, Steve Earle and Jann Arden, and showcased at the 2020 Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans.
Blake Johnston is best known as the guitar-slinging powerhouse vocalist for Halifax-based band The Stogies. Almost a decade on from the Stogies, Blake is performing and producing as half of Halifax’s Campbell & Johnston.
Since 2021, the Halifax vintage blues-rock duo has been entertaining audiences across Canada with their soulful tone, 60’s and 70s rock-style guitar riffs, and bewitching vocal harmonies.
On October 19, 2023, Campbell & Johnston released their first single, “Righteous” off their upcoming studio album, showcasing a jambalaya of roots, blues, and soul reminiscent of Little Feat and Dr. John.
“I wrote the song a few years ago, before 2020 and everything that followed. Christine remembered it from a late-night party session where I played it. She really liked it. Cut to a few years later, she remembered the song and thought now would be a good time to bring it out. She was right,” says Blake.
“I envisioned it as a more classic outlaw country Americana tune, Christine saw it as a more soul and R’n’B driven tune reminiscent of Ann Peebles. Again, she was right. Once we started fleshing it out, I dug into the Little Feat bag of tricks for some icing on top, and here we are.”
In 2021, they released their self-titled album, Campbell & Johnston’s Black Market Band, with Blakes self-produced recording adding a touch of their old-school rock influences to a modern twist on blues and soul. The album went on to earn the award for Best Blues Album at the 2022 East Coast Music Awards and a Maple Blues Award nomination for New Artist/Group of the Year. In 2023, Christine was awarded the Music P.E.I ‘Rooted to the Island’ Award.
Campbell & Johnston’s music can be heard in various popular Canadian television shows such as Hudson & Rex and Sullivan’s Crossing.
