Randy Newman embraces the spectrum of emotion
Convocation Hall, Toronto ON – Saturday, March 26th Just the other day, as I was driving my 15-year old son to school, his response to what I was playing (The Randy Newman Songbook, Volume 2) on the CD player was, ...
The fine taste of Rob Szabo
The Woodshed Sessions, Episode 15 features singer-songwriter and producer Rob Szabo. (Our apologies for audio quality in the interview portion. We blame the moose behind the glass, Fred. He’s new.) Rob Szabo, The Woodshed Sessions, no. 15 from Roots Music ...
The youthful maturity of Harlan Pepper
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Harlan Pepper is a young band. These 4 Hamilton lads are fresh out of high school, but playing their own brand of roots rock with great maturity. They have a solid grasp ...
Steve Bell’s “kindness”: the thought behind the gift
How does a Christian craftsman consider Jesus? That’s the question even a secular listener might ask in approaching contemporary music that fits in the Gospel category. It’s a question two-time Juno winner and multiple nominee Steve Bell answers on his ...
Highlights March 27 – April 2
We’ve been busy this week! One of the greatest singer-songwriters in Canada, Ron Hynes has been performing his music (including songs like “Sonny’s Dream” and the “St John’s Waltz”) for 40 years. It was an honour to have him visit ...
Nicole Byblow’s Juno gala fairy tale
Manitoba-born indie-pop songstress Nicole Byblow won a 2010 Fred Sherrat Award and scholarship from MusicCounts. A week ago, she found herself showcasing her talents at the gala celebration that precedes the televised Juno Awards show. Nicole may not be a ...
Who’s Ron Hynes when he’s at home?
Ron Hynes is one of Newfoundland’s most beloved performers, a 40 year veteran of the music industry, and a man who’s stared his demons down. The recent documentary The Man of a Thousand Songs features Hynes telling his own difficult ...
HUGG to tour at last
Canadian folk-metal “supergroup” HUGG has announced plans to tour Canada at last. The side project of Borealis recording artist Aengus Finnan, Penguin Eggs album of the year winner Jory Nash, Trevor Mills, bassist for Digging Roots and Roots Music Canada ...
Kim Stockwood: back to the water
Perhaps no place, any place, is as proud of its musical traditions as the island of Newfoundland. The musical currents run deep there, as generations of great songwriters and musicians have proven. Kim Stockwood has earned her place among Newfoundland’s ...
The future of music, with luck
Speaking of roots, mine originate in this small, picturesque town on the St. Lawrence River, immediately south of Ottawa, just before you get wet. The opportunity to visit my Mom on the occasion of her birthday and take advantage of ...