SWOMP

Following Filter's Green Stage performance at Sick New World in Las Vegas, SWOMP spoke with frontman Richard Patrick about the band’s current run and recent collaborations. Among them is Patrick’s guest appearance on “Blue Sky Mystery,” a recent single from Canadian rock band Finger Eleven, marking the first time the artists have worked together. “Working with Scott, James, Rick, Sean and Steve co...

Bloodywood continued its rapid ascent on the global metal scene with a high-energy performance on the Diablo Stage at Sick New World. The Indian band’s set at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds showcased its blend of nu metal, metalcore and melodic hard rock, combined with traditional Indian folk elements — a fusion that has helped set the group apart on festival lineups. Following the performance, SW...

Violent Vira kicked off her 'Our Lady of Sorrows Tour' at Sick New World in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The Boise, Idaho rock/metal singer-songwriter will travel across the U.S. on the tour, which wraps up in Cincinnati on May 21, 2026. They are also set to go on tour alongside Halestorm in support of BABYMETAL this September. The tour will stop in Canada when they play the RBC Amphithe...

Canadian country artist Chad Brownlee released his new single 'Legendary' on April 24, marking what he describes as a shift toward a bigger, more high-impact sound. The track, released via The Orchard, blends Brownlee’s country roots with a rock-driven edge and draws on his past as a professional hockey player. The song is positioned as an arena-ready anthem, capturing the intensity and pressure o...

Arkells have released their new album Between Us today, marking the latest chapter for the nine-time Juno Award-winning group as they prepare for an extensive run of live shows across Canada and beyond. The album, released April 17 through Universal Music Canada and Virgin Music Group, was produced and recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton, known for his work wi...

As country and metal continue their long flirtation, Devil’s Cut are staking a louder, rowdier claim with their debut album Roadkill. The Louisville band’s first full-length record arrives April 24 via MNRK Heavy, blending metalcore’s weight with country storytelling and imagery. The album’s lead single, “Drink With The Devil,” dropped recently alongside a music video, offering an early look at th...

Canadian electro-rock duo ROMES say their rapid rise on social media is translating into sold-out rooms across Europe, as they prepare to bring that momentum back home for an April 19 show at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. “So many people are telling us after the shows that they stumbled across one of our videos on social media and immediately bought a ticket,” stated drummer Nicolas Bitove. “We...

Tyler Joe Miller says his latest single, “Under the Influence,” hits close to home, tapping into the emotional back-and-forth that comes with trying to move on from a past relationship. In an interview with SWOMP, the JUNO Award-nominated country artist described the song as a deeply relatable reflection on the internal struggle between progress and relapse. “‘Under the Influence’ is a song about...

Canadian pop singer-songwriter Olivia Penalva is back with a new single that blends romance with introspection, offering listeners a layered take on personal growth. “Distance Makes A Love Story,” released Feb. 13, continues Penalva’s signature approach to emotionally driven, cinematic pop while expanding her sound into new territory. The track follows the themes of her album Spiderwebs, using a r...

Multi-platinum rock band Collective Soul will bring its 30-plus-year catalogue to Windsor later this month, with a show set for March 27 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor. SWOMP spoke with bassist Will Turpin ahead of the performance, as the band continues touring into 2026 following a busy anniversary run.  Known for hits including “Shine,” “December” and “The World I Know,” the Atlanta group h...

Folk-pop singer-songwriter Catie Turner is embracing a new chapter in her music career following her recent appearance at Innings Festival and the release of her latest single, “Hurt You Now.” In an interview with SWOMP, Turner reflected on performing at the Tempe, Arizona festival on Feb. 21, where she played multiple sets, including an appearance on the Home Plate Stage. Known for blending soft,...

Canadian rock band The Sheepdogs have released their latest album, Keep Out of the Storm, and are preparing to launch a Canadian headline tour beginning March 13 at the Capitol Theatre in Chatham, Ontario. SWOMP spoke with bassist Ryan Gullen about the new album and the upcoming tour.  The multi-platinum, four-time JUNO Award-winning group shared the new record through their own label, Right On Re...

Rising Canadian country artist Sully Burrows is carrying strong momentum into 2026, following a breakout year that included new music, major tour opportunities and a growing national profile. The Parry Sound, Ont., singer-songwriter recently spoke with SWOMP about life on the road, his debut EP and what fans can expect next as his career continues to build.  Burrows said the start of 2026 has alre...

Eve 6 performed their first show of the year on the final day of Innings Festival 2026 in Tempe, Arizona, blending self-aware humour with late ’90s alternative rock nostalgia. Frontman Max Collins quickly set the tone, playfully sizing up the crowd and the band’s place in the “late ‘90’s radio rock” era. “Do you like alternative rock? Do you like late ‘90’s radio rock?” Collins asked. “That’s good...

Artikal Sound System performed on the Right Field Stage at Innings Festival 2026 in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday, February 22, delivering an engaging early set that quickly drew the crowd in. SWOMP caught up with singer Logan Rex and drummer Adam Kampf backstage following the performance. The band spoke about feeding off the energy of the audience during their set — getting fans involved with singalon...

Common People kicked off the Home Plate Stage on the final day of Innings Festival in Tempe, Arizona on Sunday, February 22, 2026, becoming the first band to take the festival’s main stage. Fresh off their set, SWOMP caught up with the band backstage in their trailer. The group reflected on playing their first-ever music festival - a milestone moment - and the energy of opening the main stage on t...

The Ramona Flowers played the Right Field Stage on the final day of Innings Festival 2026, delivering an energetic set that helped set the tone early. SWOMP caught up with the band in their trailer following the performance. The group spoke about the rush of opening the final day - with their pounding kick drum already grabbing attention from across the grounds - and what it meant to be part of th...

Former Major League Baseball pitcher, World Series champion, All-Star and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Dempster took some time out of his busy schedule at Innings Festival 2026 in Tempe, Arizona to chat with SWOMP. Dempster, who leads “Off The Mound” - a late night-style talk show featuring MLB stars past and present alongside personalities from across sports and entertainment - on...

Congress The Band are quickly moving beyond their roots as a cover band in Charleston, and their early set at the Innings Festival showed a group stepping confidently into a new chapter. Sporting matching baseball jerseys, the band brought a mix of indie and Southern rock to the Right Field Stage, setting the tone for the opening day crowd with a high-energy performance. “This is our first time pl...

Avril Jensen once dreamed of becoming an astronaut or a screenwriter. Instead, the Quebec singer-songwriter found her calling in music — a path she describes as written in the stars. Jensen, who performs in both French and English, is building her career beyond Quebec and will celebrate the one-year anniversary of her debut album Is Any of This Real? with a special show March 27, 2026 at Drake Und...

Canadian country star Jade Eagleson is bringing his first-ever headlining North American tour to London Music Hall on Feb. 9 (tickets, here ), marking a key Southwestern Ontario stop on the fast-rising artist’s “Coming Soon to a Honky Tonk Near You” run. The London date lands near the end of a coast-to-coast tour that traced Eagleson’s journey from Western Canada through the U.S. Midwest and back...

Washington-based country singer and songwriter CJ Hooper is drawing on his Texas roots for his second album, Over Yonder, set for release Feb. 6, 2026. SWOMP caught up with CJ for interview to discuss his new album.  Music has been a constant in Hooper’s life, from childhood piano lessons to picking up the guitar in his early teens. He grew up listening to classic country artists such as Hank Will...

Canadian country artist Kelsi Mayne is opening a raw and reflective new chapter with the release of her latest single, 'For The Record', a song she says unpacks one of the most complicated periods of her life. The track, released as Mayne closed out 2025 and stepped into 2026, draws from the aftermath of a broken engagement and the intense relationship that followed. In an interview with SWOMP, Ma...

A 19-year-old Canadian fiddler continues to make waves on the national folk scene, with Irish Millie earning a Canadian Folk Music Award nomination for Single of the Year and recognition as a nominee for Folk Music Ontario’s 2025 Performing Artist of the Year. SWOMP caught up with Millie to discuss the recognition. Millie received the Single of the Year nomination for “You Were There,” a standout...

CMAOntario-nominated duo Amanda & James are set to return on Feb. 6 with their new single “Comeback,” a playful, harmony-driven release arriving via Symphonic Music. The track follows a breakout year for the fast-rising Canadian country act and continues to build momentum as they emerge as one of the genre’s most talked-about new duos. SWOMP caught up with the duo for an interview. “Comeback”...