Hidden Track

Looking back on 30 years of Captain Tractor 's hugely successful, beloved classic album East of Edson, practically everything about it seems unlikely. They came together as a bunch of theatre and music school kids, and became known all over Canada. With the release of that record, the band also hit upon a signature song that remains a buzz track to this day. Enjoy their chat with CKUA's Grant Stov...

Cold Bones Fest was the site of this edition of the Hidden Track podcast, and Lethbridge band Starpainter takes centre stage.   Starpainter is a favourite on the CKUA airwaves, and they have been outspoken about their support of the CKUA community. Their latest album, Rattlesnake Dream, has received international acclaim, with one of its tracks being named #1 Song of the Year by Americana and UK....

Canadian icon Alan Doyle shares his fascinating musical journey in this episode of the Hidden Track podcast. From his humble beginnings in Petty Harbour to performing on global stages, Doyle's narrative is filled with heartfelt reflections and vibrant storytelling. He discusses his evolution with Great Big Sea, his solo career, and his ventures into theatre and writing.   He talks about his educat...

Caity Gyorgy and Mark Limacher are a formidable musical duo known for their brilliance and creativity on and off stage. Caity, a two-time JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter, and Mark, a versatile composer and pianist, share a unique bond that enhances their collaborative performances. Their ability to blend their talents creates an enchanting experience for audiences, whether they are perfor...

MOONRIIVR is a band known for creating lush, cinematic, and atmospheric music inspired by timeless classics, yet uniquely personal in style. Comprised of seasoned musicians  Gavin Gardiner and " Champagne" James Robertson , the duo brings a wealth of experience from the Southern Ontario music scene, blending indie rock, folk, jazz, and country influences. Their debut album, Vol. 1 , and its follow...

After releasing a captivating debut single called "Dancing with Sue" in June of 2020, Wyatt C. Louis created a stir that saw them gain fans across Alberta, Canada, and beyond.   But it would be nearly four years until Wyatt's debut full-length album was released. The album Chandler , released on May 27, 2024, shot straight to #1 on CKUA's weekly Top 30 chart.   Their songs are pensive, deeply felt...

We've got a live one here!    This is a live session with the celebrated Canadian artist Tony D , who for decades has been known as an electrifying guitar talent, equally expressive in styles ranging from blues to swing to acid rock to flamenco! Tony has travelled the world playing  music, and has a trophy case worth of awards; but somehow his new record Electric Delta is the first proper new Tony...

When you consider that the Yukon's population density is estimated to be roughly 0.07 people per square kilometre , it's kind of amazing the cultural imprint that the territory has made — both in terms of Canadian and global culture! The majestic, dramatic land made world-famous in classics ranging from  The Cremation of Sam McGee to The Call of the Wild has long inspired artists of all kinds, and...

Joel Plaskett first came to fame in the beloved rock band Thrush Hermit , a group who came together as teenagers in Halifax and barnstormed across Canada and beyond throughout the '90s with a dynamic stage show, plus an actual neon sign reading "Rock and Roll". In fact,  last time Joel visited CKUA's Edmonton studios was five years ago during a Thrush Hermit reunion tour, and he told us about keep...

For this special episode, Hidden Track is doing something utterly different. This isn't a feature on one artist, song, or album. It casts a spotlight on a whole scene—on a whole Canadian Territory, in a sense!   Yukon is a Canadian territory that's bigger than most countries on Earth, but its nearly half-million square kilometres are inhabited by only about 40,000 people.  In partnership with both...

She's a musician whose artistic vision and songwriting are every bit as distinctive and expressive as that spectacular voice of hers. Frazey Ford 's trademark tremulous croon first became well-known as part of the vocal blend for globally-renowned Vancouver folk music mainstays  The Be Good Tanyas. While th at band's aesthetic leaned toward the folky and jazzy, Frazey's own instincts have always b...

In many ways, Frank is the perfect name for this well-loved singer-songwriter, producer, and eternal punk rock firebrand.   Kind of like the many tattoos that adorn his arms, Frank Turner wears his heart right on his sleeve. Always unstintingly honest in all his artistic endeavours , Frank's music carries a candour and conviction that's incredibly powerful – devastating, even. Frank always manages...

As an artist, she's always been a bit of a shapeshifter.   Over the course of her wildly diverse career, she's touched on numerous different genres, been signed to a series of major record labels, and made music under several monikers.   Her journey has taken her from a tiny community on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, to the bright lights of Los Angeles at age 20, to the City of Light – Paris,...

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald  is an artist who's always expressed what's most important to him through his songs. He's also been incredibly meticulous throughout his career, taking care to build a unique and heartfelt connection to his audience and striving to create an unforgettable live setting for his music.   He's elevated the sharing of live music to a high art in itself — whether it's inviting...

Kaia Kater has learned her craft through the influence of a diverse group of musical heroes, ranging from Herbie Hancock to Rhiannon Giddens. She recently turned her lens simultaneously inward and outward, to confront difficult truths and injustices – personally, historically, societally, and made them into album titled Strange Medicine. CKUA's Grant Stovel caught up with Kaia shortly after the al...

The joy in the everyday, the continuous arc of life's changes and the way a simple shift in perspective can utterly transform one's experience...   Ellen Doty 's new album is a kind of musical meditation, a collection of songs that aims to bring some gentle joy to the listener's heart. Every Little Scene is gorgeous set of songs that relate how if you pay mindful attention, small moments and subtl...

A couple of seasons back, Hidden Track released a big Cadence Weapon special. We spoke with Rollie Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) himself, along with some key family, friends and collaborators. A whole lot has happened for Cadence Weapon since that episode 's release. S o , we felt it was time to catch-up during his brief visit back to Edmonton during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.   It's certainly be...

DakhaBrakha  combines traditional folk and punk, drawing inspiration from their Ukrainian homeland with a global sensibility. Melodies from the ancient past collide with future sounds. They like to describe their style as "ethno-chaos." At CKUA, we were treated to a visit from touring dignitaries DakhaBrakha while they were on tour. It was the full four-piece band in all their full, distinctive in...

Inspired by the energy, the soul and the message of classic ska, The Slackers have truly become legends themselves over the past 33 years.   They first came together in New York City back in the early '90s, and studied at the feet of the masters, i ncluding members of Jamaican ska originators the Skatalites, who had relocated to the States.   The Slackers rose to prominence alongside a wave of ska...

For our first-ever live Hidden Track Session in front of an audience, we really lucked out !   We wanted to do something special that brought artists together with members of the CKUA community for a spontaneous, in-the-moment experience – an intimate and exciting live music al performance alongside a conversation that takes us deeper into the music.   We were hoping to find an artist with deep ro...

Ever the masterful crafter of musical stories, Corb Lund has just released his eleventh album El Viejo — a new collection that weave s together inventive narratives and introduces us to some compelling character s . On this record we encounter : a veteran card sharp dealing out hard-won wisdom, a down-on-his-luck journeyman MMA fighter , a speed addict trying to kick the habit on the family farm,...

The Bros. Landreth return to Hidden Track for a Season 5 Session!  When they started th eir band, it was just an excuse to spend time together, given that the brothers David and Joey Landreth were often embroiled in their careers as top–call players in the Winnipeg music scene.   The brothers came together to write some original song s and their first album as The Bros. Landreth was born . Release...

The R ural Alberta A dvantage 's much- anticipated October 2023 album The Rise & the Fall - their first in a half-dozen years - is once again chock full of Albertan references . However, it has also managed to connect with fans from around the world ! Renowned UK newspaper The Independent named it one of their Best Albums of 2023, alongside albums by Olivia Rodrigo and Lana Del Rey. Perhaps th e m...

When you think about it, being a YouTuber isn't so different from being a singer-songwriter.   In each case, you need to dig deep, be original, authentic and often get incredibly vulnerable – all while the world is looking on.   Canadian singer/songwriter Haley Blais has proven truly brilliant in both fields! T his hit-YouTuber-turned-award-winn ing -musician shows us exactly why that is on her ne...

Careful of Your Keepers , the sixth full-length  album by This Is the Kit , ends with the mantra-like benediction of " Be Okay ". It's a beautifully delicate place to land, after ten songs that navigate their way through a world full of actions, their equal and opposite reactions, and the inextricably linked, overwhelmingly human dance between beauty and pain.   It's an album that starts with a go...