Backstage Pass

This week, ELLEN BRAUN – The Doldrums Indie-folk singer-songwriter Ellen Braun shares her debut solo album, The Doldrums, on August 22,2025 (Independent). Ellen’s musical journey has taken many turns — from growing up in Ottawa to studying Biology at the University of Guelph, earning a Master’s in Environmental Science at the University of Calgary, and eventually settling in Canmore, AB. Produced...

This week, THE HEAVYWEIGHTS BRASS BAND - Knockout Trombonist, RJ Satchithananthan, joins Backstage Pass in an informative conversation. After 15 years of bringing the party wherever they play, The Heavyweights Brass Band are ready to make you dance, strut, and testify with their fifth full-length album, Knockout, dropping June 27, 2025. With a sound steeped in New Orleans brass traditions, Toronto...

This week, KATE MAKI – Returns with Impossible Knot Recorded on tape at Little Bullhorn in Ottawa and co-produced by Maki and Dave Draves, the acclaimed Sudbury songwriter has created a powerful, emotional chapter in her musical saga. In an open and long ranging conversation, Kate shares the inspirations and process that produced this extraordinary set of songs and their deep felt meaning. Impossi...

This week, RUSHFEST CANADA – IN CONVERSATION with Steve Brown and Paul Beaulieu Taking place Friday, August 1 at Massey Hall and Saturday, August 2 at TD Music Hall, this two-day event marks 10 years to the day since Rush played their final concert in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015—and brings together fans, friends, collaborators, and tribute artists. Curated by RUSHfest Scotland founder Steve Brow...

This week, LENNIE GALLANT - Shelter From the Storms Episode 65. Sit down to a relaxed conversation with legendary songwriter and performer Lennie Gallant, speaking about his newest album and some of his adventures such as a working with Jimmy Buffet and others, and particularly his inspirations for this powerful new set of songs. “ In the song, ‘Shelter From the Storms’, I kind of took the voice o...

This week, MATTHEW HOLTBY Matthew Holtby, Canadian singer-songwriter, is a delightful conversationalist. Affable, immediately likeable, with a trademark smile and an easy-going, relaxed charm, Matthew shares some of the inspiration and approach he takes to writing and producing his growing collection of heartfelt and quietly hopeful songs. On Episode 64 of Backstage Pass, Matthew discusses the gen...

This week, SUZIE UNGERLEIDER, SHARES SOME INSIGHTS INTO AMONG THE EVERGREENS. " I love origin stories ,” says Vancouver musician Suzie Ungerleider. “ I love finding out where people are and how they got there, so I'm constantly thinking about that. Everybody's carrying around their own narrative. ” Among the Evergreens is the latest chapter in the revered Americana singer-songwriter's own story. T...

This week, TWO WOLF - Lance Lopez https://www.facebook.com/twowolfofficial/ In a relaxed, informative and generous conversation, guitarist Lance Lopez joins Backstage Pass to discuss his impressive background and extensive history as a lead guitarist for Two Wolf and their new album, along with anecdotes about legends Johnny Winter, Jeff Beck and his own prodigious output as a stellar rock and rol...

This week, Episode 61, Skydiggers on their incredible new album 'Dreams & Second Chances' Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson join me to discuss their new album and more. For my part, this is a powerful new set of songs perfectly in tune with the times and the creative energies of this legendary band. Iconic songwriter Harlan Howard believed that songs exist in the air all around us . That’s how the...

“Each song is its own character trait, telling its own story—from falling in love, to falling out of it, to figuring myself out in adulthood.” It’s the sound of someone coming into his own—and it shows. Produced by Joshua Van Tassel and David Myles, ‘Character Traits’ balances raw honesty with lush, genre-blurring production. Logan Richard is one of music’s rarest creatures—a compelling and divers...

JOHN MCANDREW – BETTER SIDE OF ME – MAY 2025 In a long ranging interview, Nashville songwriter, John McAndrew shares some of the inspiration for his beautiful and haunting new album release,'Better Side of Me'. Better Side of Me is a collaboration with notable producer Denny Seiwell, the co-founder and drummer of Wings, and Fernando Perdomo. Their combined expertise promises to deliver an exceptio...

STEPHEN FEARING - THE EMPATHIST A legendary musical force in the Canadian music world, Stephen is well known for his numerous solo and spirited collaborations, including his membership in the much beloved band, Blackie and Rodeo Kings, Fearing joined me in a remarkable conversation, November 2024, to discuss his newest album and how he came to discover his inspiring ways of approaching songs and c...

With the possibility of 25% tariffs being levied by new U.S. President Donald Trump on all Canadian goods as early as February 1st, the Cooper Brothers are re-releasing their song "That's What Makes Us Great". The 51tst State? Take off, eh! The Cooper Brothers are back with a song that’s as Canadian as a double-double, a frozen pond, and a game-winning goal in overtime. “That’s What Makes Us Great...

Sandy Bell’s album,Break of Day: Songs for Colin, was born out of heart-wrenching grief, after losing her only son Colin Bell in a tragic train accident. He died at age 20 while walking home one night, listening to music on his headphones, in Brantford, Ontario. Says Bell: "Colin sparked joy wherever he went. He was caring, kind, wise, and fun. Everyone loved Colin – especially the girls, old peop...

Contemporary roots-folk singer-songwriter Howard Gladstone officially released his eighth album Crazy Talk (Sonic Peach Music) on September 20,2024. The twelve new songs cover genres from folk to jazz to folk/rock to world music. Howard Gladstone, Toronto-born singer/songwriter, is releasing his eighth album of original music in September 2024. He is also publishing a book of his collected lyrics...

ALFIE SMITH Every Rome Needs A Nero  Alfie Smith released his eighth album, Every Rome Needs A Nero, in October 2024. The Hamilton-based troubadour is a popular and crowd-pleasing fixture on the Ontario’s blues/folk/roots festivals and club circuit, but it has been a full decade since his last release, Come On In My Kitchen, a duo record with his wife, Nicole Christian. In a relaxed conversation,...

‘Shepherd’, Bywater Call’s third studio album, released August 9, 2024, is an emotional tour de force that sequences and builds from song to song into a profound musical statement and merits every bit of the attention and accolades it is receiving. Meghan Parnell, lead vocalist, gave us the time to discuss the album before heading off on an extended tour. Bywater Call has received many blues music...

Toronto based singer-songwriter Terry Donaghue is releasing his 4th solo album “Looking For Redemption” September 6th. The album was recorded at Toronto’s legendary Kensington Sound. Looking For Redemption is a roots/americana/alt-folk genre is a concept album of 9 tracks telling the story in film noir style of a man on the run from his past and a woman he meets along the way also on the run from...

Jesse’s debut album, Mansion Full of Ghosts, heralded by Vancouver Sun, Penguin Eggs, and The Georgia Straight, was an exploration of a city’s duality, with all of its beauty and shadows, expressed through varying moments of lush, orchestral arrangements to hushed duets over expert fingerpicking. The result was a beautifully crafted album that celebrated the pursuit of hope, and gently reflected o...

The new album “HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS” by Dominic Quarto is fresh music but with hints of nostalgia from the many artists that influenced him since he was a kid, like the Beatles, Aerosmith, Rick Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams III. This album is laced with touches of humor, great melodies and catchy lyrics while paired with a completely unique vocal style which all help make this a extremely w...

Coming off two acclaimed studio albums (Black Dawn, Tightrope), and an energized historic live album, Birth of Cactus, founding member and world-renowned drummer Carmine Appice returns with the ultimate tribute to his legendary rock band, CACTUS. Temple of Blues- Influences & Friends, merges the members of Cactus with a super ensemble of guest artists, all of whom have called the group among t...

On this record Devil Talking, David Myles cuts loose, bares his soul, and leaves it all on the table. The New Brunswick-based song and dance man has never been one to shy away from heavy topics like love, loss, and faith, but over his career he's tried his best to stay positive. Amongst the soulful, bluesy, rockin', and countrified grooves of Devil Talking, Myles knocks down the walls he's constru...

The Janzen Boys have been playing music together since the very beginning, but it started as “The Janzen Boys” shortly after they moved back to Canada from Japan in 2012. They’re a rootsy, harmony-singing folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba, consisting of brothers Simon and Mick, and father JJ. Whether they’re playing at music festivals, theatres, venues, or intimate house concerts, they’ll have you...

DON ROSS During fingerstyle guitar legend Don Ross’ spring, 2024 tour, I had the incredible opportunity to have long conversation with Don about his latest album, 2023’s “Water”, a stunning collection of tracks which includes “Seabright” and “Three Views of a Secret” (a rendition of the Jaco Pastorius classic). His 17th solo release—not counting numerous collaborations with other artists— “Water”...

GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) - Always Everything A new album from Graven is always an eagerly anticipated event. Always Everything released June 30,2024, is a set of songs that look all the ups and downs, the highs and lows that every life must pass through, captured in a way that only songwriter Graven is capable of. GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) is an independent folk-rock singer-songwriter from Ottawa,...