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New Producer Injects Life Into Honeymoon Suite Release

Keith Sharp
New Producer Injects Life Into Honeymoon Suite Release
For a Canadian band who have virtually remained intact for the past 46 years, Honeymoon Suite’s latest album release, ‘Alive’ sounds remarkably fresh and current. Still active on the concert circuit and receiving strong airplay for their new single, “Tell Me What You Want”. Original members, guitarist Derry Grehan, lead vocalist Johnnie Dee, bassist Gary Lalonde, drummer Dave Betts and the... Read More

Jim Cuddy – The World According to Jim  

Roman Mitz
Jim Cuddy – The World According to Jim  
Jim Cuddy is a national treasure. For 40 years he’s been crafting memorable vignettes with his songwriting partner Greg Keelor in Canada’s much-loved band Blue Rodeo, and they were recently recognized with the prestigious Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame Award. Jim has also carved out quite a niche for himself with a stellar solo career marked by his brand new... Read More

Hill And Kim Combine For Magical Concert

Keith Sharp
Hill And Kim Combine For Magical Concert
Saturday June 1st at Peterborough’s Market Hall venue, two Canadian singer/songwriter icons; Dan Hill and Andy Kim, joined forces on stage for a memorable performance before a capacity crowd who were entertained by the Montreal duo’s songs and storytelling. The result was like a verbal musical tennis match between the pair. “ Okay Andy, you’ve got “Rock Me Gently” but... Read More

Joined At The Hip: Podcast Explores The Legacy Of The Late, Great Gord Downie 

Eric Alper
Joined At The Hip: Podcast Explores The Legacy Of The Late, Great Gord Downie 
You probably know Gord Downie as the greatly missed frontman of Canadian rock legends The Tragically Hip. You may even know that he, along with his bandmates, was made a member of the Order of Canada before his untimely passing from cancer in 2017. But did you know that he also enjoyed a prolific parallel career as a solo artist... Read More

When Ed Calls You Go

Keith Sharp
When Ed Calls You Go
When Ed Sousa planned a one-night charity concert for Ronald McDonald House at the Classic Bowl facility in Mississauga in May 2016, little did he realize that nine years later, McBowl would expand to three nights and would serve as the largest indoor music festival in North America.  His seventh annual event (two years were lost to the COVID virus)... Read More

Under the Covers with Lee Aaron

Roman Mitz
Under the Covers with Lee Aaron
“Songs are like tattoos” – the famous first line of the Joni Mitchell song “Blue” has always resonated deeply with Canadian rocker Lee Aaron. 18 Albums into her career, Lee has written, recorded and produced music achieving gold and multi-platinum sales. Recognized as one of Canada’s top rock vocalists she’s also made forays into jazz, blues, and even opera, receiving numerous... Read More

Dee Lippingwell – Award-winning Photographer succumbs to Cancer

Keith Sharp
Dee Lippingwell – Award-winning Photographer succumbs to Cancer
Music Express lost one of its original contributors with the passing of Dee Lippingwell Thursday May 11th in Vancouver. “I first met Dee in March 1977 after launching Alberta Music Express in October 1976” explained Musi Express publisher Keith Sharp. “I was working as a sports writer for the Calgary Herald and a junior A tier two hockey team, The... Read More

Andy Kim Steps in for Goodwyn for Planned Acoustic Tour

Keith Sharp
Andy Kim Steps in for Goodwyn for Planned Acoustic Tour
Singer/songwriter Dan Hill will experience bittersweet feelings when he launches a mini soft-seater concert tour in May with dates set for Richmond Hill, Meaford, Midland, Markham, Oshawa and Peterborough with fellow singer/songwriter Andy Kim. Hill was supposed to be executing this tour with April Wine lead vocalist, Myles Goodwyn both taking the stage together, playing their songs and telling stories... Read More

Happiness Is – The Steel Horse Gypsies

Roman Mitz
Happiness Is – The Steel Horse Gypsies
Ontario country-rockers The Steel Horse Gypsies have the perfect moniker. You see this band of gypsies is built for resilience because they were fast out of the gate, faltered a little at the clubhouse turn, but have really picked things up as they approach the home stretch.   When singer-guitarist Bill McConnell put the band together they experienced fast success with... Read More

Stampeders’s Ronnie King Succumbs To Heart Attack

Keith Sharp
Stampeders’s Ronnie King Succumbs To Heart Attack
And so we lose another key figure of Canada’s music legacy.  Bass guitarist/vocalist Ronnie King passed away at Peter Lougheed Hospital in Calgary on Monday. As part of the enduring trio of King, Rich Dodson and Kim Berly. King was a present figure in a band which has toured constantly since their breakout single “Carry Me” became a hit in... Read More

Helix Drummer Loses Brave Battle with Cancer

Music Express
Helix Drummer Loses Brave Battle with Cancer
Greg “Fritz” Hinz: January 23rd, 1956 – February 16th, 2024. R.I.P. By Brian Vollmer (Lead Vocalist, Helix) It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the passing of Greg “Fritz” Hinz, drummer for HELIX since 1983, after 10 months fighting Cancer. At a future date there will be a Memorial Service.  Traci (Fritz’s common law wife) hasn’t slept... Read More

Frew Salutes The Eighties With Rewind Opera House Concert

Keith Sharp
Frew Salutes The Eighties With Rewind Opera House Concert
When Glass Tiger’s Alan Frew released his ‘Rewind’ album in November 2015, it served as his salute to the 80’s and 90’s bands that he shared stages and the charts with.  The 12 tracks on that release covered classics by the likes of Tears For Fears, Human League, Paul Young, Peter Gabriel, and even some eclectic covers by Sinead O’Connor... Read More

54-40 – West Coast Warriors 

Roman Mitz
54-40 – West Coast Warriors 
The band 54-40 has been churning out great rock records for 43 years, crafting reflective and socially conscious songs that address personal struggles, love, and political issues. Formed by core members Neil Osborne (vocals, guitar) and Brad Merritt (bass), the band has become a Canadian music icon. For their new album “West Coast Band”, they turned their songwriting focus on... Read More

Memories Of Myles

Keith Sharp
Memories Of Myles
Music Express Publisher Keith Sharp reflects on a 46-year relationship with April Wine lead vocalist/chief songwriter Myles Goodwyn who died Sunday December 3rd from cancer. I first connected with Myles Goodwyn in late 1976. Alberta Music Express Magazine (as it was titled then) had just launched in Calgary in October of that year and one of my initial contributing writers,... Read More

Original Lightfoot Band Continues Legacy

Keith Sharp
Original Lightfoot Band Continues Legacy
So what do you do when the iconic singer your band has supported for the past 55 years, succumbs to health issues and dies? Well, if you are the long-serving backing band for Gordon Lightfoot, you make a commitment to continue his legacy, draft in a new vocalist and prepare to re-launch as The Lightfoot Band. Bassist Rick Haynes, who... Read More

One Ugly Cowboy – The Little Band That Could

Roman Mitz
One Ugly Cowboy – The Little Band That Could
(Photo: Jim Ziegler) Toronto-based country rockers One Ugly Cowboy (OUC) have been honing their craft for some time now, and it’s beginning to pay off as 2023 has turned out to be a stellar year. The group is fronted by dynamic vocalist ‘Hurricane’ Jane Sowerby and her axe-wielding soul mate/producer Richard Zwic.  Bass player Rick Ottenbrite and drummer Mike Mann... Read More

Triumph’s Rik Emmett Lays His Legacy On The Line With Autobiography

Keith Sharp
Triumph’s Rik Emmett Lays His Legacy On The Line With Autobiography
Photo: Jeanine Leech Triumph fans will recognize Rik Emmett as the spandex-wearing guitar virtuoso who wrote and sang some of the Toronto-based trio’s biggest hits, “Lay It On The Line, “Magic Power” and “Hold On”. Yet, as detailed in is autobiography titled ‘Lay It On The Line (ECW Press), Emmett’s career in Triumph represents only part of his illustrious career... Read More

Andre Pettipas And The Giants Push Their Grease Coast Rock Brand

Keith Sharp
Andre Pettipas And The Giants Push Their Grease Coast Rock Brand
By Keith Sharp Grease Coast Rock is a term coined by Antigonish area quartet Andre Pettipas & The Giants who have just released their third studio album, ‘Under Control’ before hitting local Maritime venues to promote the release. Vocalist/Guitarist Andre Pettipas, bassist (and brother) Travis Pettipas, drummer Mark Cosh and guitarist John MacDonald are currently touring in support of the... Read More

Jess Moskaluke – Holiday Heartbreaker   

Roman Mitz
Jess Moskaluke – Holiday Heartbreaker   
‘Tis the season. While it’s a little early, Jess Moskaluke already has visions of sugar plums dancing in her head as the dates for her “Winter Wonderland” tour have been scheduled, and she’s dropped an early Christmas present in the form of her new record “Heartbreaker”.  The album contains her latest three singles and is rounded out by a handful... Read More