Could Gowan see a Stranger Things Moment For “(You’re A) Strange Animal” from Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope’?

July 30, 2022August 3, 2022 Eric Alper

Gowan Live – Photo by Claude Dufresne A new wave of music is coming out of the world Jordan Peele created in his latest #1 box office film, NOPE, and it’s the sound of Canadian prog-rocker Gowan. No spoilers here. But Jordan Peele has always used music as dramatic irony, using Gowan’s 80s hit “(You’re a) Strange Animal,” a song where... Read More

NEW FACES: Fracassi New Face Of Coalition Music

July 25, 2022August 1, 2022 Keith Sharp

Sophia Fracassi releases her debut six-song EP ‘Marathon’ – Photo by Wendy Wei By Keith Sharp Think of Coalition Music, and you would think of the Toronto-based music incubator operation, which has successfully nurtured careers by the likes of Our Lady Peace, Simple Plan, The Tea Party and, more recently, Scott Helman. So, when Rob Lanni’s company starts to promote... Read More

Kenora Harbourfest Re-Established As Region’s Top Festival

July 25, 2022July 25, 2022 Keith Sharp

Harbourfest Committee 2022 – Photo by Cory McCrindle, Northern Exposures Photography & Communications By Keith Sharp Heather MacMurphy claims the cancellation of the past two Kenora Harbourfest allowed her the luxury of spending the August long weekend with her family and friends…but you get the idea she Is being totally facetious. The 29th anniversary of the Kenora Harbourfest (plus two!)... Read More

Lee Aaron Revisits The El Mocambo And Her Metal Queen Roots

July 18, 2022July 19, 2022 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp Lee Aaron has vivid memories of her first and only concert appearance at Toronto’s legendary El Mocambo Tavern. March 31st, 1984, with a performance which debuted her Metal Queen album. On Friday, July 22nd, Aaron and her band, comprising of husband/drummer John Cody, guitarist Sean Kelly and bassist Dave Reimer will return to the newly revamped facility... Read More

Tegan And Sara Announce New Album Crybaby, Due October 21 Via Mom+Pop Music

July 16, 2022July 16, 2022 Music Express

Canadian duo Tegan and Sara will release their 10th studio album, Crybaby, on October 21 as part of their recently announced new deal with Mom+Pop Music. Out today is the next single from the project, the sweet, anthemic ‘Yellow,’ accompanied by a Mark Myers-directed video that playfully pays homage to Coldplay’s video for their 2000 song of the same name. The innovative,... Read More

Country Thunder Bounces Back From Pandemic Disruption

July 11, 2022July 16, 2022 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp Thursday, July 14, sees the return of Country Thunder – Craven, Saskatchewan, with the likes of Morgan Wallen, Lee Brice and the legendary Tanya Tucker joining forces with domestic talent Chad Brownlee, Washboard Union and Lindsay Ell for the first of three Canadian festivals that will also feature the official début of Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose... Read More

JUNO Award Winning Rocker JJ Wilde Announces First Canadian Headline Tour

July 11, 2022July 16, 2022 Music Express

JUNO Award-winning rocker JJ Wilde announces her first-ever Canadian headline tour, kicking off in Winnipeg on October 13th and making its way across the country before wrapping in Montreal on November 18th. Wilde is fresh off an impressive run of European shows, which saw her open for legendary rockers KISS (France), Pearl Jam (UK) and Scorpions (France), and recently wrapped her run on... Read More

Celebrated Country Music Songstress Jess Moskaluke Announces The 2022 Mapdot Tour

July 10, 2022July 16, 2022 Music Express

Today, Platinum-selling, award-winning country star Jess Moskaluke announces the national 2022 Mapdot Tour kicking off on October 29 in Montreal. The tour announcement arrives on the heels of the latest single release from Moskaluke with the southern twang-infused breakup anthem ‘Knock Off.’ Citing déjà vu from an ex-lover’s replacement for the real thing, the track showcases a revamped sound for the JUNO Award-winning and multiple... Read More

Neon Dreams Unveil Optimistic Anthem ‘Its All Good’

July 7, 2022July 16, 2022 Music Express

LISTEN NOW What started as a one-line poem from Neon Dreams frontman Frank Kadillac has blossomed into the duo’s new single, “ITS ALL GOOD.” Out today, “ITS ALL GOOD” – written by Frank while in Cape Town, South Africa – is the second song to be released from Neon Dreams’ upcoming album (due out in November), following the joyful “Little... Read More

NEW FACES: Introducing ‘Grease Coast Rock ‘N Roll’ Andre Pettipas And The Giants

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp With all the new artists arriving on the national (and international music scene), due to the advent of social media, The Music Express is launching a new editorial feature spotlighting some of these “new faces” Our spotlight will include artists and groups from all over Canada, the only criteria being is that they have an interesting story... Read More

Acoustic Approach To Classified’s Music Broadens His Musical Scope.

July 6, 2022July 6, 2022 Keith Sharp

Classified Retrospected – Photo by Dave Hamilton By Keith Sharp About three years ago, rapper Classified (a/k/a Luke Boyd) started to re-interpret songs from his vast catalogue of music as acoustic tracks with his guitar player. He soon discovered that a new audience was tuning in to his music. That devoid of the drum/bass arrangements of previous rap-based arrangements, people... Read More

The Return Of Small Festivals Provide Economic Lifeline

July 2, 2022July 5, 2022 Keith Sharp

Lucknow’s Music In The Fields – Summer 22 By Keith Sharp As COVID restrictions are lowered sufficiently enough to allow for concert festivals to be re-introduced this year, many smaller communities can once again benefit from the influx of spectators to attend these events and, in doing so, provide a much-needed injection into local economies and the charity foundations which... Read More

Yukon-Based Singer-Songwriter Joey O’Neil Brings Her Unleashed Tour To Dog Parks Across Canada

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 Music Express

Joey O’Neil – Photo by Melissa Naef After being forced to cancel, postpone and re-adjust touring plans due to the global pandemic, Yukon-based folk-country singer-songwriter Joey O’Neil is absolutely thrilled to be back on the road this summer for what she has cleverly dubbed the Unleashed tour in support of her stunning, critically praised sophomore release, Ever Ahead. No stranger to... Read More

Arkells Announce “Blink Twice” To Be Released September 23

June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 Music Express

Arkells announce the official release date for their seventh studio record, Blink Twice, coming September 23rd via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The brand new companion album to the band’s current release, Blink Once, Blink Twice showcases a new collection of songs where Arkells continue to push their sound and creativity to a new level. As Arkells stayed busy making music during... Read More

JUNO Award-Winning MONOWHALES Release “Stuckinthemiddle”, Announce Headline Tour Dates

June 27, 2022June 28, 2022 Music Express

JUNO Award-winning rockers MONOWHALES are taking things to a new level with their latest offering “StuckintheMiddle,” out now. Anger, frustration, and deep personal struggle take center stage as lead singer Sally Shaar passionately howls “I’m stuck in the middle, I’m chained like an animal,” while the band leans heavily into their hard rock background, bringing an enormous sound complete with... Read More

Sass Jordan – Still Alive & Well

June 24, 2022June 28, 2022 Roman Mitz

Sass Jordan can be a little bit sassy. Calling to talk about her terrific new album “Bitches Blues”, the free-spirited Sass is not averse to dropping the occasional colourful adjective in order to make a point, and she often punctuates the conversation with her extremely infectious high-pitched laugh. Her new album can almost be considered part two of 2020’s “Rebel... Read More

Midge Ure Joins Howard Jones for N. American Tour Features Two Toronto Dates

June 23, 2022June 29, 2022 Music Express

Midge Ure joins Howard Jones as his special guest for a North American Tour that kicks off today. Alongside Ure for what he calls a ‘synth heavy’ set will be musicians Dan Burton, also playing keyboard with Howard Jones and Tony Solis who has played with Midge on previous American tours. His tour will include two solo dates at Toronto’s El Mocambo Tavern July 4th and 5th. “What... Read More

Tim Hicks Announces 2022 ZERO TO SIXTY TOUR Cross-Canada Tour

June 19, 2022June 27, 2022 Music Express

Photo by – Lee Zavitz Multi-Platinum, award-winning entertainer Tim Hicks has announced his return to the live stage with the 2022 ZERO to SIXTY Tour. A combination of festival stops and headlining shows across Canada, Hicks expands the ZERO to SIXTY Tour with the addition of eight new shows featuring special guests and CCMA Award winner Robyn Ottolini. The new dates bring Hicks and his... Read More

The Tragically Hip’s Live At The Roxy Set For Release

June 18, 2022June 18, 2022 Music Express

On June 24, The Tragically Hip will be releasing Live At The Roxy worldwide as a standalone live album through Universal Music Canada. Prior to its inclusion on the Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe package last year, the 15-song concert had not been publicly available and was a sought-after show for the bootleggers and diehard fans. Now, this legendary recording is available digitally for the first... Read More

The Sheepdogs Find Favourable European Response To New Release

June 13, 2022June 28, 2022 Keith Sharp

By Keith Sharp When the pandemic ground the entire global music scene to a screeching halt, Saskatoon’s The Sheepdogs were in advance preparation for another major European tour. So, according to the band’s lead vocalist/guitarist Ewan Currie, the band did what comes naturally to them, record another album! Now amid a major makeup tour of Western Europe which is responding... Read More

Category: Featured