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Teigen Gayse – Sweetheart Of The Video

Roman Mitz
Teigen Gayse – Sweetheart Of The Video
Video helped the radio star. Contrary to what the Buggles suggest in their hit song “Video Killed The Radio Star”, video certainly played a key role in propelling Teigen Gayse onto country music radio and major streaming services. Specifically, her TikTok posts have racked up over 50 million views, no mean feat for a girl who hails from the picturesque... 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

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

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

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

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

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

The Glorious Sons – Glory Days  

Roman Mitz
The Glorious Sons – Glory Days  
“Glory” is the 4th studio album from Kingston’s The Glorious Sons, co-produced by long-time collaborator Frederik Thaae. The album, which was recorded over a two-year period, is the band’s most intimate effort to date, yet it still blazes with outsized melodies that their fan base has come to love since their inception in 2011. Founded by guitarist Jay Emmons and... Read More

Charley Crockett – King Of The Wild Frontier

Roman Mitz
Charley Crockett – King Of The Wild Frontier
Photo: Bobby Cochran The accolades have been coming a mile a minute for Americana singer/songwriter Charley Crockett for his 2022 breakthrough album “The Man From Waco”. He is among the most nominated for the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards with nominations for “Artist Of The Year”, “Album of The Year” and “Song Of The Year”. “The Man From Waco” was... Read More

Injustice Corrected – Trooper is Inducted into Canada’s Music Hall of Fame

Keith Sharp
Injustice Corrected – Trooper is Inducted into Canada’s Music Hall of Fame
By Keith Sharp Outrageous negligence will finally be corrected Thursday, May 18th, when Vancouver’s Trooper is inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Calgary’s Studio Bell Centre. They, along with Country Artist Terri Clark, Francophone star Diane Dufresne and noted jazz pianist Oliver Jones will join Nickelback, who have already been inducted into the hall during this year’s... Read More

A Buzz Of Sweet New Country Releases For Spring 2023       

Roman Mitz
A Buzz Of Sweet New Country Releases For Spring 2023       
by Roman Mitz As people are buzzing with excitement as the NCAA tournament gets Stateside underway, there’s also a beehive of activity north of the border as our finest Canadian country acts race for the number one sweet spot on the country charts. Here are some of the hottest new entries to consider when filling in your bracket. With powerhouse... Read More

Lee Aaron Elevates Her Game 

Roman Mitz
Lee Aaron Elevates Her Game 
By Roman Mitz Lee Aaron has a new album called “Elevate,” and the Merriam-Webster dictionary says that verb means “To raise in rank or status” or “To raise the spirits of.” Well, her new album certainly succeeds on both counts.  The award-winning songwriter, producer and Canadian vocalist blazed back onto the rock scene in 2016 (after a ten-year hiatus to... Read More

Country & Roots – Audio Treats – Happy New Year!

Roman Mitz
Country & Roots – Audio Treats – Happy New Year!
Open Spaces – By Roman Mitz New releases drop down to a trickle toward the end of the year and the beginning of the next, but Open Spaces has brushed away a layer of snow and found a few cool audio treats that we wouldn’t want you to miss out on. Multi-platinum hit-making trio Cheat Codes, popularly known for their smash... Read More

Madeline Merlo Rides High With ‘Slide’  

Roman Mitz
Madeline Merlo Rides High With ‘Slide’  
by Roman Mitz for Open Spaces. Raised in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, near Vancouver, Madeline Merlo has been on a fast track after being discovered on YouTube and signed to a record label at only 18. Radio success, tour dates and awards quickly followed, and she was honoured with the Canadian Country Music Association’s Rising Star Award in 2015. In... Read More

Jully Black – R&B Queen Still Reigns  

Roman Mitz
Jully Black – R&B Queen Still Reigns  
by Roman Mitz for Open Spaces Long live the Queen, Jully Black, Canada’s Queen of R&B and Soul.  A true icon, and long-time advocate of female empowerment through her music, spirit and activism, Jully champions important causes and uses her career as a platform to celebrate and inspire greatness. Along the way the multiple Gemini and Juno award winner has... Read More

Sykamore’s ‘Pinto’ Fires On all Cylinders By Roman Mitz

Roman Mitz
Sykamore’s ‘Pinto’ Fires On all Cylinders By Roman Mitz
Born in a small town outside of Calgary, pop/country vocalist Sykamore grew up on a cattle ranch surrounded by country music which laid the groundwork for her to start writing her own songs. Soon her songwriting would garner attention in Canada, leading her to be nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association’s (CCMA) coveted Discovery Award in 2015. Her biggest... Read More