Douglas McLean started playing music at the age of 11 years as a drummer. He wrote his first song at age 15 and he started recording when he was 20 years old. He has recorded 5 albums and written some 60 or more songs including several videos.
Douglas has a deep love for poetry, particularly the works of Leonard Cohen, T.S Eliot and Rumi. His songs reflect those deep influences and as a lyricist, he chooses to pursue language as a deep stimulus for understanding; and the practiced art of what Van Morrison calls “the inarticulate speech of the heart”.
Several of his recorded songs have been positioned in the Top 20 in local Muskoka Radio. He plays local shows and concerts usually joined by his wife, violinist, Arlene McLean.
McLean also does work with other artists as an executive producer ; videography; radio host , and writing for local newspapers.
Douglas has talked with many artists about their songwriting process, you can listen to these interviews, with music from their albums, interspersed throughout.
Listen To More Interviews From Our Vaults HERE
MUSIC & CHAT
Jamie Oppenheimer
Jamie Oppenheimer is well known throughout the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada, as a radio host and well liked community minded supporter of music events, performers and songwriters. With a collection of well over 100 songs of his own, he is also well known as a prolific songwriter, albeit, a rare live performer.
He released my first CD, "Imposters Game" as a fundraiser for Hunters Bay Radio, The Bay 88.7 FM around 2015. Lyrical Workers airs Thursday nights from 8-11pm on Hunters Bay Radio https://muskokaradio.com
FEATURED SONGS:
Where You Live, Where You Die
Strange Holiday
Kurt
Ghost Town
Tommy G
Dishonest Man
White Car
Grampy's House
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amieppenheimerongwriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieOppenheimerSongwriter
Morgan Rider
Morgan Rider is a Canadian musician and singer-songwriter who plays folk, blues and soul music. He performs solo as well as with his band Deep Dark River.
Born in 1989 and raised on the east end of Toronto, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Morgan Rider had his earliest imaginations of life as a musician through a rather tumultuous childhood. His days and evenings were often spent listening to his mother rehearse her choral repertoire and play the piano, which blossomed his love and understanding of music at an early age. It wasn’t long before his clanging upon the old family upright piano and allusions of standing on massive stages earned him his first guitar and a position in his first band at 11 years old.
The imagery of the travelling troubadour and some of the older, rootsy styles of music always fascinated Morgan, however. As he began to start a family in Ontario, it was then he also began to further explore his interests in roots music by recording and experimenting in his home studio. Between the summers of 2017 and 2020, Morgan wrote, recorded and released 5 studio albums, including 4 with his band ‘Deep Dark River’, his recent solo album ‘Folklore’, his latest single ‘Northern Soul’, along with a score of music videos.
Morgan performs solo, as well as with his metallic folk band – The Deep Dark River. Morgan Rider has performed well over a thousand concerts and international festivals around the world, averaging over 150 a year. He has also earned numerous awards and has had his music licensed for various media formats – most recently an online ad campaign for Lexus Luxury Car Co.
“…an album that concentrates on storytelling through music combining Folk, Blues and classical elements to craft and weave a story and musical experience led by the powerful voice of Morgan Rider that will truly echo and resonate with the listener…” – Crannk.com
“…Morgan Rider And The Deep Dark River don’t back down from having impressive musicianship throughout the album, it creates a great soundtrack to what is such a well written story…” – Metal Injection
“…I rarely stumble upon a piece of music with such strong and poetic lyrical depiction. There is something very beautiful in Morgan Rider’s poetic writing, something rather enigmatic and mysterious…” – Metal-Temple
FEATURED SONGS
When the Waves Are Stilled [Acoustic]
Old Sad Story
Home Again
Change
Northern Soul
From the North
Website: https://morganridermusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganridermusic/
Noah Zacharin
Noah Zacharin is a widely acclaimed guitar master, multi-genre songwriter, and dynamic performer. He was given his first guitar at age 9, wrote his first song at 13, and began performing at 14. In December 2015 Zacharin became a full-time recording and touring musician, and is more thrilled than ever to be doing what he's always done. Born in Montreal, Zacharin splits his time between Toronto, the road, and an off-grid cabin on the Canadian Shield.
He has been called "a stunning guitarist...no stylistic boundaries" (Holger Peterson, CBC, Stony Plain Records), "a wonderful songwriter and performer" (Paul Mills, Borealis Records), "a poet, a songwriter, a singer we have been waiting for" (the late Penny Lang), "a great guitarist/ singer/ songwriter...a wonderfully musical player" (Randy Finney, Founder TFGA), "in a league of his own" (Brian Gladstone, Founder and AD Winterfolk Festival), "one of the best songwriters this country has produced" (the late great Rick Fielding, recording artist, radio host), and "deserving to be mentioned in the same breath with names such as James Taylor and David Wilcox" (Minor 7th).
Zacharin's recordings have all garnered popular and critical praise: Strange Rider made a number of ‘Best-Of’ lists for 2016.
As a soloist he has opened shows for Odetta, David Lindley, Dave Van Ronk, Jesse Winchester, Alex de Grassi, and Fairport Convention, and performed internationally in 100's of venues from club to concert hall. As a producer and instrumentalist he has performed with some of Canada's finest and appears on some 60 recordings from across North America. As a writer, his songs have been recorded by popular performer and radio host Laura Fernandez (who translated the song into Spanish), Rolling Stone (India) Cover Artist Rehan Dalal, and double-slide master, the late Brian Cober.
Noah Zacharin is also an award-winning poet ("a remarkable ability to articulate efficient, powerfully condensed ideas": What 18/19) and translator, having won McGill’s Chester- Macnaghten poetry prize and Matrix Magazine’s translation prize. He has published hundreds of poems, translations, and reviews, in periodicals and anthologies worldwide, and is currently at work on several volumes of poetry, and a number of children's books.
FEATURED SONGS:
Woke Like A Lark
Sweet Home Chicago
Morning Comes On
Declare Your Love
Fan The Flame
Convertible Kind
Ten Tons Of Road - Live, January 8th 2015
Waiting On Your Love
Website: www.noahsong.com/lyrics-backend/2018/4/10/ready-to-fly
Jim McCarty
As the drummer and one of the original founding members of the legendary Yardbirds, Jim McCarty has made a life in music that spans several successful bands, numerous recordings, a solo career of deeply touching songwriter. as an author he has two books and joins Douglas McLean to discuss his latest , ‘She Walks In Beauty’ as well has his long musical adventure.
The Yardbirds are famous not only for a series of unforgettable hits during the sixties but also introducing the world to three of rock most notable solo guitarists; Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton.
What’s makes Jim McCarty’s story so amazing is his continuous search for what he terms the “Bigger Picture”, as well as his prodigious work as a drummer, songwriter, band leader and author, throughout the past sixty years.
FEATURED SONGS:
Over, Under, Sideways, Down
So Many Questions
Stop Living Life In The Past
Lost Women
Island
Charmed
Website/Social:
https://www.facebook.com/jim.mccarty.9
Carmine Appice & Fernando Perdomo
The Appice Perdomo Project
Legendary drummer Carmine Appice has joined forces with multi-instrumentalist and rising studio star Fernando Perdomo to form The Appice Perdomo Project (aka APP), whose debut album 'Energy Overload' was released in September 2021 on Cleopatra Records.
As drummer for Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice set the grooves for the groundbreaking band‘s 1967 psychedelic debut, inadvertently inventing Stoner Rock in the process. The Fudge had no precedent. The band was totally unique. With Mark Stein‘s mysterioso wash of Grand Guignol keyboard theatrics, Tim Bogert‘s amazing and trippy bass runs, and guitarist Vince Martell‘s era-happy soloing, Appice boomed like no other drummer in rock history.
Their debut album still stands today as a Hard Rock classic. Vanilla Fudge went on to tour with Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and even had Led Zeppelin as an opening act.”
Fernando Perdomo is a powerhouse of the LA music scene who lives and breathes music LA Weekly dubbed him as “The millennial answer to Todd Rundgren.” A veteran at 37, he has made a name for himself as an in-demand producer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
He is a featured guitarist in the Netflix documentary "Echo In The Canyon" where his is seen backing up Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Cat Power, and Jade Castrinos. He is also played on every track on the official soundtrack album of the film along with Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Josh Homme as well as the aforementioned artists.
FEATURED SONGS:
Thunder
You Keep Me Hangin' On
Do You Think I'm Sexy Tape
Sticking To Guitar
Funky Jackson Tape
Maybe I'm Amazed Tape
Website/Social:
https://www.carmineappice.net/#home
https://www.facebook.com/CarmineAppiceOfficial
https://www.fernandoperdomo.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fernandoperdomo
M.D. Dunn
M.D. Dunn has performed for three decades and released nine albums since 1993. His latest album, The River Lately, was released in 2018, and his third book of poems, Even the Weapons (BuschekBooks) was published in 2014. Mark's music has been played on CBC, NPR, and many college and community stations. He most frequently performs as a soloist, but has worked with several bands (The Innocent Weapon Ensemble, New Toque, Clay Rooster, Uncle OSAP & the Collection Agency, and many more).
FEATURED SONGS:
Solace
Beauty
Miracles Happen (and frequently go unnoticed) Even on a Day Like This
I thank you, god
The Cowardice of Kings
Ghost Water
We Need Everyone
Website: http://www.mddunn.com/
Bandcamp: https://mddunn.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mdaviddunn
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker’s new album, ECLECTIC ELECTRIC was released on November 12, 2021, on Los Angeles-based record label Cleopatra Records. It is a joyous recording featuring great new originals from the legendary bluesman, and some exquisite covers from the vast American Song catalogue.
The follow up to his powerful ‘Blues Comin' On’ released in 2020, Walker newest album explores the sound’s he loves best with his band and guest performers, all adding up to an exciting set of new songs and memorable moments. Joe, an articulate spokesperson for the blues and his generation of musicians, speaks candidly and openly with Douglas McLean, in a new interview following their chat in 2020. ( see The Sound Café Vault, episode #21, April 23,2021 ).
ECLECTIC ELECTRIC features an amazing array of talented guest artists.
Here is the track list along with the names of the guests:
1. Uptown Girl Blues – Songwriters: Joe Louis Walker/JoJo Russo/John Lindsay Bradford – Featuring Jimmy Vivino on guitar
2. Wine – Songwriter: Sonny West – Featuring Steve Berlin on baritone sax
3. Bad Betty – Songwriter: Joe Louis Walker
4. Gone and Alone – Songwriter: Joe Louis Walker
5. Hotel California – Songwriters: Don Henley/Glenn Frey/Don Felder – Featuring Murali Coryell on guitar
6. Regal Blues – Songwriters: Joe Louis Walker/JoJo Russo – Featuring the B.B. King Blues Band and Doyle Bramhall II on guitar
7. Make no Mistake – Songwriters: Keith Richards/Steve Jordan
8. Two Trains Running – Songwriter: McKinley Morganfield
9. Werewolves of London – Songwriters: Warren Zevon/Waddy Wachtel/LeRoy Marinell – Featuring Waddy Wachtel on guitar
10. Lady in Red – Songwriters: Jimmy Barnett/Brad Sexton – Featuring Bette Smith on vocal
11. All She Wants to Do is Dance – Songwriter: Danny Kortchmar
Joe Louis Walker is one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation. He is a four-time Blues Music Award winner and 2013 Blues Hall of Fame inductee who has appeared on multiple Grammy-winning albums. He is known worldwide as one of the genre’s top musical trailblazers—a mesmerizing guitarist and soul-testifying vocalist.
The New York Times raves, “Walker is a singer with a Cadillac of a voice. He delivers no-nonsense, gutsy blues. His guitar solos are fast, wiry and incisive, moaning with bluesy despair.” Rolling Stone simply calls him “ferocious.”
And Billboard writes: “His playing blows all over the map…gutbucket blues, joyous gospel, Rolling Stones-style rock crunch, and aching R&B. Walker’s guitar playing is fine and fierce."
Joe won the 2016 Blues Foundation Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year award at the Blues Foundation Awards ceremony in Memphis. The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest accolade afforded blues music performers. The annual Blues Music Awards ceremony is the premier event for blues professionals, musicians, and fans from all over the world.
FEATURED SONGS:
Wine
Hotel California
Make no Mistake
Gone and Alone
Regal Blues
Uptown Girl Blues
Werewolves Of London
Website: https://www.joelouiswalker.com/
Paul Cafcae
Paul Cafcae’s music has been described as “a unique sound – something bands try to attain for years, often without success.” An original, exciting songwriter and performer, Paul Cafcae’s new album, ‘Where I Am’, is a thrilling and riveting set of timely and insightful songs. Paul joined Douglas in a forthright and compelling interview.
Paul Cafcae’s musical journey began at the age of 6 when his parents enrolled him into music school for accordion in the Soviet Union. Attending classes 4 days a week, the future songwriter was taught music theory, harmony, solfeggio, rhythm and music literature, with regular instrumental classes in accordion, piano, as well as vocals. At 15 he shifted his focus toward guitar. Quickly making it his instrument of choice, Cafcae started performing in rock bands in Europe.
Since moving to Canada in 2009, Paul has become known as a passionate performer and songwriter who blends a number of compatible genres, rockabilly, blues, and country rock. The aesthetics of his songs bearing a vintage, old tape Americana quality.
FEATURED SONGS:
Ontario Rocker
Not Your Kind
I A'int Shook
Nervous
Longest Day Of The Year
Quarantine blues #1 (Kitchen Version).
Website: https://www.paulcafcae.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafcae
Hawksley Workman
Before heading out to some late summer concerts, Hawksley Workman talked at length to Douglas McLean about his new album, Less Rage More Tears, and a wide variety of other topics and songs.
Hawksley Workman is a JUNO Award-winning and Gold Record certified singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Since his ground-breaking self-produced indie debut For Him and The Girls (1999) through to chart-topping singles of 2020, Hawksley has careened between major label international smash hits to Canadiana soaked indie releases. Boasting a catalogue of 17 solo records, Hawksley’s genre defying style strings together folk, chart pop and irrepressible cabaret. His show-stopping vocals on songs about weather, love, heartbreak and tales of end-times have garnered him a league of devoted fans.
Performing over a thousand shows worldwide, Hawksley has headlined prestigious venues like Massey Hall and The Olympia in Paris. For a uniquely Canadian artist Hawksley has built loyal fan bases in the UK, France, Norway and Australia launching many successful tours, demystifying and delighting fans while drawing on an enviable catalogue of mischievous favourites, glammy stompers and heartfelt hymns to small town Canada.
Hawksley’s latest release, Less Rage More Tears was released October 23, 2020 on his indie label Isadora Records. The single "Just a Dream", which reached #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 chart, is a nostalgic feast and a perfect anthem for our collective melancholy.
Hawksley has a string of concerts coming up over the festive period and into the New Year.
FEATURED SONGS:
Around Here
Wound You
Young and Wasted
We're Not Broken Yet
Sweet Hallelujah
Battlefords
Birds In Train Stations
Website: https://hawksleyworkman.com/
Facebook: https://hawksleyworkman.com/
Joe Nolan
Joe Nolan is a treasured Canadian songwriter with a new album “Scrapper” emerging from the pandemic lockdown. Recorded at Scott Franchuk’s famed Riverdale Recorders studio in Edmonton, AB., the eleven songs on “Scrapper” are another demonstration of Nolan prodigious creative powers.
Joe Nolan spoke to Douglas McLean in June 2021 about the album release which was released October 2021.
Joe Nolan, who has been heralded by outlets such as the Globe & Mail and No Depression as an Americana wunderkind, is a Canadian rising star to watch out for in 2021. Nolan has been a staple songwriter in the music industry for over a decade making his first two albums in Nashville with heavyweight producer Colin Linden. He’s also recorded an EP with Hawksley Workman and John Gullmarstam in Sweden. Now he continues to build upon the massive year that came in the wake of his 2018 independently released album Cry Baby and his 2020 release Drifters.
By March 2020, Joe Nolan was a serious musical contender. He’d just returned to his hometown of Edmonton, Canada, after playing a bout of shows in Europe, the culmination of over 170 live dates that previous year, in part thanks to signing on with agent Mongrel Music Agency (Chuck Prophet, Lake Street Dive). He’d signed record deals with Rootsy Records in Sweden (John Prine, Patti Griffin, Anderson East) and Fallen Tree Records in Canada. He’d won trophies, including the Cobalt award for his songwriting at The Maple Blues Awards 2018/2020, as well as a nomination at the Breakout West Awards 2020.
Now was his time.
Then came COVID-19.
It knocked him down.
But, he wasn’t knocked out.
Instead he experienced a rush of artistic energy. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist took the learnings from previous setbacks and channeled them into song, after song, after song.
Those songs coalesced to become his latest heavyweight album, Scrapper.
“I wanted to make something a little bit more edgy this time,” says Joe Nolan. “Something with some meat on the bone, something a little more punchy and gritty but I also wanted to match that energy with softness and sensitivity.”
The result is eleven songs, some finished hours before the last minute recording session he was able to book at Scott Franchuk’s famed Riverdale Recorders studio in Edmonton, AB.
The honest, intimate, original music that Joe Nolan produces can be hard to define. It’s influenced by folk and blues, compared to Leif Vollebekk and Chuck Prophet, John Prine and Jeff Tweedy, Buddy Miller and Guy Clark. Yet with his tender approach and instrumentation, he prefers to just say its Roots music, “because that’s where everything I do stems from.”
The songs cover themes of loneliness on the road, the struggles of not having a rooted home and the misunderstandings that divide friends and lovers. It’s a look outside the ring of a touring musician, with a sadness hidden beneath the melodic beauty, revealing itself as the album unfolds. Perhaps it is the spirit that comes from survival, perseverance and fortified resolve to get out there again.
“It's almost like I don't have a choice,” accepts Nolan. “I don't think I will ever stop, or retire. This is my life, it's hard to explain, but it's something I just have to do.”
By getting back to his roots Nolan took a personal journey through his own family history. Stories from the past came out, accompanied by family photos, some of which have made it onto the album and single covers. They feature his grandfather, a resilient mentor, prominently. And so, Nolan realized the value in those physical connections with family. The links that form when performing on a stage. And he relished the joy of putting a record on the player and reading the liner notes and lyrics.
As for where Scrapper will take Nolan, he’s already booking regional outdoor shows as the restrictions lift, and is looking forward to getting back in the live ring, touring songs not just from Scrapper, but also his album Drifters, released in the early days of the 2020 lockdowns. It was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award 2021, and lauded by music magazine Exclaim! for “His blend of roots and folk [that] is refreshingly un-jaded and full-bodied” in their 9/10 review, and other publications including Folk Radio UK and Americana Highways.
Nolan continues to prove on this next offering that he truly is an undeniable artist, dynamic performer, and virtuosic talent that can not be ignored.
As the album Scrapper closes, the final song fades away, and you’ll hear the faint voice of a woman whispering, “I miss you, when are you coming home?”
For Joe Nolan, whose home is on a stage performing for you, the answer lies in the name of the song. It’s called “See You Soon.
FEATURED SONGS:
Here's To Hoping
Mountain
Start The Car
Stand up for Your Love
Sweet Lil' Blues
Where Do I Go From Here
Website: www.joenolanmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joe.nolan.5
Sue Foley
Stony Plain Records announced an October 22 release date for Pinky’s Blues, the new album from award-winning blues guitarist-singer Sue Foley. Featuring several of Sue Foley originals, as well as songs from some of her favourite blues and roots artists, Pinky’s Blues was recorded at Fire Station Studios in San Marcos, Texas. Joining Sue Foley (guitar, vocals) for the recording sessions were Jon Penner (bass), Chris “Whipper” Layton (drums) and Mike Flanigin (Hammond B3 organ), who also produced the album. The legendary Jimmie Vaughan joins in as a special guest on rhythm guitar for the track, “Hurricane Girl.”
Pinky’s Blues is the follow up to Sue Foley’s award-winning breakout album, The Ice Queen, released in 2018. Foley’s new album is a raw, electric guitar driven romp through the backroads of Texas blues, with Foley’s signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster, “Pinky,” at the wheel. She won “Best Traditional Female (Koko Taylor Award)” at the 2020 Blues Music Awards in Memphis, was nominated for a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy), and she took home the award for “Best Guitar Player” at the Toronto Maple Blues Awards. For the last few years Foley and her band have kept a rigorous touring schedule across the USA, Canada and Europe. Some highlights were appearances at The Beacon Theater (NYC), guesting with Jimmie Vaughan (opening for Eric Clapton) at Royal Albert Hall in London, Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest (w/ Buddy Guy), Moulin Blues (Holland), NPR’s Mountain Stage (with Bela Fleck), Doheny Blues Festival, and the Jungle Show in Austin, Texas.
Foley and producer Mike Flanigin decided to make the album in the middle of the COVID lockdown in 2020.
"Mike, drummer Chris Layton and I had just finished making Mike's album, West Texas Blues, and we needed another challenge to keep us busy," Foley says. "And because we'd been hanging out together we were comfortable in each other's presence, and this would be a very low-key closed session. I brought in Jon Penner to play bass, who was my first bass player and had been on all my early records. So just the four of us along with engineer Chris Bell went into the studio and recorded the entire album in three days. What you're hearing is live, off the floor, in the moment the music was played totally spontaneously and, mainly, improvised. And, we wanted to make something representative of the Texas blues that we had been schooled on in Austin. So, we picked great songs and I wrote a few of my own to round things out. Everything on it is a labour of love.”
FEATURED SONGS:
Dallas Man
Hurricane Girl
Southern Men
Pinky's Blues
Stop These Teardrops
The Lucky Ones * Sue Foley with Jimmie Vaughan
Website: http://suefoley.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suefoleyofficial
Briar Summers
Taken By Storm Records is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Briar Summers' debut album, From The Ashes.
Her debut album, From The Ashes, is out now. Produced and mixed by three- time Grammy Award-winning producer David Bottrill (Tool, Rush, Peter Gabriel), Briar is joined by a cast of superb Canadian talent that includes Ben Riley (drums), Chris Stringer (guitars), Drew Jurecka (violin), Daniel Dennis (cello), Jamie Bestwick (bass), Logan Coey (drums), Jason Logue (trumpet), Dylan Teakle (beats).
Briar and her producer joined us to discuss the album in May 2021 before the album was released.
From The Ashes was released on compact disc and all digital platforms October 8th. (It will be available on vinyl in early 2022.)
Her first single “Stronger,” released earlier this year, has seen significant airplay on local and campus radio, in addition to a spin or two on CBC.
The fact that she’s only 17 has not kept her from headlining local festivals such as Muskoka Pride and Muskoka Vegfest, or from sharing the stage with renowned artists like Jim Cuddy, Julian Taylor, Miranda Mulholland, Kandle Osborne, Sarah Slean and Hawksley Workman, or from receiving such honours as the Bill Waterhouse Award from the Town of Huntsville and Governor General’s Academic Medal from her high school.
FEATURED SONGS:
From the Ashes
I Won't
Stronger
Wingless Angel
How to Fly
Website: https://www.briarsummers.com/
Caroline Marie Brooks
A lifelong musician and creator, Caroline Marie Brooks is perhaps best-known as a member of heralded folk/country harmony trio The Good Lovelies, though she’s also lent her singing and six-string talents to friends like Kathleen Edwards, Jim Bryson, Lily Frost, and Peter Katz on projects of their own.
Her debut solo album, Everything at the Same Time (Sept 24, 2021) draws inspiration from her upbringing in a close-knit, creative family from Whitby, Ontario, and from the one she now shares with her partner and two children, and dog Jim.
Everything at the Same Time was recorded in the midst of an age when sometimes living through our memories of easier days may be all that we have. It asks only that we live and be present in the moment and to remember that though the days are long, the years are all too short. The inevitability of change looms in the distant, and Caroline Marie Brooks challenges you to hold on to the gift of the times we are in.
Recorded and co-produced with her dear friend Jim Bryson (Kathleen Edwards, Skydiggers, Suzie Ungerleider) at his Fixed Hinge studio (Stittsville, ON), Dream Date studio (Toronto, ON), and across southern Ontario at many of the featured musicians’ homes. Stay tuned for the official video for "Birdsong", more Live at Dream Date videos and an upcoming virtual show - all to be announced soon.
FEATURED SONGS:
Birdsong
Lumberjack
Garden Song
Lights Go Down
To the Waves
Tomorrow
Website: https://carolinemariebrooks.com
Del Barber
Del Barber has what surely must be considered a quintessential Canadian voice – natural, pure and tender. His songs are sparked with imagery that only a person deeply connected to a vast open space could conjure. With his new release, ‘Stray Dogs’, a collection of so-called unfinished demos, Barber takes us even deeper into his chosen art form. There is not one song out of place and every one hits the mark.
Often referred to as Canada’s John Prine, Barber’s songs do have characters and misadventures, but there can really be no comparison. Barber is a distinctive artist, weaving his tales in an approach both vocally and musically that is entirely his own. Presented through a veil of pedal steel and lush guitars, Barber’s beautiful singing floats inside these tunes like a call from a dear distant friend, as fresh as the dew, glittering over a field in a bright summer sunrise.
Following up on his 2020 Juno-nominated album, Easy Keeper, Stray Dogs has a touch of something for every taste. More importantly, Barber lets you in, invites you to spend time with a maturing songwriter, continuing to hone his song craft. Polished to a fine gloss, they reflect back all that he has learned, felt and seen and they shine. Although subtly titled ‘B Sides’, every song is an A plus to my ears. Nothing exemplifies this more than the closing tune, ‘Just A Little Heat’, which plies all the characteristics of a Del Barber classic – understated, plaintive, and direct. Comforting and soothing in its cloak of simple mandolin and guitar, Del holds you close through the storm and points to where the sun peaks through a far horizon, clouded with weather. All things must pass and we know it. We are so lucky to have Del Barber singing by our side as we journey onward. -DMc
FEATURED SONGS:
Ronnie and Rose
Meantime
Friends Like Us
Love & Wine
Coming Home With the Summer
Just A Little Heat
Website: https://delbarber.com
The Salt Cellars
The Salt Cellars come from the south side of Algonquin Park.
Like a scene from 'Northern Exposure', these eclectic artists found each other in an area filled with like-minded individuals.
Virginia deCarle and Rob Bersan are the singer/songwriter foundation and in 2016, they formed the duo, 'The Salt Cellars'.
Together, they began to write songs and perform in the Wilno and Bancroft areas, getting great feedback from audiences who attended their shows. People loved the tight harmonies and skilled musicianship.
In 2017, Ron Kapitain, consummate harmonica, accordion & keyboard player from the Maynooth area, joined the band.
In late 2017, the trio met Anax Junius Music Studio producer, Richard Joudrey (Blue Peter/Rational Youth). Impressed by their originality, he was excited to begin production of their first CD entitled, 'Truth'. The band has now grown to include Rick Joudrey on bass, Anne Wilde on backing vocals and Brendon Burgess on percussion and drums.
FEATURED SONGS:
You Don't Know Me
100 Acres
The Mountain
Reap What You've Sown
Favourite Lake
Silence
Website: https://soundcloud.com
Ron Sexsmith
Ron Sexsmith has long been considered one of Canada’s pre-eminent songwriters and performers. With a career spanning close to four decades, Sexsmith has received well-earned praise for his superlative songs for their stylistic purity and emotional depth. He has recorded fifteen albums and joined Backstage to discuss his latest album, Hermitage released in the spring of 2020.
A gifted singer and songwriter whose songs are by turns earnest and playful, Ron Sexsmith has won acclaim not only from critics but from fellow performers like Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and John Hiatt -- some of the same artists who initially inspired Sexsmith himself to become a musician. He has a talent for catchy but graceful melodies that's matched by his skills as a lyricist, drawing compact sketches of love and the trials of everyday life that are heartfelt and compassionate even when he's being witty, and warm without becoming overly sentimental. Sexsmith's songs are fine examples of pop classicism, while his work as a recording artist has found him maturing steadily throughout his career.
FEATURED SONGS:
Radio
Morning Town
Think of You Fondly
Glow in the Dark Stars
There's a Rhythm
Love Shines
Website: http://www.ronsexsmith.com/
Durham County Poets
One of the most infectious and surprising uplifting bands on the Canadian Blues scene, Durham County Poets joins Douglas McLean to talk about their upcoming tour and their JUNO nomination for Blues Album of the Year, for their album ‘Hand Me Down Blues’.
Durham County Poets grew out of the lively music scene in Ormstown, QC, once called Durham. The five seasoned musicians, all of whom are also songwriters, work together individually and collaboratively in composing their music. Delving into a variety of styles and genres, their musical influences include a broad range, woven together to create their own authentic style.
They have released 4 indie albums in 10 years with their latest-almost-all-blues effort receiving a JUNO nomination, followed by 2 Maple Blues nominations and a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination for Kevin. In fact, the band was all set to travel to Saskatoon in March 2020 to participate in JUNO Festival week (and back up Dawn Tyler Watson), when the awards were cancelled, and a new reality kicked in: being virtual. This the band embraced, their first ‘online gig’ seen by thousands, courtesy of Ottawa’s National Arts Centre.
The obvious joie-de-vivre they express in performance is reflected in the good-time feel the band creates, captivating audiences consistently with their tight grooves and seemingly effortless performances, laced with Kevin’s own funny observations of life. As Nate Dow from the Fallout Shelter in Massachusetts said “Lead singer Kevin Harvey and his band are sonic shape shifters of the first order. Whether it’s blues, folk, soul, country, gospel, or New Orleans swing, they purvey it with skill, aplomb and pure honesty.”
Touring to date has taken them to the Ottawa Blues, Rochester Jazz, Montreal Folk, Deep Roots Nova Scotia Festivals, and Wintergrass Seattle, Port-Credit’s Southside Shuffle and the Pop-up ‘Superfolk’ in Morin Heights QC.
FEATURED SONGS:
Hand Me Down Blues
Monday Morning
The Great Divide
I've Been Living with the Blues
Evil in the Heart.
With a Little Help from My Friends
Website: https://durhamcountypoets.com
itsnotu.me
Douglas McLean chats with James Jones for his latest Sound Cafe Podcast.
“Creative nerd with a fetish for making music.
I love honesty / beauty / harmony / loyalty /
family”
Creating some of the most exciting, innovative and challenging pop music in the Huntsville area of Ontario, Canada, James Jones, better know as itsnotu.me, produces dazzling songs and soundscapes that meet the modern demands of the ever changing and evolving pop music world.
FEATURED SONGS:
Delirious (TCMX)
Shine On
Magic Moon (DMX Radio Edit)
Sayonara
Run4 u
Get Out Of My Head
Completely
The Girl At Number Nine
If you were to you combine the melodic cleverness of McCartney , the progressive feel of The Weeknd and sensitivity of an Ed Sheeran song you would capture the best way to describe the music of artist ITSNOTU.ME.
Website: https://www.itsnotu.me/
The Hello Darlins
Douglas McLean chats with The Hello Darlins for his latest Sound Cafe Podcast.
With the release of their debut album, Go By Feel, in June 2021, the Hello Darlins from Calgary, Alberta, confirmed the promise that their initial 2020 single releases indicated. Steeped in a the rich tradition of Americana Folk Roots musicality and song writing, the Hello Darlins have become an overnight sensation on major streaming platforms and digital airwaves.
The writing producing team of vocalist/producer, Candace Lacina and keyboardist/producer, Mike Little, join host Douglas McLean, to share highlights in the creation of one of the most exciting album releases of 2021. The magic and thrilling performances of this duo have fashioned an instant classic, rich in songs of the highest caliber, destined to be listener favourite for years to come.
FEATURED SONGS:
Behind The Drive
Catch That Train
Aberdeen (feat. Joey Landreth)
Lonely in Las Vegas
Never Get over You
Still Waters (feat. Matt Andersen)
Go by Feel
Website: https://thehellodarlins.com/
The Weber Brothers
Over the past 16 years they’ve recorded 12 independent albums and toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Ryan and Sam Weber left their Baltimore, MD home one night as teenagers, with the aim of meeting their idol, rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, and ten hours later showed up at his doorstep. “The Hawk”, the elder statesman of rock whose former protégés (Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Richard Manuel, Garth Hudson) went on to reshape music history as “The Band”, was duly impressed by the pair’s immense raw talent, and promptly invited them to audition for his storied backing band, The Hawks. Mere months later, after surviving the intense musical apprenticeship of his fabled “Rock ‘n’ Roll Boot-camp,” they were in: full-blooded Hawks. By the ages of 18 and 21 they had already performed alongside Kris Kristofferson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Jeff Healey and the Tragically Hip to name a few.
To many, The Weber Brothers are the baddest band in the land. To many others, their story sits like an ancient volume in an old bookstore, dust covered, tucked away behind hundreds of newer, shinier books. Untouched. Waiting to be discovered. Regardless of what side you’re on, there’s an undeniable truth. In the rough and tumble world of rock and roll, The Weber Brothers have been around the block.
‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ marks the brothers 13th full length release, and is a reunion of sorts with Baltimore MD based musician/producer extraordinaire Timothy Bracken, who just so happens to have ridden the same bus to elementary school as The Weber Brothers, in their shared hometown of Westminster, MD. The trio of Ryan, Sam, and Tim has been making music together for 30 years, and with Bracken’s masterfully adept hand wielding the mixing, mastering, and production duties, ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ fires on all cylinders and leaps from the speakers, offering the listener an exciting and compelling hour-long thrill ride.
FEATURED SONGS:
Choose Your Own Adventure
Toys In The Junkyard
Listen
We Were Let Down
Hypothermia
God Help Us
Website: https://weberbrothers.com
Mike Goudreau
Mike Goudreau presents his 21st independent release “The Isolation Blues”, a collection of 14 brand new original songs. This production was recorded remotely, with long time collaborators and cronies during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, between September 2020 and February 2021.
Mike wrote and recorded the songs from his home studio. He sings, plays guitar and bass on this adventure. Tried and true musical partner Dany Roy wrote the horn arrangements and recorded all the sax and trumpet parts from his home studio in Montreal. For his part, Jean-François Bégin, who has been with the band for 11 years, recorded and played drums and percussion from his home studio in Sherbrooke.
Other guests include harmonica player extraordinaire Pascal “Per” Veillette on three songs, and Vermont keyboardist Ira Friedman on Hammond Organ and piano, also for three tracks.
This is an eclectic mix of straight-ahead Chicago, Delta and Texas style Blues, Soul, Southern Rock, Swamp Blues, Rock ’n’ Roll, and Goudreau’ signature, the album opener, a Swinging Jump Blues, will get your fingers snapping and toes tapping on the first downbeat!
Despite being recorded remotely, the album sounds like it was recorded live off the studio floor and stands up to previously recorded world-class albums that Mike has gotten us used to.
Mike’s influences for this album include the likes of Louis Jordan, Albert & B.B. King, CCR, J.J. Cale, The Allman Brothers, Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughn, to name some of the best!
Since 2007, Goudreau’s songs have continued to be featured in dozens of Hollywood films and network TV shows, and 2019-2020 was no exception with his original songs placed in films like The Banker (with Samuel Jackson, 2020), the feature film Dark Waters (2019), the CBS TV show Dynasty (2020), and the Christmas TV movie The Happiest Season (Hulu 2020), to name only a few.
You can get Mike Goudreau’s new album through cdbaby.com or mikegoudreau.com. It is also available on ITunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify and most popular streaming and downloading platforms.
FEATURED SONGS:
Let's Go Down To The River
Hear My Prayer
The Mooch
Half Day from Home
Isolation Blues
Since My Baby Left Me
My Only Lady
Website: https://mikegoudreau.com
Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan’s new album, HOURGLASS, released July 09,2021, finds the poet and legendary songwriter, contemplative and sincere in his attempt to reflect within himself, on current concerns and social issues facing people of all walks of life. Drawn from front news pages, McLauchlan portrays his own deep awakening to the plight of others crushed by systemic racism, privilege and economic disparity.
His newest album, released through his long term partnership with True North Record, is testament to his artistic integrity. He uses all of his skill as a songwriter to share with his audience his views and thoughts on situations that are, at best, untenable, outrageous and an affront to human decency. “Change will and must come “ and as a songwriter and public figure, McLauchlan feels honour bound to speak up and speak out.
FEATURED SONGS:
Farmer's Song
I Live On A White Cloud
The One Percent
Run Away To Sea
America
A Thomson Day (For Tom Thomson)
Website: https://www.murraymclauchlan.com/
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