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5 Surprising Facts About Boston’s ‘Boston’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Boston’s ‘Boston’

Tom Scholz recorded one of the best-selling debut albums in rock history in a flooded basement next to a furnace, on equipment he built himself, while lying to a major record label about where he was doing it. Epic Records thought the album was being made in Los Angeles. It was being made in Watertown, Massachusetts, in a tiny pine-panelled room that Scholz described as “hideous.” The label had signed what they suspected might be “a mad genius at work in a basement.” They were right. ‘Boston’ was released in August 1976, has sold at least 17 million copies in the United States alone, and remains one of the greatest corporate capers in the history of the music business. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about it.

Epic Records Had Already Rejected the Band — With an Insulting Letter

Before ‘Boston’ became the fastest-selling debut album in American rock history, Epic Records passed on it flat. The rejection letter, signed by company head Lennie Petze, opined that the band “offered nothing new.” RCA, Capitol, Atlantic, and Elektra had all turned them down too. The tape that eventually landed at Epic only got there because a Polaroid co-worker of Scholz’s forgot to mail it to ABC Records and left it sitting on his desk for months — where someone else overheard it, called a promoter in California, who called Petze back. The man who wrote the insulting letter ended up signing the band.

The Bulk of the Album Was Recorded With a $100 Guitar

While producer John Boylan arranged for singer Brad Delp to have a custom Taylor acoustic guitar charged to the album budget for thousands of dollars, Scholz was back in Watertown quietly recording “More Than a Feeling” on a $100 Yamaha acoustic he had bought himself. Boylan’s role was essentially to take the rest of the band to Los Angeles as a decoy — keeping Epic happy while Scholz did the actual work at home. The label never knew. “What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them,” Delp later said. When Scholz finally handed over a complete tape, the label thought the band had worked extraordinarily fast.

“Foreplay” — the Opening of the Album’s Most Epic Track — Was Written in 1969

“Foreplay/Long Time” is nearly eight minutes long and sounds like the kind of track that takes years to construct. It did. Scholz has said that “Foreplay” was not only the first song he ever recorded, but the first piece of music he ever wrote — composed as far back as 1969, a full seven years before it appeared on the album. He recorded the original version on a two-track machine in his basement. By the time it showed up on ‘Boston’, it had been sitting in Scholz’s head for most of a decade, waiting for the rest of the world to catch up.

Nirvana Quoted “More Than a Feeling” at Reading — and Nobody Missed the Point

When Kurt Cobain took the stage at the 1992 Reading Festival, he opened Nirvana’s set by playing the opening riff of “More Than a Feeling” — a deliberate nod to what many critics had already noticed: that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” shares a chord progression with it. Scholz had always credited “Walk Away Renée” by The Left Banke as the song’s main inspiration, and the guitar progression that follows the line “I see my Marianne walking away” is directly borrowed from that track. So the lineage runs from a 1966 baroque pop song to a 1976 arena rock anthem to a 1991 grunge landmark. Not bad for a tune written in a flooded Massachusetts basement.

They Lost the Grammy for Best New Artist to a One-Hit Wonder — and Then Sold 17 Million Albums

Boston were nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist for their debut album, which by any measure should have been a lock. They lost to the Starland Vocal Band, whose surprise hit “Afternoon Delight” had caught the mood of America’s Bicentennial summer. The Starland Vocal Band never had another significant hit. Boston went on to sell 17 million copies of their debut in the United States alone, went Diamond, and placed every single song on the album into permanent classic rock radio rotation. The Grammy voters have had fifty years to think about that one.

5 Surprising Facts About ABBA’s ‘Arrival’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About ABBA’s ‘Arrival’

“Dancing Queen” started as a song called “Boogaloo.” “Money, Money, Money” was once “Gypsy Girl.” The album’s title track is an instrumental that almost didn’t exist. And the whole thing — one of the biggest-selling records in pop history — was recorded over fourteen months while the band was simultaneously conquering the world, cancelling tours, and trying to figure out what came next. ‘Arrival’ was released in October 1976, became the best-selling album of 1977 in both the UK and West Germany, and turned ABBA from a novelty act with a Eurovision hit into one of the most unstoppable forces popular music has ever seen. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about it.

“Dancing Queen” Was Inspired by a George McCrae Disco Record — and Almost Didn’t Come Out First

The track that became ABBA’s signature song began life as a backing track called “Boogaloo”, built around the dance rhythm of George McCrae’s “Rock Your Baby.” When Benny Andersson brought the backing track home and played it for Anni-Frid Lyngstad before the vocals were even recorded, she reportedly started crying — she called it one of those songs that goes straight to your heart. Then, despite the band knowing they had something enormous on their hands, manager Stig Anderson insisted the more folksy “Fernando” come out as a single first, delaying “Dancing Queen’s” release by months. It still topped the charts in sixteen countries and remains ABBA’s only number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Album’s Title Track Is a Keyboard Instrumental That Was Nearly Left Off Entirely

Most people who love ‘Arrival’ have never really thought about the fact that the closing track — the one the album is named after — has no vocals whatsoever. Mostly featuring Benny Andersson on keyboards, the piece was the very last thing recorded for the album, added almost as an afterthought once everything else was done. The word “Arrival” had already been chosen as the album title before the instrumental existed, which means the song was written to fit the name, not the other way around.

“Knowing Me, Knowing You” Predated the Divorces It Seemed to Be Written About

One of the most striking things about “Knowing Me, Knowing You” is how personal it sounds — a devastatingly clear-eyed account of a relationship ending, of walking through empty rooms and accepting that it’s over. What makes it stranger is that Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog, and Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, were both still married when it was written in early 1976. The song came before the pain it seemed to document. Both couples would divorce in the years that followed, giving the track a biographical weight it was never originally intended to carry.

The “Money, Money, Money” Video Is the One Its Director Is Most Proud Of

Lasse Hallström directed most of ABBA’s classic videos, but when asked which one he considers his finest work, he doesn’t pick “Dancing Queen” or “Knowing Me, Knowing You.” He picks “Money, Money, Money” — a Cabaret-inspired miniature film that follows Anni-Frid Lyngstad from the grinding reality of working life into lavish dream sequences about wealth and escape. It was a genuine step forward in music video storytelling at a time when most clips were just bands miming on a stage, and it pointed toward the visual sophistication ABBA would bring to everything they did for the rest of the decade.

‘Arrival’ Was Selected for the US National Recording Registry — Alongside “Dancing Queen” Specifically

In 2024, the Library of Congress added ‘Arrival’ to the National Recording Registry, deeming it culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. What makes this unusual is that “Dancing Queen” received its own separate citation within the same designation — recognised both as part of the album and as a standalone work of enduring importance. It is ABBA’s only number one on the Billboard Hot 100, their only song on Rolling Stone’s original 500 Greatest Songs list, and in 2022 it received a BMI Million-Air award for having been played six million times on American radio alone. Not bad for a song that almost came out six months later than it did.

5 Surprising Facts About Keith Jarrett’s ‘The Köln Concert’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprising Facts About Keith Jarrett’s ‘The Köln Concert’

Nobody planned for ‘The Köln Concert’ to be anything. No grand artistic vision. No carefully curated setlist. No moment of inspiration in a candlelit studio. Just a broken-down rehearsal piano, a pianist who hadn’t slept in days, an 18-year-old promoter begging him not to walk out, and a tape machine that happened to be running. What got recorded that night in Cologne on January 24, 1975 went on to become the best-selling solo jazz album in history and the best-selling piano album ever made. Around four million copies sold. Designated a cultural treasure by the Library of Congress. And Keith Jarrett, for a long time, wanted every single copy stomped into the ground. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about it.

The Wrong Piano Nearly Killed the Concert Before It Started

Jarrett had specifically requested a Bösendorfer 290 Imperial concert grand for the performance. What he got was a small, battered baby grand that had been left backstage for rehearsals — tinny in the upper registers, weak in the bass, with pedals that barely functioned. A replacement instrument was located but a piano tuner on the scene warned that transporting a grand piano without proper equipment, in the rain, at low temperatures, would destroy it. They were stuck with the wreck. Jarrett nearly walked out entirely.

An 18-Year-Old Promoter Talked Him Into Playing

The concert was organized by Vera Brandes, who at the time was Germany’s youngest concert promoter — just 18 years old. She had booked the show, sold it out to over 1,400 people, and now found herself standing between an exhausted, back-braced pianist and an empty stage. Jarrett had not slept properly in days, had eaten almost nothing before the show, and had driven to Cologne by car through the night rather than fly. Brandes persuaded him to go on anyway. The recording equipment was already set up. He played.

The Piano’s Weaknesses Shaped the Music Itself

Because the instrument was so thin in the bass and so brittle in the upper register, Jarrett was forced to concentrate almost entirely on the middle range of the keyboard. He developed rolling left-hand ostinatos and rhythmic vamps to compensate for the lack of resonance in the low end — techniques that gave the performance its distinctive, hypnotic, gospel-tinged drive. ECM producer Manfred Eicher later reflected that Jarrett probably played the way he did precisely because the piano was so poor. The instrument’s limitations became the music’s greatest strength.

Jarrett Hated What the Album Became

Despite — or perhaps because of — its massive success, Jarrett has been famously ambivalent about ‘The Köln Concert’ for decades. In a 1992 interview with Der Spiegel, he said he wanted to see every one of the millions of copies stomped into the ground, frustrated that the album had become little more than ambient background music, a lifestyle soundtrack for the patchouli-scented seventies. He resisted publishing a transcription for fifteen years, finally relenting in 1990 — but only with the stipulation that the recording itself remain the final word.

It Was Declared a Cultural Treasure in 2025 — Fifty Years After It Was Recorded

In 2025, the Library of Congress added ‘The Köln Concert’ to the National Recording Registry, deeming it culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant — joining a list of recordings considered part of America’s musical heritage. The same year marked the album’s 50th anniversary, which prompted a German feature film, ‘Köln 75’, premiering at the Berlinale, as well as a French documentary tracking down the actual piano Jarrett played that night, and a graphic novel in development. Half a century on, the world is still trying to make sense of what happened in that opera house.

5 Surprisings Facts About Joni Mitchell’s ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’

Eric Alper
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5 Surprisings Facts About Joni Mitchell’s ‘The Hissing Of Summer Lawns’

There are albums that define a moment, and then there are albums that define an artist. Joni Mitchell’s seventh studio record, ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’, released in November 1975, is firmly in the second category — and then some. This is the record where Mitchell stopped caring what you thought and started making music entirely on her own terms. It marked her official departure from the mainstream, the beginning of her jazzbo journey, and the work of an artist so absolutely assured of herself that she didn’t bother to leave a map for anyone trying to follow. It doesn’t carry the rhapsodic reputation of ‘Blue’, but it is unquestionably one of her finest albums — and almost certainly her most timeless. Fifty years on, here are five things you might not know about it.

It Contains One of the First Commercially Released Sampled Records in History

Long before hip-hop made sampling a cultural institution, Joni Mitchell was looping tribal percussion on “The Jungle Line.” She took a field recording of the Royal Drummers of Burundi, built it into a repeating loop, and ran her Moog synthesizer and vocal over top of it — creating something that had genuinely never been heard before on a major label release. Music historians now point to it as a landmark moment, a full decade before sampling became a defining feature of popular music.

Prince Called It “The Last Album I Loved All the Way Through”

Prince was famously particular about music — his own and everyone else’s. So when he singled out ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ as the last album he loved completely from beginning to end, that meant something. He praised it repeatedly in interviews over the years, and the record’s influence can be heard in his own restless refusal to stay in one genre. High praise from one of the most musically demanding artists who ever lived.

Critics Savaged It on Release — and Completely Reversed Course Later

When ‘Hissing’ dropped, reviewers were genuinely baffled and often hostile. Rolling Stone called it “a great collection of pop poems with a distracting soundtrack.” Robert Christgau praised Mitchell’s ambition while taking issue with her choice of session musicians. Fans who had been shouting for “Big Yellow Taxi” felt abandoned. The album still went gold and earned Mitchell a Grammy nomination, but the critical consensus was that she had lost the plot. Today, Pitchfork has given it a perfect 10, and music writer Howard Sounes has called it her masterpiece — worthy of standing alongside Dylan’s ‘Blood on the Tracks’.

It Is a Deeply Feminist Album Disguised as a Jazz Record

On the surface, ‘Hissing’ sounds like an elegant, jazz-inflected art-pop record. Underneath, it is a sharp and unflinching reckoning with what women of Mitchell’s generation were told their lives should look like. On “Harry’s House,” wives paper over their real feelings to maintain domestic peace. On “Sweet Bird,” beauty and youth are currencies that expire. On “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow,” women claim their right to exist as individuals. Mitchell and her peers had been raised to believe that marriage and domesticity would fulfill them entirely — ‘Hissing’ was her answer to that lie, delivered with jazz chords and devastating precision.

It Was Mitchell’s Last Top-10 Album — and She Didn’t Care

‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ reached number 4 on the Billboard 200, making it Mitchell’s last album to crack the top 10 in the United States. Rather than course-correcting to win her audience back, she responded by making ‘Hejira’, which was even more experimental, followed by the double album ‘Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter’, and then her full-blown collaboration with jazz legend Charles Mingus. Mitchell had never made a record that wasn’t bigger than the one before, and the audience’s rejection stung — but she was never going to reel anyone back in by retreating. That Joni didn’t live here anymore. ‘Hissing’ was the proof.

Collingwood Anthem Maker Shjaane Glover Unveils Radiant Title Track “Conjure This”

Eric Alper
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Collingwood Anthem Maker Shjaane Glover Unveils Radiant Title Track “Conjure This”

Following the atmospheric success of his return to the airwaves, Southern Ontario singer-songwriter Shjaane Glover today announces the release of his vibrant new single, “Conjure This.” Out now, the track serves as the eponymous heartbeat of his forthcoming six-song EP, “Conjure This,” arriving April 24. Shifting from the introspective textures of his earlier work into a sun-drenched, rhythmic landscape, Glover delivers a high-energy indie-folk anthem that leans into the beautiful absurdity of staying present when life feels most unpredictable.

Written during a surf trip in Nicaragua, “Conjure This” was born from a striking emotional paradox. While standing on a beautiful beach, Glover found himself navigating heavy news from home—a contrast that transformed into a spirited “anthem to keep trucking on.” The track’s lyrical depth is mirrored in its catchy, bouncy rhythm, featuring a standout performance where Glover sings: “The air you breathe it is real / Don’t try to change how you taste it / Or tell me how to feel / I’ll try a new vacation yeah.” These lines encapsulate the song’s mission: a refusal to let external complications dampen the visceral experience of the moment.

The production, helmed by collaborator Craig Smith, marks a dynamic evolution in Glover’s sonic palette. Recorded at Smith’s studio, the track evolved from its original acoustic roots into a lush, full-band production. The arrangement is propelled by the infectious groove of drummer Jenna Applewhaite and the vibrant, life-affirming textures of Jay Stiles’ organ work, creating a sound that sits at the intersection of indie-alternative grit and folk-rock polish. This shift toward a more upbeat feel highlights Glover’s versatility as an artist capable of marrying complex emotions with undeniable melodies.

Media outlets will find a compelling story in the “paradox of paradise” that inspired the track—the universal human experience of finding joy amidst external chaos. Furthermore, the single’s creative origin story provides a vivid travel-based hook, as Glover’s songwriting continues to be deeply shaped by his experiential connection to geography, whether it be the shores of Central America or his home base of Collingwood by Georgian Bay. A third captivating angle lies in the upcoming music video, which leans into a playful, chaotic aesthetic that mirrors the song’s sense of disbelief, offering a visual departure from standard indie-folk tropes.

Based in Collingwood, Glover has built a reputation for music that lives at the junction of atmosphere and raw emotional clarity. His return is defined by a renewed sense of intention and a catalogue of songs built to last. Known for a high-energy stage presence that expands his studio recordings into immersive live events, Glover invites his audience to slow down and sit honestly with their feelings, even when those feelings are as complicated as black out in a tropical storm.

As the lead-up to the “Conjure This” EP intensifies, Glover is set to bring his dynamic energy to the stage with a hometown release show at Side Launch Brewing in Collingwood on April 24, as well as a summer appearance at the Fourwinds Music Festival on July 11. “Conjure This” is more than just a title track; it is a declaration of artistic arrival—a toast to the accolades of the present and a bold step into a luminous future.

Newly Signed to BMG, Montreal Pop-Rock Artist ANNABEL GUTHERZ Announces April 23 Live Show at Le Balcon With CASE KENNY

Eric Alper
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Newly Signed to BMG, Montreal Pop-Rock Artist ANNABEL GUTHERZ Announces April 23 Live Show at Le Balcon With CASE KENNY

Newly signed to BMG, Montreal-born pop-rock artist Annabel Gutherz has announced a live performance experience set for April 23, 2026, at Le Balcon in Montreal and tickets are now onsale here. The show, entitled ECHOES, promises to be one of the year’s most intimate and exhilarating concert experiences — an electrifying convergence of music and meaning, illuminating the invisible dialogue that shapes our courage, our choices, and our becoming. Echoing the timeless idea that who we are is shaped by the stories we tell ourselves and come to believe, the evening invites audiences not only to listen, but to reclaim authorship over their own inner narratives.

The evening pairs Gutherz’s soaring, emotionally resonant pop-rock music with a one-of-a-kind opening experience: acclaimed motivational speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author Case Kenny will take the stage to lead a live, interactive workshop, guiding audiences through a moment of collective reflection centered on the language of their inner lives. Through intentional exercises and inspired introspection, Kenny invites participants to rediscover the agency within their own narratives — setting the stage for a performance that arrives not just as a concert, but as a deeply personal event. The pairing of Kenny’s philosophy-driven workshop with Gutherz’s diaristic, emotionally rich songwriting creates a singular arc for the evening: one that illuminates how language grounds us, frees us, and moves us forward.

Backing Gutherz on stage is a remarkable live band — Dominique Messier (drums), Kaven Girouard (guitar), Vincent Bilodeau (guitar), Yves Labonté (bass), and Guillaume Marchand (keyboards) — whose members have performed alongside none other than Céline Dion. Their collective virtuosity and dynamic range bring an unmistakably cinematic scope to Gutherz’s arrangements, elevating her intimate storytelling to arena-worthy scale. The result is a live sound that honors both the precision of her lyricism and the sweeping emotional power that defines her as a live performer.

Gutherz’s journey to this stage is one shaped by extraordinary dedication and artistic conviction. A summa cum laude graduate of Berklee College of Music — earning both a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Music Studies and a Master of Arts in Songwriting — the 27-year-old singer-songwriter has been collaborating with some of the most celebrated songwriters working today, including Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, OneRepublic), Bret “Epic” Mazur (Crazy Town, Prince, The Black Eyed Peas), and Bleu McAuley (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers). She is currently at work on her highly anticipated sophomore album, and April 23rd will offer audiences an exclusive window into where that creative journey is heading.

A compelling and utterly distinctive voice in contemporary pop-rock, Gutherz has drawn praise from tastemakers including PopWrapped, Stage Right Secrets, and CelebMix, with critics noting that her introspective, honeyed vocals echo the legends of Laurel Canyon — evoking the folk-rock grandeur of Fleetwood Mac while forging something entirely her own. She has also expanded her creative footprint into the world of film and television, with original song placements on CBS, and recently signed a publishing deal with BMG — one of the world’s foremost music companies — affirming her place among a distinguished roster of artists shaping the future of contemporary music. With over 90,000 monthly Spotify listeners, 3M+ cumulative streams, and 3M+ YouTube views, the momentum behind Gutherz is both undeniable and accelerating.

Le Balcon, with its storied place in Montreal’s vibrant live music landscape, provides the ideal setting for this intimate and emotionally immersive evening where audiences witness not only an incredible and indelible performance, but a reflection of themselves within it.

Tickets for ECHOES are on sale now. This is a must-see live experience.

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Famer Marc Jordan Announces New Biography, Audiophile Collection, and Ontario Tour

Eric Alper
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Canadian Songwriters Hall of Famer Marc Jordan Announces New Biography, Audiophile Collection, and Ontario Tour

Marc Jordan, the visionary Brooklyn-born, Toronto-raised singer-songwriter whose work has defined the landscape of popular music for over fifty years, today announces a multi-dimensional celebration of his storied career. With the release of his authorized biography, Rhythm of My Heart, a chart-topping audiophile collection, and an intimate series of live performances, Jordan continues to expand his legacy as one of the most essential voices in the musical canon.

Central to this season’s activity is the launch of Rhythm of My Heart: The Authorized Biography of Marc Jordan, penned by acclaimed author and musician Don Breithaupt. On Sunday, April 19, Jordan and Breithaupt will host an official launch event at Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto. The afternoon promises an unprecedented deep dive into the life of a songwriter whose compositions have sold over 35 million units, exploring his artistic evolution from the “slick, slippery” West Coast sound of the late seventies to his recent, critically acclaimed orchestral masterworks.

The biography offers a vivid window into Jordan’s unique creative process, including his “savant-like” ability to visualize music in three dimensions—a gift he cultivated while navigating profound dyslexia. The song serves as the heartbeat of a narrative that celebrates redemption through art and the unwavering dedication to the craft of songwriting.

Simultaneously, Jordan is captivating the audiophile community with the release of Marc Jordan: The Collection on the 2xHD Fusion label. Already storming the high-definition streaming charts—reaching #3 on ProStudioMasters and the Top 10 on NativeDSD—the album utilizes a sophisticated remastering process that blends digital precision with the harmonic warmth of analog. Produced by the legendary Lou Pomanti, the collection reimagines classic Jordan material in a lush, soft-jazz environment, allowing listeners to hear subtle textures and spatial cues with newfound clarity.

The celebration of Jordan’s “Renaissance Man” status continues Friday, April 24, at The Rosedale Centre, where Marc will join fellow Juno nominee Amy Sky for an intimate concert and art show. This event highlights Jordan’s prowess as a visual artist, featuring an exhibition of his unique Flattmuzik Paintings. The evening will showcase the duo’s individual hits and stunning duets from their celebrated album He Sang She Sang, offering fans a rare glimpse into the intersection of their personal and professional creative lives.

Looking toward the summer, Jordan will take these stories and sounds on the road for a select June Tour across Ontario theatres. Accompanied by a stellar ensemble of musicians—including Lou Pomanti (piano), Rich Moore (bass), Kevan McKenzie (drums), and Mark Lalama (accordion/keyboards)—these performances will render each song as a cinematic, autobiographical experience. As Bonnie Raitt once remarked, “When I sing a Marc Jordan song, it’s hard to make it sound as good as when he sings it himself.”

From the halls of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame to the cutting edge of audiophile technology, Marc Jordan remains at the height of his expressive power. Whether through the written word, the painted canvas, or the perfectly crafted pop song, Jordan continues to whisk listeners off to another world, blurred between the lines of jazz, pop, and pure poetic delivery.

UPCOMING EVENTS & TOUR DATES:

Book Launch: Rhythm of My Heart

  • April 19: Toronto, ON – Hugh’s Room Live (5:00 PM)

Concert & Art Show: Marc Jordan & Amy Sky

  • April 24: Toronto, ON – The Rosedale Centre (7:30 PM)

Marc Jordan… The Rhythm of My Heart June Tour

  • June 9: Ancaster, ON – Memorial Arts Centre
  • June 10: Owen Sound, ON – Roxy Theatre
  • June 11: Orillia, ON – Orillia Opera House
  • June 12: Huntsville, ON – Algonquin Theatre
  • June 13: London, ON – Aeolian Hall

Tom Wilson (Tehoháhake) Releases New Video “We Live In Dreams,” Co-Written With Tanya Talaga, Featured in Documentary Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising

Eric Alper
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Tom Wilson (Tehoháhake) Releases New Video “We Live In Dreams,” Co-Written With Tanya Talaga, Featured in Documentary Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising

Celebrated Canadian musician, author, and visual artist Tom Wilson (Tehoháhake) today releases his luminous new video for “We Live In Dreams,” co-written with award-winning Anishinaabe journalist, storyteller, and filmmaker Tanya Talaga. Produced by Tom Wilson and mixed by Gary Furniss at The Stonehouse, the song is a stirring and deeply felt anthem of Indigenous resilience, cultural pride, and the unshakeable power of community, and arrives as one of the most meaningful recordings of Wilson’s remarkable career.

“We Live In Dreams” serves as the emotional centrepiece of the powerful new documentary Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising, directed by Shane Belcourt and produced by Talaga’s production company Makwa Creative. The film resurrects and restores the buried history of a pivotal 1974 land-back occupation led by Louis Cameron, an Indian Residential School Survivor and founder of the Ojibway Warriors Society, an act of extraordinary courage that drew members of the American Indian Movement and ultimately brought the Native Caravan to Parliament Hill. Belcourt, who also directed and shot the song’s music video, brings the same unflinching visual storytelling to the single’s release.

The song was born from the creative partnership between two of Canada’s most essential Indigenous voices. Wilson and Talaga, whose groundbreaking books Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations and Canadian Screen Award-winning docuseries The Knowing have reshaped conversations around Indigenous truth-telling, channelled the documentary’s spirit directly into the music. “We are here to give everything we’ve got to honour the warrior hearts who have dodged bullets, cut through razor wire and thrown their lives on the line to free the spirit of our people,” Wilson has said. “We are here to create art to fight the hate and the violence towards our people. We are here to tell the truth. We are here to stand for love and we are here to win with love.”

A multi-JUNO Award-winning artist known for his work with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond, and Junkhouse, as well as his bestselling memoir Beautiful Scars, Tom Wilson has spent decades building a body of work that honours his Mohawk heritage and insists on the truth. “We Live In Dreams” marks a new chapter in that legacy, a song written with intention, recorded with love, and offered to the world as both art and advocacy.

Ni-Naadamaadiz: Red Power Rising premieres on CBC’s Channel 1 on Sunday, May 24, 2026 at 9pm ET, with both versions available on CBC Gem beginning June 1, 2026. “We Live In Dreams” is available now on all streaming platforms. The single is released with funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

ABOUT TOM WILSON (Tehoháhake): Tom Wilson is a multi-JUNO Award-winning musician, bestselling author, and acclaimed visual artist whose work reflects his Mohawk heritage and lifelong dedication to truth-telling through art, music, and story. He is known for his work with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond, and Junkhouse, and as the author of the bestselling memoir Beautiful Scars.

ABOUT TANYA TALAGA: Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe journalist, author, filmmaker, and storyteller and the founder of Makwa Creative. She is best known for Seven Fallen Feathers, All Our Relations, and the Canadian Screen Award-winning docuseries The Knowing.

Canadian Blues Music Awards Crown First-Ever Winners at Landmark Toronto Gala

Eric Alper
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Canadian Blues Music Awards Crown First-Ever Winners at Landmark Toronto Gala

The Canadian Blues Music Awards made history Monday night at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, crowning the first-ever winners of Canada’s new national blues recognition programme across 16 competitive categories. The inaugural gala brought together the finest performers in Canadian blues for a landmark celebration that was more than an awards show. It was a statement about the depth, diversity, and resilience of blues music in this country.

The evening’s biggest winner was Brandon Isaak, who took home Electric Blues Recording of the Year, Blues Song of the Year for “Walkin’ With The Blues,” and Blues Guitarist of the Year, all for his album ‘Walkin’ With The Blues.’ Steve Marriner claimed Blues Producer of the Year for his work on three recordings: ‘Hear My Heart,’ Big Dave McLean’s ‘This Old Life,’ and David Gogo’s ‘YEAH!’ Sue Foley won Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year for ‘One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar.’ Crystal Shawanda took Female Blues Vocalist of the Year for ‘Sing Pretty Blues,’ while Marcus Trummer claimed Male Blues Vocalist of the Year for ‘From The Start.’ Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne won Blues Keyboard Player of the Year for ‘Ooh, Yeah!’, and Ollee Owens was named Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year for ‘Nowhere to Hide.’

The Canadian Blues Music Awards is a fully independent, incorporated national not-for-profit organization built from the ground up with a mandate to govern, develop, and operate Canada’s premier blues recognition programme. Initially formed in spring 2024 by Brant Zwicker and Cindy McLeod, the CBMA Governing Committee spent more than a year in extensive research, national consultation, and programme development before incorporating as an independent organization. All artist category awards are decided exclusively by a jury panel of industry professionals drawn from a national pool spanning radio, print, labels, engineering, production, promotion, academia, associations, festivals, and venues. “The Canadian Blues Music Awards represents a complete overhaul,” said Quisha Wint, Chair of the Toronto Blues Society. “A whole new programme created to serve the Canadian blues community with greater transparency, fairness, and unity from coast to coast to coast.”

Lifetime Achievement honours was presented to Tim Williams for his contribution to Canadian blues. The gala also featured live performances from Steve Marriner, Crystal Shawanda, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Brandon Isaak, and Dana Wylie of Secondhand Dreamcar, with host Danny Marks opening the evening. The after-party featured sets from emerging artist nominees Glenn Marais and The Mojo Train, Ollee Owens, JP LeBlanc, and Secondhand Dreamcar.

The Canadian Blues Music Awards are now established as the gold standard of blues recognition in Canada, a programme built on transparency, coast-to-coast representation, and a genuine commitment to the music and the people who make it.

2025 Canadian Blues Music Awards Winners:

Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year

Ollee Owens (Ollee Owens: Nowhere to Hide)

Blues Song of the Year

Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues (Walkin’ With The Blues)

Acoustic Blues Recording of the Year

Sue Foley: One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar

Electric Blues Recording of the Year

Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues

Blues Producer of the Year

Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David Gogo: YEAH!)

Female Blues Vocalist of the Year

Crystal Shawanda (Crystal Shawanda: Sing Pretty Blues)

Male Blues Vocalist of the Year

Marcus Trummer (Marcus Trummer: From The Start)

Blues Guitarist of the Year

Brandon Isaak (Brandon Isaak: Walkin’ With The Blues)

Blues Keyboard Player of the Year

Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne: Ooh, Yeah!)

Blues Harmonica Player of the Year TIE

Guy Bélanger (Guy Bélanger: Postcards from London)

Steve Marriner (Steve Marriner: Hear My Heart; Big Dave McLean: This Old Life; David Gogo: YEAH!)

Blues Horn Player of the Year

Jerry Cook (Wailin’ Walker: All Fired Up)

Blues Drummer of the Year TIE:

Jim Casson (Davis Hall & The Green Lanterns: Canboro Canborough)

Sylvain “Sly” Coulombe (Chambers DesLauriers: Our Time To Ride)

Blues Bassist of the Year

Jasmine Colette (Blue Moon Marquee: New Orleans Sessions)

Blues Video of the Year

The Harpoonist: Show Me The Green (Did We Come Here To Dance)

Blues Industry Person of the Year TIE:

Bruce Morel (Morel Music International)

Ken Simms (Think Tank Music Network)

Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Tim Williams

Fan Favourite Award for Blues Artist or Group of the Year

Blue Moon Marquee

Fresh Breath, Irish Millie, and Donita Large Win Their Way to Sweden in the Inaugural North2North Competition

Eric Alper
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Fresh Breath, Irish Millie, and Donita Large Win Their Way to Sweden in the Inaugural North2North Competition

The inaugural North2North: The Artist Gateway competition has named its winners – and three extraordinary Canadian indie artists are heading to Sweden. Fresh Breath, Irish Millie, and Donita Large have each earned a spot in a Canadian contingent travelling to Lilla By Festivalen in Rinkaby, Sweden on June 12 and 13, 2026, where they will perform on the main stage and in the beloved Kanaladan – the festival’s very own Canada Barn. This is the first time a competition of this kind has opened a direct performance pipeline between Canadian indie artists and one of Sweden’s most warmly regarded independent festivals.

The three winners represent the full breadth of what Canadian independent music sounds like right now. Lilla By Festivalen co-founders Malin Osth and Jonas Tancred – who will host the Canadian contingent in Rinkaby – said it best: “This year’s winners highlight the scope and talent of Canadian music, from the warm Canadiana harmonies of Fresh Breath to the Celtic pop rock energy of Irish Millie and the emotional voice of Donita Large. We are truly excited to welcome these fantastic artists to perform at the Lilla By Festivalen 2026 and look forward to sharing their music with our audience in Sweden.”

North2North is produced and presented by Cashbox Canada, Lilla By Festivalen, Rise & Reign, and EMG Collectives – a coalition built on eight-plus years of cross-Atlantic music relationship-building between Canada and Sweden. The competition was open to all Canadian indie artists, with every submission receiving a written assessment and feedback from a panel of top-tier adjudicators. “The relationship between Canada, Sweden and the Lilla By Festivalen has been growing every year,” says Sandy Graham, Publisher of Cashbox Canada and North2North producer. “I couldn’t be prouder to be Canadian at this time in a world that sees what an amazing country we have and the music speaks for itself. Tack sa mycket Lilla By Festivalen!”

The prize packages – valued at up to $12,000 CAD – include two performances each at Lilla By Festivalen, full accommodations in Rinkaby, cover and feature stories in Cashbox Canada and Record World International, radio rotation on Cashbox Radio, artist development sessions, grant writing support, recording sessions, and social media video packages. In addition, producer Vance McKenzie will be on the ground in Sweden and will select one Swedish artist to perform in Canada before the end of 2026 – extending the exchange in both directions. Producer Ashley Andrews added: “Music doesn’t recognize borders, and initiatives like this prove that great songs and creative collaborations can travel far beyond geography.”

Lilla By Festivalen – founded in 2021 by Malin Osth and Jonas Tancred on their own private land in the Swedish countryside of Skane County – has grown into a beloved hub for music, culture, and community. The festival’s Kanaladan (Canada Barn) stands as a symbol of the deep ties between the two countries. North2North adjudicators included Sandy Graham (Cashbox Canada/Record World International/Cashbox Radio), Eric Alper (That Eric Alper PR), Vance McKenzie (Vance Music World), Lisa Hartt (Juno-nominated singer-songwriter), Ashley Andrews (Rise & Reign), and Malin Osth and Jonas Tancred of Lilla By Festivalen. North2North is a competition, a showcase, a mentorship programme, and a bridge – all at once. For the artists heading to Rinkaby this June, it is the start of something that reaches well beyond any single performance.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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