We Love Canadian Music

This episode is guaranteed to cure your post holiday blues with laughter. Heather and the Good Lovelies do their best to keep things professional as they chat about performing their 13th annual Christmas tour, bringing their kids along for the ride and mastering social media. The Good Lovelies are unanimous in their vote for favourite tour location but there is dissent in the roller coasters vs waterslides poll. Also… tambourine pants.

With over 10 years and 4 albums to their name, Ottawa’s Amos the Transparent are a long-standing staple in the independent Canadian folk-rock world. They have performed at SXSW, WayHome, The Strombo Show, CBC’s Q, and the Big Sound Festival in Australia. Amos the Transparent are best known for their dense instrumental arrangements, layered sounds and lush harmonies. Heather speaks with the band about taking on side projects, how they approach music writing and things to do on a 15 hour drive to Halifax.

Megan Bonnell has never been easily pigeon-holed into the predictable mold of the singer-songwriter and her new album Separate Rooms embraces this edict, turning traditional musical genres on their heads. With her hallmark honesty, Bonnell effortlessly tackles such intense subject matter as mental illness, early pregnancy loss, and the dissolution of love.

For close to thirty years now, Blue Rodeo has taken the road less travelled – and succeeded far beyond anyone’s expectations. The band emerged in the early 80’s as a countrified rock band in the era of hair metal and glossy pop.

If raw denim had a sound, it’d be a Christina Martin. In the grand tradition of highway Canadiana, Martin’s songwriting is honest-to-goodness jukebox rock for the craft beer generation. The winner of multiple East Coast Music Awards, Christina Martin cut her teeth in Austin Texas, and returns with her most personal and ambitious record to date “Impossible To Hold”.

JUNO-nominated folk singer Jeremy Fisher brings his catchy songwriting to circle time with his first collection of music aimed at young listeners. His trademark wit and penchant for story telling ensures that there’s a little something for the whole family.

Born in Sri Lanka, raised on Prince Edward Island and now residing in Ottawa, ON - Amanda Lowe Warnakulasuriya is a multi-lingual singer-songwriter that writes music that can be sweet, heartbreaking, and enchanting. With just her voice, her guitar, a pinch of reverb, and awkward wit she creates a warm inclusive vibe, highlighting life’s dark, cloudy and sunny days.

Rosie & the Riveters never planned to get political. But opening a newspaper or watching the news these days made it impossible to see the status of women around the world and stay silent. The result is Ms. Behave – a collection of gritty, sultry, vintage-inspired folk anthems that paint a portrait of a woman’s voice in a man’s world.

After making waves as the 1st runner-up on TVA's La Voix (The Voice : Canada), Rebecca was invited by The Jacksons to make a guest appearance on their Canadian tour. She has also performed alongside Roch Voisine, UK's Birdy, USA's Florida Georgia Line, and continues to tour with French-Canadian music icon Marc Dupré.

Emma Cook combines a powerful and haunting voice reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan with the song stylings of Feist or Jenn Grant. She also knows what it means to struggle. The Toronto indie-pop singer was well on her way to making a name for herself before a falling tree branch caused a serious head injury and forced her to take a hiatus from music to focus on recovery. After a three year battle with Post-Concussive Syndrome, Emma drew 2016 to a close with the release of her third album Same Old Song.

Port Cities’ self-titled debut album may be the group’s first effort together, but its members share deep, intertwining roots in the Maritime music scene. In addition to releasing three solo albums, Carleton Stone has written songs for and with everyone from Quebecois soul sensation Bobby Bazini to beloved acoustic troubadour Donovan Woods. Dylan Guthro has parlayed his own folk/RnB fusions into match-ups with Halifax hip-hop hero Classified and EDM crew Neon Dreams (whose 2015 single “High” featured Guthro alongside rap superstar Waka Flocka Flame). And Breagh MacKinnon is a jazz-schooled chanteuse whose 2012 album, Where the Days Went, was nominated for an ECMA Award; she has since lent her voice to recordings by East Coast pop icons David Myles and Ria Mae.

Erin Costelo is Halifax’s queen of salt water soul. Armed with her husky baritone and endless poise, ECMA winner Erin Costello channels the grand tradition of southern US vocal jazz and R&B, embodying the spirit of legends like Nina Simone and Donny Hathaway. Her latest album “Down Below, The Status Quo” was recorded with east coast stalwart Joel Plaskett, and has received glowing praise nationally.