With plans to head to Southern Ontario this past weekend, the last minute announcement of severe ice storms making their way to the province would not keep us away.  It would impact a show on the following evening, which fortunately… Continue Reading →

It’s that time of the week again – a collection of new songs from some terrific Canadian artists. The Once, “Before the Fall” We’ve been waiting for ages for new music from Newfoundland’s The Once (Phil Churchill, Geraldine Hollett, and… Continue Reading →

With her most recent 2017 self-titled album, Tamara Lindeman (The Weather Station) has received plenty of well-deserved attention on both sides of the Canadian border, including an invitation to NPR’s prestigious “Tiny Desk Concert” here in the US just a… Continue Reading →

Following our recent Sunday afternoon matinee “EcoFolk” benefit concert at The Aeolian Hall, we made our way to downtown London for an evening performance from “Newfoundland Traditional Singer, Guitarist and Storyteller,” Matthew Byrne.  Team GDW reviewed Matthew’s most recent “Horizon… Continue Reading →

Team GDW returned to London, ON recently to attend the third annual “EcoFolk” benefit concert held at The Aeolian Hall (one of our favorite music venues).  Partnering with the Thames Talbot Land Trust to promote and support local environmental concerns… Continue Reading →

In this week’s episode of Gossip Talkin’ Blues, we talk with our first-ever interview guest, Emm Gryner, about her new album “Days of Games” and play several songs from the new project, as well as one of her hits and… Continue Reading →

Listening to Raine Hamilton’s new album “Night Sky” is a rare, exquisite experience.  Her style – which some describe as chamber folk – is a transcendent mix of classical chamber music with gorgeous, ethereal folksinging.  For someone like me, who… Continue Reading →

With their third full-length album, Alberta-based band Elk Run & Riot continue to explore their environment and the lives of those around them with their addictive blend of folk and rock.  “Animalia” is an excellent collection of uptempo tunes that… Continue Reading →

It was early 2016 when we first discovered the music of Devin Cuddy, and immediately fell for his fun and lively interpretation of New Orleans ragtime and blues.  Seeking out both his debut “Volume One” and sophomore “Kitchen Knife” albums,… Continue Reading →

After an hour’s sleep was so rudely snatched from us earlier this month (with the beginning of Daylight Savings Time), we’ve chosen to go back under the covers for this episode.  We feature cover songs from Joel Plaskett, Emm Gryner,… Continue Reading →

As modern rock continues to expand and evolve, it is artists like Kristi Lane Sinclair who are at the vanguard. The Toronto-based singer/songwriter draws equally from her Haida/Cree heritage and her love of both grunge and classical music to create… Continue Reading →

It is pretty well known that Team GDW enjoy travelling to Southern Ontario on a regular basis for adventures in all things ‘music.’  Given the relatively easy drive across Central PA, through Western NY and into Ontario, the city of… Continue Reading →

After 548 concerts in 11 countries since coming together in 2014, including Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland) and National Folk Festival (Canberra, Australia), Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane are finally releasing their debut album. This collection of songs dropping on 2 March… Continue Reading →

With their latest album releasing today, Helen Austin and Paul Otten of Big Little Lions have a great deal to celebrate.  “Alive and Well” is a wonderfully optimistic and uplifting set of songs, one of those rare albums that can… Continue Reading →

Working through grief is often a personal, internal process, but Saskatchewan-based singer/songwriter Ryan Hicks has given us a great gift in opening up those musings in his songwriting.  “Pulsing Colours,” his new album (just released last Friday), is billed as… Continue Reading →

It’s only February, and already there’s a contender for my favorite album of the year: “Beauty in the Tension,” the new album from the Olympic Symphonium.  This utterly gorgeous, occasionally ethereal album is equal parts folk and prog rock, and… Continue Reading →

Alberta-based singer/songwriter Randal Arsenault has released his latest single, “Rock & Roll To My Grave,” the first taste from his upcoming solo EP. The song marks a bold shift to roots rock for Arsenault after establishing himself with Afro-funk outfit… Continue Reading →

Although he’s now based in Fort Frances, Ontario (nearly 1700 km from Toronto), Derek Harrison’s latest project takes its inspiration – and its title – from the corner of Bloor and Ossington in Toronto.  This engaging and thoughtful album tells… Continue Reading →

Hitting the road to Southern Ontario for our first concert weekend north of the border this year, our journey was accompanied by clear skies, no snow, and unseasonably warm temperatures for late January. Encountering no delays with our Canadian crossing,… Continue Reading →

With their new album, “Shapeshifters,” the Good Lovelies have stepped into a new era of their musicmaking.  “We are the heavy lifters, we are the shapeshifters,” they sing in the album’s opening track, “I See Gold,” and so they are. … Continue Reading →

Big Little Lions have released a new single, “Alive and Well,” in advance of their next studio album, set for release on 23 February. It will feature 13 original songs that deliver their signature pop-folk shimmer with a new lyrical… Continue Reading →

As music bloggers, we are always happy to share the music of artists both firmly established and previously unknown to us.  Social media has led us to many new artists from all over Canada, and recently, musicians have discovered our… Continue Reading →

Now that we’re thoroughly into 2018, it’s time to look forward instead of backward.  We already know of a number of great albums coming in the next few months… here are a few that we’re especially eager to hear. 26… Continue Reading →

I must confess to not being at all familiar with the music of Ian Sherwood, but upon my first listen of his fifth studio album, this Halifax, NS, native has certainly inspired me to seek out much more of his… Continue Reading →

Last September, we had the opportunity to hear Qristina and Quinn Bachand during their fabulous appearance at the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA.  We were thus primed with excitement to hear the solo work Qristina was recording, and when the… Continue Reading →

As I was listening to the new album from Thelonious Hank the other night, M stopped in his tracks and said, “Wow – that’s old school.”  And yes, that’s precisely what “Walk Between the Raindrops” is – a delightful visit… Continue Reading →

We’ve been waiting three years for Ambre McLean to release a new album – but “My Heart,” released just last month, was well worth the wait.  This collection of reflective, thoughtful songs, with Ambre’s astonishing voice over a primarily acoustic… Continue Reading →

The superb flatpicking skills of Maxim Cormier first came to our attention with his last album, a collection of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach.  Now, he has released a fabulous album of Cape Breton tunes with his father, multi-instrumentalist Gervais… Continue Reading →

One of the wonderful things about the US Thanksgiving Holiday is that it gives Team GDW a great opportunity to savor one last ‘long’ weekend in Southern Ontario before the close of the year.  Always happy to venture up north… Continue Reading →

We are incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful folk music society here in Central Pennsylvania that has an uncanny knack for bringing traditional Canadian musicians to our part of the world.  Indeed, over the last couple of years, the Susquehanna… Continue Reading →

With his recent release “Dissonance,” Edmonton-based artist Josh Sahunta has made a bold statement – of musicianship, of creativity, of talent.  This seven-song EP is a delight to the ears and a tremendous accomplishment, especially when you consider that all… Continue Reading →

Having been fans of Trent Severn since their debut self-titled 2012 album release, it would take several years before we had an opportunity to see them live.  Indeed, it was on a whim last year when Trent Severn announced their… Continue Reading →

There have been many instances in our blog articles about how important it is to support live music, and to get out and attend shows when your favorite artists are playing nearby.  Being strong advocates of practicing what we preach,… Continue Reading →

It is amazing, given the frequency of our visits to the GTA, how there are a handful of well-established musical acts from that part of the province that we have not yet been fortunate enough to experience live.  Household names… Continue Reading →

A few weeks ago, we were privileged to be able to feature a video from Lydia Persaud.  As soon as we heard her fabulous voice, we were eager to hear more, and we’re thrilled that she took the time to… Continue Reading →

With her new album, “The Workingman’s Blues,” singer/songwriter Kat Goldman is stretching into deep and occasionally dark waters: the plight of the working class in the United States.  For obvious reasons (Team GDW being based in the US), this is… Continue Reading →

No matter who the artist or what type of music, when one of your favorite bands are set to release a new album, the pulse always accelerates a little at the thought of finally getting to hear some new material. … Continue Reading →

Listening to this terrific new album from Edmonton-based VISSIA, it’s perfectly evident that it is the fruit of significant effort on her part.  The album, she says, took four years to write – four years of experiences that have been… Continue Reading →

One of the most unique aspects of the Canadian folk music scene is just how diverse this genre has proven to be.  From the mainstream to the obscure, there really is something across this spectrum to appeal to most listeners’… Continue Reading →

In her new EP, “Être social,” New Brunswick artist Émilie Landry explores a very personal landscape: relationships with others, relationships with herself, and the intersections between those.  This project, Landry’s first solo effort, provides a glimpse into a very promising talent. … Continue Reading →

From the first few chords of “Warmth of the Sun,” it’s utterly clear that the Skydiggers are not only not resting on past laurels, but they are fired up with an urgency and energy to speak their truth.  The album, just… Continue Reading →

In a world where the sum of our lives is defined through another’s gaze, genuinely unchained artists like Winnipeg-bred, Hamilton-based Iskwé (pronounced iss-kway) are a rare breed. Named one of the ‘Top 10 Artists to Watch’ by CBC Music, Iskwé… Continue Reading →

The Olympic Symphonium have emerged from a three-year silence with a new song, “Coat of Arms.”  The song, says band member Graeme Walker, “wrestles with figuring out an identity and then bringing that individual into relationships. What qualities do we… Continue Reading →

O Frontera, an experimental post-rock group based in Toronto, will release their new album, “In the Arms of Stoics,” tomorrow (6 October).  They’ll also play an album release show on Saturday 7 October at Toronto’s Art Square Gallery. This unique… Continue Reading →

A few weeks ago, I was offered the chance to hear Winona Wilde’s latest album, “Wasted Time.”  I am so, so very glad that I grabbed this opportunity – this fabulous set of songs has been my companion now for… Continue Reading →

Ontario-based singer-songwriter will release her second album, “In the Unknown,” next month, and has just released a live performance video of the lead track “In Everything” in partnership with Mitch Fillion (Southern Souls). “In Everything” is a clarion call for… Continue Reading →

In what was already a fantastic week for Canadian music, The Skydiggers announced last week that they are releasing a new album in October.  Additionally, they plan to tour in support of the new project beginning in November.  This terrific… Continue Reading →

if you don’t recognize the name Civil Wray, that’s perhaps understandable – for now, anyway.  Andrea de Boer might be better known to you as blueVenus, the previous moniker under which she worked as a musician.  Now, with a new… Continue Reading →

To me, Christmas isn’t more than three months away – it’s only three days away.  We’ll awaken Friday (15 September) to a plethora of presents under the autumnal trees – new albums from Elliott BROOD, David Myles, the Karpinka Brothers, and… Continue Reading →

Several months ago, one of the artists we actively follow reached out to alert us that they would be coming to our area to perform.  We immediately put the event on our calendar and have been counting down the days… Continue Reading →

Hamilton-based songwriter Pat Maloney has recently released the video for “The Gypsies and I,” a song from his latest album “RIGHTHERE.” Of the song, Maloney says, “The Gypsies and I was written in the toilet at the Traveller’s Inn, in Earl… Continue Reading →

This Friday, Shawn William Clarke releases his latest album, the gorgeous “Topaz.”  This terrific album starts with the lovely instrumental “Back to Breath,” rolls into “Autumn in New Brunswick” (which Shawn describes as an “homage to finding windows of solace… Continue Reading →

Team GDW have been strong fans of Great Lake Swimmers for several years now, and we were fortunate to catch them live twice last year.  From the Homecoming concert in Port Colborne, ON, to their co-headlining event with Elliott Brood… Continue Reading →

Toronto singer/songwriter Jon Stancer has released a new video for “Dance In The Sun,” one of the standout tracks from his debut solo album, “For The Birds.” The video beautifully captures the song’s dreamy, free-spirited message, while reflecting the music’s… Continue Reading →

Prince Edward Island-based singers Dennis Ellsworth and Kinley Dowling have teamed up on a new album, “Everyone Needs to Chill Out,” and have just released the project’s first single, “Panorama High.” Listen to this great new song below: The pair… Continue Reading →