Erin Costelo, “Sweet Marie”
byDon’t let anybody try to convince you that it is not easy to find great new music in this era of social media, genre-specific…
Archive
Review: Innes Wilson, “Seaview EP”
byIt’s a sunny morning with a cool breeze lingering after an intense storm last night in Ottawa which produced a tornado. There’s a sense…
Interview: Craig Robertson, “Late Mornings”
byToday, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Craig Robertson is releasing his third full-length album, “Late Mornings.” Produced by Michael Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), this is an enjoyable and…
Single Premiere: T. Buckley, “Half a Heart”
byWe’re delighted to premiere “Half a Heart,” the new single from T. Buckley. A roots singer/songwriter based in Alberta, T. Buckley will release his…
Review: Kalle Mattson, “Youth.”
byOf his new project, Kalle Mattson says, “‘Youth.’ is a coming of age album. It’s about when your dreams becomes your regrets, when your…
Review: Newport Electric, “Thin Wild Mercury”
byWinding down well into the latter half of 2018, there remains no shortage of great new album releases within the Canadian folk-rock genre. We…
Find a New Favorite: Terence Jack
byWe picked up a copy of the 2016 release “Never Get Back” recently at the Philadelphia Folk Festival after hearing a few tracks performed…
Review: Great Lake Swimmers, “The Waves, The Wake”
byTony Dekker, lead singer and songwriter for Great Lake Swimmers, has long been a master of musical introspection. The band’s previous albums have explored…
Canadians Converge at the Philadelphia Folk Festival
byHaving lived in PA now for well over a decade, it was hard to believe that we had not yet made it to the…
Sawdust City Music Festival: Saturday Night Concert
byRewind to August 2017, and the first Sawdust City Music Festival, where event founder and curator Miranda Mulholland pulled out all the stops to…
Review: Little Kid, “Might As Well With My Soul”
byToronto’s Little Kid have created a perfect carousel of gentle, quirky, alt-rock sonic pleasures with “Might As Well With My Soul.” At times relaxed……
Singer-Songwriter Circle at The Sawdust City Music Festival
byOne of the popular features from the original Sawdust City Music Festival was the singer-songwriter circle, which last year included Devin Cuddy, Liz Stringer,…
Sawdust City Music Festival: Friday Night Concert
byIt was just twelve months ago when we left sunny Pennsylvania during the first weekend in August to travel to a wet and windy…
Sparkling, Ephemeral Sounds Orbit the Simple Uncomplicated Beauty of Astral Swans’ Latest Release
byWhat first struck me in Astral Swans’ “Strange Prison” was the intimacy in Matthew Swann’s vocals. It sounds like he’s affectionately speaking, directly to…
Highlights from Home County Music & Art Festival (Part 3 of 3)
byIn this third and final installment of our features on the 45th annual Home County Music and Art Festival, we concentrate on some of…
Review: Stephanie Ratcliff, “Land in Unknown Places”
byFor her third album, Vancouver singer-songwriter Stephanie Ratcliff decided to focus on connections – “specifically about the kinds of connections we have with each…
The Challenges of an Independent Musician: An Interview With Jory Nash
byWith his latest album “Wilderness Years” (reviewed here recently as part of a “Snappy Snippets” article), Toronto based musician Jory Nash returns with eleven…
Review: Eamon McGrath, “Tantramar”
byAccording to Wikipedia, the name “Tantramar” is derived from the Acadian French tintamarre, meaning ‘din’ or ‘racket’, a reference to the noisy flocks of birds which feed…
Highlights From the Home County Music and Art Festival (Part 2 of 3)
byIn this second installment of our trio of features on the 45th annual Home County Music and Art Festival, we feature three artists that…
Exclusive Single Release: F&M, “Lessons From Losers”
byFearless and meticulous. Fragile and melancholy. Forthright and mighty. F&M’s forthcoming sixth album, “Lessons From Losers,” is all these and more — a sumptuous blend…
Highlights from Home County Music & Art Festival (Part 1 of 3)
byTeam GDW took a recent trip to London, ON for the 45th annual Home County Music and Art Festival, held in Victoria Park in…
Snappy Snippets: Hadley McCall Thackston, Espanola, Claire Coupland, Jory Nash
by2018 continues to be a banner year for new music. Here at Great Dark Wonder, we continue to be overwhelmed with the influx of…
Find a New Favorite: Melody McKiver, “Reckoning”
byMelody McKiver is an Anishinaabe musician in the small town of Sioux Lookout in Treaty #3, northwestern Ontario. Following a link from the 2018…
Single Premiere: Joe Nolan, “Breaking Up and Out”
byAcclaimed singer/songwriter Joe Nolan has released “Breaking Up And Out,” another preview of the Edmonton native’s new album “Cry Baby,” due out 21 September….
Friday Night Music at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto
byWhen given the opportunity for a long weekend (the latter half of the US Independence Day holiday), Team GDW jumped into the car and…
Northern Ontario’s Jackson Reed Takes Us on a Dream Pop Excursion: “Dark Areas of Description”
byOn his second album titled “Dark Areas of Description,” singer/songwriter Jackson Reed gives us a short but beautiful glimpse into his world. Here is…
The Marrieds: Live at The Painted Lady
byIt was during our previous visit to The Painted Lady in Toronto, for a matinee performance with Melanie Brulee, that we received word from…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 22: Sawdust City Music Festival Preview, Pt 2 (Royal Wood, Amanda Rheaume)
byIn this episode, we continue our preview of this year’s Sawdust City Music Festival, chatting with Opera Stage artists Royal Wood and Amanda Rheaume….
Interview: The Hearts, “Sunshine”
byRegular readers of this blog will know by now that I am a sucker for any music hearkening back to the 1970s. “Sunshine,” the…
Review: Jack Garton, “Love You Over Time”
byI have had the great pleasure of discovering some incredibly diverse Canadian albums over the last few months. From Sean Burns (pure country) and…
Interview: Wax Mannequin, “Have a New Name”
byWithout exception, new acquaintances inevitably ask us why we focus exclusively on Canadian music – “there’s so much great music where you are…” My…
Review: The Lifers, “Honey Suite”
byFor The Lifers, a sister duo from Guelph, ON, “Honey Suite” is an apt moniker indeed for their latest album… harmonies as sweet and…
Interview: Northern Quarter, “Cold Dark Night”
byHere at Team GDW, we are encountering an overwhelming volume of music from Canadian artists lately. Don’t let anybody fool you into believing that…
Highlights from The Sound of Music Festival, Burlington, ON
byHaving enjoyed catching up with The Once during their Friday evening performance at the Sound Of Music Festival, Team GDW took delight in seeing…
Catching Up With The Once in Burlington, ON
byAs we officially welcomed the arrival of summer, Team GDW hit the road once again to sample our first taste of the annual “Sound…
#NewMusicFriday – New Song Roundup, 29 June 2018
byAlthough most of these songs were released officially before today, we’re still going to enjoy a great collection of new music on this #NewMusicFriday…
Review: Broomsticks & Hammers, “Mirror Box”
byAs our exposure continues to grow within the Canadian music scene, we frequently receive recommendations for new music and introductions from musicians looking to…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 19: Squeezebox Superlatives
byIn this episode: June is National Accordion Awareness Month – come find out why Mama played the squeezebox and why Daddy never sleeps at…
Tom Wilson: A Literary Recital in Grimsby, ON
byWe recently started a new recurring feature here at Great Dark Wonder titled “Doors at 8, Show at 9,” which focuses solely on smaller…
Video Premiere: Megan Nash, “Summer”
byToday, as we welcome the beginning of summer, Megan Nash is premiering her newest lyric video for “Summer,” a song from her album “Seeker,”…
Stephen Stanley: Live Music With Grilled Cheese on the Side
byTeam GDW recently reviewed and very much enjoyed “Jimmy and the Moon,” the latest full-length album from The Stephen Stanley Band. Hoping to one…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 18: Great Dark Wonder on a Great Dark Wander
byIn this episode, we feature songs heard on our recent wanderings in Pennsylvania and southern Ontario (including the Grilled Cheese Challenge in Toronto and…
Video Debut and Tour Announcement: Ivan Rivers, “Gettin’ On and Givin’ In”
byCanadiana singer-songwriter and self-proclaimed “celebrated folk icon” Ivan Rivers shares his newly recovered video for “Gettin’ On & Givin’ In” from his 2016 release,…
Kakagi: Exclusive Single Premiere, “Fait Accompli”
byCanadian folk rock band Kakagi is releasing the first single off of their forthcoming second EP, “Stay Up Late.” The song, “Fait Accompli,” was initially…
Interview: Miller | MacDonald | Cormier, “South Haven”
byBen Miller & Anita MacDonald have become renowned across Atlantic Canada and further afield for their synergistic, pipe and fiddle driven style of Gaelic…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 12 June 2018
bySome great new music has been released in the last couple of weeks! Grab a comforting beverage, put your feet up, and enjoy some…
Trent Severn: Matinee Performance in Kitchener
byAfter our Saturday evening in Toronto for a show with Steel Rail and Over The Moon, our travels took us to The Registry Theatre…
Steel Rail & Over The Moon: Live in Toronto
byIn just the short space of two weeks, Team GDW would embark once more on a road trip to Canada that offered up plenty…
CFMA Winners Moscow Apartment Release New Single, “Be You”
byMoscow Apartment have already racked up awards across Canada since the autumn release of their EP. Today, they launch “Be You,” their first single since…
The Cedar Sisters Release New Single, “Fire You Burn”
byThe Cedar Sisters have just released a new single, “Fire You Burn,” produced by Matt Weston, Jane Carmichael, and Elle Hermansen. The Cedar Sisters…
Interview: Dana Sipos, “Trick of the Light”
byWhen we first heard Dana Sipos live last summer at the Home County Music and Art Festival in London, ON, we knew this was…
Snappy Snippets: Nick Faye & the Deputies, Reuben and the Dark, Hugh Christopher Brown, C&C Surf Factory
byThe life of a music blogger is never a dull one. With so many new album releases, there is just so little time to…
Interview: Mariel Buckley, “Driving in the Dark”
byDo you ever find an album that sticks in your head, one that you compulsively play on repeat? “Driving in the Dark,” Mariel Buckley’s…
Madison Violet: Live in Toronto
bySince catching a live set by Madison Violet last summer at the Home County Music and Art Festival in London, ON, we knew that…
Random Record Revival: Chris Velan, “Fables For Fighters”
byIt occurred to me not too long ago that it had been quite a while since I randomly picked an older CD out of…
“Landscapes” – Interview With The Long War
byIf you caught any of the 2017 CBC Searchlight competition, you probably heard “Breathe In, Breathe Out” from Vancouver-based The Long War, the group…
Melanie Brulée: Live at The Painted Lady
byAfter spending a couple of seasons south of the Canadian border in Nashville, TN, singer-songwriter Melanie Brulée recently returned to her current home city…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 15 May 2018
byWe have a variety of new songs to share with you this time around, so pour a cup of your favorite morning drink and…
Review: David Francey, “The Broken Heart of Everything”
byNot long after we started writing this blog, I was skimming the results of the 2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards, acquainting myself with artists…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 14: Interview With Melanie Brulée
byIn this episode of Gossip Talkin’ Blues, we feature a recent conversation in Toronto with singer/songwriter Melanie Brulée, who is working on her next album. …
Oh Susanna & The Sunparlour Players: Live in Stratford, ON
byNothing beats starting the weekend a little early, taking a Friday as a vacation day from work, and heading up to Canada once again…
Big Little Lions Celebrate Canadian Songwriting Competition Win With Live Video Release
byBig Little Lions’ song “Find Your Tribe” from their latest album “Alive and Well” just won the Canadian Songwriting Competition in the folk/singer-songwriter category,…
Justin Rutledge: Intimate House Concert in Toronto
byEvery now and then, a unique opportunity presents itself that proves impossible to resist. Take, for example, the recent announcement of an intimate house…
Snappy Snippets: Lewisburg, Sc Mira, Hearing Trees, The Stephen Stanley Band
byWith the arrival of Spring comes the urge to get out of the house and attend some live shows. This ultimately lessens the time…
“in city and country” – Interview With The Young Novelists
byWith “in city and country,” their third album, The Young Novelists present a magnificent set of songs inspired by – naturally – city and…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 1 May 2018
byThis week brought some particular delights in the new song pile – most notably, new songs from long-time GDW faves Ariane Moffatt and Greg…
“Things Change”- An Interview With Dennis Ellsworth
byHere at Team GDW, we first became acquainted with the music of Dennis Ellsworth via his 2017 project with Kinley Dowling, “Everyone Needs to…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 11: Midweek Special – Interview With Ava Wild and Brodie Moniker
byWe were fortunate enough to be able to catch Ava Wild and Brodie Moniker in the middle of their tour of Eastern Canada, so…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 10: Haven’t I Heard You Somewhere Before?
byThis week’s episode features some of our favorite artists in bands or solo work that aren’t where we originally heard them. Songs included from…
Celebrate Earth Day With a New Video From Annie Sumi
by“Love the Earth, save the Earth” is the underlying message in the new video from folk singer-songwriter Annie Sumi, “In Everything.” The video shares…
Whitehorse: Live at The Sanctuary
byWith plans to head to Southern Ontario this past weekend, the last minute announcement of severe ice storms making their way to the province…
Current Swell: Much Anticipated Return to VA
byAfter spending a Saturday evening recently at “Jammin’ Java” for an evening of live music from The Weather Station, Team GDW would return to…
Megan Bonnell, “Separate Rooms”
byWe first encountered Megan Bonnell during her time touring with Great Lake Swimmers back in 2016, and quickly sourced “Magnolia” (her brand new album…
#TuesdayTunesDay – New Song Roundup, 17 April 2018
byIt’s that time of the week again – a collection of new songs from some terrific Canadian artists. The Once, “Before the Fall” We’ve…
Pre-Release Album Stream: Dennis Ellsworth, “Things Change”
byIn 2017, Dennis Ellsworth needed to make a new album. And it was an emergency. So, who better to call for assistance than Joel…
The Weather Station: Live at Jammin’ Java
byWith 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…
Learning to Be “Ms. Behave” – Interview With Rosie & the Riveters
byDo a search for Saskatchewan-based trio Rosie & the Riveters in your favorite search engine and you’ll see this meta description under the link:…
Matthew Byrne: Winter Tour Finale in London, ON
byFollowing our recent Sunday afternoon matinee “EcoFolk” benefit concert at The Aeolian Hall, we made our way to downtown London for an evening performance…
Now Available: Lyric Video for Mariel Buckley, “Rose Coloured Frames”
byCalgary-based singer/songwriter Mariel Buckley has released the lyric video for “Rose Coloured Frames,” the first single from her sophomore album “Driving In The Dark,’…
EcoFolk 2018: Promoting Environmentalism Through Music
byTeam GDW returned to London, ON recently to attend the third annual “EcoFolk” benefit concert held at The Aeolian Hall (one of our favorite…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 3 April 2018
byAfter a week’s respite, we have a pile of new songs to share with you from a variety of terrific Canadian artists! Young Galaxy,…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 7: “Days of Games” With Emm Gryner
byIn 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”…
Steel City Rovers: Live in Maryland
byFollowing our recent interview with The Steel City Rovers (SCR), we had been eagerly counting down the days until this Hamilton based band visited…
Discovering the “Night Sky” – Interview With Raine Hamilton
byListening to Raine Hamilton’s new album “Night Sky” is a rare, exquisite experience. Her style – which some describe as chamber folk – is…
Meeting on “The Bridge” – Interview With West of Mabou
byThe Saskatchewan-based Celtic group West of Mabou first came to our attention shortly after their self-titled debut was released – a deft, delightful set…
Discovering “Animalia” – Interview with Elk Run & Riot
byWith their third full-length album, Alberta-based band Elk Run & Riot continue to explore their environment and the lives of those around them with…
“Speak in Rhythms”: Interview With Carmanah
byEver so often, an album comes along that is utterly impossible to take out of the player. “Speak in Rhythms,” the first national release…
On Dreams, Radio, and the Road: An Interview With Devin Cuddy
byIt was early 2016 when we first discovered the music of Devin Cuddy, and immediately fell for his fun and lively interpretation of New…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 20 March 2018
byA fresh crop of newly released songs for your listening pleasure – enjoy! Dennis Ellsworth, “Caught in the Waves” Dennis Ellsworth has released “Caught…
Gossip Talkin’ Blues, Episode 5: Under the Covers
byAfter 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…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup, 13 March 2018
byWe have a great new collection of songs for you this week from across Canada – it’s been an awesome week for new music!…
Advance Stream: Kristi Lane Sinclair, “The Ability to Judge Distance”
byAs 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…
#TuesdayTunesDay: New Song Roundup
byWe have another pile of terrific new songs to share that have recently arrived here at GDW HQ, so if you need a pick-me-up…
Find A New Favorite: Steel City Rovers
byIt is pretty well known that Team GDW enjoy travelling to Southern Ontario on a regular basis for adventures in all things ‘music.’ Given…
New Single From Johnson Crook (With Tom Cochrane): “Mr. Nobody”
byToronto-based roots rock band Johnson Crook have released their latest single “Mr. Nobody” to coincide with tour dates in Ontario this March. The song,…
Gordie Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane to Release “Grit” This Friday
byAfter 548 concerts in 11 countries since coming together in 2014, including Celtic Connections (Glasgow, Scotland) and National Folk Festival (Canberra, Australia), Gordie Tentrees…
Jim Cuddy Band – Constellation Tour, Hamilton, ON
byFollowing our wonderful Saturday evening in Belleville, we headed west on Highway 401 the next morning for the second show in consecutive nights. Arriving…
“Alive and Well” With Big Little Lions
byWith their latest album releasing today, Helen Austin and Paul Otten of Big Little Lions have a great deal to celebrate. “Alive and Well”…
#NewMusicFriday Roundup: Donovan Woods, Jeremy Dutcher, Kutch, Suuns
byOver the past couple of weeks, we’ve received a slew of great new songs and videos in our inbox. We thought we’d share a…
Finding a Way Back Home: Ryan Hicks, “Pulsing Colours”
byWorking 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…
Elliott BROOD: Live in Pittsburgh
byTeam GDW spent another evening in Pittsburgh last Thursday, returning to Club Café for an eagerly awaited night of live music with Elliott BROOD. …