November is flying by, it seems. Why is November always that one month of the year that seems to get away from all of us? There is always so much going on – we turn back the clocks, we pause for Remembrance, we indulge in US Thanksgiving celebrations, and for the bargain hunters out there, we have that whole Black Friday distraction too.
For Team GDW, November is often considered our last viable opportunity to scramble and catch as many remaining live shows as we can before the harsh reality of winter arrives. And it appears that many artists share similar sentiments, seeing this as the ideal time to make one final push to close out the year with a new song, a new album, and even hints of things to come next year.
We are not going to make any excuses – right now, there is far more new music out there than we can consider for coverage. But we have to try, right? So, we’re taking a few of the recent submissions found in our email inbox and sharing them here today – and encourage you to please take a few minutes out of your day to perhaps discover five fabulous new releases that you may have missed. Better yet – all five artists are making their GDW debuts here today. We’ll keep it concise, promise.
Cameron Nickerson, “Grandpa (Don’t Give Me That Guitar Just Yet)”
Citing Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell as musical influences, and with a sound reminiscent of Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, Halifax, NS singer-songwriter Cameron Nickerson recently shared the second single from his upcoming album. With some beautiful harmonies and great storytelling, Cameron offers this heartfelt and personal tribute to one of the great men in his life.
Luc LeMans, “Can’t Lose Again”
We recently made the acquaintance of this Vancouver-based Northern Soul musician, and boy, it’s hard to keep your feet still upon hearing this dance number. “The song is a 3-minute retro soul whirlwind that tells the tale of a chronically unlucky gambler as he bets his very last dime,” Luc shares. “But can he finally win?”
Two Late To The Party, “Sorrow Oh Sorrow”
Recorded during the pandemic in a small Southern Alberta town, and described by band founders Adam Corkett and Alessandra Enns as a counter melody to the growing tensions in the world, this indie-folk number could quite easily be an antidote for when times get rough. “And this I feel my old friend / That love will win in the end.”
JJ Voss, “A Letter To Dad”
SK-based folk-Americana artist JJ Voss shares this deeply personal and poignant ode to his late-father, itself in response to his dad’s dream of seeing the family farm continue to operate for another generation. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear [we] can carry on his legacy,” JJ offers. “I wrote A Letter To Dad to give him an update and to reaffirm my resolve to find a solution.”
Moira & Claire, “Delaney’s Dad”
Nova-Scotian siblings and indie-folk duo Moira & Claire recently shared this very “in the heat of the moment” inspired tune that many of us can relate to. “Delaney’s Dad” sees the negativity of modern political discourse through the eyes of a generation finding themselves at odds with the world they live in, facing old challenges in new contexts and occasionally bristling up against them.
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
