On Sunday May 29th, 2022 at 11:25 AM Ronnie Hawkins left this world but he didn't leave it anywhere near the way he found it, especially up here in Canada. Ronnie's influence on the Canadian music scene cannot be overstated since leaving his native Arkansas and coming here in 1958. When he arrived he joked that all we had in Canada was "Hank Snow and Wayne and Shuster."

It’s been a few years since Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna paid $4 to see Bob Dylan play at his high school auditorium in Long Beach, California, but the fire lit inside of Hanna that night still burns as strong as ever. Hanna and his Dirt Band bandmates have had quite a career of their own since then, introducing folk, bluegrass, and country music—what would later be termed “Americana”—to a whole new generation of fans. Their latest effort, however, is a full-circle return with Dirt Does Dylan, a ten-track album highlighting some of the gems from Dylan’s vast catalog with the help of three new band members: fiddle specialist Ross Holmes; singer-songwriter and bass player Jim Photoglo (who wrote one of the Dirt Band’s biggest hits, “Fishin’ in the Dark”); and Dirt Band founder Jeff Hanna’s son, the absurdly talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna.

Canadian Music Week began in 1982 and has grown to become one of Canada's largest and most influential media and music conferences. It draws top industry professionals to participate in a four-day program of activities.

Designed to stimulate the exchange of ideas and increase dialogue while providing networking opportunities, Canadian Music Week continues to present the ideal platform for more than 3,000 national and international delegates.

CMW is the single longest running multi-day Canadian music and media event. It manages to consistently bring together music industry professionals from around the world for the week's events – combining conferences, award shows and one of Canada's biggest "New Music" festivals.

Throughout the duration of the event, performers put on shows at venues ranging from popular bars and halls, to intimate cafes. Many emerging new bands use the festival as an opportunity to be spotted by the A&R representatives who are around in greater than average numbers during the event. CMW has now also evolved into a meeting place for festival buyers from around the globe to seek out and find new talent.

Multi-JUNO Award-winning Inuk singer/songwriter Susan Aglukark reveals a lesson in belonging and beyond with the release of her new album, The Crossing.

We caught up with Susan at her home in Ontario, Canada, and the passion you hear in her songs are just as much a part of her personality as her musical offerings.

“I grew up in a musical environment which is where all my musical influences started for me. My parents were heavily involved in our community, with my Dad, David Aglukark being the Church Pastor (and a singer/songwriter in his own right) and my Mom, Dorothy Aglukark was an active Community leader, they were the first ministers in our area. So music was a major part of those growing up years for me,” she explains.

If you’ve never heard of Nick Panaseiko, that’s entirely understandable. He was a backstage guy, making sure that the act onstage is playing to a full house, making sure their records were on the radio and in record stores.

I had the great pleasure of being on the receiving end of this ‘promo man’ while I was in radio in Montreal as Music Director of (CJ)FM 96 back in the late 70s. I was extremely young for that position, however I was treated with such respect and had gained a reputation for having good ears and picking the hits.

Back in the day, ‘radio day’ as it was called was on Wednesdays; a day when all the label guys would line up outside my office to pitch their latest releases. Nick Panaseiko was one of those guys.

Nick would arrive in my office, clutching 45s and albums, looking like Elton John WAY before Elton personified that look, with his signature glasses, great style of dressing, it only amplified the excitement he had for the latest artist, the latest single, the latest album, which he insisted I listen to right away. And he was always right – too many hits to name so read the book!

Simply said -Nick was a Promo Man.

The video for LeAnn Rimes' song, "how much a heart can hold," is here! Rimes' visual for the latest song from her upcoming album, god's work, features shots from her wedding to Eddie Cibrian as well as other special moments.

The video, which was released in honor of the couple's wedding anniversary on April 22, begins with a slideshow of sweet black-and-white images from Rimes and Cibrian's big day, and continues to flash through some of the couple's most treasured memories over the last 11 years. The touching tribute ends with the pair walking hand-in-hand as Rimes' melodic voice trails off in the background.

Watch leann rimes - how much a heart can hold (anniversary celebration) on YouTube here:

I first became aware of Francine Honey and her songs a few years ago, and the lyrics and her voice caught my full attention. “Snowflakes On My Eyelashes” (feat. Beth Nielsen Chapman) was the first song I listened to by her, and it captured my heart – a song about grief and loss all the while offering hope. Watch the poignant and beautiful video here:

I lost myself for hours listening to her other great songs; I Carry On, Come Sit in My Chair, I Soldier On to name a few.

Then a few months ago, this talented singer/songwriter put out a great light-hearted pandemic ditty called “Hunker Down” – check out the video here:

"Meet the newly born Lynx Dean. This is his first single “coming out” under his name. Speaking of coming out, this uplifting “be who you are, take your power and seize the day” song, arrives on the same day as his gender confirming surgery.

He has teamed up with Platinum award winning producer Giampaolo Pasquile (Sony Music Publishing) to create this feisty universal dance anthem to bring World Domination to the globe.

I met Lynx when he performed at Live at Heart Music Festival on Burin Peninsula in Newfoundland. I had known the name for years as Cashbox Canada had been a huge supporter of his band Random Order. We were in the lobby of the only hotel in town. After a dangerous bus ride from the airport and soaking wet from a rainstorm, checking in Lynx ran up to me and said, “One of my goals was to come to Newfoundland to meet you.” I immediately knew I was in the presence of a huge talent just by the way he carried himself and his larger than life personality. We spent time together at the festival and beyond that fact, he is truly oozing with charisma, and inside that energy is a heart and soul that beats with talent and tenacity.

Myles Goodwyn’s body of work as a songwriter has him prominently woven into the fabric of Canadian pop music as the founder, lead singer and main songwriter of the legendary band, April Wine.

Songs such as You Won’t Dance With Me, Just Between You and Me, Lady Run, Lady Hide and Roller to name a few, are just a part of Myles’ catalogue that would enable him to sit back and enjoy his accomplishments.

But that’s not Goodwyn’s style.

April Wine is still an active performing band and Myles has two critically acclaimed blues albums released with a third, LongPants, ready to go. He continues to write songs and is very socially aware of current events. His take on the conflict in Ukraine is an example of what American writer William Faulkner was referring to when he said, "The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honour and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.”

Lobo has recently release an set of albums on all major streaming platforms  “Let Me Leave You,” “That Shows You What I Know” and “Why is it Me.”  All three albums are fully-remastered compilations made up of previous recordings, some of which have never been available in the US before, and come just months after Time Life released four other digital albums by the pop/rock icon.

Rock sensation Laszlo Jones is bringing awareness to the masses with his hard-hitting latest single with Special Guest guitarist Alex Skolnick (Testament), on “Kill Myself” off his Beyond The Door EP Produced by Michael Buyens (Life of Agony, The Gathering) and Mixed by Kane Churko (5 Finger Death Punch, Ozzy Osbourne). In true Jones fashion, the song packs a variable punch - taking no prisoners in the process. Skolnick’s thunderous industrious metal axemanship shines throughout the track, as they deliver on their mission to tackle one of society’s most problematic issues - suicide.

Check out the video for “Kill Myself” on YouTube here:

Multi-million selling Canadian singer/songwriters Marc Jordan and Amy Sky are set to release their first-ever album duet collaboration, He Sang She Sang May 6, 2022, via Linus Entertainment.

A collection of fresh takes on beloved classics alongside newly original compositions, the 13-song release marks the first time this prolific duo — married for 34 years — have recorded an entire album together.

Check out Marc Jordan & Amy Sky - Free Fallin' (Tom Petty Cover)

In addition to enjoying hits and accolades all their own, the highly acclaimed singer/songwriters and producers have also penned songs for a teeming roster of A-list artists, including Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, Heart, Reba McEntire, Joe Cocker, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Cyndi Lauper, and more.

Dolly Parton, Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett hosted the show. Miranda Lambert was named Entertainer of the Year, as top artists including Kelly Clarkson, The Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBride and Carly Pearce took the stage to perform. Here is the full list of nominees with winners in bold.

Entertainer of the Year:
Eric Church
Luke Combs
MIRANDA LAMBERT *WINNER
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood

Female Artist of the Year:
Gabby Barrett
Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde
Maren Morris
CARLY PEARCE *WINNER

Male Artist of the Year:
Jimmie Allen
Luke Combs
Thomas Rhett
CHRIS STAPLETON *WINNER
Morgan Wallen

2022 is the year that Montreal goes completely country, with the very first edition of LASSO presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Original hitting town August 12 and 13, along with LASSO in the City on August 11, 2022. The world class modern country music festival, taking place on beautiful Île Sainte-Hélène at Parc Jean-Drapeau (one of the top festival sites in North America) is sure to thrill country fans, old and new, with some of the most inspiring artists of the entire genre coming together for a multi-day high energy hoedown.

LASSO is an opportunity for fans to live an exceptional experience, watching their favourite country acts play on an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, overlooking the skyline of one of the greatest cities in the world, and the hotly anticipated lineup of artists booked for the festival's first edition is here!

The inaugural lineup of Montreal's newest country festival includes
Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini and more!
August 12-13, 2022 at Parc Jean-Drapeau
LASSO in the City - August 11, 2022

OSHEAGA has announced the lineup for the 15^th Anniversary Edition with Headliners Foo Fighters, Dua Lipa and A$AP Rocky. 

The iconic Montreal Festival celebrates milestone with an unprecedented gathering of superstars and exciting new voices including Machine Gun Kelly, The Kid Laroi, Kygo, Mitski, Burna Boy and more, scheduled for July 29-31, 2022 At Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Cover Photo Credit: Malin Landgren

As early as the 1970s, voices began to be raised in awareness of that "time is running out", to try to prevent future environmental and climate change. These early TIROs were followed by more and louder voices, generation after generation; x, y and z. Their voices created a chorus, then a new wave of influences and now it is a storm warning with this powerful expression that is heard from all possible directions, contexts and from all parts of our world!

Check out the video on YouTube here:

Bara Jonson and Free Raise Awareness with New Video and Single TIRO II (Time Is Running Out)

TIROs is a force of youth, our future, who are at the forefront on this mission, to the annoyance and self-pity of many adults.

Ringo Starr has revealed the updated All Starr Band itinerary and line up for his upcoming Spring tour this May and June 2022. The All Starrs will include Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Warren Ham, Gregg Bissonette, Hamish Stuart and welcome back Edgar Winter.

The tour will kick off in Ontario at Casino Rama, which will be the fifth time Starr has launched a tour from there (previous include: 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2014). It will then continue through New England including shows in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, then stopping in New York City for three consecutive shows at the Beacon Theater, onto New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland before heading south with shows in Atlanta and concluding the tour in Florida. (Full itinerary below).

Marshall Potts is blowing in with a fierce new single in “The Storm” from his forthcoming third album The Storm, to be released in March, 2022.

Check out the video for “The Storm” on YouTube here:

The country rocker from Canada’s West Coast is fusing Americana with classic rock on this heavyweight single – supercharged and ready to rip off the shingles and tear down the roof.

Potts, a rural songwriting superstar living on a 160-acre oasis in his native BC, treads the line on folk, country, and rousing rock and roll on an album drenched with his powerhouse vocals. Delivering on his commitment to convey the universal messages of positivity and optimism, Potts creates music he calls “moving beyond your past, taking back your power, embracing the moment and living in the here and now.”

What happens when you combine legendary songs with a legendary era all presented by a legendary artist? You get Micah Barnes with his offering of Vegas Breeze.

For an album that was released in 2020, the tracks still have legs, and the new release of the medley/video continues to develop a new musical offering with the release of “Welcome to the Club”.

“We released ‘Vegas Breeze’ right when the pandemic hit and all the scheduled gigs were gone. I spoke with my publicity and PR expert, Eric Alper, who recommended we do a series of virtual concerts. It was a brilliant idea and we immediately kicked into action to make it happen. My fans, friends and family were delighted and it was a great success,” says Micah Barnes.

Swedish pop outfit The Magnettes have created a “Monster” with the unleashing of their certifiable electro banger of a new single.

Check out the video and “Monster” on YouTube here:

With an 80s flair, mangled with a Dragonette-vibe, a rushing dance party pounds out of your speakers with experimental pop, exciting instrumentation, and a marching hook that will steal your heart.

“‘Monster’ is about that flirty, sexy, excruciating stage where it’s like ‘will-they-won’t-they?’,” singer Rebecka Digervall explains. “You’re a nervous wreck, trying to downplay your feelings but they’re growing and growing.”

“We’ve definitely been there,” adds Sanna Kalla. “The gushing, blood rushing, tingly thing that’s partly sweet, mostly unbearable.”