ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Doors: 6:30 pm | Music: 7:00-8:45 pm
@The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON
TICKETS: Adv. $10 + HST and fees | Door: $15 Eventbrite
w/ Gary Craig on drums, Russ Boswell on bass, and Burke Carroll on pedal steel and dobro
plus other surprise guests

Mandy Morris, renowned as Music With Mandy, leads a jazz-infused family entertainment quartet based in Calgary. Their mission? To captivate children and young families with the irresistible charm of children's music, featuring playful, witty lyrics, all underscored by a delightful jazz twist that's sure to entertain both the young and the young at heart.

Watch Vacation in the Stars on YouTube here:

Midnight Miles, the authentic back-to-roots, blues-based rock 'n' roll band from Montreal, Quebec, is thrilled to announce the release of their highly anticipated new single, "Like You Wanna Do" check it out on YouTube here:

The 5-piece vintage rock band’s latest release is a soul-stirring, rock 'n' roll anthem with electrifying sound, raw emotion, and relentless passion. “In writing Like You Wanna Do, we wanted to encapsulate the longing to feel unburdened,” said lead vocalist and songwriter – Ryan Setton. “Many of us are just trying to be the truest versions of ourselves, and nobody should ever feel like they're being judged or prosecuted for that.”

Kyle Pacey manages to pack musing on mankind’s decline, the death and end of the world we all love, and the optimism we should all consider sharing into catchy, pop-infused rock tunes that are layered in jazz notes, R&B bounce, and funk aesthetics from start to finish.

It’s all been captured clearly, horns and all, on Road Songs, Pacey’s latest 2023 EP release, where anyone ready can take a trip through the “sad days, mad days, and bad days” in our world that used to contain so much more hope that we currently have now. But the sounds of catchy, warm horns and driving, bluesy riffs can take you far away from wherever you are, with -infectious melodies and Kyle’s soulfulvoice planted firmly at the center, making it easier to see what’s possible, and how much better we can make this world.

Check out “Sad Days” on YouTube:

Blending elements of trip-hop and soul in just the right proportions, the new independent face on the Canadian music scene, JAXXEE, makes an impactful entrance with her debut single, "GONE." Check it out on YouTube here:

Paying homage to the obscure Bristol scene of the 90s, while also emanating a fresh and present-day aura, the track serves as a cathartic passage, navigating the intricate emotions of frustration, love, and sorrow.

With a voice as deep as the emotions evoked, JAXXEE poses a poignant question: "Have you ever felt so fragile?" The lyrics unfold a tale of vulnerability, of being depleted by others who take relentlessly.

“This musical journey is about finding my voice. Having an opinion and not just being a people pleaser. Pushing myself to be out of my comfort zone and vulnerable,” explains the artist.

Award-winning Six Nations musician Jace Martin releases highly anticipated lead single "My Last Breath" from his new album Beautiful Broken Pieces - check it out on YouTube here:

Esteemed and celebrated Six Nations artist Jace Martin returns with the pop-rock ballad “My Last Breath” from his new album Beautiful Broken Pieces that blends acoustic driven melodies with Martin’s uplifting vocals that builds to an exhale of his own little piece of heaven.

Beautiful Broken Pieces, Martin's fifth studio album, is a testament to his artistic evolution and resilience. The album is a collaborative effort with co-writer and co-producer Justin Abedin, who previously collaborated with Martin on the Billboard-charting hit "Free to Fly" in 2017.

girly., a multiracial indie artist from Abbotsford, British Columbia, is out with a new single, “Dime,” produced by Chin Injeti, a three-time Grammy Award album contributor who has collaborated with the likes of DJ Khalil, Dr. Dre, and Eminem. Check it out on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/track/7yRcMgHvaQkcrMPNiqaeiK?si=13b8d6d7483847e0&nd=1

The easy, breezy listen builds on girly.’s success last year with “Boyish,” which the artist performed throughout 2022 in and around Van City, including during Black Music Month in June. girly. calls “Dime” one of the fastest songs he’s made. “It was like it wrote itself,” he said.

Sometimes the cut feels like a love letter to a specific person – “I had four dollars in my pocket, I had four dollars in my pocket/Spent my last dime on you, I spent my last dime on you” – so goes the addictive hook. Other times, it feels more like a love letter to being on the come up with your friends, at a specific time and in a specific place. 

An electric riff breezes through your speakers. It’s accompanied by melodic, laid-back, charming vocals. It’s Fresh Breath, and their single, “Through My Window”; the title track off their full-length album. And it’s a feel-good, lush, alt-country, contemporary song about growing up, and being okay with it. Check it out on YouTube:

Sometimes a relationship can hit a rough patch, and all you want is to get back to that place where you both know you can do better. With her signature honeyed voice as its star, singer-songwriter Francine Honey’s new ballad “The We, We Used To Be” tackles this unique sort of melancholy. Check it out on YouTube here:

 I don’t want to fight
There’s nothing left to say
I don’t need to be right
I want us to find a way, back to
The We, we used to be
The We, staying up ’till 3
The We, tangled up in sheets
I remember the We, we used to be

Sometimes, romantic relationships can be stifling if your partner is smothering you. When you need some space from your partner and you can't get it, it can be frustrating to deal with. Mississauga, ON-based hip-hop artist Dylan Joshua vents this frustration in new single, "toomanytimes". Check it out on YouTube here:

Against a laid-back beat and acoustic guitar and drums, Dylan Joshua laments about needing some space from his partner. Not only have they been fighting a lot, but he sees her so much that it feels too much.

"Too much on my mind I needed space, yeah
Too much of these fights I need a break, yeah
How much of my time you wanna waste?
Shordie in my mind or in my face"

Canadian alt rockers Autopilot are on anything but when it comes to their plans for the upcoming year. With their new album near completion, the band is returning to the road with another North American tour this fall. Autopilot’s latest single, “Unwound”, drops September 8, 2023. This is a follow up to their much-anticipated singles, “Say Something” and “Feverish Dreams”, from the upcoming new album.. These driving tracks have caught the attention of many including major radio stations across North America as well as new and existing fans packing out venues to see them live. Since June of 2022, the band has released four singles while consistently touring North America and are showing no signs of slowing down with an additional 50 plus shows lined up for fall 2023.

Rick Astley continues to build anticipation for the October 6 release of his ninth album ‘Are We There Yet?’ by sharing the new single ‘Never Gonna Stop’. It comes after his phenomenal double bill of Glastonbury sets which made him the talk of the nation: first opening Saturday’s festivities in style with a triumphant performance which mixed crowd-pleasing ‘80s classics alongside some typically classy covers, and then later that day, his latest show with Blossoms as they teamed up for for a euphoric, life-affirming set of classic songs by The Smiths. 

Check it out on YouTube here:

Have you ever had a crush on someone you’ve admired from afar but figured that person would never give you the time of day? And then suddenly you realize that this special someone actually might be interested. An encounter, even a brief one, could make your romantic dreams come true. Wouldn’t that make you jump for joy?

Peter Foldy’s bouncy new reggae/pop single, “Jump Like This” celebrates just such a connection.

Check out “Jump Like This” on YouTube here:

Anxiety can take a real toll on relationships. When either partner is feeling down or hurting, it's important to be patient and remember that better days are ahead. Your relationships will be that much better for it. The belief that bad days won't last forever is what Oakville, ON-based pop singer Jamie McRoberts espouses, in her new single "Having One Of Those Days". Check it out on YouTube here:

This is the third song released from her debut album, Bring Me Your ‘A’ Game, under the COA Productions banner. McRoberts crafted this single, in partnership with legendary songwriter, producer, and music executive Ross Vannelli, to offer a very contemporary take on love. 

Toronto-based indie singer-songwriter Doug MacNaughton has released his latest single “Follow Your Silence,” the fourth single from his forthcoming album Old Enough To Know Better, set to be released in the Fall of 2023. Check it out on YouTube here:

Through his lyrical talent, we see MacNaughton highlight the synergy and perfect unity in what can often be described as a noisy world.

“And as the wave is welcomed by the shore
The river welcomed by the sea
We have each other, evermore
Follow your silence, come to me”

All you need are ears.

Like for all of us, the pandemic presented Montreal-based multi-instrumentalist Dom Hemalas aka Elegance On a Nudist Beach, with more questions than answers. Locked in his basement and isolated from the outside, he chose a path of positivity rather than wallow; Hemalas threw himself into his music, recorded songs written past and present, and relished the burden of playing all parts.

Three years later, his self-titled and fully self-created LP “Elegance On a Nudist Beach” is a reality.

Hemalas is responsible for the entirety of the album’s songwriting, vocals, instrumentals, mixing, and mastering. That includes the lead single from the Lebanese Canadian musician’s project, “Without a Shadow of a Doubt.”

Check out “Without A Shadow Of A Doubt” on You Tube here:

Sliding in with a new single, 'The Reformed Deceiver,' André Bisson brings us an upbeat soul song that wouldn't be far removed from any Motown classic. Tinged with Bisson's signature blues country sound, 'The Reformed Deceiver' – check it out on YouTube here:

From a small town in Northern Ontario to the warming crowds of England and Wales, Bisson's message demands attention. With a 20-year career, he boasts 9 studio albums, numerous awards, and sold-out shows across Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe. As the sole songwriter and arranger for his 6 to 20-piece ensemble, Andre infuses soul, roots, blues, and R&B, crafting a unique musical brand that complements his poignant lyrics.

Multilingual jazz vocalist, Fuat Tuac, has unveiled his new single "Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayim," the latest addition to his recently released and highly praised album "Immigrant" – Check it out on YouTube here:

Tuac’s "Immigrant” has been making waves on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Chart for the 13^th consecutive week, garnering praise from fans and critics alike. A true testament to his artistic prowess, the album showcases his multi-dimensional talents as he navigates between three different languages - English, French, and his native, Turkish – displaying diverse jazz styles that resonate with audiences across the globe.

James Clark has an immense powerpop palate and often uses the colours in his poetic imagery. "A Kinder You", the first single from the forthcoming "Under The Lampshade" album is a perfect illustration of that. Check it out on YouTube here:

According to James "Songs or albums will always evoke certain moods. 'A Kinder You' deals with this subject. When my heart is broken I can easily listen to Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' or 'Kind Of Blue ' by Miles Davis for the day or week. I like to wallow in my misery before the anger sets in. Then I'll reach for Dylan's 'Positively 4th Street',

Following the success of his last album "The Colour Of Happy" the new album will continue in the same direction as his fans hope.

Erika Kulnys, Nova Scotia/Berlin/Nashville/Puerto Vallarta-based singer/songwriter beckons you to embark on a profound exploration of self-liberation with her latest acoustic pop release, Swimming with Dolphins, co-written with Alan Roy Scott (Celine Dion, Shakira). Check it out on YouTube here:

Through poignant lyrics that resonate with the call of the sea, Kulnys encourages you to immerse yourself in the uncharted depths of your essence, navigating the limitless expanse of personal empowerment and freedom.