Hello fellow Canadians!! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you observe a different celebration in December or in January. GWN wishes all faiths and denominations a healthy, happy and prosperous holiday season and New Year celebration. It’s amazing to live in a country where this can happen and we hope that people share in everyone’s joy as it’s been another challenging year. To help you count down to 2023 we bring you more new and old music (as we always do). You can click on the video and Spotify link in each paragraph, or go right to the GWN 52 playlist on Spotify by click the icon below.

Toronto’s SHUFFLE DEMONS have announced they have a new album coming soon, but in the meantime you can grab some great new swag for the Christmas season from their website. It includes stylized Shuffle Demon graphics on coffee mugs, hoodies, T-shirts, and
“Saxytime” underpants here.

Speaking of swag and merch, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS have launched their online store and are offering up some nice items for this holiday season here.


The GRIEVOUS ANGELS are getting together this week to begin arrangements of songs for their upcoming album Last Call for Cinderella. It will be their 9th album, and will be out in 2023.

The previously released RIK EMMETT (Triumph) and Sam Reid (Glass Tiger) collaborative album The Spirit of Christmas is now available on coloured vinyl for the first time here.

Video animator Vince Collins has created a new video for an old SIMPLY SAUCER tune (with the band’s permission) called “Instant Pleasure” from the band’s 1989 album Cyborgs Revisited.



A new LEONARD COHEN book is now available entitled Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows (Inside His Archive) in time for the opening of the exhibition of the same name at the AGO in Toronto. Says project co-ordinator Jim Sheddon in a press release on social media this week, “I think it’s safe to that if you’re a huge Leonard Cohen fan, you will want this book. I’m also happy to say that if you don’t know much about Leonard Cohen, this is a great introduction to his life, his work, his ideas, and his influence.” He went on to say, “The Leonard Cohen Family Trust made the whole project possible: we benefited greatly from the knowledge and insights of Robert Kory, Robert de Young, Ran Kory, and Cheryl Cordingley. Essayists and other contributors from Alan Light to Michael Petit, Laura Cameron, and Joan Angel added depth to our broad sweep through the archive. Most of the images in the book were derived from the Leonard Cohen Family Trust, but we are also grateful for access to the University of Toronto Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, Michael Petit, Ted East, Kristina Ljubanovic, the AGO’s Edward P. Taylor Library and Archives, Sharon Robinson, Kara Blake, and George Fok.”

Order of Canada recipient, ART BERGMANN, is currently writing and arranging new songs at his farm home in Rocky View County, Alberta for an upcoming album release entitled Shadowwalk – Legacy Of Love. He has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to record and produce it.

Vancouver-based band Tom Lavin & the Legendary POWDER BLUES, formed in 1978, are finally history, in the most literal sense. The National Canadian Museum of History has just completed an acquisition of Powder Blues artifacts that will become a part of the CMH permanent collection. Items include a rare, transparent blue vinyl LP of the band’s first release in 1979, Powder Blues Uncut, the ‘million-mile guitar case’, Lavin’s custom blue D’Angelico New Yorker archtop guitar, the original manuscript for Tom Lavin’s travelogue of their 1990 tour of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, numerous historical photos, and a Canadian Recording Industry Association Double-Platinum award.  Much of the collection has never or rarely been seen by the public.

The recently released Beatles Revolver remixes – which used a technology developed by film maker Peter Jackson’s team to untangle dialogue and music segments for the Get Back mini-series – has now found its way into the hands of other producers. To wit, BOB SEGARINI‘s band The Family Tree has now had one track from its seminal debut album Miss Butters deconstructed from a two track mix and remixed into glorious stereo. It is hoped that the remainder of the album (cited by both Bernie Taupin and Elton John as a pivotal influence in their earlier songwriting careers) can be remixed the same way. The video link is the new remix, and the Spotify link is the original mix.



THE TREWS have a new Christmas track titled simply “Xmas (Merry Christmas)” featuring a new video.


In the 1990s CHRIS BIRKETT was working around the clock as the UK’s go-to-producer/engineer working on legendary projects, such as Sinead O’Connor’s album I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got, that featured the massive hit single, “Nothing Compares 2 U.” With artists and labels taking most of his time, Birkett had little to spare for his two young children. Feeling he was missing key moments in their life, the Toronto-based renaissance artist reflects on the importance of work-life balance with his heartwarming new single “Hear The Angels Sing.” 


Toronto’s Roberta Battaglia is a coveted Golden Buzzer winner and fourth-place finalist on Season 15 of America’s Got Talent, whereby 90 million people worldwide watched her masterful performances. She has just released the soaring sngle “Truce” about the power of forgiveness.

Toronto-Based Jazz duo Alex Bird & The Jazz Mavericks with Ewen Farncombe explore shades of brooding on stormy new album Songwriter featuring the focus track “The Sweetest Moments.”


Toronto based alt-country quintet Gregory Childs and Heart Lung are aiming straight for what’s under your ribs with their raw and driving new single, “From the Chest.” Following up the band’s two-song debut Baby Blue EP released in late 2020, and a one-off single “Lonesome” released last May, “From the Chest” delivers a train-chugging emotional wallop and carries the band’s stylistic and songwriting evolution another several steps further along the track. 

Holy Heart Chamber Choir enjoys entering Canada’s Music Class Challenge every Fall. This year the choir decided to step outside of its choral comfort zone and performed the Trooper classic “We’re Here for a Good Time (Not A Long Time).”


HOLLY COLE has been working with Santa and his elves recently to make a fun little home video of one of Santa’s favourite new Holly Cole tracks ”Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” This recording never made the original 2001 CD release Baby it’s Cold Outside. The new re-release, Baby It’s Cold Outside And I Have The Christmas Blues has been freshly re-mastered” and includes 15 tracks on 180 gram vinyl, and 16 tracks on CD and Digital. The extra tracks come from the 1999 EP release Christmas Blues along with the never before released “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”


It’s been quite a while since GWN had something new from ALISON SOLO to bring to our readers. She is currently writing a new album of original songs, but in the meantime she continues posting some of her favourite cover tunes. Here she does a solo version of INXS’ “Mystify” on her YouTube channel.


STORM FORCE recently played a show in Hamilton Ont. Canada & paid tribute to Brighton Rock singer Gerald McGhee who sadly passed away in 2020. The band played the classic BR song ‘We Came To Rock’ to Gerald’s very enthusiastic, emotional hometown crowd.

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 26 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

November comes to an end with a mixture of fog and blankets of white. Even the weather man’s confused. We’re trucking toward the holiday season, and there’s a hustle and bustle as projects are rushed to completion to meet year-end goals. Over the horizon is what we all hope is a new, more prosperous year. But there’s still a bit of nitro at the bottom of the music barrel for 2022. There’s more new music, there’s more news, and there’s a sense of accomplishment for a year fraught with economic woes and global instability. Music, especially Canadian music, is an unstoppable force. Take a listen to all the great material in this blog. You can even stream it on Spotify by clicking on the playlist icon below.

Highway lifer, Tom Cochrane, has entered into a partnership with a company called Sacori to bring a new generation of eyeglasses to the fore. The partnership promises to offer a collection of eyewear “that is proudly Canadian, much like its designer. The lenses, hinges and frames showcase exceptional quality, and—as is the case with Cochrane’s music—each pair is composed with the utmost care and a keen eye for detail The glasses feature blue light coating to ease eyestrain.” More info available here.


Photo: Bill King
This week the Canadian Music community lost a legend, advocate, and endless supporter of Canadian music. Alexander Mair passed unexpectedly at the age of 82 and he has left a hole in our collective psyche. Among Al’s biggest claims to fame were his stint as Gordon Lightfoot‘s manager (1968 – 1976); his co-founding of Attic Records with partner Tom Williams who brought acts like Fludd, Lee Aaron, Ken Tobias, Killer Dwarfs, Goddo, John James, The Nylons, Raggadeath, Teenage Head, Anvil, and so many others to the world; and his co-founding and board seats on many of Canada’s most important music industry associations and committees. This past summer Al received the Order of Canada. Condolences to his family and friends.

Cursed Blessings Records has announced that metal legends, SACRIFICE, will have a new single out that’ll be released on vinyl, CD, and cassette (!!!) very soon. Check the label’s website starting December 4th for details on the bundles and pre-order info here.

Trooper has been getting plenty of soundtrack work in the last year with previous placements in Bandit and Drinkwater. Their 1978 hit “Raise A Little Hell” now appears in the new Quebec film Rosie which is set in Montreal in 1984. The trailer, interestingly, features “Falling” by Toronto’s Blue Peter.

Ottawa’s FIST has announced that their 1983 album In The Red has been remastered and re-issued on Bad Reputation Records out of France. The new album variation contains the additional bonus track “Rock Ride.”

Neil Young‘s back with Crazy Horse. Their latest album is called World Record. And if you want to stream it you won’t find it on Spotify – but on Amazon Music.

In 1969, Toronto music promoter John Brower had an idea for a Rock and Roll Festival to be held at Varsity Stadium in Toronto featuring history’s great progenitors of rock and roll – Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Gene Vincent. The show was also to feature headliners The Doors with newcomers The Alice Cooper Band among others. But the fervor for legends of the past weren’t quite selling tickets the way he’d hoped and Brower made a historic phone call a week before the show – asking John Lennon and Yoko Ono to MC the event. How that changed Brower’s life, and the history of rock and roll can now be seen in the new documentary Revival69. Watch the trailer here.


A video has materialized for the 1982 Karla DeVito’ & Robby Benson Christmas hit “Santa Clause Is Coming…To My House.” The singers/actors aren’t Canadian, but while filming the movie Running Brave in Alberta that year, they utilized a Canadian backing band affectionately called The Royal Canadian Dismounted Band which included Tommy Banks (piano); Jeff Sawatzky (bass/electric guitar); Phil Young (drums); Robby Benson (guitar); and Jim Pinchin (saxophone). It’s a fun clip and features footage of the band backing DeVito.


Canadian singer/songwriter Lisa Hartt has released her new heart-wrenching single “Don’t Tell Me How I Feel” in advance of her upcoming EP Arrival.


VVC is Jim and Bill Verutis along with Greg Ceci who marry a smooth jazz fusion hybrid. Their latest single is the environmentally conscious activist anthem “Just Don’t Sit There!”


Kit Vale is the solo project of Toronto-based singer/songwriter Jen Simpson, whom you may know as the stunning voice of Canadian rockers Neon Bloom. “Pet” is Simpson’s second single under the Kit Vale moniker and was produced by the legendary Rob Sanzo.


“Made Of The Storm” is the third advance single from Canadian band Universal Honey‘s forthcoming album, following the success of the first two singles, “Is This The Real Thing?” and “Hush A Word.”


Toronto-based rockers A Short Walk To Pluto, endorsed earlier this year by Howard Stern on his top-rated SiriusXM show, illustrate that poetically in their folksier but no less tight new single “Give Me Grace.” Formed in 2018, the group consists of members Emma Armstrong (vocals), Danny Moriana (bass/vocals), Max Kaiser (guitar), and Jake Biggs (percussion/vocals).



Montreal’s Lirah Linda (Proctor) has decided to celebrate Eurythmic’s induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame this year by recording a cover of the band’s sleeper album track “I Need You.”

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 26 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

The snow has arrived in the GWN neighbourhood and it’s starting feel typically Canadian out there again. Now comes hot chocolate, mittens, skating, and scraping sheet ice of your windshield. Time to embrace the coming deep freeze or batten down the hatches and hibernate. And what better way to hibernate with some great Canadian music. GWN‘s here to fill your ears with the last vestiges of 2022’s musical offerings – that includes Christmas tracks. Too early, you say? Bah! Humbrag. It’s been a tough 2 1/2 years, we believe in spreading the musical (and festive joy) as soon as we can. From here until Christmas we’ll drop a few new Christmas releases into our blogs.

And remember, most of the songs and artists we discuss in this issue are available on our weekly Spotify playlist (just click the icon below)



Having just signed with Sonic Envy Records, Lowest of The Low is currently working in John Critchley’s (13 Engines, Mr! Mouray, The Discarded) recording studio, Green Door Studios, on their next record tentatively titled Welcome To The Plunderdome. The record is slated for a 2023 release. The band has released a sneak peek of two new tracks here.


The new children’s book, The Cat Who Played Guitar, is available in time for Christmas from famed Canadian classical guitar virtuoso Liona Boyd.


The story of Ray Gran will soon be the subject of both a book and a documentary, as well as the latest single from The James Clark Institute entitled “Marcella Never Got The News.” The pilot crashed his plane in 1959 in Saskatchewan and it was not recovered until 2018. His wife Marcella was pregnant at the time of the accident, and passed away the night of the discovery of the wreckage without ever hearing the news.


Toronto Alt-Pop singer-songwriter Lisa Humber is urging people to critically think and start making post-pandemic human connection on her new songs “Shades of Grey.”


Victoria, British Columbia musical mainstay Jonathan (Williams) once shared stages with legendary Canadian artists including Colin James, Trooper, 54-40, Spirit of the West, Edwin, and legendary American act Dr. Hook. After spending the majority of his life as a music artist and performer, Jonathan put it all away for the next 15 years and went into law enforcement to build and support his new family. In the last three years Jonathan endured massive life changing events, and has returned to fulfill his dream and passion of music. Jonathan speaks to this in his newest single release called “Untethered”. Jonathan states: “‘Untethered’ is my personal testimony of how my life fell apart in 2017. Suffering from betrayal, depression, loss of identity, and PTSD from my job as a police officer, this song is about my struggle to fill the emptiness of my life with distractions and pleasures rather than seeking what matters most.”

Windsor, Ontario’s MELØ has released a new single and lyric video for the song “Things We Lost,” which is the title track from his debut EP.



Toronto Pop songstress Sam Casey wrestles with the hurt of a one-sided fling on her new single/video “New Company.”


The Trews have released a new Christmas tune called “Xmas (Merry Christmas).”


Jon Mullane is an award-winning Canadian singer//songwriter/performer who has gained international acclaim and success with his music. Having released five successful full length albums, Jon has had several Top 40 Billboard -charting radio singles in Canada to his credit, and his song “My New American Girl” broke into the Top 40 at #32 on the Hot AC Billboard Chart in the US. “Feels Like Christmas” is Jon’s new Holiday album that features new original songs plus Jon’s previously released Holiday singles. Check out the title track:



Bend Sinister’s Dan Moxon has embraced being a steady, stay-at-home adult on the new single “Real Good Guy.” Taking its cues from easygoing ’70s soul, “Real Good Guy” features tinkling piano, joyful horns, subtle harmonies, and even some exuberant whistling as Dan basks in the reality of being a responsible member of a household. Throughout the song, there’s the sense that Dan isn’t actually trying hard to convince anyone that he’s a good guy, but that he’s instead marveling at a particular stage of life. It’s an attitude that fits with the greater theme of Dan’s sophomore album, All My Friends.


Yet another new single, “High Times,” from Nickelback has been released from their upcoming new album Get Rollin‘.


Toronto’s Shawn Molko’s new song “I Will Wait,” is causing a lot of word of mouth support across all platforms. Check it out.


Canadian Alt-Country artist Andrea England gets honest about Holiday bitter-sweetness on the new seasonal single “Jolly Melancholy Christmas.”


Toronto’s Americana/Roots-Rock singer-songwriter Ryan Wayne – most often remembered as one of the two spark plugs that fired up the award-winning, much-loved Toronto band Warped 45s – has released “Wherever You Land,” the first single from his upcoming debut album Crow Amongst The Sparrows. 


Toronto’s NUMB TONGUES have released their new “Whaddaya Say” featuring Prince/Toto’s Dominique Xavier. The inspiration behind “Whaddaya Say” first came to lead singer Jonah Grinberg in 2017. The singer went through a depression after finishing college, feeling a sense of aimlessness and disposition within the world. He developed a nihilistic take on life and realized that the world would forever remain in a constant state of chaos, and there was nothing he or anyone he knew could do much about.


Toronto’s rising Pop sensation, Victoria Alex, on the heels of her hit “Screaming” and “I Hate Your Friends,” returns with a new single entitled “Let’s Pretend.”




A collective of Canada’s top artists are lending their voices to raise awareness of the fight for democracy in Iran. This reimagining of U2’s iconic protest song “Sunday Bloody Sunday” was originally recorded and released in the summer of 2019 to raise awareness of the political crisis and human suffering in Sudan. With this new lyric video, A4A Records and participating artists once again hope to put the spotlight on the fight for human rights, in solidarity with the women and people of Iran. The participating artists are: Ian D’Sa (Billy Talent), Ben Kowalewicz (Billy Talent), Jim Cuddy (Blue Rodeo), Cone (Sum 41), Neil Sanderson (Three Days Grace), Matt Walst (Three Days Grace), Damhnait Doyle, Emmanuel Jal, Serena Ryder, Corey Hart, Ron Hawkins (Lowest of The Low), Scott Anderson (Finger Eleven), Simon Ward, Amy Millan (Stars), Colin MacDonald (The Trews), John Angus (The Trews), and Ewan Currie (The Sheepdogs)

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 26 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

From the head offices of Central Casting we bring you another scintillating round up of this week in Canadian music news. We’re in that exciting period between Halloween and Christmas where everyone’s hurtling toward the holidays. We’ll be bringing you Canadian Christmas music soon enough, but for now here’s the latest in new music. Be sure to check out the links in the paragraphs below or dial up the Spotify playlist we’ve assembled 40 tunes for this week’s movers and shakers [hit the playlist icon below]

< Click image for GWNtertainment Playlist #49


Hamilton’s finest gathered November 5th for a celebration of life for the late Gordie Lewis of TEENAGE HEAD. The guitarist passed away tragically this past summer. The band, featuring original bassist Steve Mahon, along with long-time vocalist Dave Rave, drummer Gene Champagne, and assisted by Headstones guitarist Trent Carr and keyboardist Greg Brisco, took the stage for a full night filled with songs from Teenage Head’s deep catalog of songs. The night kicked off with a number of eulogies read by Hockey Night In Canada announcer Dave Hodge including one from producer Daniel Lanois. Proceeds from the event – held at Hamilton’s First Ontario Concert Hall to a capacity crowd – went to the Hamilton Good Shepherd organization.


Teenage Head were energized for an opening salvo of songs after which Dave Rave handed the microphone over to a who’s who of vocalists including Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil), Colin MacDonald and Jack Syperek (The Trews) – who were accompanied by Sonny Del Rio (Crowbar) on saxophone for “Something On My Mind,” Chris Houston (The Forgotten Rebels), Andy Curran (Coney Hatch), Mike Trebilcock (The Killjoys), Tim Gibbons (The Shakers), Sammy Squid, Lou Molinaro (Tongue Fu) who helped organize the entire event, John Kastner (The Doughboys), and Scott McCullough (Rusty).


[l. to r. Gene Champagne, Steve Mahon, Dave Rave, Trent Carr]

Other highlights from the show included MC duties from Brian West (Y108-FM), plus video tributes from Colin Linden (Blackie & The Rodeo Kings), Tom Wilson (Florida Razors, Junkhouse), Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper Band, Blue Coupe), and Joe and Albert Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult, Blue Coupe) among others; also a few inspiring words from journalist and long-time associate of the band Graham Rockingham, and the return of 1980s-period Teenage Head drummer Jack Pedler. The highlight and show stopper for many there was the solo performance by Gordie Lewis’s nephew, Michael Lewis, who performed a moving rendition of Gordie’s solo song “Parasite” which was met with a standing ovation. Hamilton did themselves proud on this night for a worthy cause and to honour a fallen brother.


* Former HELIX guitarist Daniel Fawcett – who performed with the band from 2002 to 2004 – was found dead of suspicious circumstances in his home in London, Ontario November 6, 2022. Police have since ruled the death a homicide. An investigation is ongoing. Condolences to Mr. Fawcett’s family and friends.


* HONEYMOON SUITE guitarist Derry Grehan posted on social media this week that the band has tracked 10 brand new songs for their forthcoming album plus two bonus tracks with remakes of “New Girl Now,” and “Love Changes Everything.”

* UNIVERSAL HONEY‘s latest single, “Hush A Word,” as featured here a few issues ago, has sped past 100,000 views on YouTube in a few weeks. If you haven’t seen the vid/heard the song check it out here.


* Musical Everyman Ian Blurton posted on social media this week that he and CHANGE OF HEART bassist Rob Taylor have reconvened 28 years after Taylor left the band to track a new album. They began recording in December 2021 and have called on former COH alumni Glenn Milchem, Ron Duffy, Damon Richardson, and John Borra among others to flesh out the record. Of note is that they discovered some unused percussion tracks from the late Mike Armstrong – who earlier this year – that they’d repurposed for the record. The album, as yet untitled, should be out in 2023.

* A company called Side Door Access was developed by Vancouver music Dan Mangan and Nova Scotian music industry entrepreneur Laura Simpson back in 2017 as a means of putting live music into unconventional spaces like living rooms, bookstores, and warehouses. The business partners have co-founded a web-based platform to centralizes the process and have secured a $500K deal with Arlene Dickinson on reality TV show Dragons’ Den.


* Drew Arnott of STRANGE ADVANCE announced this week that Universal Music is finally going to re-issue the band’s first two albums – Worlds Away and 2WO – on vinyl in the new year.

* There’s massive buzz surrounding the new Rob Freeman documentary called Drop The Needle which follows the evolution of Toronto’s Hip Hop scene as it began in the back room of Eugene’s Play De Record retail store on Yonge Street in the late ’80s/early 1990s. It’s been playing at Hot Docs and should be available to wider audiences shortly. Check out the trailer here.


* Former KLAATU member Terry Draper, hot off his pandemic released latest album The Other Side, has announced his next album will be called Bread And Cirkus due in December.

* JACKIE SHANE has been honoured with her own Heritage Minute. See the new TV spot here.

* GWN is saddened to hear about the passing of musician John McGale (Offenbach, Buzz Band) in a car accident in Lacolle, Quebec October 30th – his 66th birthday. Condolences to his family, friends, and the music community’s loss.


* Damhnail Doyle announced on social media that she has become the new host of CBC Music’s The Intro.



* HEADSTONES drummer Dale Harrison has been keeping busy with many projects. There’s a new single by 6ft Social Band called “See How It Goes.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY
And Deadwood Valley’s new single “Never Look Back” YOUTUBE


* Speaking of Ian Blurton, his current band Ian Blurton’s Future Now has a new album out called Second Skin. Check out the first single, “Like A Ghost.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* GWN regular DON NORMAN usually finds a spot in our Cover Ups column with fantastic renditions from the pop music songbook, but he’s just released an original track we quite like called “Edward’s Eyes (Lovesong To A Grandson)” which he wrote in 1991. His grandson is now 33, but Grandpa’s love remains. BANDCAMP

* Kyp Harness has a new album out entitled Poverty Line. It features contributions from Bob Wiseman (Blue Rodeo), Dale Morningstar (Dinner Is Ruined) and Mary Margaret O’Hara.


* Accomplished kora player, and singer-songwriter Sophie Lukacs has released “Before You,” the fourth single from her upcoming debut album Falling set for release in 2023. The song features Habib Koité. Lukacs was also recently chosen to perform a live showcase at the Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City, Missouri in 2023.
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* LEE AARON appears to be swinging for the fences these days as single #2 has emerged from the as yet unreleased album Elevate which is due November 25. The new track/video is called “Troublemaker” and we believe it! YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Quebec’s Lori Dore has released her debut album entitled Something In The Air. It features 12 original tracks she co-wrote with Rick Steven Rogers and third writer Andre Dore. Produced by Jeff Nystrom (FIST) with guitar work by Jon Park-Wheeler and Rob Stefan. The title track is a stand-out suitable for Country radio while Dore explores other genres including the Blues on “When The Walls Fall Down” and Latin Music with “Kiss Me.”
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* Toronto’s A Short Walk To Pluto has a new single called “You Are Not The Only One.”
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* This week’s cover tune is all parts Canadian from the CANADIAN COVER CREW who’ve previously done versions of Lighthouse’s “Pretty Lady,” The Delfonics “Didn’t I Blow Your Mind,” and Redbone’s “Come And Get Your Love.” This round they’ve brought in Blair Packham (Jitters) to round the team of Paul DeLong (drums), Peter Nunn (keyboards), Rik Emmett (guitar), and Pete Bleakney (bass), along with backing vocalist Rita & John Carroll to bring us Michel Pagliaro‘s “Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy.” YOUTUBE

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
This issue was brought to you by: Artists everywhere. They need your support.

Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 25 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

Here we are, back for another round of new and exciting musical shenanigans. A big thank you to the folks who have followed us from the old Don’t Believe A Word I Say site, and to the new subscribers here on The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. Welcome one and all! We hope you’re enjoying the bits and bites of new music news we bring your way every week. Mondays will be our official release day for GWNtertainment Magazine blogs so make sure you have a coffee and some headphones ready for all the latest in Canadian entertainment to start each week. Now, on with the show!


And be sure to check out this issue’s convenient non-stop playlist on Spotify – click the icon above to get tracks from this issue’s artists.


* Initially LOWEST OF THE LOW had reunited to celebrate the anniversary of their pre-imminent masterpiece Shakespaere My Butt, but now it appears there is a half-life to the band’s career as they’ve signed to Brian Hetherman’s music imprint Sonic Envy Music. Congrats all round. GWN is looking forward to hearing new LotL sometime soon.

* It’s the 30th anniversary of the release of MICHELLE WRIGHT‘s hit “Take It Like A Man.” And with the release of her new album Milestone, she has includes a re-recording of “Take It Like A Man.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* It’s the 20th anniversary of BIG SUGAR‘s Heated album, and to celebrate they’ve released a newly remastered coloured vinyl LP and CD that includes four previously unreleased bonus tracks on top of the hits “The Scene” and “Turn The Lights Off.”

* Back by popular demand is EMM GRYNER‘s songbook The Complete Emm Gryner Songbook: 12 Songs For Piano” available as an e-book/print-at-home. Available now at https://www.emmgryner.com/store


* The Longest Suicide is the new authorized biography of Vancouver punk pioneer ART BERGMANN written by Jason Schneider on Anvil Press.


* Breakout Nigerian/Canadian Rapper BANGGZ has delivered his newest single entitled “what a day” from the audio series ‘TTYL.’ YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

*THE MIDNIGHT SPARROWS have released their sophomore album Born In the City and the lead-off single is “Butterfly Wings” – a song that Midnight Sparrows’ founder, Blair Bellerose, wrote to honour his mother, an Indigenous elder and residential school survivor who passed away last year at the age of 87. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* Singer Finny McConnell snuck a new THE MAHONES album out on True North Records while we weren’t looking. Jameson Street sees the Canadian Celtic punks in fine form. The first single is “Last Call At the Bar.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Before Ontario-based artist, HARLEY OLIVIA embarked on a solo career, her efforts intertwined with several heavy-metal and punk bands. Harley performed in crowd-pleasing acts filled with clowns, confetti, and anything else commonly found in a pop-up circus tent. But while she was leading audiences in balloon sword battles, she leaned into her fascination for a solo project and “Diggin’” is the result. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* After vowing to give up drinking in his last single “Alarm Bells,” Alliston, Ontario’s GRANT BOYER (Golden Gate Graves) returns with something dark and thought-provoking: “De-Evolution.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* The most hated band in the world, NICKELBACK, continues to defy critics and has released the second track from their upcoming album Get Rollin’ called “Those Days” – another pastiche of nostalgia for the Vancouver rockers. The video is only a week old and has 1.2 million views so far. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Hamilton’s KYTLY has released the album Detours & Exits featuring members of Afghan Whigs, Jesus And Mary Chain, and Fountains of Wayne after a long hiatus. The first single is, appropriately, “Begin Again.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* BRYAN ADAMS‘ latest album is So Happy It Hurts, and the album’s new single is “Kick Ass” whose video features an opening monologue by legendary British actor John Cleese (from Monty Python’s Flying Circus). The video also features Pat Steward on drums, Keith Scott on guitar, Sol Walker on bass and Gary Breit on Piano. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* An entity called The Electronic Group Of Seven (EG7) have taken Benjamin Russell and Rob Stuart‘s track “Yell” and given it a series of remixes in the EG7 EP The Yell Remixes. The duo’s debut album arrives January 18, 2023. Here’s the original track by Russell & Stuart. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Toronto-based Blues Rocker EMILY MAC finds her strength on fiery & sassy new single “Whiskey Like Me” co-written with Jay Stolar (Demi Lovato, Daryl Hall & John Oates). The song features Ben Healey on guitar, Stacey Shopsowitz on bass, and Robert Sibony on drums. It was engineered by Theresa Gemma and produced by Dajaun Martineau (Moist, Big Sugar). YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
This issue was brought to you by: Songsmith – A Vague Job Description For Someone That’s Never Written A Song.

Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 25 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

The end of October is upon us with a thrill for kids as they get to become their favourite imaginary hero/demon for Halloween. It’s a magical time to go trick or treating which takes the sting out of the shock of having to go back to school the previous month. And winter will soon be here where we enter into the big social sleep – wrapped in the comfort of our domestic lives and wile away the cold months streaming movies, trolling social media, and discovering new music. Here’s some new and exciting projects you might want to accompany you in your hibernation.


For reader convenience, you can listen to a complete playlist of songs in this blog at Spotify by clicking the GWN Playlist button above.



* Hamilton singer-songwriter Tom Wilson‘s documentary Beautiful Scars (based on the 2017 autobiography of the same name) is now streaming for a limited time on TVO. Check it out here.

* The new film Drinkwater, starring Daniel Doheny, Loriza Tronco, Jana Benoit, and Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), is a loving pastiche of 1980s Canadiana with fashion and music of the times including a soundtrack that features The Kings, Loverboy, Trooper, Men Without Hats, and April Wine among other revered CanCon treasures. The 2021 made film has finally gotten cinema release and has an extended run currently at Landmark movie theatres. TRAILER

* Singer-songwriter Marc Parent announced this week that Andrés del Castillo and Scott Milks will be his special guests for his show at the The Brass in Aylmer next Friday, Nov 4th at 9pm. The significance of this show is that the three gents are former members of Eight Seconds who had a Canadian Top-40 hit in the 1980s called “Kiss You (When It’s Dangerous).“

* For those wanting to do deep dives into new music globally we highly recommend the blogs of former GWN scribe Bill Smith who has his finger on the pulse of dance, R & B, EDM, and pretty much any genre that’s thriving in the music eco-system currently. Follow his frequently updated charts and dig into his recommendations. There’s something here for everyone at the BILLCSNewMusicReport.

* Terry Jacks has emerged after a long music absence with a new collection of previously unreleased songs from his personal archive entitled Remember Me? It features the final recording between him and former partner Susan Jacks (RIP) entitled “The Pact.” You can get the new CD from Regenerator Records. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* As mentioned last week, BLINKER THE STAR‘s upcoming album is Love Oblast. The first single from the record has dropped entitled “Walk Through The Park.”
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* After a 3 year absence, Toronto’s Mr! Mouray has returned with their first new release since 2019’s Spares EP. “Cats Can’t Fly” is the 1st single from their sophomore album What’s The Stouray due November 21. Comes with a B-side on the band’s Bandcamp page. YOUTUBE // BANDCAMP


* During the pandemic most musicians were unable to perform live and so a community of collaborations began in the virtual world. Teenage Head‘s Dave Rave teamed up in Hamilton with The Trews‘ Jack Syperek to write and record an album with Mark Foley (guitar) and Claude DesRoches (drums) under the name Dave Rave & The 2nd Responders. GWN attended the CD release party for their self-titled debut. The album isn’t currently available to buy or stream but a video of “Eye To Eye” is available on YOUTUBE.

* If you like your rock loud, Lee Aaron has managed to squeeze out a new single in between live festival dates. Just released is “Rock Bottom Revolution” from her upcoming new album Elevate which is due November 25. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* Immediately on the heels of Sloan‘s new album release Steady which we talked about last week, comes the second single “Dream It All Over Again.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* A post-humous collection of unreleased tracks from Pukka Orchestra‘s Graeme Williamson has been released entitled Because There Was You. Williamson passed away in June 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland of undisclosed causes. Former band mate Neil Chapman, and Canadian music executive Frank Davies have ensured that Graeme’s final recordings saw the light of day. Here’s the poignant “Now or Never.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Toronto 4-piece Pop Punk act GROWERS have released their new single “TTYL.” Released in September 2022, the track is the second single from GROWERS’ new EP Cry Baby coming in Winter 2023. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* We’re having a hard time keeping up with the output of Geoff Gibbons who we mentioned in last week’s blog. He’s put another new single out in the time it took to read this. The new track is “Execution Man.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* More than a decade in the making, “Lustre Parfait” is the first song from the long-mythologized collaboration between Gord Downie, the iconic late frontman of The Tragically Hip, and Bob Rock, the legendary producer and former guitarist for The Payolas. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


* Bilingual, Hamilton-based, indie-pop singer-songwriter Mary Clements has releases her second single, “Dundurn & King” from her upcoming debut full-length album Come With Me due on November 4. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* Toronto-based Electro-pop R&B music sensation Jordana of Earth transports listeners with melancholy romance and light smoky vocals to tell a vulnerable tale of distance and its effect on love with the ethereal 3rd single “Need To Know” from the EP 10k.
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY  

* Creating your own path and being proud of yourself is the message behind Toronto’s Anna Goldsmith‘s latest single, “Follower.” Living by her own words with her writing, performances and personal life, Anna Goldsmith is a 15-year-old multi-instrumentalist. YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY


*  Award-winning Canadian musician Julian Taylor has released a new compelling single called “Stolen Lands,” from his sophomore solo album Beyond The Reservoir.
YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

SEND US YOUR STUFF!
This issue was brought to you by: The Led Hot Chili Zeppers’ new single “Under The Bridge, Over The Hills, And Faraway.”

Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 26 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

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We hope you enjoyed last week’s addition/edition of the long-running GWNtertainment Magazine blog to the Encyclopedia. We think it’s important to keep up with the happenings surrounding all Canadian music, and we’re happy to bring it to you weekly for the foreseeable future. To that end we’ll be adding other segments to the blog including news, and live event announcements as they present themselves. We are also continuing to add GWN playlists on Spotify so that the new releases we write about are available to listeners in one convenient spot.


Click on the Playlist button above for the playlist from GWN Issue 46 for your enjoyment. You can also search on Spotify for previous playlists by typing: GWNtertainment #
And please support these artists in whatever capacity you can whether it’s through streaming or purchasing their music as physical products or going to live shows.


* ANDY KIM returns at Christmas for his 18th annual Andy Kim Christmas Show for charity at the newly restored Massey Hall. The guest list has yet to be announced but is expected to be spectacular. Check out the Facebook page invite and follow along as the musical guests are added.

* Canada’s greatest diminutive rock and rollers, the KILLER DWARFS, are back on the road for their 40th anniversary (!!!) and a fan was kind enough to post their entire performance from the Rocktember Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota on September 10, 2022. Check it out on YouTube.


* THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS are currently on tour with THE NORTHERN PIKES for the Northern Happiness Tour. Even better news for TPOH fans is that their 1995 album Where’s The Bone? and the 1996 album The Wonderful World Of Pursuit Of Happiness have both been remastered and available on streaming services for the first time. Check them out on Spotify.

* You may know him as one of the original VJ’s on MuchMusic back in the 1980s or later as the co-writer of Alannah Myles’ biggest hit “Black Velvet,” but before all that CHRISTOPHER WARD was a solo artist. His 1978 debut solo album Spark of Desire has been remastered and is now available on streaming services. The album features two Top40 hits in “Once In A Longtime” and “Maybe Your Heart.” Check it out on Spotify.

* JUNO Award nominated band WEDNESDAY (aka WENZDAY) were recently nominated for a Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award at the Oshawa Music Awards. The band is remembered for such hits as “Last Kiss,” “Fly Away,” and “Loving You Baby.” Check them out on Spotify.

* Great news for SLOAN fans – the band has just released its new studio album called Steady. It’s available on CD and the first pressing will be available on deep purple vinyl which will be limited to 2,500 copies. Order from their website here.


* Uber multi-instrumentalist Jordon Zadorozny has announced that the new BLINKER THE STAR album Love Oblast will be released November 10.

* SATTALITES frontman FERGUS HAMBLETON sees his 1971 debut album from Capitol Records entitled All The Right Noises released to digital platforms. The album was recorded at Art Snider’s Sounds Canada studio and produced by Fergus’ brother Greg Hambleton. The album featured the hit “Same Old Feeling.” SPOTIFY.


* LIGHTHOUSE members and songwriters Skip Prokop, Paul Hoffert, Ralph Cole, and Bob McBride were honoured with induction into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame this past week at the SOCAN Awards. The four gents were responsible for such hits as “One Fine Morning,” “Sunny Days,” “Pretty Lady,” “Hats Off (To The Stranger),” “Take It Slow,” and “Can You Feel It” among others. SPOTIFY


* Kitchener songwriter, KEVIN WESTPHAL, has released a satirical song about the nightmare that all commuters in Southern Ontario know all too well – Highway 401. The song is called “A Typical Day On The 401” and is available exclusively on YouTube.

* Calgary’s GUNN BLUES BAND is celebrating their new single “I Just Wanna Know” from the album Hand In The Fire landing at #1 on the UK iTunes chart. Check it out on iTunes or at Spotify.

* ROSITA STONE has a new single out called “Luz Estelar.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY

* Long time friend of GWN, GEOFF GIBBONS, continues his run of fantastic singles with his new track “Waitin’ On a Train.” YOUTUBE // SPOTIFY
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This issue was brought to you by: “10 Downing Street Air B’n’B – You Won’t Be Here For A Good Time Or A Long Time.”
Send us your news, views, and all manner of CANADIAN musical releases to promote and wave a flag for. Join the GWN Facebook page and drop us a message: https://www.facebook.com/gwntertainment

Keep up the fight!
Jaimie Vernon, 2022

=JV=

Jaimie “Captain CanCon” Vernon has been president of the on again/off-again Bullseye Records of Canada since 1985. He wrote and published Great White Noise magazine in the ‘90s, has been a musician for 44 years, and recently discovered he’s been happily married for 26 of those. He is also the author of The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and editor of “Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story.” Available through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Jaimie+Vernon

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This Sunday (29th) Jaimie Vernon, author of Sunny Days – The Skip Prokop Story, and The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia will be on hand signing books at the Toronto East (Scarborough) Vinyl Record & Collectibles Show

Door open 10AM

Admission $5

An interview with Canadian music photographer John Rowlands. John’s photos have graced the covers of every edition of the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. John Rowlands Interview