David Morrison

“as tiny as the venue and invited audience were, if the significance of the event we’d gathered to witness was mirrored metaphorically, there’d have been thousands of us assembled somewhere like Madison Square Garden.”

On this new collection, The Broken Heart of Everything, the gorgeous, rustic folk melodies and Francey’s lyrical prowess remain as reliably solid as they have been since his 1999 debut, Torn Screen Door.

The Fretless could feasibly be an important group, a cultural force that could, as they definitely intend, reach many uninitiated ears.  It is what happened to me when I saw them live, so what better than a sizzling live album to convert others? Raw and Exciting from start to finish.

This is absolutely primo Canadian roots music, entirely relatable, emotionally rewarding, and if, at the very least, it fails to gain a Songwriter of the Year nomination for the 2019 Juno Awards, it will be both bewildering and an injustice.

David catches up with Roger Dean Young who, after entering semi-retirement from music for many years returns as Roger Dean Young & the Tin Sea with a brand new full-band album, Wrought Iron Will. Music of this quality is just too valuable to remain unheard.

2016 sure deals with some heavy themes, both personal and universal – from a musical perspective, however, this fine roots-rock album is a joyous thing indeed, packed with surging melodies, aching balladry, bona fide anthems and top-notch performances by all involved. 

Watch “Over Yonder”, the first single to be taken from Roberts Hall’s sophomore release entitled “2016” – The duo are a compelling and vital new voice in Canadian indie roots-rock and their audience is set to grow with dates planned in both the US and UK.

Canadian fiddler (and guitarist) Quin Etheridge-Pedden is just 15 years-old, and on the evidence of his first album, Embark, the young musician is heading for a sparkling career.

David Morrison selects his Top 10 albums of 2017 including Aerialists, The Unthanks, This is the Kit, John Moreland, Real Ponchos, Julie Byrne and more. We’ll have more End of Year lists coming soon.

At a special performance at The White Room, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, Roberts Hall elected to perform their new album ‘2016’ in its entirety, in the round, with an expanded line-up. Our BC-based reviewer, David Morrison was there to witness it unfold.

Vancouver duo Hannah Walker and Jamie Elliott, better known as Twin Bandit, deliver harmonies that are uncannily tight and melodies that are just as warm. Their second album Full Circle, is a collection of songs that radiate energy and hope, make sure they appear on your radar, you won’t be sorry.

In the Storm is a satisfying first album – a beautiful, positive record, composed and exquisitely performed by Citizen Jane. I hope that, as an inexplicably rare female duo operating in this arena, it may inspire others to follow suit.