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PODCAST

Backstage Pass

Douglas McLean | Canoe FM

Backstage Pass is an interview podcast dedicated to Canadian and international artists in conversation about their latest album release, tour schedules, or songwriting experience. We hope these interviews will inspire you to go buy some music and celebrate in the creative magic that gives us songs that lifts us up in times of trouble and makes us dance in times of joy and happiness.

music music interviews

All Episodes

0:00

SKYDIGGERS DREAMS & SECOND CHANCES

Backstage Pass ·

2025/06/10

This week, Episode 61, Skydiggers on their incredible new album 'Dreams & Second Chances' Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson join me to discuss their new album and more. For my part, this is a powerful new set of songs perfectly in tune with the times and the creative energies of this legendary band. Iconic songwriter Harlan Howard believed that songs exist in the air all around us. That’s how these new Skydiggers songs began — in the air. There were no charts given in advance. There were no tunes

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0:00

LOGAN RICHARD - CHARACTER TRAITS

Backstage Pass ·

2025/05/29

“Each song is its own character trait, telling its own story—from falling in love, to falling out of it, to figuring myself out in adulthood.”It’s the sound of someone coming into his own—and it shows. Produced by Joshua Van Tassel and David Myles, ‘Character Traits’ balances raw honesty with lush, genre-blurring production. Logan Richard is one of music’s rarest creatures—a compelling and diverse songwriter who shreds. The PEI-born-and-based artist has been sharpening both skills since he first

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0:00

JOHN MCANDREW – BETTER SIDE OF ME

Backstage Pass ·

2025/05/26

JOHN MCANDREW – BETTER SIDE OF ME – MAY 2025 In a long ranging interview, Nashville songwriter, John McAndrew shares some of the inspiration for his beautiful and haunting new album release,'Better Side of Me'. Better Side of Me is a collaboration with notable producer Denny Seiwell, the co-founder and drummer of Wings, and Fernando Perdomo. Their combined expertise promises to deliver an exceptional listening experience. John McAndrew is a unique storyteller and it can truly be said that it is

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55:42

STEPHEN FEARING - THE EMPATHIST

Backstage Pass ·

2025/03/06

STEPHEN FEARING - THE EMPATHISTA legendary musical force in the Canadian music world, Stephen is well known for his numerous solo and spirited collaborations, including his membership in the much beloved band, Blackie and Rodeo Kings, Fearing joined me in a remarkable conversation, November 2024, to discuss his newest album and how he came to discover his inspiring ways of approaching songs and creative activities. “In early 2022,” says Fearing, “as the pandemic's lockdown grip was loosening, I

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17:00

BRIAN COOPER- “That’s What Makes Us Great!”

Backstage Pass ·

2025/02/27

With the possibility of 25% tariffs being levied by new U.S. President Donald Trump on all Canadian goods as early as February 1st, the Cooper Brothers are re-releasing their song "That's What Makes Us Great".The 51tst State? Take off, eh! The Cooper Brothers are back with a song that’s as Canadian as a double-double, a frozen pond, and a game-winning goal in overtime. “That’s What Makes Us Great!” is a love letter to the True North, strong and free, celebrating the spirit, resilience, and

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39:39

SANDY BELL - BREAK OF DAY: SONGS FOR COLIN

Backstage Pass ·

2025/02/11

Sandy Bell’s album,Break of Day: Songs for Colin, was born out of heart-wrenching grief, after losing her only son Colin Bell in a tragic train accident. He died at age 20 while walking home one night, listening to music on his headphones, in Brantford, Ontario. Says Bell: "Colin sparked joy wherever he went. He was caring, kind, wise, and fun. Everyone loved Colin – especially the girls, old people, and children, but none more so than his parents. His heart was wide open –- he’d always say “peace

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46:14

Howard Gladstone

Backstage Pass ·

2025/01/15

Contemporary roots-folk singer-songwriter Howard Gladstone officially released his eighth album Crazy Talk (Sonic Peach Music) on September 20,2024. The twelve new songs cover genres from folk to jazz to folk/rock to world music. Howard Gladstone, Toronto-born singer/songwriter, is releasing his eighth album of original music in September 2024. He is also publishing a book of his collected lyrics titled "Timepieces." Veteran Canadian songwriter James Gordon has called the work a "remarkably

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49:58

ALFIE SMITH-Every Rome Needs A Nero

Backstage Pass ·

2024/12/18

ALFIE SMITHEvery Rome Needs A Nero Alfie Smith released his eighth album, Every Rome Needs A Nero, in October 2024. The Hamilton-based troubadour is a popular and crowd-pleasing fixture on the Ontario’s blues/folk/roots festivals and club circuit, but it has been a full decade since his last release, Come On In My Kitchen, a duo record with his wife, Nicole Christian. In a relaxed conversation, Alfie Smith shared some of his songwriting inspirations and discussed various tunes on the album, as

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25:25

Bywater Call

Backstage Pass ·

2024/12/06

‘Shepherd’, Bywater Call’s third studio album, released August 9, 2024, is an emotional tour de force that sequences and builds from song to song into a profound musical statement and merits every bit of the attention and accolades it is receiving. Meghan Parnell, lead vocalist, gave us the time to discuss the album before heading off on an extended tour. Bywater Call has received many blues music award nominations, including most recently, Best International Artist for the 2024 UK Blues Awards

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40:20

Terry Donaghue “Looking For Redemption”

Backstage Pass ·

2024/11/06

Toronto based singer-songwriter Terry Donaghue is releasing his 4th solo album “Looking For Redemption” September 6th. The album was recorded at Toronto’s legendary Kensington Sound. Looking For Redemption is a roots/americana/alt-folk genre is a concept album of 9 tracks telling the story in film noir style of a man on the run from his past and a woman he meets along the way also on the run from her past. Born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, now based in Toronto I’ve been involved in

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58:36

JESSE WALDMAN - THE SHIMMERING DIVIDE

Backstage Pass ·

2024/10/25

Jesse’s debut album, Mansion Full of Ghosts, heralded by Vancouver Sun, Penguin Eggs, and The Georgia Straight, was an exploration of a city’s duality, with all of its beauty and shadows, expressed through varying moments of lush, orchestral arrangements to hushed duets over expert fingerpicking. The result was a beautifully crafted album that celebrated the pursuit of hope, and gently reflected on an oftentimes weighty effort to “keep a light on in the dark”. Canadian Beats praised, “infused with a

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23:22

DOMINIC QUARTO

Backstage Pass ·

2024/10/08

The new album “HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS” by Dominic Quarto is fresh music but with hints of nostalgia from the many artists that influenced him since he was a kid, like the Beatles, Aerosmith, Rick Nelson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams III. This album is laced with touches of humor, great melodies and catchy lyrics while paired with a completely unique vocal style which all help make this a extremely well balanced collection of get off your chair tunes. “HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS” includes premier players

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46:52

Carmine Appice

Backstage Pass ·

2024/09/18

Coming off two acclaimed studio albums (Black Dawn, Tightrope), and an energized historic live album, Birth of Cactus, founding member and world-renowned drummer Carmine Appice returns with the ultimate tribute to his legendary rock band, CACTUS. Temple of Blues- Influences & Friends, merges the members of Cactus with a super ensemble of guest artists, all of whom have called the group among their biggest influences. Once heralded by critics as America’s answer to Led Zeppelin, Cactus recorded

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54:04

Devil Talking - DAVID MYLES

Backstage Pass ·

2024/08/30

On this record Devil Talking, David Myles cuts loose, bares his soul, and leaves it all on the table. The New Brunswick-based song and dance man has never been one to shy away from heavy topics like love, loss, and faith, but over his career he's tried his best to stay positive. Amongst the soulful, bluesy, rockin', and countrified grooves of Devil Talking, Myles knocks down the walls he's constructed to protect his vulnerable self, and instead dives headlong into what makes him—and all of us—human:

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38:11

THE JANZEN BOYS

Backstage Pass ·

2024/08/14

The Janzen Boys have been playing music together since the very beginning, but it started as “The Janzen Boys” shortly after they moved back to Canada from Japan in 2012. They’re a rootsy, harmony-singing folk trio from Winnipeg, Manitoba, consisting of brothers Simon and Mick, and father JJ. Whether they’re playing at music festivals, theatres, venues, or intimate house concerts, they’ll have you laughing, crying, and singing along to classics that you know and love, and catchy original tunes

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50:33

Don Ross

Backstage Pass ·

2024/08/06

DON ROSS During fingerstyle guitar legend Don Ross’ spring, 2024 tour, I had the incredible opportunity to have long conversation with Don about his latest album, 2023’s “Water”, a stunning collection of tracks which includes “Seabright” and “Three Views of a Secret” (a rendition of the Jaco Pastorius classic). His 17th solo release—not counting numerous collaborations with other artists— “Water” was inspired by the aquatic vistas that surround Ross’ home in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

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37:53

GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie)

Backstage Pass ·

2024/07/16

GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) - Always EverythingA new album from Graven is always an eagerly anticipated event. Always Everything released June 30,2024, is a set of songs that look all the ups and downs, the highs and lows that every life must pass through, captured in a way that only songwriter Graven is capable of. GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie) is an independent folk-rock singer-songwriter from Ottawa, Canada. An innovative Nepean-born songmaker with a key focus on cultivating joy and wonder in Canadian

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34:01

BRIAR SUMMERS

Backstage Pass ·

2024/06/28

Her new album, ‘RESONANCE’, is out now! Full of exciting new songs and sounds, Briar is clearly destined for national renown with her brand of infectious pop-rock. Nothing is stopping Briar’s ascendence into pop stardom! Briar Summers is a singer-songwriter from Muskoka, and now based in Toronto. Produced and mixed by Wayne Cochrane, mastered by Chris Crerar, at Metalworks Studios, Mississauga ON, it features the incredible talents of Ben Riley (drums), Drew Jurecka (viola, violin), Jack Gaughan

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38:08

ADRIAN GLYNN

Backstage Pass ·

2024/06/21

Adrian's fifth solo album released, February 27, 2024, ‘You’re Just A Place That I Know’, tracks the story of his Ukrainian grandparents’ flight from their homeland in the 1940s, settling to begin life anew in Montreal. Situated somewhere in Glynn’s usual wheelhouse of dark indie folk, the album has tinges of traditional Ukrainian folk music, featuring instruments like the bandura and the lira (or “hurdy-gurdy”), as well as strings, a full band and a young men’s choir.Adrian Glynn McMorran is a

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56:08

Clever Hopes

Backstage Pass ·

2024/06/14

Nothing ever really, truly ends. Even with our sights set on the future, once a significant event—a love lost, a love found, the birth of a child, the death of a friend—passes, we're bound to our memory's eternal return. On New Kind of Familiar, his second album under the Clever Hopes moniker, Andrew Shaver explores the texture of transition with lush folk-rock and poetic lyricism, from a liminal vantage point that offers both views of where he's come from and the places he might be headed.Between

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81 results

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