Mia Kelly, Thinking Outside the Box

 The first thing you'll notice about Mia Kelly's debut EP, “Cardboard Box”, is the sheer strength of Kelly's voice. It is a living, palpable force of nature. And the oxymoron of finding someone as young as Kelly possessing such a powerful voice, but somehow also filled with age beyond her

Brooklyn Doran Finds A New Home

 Photos by Cassandra Rudolph Whether with others or on her own, Kenora's Brooklyn Doran has always made her music stand out. The songwriter's unique style has evolved from personal to a looser storytelling style, mirroring her integration into the Toronto scene.   We talked with Doran ahead of her set at

BEST OF OTTAWA: Live Music Venues

 With 20-years writing about Ottawa life we think we have a pretty good idea of the best of what this city has to offer. In this new weekly summer series we’ll share it with you. From our top picks of hotels, live music venues, local brews, bands and more, check,

Kaia Kater: An old soul adds a contemporary twist to traditional banjo blues

 “These clothes you gave me don't fit right The belt is loose and the noose is tight I'm drunk out looking for a fight I'm soft and heavy as the night” Photos courtesy of Tamara Kater How do you define diversity? Canada, as a country, likes to brand itself as

Passion, Ghosts and the Roots of Royal Wood

 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. -Proverbs 29:18 “To be honest, I can't remember a time where music wasn't my driving passion. Nor can I recall a moment in years gone by, where music didn't surround me at every turn,” said

Fiery Folk: Union Duke Lights Up the Blacksheep Inn

 Matt Warry-Smith, a member of the Toronto band, Union Duke, has a tattoo on his leg of the words “Keep Music Evil” that’s visible below the cut off point of his Bermuda shorts. The audacity of the phrase, coined by Anton Newcombe, epitomizes the band’s fresh and furious take on

One Year (A)LIVE on Elgin!

 ABOVE: Father son team of Jon and Lawrence Evenchick celebrate year one at LIVE! on Elgin. (Photos by Andre Gagne) He’s been a booking agent, a promoter, a manger and a band member. For a guy who’s been involved with the local music scene for nearly 10 years, it only

Amanda Rheaume’s Holding Patterns

 Photos by Jen Squires, supplied by NAC. One woman, one venue, both of them in a period of transition and ready for change. For Métis singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume, it was a few steps back in order to move forward through some pain and sad realities on a rocky road to find