Warrior Heart – Q&A with Cody Coyote

 Feature image by James Park Photography “Mamawi” is an Ojibwe word that means “all together”. It’s also the name of the new album by Indigenous artist Cody Coyote, a release he hopes inspires love, understanding and some reconciliation for Canada’s Indigenous issues. There’s a reason why CBC called him a

Matty “Graven” McKechnie Reflects on Career and New Album Jaybird

 “I can’t believe they tried to play The Hip off stage with their own music,” says Matty McKechnie the day after the Juno Awards. Though he joins the chorus of a disbelieving nation, he’s speaking as a true musician still climbing the mountain path carved out by people like Gord and

JUNO Spotlight: Behind the Scenes with The Arkells

 Nominated For: Group of the Year Rock Album of the Year (Morning Report) Photos by Owen Maxwell With the spectacle that the Juno Awards bring to the national stage every year, it can't possibly happen overnight. There's endless hours that go into making the show the wonder that it is,

MusiCounts donates $10,000 of Musical Instruments to Ottawa School

 Photos by Andre Gagne Every musician’s journey somewhere. MusiCounts, the charitable arm of the JUNO Awards, makes it that much easier to find the starting point. This Thursday, the MusiCounts Band Aid Program donated $10,000 worth of new musical instruments to St. Elizabeth Elementary’s music program. The ceremony included special

JUNO Spotlight: Weaves

 Nominated for: Alternative Album Of The Year (Weaves) With a string of smaller releases, Weaves was already building a lot of hype around themselves by the time their self-titled debut came out. Their sound takes a pop-structure to such an addictive and abrasive place and is so distinctly their own. It's a

JUNO Spotlight: A Tribe Called Red

 Nominated For: Video of the Year (R.E.D.) Jack Richardson Producer of the Year (Sila, R.E.D.) Electronic Album of the Year (We Are the Halluci Nation) When art meets activism something amazing is bound to happen. When that includes an exultant dance party set to pulse pounding dubstep, house, and hip

JUNO Spotlight: Sam Roberts

 Nominated for: Rock Album of the Year (Terraform) Sam Roberts has been rocking the (True North strong and) free world for fifteen years now. It all began with his debut EP, The Inhuman Condition, which received two JUNO nominations. Since then, he’s released a dozen charting singles, including “Where Have

CONTEST: We we want to give you a slice of the JUNOs with the JUNO Songwriters’ Circle

 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee and 12-time JUNO Award-winner Bruce Cockburn will host and perform at the 2017 JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, to be held in the National Arts Centre's Southam Hall on Sunday, April 2, 2017 from 12pm to 2pm EST and Ottawa Life wants to send you there. This event is considered the “jewel of JUNO

JUNO Spotlight: Bria Skonberg

 Nominated For: Vocal Jazz Album of the Year (Bria) When asked how she feels going into the JUNOs next week, Vocal Jazz Album of the Year nominee Bria Skonberg keeps it simple. “Happy,” she says. Her path there, however, hasn’t been as straightforward. Born in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Skonberg didn’t

Taste the JUNOs!

 Photos by Andre Gagne For those of you who think that the JUNO Awards are just about music… well, you’re mostly right. But not quite. Earlier this week, the JUNOs hosted a tasting party, privy to the official JUNO Gala on April 1st, which is to be hosted by Tom

JUNO Spotlight: Daniel Taylor

 Nominated For: Classical Album of the Year – Vocal or Choral Performance (Four Thousand Winter w/ The Trinity Choir) Daniel Taylor is one of the most recognizable names in classical music. Known for his pure and powerful voice, the countertenor has found acclaim on all corners of the globe. His

JUNO Spotlight: Heather Rankin

 Nominated for: 2017 | Adult Contemporary Album of the Year (A Fine Line)   What is it like growing up in one of Canada’s most beloved musical families? Well, if you’re Heather Rankin you sum things up nicely with the word “chaotic”. Born the eleventh child in an already musical

JUNO Spotlight: The Dirty Nil

 Nominated for: 2017 / Breakthrough Group Of The Year The Dirty Nil have been rocking Dundas, Ontario since their days back in high school as a band singer Luke Bentham described as "A place to blow off steam." Since pursuing the band seriously they've put plenty of 7" singles, EPs

JUNO Spotlight: Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class of 2017

 Winners of: 2017 | Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class   The legacy Allan Slaight has left on the Canadian music industry in his now 85 years is immeasurable. The once magician now media mogul has been called a rock and roll pioneer for his work on multiple platforms to promote the

JUNO Spotlight: Warren Dean Flandez

 Nominated for: 2017 | Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year (Eternally Grateful) In the first of our JUNO Awards spotlight pieces leading up to the big show on  April 2, we chat with eclectic Yellowknife born vocalist Warren Dean Flandez. Flandez may be rooted in R&B and Soul but he

A Familiar Bell Ringing

 Photo courtesy of stevebell.com. Steve Bell, the long-time Canadian musical sensation, is bringing his voice and his guitar to Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church on June 12. The singer-songwriter has long been considered a voice of hope and faith for his listeners worldwide, his Christian lyrics and pleasant melodies providing

Blue Rodeo – Canada’s Band

 Photo By Dustin Rabin Canada’s Band is the only way I can describe Blue Rodeo. Since 1987, Blue Rodeo has been a fan favourite on the Ottawa (and Canadian) music scene.  They are as symbolic and important to Canada as the beaver, the maple leaf, poutine, the toque, hockey and

Fiddle Feast for your Ears

 Natalie MacMaster needs no introduction. Over a recording career now spanning 25 years, this Order of Canada recipient has released 11 albums that have notched sales of over 200,000 copies. She has won two JUNO and eleven East Coast Music Awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Starting tonight, she

Sam Roberts is Coming to the TD Place

 The group behind ‘Brother Down’ is teaming up with the union who supports public servants like our health inspectors and librarians this November to put on an enormous, free concert at the TD Place. To be more specific, November 14 the Sam Roberts Band will take over the TD Place

Folk in the City: Celebrating Canadian Talent

 Sounds of CityFolk are echoing throughout Ottawa, with the much anticipated music festival kicking off next week. This year's line-up the most brag-worthy to date, and OLM has put together a quick list of Canadian performers you won’t want to miss! Motel Raphaël Clara Legault, Emily Skahan and Maya Malkin

Liz Manley and friends fundraise for youth mental health in Ottawa

 Photo courtesy of Photographics Photography.  Canada’s skating sweetheart, Elizabeth Manley and other Olympic Champions will gracefully glide around the ice rink at Ottawa’s TD Place as part of a two-day fundraiser on February 13 and 14, 2015. A portion of the money raised will go to the Do It For

Craig Cardiff: Harnessing the Power of Music

 For Craig Cardiff, playing live music is all about the connection. Creating that electric moment when the audience connects with him, each other and the tune is worth the ups-and-downs of the musician lifestyle. Cardiff, the Arnprior based, Juno-nominated, Canadian folk musician, is stopping by the Black Sheep Inn on

Harvest Noir 2014: Make Magic

 The countdown is on to wear your best dark frock for Harvest Noir and take part in the annual pop-up Ottawa event. Here is just a little video of what you can expect: Harvest Noir 2014: Make Magic I will be judging the fashion show and there will be lots

Ottawa Symphony Orchestra: 50 Years Young

 The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra is gearing up to start its 50th season on a high note. The OSO announced its milestone anniversary line-up at the final concert of its 2013-2014 season. The upcoming five concert series will showcase talents ranging from local composers to Juno award winners--sure to be music

Lawrence Martin’s “Train of Life” is on Track

 Juno award winner, Lawrence Martin’s (aka. Wapistan) latest album “Train of Life” is picking up speed. His fifth album is currently in the process of being mixed down and should hopefully be available by the end of this summer. The 13 tracks on this album are meant to tell the