Canada

Beatles, Bob Dylan, Canada, Elton John, Emmylou Harris, Folk, Gordon Lightfoot, Guitar, JUNO, k.d. lang, Piano, Pop, Ron Sexsmith, Songwriter, Toronto, Voice February 24, 2024

‘I’m proud of the contribution that I’ve made to the Canadian songbook’: Ron Sexsmith on his Massey Hall retrospective

‘Sexsmith at Sixty’: The singer-songwriter has never had a top 40 hit, but he’s earned the admiration of some of the biggest names in the music business. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star Even Ron Sexsmith would admit he’s a bit of an anomaly. On Thursday, as he performs his career retrospective “Sexsmith at Sixty” while headlining Massey Hall for the sixth time, it’s worth noting that the mellifluously…

Americana, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Canada, Composer, Country, Guitar, Hamilton, Joni Mitchell, k.d. lang, Leonard Cohen, Producer, Songwriter, Toronto, United States February 4, 2024

Toronto’s legendary Matador club is gone, but Lori Yates hasn’t forgotten

The veteran singer writes about the place that played host to Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen on her new album Matador. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Who remembers the Matador? Lori Yates does — and she’s put it to song. The legendary after-hours country music watering hole at 466 Dovercourt Rd. is long gone — only the marquee remains — but Toronto singer-songwriter Yates has rekindled some…

Canada, Composer, Indigenous (Native), JUNO, Music Industry (Trade), Record Labels, Songwriter, Toronto December 13, 2023

Indigenous music is more visible in Canada — Digging Roots is part of the groundswell

The duo of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache are sharing their experiences and stirring things up through their music. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Canadian contemporary Indigenous music is enjoying an all-time high in visibility and much of that has to do with the band Digging Roots. Formed in 2004 and led by the “life partner” duo of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache, the group is…

Bass, Canada, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Drums, Guitar, JUNO, Rock, Songwriter, The Tragically Hip, Toronto, Voice November 14, 2023

‘Our biggest accomplishment is that we’re good friends’: Looking back to look forward with the Tragically Hip

Paul Langlois, Gord Sinclair and the remaining members of the Hip get together to expand the catalogue, get creative By Nick Krewen Special to the Star In the six years since the passing of their lead singer Gord Downie, the members of The Tragically Hip, arguably Canada’s most popular band, have had a lot of time to reflect on their greatest accomplishment. Was it selling 10 million albums in Canada over…

Americana, Arranger, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Bob Dylan, Canada, Canadian Country Music Hall Of Fame, Canadian Music Hall Of Fame, Composer, Country, Folk, Guitar, JUNO, Music Industry (Trade), Neil Young, New York, Producer, Record Labels, Robbie Robertson, Songwriter, Television, The Band, Toronto, Video, Voice, Willie Nelson November 4, 2023

‘I just thought it was time’ — Sylvia Tyson on ‘At the End of the Day,’ her (maybe) final album

If anyone thinks Sylvia Tyson at 83 is any less authoritative an artist, hearing “At the End of the Day” will quickly quell that notion. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Her singing voice is a little more weathered, but no less formidable; her lyrics are incisively sharp. If anyone thinks the legendary Sylvia Tyson at 83 is any less authoritative an artist, hearing her newly released 12-song album At…