Sue Foley Receives 2025 JUNO Award Nomination for Blues Album of the Year

Topping off an amazing year since the Stony Plain release of her ONE GUITAR WOMAN album, Sue Foley is honored with a JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year, her 6^th nomination with 1 win for 2001’s LOVE COMIN’ DOWN. In a year that has seen her fourth consecutive Blues Music Award for Female Blues Artist, three Blues Blast Music Awards and a GRAMMY Award nomination, this distinction is particularly meaningful for Sue, who enthuses: 

“I’m beyond thrilled that ONE GUITAR WOMAN has been honored with a Juno Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year. This project has been a true labor of love, and seeing it resonate with so many people since its release has been amazing.

 

After an unforgettable experience at the Grammys this year — a milestone in my career – I’m especially moved to receive this recognition in my home country of Canada. There’s something truly special about standing alongside my fellow Canadian artists and representing our incredible music scene on the world stage.”

 

ONE GUITAR WOMAN has been celebrated by ecstatic press, radio and fans alike, gracing magazine covers, topping radio charts, and selling out shows and tours across the US, Canada and beyond. In this moving solo acoustic tribute to the female pioneers of guitar (Elizabeth Cotten, Memphis Minnie, Maybelle Carter, Lydia Mendoza, Elvie Thomas and Geeshie Wiley, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ida Presti, and Charo), Sue not only shows her total mastery of their styles and techniques, she seems to summon the spirits of her long gone teachers, letting them speak through her voice and guitar.

 

The 54th Annual JUNO Awards took place March 30, 2025 in Rogers Arena, Vancouver, Canada.

Montreal Folk Singer Brian Campbell Ignites a Blues Rock Protest Anthem with "Planet on Fire"

With the climate crisis reaching a crucial crossroads, Montreal-based folk singer Brian Campbell has penned a passionate call to do whatever one can to save the planet. From devastating fires internationally to Earth's unnerving rise in temperature, Campbell's latest single "Planet on Fire" is a proverbial eye-opening anthem on what needs to be done from big business on down the line. Yet the natural feeling of the terrific single is a bit outside the folk musician's wheelhouse. 

"It’s quite clear that 'Planet on Fire,' a blues rock protest song, is an outlier: most of what I do is acoustic folk," Campbell says of the single. "Extreme circumstances bring on extreme measures, one could say. As a protest song, I also admit that the song feels more partisan than I am. Its broad-stroke distinctions of rich and poor, it’s pointing at “the enemy” in their corner offices who 'refuse to see,' may lack nuance, but unfortunately far too many corner office denizens really do live up to the stereotype, and far too many of the rich and powerful really 'don’t give a damn.'"

 

Campbell says "Planet on Fire" originally started as a simple riff back in 2018, but nothing came to him immediately. At that time, cataclysmic fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, were fresh memories as fires in Greece and California were out of control.

 

The following year, fires in Australia and Brazil raged, leaving scorched swaths of land in their wake. News of ice caps melting also made headlines. In short, it was a stark reminder of the climate crisis.

 

The emergence of Swedish then-teenager Greta Thunberg on the environmental scene struck a chord with the musician, particularly her damning speech at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit towards world leaders with their heads in the sand. Campbell later attended a Climate Strike march in Montreal, where Thunberg spoke. Inspired by the event, Campbell the next day found the lyrics for “Planet on Fire” pouring out of him. He recorded the song in 2019 at Montreal's Studio Loco and released a video for it.

 

Fast forward to 2025. Campbell, witnessing the fires that wiped out portions of Los Angeles, felt it was time to release the song on his upcoming album Let's Talk. "Not a day goes by, it seems, when there isn't another alarming headline," Campbell says.

 

"Planet on Fire," is a stark, sobering account of what has transpired with global warming. Recalling the works of Fred Eaglesmith, and the iconic Bruce Cockburn, Campbell is accompanied by Chard Chénier on harmonica, giving the song a bluesy feel. Campbell's arranger and collaborator Martin Bennett provides some fine lead guitar playing to flesh out the already weighty, beefy single. Bennett, who also engineered "Planet on Fire," plays piano, a sampled bass and percussion, while Campbell sings and plays acoustic and electric guitar.

 

"Planet on Fire" is from the upcoming studio album Let's Talk, slated for release in late April. Campbell described the album as an effort that "references communication and miscommunication in love, politics, and war." The single and album follow two full-length albums and two EPs Campbell's released over his career.

 

A published poet with several collections, Campbell's musical journey began in Antigua, Guatemala. Taking a Spanish immersion course there, Campbell learned fingerstyle picking from a fellow student. Influenced by musicians like Dave Van Ronk and John Renbourn as well as Latin American singer-songwriters like Victor Jara and Violeta Parra, Campbell moved to Montreal in 1990 and composed over two dozen original songs in one summer. He released The Imaginary Album in 1996 and The Courtier's Manuscript in 2002, the latter featuring "To My Whimsical Love" which was lauded by the International Unisong Competition.

 

Campbell has routinely performed at Montreal's Mariposa Café and in several folk venues around Quebec including Acoustic Village and the NDG (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce)  and Hudson Porchfests. He has also performed on various campus and community radio programs. Additional EPs include On This Shore and 2024's A Crystal Rim. Meanwhile, Campbell, featured by Tinnitist and Record World International, released his previous full-length album, By The River's Blue, in 2022.

 

Campbell will celebrate the release of Let's Talk with an album launch party at Montreal's Mariposa Cafe on April 26. But for now, fans will be delighted to hear "Planet on Fire," a song that is incredibly easy on the ears despite its message being hefty and heart-wrenching.

 

 

John Lodge, is the legendary bass guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2018 inductees, The Moody Blues Songwriter of such mega Moody Blues hits from “Ride My See-Saw,” to “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange” and many more. Lodge has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums, as well as releasing his five solo albums ‘Natural Avenue’, ’10,000 Light Years Ago’, ‘B Yond’. ‘Days of Future Passed – My Sojourn’, and new EP, ‘Love Conquers All’. Lodge has been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet,” and has been the recipient of many awards, including ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers), an Ivor Novello Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Prog Magazine, to name just a few.

‘Love Will Conquer All’ was written by John during his recent health challenges, suffering, as he put it, a ‘Christmas present he didn’t want’, a stroke. While he dealt with this personal adversity, and the immense challenge of the work involved to recover, he felt his creativity rising to create this heart-warming Christmas song. ‘Love Will Conquer All’ is a song of love, renewal and healing, and John wanted to share it with everyone in the sincere hope that his journey might just help inspire others.

The song was written by John, and features John on vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar and acoustic guitar. Jon Davison, the singer of the progressive rock band YES, and John’s son-in-law, joins him on background vocals, provided the drums and rhythms, and also co-produced the track with John. Lead guitar is provided by Ray Nesbit, John’s Front of House Sound on tour, and also an incredible musician too. Finally, John asked his wife to join him on backing vocals, as at the heart of this song is his relationship with Kirsten, and their 56 year marriage… Love Will Conquer All.

“We all have our challenges in life, mine happened last Christmas… but like a phoenix this song appeared and helped me work through some of those difficult days. As I look forward to Christmas this year, I know it was love that got me through, and my Christmas wish for everyone is that they are surrounded with love (and great music) this year.”

Calgary Blues/Folk Singer Ollee Owens Heats Up with Sizzling New Video for “Shivers and Butterflies”

 

Reminiscing about the past can be a blast, particularly if the one you were with back then is still the same partner you're looking back with now. For Calgary-based blues and Americana singer Ollee Owens, that reflection is captured perfectly in her fantastic new music video for "Shivers and Butterflies."

 

The song, from her 2024 chart-topping album Nowhere To Hide, was inspired by Owens and her "guy" for the past 25 years discussing the early days of their relationship. From reflecting on the nerves or jitters both had before their first date to the "silly things we did to impress each other back then."

 

The video, directed by Travis Nesbitt (who's directed videos for Royal Tusk, Brett Kissel, and Dallas Smith, among others), was culled from footage of Owens and her other half making the most of a summer day in and around Victoria, British Columbia. Nesbitt, who previously worked with Owens on a music video for "Some Days" and a short film for "O Holy Night," records Owens initially singing portions of "Shivers and Butterflies" in a Silver Streak camper. From there, the couple is captured sauntering around Victoria's Fisherman's Wharf, taking in the sights and eats. After riding on a bicycle built for two and visiting a petting zoo, the duo ends the fun-filled day cuddled up in front of a cozy fire on the shoreline.

 

"Our goal was to capture a lighthearted, fun day out together by the ocean," Owens says of the "Shivers and Butterflies" video. "I hope it brings a smile to your face as you watch -- it sure does to mine! After all these years -- and the wild ride it's been -- these same feelings still flit and flutter to the surface from time to time...and this song holds relevance today in middle age as it did when we were young."

 

"Shivers and Butterflies," co-written by Owens and Kornelius Colyn, was recorded at Nashville's Sweetbriar Studio and produced by Bobby Blazier (who plays drums on the track). Aside from Owens on lead vocals, the song features guitarist Chris Rodriguez, bassist Tommy Sims, keyboardist De Marco Johnson, and backing vocalists Gene Miller and Joey Richey.

 

The video for "Shivers and Butterflies" is the latest highlight in what has been a mammoth and momentous few months for Owens and Nowhere To Hide. The album has spent 13 consecutive weeks in the Roots Music Report Canadian Chart's Top 10, including three weeks topping the chart. Nowhere To Hide also has cracked the Top 10 on RMR's Top 50 Blues Album Chart (#8) and Top 50 Soul Blues Album Chart (#2).

 

Raised in the small farming community of New Bothwell, Manitoba, Owens started writing songs when she was eight and was playing guitar four years later. Inspired by a myriad of influences, including Elvis, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Mahalia Jackson, among others, Owens put her musical career on hold and took a hiatus to raise her three daughters, one of whom has a cognitive disability. She returned to music a decade ago, releasing Cannot Be Unheard in 2022.

 

Owens' music has been heard internationally on radio stations in Brazil, Australia, and Europe. And she's shared billing with Dawn Tyler Watson and Matt Andersen at the Roots Blues and BBQ Festival in Drumheller, Alberta. Recently, Owens has received critical acclaim in outlets such as British publication Blues Matters, Blues Music Magazine, and Americana Highways, which described Nowhere To Hide as "one of the strongest surprises of 2024." In January 2025, Owens performed at the iconic B.B. King's Blues Club in Memphis.

 

Now with an honest and engaging music video for "Shivers and Butterflies," Ollee Owens is keeping the home fires burning while continuing to burn up the charts.

Gerry Jack Macks Brews Up Genre-Defying Boogie with Double-A Side Singles “Two Melissas” and “Too Many Times Down That Road”

Kamloops, British Columbia-based genre-defying musician Gerry Jack Macks is offering up a glorious one-two combo with the release of his Double-A side singles "Two Melissas" and "Too Many Times Down That Road," a tandem brimming with bevies of boogie from start to finish. Both singles also feature Macks collaborating with talented young drummer Sara Varro and two-time Juno Award winner Al Lerman. And both songs started over a cup of coffee!
 
Macks says "Two Melissas" was inspired after visiting Kamloops' Red Beard Cafe for his usual coffee break in September 2020 after his regular go-to spot had pandemic-related capacity restrictions. A server, Melissa, waited on him, and they started talking about music. Originally thinking of writing a song inspired by his "landlady," Melissa said "no one has written a song with my name." Macks said he would before Melissa added there was another staffer also named Melissa. Hence, "Two Melissas."
 
The artist says the melody and chorus almost came instantly to him while he drank his coffee. By the time Melissa checked to see how he was making out with his beverage, he started singing it. Some time later, the musician honed the lyrics for the entire song. "Although originally meant to be about the Red Beard in Kamloops, the style of the song required more of a dance club atmosphere," he says. "Not wanting to be misleading about the Red Beard, I reluctantly decided to change the location in the song to one with a dance floor and live band." Macks then decided to use "Foxie's," a bar from long ago he remembered situated far away from Kamloops.
 
"Two Melissas" oozes plenty of boogie while bringing to mind the style of Carl Perkins and Ronnie Hawkins for its feel-good, old-school Sun-era energy. Macks sings, plays rhythm guitar and electric bass while Lerman offers up a great amount of rollicking harmonica. And Varro keeps it all in check with solid drumming throughout. Macks wrote, recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered the song which was recorded at Kamloops' Dusty Cottonwood Studios.
 
Equally stellar is "Too Many Times Down That Road" which showcases Mack's unique musical style that defies genre boundaries. The song was born out of a chance encounter over a cup of coffee with his friend Al Lomas. The longtime trucker had just navigated a treacherous backroad filled with potholes and ruts. Inspired by Lomas’ description of the rough journey, Macks penned the song's lyrics right there in the diner, capturing the essence of a challenging path with a catchy tune.
 
"Too Many Times Down That Road" is set to be a high-energy, genre-blending track that continues Macks' tradition of pushing musical boundaries. The single is part of Macks' ongoing effort to create music that defies categorization and appeals to a wide range of music enthusiasts.
 
Macks is not your typical artist. A multi-instrumentalist, he plays most of the instruments on his recordings, and his music effortlessly crosses the lines of various genres, including outlaw country, country rock, and southern rock. His work draws inspiration from rhythm and blues, pop, and Canadiana.
 
"I never really have any idea exactly what genre or genres a recording is when I release it," Macks confesses. "The distributors force artists to choose from a strict list of genres before the artist can release recordings, and I always struggle with great angst when forced to pigeon-hole my music."
 
Macks has a long and storied musical career that began in the early 1970s. With the support of legendary Edmonton musician Tommy Banks' wife, Ida Banks, Macks quickly rose from a beginner on the music circuits of Alberta, BC, NWT, and the Yukon to a full-time music career.
 
Over the years, his music has evolved to encompass Jazz, Blues, Easy Listening, Country, Folk, Pop, Rock, and more. Macks' upcoming projects include the highly anticipated Sleepy Time Sessions album, inspired by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Peggy Lee, and Nat King Cole, as well as several other roots-based albums.
 
"I have always had deep appreciation for the people who follow my music, and I take every opportunity to remain in personal contact with them," says Macks.
 
Now with this Double-A Side release, Gerry Jack Macks is bringing his bottomless cup of boogie to the masses with "Two Melissas" and "Too Many Times Down That Road."