MUSIC Episodes

British 80s SynthPop superstar Howard Jones talks about immigrating to Canada not once but TWICE, his time at Ottawa’s late great Confederation High School, watching The Who smash their instruments during a show at Lansdowne Stadium, refurbishing his original Roland Jupiter-8 keyboard to create new music, performance memories with OMD Barenaked Ladies China Crisis Stevie Wonder Herbie Hancock Thomas Dolby Ringo Starr Sheila E , his 1985 Live Aid piano solo in front of 100,000 fans at Wembley Sta...

Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet co-founder and Author Don Pyle talks about his new memoir, their iconic instrumental ‘Having an Average Weekend’ serving as theme song for the Kids in the Hall, not being a favourite of Lorne Michaels, beating out David Foster and Liona Boyd for a Juno award, being at The Ramones first Toronto gig in 1976, catching reunion shows of Iggy Pop/The Stooges and the Sex Pistols, getting Mike Myers and Paul Myers mixed up at an REM show, hanging out with The B-52s Fred S...

10,000 Maniacs co-founder Dennis Drew talks about the band’s 45th anniversary, their roots just across the border from Toronto in Jamestown NY, coming up on a parallel path with Michael Stipe and REM, the impact of former lead singer Natalie Merchant, their landmark 1993 performance on MTV Unplugged, opening for the Grateful Dead in front of 80,000 at the Buffalo Bills old home at Rich Stadium, their appearances on Saturday Night Live The Tonight Show Late Night with David Letterman The Arsenio ...

Former Blue Rodeo/Wilco’s Bob Egan talks about forsaking corporate riches to jump on Wilco’s tour bus at age 38 (on the advice of Johnny Cash and at the request of Jeff Tweedy), touring Norway with Bazil Donovan before joining Blue Rodeo for 17 years, bonding with Gord Downie while playing on the Tragically Hip’s Juno-award winning Bobcaygeon, his upclose and personal interactions with Keith Richards Sheryl Crow Gary Oldman William Shatner, playing on Austin City Limits with both Billy Bragg and...

In case you missed it, from November 2024: Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers (Relic was a gentleman) and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin Quincy Jones PM Paul Martin Karen Kain Kenny Rogers Glen Campbell Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t c...

2026 JUNO-winning multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter Steve Marriner talks about the 2026 Juno Awards, meeting Bruce Springsteen and the T-1000 Robert Patrick, touring with Colin James, playing with Buddy Guy Sass Jordan Gordie Johnson Randy Bachman Blue Rodeo, trying to keep up with Ron MacLean, the mad skills of his studio partner Jimmy Bowskill, hanging out with Daniel Alfredsson Brad Marsh William Shatner Ron Sexsmith Feist Sam Roberts, and his respect for Phil Collins’ bluesy-vocals aft...

Singer/Songwriter Marc Jordan talks about his ongoing work with Sir Rod Stewart, playing alongside Ian Thomas Murray McLauchlan and Cindy Church in Lunch at Allen’s, writing his breakout song Marina Del Ray after a Telly Savales sighting, his status within the world of Yacht Rock, keeping the music in-house with his wife Amy Skye and their two singer/songwriter children, his work with Alan Frew David Hasselhoff Don Johnson Olivia-Newton John, the epiphany he achieved while stoned in a cow field ...

Lowest of the Low’s Lawrence Nichols talks about celebrating the 35th anniversary of their seminal debut album Shakespeare My Butt, his pivot from being ‘band-adjacent’ to becoming a full-fledged card-carrying group member, balancing the needs of fans that want to hear the ‘old stuff’ with their continued generation of fresh material, the band’s historical connections to The Barenaked Ladies and radio station CFNY, getting inducted into the Canadian Indie Music Hall of Fame, why it was surreal f...

Rocker Broadcaster Hockey Host Tara Slone talks about covering the San Jose Sharks (the future is Teal!), her not one but two shows on SiriusXM, her rockstar lifestyle with the Juno-nominated band Joydrop, competing in front of millions of CBS viewers on Rockstar INXS, her 8 years of Rogers Hometown Hockey with Ron MacLean, her relationships with Michael Landsberg Christine Simpson Scott Moore George Stroumboulopoulos, and the surreal nature of hanging out with Jane Goodall Ken Dryden and Lanny ...

Edmonton transplant/singer/songwriter Moe Berg talks about the ongoing concern that is The Pursuit of Happiness (TPOH), his supergroup Trans-Canada Highwaymen (TCH), meeting Jeff Bezos, the rocketship that was I’m An Adult Now, touring with Duran Duran/Eurythmics/The Replacements, meeting his idols Todd Rundgren/Alice Cooper/Jeff Lynne, the nemesis that was The Parachute Club, his love for the Chicago Blackhawks, throwing out the first pitch at a Toronto Blue Jays game, his multiple appearances ...

Martha and the Muffins co-founder Mark Gane talks about his debut solo album called Garden Music, his creative and life partner Martha Johnson, their song Echo Beach putting him into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, being signed to Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin UK record label, sharing a Juno Award with Anne Murray, having three albums produced by Daniel (then Danny) Lanois, touring with the Eurythmics, why they changed their name to M + M (and subsequently back to Martha and the Muffins), ...

Keyboardist Rob Preuss talks about joining Spoons at age 15 in grade 11, carrying a permission slip from his Mom to get into club gigs, recording with Danny Lanois, enjoying Whoppers at Burger King with Boy George, being approached backstage by Sting/Steve Winwood/Nile Rodgers, driving his parents’ station wagon to audition for Honeymoon Suite and 3 days later opening for Journey in Kansas City, recording the theme for Lethal Weapon in LA, losing a Juno with Spoons but winning a Juno with Honeym...

Canada’s Metal Queen Lee Aaron talks about her childhood interactions with Burton Cummings, the genesis of her Lee Aaron pseudonym (Aaron Spelling?!?!), getting assistance on her first album from Triumph’s Rik Emmett, playing the Gasworks and Canada’s Wonderland, a racquetball injury leading to super producer Bob Ezrin parachuting in to finish her album, touring with Bon Jovi, playing with Heart and meeting her idols Ann & Nancy Wilson, her enshrinement on Canada’s Walk of Fame, and her ongoing ...

Spoons Bassist/Co-Founder Sandy Horne talks about the band’s Burlington roots, touring with Culture Club/The Police/Survivor/Human League, playing the Police Picnic at Exhibition Stadium, getting a backstage visit from Sting & Nile Rodgers at the Palladium in NYC, shooting the Romantic Traffic video on the TTC's subway system, their promo deal with Thrifty’s/Pepsi/Maxell, her Mick Jagger doorway interaction, and sharing bandmate Gord Deppe with Flock of Seagulls (‘Flock of Spoons’ anyone?).


S...

Original E Street Band multi-instrumentalist David Sancious talks about meeting Bruce Springsteen as a teenager, recording and touring behind the Boss’ first three albums, being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, touring with Peter Gabriel and Sting (sometimes at the same time), his thoughts on Little Steven Van Zandt’s acting abilities in The Sopranos, his current collaboration with Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun, and the truth behind how Bruce’s E Street Band got its name!


Da...

Singer/Songwriter Ian Thomas talks about his biggest hit Painted Ladies (and why he no longer possesses his 1974 Juno as Most Promising Male Vocalist), his continued close ties to both his big brother Dave and his wider SCTV/Second City family, his cameo on Bob & Doug McKenzie’s Great White North, touring with April Wine/Rush/Valdy/Beach Boys/Billy Joel, why everyone was told to ‘check their egos at the door’ while recording 1985’s Tears Are Not Enough, his interactions with Martin Short/John Ca...

Entertainment Industry Titan Stephen Stohn talks about developing the Degrassi franchise with his wife Linda Schuyler, his interactions with Aubrey [Drake] Graham/Kevin Smith/Billy Ray Cyrus, the transformative experience of seeing The Beatles at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1964, his entertainment law work for some of Canadian music’s biggest names, why he keeps gold records on his wall from KD Lang/Cowboy Junkies/ Alannah Myles, his longtime friendship/collaborations with OG Much Music VJ Christopher...

Music Promoter and Merch Impresario Norman Perry talks about cutting his teeth at Pink Floyd’s 1971 Montreal show, unveiling Brian Johnson with AC/DC on their 1980 Canadian tour, why Disney & the NFL are better marketers than Gene/Paul/KISS, continuing to honour the legacies of David Bowie/Tom Petty/Miles Davis, his surprisingly successful collaboration between AC/DC and Gucci, why his goal is to 'feed you what you want, when you want it,' and how he has succeeded for over 50 years with the simp...

Canada’s Folk Singer Valdy talks about touring the world for over 50 years, criss-crossing our country coast-to-coast-to-coast at a clip of about 200 shows per year, his guest spots on The Beachcombers [Relic was a gentleman] and Front Page Challenge, his interactions with Steve Martin/Quincy Jones/PM Paul Martin/Karen Kain/Kenny Rogers/Glen Campbell/Murray McLauchlan, why he prefers using a chainsaw for his woodworking projects, and why you shouldn’t confuse him for Vi-Valdy!


Valdy will be a...

Singer/Songwriter/Broadcaster Talia Schlanger talks about creating her debut album Grace For The Going, hosting NPR’s World Cafe and CBC’s Q, her musical theatre experiences with Queen’s We Will Rock You/Green Day’s American Idiot/ABBA’s Mamma Mia, her productive educational experiences at Ryerson/TMU, her 3 years living and working in Philadelphia, meeting Willie Nelson/Brian May/Roger Taylor/Macy Gray/KD Lang, why Missy Misdemeanor Elliott is on her interviewing bucket list, and why Alec Baldw...

Author David McPherson talks The Horseshoe Tavern, Massey Hall, 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts, working on Toronto Raptors game-day programs during the Vince Carter days, combining his passion for golf with his passion for writing, and he shares some fun anecdotes involving Maestro-Fresh Wes, Willie Nelson/Farm-Aid, Snow, Blue Rodeo, Moe Berg, Gowan, Led Zeppelin, Lowest of the Low, the Rolling Stones and the Barenaked Ladies!


For everything David McPherson, please visit his substack at...

When In Rome’s Clive Farrington talks about the unbelievable success of The Promise, why it’s not a bad thing to be a ‘one hit wonder,’ hanging out with his Napoleon Dynamite friends Jared Hess/Jon Heder/Efren Ramirez, his admiration for the visual presentations of Depeche Mode/Pet Shop Boys/Kraftwerk, his shock at seeing Daryl Hannah announce their MTV Moonman win on TV from Manchester, flying to Dubai to launch Windows 10 with Bill Gates, and why he’s excited to have former Toronto Maple Leafs...

Art of Time Ensemble's Artistic Director Andrew Burashko talks about his debut as a concert pianist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age 17 [under the baton of John Williams!], his 80 projects and recordings over 25 years with the group, working with singers Steven Page/Craig Northey/Chris Murphy/Andy Maize, collaborating with Margaret Atwood/Branford Marsalis/Pinchas Zukerman/Sir Andrew Davis/Jukka-Pekka Saraste, his 'pinch-me' moments meeting Neil Young/Catherine O’Hara/Michael Ondaatje,...

Canadian crooner Matt Dusk returns to talk about dining [and chit-chatting] with Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip, cutting a duet track with a pre-President Donald Trump, recording a song written by Bono & The Edge and meant for Frank Sinatra, lessons learned from his professional [and personal] relationship with the late great Tony Bennett, nervously approaching Harry Connick Jr at a meet & greet, bonding with Jason Priestley over Chet Baker, the mutual respect between him and Michael Buble, and...