Dunlevy: Mavis Staples kicks off 45th Montreal jazz fest with a whole lotta soul
It was a cool night for a hot start to the 45th Montreal International Jazz Festival as Chicago soul legend Mavis Staples showed tens of thousands of music fans how it's done in the opening night free outdoor blowout.
Temperatures hovered just under the 20-degree mark, which wasn't so bad, but coming off an oppressive early-summer heat wave, it felt almost like fall. That wasn't enough to stop the throngs from taking in the sights and sounds on the free stages early in the evening. Or to prevent everyone from gathering in front of the main TD stage just after sunset.
Staples made her entrance just after 9:30 p.m., bringing along a lifetime of soul singing that started with her siblings when she was just a little girl. Her dad was pals with Martin Luther King, Jr., leading the family band The Staple Singers (of which she is the last surviving member) to become closely associated with the civil rights movement.
'Montreal!' Staples shouted a few songs in, to enthusiastic cheers and an impromptu call and response. 'Yeah!' she called out. 'Yeah!' the audience called back.
'Oh my,' Staples continued. 'We're so happy to be with you, so happy to see all these smiling faces. Yes indeed. I tell you, we've been trying to get here; we finally made it. Well now, we bring you greetings from the Windy City — Chicago, Ill. We've come this evening to bring you some joy, some happiness, inspiration and some positive vibrations.'
She did all that and then some. It was two weeks before her 87th birthday and Staples was in fine form, and fine voice. Her trademark rasp hasn't lost any of its depth, and she let it rip on such songs as her 1996 Gospel number I'll Fly Away From Here, love jam I'm Just Another Soldier and an appropriately rugged rendition of Tom Waits's Chicago.
She sounded righteous in delivering her old band's 1984 cover of Talking Heads' 1983 hit Slippery People, bringing out the song's Gospel influences without omitting its new wave edge.
And she took us back to the '60s while performing the Staple Singers' downright funky 1967 version of Buffalo Springfield's 1966 peace anthem For What It's Worth. Far from mere nostalgia, Staples delivered her lines like she was belting them out for the first time — with passion and feeling.
She unleashed another heartfelt 'Yeah!' at song's end. 'Y'all feel alright? Do you feel alright? OK, I feel pretty good myself.'
Then came the Staple Singers' 1971 classic Respect Yourself, covered by Bruce Willis for a pop chart smash in 1986. Staples sang it with brooding purpose and Gospel-infused intensity.
She took it down a notch for Friendship, her touching 2023 collaboration with Norah Jones, in the final stretch.
As satisfying as her performance was, Staples left fans hanging by leaving the Staple Singers best-known song I'll Take You There off the set list. It's not like there wasn't time. The band wrapped up just shy of 10:40 p.m. The stage was booked 'till 11. It was a baffling finish to an otherwise memorable show.
Earlier on, Philadelphia R&B artist Bilal exhibited his jazz chops in a far-ranging, virtuosic set on the Rogers Stage. Colombia's Balthvs had warmed up the main stage crowd with a trippy batch of psychedelic instrumental grooves; and at the corner of Jeanne-Mance and Ste-Catherine Sts., their countrymen Kombilesa Mi fused hip-hop chants with frenetic, traditional percussion to intoxicating effect.
Meanwhile indoors, Mexico's Natalia Lafourcade, Montreal DJ Kid Koala, Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning North Carolina multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens, Pakistani-American vocalist Arooj Aftab and American jazz freaks Clown Core held court at various venues as the jazz fest got off to a rousing start.
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Winnipeg Free Press
18-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Subversive curation
'Spill the tea' and 'time is a flat circle' might seem like modern neologisms, but they have deep, long cultural roots as evidenced in a pair of new exhibitions opening today at the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq. Crying Over Spilt Tea, curated by Grace Braniff, assistant curator of art at WAG-Qaumajuq, was inspired by two idioms: 'spill the tea,' a phrase from Black drag culture that refers to the subversive sharing of gossip or the revealing of secrets — a.k.a. piping-hot tea, or 'T,' as in truth — and 'no use crying over spilled milk' which refers to the futility of getting upset over something that can't be changed or undone. A Matter of Time, curated by Nawang Tsomo Kinkar, TD curatorial fellow, explores the concept of spiral time, the idea that time, despite having the tidy grid of the modern calendar imposed on it, is non-linear and cyclical. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Curators Nawang Tsomo Kinkar (left) and Grace Braniff at a preview of the two new shows Crying Over Spilt Tea and a matter of time, both of which display works from Winnipeg Art Gallery's vast collection. Both exhibitions draw from the gallery's nearly 30,000-piece permanent collection. 'It is a lot to choose from,' Braniff acknowledges. 'My strategy is to try to narrow in on a very specific idea, and then do a survey of our collection and see what artworks fit in with that idea. And I think tea and gossip, they are very specific, but they're also universal experiences that everyone has a connection to.' When you walk into Crying Over Spilt Tea, you are immediately greeted by a massive wall of bone-china teaware, most of it from the United Kingdom. On the opposite wall is Afternoon Tea (The Gossips), a work by British painter Sir John Everett Millais. The painting shows three cherub-faced little girls (and a pet pug), leaning in close at a tea party, play-acting as grown-up women. But it also functions as a comment on how silly and non-essential gossip was (and is) treated by society — as in, a thing for little girls in bows — because God forbid women share their oral histories. 'Often feminized and racialized people have used gossip as a means to kind of confront authority or to share their own narratives and information outside of what the main conversation is all about,' Braniff says. 'This teaware, the pug — both imported into the United Kingdom from China — I don't think it's a coincidence that they're framed with these girls who are doing this 'frivolous' thing, like gossiping.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Curator Grace Braniff 's new exhibition, Crying Over Spilt Tea, at WAG-Qaumajuq draws from the gallery's huge permanent collection. In addition to the main themes of tea (and its cultural and colonial symbolism), gossip and truths, Braniff also wanted to explore the idea of virality. 'Because when we're talking about idioms, they take on this viral trajectory and through that virality, there's this disconnection, I feel, from their origins. And there, in its representations, we don't see that gesture to its places of origin or the places it was grown in,' Braniff says. She is referring to the now-viral phrase from Black drag culture that gives the exhibition its name and has been heavily co-opted online, but one could make the same argument about tea itself. Like the whisper networks of women before her using gossip to subvert the narrative, Braniff also uses subversion in her curation. On the flip side of the bone-china teaware display is Buffalo Bone China, a 1997 video/found-object installation by Hunkpapa Lakota filmmaker, photographer and performance artist Dana Claxton, whose centrepiece is a heap of smashed bone-china teaware on the floor. 'So, the things we see on the front wall we see back here, broken and crushed up. Dana Claxton was making a commentary on state-sanctioned extermination or eradication of buffalo as a means of control and oppression of Plains Indigenous Peoples,' Braniff says. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Curator Grace Braniff gives a tour of a vault at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. During that period in the 19th century, buffalo bones were shipped across the Atlantic to England, where they were made into bone china. Braniff says Claxton is teasing out the complicated history of that material, while also taking apart an item we might see as a simple teacup and exploring its full narrative. Crying Over Spilt Tea also includes numerous pieces of contemporary Inuit art, including Tarralik Duffy's 2023 work Red Rose, a repeating pop-art motif of Red Rose tea boxes, and Annie Pootoogook's circa 2001-02 coloured-pencil drawing The Tea Drinkers, which is also featured outside the gallery on a billboard at the corner of Sherbrook Street and Portage Avenue. For A Matter of Time, Kinkar leaned into the creative challenge of building a show out of a massive permanent collection. 'I think my approach has been a little bit more playful and about experimentation and creativity and seeing what is in the collection that hasn't been shown in a long time,' she says Circles and spirals figure prominently in the works on view, but not necessarily in the ways that are obvious; the room also makes use of curved inset walls, so the gallery space doesn't feel as angular. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Curatorial fellow Nawang Tsomo Kinkar says circles and spirals have surfaced across different time periods and cultures. The symbol of the spiral has surfaced across different time periods and cultures, Kinkar says. 'We can trace it back to the Neolithic era. It's also been found in rock carvings and Indigenous sites across the Americas. It's been utilized by artists in the later half of the 20th century, specifically in the United States who were involved in movements of abstract art and social art but they're also rooted in other global traditions of mark making,' she says. 'But one thing that I think remains constant, and one thing that the exhibition is trying to build upon, is that the spiral is steeped in deep symbolism.' There are a few entry points onto a matter of time — which is also by design — but if you come into the exhibition from Crying Over Spilt Tea, you'll be met by two juxtaposed works. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Look up and suspended from the ceiling is Waiting for the Shaman, a 2017 work by Inuvialuk artist Maureen Gruben constructed from polar bear paw bones she has found over the years on beaches. The bones are arranged in concentric circles and encased in clear resin, giving it the appearance that they are encased in sea ice. A space has been left open in the circle for the shaman. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Curator Grace Braniff speaks about the new exhibit, Crying Over Spilt Tea, at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. 'She's really drawing here from aspects of traditional gatherings in Inuit communities that revolve around teaching and drumming circles, this aspect of being connected to community and being connected to Inuit ways of being, specifically ancestral time,' Kinkar says. Across from Gruben's work is an 18th-century fresco by Johann Januarius Zick, depicting angels in a spiraling swirl of clouds, a space left open in the centre for the Holy Trinity. It's meant for a church ceiling, but Kinkar has it displayed on a podium as if on an easel. 'I really wanted to have that effect when you come into the space through that entrance, looking up at Maureen Gruben and then being drawn to this circular wall with the gold, and then looking down here and being pulled and drawn to this imagery.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS A vault housing some of the Winnipeg Art Gallery's collection Jen ZorattiColumnist Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen. Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Montreal Gazette
11-07-2025
- Montreal Gazette
Dunlevy: Esperanza Spalding wraps 45th Montreal jazz fest with a breathtaking bang
It was a perfect night for a perfect end to the 45th Montreal International Jazz Festival. And it wrapped up in style with one of the genre's preeminent talents, Grammy-winning American jazz bassist, singer and composer Esperanza Spalding. As programming director Maurin Auxéméry reminded the audience beforehand, Spalding had not performed at the festival in several years. A quick Google search traced her last performance in our city back to — could it be? — 2013. Putting her on the main stage on the final evening was a generous gift to fans and curiosity-seekers alike. 'It's pretty cool the jazz festival got her here for us to listen to, for free — it's amazing,' said Teo Spencer, 37, based in Montreal, but originally from Vermont. 'She's politically informed,' he said of Spalding. 'She understands the jazz canon and can subvert it when she wants to. She's playing an interesting game and playing it well.' With him was Avery Shoemaker, 29, originally from Minneapolis. The two had been sharing their appreciation of the jazz fest as a symbol of all that Canada has to offer in these turbulent times. 'We've been talking about public good, art being celebrated and beautiful things provided to people for free that you can just show up and enjoy,' Shoemaker said. Jan Lawrence had been showing and enjoying the offerings on the jazz festival's free stages all week. The Tampa native caught three to four concerts a night for seven nights straight. Among her highlights were New Orleans showman Trombone Shorty, Nashville-based Montreal native Allison Russell, and Arkansas-born, Chicago-based queer singer-rapper Wic Whitney. 'It's been phenomenal, considering it's all free,' Lawrence said. 'The people, the atmosphere, and the quality of the shows — I would definitely do it again. It's so easy navigating the site, so clean for such a big event, and everything starts on time.' With her was Montrealer Peter King, who accurately called the festival 'one of the highlights of summer' in the city. It was a week of unpredictable weather and memorable performances. Among this critic's standouts were the opening free outdoor concert by soul legend Mavis Staples; Canadian country-rock heroes Blue Rodeo bringing the hits on the first Friday night; New York rapper Nas performing his classic 1994 debut Illmatic with an orchestra of Montreal musicians; actor Jeff Goldblum telling stories and playing piano for an enrapt crowd at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier; Brazilian jazz fusion throwbacks Azymuth jamming up a storm; Montrealers Russell and Men I Trust, the former in an impassioned homecoming and the latter casting a spell after thunder and lightning delayed their set by 30 minutes while a massive crowd of diehard fans stuck it out; Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr turning the festival grounds into one big pop party; and 101-year-old saxophonist Marshall Allen leading the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra. And then there was Spalding. A musical phenomenon, she sang, played and bantered with the crowd, exuding joy, mischief and a strong moral compass. She opened not on bass, but on piano, pounding out a barrage of dissonant chords on I Want It Now as she listed behaviours we could do without in this world, 'all kinds of things that need to be burned up to invite you into the beautiful, loving things that inspire.' An informal poll conducted by this reporter earlier in the evening found many in attendance did not know Spalding's music, but it didn't take her long to pull everyone on board. People cheered as she started to sing in astonishingly nimble fashion while her fingers fluttered across her bass on I Know You Know, off her self-titled second album, from 2008. This was jazz of the highest order — challenging, yet accessible, eminently entertaining and arrestingly beautiful. Goosebumps were felt. Two modern dancers joined her on stage throughout the evening, enhancing the craft of the songs with evocative choreographies that tapped into other levels of perception. Her voice soared, loud and clear, far and wide on Touch In Mind near set's end, eliciting a roar from the audience. And that was the impressive thing on this perfect night. As out-there and otherworldly as Spalding got, people followed her every step of the way. She closed the 90-minute performance with her rousing, rootsy 2018 ode to Black men, Black Gold, and a wish 'that one day this song won't be necessary.' When she introduced her band, after, then introduced herself, a heartfelt cheer erupted. People kept cheering, and cheering, until she came back for an encore, proving on top of closing out the 45th Montreal International Jazz Festival with a breathtaking bang, Esperanza Spalding had just made herself tens of thousands of new fans. This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 11:31 AM.
Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Cision Canada
FIRST ROUND OF PERFORMERS UNVEILED FOR THE 2025 CCMA AWARDS PRESENTED BY TD
CTV IS THE EXCLUSIVE HOME TO THE 2025 CCMA AWARDS PRESENTED BY TD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, AIRING LIVE AT 8 P.M. ET CTV, AND STREAMING ON AND THE CTV APP VISIT TO CONFIRM LOCAL BROADCAST TIMES TORONTO, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, the Canadian Country Music Association ® (CCMA ®) is excited to reveal the first round of performers for the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD. A dynamic mix of country's brightest stars including Platinum-certified #1 songwriter and CCMA Award winner Madeline Merlo and chart-topping, Gold-certified, multiple JUNO and CCMA Award nominee Tyler Joe Miller, CCMA Award winner and trail blazer Sacha and 2x ACM Award nominated country powerhouse Restless Road, 3x CCMA Entertainer of the Year and 2x JUNO Award winner Dallas Smith and fan-favourite Billboard charting country starlet and The Coffee Girl entrepreneur Alexandra Kay, acclaimed Nashville-based duo known for their standout harmonies and intricate songwriting Thelma & James, and acclaimed singer-songwriter and rising star Cameron Whitcomb, come together for a memorable night that celebrates the talent, collaboration, and creativity at the heart of Canada's country music community, hosted by comedian, actor, and cultural icon Tom Green. For the first time ever, the CCMA Awards presented by TD will take place in Kelowna, broadcasting live from Prospera Place in the heart of the Okanagan Valley. CTV is the exclusive home of Canada's biggest night in country music, on Saturday, September 13, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on CTV, and the CTV app and streams next day on Crave. Visit to confirm local broadcast times. "It's always an exciting moment when we start to share what's in store for Canada's biggest night in country music," shares Amy Jeninga, President, CCMA."This first group of performers represents some of the most exciting voices in country music today, artists who are shaping the sound and future of the genre. We're just getting started and there's even more to come. We can't wait to bring the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD to Kelowna, BC for the first time and can't wait to celebrate with fans across the country and at Prospera Place." "I'm so excited to see some of Canada's top country stars — and incredible B.C. talent — take the stage right here in Kelowna," says Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. "Our government is proud to support this incredible event that not only celebrates Canadian music but also puts Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley in the national spotlight. We can't wait to welcome fans from across the country to soak up the sunshine, take in the sounds, and be part of an unforgettable week of celebration." "Kelowna is about to take centre stage in a way it never has before," notes Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC."We're proud to support the 2025 CCMA Awards as they make their exciting debut in the Okanagan. This event caps off an incredible year in music in British Columbia, a year that has showcased the strength, diversity, and momentum of artists and industry across the province. Country Music Week is a national celebration, and we're thrilled to help bring it to life right here in B.C., shining a well-deserved spotlight on the talent, creativity, and cultural richness of our music community." "Kelowna is honoured to host the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD this September," adds Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO of Tourism Kelowna. "This prestigious event is far more than an awards show, it's a national celebration of artistry, community, and the collaborative spirit that defines Canadian country music. We're excited to welcome performers, fans, and industry leaders alike to experience Kelowna's natural beauty, cultural vibrancy, and warm hospitality." "We are so excited to welcome Canada's biggest country stars to Kelowna for the Canadian Country Music Awards," says Mayor Tom Dyas."The first group of performers announced highlights the incredible strength and talent within Canada's country music scene. As a world-class event-hosting city, Kelowna is set to come alive with an energetic Country Music Week filled with celebration, community spirit, and fans from across the country." Starting Wednesday, September 10, Country Music Week 2025 will transform Kelowna into a hub of celebration, connection, and country music excellence, all culminating in the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD on September 13. Country Music Week 2025 is made possible with the support of the Government of British Columbia, Creative BC, Tourism Kelowna, the City of Kelowna, and the 2025 Host Committee. With CTV as the exclusive broadcast partner for the 43rd annual CCMA Awards presented by TD, Bell Media will deliver extensive multi-platform coverage and content across broadcast, radio, digital, and social media properties, including iHeartRadio Canada's PURE COUNTRY. Visit for the latest updates on the 2025 CCMA Awards presented by TD and Country Music Week 2025, including opportunities to collaborate, partner, volunteer, and more. For more CCMA news, follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube or visit KEY MESSAGING AND PROMOTIONAL ASSETS CAN BE FOUND HERE About The Canadian Country Music Association ® (CCMA ®) Established in 1976, the CCMA ® is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate, and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community, and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. About CTV CTV is Canada's most-watched broadcaster and has been #1 for the past 24 years in a row. CTV provides unparalleled entertainment programming across two broadcast networks and streaming from and the CTV app; a powerful suite of specialty channels including CTV Comedy Channel, CTV Drama Channel, CTV Life Channel, CTV Sci-Fi Channel, CTV Wild Channel, CTV Nature Channel, and CTV Speed Channel; and digital channels CTV Throwback and CTV Movies. CTV also features a wide range of sports and information programming, including CTV News, Canada's highest-rated national and local newscasts. Bell Media's suite of specialty channels also includes USA Network, Oxygen True Crime, Much, and E!. CTV's parent company is Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in premium video, audio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. About TD Bank Group The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by assets and serves over 27.9 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank ®, TD Auto Finance U.S., and TD Wealth (U.S.); Wealth Management and Insurance, including TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities and TD Cowen. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with more than 18 million active online and mobile customers. TD had $2.1 trillion in assets on April 30, 2025. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. About Creative BC Creative BC is an independent non-profit society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia's creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The organization delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.'s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government's motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The agency acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.'s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home and globally. About Tourism Kelowna Located on the traditional, unceded territory of the syilx Okanagan People, Tourism Kelowna is the Destination Marketing & Management Organization (DMO) for Kelowna and the Central Okanagan – one of Canada's fastest-growing metropolitan regions. Kelowna is a city shaped by collaboration, creativity, and a deep connection to the land. Known for its natural beauty and entrepreneurial spirit, the region brings together cultural vibrancy, four-season outdoor adventure, and a thriving food, wine, and craft beverage scene - offering rich, immersive experiences that invite visitors to slow down, connect, and savour the essence of the Okanagan. As a community, we champion sustainability, diversity, and thoughtful growth, investing in a resilient tourism industry that contributes 2.4 billion in economic impact to support local business and enrich the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. About Madeline Merlo With a crystalline Country vocal and an international rep for writing vivid scenes of emotional insight, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville recording artist Madeline Merlo is a rising star with an old soul and a new school style. Already a PLATINUM-certified #1 songwriter, Merlo's 2024 EP, ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door), finds a self-described deep-feeler offering a message of encouragement to her younger self – and to anyone who's ever felt "a little different." A small-town native from the blueberry fields of British Columbia, Merlo grew up surrounded by music—holiday singalongs, classic soul and R&B, powerhouse '90s country, and icons like Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride and Faith Hill. After attending a Shania Twain concert as her first show, she announced on a second-grade school project that she was going to be a singer—and never looked back. She began taking songwriting trips to Nashville at 16, signed a record deal at 18, and quickly found success at Canadian Country Radio, earning the CCMA Rising Star Award in 2015. In 2020, she competed on Season 2 of NBC's Songland, and with the dressed-down anthem of easy confidence, "Champagne Night," she emerged a winner. The track became a PLATINUM-certified, three-week #1 for Lady A, opening the door to her next chapter. Her label debut EP Slide drew critical acclaim from Billboard, E! News, PopCulture, Music Row and more, and she was named to CMT's 2024 Next Women of Country. Her latest single, "Middle Of The Bed (Clean Version)," captures the heartbreak of reaching for someone who's no longer there—adding to a catalogue that's already racked up 125 million+ global streams, six Top 10 Canadian radio hits, and top playlist placements across major platforms. Available now, ONE HOUSE DOWN (from the girl next door) is her most emotionally resonant project yet—anchored by themes of self-worth, and featuring the melodic standout "Broken Heart Thing (feat. Dustin Lynch)." About Tyler Joe Miller Surrey, BC's Tyler Joe Miller burst onto the Canadian country music scene with his Gold-certified debut single, "Pillow Talkin'," in 2019, earning a #1 spot at Canadian country radio. He made history as the first independent Canadian country artist to achieve back-to-back #1 singles with his follow-up, "I Would Be Over Me Too." With over 75M collective streams, 9 Top 10 hits, a 2021 SiriusXM Top of the Country win, and 2024 JUNO and CCMA nominations for Spillin' My Truth, Miller has firmly established himself as a standout in country music. His latest EP, Going Home, was nominated for 2025 JUNO Country Album of the Year. It highlights his growth as a songwriter, blending heartfelt storytelling with themes of love, loss, and resilience. About Sacha A trailblazer in country music, Sacha blends heartfelt storytelling with an infectious energy that captivates audiences. Since releasing her debut EP The Best Thing, she has quickly risen as one of the genre's most exciting new voices. Named iHeartRadio's "Future Star" and a member of CMT's prestigious Next Women of Country Class, Sacha has achieved numerous milestones in her burgeoning career. Sacha's certified platinum hit "What the Truck," with The Reklaws, became the fastest Canadian country song to achieve platinum status in the streaming era. The viral sensation earned Sacha a CCMA Award for Top Selling Canadian Single, the same year she won SiriusXM's Top of The Country contest and toured the U.S. with Maddie & Tae. Sacha continued to build momentum by singing the Canadian national anthem at the NHL All-Star Game and performing at major events like the UK's Long Road Festival. Last fall, she hit the road opening for the likes of Tenille Townes and then Owen Riegling, further cementing her place as a must-see performer in country music. She is a frequenter of all the major red carpets from the CMAs, CMT Awards, and CCMAs. On May 30, 2025, Sacha released her debut full-length album Woman In The Mirror, a bold and introspective collection that highlights her growth as both a songwriter and storyteller. The album includes Sacha's hit single, "Hey Mom I Made It," a heartfelt anthem that has garnered over 8 million combined streams globally and climbed into the Top 10 on the Canadian country radio chart. On July 11, she will release the deluxe edition of the album featuring the brand-new song "Shooting Star" with Restless Road, pre-save HERE. This summer, Sacha will be performing at some of this year's biggest country music festivals, including CMA Fest in Nashville, Boots & Hearts, LASSO, Cavendish and more! About Restless Road Made up of three different – yet complementary – voices, country band Restless Road (Zach Beeken, Garrett Nichols and Colton Pack) is known for their "flawless harmonies and individual vocal talents" (Billboard). Praised by American Songwriter, Billboard, People, Taste of Country and more, the band's powerhouse harmonies and soul-baring lyrics have accumulated over 375 million cumulative career streams and amassed a following of over 5 million on their social media platforms. As NBC's TODAY host Hoda Kotb put it, "That harmony…you feel it in your soul." In 2023, the band released their debut album Last Rodeo. The 18-track project features buzzworthy songs "Last Rodeo," "Sundown Somewhere," their SiriusXM The Highway No. 1 hit "Growing Old With You" and fan favorite "Bar Friends." In 2024, Restless Road toured on their headline Last Rodeo Tour, selling out major markets both domestic and abroad, as well as playing the U.K. 's C2C: Country to Country Music Festival. The band wrapped up 2024 on the road with Brett Young and returned to the U.K. and Europe for the remainder of their headline tour, selling out night after night. This year, Restless Road has focused on releasing a steady stream of new music and embarking on a headline tour. Their Goin' Out Like That Tour saw sell outs across 20 cities nationwide and in Canada as they simultaneously released three stand out tracks – "Work On Me," which Billboard tapped as one of their Must-Hear New Country Songs, "Goin' Out Like That" and "Last Thing I Deserve." Most recently, they released one of their most personal tracks yet with "And Then Some," available everywhere now. The group has toured with superstars like Kane Brown, Russell Dickerson, Tim McGraw and Cole Swindell and have made stops at Stagecoach, CMA Fest and many more festivals across the globe. They have performed on ABC's The Bachelor, NBC's TODAY and have been featured by CMT, EXTRA, MusicRow and more. They were also named as one of Spotify's Hot Country Artists To Watch, an Opry NextStage Artist and are 2x ACM nominees for New Group or Duo of the Year. With all signs indicating Restless Road as a contender for best new vocal group, the trio continues to write, sing and perform together as they take the next steps down country music's long and winding road. For more information, visit and follow them on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. About Dallas Smith Big Loud/Local Hay recording artist Dallas Smith continues to build on a legacy of genre-defying success. From fronting the multi-platinum rock band Default to becoming a 3x consecutive CCMA Entertainer of the Year and two-time JUNO Award winner, Smith has firmly established himself as one of Canada's most celebrated voices in country music. With 14 No. 1 singles, 21 Gold-certified singles, nine Platinum-certified singles, four Gold-certified albums, and more than 640 million global streams, he has earned over two million album equivalents to date. In 2023, Smith added another major milestone to his career with his debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage. His current single, "How Do You Miss Me" featuring Alexandra Kay, continues to climb the charts, celebrating Smith's unmistakable blend of heart, hook, and high-caliber collaborations. This summer, Smith continues to headline major festivals across Canada, including Country Thunder Saskatchewan and Calgary. About Alexandra Kay With over 8.6 MILLION social media followers, Alexandra Kay, who starred on Netflix's series Westside, holds the rare and extraordinary ability to genuinely connect with audiences by just being her authentic true self via heartfelt melodies, her "refreshing brand of storytelling…custom-made for the country music genre" (People), and her "angelic, yet soaring vocals" (American Songwriter). Cementing herself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry, the bright and tenacious rising star that Billboard acclaimed as " an adept, propitious singer-songwriter," dropped her debut album - All I've Ever Known - in 2023. The project reached #1 on the iTunes All Genre and Country charts globally and earned her a spot in the Top 10 on Billboard's Country Album, Emerging Artist and HeatSeeker charts, independently. Now, signed to BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and named to Pandora's "2025 Artist to Watch: Country" list and CMT's "Next Women of Country: Class of 2025," Alexandra wrapped a milestone 2024 - in which she headlined her own tour, joined Jelly Roll on his Beautifully Broken Arena Tour where she was taken under his wing and was featured on the GRAMMY-nominated Twisters movie soundtrack. Taking 2025 to the next level, the captivating songstress is giving a glimpse into her sophomore album, releasing the sultry, magnetic anthem " Feminine Energy," the starry-eyed romance of " The Last" and the contagiously catchy sing-along " Cupid's A Cowgirl." Currently commanding stages worldwide, she joins Brad Paisley on tour this summer and just opened her own coffee shop, The Coffee Girl, in her hometown of Waterloo, Ill. About Thelma & James An undeniable force, married Nashville-based singer-songwriters MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge form the musical partnership Thelma & James. Not realizing the best writing partner was right under their noses the whole time, their first co-write in over a decade produced "Happy Ever After You." Evolving organically from an impromptu video that earned praise from fellow artists like John Mayer, Luke Combs, Brandi Carlile and more, the song has since garnered over 20 million listens since its release. The pair signed to Big Loud Records in 2025 and have since released "First Love" and recent "Chainsmokin Memories." Doubling down on the fortuitous new musical chapter, Thelma & James are currently in the studio with plans for new more music to follow. About Cameron Whitcomb One of the most captivating new songwriters of his generation, Cameron Whitcomb turns the most candid details of his real-life experience into songs with a strangely exhilarating power. Hailing from British Columbia's Vancouver Island, Whitcomb left home at age 17 and got a job working on a pipeline, later spending much of his downtime singing karaoke and posting covers on Reddit. When an American Idol executive took note of his undeniable vocal talent, he landed a spot on the show's 20th season and emerged as a top 20 finalist. Whitcomb then immersed himself in learning to write songs while deep in the process of getting sober. After making his label debut with 2024's "Rocking Chair" – which amassed over 40M combined views across socials prior to its premiere – Whitcomb took off on a fast ascent that soon found him embarking on his first-ever headline run, the sold-out Quitter Tour.
