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Hamilton Spectator
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Lucy's Diner is open for listening
Everyone was wondering what Hollow Heads would do next. Now they're wondering what Lucy's Diner is cooking up. The Sault Ste. Marie-born band, formerly known as Hollow Heads, has rebranded as Lucy's Diner and is stirring up a new batch of songs for their debut EP. The first of the collection is titled I'm On Fire and was released on Wednesday. The band's name change came after a polite request from an American band of the same name. Lead singer Gabrielle Dumas said the new name feels more fitting than anything they've used before. 'We were always Lucy's Diner,' she told The Sault Star in an interview Friday. 'We just didn't realize it.' The name comes in part from a psychedelic rock song the band wrote back in 2022 — the same year the group formed. 'Lucy's in the diner, I know we can find her,' sings Dumas. The song is one of many well-loved by the friends and fans who make up their shows. Since then, the band has grown in scope, sound, and cohesion, blending influences from indie and rock, to funk, folk, and jazz. Alongside Dumas's powerhouse vocals, bandmates Ethan Roode and Liam Morassut rotate between bass, acoustic, and electric guitars, while Joe Rosso holds it down on the drums. Sometimes a banjo makes an appearance on stage. One thing they all agree on? Peach Pit rules. The band has shifted shape more than once, both musically and geographically. With members sometimes living in different cities for school, Lucy's Diner makes the most of summer breaks and holidays to perform. This worked well, said Dumas, because the university-aged band had friends who would come home for the same March Breaks and long weekends and were happy to turn up to shows. When the band started, Rosso and Roode were in Ottawa for school. Morassut spent the better part of the last few years in Kingston, Ont., for school. 'It's like being in a long-distance relationship, but with people you try to create with,' said Dumas. 'So, it can be kind of disheartening when you feel passion in a moment, and you don't have the people around you to make use of that passion, but we've navigated it pretty well.' In the early days, they leaned heavily into performance. Now, they've prioritized recording — something they felt was long overdue. 'We were building momentum with live shows, but we didn't have anything recorded to back it up,' Dumas said. 'So, we made a unanimous decision: when we're together, we record.' That shift led to the EP currently in the works — though Dumas was tight-lipped about the details. She alluded to some surprises coming up. cafe Dumas describes the collection of new songs the product of each member's individual growth as musicians, and their collective evolution as a band. 'We've grown, and therefore our music has too, and it's going to be a really cool reflection of that growth,' she said. While their song Complicated, released in 2023, falls into a funk, groove sort of category, their new songs will show the fuller range that Lucy's Diner has on their set lists. Dumas said that some lean folk, while others are 'pure rock' or even jazz. While the name change came with a dose of heartbreak, the band's new identity felt inevitable. 'We were emotionally attached to Hollow Heads,' said Dumas. 'But Lucy's Diner felt meant to be.' That feeling solidified during a photoshoot at Ernie's Coffee Shop to capture their new image. 'I wore a teal colour, and so did Liam. We didn't plan that. And it matched the colour on the walls perfectly,' said Dumas. 'It's just kind of become the colour of our brand — without us even trying.' When the band first formed as Hollow Heads, they didn't know what it would become. 'We didn't really know what we were going to start,' Dumas said. 'But it's changed us all. And the best part is that we always come back to the core.' And that core is the love of making, sharing, and performing music. mkirk@ The Local Journalism Initiative is made possible through funding from the federal government.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Algoma University pauses five programs to improve finances
Algoma University will temporarily suspend first-year admissions to five undergraduate programs in an effort to strengthen the institution's long-term financial sustainability, according to an internal memo obtained by The Sault Star. The five low-enrollment programs that will be paused are Geography, History, Music, Sociology, and Visual Arts. As of April 28, only 18 students had accepted offers to these programs, based on data from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre. This decision follows recommendations from the Ontario Auditor General's 2022 Value-for-Money Audit on university finances, which looks at the financial contributions of each of its academic offerings. A 2024 follow-up report criticized the university for making 'little to no progress' in determining whether programs could be restructured to provide a net-positive financial return. 'This decision was not easy, nor was it taken lightly,' wrote Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Donna Rogers in the memo. 'Low-enrolment programs create long-term financial risks for universities, including reduced funding for student services, research grants, and faculty development.' Those already enrolled in the affected programs will continue their studies without disruption, with full access to courses and academic support. No layoffs will occur as a result of the decision. Prospective students who had accepted offers have received personalized communication from the university, along with alternative program options and assistance from the Registrar's Office. Rogers emphasized that the move is not a program cut or suspension — decisions which fall under the authority of Senate — but a temporary measure designed to allow departments to reflect on program design and future viability. The Board of Governors approved the pause earlier this year as part of the university's broader commitment to sustainable academic programming. Discussions with impacted departments are ongoing, with a focus on collaborative solutions. 'We are deeply grateful to all faculty and academic leaders for their partnership in this important work,' Rogers wrote.
