IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH DAVE WOODS: AMANDA JORDAN   My guest for this month’s column is Amanda Jordan!   Amanda’s Bio:   Originally from Smiths Falls, Ontario – just outside of Ottawa – Amanda fell in love with country music in Canada before heading to Nashville, where she’s since transformed her passion for singing and songwriting into a series of exciting career breakthroughs. 2021 was a breakout year for Amanda. Two singles, “Pretty Girl” & “Love You To Pieces”, amassed over half a million streams collectively, while receiving editorial support from Apple Music and Spotify on playlists like “All About Country”, “Next from Nashville” and “Country Lovin”. She also earned video support from CMT and the cover spot of Spotify’s Live Country playlist in August […]

SPOTLIGHT ON JESSICA SEVIER My guest for this month’s column is Jessica Sevier!   Since her debut single “Ghost of Tom” in 2019, Jessica’s music has been collectively streamed over 1 million times. Performing live has been a key part of growing her audience, and Jessica has shared the stage with artists including Jason McCoy and Tim & the Glory Boys, and has performed at music festivals and renowned venues including Whisky Jam in Nashville and the legendary Lee’s Palace in Toronto. She has also showcased at Canadian Music Week each year since 2021.   Growing up, Jessica took piano and voice lessons and had an elementary school music teacher that saw her passion for music and encouraged her to explore it through school musical […]

SPOTLIGHT ON PAIGE RUTLEDGE My guest for this month’s column is Paige Rutledge! Paige got her first break on stage at The Moonshine Cafe at a very young age and continues to perform there to this day in songwriters rounds. Along with playing her original songs at the legendary Oakville venue, you’d be lucky to be there on the nights when she covers the Dolly classic “Jolene”. In July 2023, Paige performed at the iconic Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto and at Country On The Bay in Thunder Bay opening for Walker Hayes (“Fancy Like”) as well as Tim Hicks and Robyn Ottolini. She has already been announced as one of the performers for The Hollyrood Country Jamboree in July 2024 featuring headliners Tyler Joe Miller […]

In 2023, along with my monthly songwriters’ series, Country Nights In The City, at the Moonshine Cafe in Oakville, I created two new series. The Heart Of Country Songwriters Showcase took place 5 times last year at the Rec Room at Square One in Mississauga. Nashville 416 Writers Round will travel around to various Toronto venues, which so far have included The Cameron House & The Dakota Tavern. “Sold Out Show at The Moonshine Cafe”     Along with bringing back artists who have become part of the roster, it’s always exciting for me to showcase an artist that is new to our music community and, in some cases, playing their first writers’ round. That happened in 2023 with several artists and I look forward […]

          My guest for this month’s column is Thunder Bay country artist Tim Albertson. Over the last few years, he’s won over new country fans with his energetic live shows and singles like “A Bar Like This”, “Spin That Bottle” and now, his latest release, “Did It For A Girl”. I first met Tim at the CMAOntario Awards weekend earlier this year. He made the long drive from Thunder Bay to Hamilton to experience the event and make new contacts. Enjoy my chat with Tim and be sure to follow him on his socials to keep up to date on his career. Dave: Tim, who are the artists that have influenced you the most in your music career? Tim: There have […]

The news spread quickly on Monday, July 24, 2023, that John Marlatt, owner of Oakville’s iconic Moonshine Cafe, had passed away after a brief illness. Right away, there was an enormous outpouring of love & remembrance on social media for the man known for his quick wit, friendliness and love of live music. The Moonshine stage became a fixture and a hot spot on Kerr Street over the last 17 years. John would always be there, working hard, barbecuing, encouraging artists and sometimes asking the audience to stop talking and really listen to the acts & their songs. The Moonshine Cafe is legendary because of the legend that John is. Anyone who has been to this venue as an audience member or a performer knows […]

Ottawa brothers Cory and Jeff Papineau – together known as Lemon Cash – recently released their brand new single, “Breakup Song”, written by the duo along with fellow country artist Wes Mack and veteran lyricist/producer/musician Dan Swinimer. It’s the first release under their new recording contract with Sakamoto Music, distributed by Warner Music Canada.      “Cory and Jeff have it all when it comes to songwriting, performing, and bringing that certain energy that ignites audiences. We can’t wait to share their music with country fans everywhere,” says Joelle May, Director of Promotions & Artist Services at Sakamoto Music. Last year, the brothers had their busiest year to date, performing shows and at festivals across the country, including the Calgary Stampede. With their debut album on the […]

Runaway Angel – Cadence Grace, Ann Chaplin and Stacey Zegers – is BACK and just in time to provide us with a great feel good summertime song, “Beach Please”. The new single release marks the trio’s tenth anniversary. Since Runaway Angel’s formation in 2013, the ladies have been 2016 CCMA Discovery Artist nominees and celebrated 7 Country Music Association of Ontario nominations, two iTunes Canadian Country Top 5 charting albums, and a previous Top 50 Canadian radio hit (“Witness”). They have also toured Canada and Europe. “Beach Please” is a poignant milestone as the group’s first new music since Grace’s leukemia diagnosis in 2018. Following Cadence’s courageous journey – which included a personal blog, a life-saving bone marrow transplant, receiving the Extraordinary CML Story Award […]

My guest for this month’s column is musician Jeff Brown. He’s made quite a name for himself over the years on the country music scene, accompanying a long list of artists – solo and as part of a band, touring with The Washboard Union, etc. He’s a leader and inspiration in the community. Chances are you’ve seen him perform over the years at a country show. It was great to have Jeff answer my questions on his music career and his instrument: the guitar.    Tell us about your first guitar. Was it a case of picking it up and never putting it down?  My first guitar was a Jay Turser and it was a knock-off of a Fender Stratocaster with a tobacco burst finish. […]