Did Don Ross invent math rock? The similarities between Don’s early work and a popular new(ish) genre

Don Ross is a veteran guitarist and musician with a career spanning more than 35 years. And his earlier work reveals an interesting approach to fingerstyle guitar playing that new listeners may find reminiscent of a genre that has been in the spotlight recently. Math rock is a subgenre that emerged from the rock scene in the early 1990s. Consisting mostly of guitar, bass and drums.

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Album Review: Donovan Woods – Squander Your Gifts

Donovan Woods' newest EP, Squander Your Gifts, invites listeners into moments of grief and reflection. The five-song collection, released on Feb. 27, spans 16 minutes but carries an emotional weight that lasts beyond its runtime. The EP is about the loss of Donovans’ friend Abe, who passed away unexpectedly two years ago. In an Instagram post ahead of the release, Donovan said the EP is “about our creative gifts and whether we have any obligation to share them.”

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5 take-aways from Folk+ for artists navigating today’s music industry

For emerging artists, the job no longer ends with writing songs, but extends to marketing, touring and building a local audience.  At this year’s Folk+ plus conference, hosted by Folk Alliance International, industry professionals and artists broke down what it takes to sustain a career in today’s music landscape.  These workshops are designed to help artists hone-in their craft by learning new skills and become better at their work. 

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Trailblazing Indigenous cellist Cris Derksen has died

Like many of you, we here at Roots Music Canada are devastated by the news that trailblazing Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen has died at the age of 45 after a motor vehicle collision Saturday in northern Alberta, reportedly after the funeral of her late father. Cris’ agency, AIM, confirmed the terrible news Sunday morning. “It is with profound, shattering sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of our dear friend, client, and visionary artist, Cris Derksen, following a car accident yesterday,” AIM wrote in a statement on Facebook.

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Remembering pioneering Canadian reggae artist Ernie Smith

Music lovers everywhere lost a good friend with the departure last month of Glenroy Anthony Michael Archangelo Smith. He was an internationally famous and widely beloved Jamaican Canadian artist who excelled as both a singer and a songwriter. He was just about to celebrate his 81st birthday. He became known professionally as Ernie Smith as a reference to his guitar skills, which were held to be akin to the talents of Ernie Ranglin, Jamaica’s foremost guitar player.

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Hello, Summer Sundays: the Ottawa Tennis Club’s 2026 music series launches this weekend

Last Monday marked the launch celebration for a new summer tradition for the Ottawa Tennis Club. Starting May 17, the club will host Summer Sundays, a weekly concert initiative led by Paul Sutcliffe.  Paul said it’s hard for musicians to make a living these days, and Summer Sundays are his way of giving back.  “This is me saying, ‘Hey guys, let's keep you employed,” said Paul. 

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Roots Round Up: this week’s news from the Canadian roots scene (and beyond)

THE TRAGICALLY HIP MARK FINAL TOUR ANNIVERSARY WITH LIVE ALBUM It's hard to believe that it's been a decade since The Tragically Hip embarked on their final cross-country tour, a truly landmark event in Canadian cultural history, culminating with a hometown show in Kingston, Ontario that united the nation in a way no other musical event had before, and likely won't again.

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Lily Frost expresses hope for humanity on latest single ‘More Love’

On her new single "More Love," Toronto's Lily Frost continues to display her musical versatility with a song that gets to the core of how many of us are feeling about the current state of the world. Over a hypnotic sonic backdrop, Frost shares the simple and direct message encapsulated in the song's title, with the intent to make us all think about what we could be doing better to improve the lives of those around us.

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BistroFest brings free local music to Ottawa this summer and encourages people to discover new acts

A new summer concert series is set to bring local music to one of Ottawa’s busiest outdoor spaces. BistroFest, a free outdoor concert series running on select Saturdays from May 16 to Sept. 5, will feature 24 local bands performing near Hog’s Back Falls. Each evening will include three acts, ranging from folk to punk to reggae, from the Ottawa region, with a focus on making live music more accessible to the public.

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CBMA winner Ollee Owens announces new album with producer Colin Linden, plus tour dates

Ollee Owens is having a year. The Calgary-based blues and Americana artist has taken home the inaugural Canadian Blues Music Award for Emerging Blues Artist or Group of the Year – recognizing her album Nowhere to Hide and cementing her place as one of the most vital new voices in Canadian blues. With over 2.5 million social media views in 2025, a Roots Music Report chart run that placed her album in the Canadian Top 10 for over 35 weeks including five at #1, and now a national award to her name, Ollee is no longer an artist to watch.

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Collingwood’s Shjaane Glover Earns Honourable Mention At International Songwriters Day Song Contest With “Effervescence”

Southern Ontario singer-songwriter Shjaane Glover has earned an Honourable Mention at the 2026 International Songwriters Day Song Contest for his song “Effervescence.” The honour was announced on April 9, International Songwriters Day itself. The contest, which drew entries from Norway, Taiwan, Austria, the UK, New Zealand, Sweden, the US, and across Canada, celebrated the most inspirational works in songwriting, and placed Shjaane in distinguished international company.

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From artist to MP: David Myles marks one year advocating for Canadian artists on Parliament Hill

One year after trading the artist's life for the life of a Parliamentarian, multi-Juno Award-winning musician and MP David Myles is advocating for Canadian artists to be treated less like hobbyists and more like the small business owners they are.  Entering federal politics, David said he was worried about being confined strictly to conversations around arts and culture. Instead, he found himself contributing across multiple policy areas before eventually taking on work connected to Canadian culture and identity. 

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Ottawa Bluesfest emerging showcase act Carson Cameron is recording a live album tonight at Night Oat

From performing outside an ice cream store in Carp to opening for a member of the Backstreet Boys, 18-year-old singer-songwriter Carson Cameron is making a name for himself in small Ottawa venues. Carson said he has always thrived on stage and is excited to build a community around his music as he starts his career. After riding the high of opening for Nick Carter of The Backstreet Boys in 2024 at just 16 years old, Carson has released multiple singles and, most recently, his…

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Women in folk shine bright at the first ever Wilding Festival

The hills were alive with the sound of music on May 1 in Chelsea, QC. The music came from the first annual The Wilding, an all-woman music festival spearheaded by Ontario folk singer Jessica Pearson. Set at Le Vignoble de Chelsea, The Wilding offered a full day of music, local vendors and food, centred around community and connection. Despite overcast skies and a crisp breeze, there was no shortage of support for the inaugural event.

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Inside Abigail Lapell’s personal journey through motherhood on Shadow Child

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell is reflecting on the transformative experience that inspired her newest album, Shadow Child.  The nine-track record traces the emotional and physical journey of pregnancy, with each song representing a different month of gestation. But for Abigail, the album is about far more than motherhood alone. It is about grief, resilience and ultimately about finding joy after loss. 

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Roots Round Up: this week’s news from the Canadian roots scene (and beyond)

ASHLEY MACISAAC SUES GOOGLE OVER AI DISINFORMATION Ashley MacIsaac has never denied having a chequered past, but when Google's AI Overview feature falsely described him as a registered sex offender, the Juno Award-winning fiddler from Cape Breton was forced to take action. The Canadian Press has reported that MacIsaac filed a defamation lawsuit against Google in February, seeking $1.5 million in damages and citing that at least one of his scheduled concerts in Nova Scotia last December was cancelled due to Google's disinformation.

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The Pintos are back in the saddle with new cosmic country single “Studio Rain”

The Pintos—formerly Matt Paxton & The Pintos—are a Hamilton, Ontario alt-country band that has been gaining international recognition over the past several years for heart-wrenching songwriting, augmented by a distinctive musical chemistry. The quartet comprised of singer/songwriter/guitarist Matt Paxton, bassist Carrie Clark, pedal steel guitarist Chris Altmann and drummer Robin Pirson is poised to release the follow-up to their acclaimed 2023 EP…

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Album Review: Aysanabee – Timeline EP

Aysanabee released his six-track EP, Timelines, on April 10. The four-time Juno Award winner, with only two studio albums, Watin (2023) and Edge of the Earth (2025) is taking a moment to revisit some of his favourite songs, offering a quieter, more intimate sound than their original counterparts. The EP was produced by Aysanabee, a.k.a. Evan Pang, alongside a small group of others and released through Ishkode Records.

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Toronto Multi-Hyphenate John Lewitt Releases Vibrant New Pop-Rock Anthem “Six Ways to Sunday”

Songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist John Lewitt is captures the spirit of optimism with his latest single, “Six Ways to Sunday." The track serves as the cornerstone of his upcoming 11th solo album of the same name, offering a masterclass in craftsmanship that draws inspiration from the timeless melodicism of the Beatles and the rugged heart of Tom Petty. Written, performed, mixed, and produced entirely by John, the project highlights his "old school" dedication to organic instrumentation and pure, joyful songwriting.

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These roots were made for walking: checking out Ottawa’s folk walk as part of Jane’s Walk 2026

The Ottawa Folk Walk picked up its feet this weekend after a 12-year standstill. Folk tunes flooded up and down Bank Street on Saturday and Sunday as music lovers sprang from plaque to plaque along the Canadian Folk Music Walk of Fame. Arthur McGregor, who founded the walk of fame, led the folk walk alongside Chris White and Greg Brown on a cloudy Saturday afternoon.

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Gil’s Hootenanny in Ottawa takes its last bow

Gil’s Hootenanny said a bittersweet goodbye Friday night after 17 years spreading songs of hope and protest. The event took place every May Day in memory of Gil Levine, the founding director of research at the Canadian Union of Public Employees. “He understood that singing together could stir us to feel like a part of something bigger than ourselves,” said Gil’s daughter Tamara Levine, “To believe that together we could change the world,” she added.

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Why Tanglefoot decided to make a comeback

These are turbulent times for Canadians. We are faced with economic threats from our neighbours to the south in the form of tariffs on our products. There are threats to our sovereignty with talk of turning us into a “51st state.” Then there are almost daily insults to our elected officials. But if there’s one good thing that’s come out of all this turmoil caused by the current occupant of the White House, it’s the growing pride and resolve in being Canadian.

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Roots Round Up: this week’s news from the Canadian roots scene (and beyond)

THE TRAGICALLY HIP, FEIST AMONG 2026 CSHF INDUCTEES The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its 2026 inductees, with this year's class headed by The Tragically Hip and Feist. Also being inducted are Loverboy's songwriting team, vocalist Mike Reno and guitarist Paul Dean, as well as one of the country's most successful bilingual artists, Roch Voisine. All will be honoured at the annual gala, which takes place this year on Sept.

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The first ever Wilding Festival will take place this weekend in Chelsea, QC

An all-woman music festival is coming to Chelsea, QC, this Saturday, and it's expected to be wild. The Wilding is a music festival that was dreamt up and organized by Jessica Pearson of Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, an all-female Americana-Folk trio from Ontario. The festival is inspired by their new album Wilding, with part one debuting on tomorrow.

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The first ever Wilding Festival will take place this weekend in Chelsea, QC.

An all-woman music festival is coming to Chelsea, QC, this Saturday, and it's expected to be wild. The Wilding is a music festival that was dreamt up and organized by Jessica Pearson of Jessica Pearson and the East Wind, an all-female Americana-Folk trio from Ontario. The festival is inspired by their new album Wilding, with part one debuting on tomorrow.

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Jon Mullane releases new EP The Road cowritten with Nashville hitmakers

Jon Mullane, a compelling voice in modern rock, pop, and country – has released The Road, a five-song EP in the latter genre produced by Toronto's Creighton Doane. The road that led to The Road ran through Nashville. Jon spent the better part of two years travelling between his home in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia and Music City, reconnecting with old collaborators and forging new ones, and finding in that creative environment the inspiration to write songs that felt genuinely close and personal.

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Album Review: Mia Kelly – Stand-up woman

Mia Kelly, the award-winning singer-songwriter from Gatineau, QC who combines folk and blues styles, recently released two new singles and an EP that featured two new songs. The EP is a small collection of songs from Mia's upcoming album, Big Bime Rollercoaster Feeling, that is to be released on May 22. Mia's Music has something for everyone: unrequited love, class struggle, growing pains.

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Edmonton’s Blue Chair closes its doors

The Blue Chair, a venue that has cultivated local and international arts in Edmonton, closed ,its doors on April 26. Sylvia Shank has owned the venue since 2020, when she bought it from Harold Wollin. However, her journey at the Café began when it first opened. For her, closing this space wasn’t an easy decision, but a necessary one.

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Check out our video from this weekend’s Ottawa Grassroots Festival

Elina Ellis and Simon McKague checked out the festival this past weekend and talked to Irish Millie. They produced this video:

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7 shows to check out this month for the Rogue Folk Club’s 39th birthday

May is a huge month for the Rogue Folk Club. To begin with, Happy Birthday, guys! The club is 39 years old this year, and yes, we're pretty sure this is, in fact, it's FIRST 39th birthday. Also, the Rogue is holding a fundraiser for the Stephen Lewis foundation at the end of the month with Jane Mortifee, AND one of this month's Rogue shows is already sold out, so if you were hoping to see the Pairs, I'm afraid you've missed out.

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