On this Labour Day holiday Monday we're thrilled to share a great cover of a band we saw perform live at Crooks Rapids Country Fest this past weekend. Big City Lights are our 'Casual Cover Monday' feature performing the Zach Brown band's huge hit 'Keep Me In Mind'. We loved what a wonderful job they did with opening up the festival that day!
These guys are a 4 piece band from Toronto composed of Mekeli Villamor (Lead Vocals) Keith Dean (Lead Guitar, Harmonies) Johnny Gregson (Bass & Harmonies) & Kevin Ferguson (Drums). Their energetic live show and stunning mix of three part harmonies led Fairhurst Music Management 's Doug Oliver (Cold Creek County, My Darkest Days) to sign them on the spot, orchestrating a showcase that had booking agents battling to add Big City Lights to their rosters to light up the summer concert tours. Featuring an eclectic mix of styles and influences spanning from Marvin Gaye to Chris Stapleton, Big City Lights are chasing their big city dreams all the way to Nashville.
Hope you're all enjoying this wonderful long weekend!! 🍻🥂.
Country singer and songwriter, Cole Bradley, is a rising star in the North American music scene. Growing up listening to the likes of country music Bradley first graced the stage at the young age of five. Since then, Cole has fostered a passion for performing and sharing his music with others. “As an artist, it is important for me that people connect and relate to my songs”.
Much like Cole himself, his songs are upbeat, positive and full of life. He is a natural entertainer with an infectious energy. His unique vocals and his edgy country sound, make his music fresh and original. Bradley has had the privilege of working with world class producers and writers in Canada, Nashville and Los Angeles and has opened for various country music entertainers including Thomas Rhett, High Valley, LANCO, and Brett Kissel. Since his move to Nashville in 2016, Bradley has continued to work on the craft of songwriting while playing at local venues including the historic The Bluebird Cafe where he made his debut in September 2017 and has since returned numerous times!
We had the opportunity to see him perform for the first time a few nights ago at Countryfest Productions's 'Drive In' style concert opening for David Boyd Janes in Barrie, Ontario. We were very impressed with his voice and stage presence and how he connected with the crowd. We'd like to share a cover he did for our 'Casual Cover' Monday feature. Enjoy his version of Kenny Chesney's 'Beer In Mexico! Have a great week everyone!
Few can say their love for music came to them through an air vent. Canadian Country singer/songwriter Danielle Todd can. Growing up in Guelph Ontario, in her childhood bedroom, Danielle would fall asleep to the sound of her father’s music coming through the air vent from his basement studio. Watching him work his magic she would marvel at the way he could make a song come together, until one day, her dad just needed her out of his hair. As Danielle fondly recalls, he handed her a CD with Patsy Cline’s “Sweet Dreams of You” on it and said, “Don’t come back until you’ve learned it.” Much to her father’s surprise, a mere hour later, four year old Danielle had returned, singing with the gusto of Patsy herself.
From that moment on, Danielle was head over heels for the country croonings of female powerhouses like Patsy, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, and Faith Hill. When it came time to find a job in her teenage years, Danielle walked into bar after bar, convincing them to give her a regular slot to sing— even if that slot didn’t yet exist. “The bar owners would be like, ‘Sure, send us a CD.’ I just responded, ‘I don’t have one, and I’m here right now so I’ll just sing here.’” And that was that.
Enjoy her hauntingly beautiful version of Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)'s timeless single ''Landslide'. You'll agree it's a beautiful way to start your week! Shoot her a follow at Danielle Todd on Facebook & www.instagram.com/danielle_todd/ on Instagram!
Strumming Stories Band began in the fall of 2019 when a group of friends from the Kingston area came together as a band. By the end of 2019 things were falling into place, and they developed a blue jean country / rock sound that falls evenly between Jason Aldean and Randy Houser.Their songs are pumping and the wheels are trucking along at 100 miles per hour, with authentic accounts of what it’s like growing up in small town life with influence from the close big city lights.
Making the semi finals of Ontario’s The Next Country Music Star, Strumming Stories launched into 2020 with a fresh new single, “Like That”. Setting their sights on fall and winter Strumming Stories is cranking up the heat with a new single set for release August 28. Packing in every bit of high energy from the Strumming Stories live show into one song “All My Friends” is the next big happy drinking tune that is ready to be consumed. Written with easy to remember sing along lyrics, aggressive rock guitars and fiddle added as the country cherry on top.“All My Friends” was written about a good night out with your best friends and going to hit up that local dive bar and just letting loose.
Don’t miss out on the action, visit and follow them on their socials. They pride themselves on building good relationships with their fans, so reach out on any of the platforms anytime!!
Check out their amazing cover of Tyler Joe Miller's #1 Canadian hit 'Pillow Talkin'! Bet you'll agree the lead singer's voice could label him the Canadian Lee Brice!! Enjoy and have a great week!!k!!T.
For this weeks 'CASUAL COVER MONDAY' we'd like to give a shout out to our friend Kris Barclay who put together this cover of Maren Morris's huge hit 'Bones' just over a month ago! Kris who was Boots & Hearts Music Festival Emerging Artist Winner for 2018 has a great new single called '360' coming to radio today!! You can download and purchase it here! ---->https://lnk.to/qI90O1W2 Have a great week everyone!
Born and raised in Brussels, Ontario, Adam Cousins developed a love for music. Over the past year, Adam has been honing his skills in the music industry and bringing them to light in his debut EP “Dirt Road” to show his fans his life experiences while growing up in a small town.
Growing as an artist and putting his best foot forward he has sculpted his music in a way that can resonate with everyone in a blue-collar world. He works hard and plays hard too.
Adam’s career in music started to take off in 2018 when he moved to London, Ontario when he wrote a few songs and started a band of his own. In short time he headed to Emac Recording Studio and the “Dirt Road” EP was born. He will be releasing Dirt Road to radio all across Canada in the summer of 2019 as well as playing fairs and festivals around southern Ontario.
Make your way to one of his shows and you won’t be disappointed with the energetic oldies and the rippin’ hot country. Enjoy Adam's Garth Brooks acoustic version of 'Friends In Low Places' for our CASUAL COVER MONDAY feature! Happy Civic Holiday!!
.
Everyone loves a beautiful cover of 'Tennessee Whiskey' and we love this female cover of it especially!! Ottawa Valley's Brea Lawrenson captures emotions and stories in her music that have put her on the charts several times in the last five years. Her success is further punctuated with appearances at fairs and festivals (Ottawa Bluesfest, Boots & Hearts, Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Havelock Country Jamboree and Kemptville Live Music Festival) where she has shared stages with many well established artists, opening for Meghan Patrick, Tom Cochrane, Tebey, The Washboard Union, The Road Hammers, Brett Kissel and many more.
Teaming up with Bill Miller at Sharp 9 Music and his award winning producers Pete Lesperance and Jeff Diesel a couple years ago Brea continues to rack up some impressive feats while retaining her status as an independent artist. With her continued success, she’s leading the charge for indie artists in Canadian Country Music today. It's our pleasure to feature Brea this week as our 'CASUAL COVER MONDAY' artist!
Welcome to another beautiful week of summer! Today's 'CASUAL COVER MONDAY' is brought to you from the Tanner Olsen Band performing a cover of Morgan Wallen's recent hit 'Chasin' You'!
Nights spent in high school listening to country music at tailgate parties on the banks of the Fraser River near their hometown farming community of Chilliwack, BC is what drew Tanner Olsen, Graeme Fugger and RJ Poland together.
While the friends kept in touch while going to university, it was an opportunity to play eight shows in three days at a country fair that allowed the friends to get back to their roots and love of music. From that event The Tanner Olsen Band took flight crafting their sound and performing with their infectious energy all over the West. Friends, fun and music is the perfect combination, so make sure you come catch the rising star of the Tanner Olsen Band.
Abby Stewart may be young, but she has accomplished so much in such a short period. From sharing the stage for a duet with Hunter Hayes, Dan + Shay, Dean Brody, Dallas Smith or Aaron Pritchett or opening for Hunter on his Canadian tour dates or completing a set at some of Canada's biggest music festivals, her star is on the rise.
Her versatility and passion for music shines through whether she's belting out one of her radio friendly originals, a Taylor Swift or Band Perry lyric or turns back the clock to a Dolly Parton, Anne Murray or Buck Owens classic.
Take some time to get to know this new country singing sensation and you too will see how this teen girl has been gaining fans and turning heads in the music industry.Today Abby is our 'CASUAL COVER MONDAY' spotlight covering Chris Stapleton's smash hit 'Parachute' with her band in isolation! Fantastic job Abby!
After the successful release of her single Tell You, which was co-written with Jason Blaine, Alessia Cohle has been putting her own stamp on country music. Her honest lyrics paired with her catchy melodies compliment her dynamic performance on every stage.
She has shared the stage with Brett Kissel, Tim Hicks, Jason Blaine, and more; been a part of the coveted CCMA house band (2016, 2017, 2018); as well as performed on festival stages such as Lucknow's Music In The Fields, Havelock Country Jamboree, Manitoulin Country Fest, Toronto Cider Festival, and at the Canadian Showcase at Midem in Cannes, France. Alessia is poised to continue to contribute to the future of country music, wherever the sound takes her.
Let's welcome in a new week with Alessia's beautiful cover she did a few years ago of Carrie Underwood's hit 'Heartbeat'!