Jason Kirkness, a country artist from Kleefeld, Manitoba, is known for his heartfelt storytelling and relatable music. His Top 40 hit “Anywhere the Night Goes” has garnered significant buzz ahead of his upcoming album, What Got Me Here.

The 2023 MCMA Male Artist of the Year, Kirkness has shared the stage with country icons like Luke Bryan and Keith Urban. His songs, including “Anywhere the Night Goes” and “What’s Wrong With Me” have earned critical acclaim and strong airplay in Canada and the U.S. With a growing fanbase and global radio support for his new single “My Vegas,” Jason’s his career continues to thrive, fueled by his authentic sound and passion for music.

The journey to What Got Me Here began in 2022, with Kirkness releasing singles and carefully curating the tracks that would shape the album. The title reflects his gratitude for the people and experiences that have helped him get to this point in his musical journey.

“The album is called What Got Me Here because I wanted to pay tribute to those who’ve supported me and the experiences that have shaped me as an artist,” he says. Kirkness wrote about half of the album’s tracks, collaborating with friends and fellow artists in both Nashville and his home province of Manitoba. Local artist Jason Petric penned the hit “What’s Wrong With Me,” a song that was destined for Kirkness’s poignant voice. Another track, “She Loves My ATV,” was written back in 2012, sparking nostalgic memories and plenty of laughs when Kirkness revisited it.

Of course, the song that holds a special place in his heart is “Anywhere the Night Goes.” “It really changed my life,” Kirkness said. “It’s always a favourite to perform live and when the crowd sings along, it still gives me shivers.”

Join Jason Kirkness in celebrating the release of What Got Me Here with special guests Brady Kenneth and Brandi Vezina at Sidestage on Sunday, November 24. Tickets are available at jasonkirkness.com/tour.

Physical copies of What Got Me Here are at jasonkirkness.com.

Originally from Owen Sound, Ontario, Jeff Catto is an artist with energy, raw talent, and a touch of grit. Now based in Calgary, Catto brings his dynamic blend of pop-rock country to life, blending smooth vocals with smoky, heartfelt storytelling. His style has drawn comparisons to icons like Dierks Bentley, Nate Smith, and Jason Aldean, and his sound continues to evolve, capturing the attention of fans.

His latest single, “Gold,” dropped on August 16, joining a collection of fan favourites he’s crafted at the renowned MCC Studios. Tracks like “Out of My Head,” “Dang Girl,” “Million Dollar View,” “Livin’ My Best Life,” and “Friend” have all resonated on radio, with Want You Even More and Friend enjoying extended time on Sirius XM and gaining traction on over 500 stations across Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

In January 2021, Catto launched his debut country track, “Round of Life,” a personal anthem celebrating family, daily joys, and his vibrant household. With over 120k streams and widespread radio play, the song cemented his place on the country scene. His follow-up love song, “Want You Even More,” broadened his reach and established him as a heartfelt storyteller.

As he continued to build momentum, Catto has had the privilege opening for some of country’s biggest names, including Gary Levox (Rascal Flatts), Aaron Goodvin, Aaron Pritchett, Gord Bamford, Deric Ruttan, Doc Walker, and Kira Isabella.

His latest single, “Didn’t See it Coming,” was written in the wake of a life-changing divorce. For Catto, this song is a personal reminder that life’s unexpected turns often work out in ways we never anticipate.

Beyond performing, Catto writes and produces his own music, occasionally collaborating with other artists. His recently released EP, Bless Your Heart, is a two-year labor of love. These five tracks capture a “breakup” chapter of his life, recorded at MCC Studios, which recently won a CCMA Award for Studio of the Year.

“It’s been amazing seeing these songs come to life. Some of them were written years ago, and now my band and I are diving into new material. It’s an exciting new chapter,” Catto shares.

His signature country-rock sound has deepened over the years, as he’s embraced the vulnerable, genuine connection between artist and listener. “The relationship between the artist and listeners is so intimate because they’re hearing everything the artist is going through,” he reflects.

With 35 shows lined up through January, Jeff Catto is just getting started on his next exciting chapter in country music. His evolving artistry and unwavering drive make him one to watch on the country scene.

Make sure to give his new EP Bless Your Heart a listen and catch one of his many upcoming live shows.

Justine Blanchet is a bilingual country artist from Montreal, inspired by legends like Shania Twain and Carrie Underwood. She started releasing music in 2017 and has since accumulated over a million streams. She’s performed at notable events such as Nashville’s Bluebird Café and RBC Bluesfest, and she’s had a #4 hit on CBC Country/Sirius XM with “Get Out of the Mud.”

Blanchet started her music career in opera at the age of 12 and became classically trained but ultimately realized the genre wasn’t for her. She found country music was the genre for her because of the songwriting and storytelling aspect of it.

Since 2017, she independently released 13 singles, which have gotten spins on country radio stations throughout Canada.

Blanchet has recently released her newest single, “What I Got” as she continues making significant strides in reaching her next country music milestone.

The song is about a traumatic and damaging relationship she went through. The process of writing the song helped her channel and process her feelings.

During the creation of the music video for “What I Got” it was important for her to visualize the lyrics and meaning of the song. When the song was complete she sat with it and waited to see what images would come to mind.

She wanted to bring lyrics to life by using props and visuals in a meaningful way.

” I didn’t want to song to be bitter and full of hate but for the sentiment to be ‘just do better next time’ and I got to experiment with that and powerful imagery through the video,”she explained.

Justine Blanchet is in the process of putting a band together in hopes of performing live more often. A goal is for her to build a show audiences will want to come out and see.

Make sure to listen to “What I Got” and stay up-to-date on new releases and shows from Justine Blanchet!

JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter, Desiree Dorion’s seventh studio album, remember your name explores a genre shift from Country into Roots/Americana. Dorion felt there is more artistic creativity in Roots/Americana and she wanted to step outside of her comfort zone and explore new creative corners.

 “The Roots world feels really authentic for me. I love the creative freedom – musically and lyrically – I feel I can explore more within this genre. I felt ready to sit in the studio and give my input on the music and production – something I rarely did in the Country Pop world,” she shared.

remember your name offers a collection of songs that reflect Dorion’s artistic growth, evolution and dedication to delivering authentic songs. It follows a theme of relationships whether that be with someone else or yourself. Dorion started writing the album two or three years ago with “Greta” being the first song she wrote.

The first single off the album is “Ghost” – a breakup song about moments when you are excited, sad, angry and “Ghost” digs into the more angry feelings after a breakup.

“The title track “remember your name” is about digging into your own inner strength and remembering were you come from and leaning on that in difficult times,” Dorian explained.

Dorion discovered there are many professionals that are doing great work both in the live music scene and in session recordings and decided to do something about it.

“As I was reflecting on my career and work so far I realized I haven’t been putting my money where my mouth is and I actively sought out Indigenous contributors who could lend their talents to this record. It was really a cool exercise to literally put my money where my mouth is – paying Indigenous musicians a fair fee for their work and including Indigenous musicians from the bottom up of the recording process,” she said.

Dorion has contributed her expertise to a range of community focused initiatives. In collaboration with the Canadian Country Music Association, she hosted the Indigenous-focused Achimotak series and currently serves as an ambassador for the Downie Wenjack Foundation. She also does a lot of advocacy work in Indigenous music particularly as it relates to Indigenous women in music.

Be sure to listen to remember your name and catch Desiree Dorion at one of her upcoming shows!

September 27, 2024: The Watson Arts Centre – Dauphin, MB 

September 30 to October 5 2024:– The National Arts Centre – Calgary, AB 

October 6, 2024: The Royal George – Winnipeg, MB   

---

Devin Cooper is a southern-rock-influenced country artist, who has kicked off 2024 with a bang. Cooper was nominated for five Country Music Alberta Awards and released his country-rock love anthem, “She’s My Religion,“ on February 9th. The single quickly climbed to the top, becoming the #1 song on Sirius XM’s Top of The Country radio.

This momentum continues with Cooper’s latest release of his 22-track double album, Good Things: Deluxe Edition.

His debut album Good Things released in 2022, Good Things was more than just an album—it was a reflection of life’s lessons, good and bad. As Cooper began writing songs for what he thought would be his sophomore album, he realized they belonged to the same storyline as Good Things and wasn’t ready to close that chapter yet.

Cooper had a vision: to continue exploring the themes of Good Things and present both fully-produced and acoustic versions of the songs. He wanted fans to experience the music as he first wrote it and compare it to the final versions. That’s how Good Things: Deluxe Edition came to life.

To capture the raw essence of his music, Cooper recorded the acoustic tracks for the deluxe edition in front of a live audience at OCL Studios in Calgary. A longtime fan of live acoustic tracks, he thought it would be an incredible experience for 40 of his biggest supporters to see his music recorded in real-time. Each attendee was given headphones to hear every behind-the-scenes moment, from producers’ discussions to the recording process itself.

“It was great to have the fans be a part of making the record,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s tight-knit team of collaborators, including close friends, played a vital role in shaping the story behind every song on the album. Co-writing each track allowed them to bring a cohesive narrative to life, adding another layer of depth to the Good Things chapter.

With a slate of new music in the works, Cooper is already exploring new directions and is eager to perform live!

Stay tuned for more music and upcoming show dates from Devin Cooper—you won’t want to miss what’s next.

---

For over two decades, Aaron Pritchett has been a household name in Canadian country music, consistently delivering high-energy performances and incredible music.

With 13 Top Ten hits under his belt, Pritchett has shown his versatility as an artist and continues to push boundaries with his music. His 2016 hit single “When a Momma’s Boy Meets a Daddy’s Girl” recently became gold certified joining other singles of his.

His latest single, “Liquored Up,” from his new album Demolition, features collaborations with Quebec-country sensation Matt Lang and rising outlaw country star Cory Marks. This is a feel good tune that is sure to get an audience ready to party at an Aaron Prichett show.

A Personal Touch on Demolition

Aaron’s new album, Demolition, represents a shift in his approach to music. Rather than focusing on radio-friendly singles, he wanted to create something more personal and meaningful. “I wanted to record something more in-depth, and that was the point of this album—having songs that mean more to me,” he shared.

One of the most significant changes for this album was his decision to work with his son, Jordan Pritchett, as the producer. This collaboration made the album even more special for Aaron, as it allowed him to dive deeper into his personal life, especially with the title track, “Demolition.”

The song “Where We’ll Go From Here” holds a particularly emotional significance for Aaron. Originally written in 2008 for his son Jordan’s graduation, the track was revisited during the creation of Demolition. This time, all three of his sons joined him in singing on the track, making it a touching family moment.

“It makes me so happy to have that special moment with this song, which added to the importance of the album,” Aaron said.

The Liquored Up Tour and What’s Next

Earlier this year, Aaron hit the road for the Liquored Up Tour, alongside Cory Marks and Matt Lang. Reflecting on the experience, Aaron said, “The tour went by too fast and felt like a week, which is the sad thing about it; every show was so great.”

What set this tour apart was its unique structure. Instead of having traditional opening acts, Aaron, Cory, and Matt shared headlining roles, collaborating throughout the show. They performed together at the beginning, middle, and end, while also having solo moments to showcase their individual talents. This format kept the energy high and the audience engaged from start to finish.

Aaron is looking forward to some well-deserved time off—especially as he recently became a grandfather! But he’s not slowing down completely. He plans to work on new music with hopes of releasing something in the next year or so. He also has plans to continue traveling and is currently in the process of writing a book that will delve into his music career and personal life.

Aaron Pritchett’s plan for releasing new country music is far from over, and fans can look forward to more heartfelt music, engaging performances, and perhaps even a deeper look into his life and career with his upcoming book.

Stay updated with everything Aaron Prichett here!