Dwayne LaForme's Impressive Debut Demands to be Heard!

Mini-Review: Relax may be Dwayne LaForme's debut album but this is a tight collection of road-tested tunes with a few battle scars. Dwayne is a Blues veteran and he, along with his impressive band, amplify the funk, soul, rock, swing and more to craft songs that demand to heard.

Personnel: 

• Jim Casson (drums)
• Shane Scott (bass)
• Chris Wheeler (second guitar)
• Mike Doyle (organ): 
• Pat Carey (saxophone)

Available: Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, His Live Shows (CD & Vinyl)

Links: Dwayne LaForme, More Dwayne LaForme Stories, Video above courtesy of Release - Topic

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The Lowdown Dirty Mojos Take You Thru Salvation & Sin On 'Lucky 7'

Mini-Review: Lucky 7, the high-octane album from Hamilton's Lowdown Dirty Mojos is not your typical covers collection. These ain't the same songs you've heard a million times - they're revved up versions of  hidden gems from the likes of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mavis Staples, Huey Piano Smith, The Velvet Underground, Barbra Lynn as well as Ike & Tina Turner. These tracks'll take you on a wonderful, soulful journey through salvation and sin.

Guests: 

• The Shiny Lights (Patti Smith, Mimi Shaw, Buckshot Bebee) (background vocals)
• Dean Hunt (sax)
• Les Kadar (trumpet)

Available: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Their Live Shows (CD)

Links: The Lowdown Dirty Mojos, More Mojos Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday - Mark McNeil: Greetings From Hamilton

Original Post: August 12, 2009

Updated Post: August 20, 2026

Update: This album is not available on streaming services and is now hard to find on CD.

Spectator reporter and musician, Mark McNeil recently released his third recording: Greetings from Hamilton.

The six songs on the EP showcase Mark's expressive voice, and his amazing talent with various instruments: guitar (acoustic, electric, Hawaiian, slide), bass, ukulele, banjo and mandolin.

The music is an incredible combination of folk, country, pop and many other styles. There is even a little reggae-esque feeling on the first track, Early Bird.

Lyrically, the album is a wonderful look at the many facets of Hamilton. Mark writes about his experiences in his adopted city (he's originally from Ottawa but has lived here for over 25 years).

"It's kind of a postcard to friends from long ago - to say I'm having a good time and I don't think I'll be moving back to Ottawa any time soon." Mark wrote in the the liner notes.

Joining in his celebration of Hamilton are a few local players such as Steve Sinnicks, Aaron Goldstein, Ray Lyell, Troy Dowding, and more. The disc is produced by Mark and Dan Medakovic and Engineered by Dan Medakovic and Rob Lamothe

Links: Mark McNeil, More Mark McNeil stories, Video above courtesy of Mark McNeil, More Releases

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Rob Lamothe's Unforgettable Voice & Inspired Songwriting Take Centre Stage on New Live Album

Mini-Review: I've you've had the pleasure of listening to the incredible local singer/songwriter Rob Lamothe, you know about his unforgettable voice and inspired songwriting. His recent album, Live at St. Pancras Old Church lays everything bare. With mainly his voice and an acoustic guitar, Rob's vocals and lyrics take centre stage and have room to breathe. His daughter Rose Lamothe also lends her equally unique voice to two tracks. 

Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music

Links: Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday - The Acoustics 'Forever and a Day' Gets Noticed (2009)

Original post: January 24, 2009

Updated: August 6, 2026

Forever and a Day, the instrumental album by Hamilton folk/roots group, the Acoustics, got a bit of notice in 2009

From their blog entry:

It is with great pride and joy to share the news that The Acoustics have just been nominated for a JPF Music Award for World Album of the year 2009, for our CD, 

JPF (Just Plain Folks Music Organization) is a community of over 51,500 Songwriters, Recording Artists and Music Industry Professionals — and host to the world's largest independent music awards

The Acoustics, the only Canadian artists to be nominated in this category. Not bad, eh!!!

Hoping for the best!

Ciao for now

Alfonso

Update from their Myspace Blog

Unfortunately we did not win the award for World Album of the year. However for what it’s worth we came in 2nd place! Second out of ten nominees is not bad.

Links: Acoustics, More Acoustics Stories, Album above courtesy of The Acoustics - Topic, More Releases

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Johnny Max & His So-Called Friends is a Remarkable Album

Mini-Review: Toronto's Johnny Max surrounds himself with oodles of talented artists from the Hamilton & Niagara areas for his latest remarkable album. Johnny Max & His So-Called Friends, is packed with a Blues sounds:  boogie-woogie, jazz, soul, funk, country-flavours, and more. This is all blended in to Johnny's trademark down to earth stylings and lyrics.

Available on Bandcamp, Spotify, Amazon Music

Main Band

• Johnny Max - Lead Vocals, Producer
• Jim Casson - Drums & Percussion, Producer
• Mitch Lewis - Guitars
• Dylan Wickens - Guitars
• Steve Goldberger - Bass
• Bill Evans - Keyboards

Guests

• Neil Chapman - Guitar 
• Jay Burr - Tuba
• Quisha Wint - Vocals
• Suzie Vinnick - Vocals
• Wayne Deadder - Guitars & Vocals
• Russ Boswell - Bass
• Dave Dunlop - Trumpet
• Sabine Casson - Vocals 
• Nan McAneney  - Spoken Voice

Links: Johnny Max, More Johnny Max Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday: Melissa Bel Debut Album + EP (2009)

Original Post: September 15, 2009 & July 19, 2009

Updated Post: July 16, 2026

Melissa Bel Debut: Brave

In September 2009, Burlington's Melissa Bel released her debut album, Brave.

Melissa's incredible, smooth voice is used to great effect as she travels through blues, pop, soul, rock, and folk with ease.

Special notes:

• All online versions of the album do not contain the song You Don't Fool Me, which was on the CD
• The CD of the album is now hard to find

Available on: Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music

Album above courtesy of Melissa Bel

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Melissa Bel: Self Titled EP

There's a little bit of everything on this EP. Bluesier numbers such as Distance (co-written with Ray Lyell) and He'll Never be You share the spotlight with soulful pop-folk gems like We All Lose Our Way, I Hate to Say it and Tragedy in Disguise. Melissa ends this amazing collection with a smooth version of Smokey Robinson's You've Really Got a Hold On Me. 

Personnel (highlights): 

• Sean Ashby (guitar)
• Mark McIntyre (bass)
• Danny Lockwood & Craig Lapsley (drums)
• Jesse O'Brien & Bill King (piano)

Special notes:

• Songs from this EP that also appeared on the album Brave were remixed, remastered or rerecorded for the later recording
• You've Really Got a Hold On Me is the only song from the EP that wasn't on also on her debut album.
• The EP is not available online 
• The CD is hard to find.

Links: Melissa Bel, More Melissa-Bel stories, More Releases

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Hamilton's Kyle Pacey Weaves Innovative Soundscapes & Emotional Storytelling on New EP

Mini-Review: The world is constantly chaging and Hamilton's Kyle Pacey reflects that in his poignant new EP, After the Fall. With genre-blending precision, Kyle weaves between pessimism, optimism, hope and disaster. Emotional storytelling and innovative sonic landscapes take listeners on an almost philosophical journey.

Personnel

• Kyle Pacey (guitar, vocals)
• Kevin Christoff & Gordon Hall (bass)
• Michael Sloski, Johnny Winiarz, Bruno Farrugia (drums)
• Michael Birthelmer (acoustic guitar)
• Ed Roth (keyboards)

Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music

Links: Kyle Pacey, More Kyle Pacey Stories, More Releases, Album courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday - LeE HARVeY OsMOND DVD: "Live at Tractorgrease"

Original Post: July 22, 2009

Updated Post: July 2, 2026

Note: This DVD was a very limited release and is now a rare find.

According to the LeE HARVeY OsMOND Facebook Fan Page, their DVD Live @ Tractorgrease was available at their shows and DivineIndustries.com. LHO featured local rock star Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Florida Razors) and Junkhouse drummer Ray Farrugia along with members of the Skydiggers and the Cowboy Junkies.

Links: LeE HARVeY OsMOND, More LeE HARVeY OsMOND stories, Video above courtesy of highorhurtin, More Releases

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Spencer Mackenzie Grows by Leaps and Bounds on Empty Chairs

Mini review: Empty Chairs, the latest album from Juno-nominated Niagara Blues superstar Spencer Mackenzie is getting a lot of international attention and for good reason. He grows with each release and Empty Chairs sees him painting with a lot more colours. Lyrically, the album delves into more personal and sometimes darker themes proving his songwriting is expanding by leap and bounds. You can also hear a touch of gospel and rootsier elements to his work.

Available on: CD/Vinyl Through His Website, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music

Released on: Gypsy Soul Records

Personnel:

• Spencer Mackenzie (vocals, guitar)
• Miles Evans-Branagh (piano, organ)
• Stacey Shopsowitz & Steve Pelletier (bass)
• Adam Canon & Matt Burns (drums)
• Sandra Bouza & Chantel Williams (background vocals)

Stream the album below

Links: Album above courtesy of Spencer Mackenzie - Topic, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday - Hamilton's Jack de Keyzer on Harmonica Shah Album

Original post: July 15, 2009

Updated Post: April 23, 2026

Talented bluesman Harmonica Shah may be from Detroit but he knows exactly where to find great blues players.

Hamilton's own Jack deKeyzer plays guitar on his latest album, If All You Have is a Hammer, Everything Looks Like a Nail through Electro-Fi Records

Joining Shah and DeKeyzer are Canadians Alec Fraser (bass) and Al Cross (drums). Juno award winner, Julian Fauth also lends occasional piano to the disc.

If All You Have . . . is good old fashioned Blues in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters with a bit of soul. DeKeyzer's guitar prowess is evident on all tracks. There's booty shaking boogie and some amazing slower numbers too.

Available through: Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music

Stream the album below

Links: Harmonica Shah, More Harmonica Shah Stories,  Jack de Keyzer, More Jack De Keyzer Stories, More Releases, Album above courtesy of Harmonica Shah - Topic

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Throwback Thursday - Dave Pomfret: No Rush + Album Release Videos

Original Post: July 1, 2009

Updated Post: April 9, 2026

Former Munday Nuns member, Dave Pomfret's album, No Rush, is an amazing collection of songs that's hard to pin down stylistically.

Dave goes from catchy, rockin' riffs to mellow melodies. On the way, he touches on folk, rock, and even bits of pop and country thrown in.

Joining Dave in making this great music is former Nuns bandmate (and former member of the Killjoys) Mike Trebilcock on guitar and many other instruments. Mike also produced the disc.

A number of other talented performers aided and abetted the singer/songwriter, including: Mark McIntyre (bass), Aaron Goldstein (pedal steel guitar), Craig Lapsley (drums), Troy Dowding (trumpet), Darcy Hepner (sax, organ), Rosemary Hale (violin), Sarah Honeyford (cello). On background vocals there's Mary Simon, Jean Caffeine, Karen Sturrock, and the Mississippi Kings. Dave's son, Brier Pomfret, plays the piano on it as well.

Available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube

Below are videos from his Album Release (and birthday) party on June 30, 2009. 

Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Links: Dave Pomfret, More Dave Pomfret Stories, More CD Releases, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Sarah Ivanco, came up and sang to start things off. She wowed the crowd.

Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

More Videos From This Show

• Mary Simon
• Not (Punk Band)
• Alfie Smith

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Dave Rave and the Governors Release Fierce Album

Mini review: Earlier last year, Hamilton's Dave Rave and his Minneapolis crew, the Governors released a fierce album into the wild. Eight is a roaring mix of Power Pop and Garage Rock.

Available on: Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music

Released on: RaeBeat Records

Personnel:

• Dave Rave (vocals, guitars)
• Rich Mattson (guitars, vocals)
• Craig Teiken (vocals & guitars)
• Mike Johnson (drums)
• Terry Isachsen (guitars)
• Paul McFarland (bass)

Stream the album below

Links: Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Throwback Thursday - Harrison Kennedy: One Dog Barking

Original Post - Oct 10, 2009

Updated Post: February 19, 2026

In late 2009, Hamilton Blues legend, Harrison Kennedy released his wonderful album, One Dog Barking from Electro-Fi Records.

While Kennedy continued the incredible country blues sound of his previous disc, High Country Blues, this collection had more of an R&B sound to it. Great tunes like Leading Lady, Cry for Mother Africa, and What About Forgiving showcased his amazingly soulful voice.

Available on: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music

Personnel:

• Harrison Kennedy (vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, percussion)
• Justin Dunlop (bass)
• Keith "Nappy" Lindsay (keyboards)

Below is review from the Oct 10, 2009 edition of the Hamilton Spectator. Click the pic to enlarge

Stream the album below

Links: Harrison Kennedy, More Harrison Kennedy Stories, Album above courtesy of Harrison Kennedy - Topic More Releases

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Rare 1969 Folk Album from Hamilton's Stefan Gnys Gets New Lease on Life

Hamilton's Stefan Gnys only made 12 copies of his album Horizoning when he first released it in 1969. Thanks to some YouTube exposure, a record company is now making it much less rare.

Below is a January 9, 2025 Hamilton Spectator article about the recoding's revival. Click the picture below to make it bigger.

Available on: Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music

Personnel:

• Stefan Gnys (vocals, guitar)
• David Van Duzen (songwriting, vocals, guitar, bass)

Stream the album below

Links: Stefan Gnys, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Hamilton's Superstar Crush Receive Rave Review in New Yorker

Hamilton's Superstar Crush received a rave review for their debut album, Way Too Much in the December 18, 2025 edition of the prestigious New Yorker magazine.

Here's the great review.

The Hamilton Spectator reported on this wonderful honour. On January 9, 2025. Click the picture below to make it bigger.

Available on: The band's website (including Vinyl), Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, 

Personnel:

• Band: Chloe Butler-Stubbs, Marzieh Darling, Sam Hansell, and Truaxe Fox
• Rick Chee (sax)
• Helen Faucher (violin)

Stream the album below

Links: Superstar Crush, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Tom Wilson's Unique Voice Shines Through Digital EP

Artist: Tom Wilson

Recording: We Live In Dreams (4 song digital EP)

Mini-Review: 

Hamilton's Tom Wilson has been releasing a few beautiful singles lately and he's collected four of them into a digital EP. Tom's unique voice shines through the sparse instrumentation, leaving room for the incredible lyrics to move you. 

Available on: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Bandcamp (as separate singles)

Personnel:

• Tom Wilson: vocal , acoustic guitar 
• Jesse O’Brien: piano, keyboars
• Thompson Wilson: vocals, bass (2 tracks)
• Aaron Goldstein:- pedal steel, baritone guitar (3 tracks)
• Gary Furniss: producer on all tracks - bass, guitars, keyboards (2 tracks)

Links: Tom Wilson, More Tom Wilson Stories, Video above courtesy of Tom Wilson Tehåhàhake, More Releases

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Stupendous Solo Album From Kitchener's Mike Elliott

Artist: Mike Elliott (Kitchener)

Recording: Let You Go

Label: Busted Flat Records

Mini-Review: 

Kitchener Bluesman Mike Elliott steps from out of the shadow of Daddy Long Legs and Elliott & the Audio Kings to craft his own stupendous solo offering. A musical  gumbo of rockabilly, fuzzy garage rock and blues, Let You Go grabs you and takes you on a compelling trip.

Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Physical media on Busted Flat

Personnel:

• Mike Elliott - Guitar, Vocals
• Jimmy Bowskill - Bass Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocals, Engineering
• Ian McKeown - Drums on 5 tracks
• Steve O’Connor - Wurlitzer on Change Your Mind
• Steve Marriner - Drums, Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Tremolo Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocals, Engineering, Mixing, Producer

Stream the album below

Links: Mike Elliott, More Mike Elliott Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Star-Studded Solo Debut from Dundas' Lily Sazz

Artist: Lily Sazz (Dundas)

Recording: What Just Happened

Mini-Review: 

Dundas' Lily Sazz is finally taking centre stage after years of playing with incredible arists such as the Trailblazers, Groove Corporation, Cootes Paradise, Women's Blues Revue, Rita Chiarelli, and many others. 

This is a fabulous way to kickstart a solo career! This star-studded project has everything from the deeply personal to the downright quirky. Every song is infused with own feel and will have you contemplating or shaking your moneymaker.

Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Physical media coming soon

Personnel:

Main Band: Lily Sazz (vocals, piano, organ, Tibetan tingsha cymbal), Robin Pirson (drums), Carrie Clark (bass)

Guests

• Colin Linden (slide guitar on Goodnight Sweetheart)
• "Trombone" Charlotte McAfee-Brunner (trombone on In A Hurry)
• Jack Pedler (cowbell on In A Hurry)
• Harry Manx (slide guitar, vocals on Train is Rollin')
• Scotty Bakalar (shaker on In A Hurry, güiro on Knack for That)
• Boreal - Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, Angie Nussey (background vocals on Knack for That)
• Darcy Hepner (tenor saxophone on Future Me)
• Suzie Vinnick (background vocal, acoustic & electric guitar on Isn't That So, guitar on Gaslight)
• Steve Marriner (harmonica on Gaslight)
• Colina Phillips and Jill Zadeh (background vocals on Better Stop)
• Scott Apted (drums, shaker on Better Stop/drums, tambourine, background vocal on I Can't Jam)
• Wayne DeAdder (bass on Better Stop, I Can't Jam)
• Mike Branton (guitar on Better Stop, I Can't Jam)

Stream the album below

Links: Album above courtesy of Bandcamp

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Hamilton's Ben Caplan Unleashes 'The Flood'

Artist: Ben Caplan (Born in Hamilton, Lives in Halifax)

Recording: The Flood

Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Digital through his website, Physical media through his website

Personnel:

• Ben Caplan: vocals and keyboards
• Andrew Wiseman: drums, synths, guitar, sound design
• Peter Lutek: space reeds
• Graham Scott: keyboards

Stream the album below

Links: Ben Caplan, More Ben Caplan Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp

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