Cashbox Canada and Record World International magazines are hosting a special performance showcase Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Spike Bulgarian Music Festival in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. As we believe music has no borders, we have chosen three special bands to perform from 8-11 pm as a kick-off party event.

What better way to start a global showcase than to kick it off with a local Bulgarian band!

Time Jugglers formed in 2016 and from day one were hitting audiences with the whole spectrum of rock, from alternative to heavy metal to blues. After their first album, “Stories in Time” (2019), they conducted a successful tour of the country, and their track “Hot Fire” caught the attention of Classic Rock Magazine. Their single “Spineless,” featuring Svetlana Bliznakova of SEVI, was on Z-Rock’s Top 30 for 13 weeks.

There's a Ribbon of Darkness over the music industry, Gordon Lightfoot is gone. Just typing that felt wrong, I thought Gordon would always be here, probably because he always was. He was a part of our lives for six decades, from the 1960s to the 2220s. So many songs from the early days of Ribbon of Darkness, Steel Rail Blues, The Way I Feel and I'm Not Saying to Black Day in July, Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald to his classic If You Could Read My Mind, Lightfoot continued to grow as a songwriter, cementing his place in musical history and becoming, as Robbie Robertson put it, " A Canadian treasure." And causing Bob Dylan to say "I can't think of any Gordon Lightfoot song I don't like. Every time I hear a song of his, it's like I wish it would last forever."

Marc Jordan, from whose pen emerged the classic global top-5 pop hit for Rod Stewart 1991’s “Rhythm of My Heart”, today announces his new solo album will be released worldwide on April 21, 2023. An advance single “Tell Me Where It Hurts” has just been released and is an example of the kind of romantic ballad Marc is renowned for writing.

Watch and listen to “Tell Me Where It Hurts” on YouTube here:

Marc Jordan’s song craft is lauded by the likes of Diana Ross, Cher and Joe Cocker, all of whom have covered his songs, but Marc is an artist in his own right since his first album was released on Warner Records in 1978 generating the hit “Marina Del Rey.”

Having chalked up over fifty years at the peak of the music and entertainment industry, Justin Hayward’s voice has been heard the world over. Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, his is an enduring talent that has helped to define the times in which he worked. Over the years the band has sold more than fifty five million albums and received numerous awards. Commercial success has gone hand in hand with critical acclaim and The Moody Blues are renowned the world over as innovators and trail blazers who have influenced any number of fellow artists. In 2018, along with the other members of The Moody Blues, Justin was inducted into the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

These are troubled times in so many ways. Wars are still being fought, political unrest and division is high and uncomfortable and gun violence and mass shootings are occurring in epidemic proportions. Fifty plus years ago the folksingers in the United States wrote songs of protest about the war and political unrest and hoped that their words would create a change. Folksingers like Phil Ochs, ‘I Ain't Marching Anymore’, Bob Dylan, ‘Blowing In The Wind’ and Eric Andersen, ‘Thirsty Boots’, all were part of the youth for change movement. So in the new millennium who among the young artists would write about the current situation? Who would address the division and the gun violence? I couldn't find any . Why not? I'm not sure. Maybe they lack the blind optimism that they could make a difference?

Watch and Listen to “Dangerland” on YouTube here:

The Weeknd scored four awards at the 2023 Juno Opening Night Awards, which was livestreamed from the Edmonton Convention Centre on Saturday (March 11). The Canadian superstar took artist of the year for a record fourth time; songwriter of the year for a record fourth time; single of the year for a record-tying third time for “Sacrifice”; and pop album of the year for the first time for Dawn FM.

This brings The Weeknd’s total of Juno Awards to 21, which puts him in a tie with Bryan Adams for second place on the all-time Juno leaderboard. Anne Murray continues to lead all artists with 25 Junos.

Through five decades, Bruce Springsteen has served as a cultural phenomenon (twice, at least), a brittle and dark acoustic storyteller, a folk revivalist, a new Dylan, a working-class hero, "rock 'n roll future," a force for political and social change, an eloquent songwriter and unabashed party-rocker (often in the same song), a live performer of legendary energies, and a prodigy and preacher of the "majesty, the mystery and the ministry of rock ‘n roll."

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician, simply known as “The Boss”.

Photo Credits: Rebeka Slatter

Following the critical success of previous single Reef, which enjoyed support from Fresh On The Net, Essentially Pop, BBC Scotland, Ulster&Radio X, Scandinavian Singer-songwriter Malin Andersson kicks off 2023 with the release of Avalon – a song about misplaced empathy & a further taste of what’s to come on her upcoming album Space To Feel.

What a truly strange and stressful few years we have all experienced! COVID, wars, tragedies, hurricanes, tornados, short of locusts we have experienced it all. (Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned locusts and invited that one in!)

But throughout it all we have had music. There is a song for every moment, every memory we have had in our lives. Artists carried on providing us with new songs to keep us going. Legendary artists are touring reminding us about the soundtrack of our lives.

So with music always there – what else do we need? Love. It always ends up as important as breathing and our hearts beating.

What better way to celebrate February the month of love with Cashbox Canada and Cashbox Radio than to create a Pick Hit list of what we love as our favourite songs.

We kick it off with an amazing rendition of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David-penned song, What the World Needs Now is Love. Released in 2018 this cover features

Burt Bacharach, Steve Tyrell, Martina McBride, Rod Stewart, James Taylor & Dionne Warwick and truly is remarkable.

Check it out on YouTube here:

Fed up with lies from his partner, Oshawa, ON singer/songwriter Mark Wihlidal puts his faith in Karma on his new single “You and Me,” following his joyous debut single, “Life Can Be A Mystery” released in July 2022. Both songs were written and recorded collaboratively with his band, Mark Wihlidal and The Doctors of Music.

Check it out on YouTube here:

The band takes us on a “Bo Diddley bluesy” trip of a relationship that has gone wrong with the hope that Karma will balance everything out.

“You can run but, you can’t hide
Karma will get you every time
You can’t hide those little lies
It will catch you from behind”

Wintersong Music Festival has officially announced the headliners for their 4th edition, taking place January 20th - 21st, 2023 in Stouffville, ON. The annual festival draws thousands to the local area in the shoulder-season of Winter, giving a much-needed boost to the local economy.

Wintersong will be headlined by Montreal indie-pop band Stars; two-time JUNO award winning musician Dan Mangan; and 80’s new wave/synth-pop band Men Without Hats.

They will be joined by 2022 Polaris shortlisted OMBIIGIZI - a collaboration between Zoon’s Daniel Monkman and Status/Non Status’ Adam Sturgeon; and local indie-folk band Man Made Forest.

And so we now wind up the Year of 2022.

“Coming out of COVID” has certainly been a trying time and although restrictions were lifted, we all still had to adjust to a new way of working and living.

Especially in the live music sector, where the legendary artists were trying to honor bookings that were two years old, and the smaller artists were trying to get back to playing bars and venues, of which many closed, not being able to wait it out for things to return to ‘normal.'. In addition, I believe that creative folks are all 'sociable introverts' at heart, so trying to get back out there after almost to years of isolation has its own challenges.

For Cashbox Canada, as an online music magazine, our revenue stream is surely not built on ad support. With social media and so many other ways of promoting music, it seems like our magazine magically happens every week, and we do it out of the love for music.

But it truly is Team Cashbox that keeps it running. So my heartfelt thanks to my teammates:

Jain McMillan - who is our graphic guru and the one who creates those beautiful covers you see every week

From raising hell to singing for the Lord Joe Richard’s transition is complete. From his early days in music which occasionally took him of the chosen path and on to the garden path with drugs and partying the Loudonville, Ohio Native is finally and gratefully where he belongs. ” 

I was raised in a musical family. I was only seven years old when I joined my first band. My Dad had a country band, James Paul and The Blue Country. When I was about five I’d watch my Dad’s drummer and try to figure out what he was doing. . My Dad saw my interset and took notice bought me a drum set for my sixth birthday. A year later I joined my first band Iron Fist, playing Kiss, Peter Frampton, and other classi rock tunes . Years later in high school I was in a group called , The Ramblin Band. We got to open for established acts bands like Charlie Daniels, David Allan Coe and , Emmy Lou Harris, Tom T. Hall and Ray Stevens.” 

Alexander McLean Mair passed away in Toronto on November 25, 2022 at the age of 82. There are few involved in any facet of the Canadian music industry that didn’t know of Al Mair. There are none in the Canadian music industry that didn’t benefit from Al Mair.

In 1974, Al co-founded Attic Records, Canada’s largest and most successful independent record company before it was sold to The SONG Corporation in 1999. Through those 25 years, Attic’s sales exceeded $100 million in Canada. Prior to Attic, Al managed the career of Gordon Lightfoot, helping navigate the singer’s career to massive international success.

Singer-songwriter, actor and activist Tom Jackson is once again hitting the road for charity. The 74-year-old, whose philanthropic efforts have raised an estimated $250 million in cash and in-kind food banks and disaster relief since the 80s, will launch his national Stories, Songs & Santa Causes tour Nov. 24 in Edmonton and wrap up on Dec. 16 in St. John’s.

Sponsored by Canada Life — the 26th year of their support — the pre-holiday concerts feature an evening of original music, sing-along tunes, and signature Christmas music from master storyteller, Tom Jackson; BC Country Music Association hall-of-fame producer, Tom McKillip; and award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist John MacArthur Ellis begins November 24.

“Stories, Songs & Santa Causes is about the why not the what. For us, the why is to make you happy, because healthy is happy, and happy is healthy. This show is designed to get you out of your funk, and for you to help us save lives. The ‘why’ is what separates us from others. Buy a ticket, save lives. Stories, Songs & Santa Causes is about giving a gift,” says Tom.

Vancouver-based band Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues, formed in 1978, are finally history, in the most literal sense. The National Canadian Museum of History has just completed an acquisition of Powder Blues artifacts that will become a part of the CMH permanent collection.

“We are incredibly honored that the National Canadian Museum of History has chosen to preserve our legacy. It is our hope the display will convey some of the joy, passion and energy that we have shared with and received from our great audiences over the past 44 years,” says Lavin. “It’s satisfying to know that these items will be protected and shared for years to come. I could not have asked for a more perfect home than this great and respected museum in Gatineau.”

Check ‘em out live on YouTube here:

Christmas is a difficult time for many – if not most – people, even if that isn’t the way it’s usually portrayed by retailers and in the media. With that in mind, alt-country artist Andrea England gets refreshingly, reassuringly honest about the bitter-sweetness of the holiday in her new single “Jolly Melancholy Christmas” – check it out on YouTube here:

A slow, thoughtful guitar ballad, “Jolly Melancholy Christmas” is introspective without being a complete tearjerker (although you’re absolutely allowed to cry). Like many people, England recently lost some people who were close to her, and the loss has tinged the holidays with sadness over the last few years.

Cover Photo Credit: Michael Spillane

Canadian treasure Lisa Hartt is back on the airwaves with a moving tribute to her late brother, Christopher, with a song entitled "Don't Tell Me How I Feel".

Watch and listen to "Don't Tell Me How I Feel" on YouTube here:

The Million Dollar Quartette is reunited in Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven as Jerry Lee Lewis joins Elvis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins in the great celestial band of brothers. Lewis, the hard livin', hard rockin' boogie-woogie piano innovator and bluesy, country, rock ‘n’ roll singer passed away on October 28, 2022 at his home in DeSoto County, Miss., south of Memphis at the age of 87.