Now heading into our 17^th year of publication, I know I always say this, but now more than ever, I need to acknowledge the Cashbox Team.

Chris Wardman, you have literally been with me since day 1 when we had a coffee 17 years ago and planned to roll out the first Cashbox Canada.  You are the backbone that helps me turn out a weekly publication, daunting but so rewarding. I couldn’t do it without you.

Music in Motion Canada has now announced the winners of the 2024 Competition, which is the second year of this unique and innovative initiative. MiMc was created to provide a platform for undiscovered INDIE talent to gain connections, opportunities, and exposure to award-winning music industry professionals.

This much needed competition has shown once again that Canada has amazing talent. I was thrilled to see the level of musicianship, and professionalism from the participation.

Awards and prizes are given to individuals who exceed in their originality, skill, and distinction. Prizes include branding, media marketing, consulting & mentoring, promotion and distinction. An esteemed group of music industry icons were chosen to adjudicate and make the final decisions.

One of life's bigger events is the birth of a child and the dichotomy that comes for parents. On one hand there's the joy of seeing a little bundle of joy while on the other there is the fear and stress of how to look after and care for that same little bundle of joy. For John Dawson, his latest single "Things That I Meant To Say" serves as a credo to tell his child of the wholehearted love and support they'll have regardless of what unexpected twists, turns or hurdles life has in store.

Toronto’s own The Kewpie Dolls are proud to announce the release of their debut recordings. Featuring the songs “Bad Boy Mine” and “Private Party”, this high-energy showcase of their signature 1960s-inspired garage-punk sound is available on 7” 45rpm vinyl through Ugly Pop Records. Both tracks were recorded and mixed by Paddy Burn.

The Kewpie Dolls Bandcamp
thekewpiedolls.bandcamp.com/album/the-kewpie-dolls-ep

Canada’s Walk of Fame proudly announced today that Liona Boyd, internationally celebrated classical guitarist, composer, and five-time Juno Award winner, is among the first round of Inductees to be honoured in 2025 under the Arts & Entertainment category. This milestone coincides with the 50th anniversary of Boyd’s debut album, released in 1974.

Joining an illustrious group of past inductees such as Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Celine Dion, and Leonard Cohen, Boyd’s induction recognizes her unparalleled contributions to music and her influence on Canadian culture.

Featuring Barenaked Ladies, Alex Lifeson, Broken Social Scene, Billy Talent, Dan Hill, Wiliam Prince, Men Without Hats, Roch Voisine, Emm Gryner, and Molly Johnson celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Kumbaya

Tickets to the 20^th annual celebration on-sale Oct 18th at 10 am local time at TicketMaster.ca with proceeds supporting CAMH’s Gifts of Light

Prices range from $35.50- $85.50 (plus service charges)

All Ages / Reserved Seating

For media accreditation requests, please visit: www.livenation.com/pressrequests

Jamie Fine’s latest single, “like i do,” will be released on November 22 through Frostbyte Media, a boutique division of Virgin / Universal Music. Frostbyte is part of the internationally distributed SRG-ILS label group, home to celebrated artists like UB40, Saukrates, Chaka Khan, Brian McKnight, J. Brown, and Keke Palmer.

Advance Link here: https://srgils.lnk.to/likeido

Jamie Fine has always been refreshingly real. It’s her openness—her willingness to share her authentic self—that has endeared her to millions as a relatable, down-to-earth voice in pop today. In “like i do,” the Ottawa-born singer-songwriter celebrates her unique quirks, offering listeners a heartfelt glimpse into the complexities of love and self-acceptance. Fine acknowledges that she can be a handful to love but trusts that, beneath it all, her big heart shines through.

Get ready for the latest release from International Recording Artist JC Sol original track of “Take Me Home”, the latest from the renowned soul, smooth jazz vocalist.

Watch on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kMYzJg0F1Iy5R-bXAcxl8DaE2…

“My decision to go beyond the Canadian borders with part of this project was motivated by the many incredible musical connections I’ve made through social media over the past 5 years. The Smooth Jazz R & B market in LA and New York is thriving so I wanted to bring some Canadian soul to the genre.

Nova Scotia-via-Toronto singer-songwriter Sandy Bell’s debut solo album, Break of Day: Songs for Colin, was born out of heart-wrenching grief, after losing her only son Colin Bell in a tragic train accident. He died at age 20 while walking home one night, listening to music on his headphones, in Brantford, Ontario. (See below for greater detail.) Produced by Andrew Collins (five-time JUNO-nominated and seven-time Canadian Folk Music Awards winner).

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/2RyNNWvkxOCQ79xAfqyrDG

While Bell has sung and written music for much of her life, and co-founded country roots band The Wanted, for decades she was devoted to raising her boy and professionally promoting other music artists' dreams. But she kept her own dream alive to someday release a solo album. It took retiring and moving to Nova Scotia for Bell to finally do it, at age 63 – even though this was never the album she imagined recording.

“Candy Mountain,” the indie cult classic about a musician’s quest to find a legendary guitar craftsman, has been digitally restored in 2K and will be re-released to theaters on October 25. Originally released in 1987, the film stars Kevin J O’Conner and Harris Yulin, as well as French icon Bulle Ogier, with a supporting cast of real-life music legends Tom Waits, Leon Redbone, Joe Strummer, Dr. John, David Johansen and Arto Lindsay. Called “A wry, laid-back ‘Heart of Darkness’" (Chicago Reader), “Candy Mountain” combines the keen eye of the legendary photographer Robert Frank with novelist/screenwriter Rudy Wurlitzer’s mythic American prose to produce the quintessential road movie.

Check out the trailer on YouTube here:

The indefatigable Tom Rush’s 6-decade career of crossing the continent is marching right along.

The pioneering troubadour/folksinger/songwriter/storyteller is currently on tour and scheduled to make a long overdue return to Hugh’s Room Live in Toronto, Ontario on October 25 and 26, 2024.

Rush’s impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the ’60s and the renaissance of the ’80s and ’90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, “Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences.” Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists.

Tom Rush began his musical career in the early ’60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) celebrated its 2024 class of inductees with an unforgettable evening at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall. Tom Cochrane, 

Photo Credit: Jonathan Stoddard

Has it ever struck you that this planet we all share might be getting … well, meaner? Colder? Less conducive to a rewarding, peaceful time for everybody who has to live here? Peter Foldy has certainly noticed. And on the lead track from his new EP entitled “Toxic World (Remastered),” the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter declares his dismay over the situation in no uncertain terms. 

“Will someone tell me what’s going on?” he sings, over a deceptively skipping rhythm and a rolling acoustic-guitar figure that make for a perfectly ironic counterpoint to the grave subject matter. “People talking hate, they don’t know right from wrong.”

Photo Credits: Danielle Blancher

Shelley Hamilton's dynamic lead vocals are on full display in the single "Carry On" with a release date October 3^rd, 2024. This reconversion of the song creates an entirely new space for the historically rooted music genre of country reggae.

The new rendition of "Carry On" is produced by Canadian reggae band Reggaddiction and is featured on their latest album "Reggae Rodeo". It's an exciting collaboration and a ground-breaking part of Canadian music history. "Carry On" blends country music with Jamaican reggae to create a unique genre: Canadian Country Reggae.

Shelley Hamilton can’t be pigeonholed into a specific sound or category; her talent is all-encompassing with a sound and style all of her own.

I caught up with her manager Lynx Dean at his home here in Toronto, Canada.

“Talent like Shelley comes along once in a lifetime. Honestly, she could sing the phone book and the audience would love it.”

Lynx Dean is no stranger to success, being the lead of the popular band, Random Order, who broke into the scene in the 90’s and have a huge following to this day.

"Rhythms of a Lifetime" is the only way to describe Bill King's multifaceted career, from his beginnings as a musician, (which he still is to this day) his transition into writing, mentoring and his passion for photography. ((First Photo Credit Bill King Vintage photo says it all)

Bill's creative journey has been marked by exploration, innovation, and a willingness to constantly change with the times. His experiences offer valuable insights into the artistic process, the music industry, and the power of reinvention, combined with his ongoing passion, curiosity and tenacity.

Drake Jensen Releases Poignant Cover of Bruce Cockburn’s "Lovers in a Dangerous Time" Amid Rising Violence Against LGBTQ+ Communities

Acclaimed LGBTQ+ artist Drake Jensen is set to release his powerful new single, "Lovers in a Dangerous Time," a cover of the iconic Bruce Cockburn song, on August 14, 2024.  This release comes at a critical moment as the world witnesses a troubling surge in violence against LGBTQ+ communities across the globe.

A Timely Anthem for Resilience and Love:
"Lovers In a Dangerous Time" is more than just a cover; it is a deeply resonant anthem that speaks to the fears, struggles, and unwavering resilience of LGBTQ+ individuals facing increased hostility and violence.  Originally penned by Bruce Cockburn in the 1980s during a period of social unrest, the song’s message of love and resistance is as relevant today as it was then.

To a recording artist, having a bunch of big-name guests on your album can be a double-edged sword: It’ll get you some attention, sure, but there’s always the danger you’ll find yourself pushed out of the limelight—a supporting player in your own production.

Fortunately, no one elbows Colin James into the wings. With nearly four decades in the business—and an armload of sales records and peer accolades to show for it—the Vancouver blues-rocker has thrown open the door to welcome a house party’s worth of friends and mentors on his 21st and latest, Chasing the Sun. Appearances by the legendary likes of Charlie Musselwhite, Lucinda Williams, Darryl Jones and Charley Drayton energize an album that cooks with the intensity of a thousand spotless reputations. But the formula remains 100-proof James throughout—a distillation of the singular and passionate vision that’s enshrined him in the hearts of millions of record buyers worldwide as a musician’s musician.

Japanese-Canadian Alternative-Rock artist, Garrett Neiles, has just released a colourful, upbeat, and positive California Pop-Rock single titled "Lipstick", about the little tube that leaves its contents behind on coffee cups, napkins and elsewhere, and the joy those little reminders bring. Neiles has just released his video for the song so check it out here on YouTube:

A sunny and upbeat California Pop-Rock homage to the colourful glimpses that remind Neiles of his girlfriend, "Lipstick" shares the cheerful joy of the little reminders of the ones we love. 

Veteran roots singer/songwriter Don Graham has just released a new album of original tunes, stripped down and acoustic, just the song and a couple of guitars. "I wanted to make an album without a band and all the trimmings, just me, my guitar and another stringed instrument, the way I wrote them and the way I perform them live these days.“

Going back to his roots musically Graham decided to go back to his old friend and guitar player George Bowser in Montreal to make it happen. 

Check out the title track "My Old Guitar, My Old Boots and Me" on YouTube here:

Neena Rose is a wonderful example how tenacity and talent truly pays off in this business. With the dedication and business accumen of Tina Cole (aka Mama Swag as known in the business) the full circle is finally coming around.

Catching up with Neena Rose in her hometown of Toronto, Canada it is obvious this artist is focused and driven and is on the road to success with this new release. She shared the story of when she realized that she wanted to perform for people and become an artist.

"We are Italian, and as Italians we always have big affairs and get togethers. I was at a family function when I was 3 years old and there was a pianist performing who I followed around for the whole time. I was asked if I wanted to sing and I said yes! So at the tender age of 3, I made my debut by singing "Twinkle, Twinkle." I never looked back."

Early influences?