Winnipeg Singer-Songwriter Madeleine Roger Announces Release Of Debut Solo Album On October 26th

FIRST SINGLE 'TAKE MY TIME' OUT TODAY

WATCH/SHARE VIDEO HERE

Winnipeg singer-songwriter Madeleine Roger is pleased to announce the independent release of her debut solo album Cottonwood on October 26th and today marks the official release of the first single 'Take My Time' which premiered yesterday at Aesthetic Magazine. 'Take My Time' is available today on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes and all other digital retailers/streaming services. Madeleine will embark on an extensive Canadian tour in support of Cottonwood this fall, starting with an early album release show in Winnipeg on September 21st at The West End Cultural Centre. See below for full tour details.

Although this is her debut album, Madeleine Roger is no stranger to the music business. In fact, she's nearly a veteran at age 26. A lifelong history of singing in choirs, living rooms, musicals, and around bonfires has informed her current comfort on the stage, and the countless hours hanging out in the control room of her dad's (producer/engineer Lloyd Peterson) recording studios provided a wealth of knowledge over the years. In 2016, Madeleine formed Roger Roger with her twin brother Lucas and released their debut album Fairweather locally and overseas which reached the No. 1 spot on the Canadian national folk/roots/blues charts, garnering acclaim for its exceptional songwriting.

Madeleine Roger co-produced and engineered Cottonwood with her dad at Paintbox Recording in Winnipeg. The album was proudly made with gender parity - half of the producing, audio engineering, musicians, and other artists identify as female.
 
"There's an obvious need to see more women in recording studios as engineers, producers, and musicians," says Madeleine. "Read any album credit notes, especially on the technical side of things, and there's an overwhelming lack of representation. I was really curious about the fact that we rarely get the chance to channel music production equally through the female ear, and I was wondering how that affects the sonics and vibe of album production. It was also extremely important to me that I put my money where my mouth is: I've complained for years about the lack of women in the liner notes of albums, I couldn't let mine join the list."

Madeleine’s music reflects whatever is on her mind; curious characters, natural beauty and decay, historical events, the human condition, artistic influences, and daily goings-on inspire her impressive catalogue of inventive songs. The first single from Cottonwood, 'Take My Time',  was written in the woods at her family’s cabin in Manitoba and the video was filmed in the same location. 

"This song is so unbelievably important to me - I want it to be my manifesto,” says Madeleine. "I wrote 'Take My Time’ in an off-the-grid cabin built by my great-grandparents, between Florence Lake and Marion Lake in Manitoba. On that particular writing retreat, I had hiked in 13 kms from the highway following wolf tracks and was spending each day chopping wood, watching the lake thaw, going for long walks, and writing. There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than being in a forest or on water, and this song practically wrote itself while I was enjoying a cozy morning fire and thinking about my own existence. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the business of the day-to-day, and admittedly I tend to live life bursting at the seams. But when I sit back and enjoy the patterns of sunshine on the ground, the wind rippling on the water, and the tenacity of things like lichen, I remember what is actually important. This song is a reminder to myself, and an appreciation of the time-scale of the natural world.”

Cottonwood will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services on Friday, October 26th. For more information and the most up to date tour listings, please visit: madeleineroger.com

MADELEINE ROGER // UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Sept 21 - Winnipeg, MB - The West End Cultural Centre
Sept 27-30 - Toronto, ON - Folk Music Ontario Conference
Oct 5 - Guelph, ON - Red Brick Cafe
Oct 6 - Durham, ON - Garafraxa Cafre
Oct 9 - Kingston, ON - Mussiki Cafe
Oct 11 - Ottawa, ON - Pressed
Oct 12 - Brockville, ON - Spitfire Cafe
Oct 13 - Montreal, QC - L’Escalier
Oct 14 - Whitby, ON - UpCap Cafe
Oct 16 - Toronto, ON - The Burdock
Oct 25 - Regina, SK - The Capitol
Oct 26 - Medicine Hat, AB - Inspire Cafe
Oct 28 - Cranbrook, BC - Soulfood Cafe
Oct 30 - Kimberly, BC - House Concert
Nov 1 - Port Moody, BC - Gallery Bistro
Nov 2-4 - Cumberland, BC - Woodstove Festival
Nov 6 - Saltspring Island, BC - Sister Sanctuary
Nov 9 - Victoria, BC - Vinyl Envy
Nov 10 - Parksville, BC - Ground Zero Acoustic Lounge
Nov 11 - Sunshine Coast, BC - House Concert
Nov 12 - Vancouver, BC - Guilt & Co
Nov 13 - Vancouver, BC - Bluebird North
Nov 16 - Calgary, AB - Rocky Mountain Folk Club
Nov 17 - Edmonton, AB - Black Dog Freehouse

MADELEINE ROGER - COTTONWOOD TRACKLISTING
RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 26th, 2018 (Independent)
1.  Sweet Little Lies
2.  60 Years More
3.  Lady Luck
4.  Soldier Song
5.  Cottonwood
6.  Luckiest
7. Rough Hand
8.  Automobile
9.  This Way For Me
10. Have It All
11. Take My Time

For More Info: madeleineroger.com
Instagram: @MadeleineRoger
Twitter: @MaddyRogerMusic
FB: Facebook.com/MadeleineRogerMusic

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/SHARE Madeleine Roger - 'Take My Time' HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/SHARE Madeleine Roger - 'Take My Time' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for high-res press photos + album art (Photo Credit: Sam Baardman)
 

Press + Accolades for Madeleine Roger:

"Madeleine’s voice stays with you, reminiscent at times of a young Joni Mitchell." - Mojo

"Madeleine’s theatre background lends itself well to writing folk songs that blend elements of real life with quirky fictional characters" - Vue Weekly

"World-class music." - The Winnipeg Free Press

John Wort Hannam Announces New Album + Tour

LISTEN TO/SHARE New Track
Key of D Minor:

For John Wort Hannam the past few years haven't been easy ones, so the Alberta-based singer-songwriter tried the music as therapy approach and created songs out of them, resulting in his brand new album, Acres of Elbow Room, out September 7th. Today marks the release of the first single, the beautifully sparse and sorrowful 'Key Of D Minor', a song he wrote about his battle with depression (listen here).  John Wort Hannam will be touring in support of the album, starting in Edmonton on August 31st at The Blue Chair. See below for complete tour listing. 

Making 'Key of D Minor' the first single was a wild card choice because the track stands alone on the album, it's not like any of the other songs. 

"It it the one song where there is no guitar and the piano takes the spotlight," says John. " I merely sing on the track.  I wanted the song to sound sparse, almost empty, to represent the subject matter.  On a thematic level it is unlike any of the other songs.  I grew up in a generation where people whispered about depression, like it was a dirty town secret.  Men especially were perceived as weak if they vocalized their struggles with depression and anxiety.  The song is the most personally revealing song I’ve ever written." 

Recent years have seen a great deal of change in John’s life – becoming a Dad, turning 50, a move to the big city (Lethbridge), a marital reckoning, a long, deep bout of depression, and episodes of losing his singing voice.  But John has emerged a better songwriter, a better singer, and a better player.

On Acres Of Elbow Room, John has further found his lyrical style and has landed squarely on his niche in the folk/roots world. He's spent years learning the craft of songwriting and used those tools to write some of his most personal songs. When recording his 7th studio album, the approach was very different from other recordings. 

"Previous recordings have seen me send the players demos of the songs and then recording them without properly working on the arrangement," says John.  "This record was made at the Banff Centre for the Arts. The four of us lived, ate, and holed up in a room for 8 days before we entered the studio.  In that time we took the songs apart and put them back together multiple times.  We experimented with different tempos, keys, and grooves.  It was very much a collaborative effort from all players.  It felt more like a band making music instead of musicians playing on my songs."

Acres of Elbow Room will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services on Friday, September 7th. For more information and the most up to date tour listings, please visit: johnworthannam.com


JOHN WORT HANNAM UPCOMING TOUR DATES
August 31 - Edmonton, AB - The Blue Chair
September 1 - Jasper, AB - Jasper Legion
September 7 - Twin Butte, AB - Twin Butte General Store
September 8 - Millarville, AB - Broke Fish Barn
September 9 - Lethbridge, AB - Geomattic Attic
September 14 - Calgary, AB - Fish Creek Concerts
September 15 - Fernie, BC - Fernie Chautaqua + Fall Fair
September 16 - Carstairs, AB - Carstairs Heritage Centre
September 21 - Canning, NS - Sea-Esta
September 22 - Mount Stewart, PEI - Trailside Cafe
September 26 - Halifax, NS - The Carleton
September 27 - Fredericton, NB - Wilser’s Room
September 28 - Fredericton, NB - Landsdowne Concert Series
September 29 - St. John, NB - Dancing Tree Concert Series
September 30 - Bridgetown, NS - Temple on Queen
October 5 - Athabasca, AB - Nancy Appleby Theatre

JOHN WORT HANNAM - ACRES OF ELBOW ROOM TRACKLISTING
RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 7th, 2018 (Independent)
1.  Acres Of Elbow Room
2.  Old Flame New Regret
3.  Only Love
4.  Key Of D Minor
5.  That's Life
6.  The Quiet Life
7.  I Believe
8.  Song For A Young Son
9.  Wild Young Things
10. Ain't Enough
11. Day I Die

FOR MORE INFO: johnworthannam.com
Twitter: @johnworthannam
Instagram: @johnworthannam
FB: facebook.com/johnworthannammusic

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST John Wort Hannam - 'Key Of D Minor' HERE (via YouTube)
STREAM/POST John Wort Hannam - 'Key Of D Minor' HERE (via SoundCloud)
CLICK HERE for high-res press photos + album art (photo credit: David Guenther)

Vancouver Indie Folk-Pop Artist Stephanie Ratcliff To Release New EP on July 27th

WATCH/SHARE
Stephanie Ratcliff's 'Come Alive' Video
 

"...gorgeous cinematic folk-pop." -  Ride The Tempo

Vancouver, BC - Vancouver indie folk-pop artist Stephanie Ratcliff is excited to announce the release of her new EP Land In Unknown Places on Friday, July 27th and will celebrate with a show at Reality Vancouver on release day, followed by a string of Canadian Tour Dates throughout Ontario and Eastern Canada in August. See below for full tour schedule. 

The first single from the EP, 'Come Alive' , made its debut just over a week ago on June 29th when the video (Stephanie's first official music video!) premiered at Live in Limbo. Directed by Dan Loewen, the video tells a very simple kind of love story, even though the song isn't necessarily about romantic love. 

"It simply tells the story of two children who end up spending their whole lives committed to each other, loving each other, giving themselves to each other," says Stephanie.  "It ends with them as an older couple sitting on a bench, still loving each other after all the years and seasons of life. This kind of love is just such a beautiful, incredibly sacrificial, transforming way to live. We kept the video very simple in terms of storyline, but hopefully conveyed the deeper truth and reality that love – whatever shape it takes – really can last a lifetime."

Land In Unknown Places is Stephanie's second EP and third release. Her first EP Things Above Ground was released last year and her debut full-length album Memories of the World came out in 2015. When she began the process of creating her new EP, Stephanie found herself moving in a new musical direction. 

"My first two releases were very much about my own brokenness and healing and wanting to give hope to others, and I think that thread is woven through all my music, but this EP is more "other-focused” and specifically about the kinds of connections we have with each other, and how deep, powerful, and life-changing those connections can be," says Stephanie. "Musically, it’s intentionally a little less polished and a little more raw, which I felt was important in order to help shape and convey the meaning and emotions of the songs. Because, really, that’s just how life is with each other - unpolished and raw!" 

Look for Stephanie on tour this August and into the fall, as she makes her way to Kelowna in October for  Breakout West and the Western Canadian Music Awards where she is nominated for Spiritual Artist of the Year. 

Stephanie Ratcliff's EP Land In Unknown Places will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services on Friday, July 27th.  For more information and the most up to date tour schedule, please visit: stephanieratcliff.com


STEPHANIE RATCLIFF >> UPCOMING TOUR DATES
July 27th - Vancouver, BC - Reality Vancouver (808 - E19th Ave) *EP Release Show
Aug 5th - Guelph, ON - House Concert
Aug 7th - Gormley, ON - Meadowbrook Golf Club
Aug 11th - Dartmouth, NS - House Concert
Aug 12th - Charlottetown, PEI - Baba's Lounge
Aug 15th - St. Stephen, NB - House Concert
Aug 16th - Perth, ON - House Concert
Aug 17th - Landsdowne, ON - Farmer's Market (afternoon show)
Aug 17th - Ottawa, ON - House Concert (evening show)
Aug 18th - Barrie, ON - House Concert
Aug 19th - Toronto, ON - Burdock

STEPHANIE RATCLIFF - LAND IN UNKNOWN PLACES EP TRACKLISTING
RELEASE DATE: JULY 27th, 2018 (Independent)
1.  Supplication
2.  Rail and Track
3.  Come Alive

 

FOR MORE INFO: stephanieratcliff.com
Twitter: @StephieKR
Instagram: @StephieCliff
FB: Facebook.com/StephanieRatcliffMusic

MEDIA TOOLS
WATCH/POST Stephanie Ratcliff's 'Come Alive' video HERE
CLICK HERE for high-res press photos + album art 

Indie Rockers Royal Oak Announce Release of New EP on July 20th

VANCOUVER RELEASE SHOW ON JULY 27th @ THE BILTMORE

CANADIAN TOUR STARTING ON AUGUST 8th

LISTEN TO/SHARE First Single "Tell Me"

Vancouver, BC - Straight from the suburbs of Vancouver (Port Coquitlam, to be precise) indie rockers Royal Oak are excited to announce the release of their new EP, and third release, Pretend on July 20th. Royal Oak will celebrate the new EP with a release show at The Biltmore in Vancouver on July 27th and are kicking off a Canadian Tour on August 8th. See below for full tour listing. 

The release of the new EP comes on the heels of their second album, Younger, which was just released last year. On Pretend, Royal Oak continue in the same musical direction as their previous 2 releases successfully pairing indie rock vibes with a modern pop sensibility. It’s music that is clean and controlled, yet bursting at the seams with energy.   

The EP's first single 'Tell Me' was officially released on June 1st, after premiering on Spill Magazine. 'Tell Me' is a catchy hook-laden track, soaked in swagger with an 80’s synth backdrop and provides a teaser of what's to come. The band teamed up with Vancouver producer/mix engineer Ryan Worsley (Dear Rouge, Said The Whale) for this EP and with his skill and guidance, Royal Oak were challenged to move in new musical directions. 

"We started writing Pretend last year shortly after we got off the road from our Western Canadian Tour in support of Younger," said lead vocalist Austin Ledyard. "We were really inspired, after coming off of tour, to write some hard-hitting and fun music, while also trying different avenues that we hadn’t explored yet in our last two records. I think the energy and sense of discovery that we had when we wrote the songs translated very well once Ryan got his hands on them - they just felt so fresh and inspiring. When we started the EP, we recorded with the whole band live off the floor, and I think the concept of being in a room together really helped bring the energy and make the record shine. It just felt natural, just like every recording should feel like."

Royal Oak's new EP Pretend will be available on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services on Friday, July 20th. For more information and the most up to date tour schedule, please visit: www.royaloakofficial.com

ROYAL OAK IS:
Austin Ledyard - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Brayson Wong - Vocals, Bass, Synth
Michael Kragelj - Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Myles Philpott - Vocals, Drums, Percussion

ROYAL OAK >> UPCOMING TOUR DATES
July 27th - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
August 8th - Fernie, BC - The Northern
August 10th - Calgary, AB - The Palomino
August 11th - Regina, SK - Cloud 9
August 13th - Thunder Bay, ON - The Foundry
August 16th - Hamilton, ON - The Casbah
August 17th - Toronto, ON - Supermarket
August 18th - Ottawa, ON - Cafe Dekuf
August 19th - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
August 23rd - Winnipeg, MB - Le Garage Café
August 25th - Edmonton, AB - Bohemia
August 26th - Revelstoke, BC - The Last Drop
 

ROYAL OAK - PRETEND EP TRACKLISTING
RELEASE DATE: JULY 20th, 2018 (Independent)
1.  Tell Me
2.  Mistakes (ft. Chersea)
3.  Only One
4.  All Comes Back To You
5.  Hold To Nothing
 

FOR MORE INFO: www.royaloakofficial.com
Twitter: @RoyalOak_
Instagram: @RoyalOakOfficial
FB: Facebook.com/RoyalOakBand

MEDIA TOOLS
STREAM/POST Royal Oak - 'Tell Me' HERE
CLICK HERE for high-res press photos + album art (Photo Credit: Mackenzie Cholowski)