Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Podcast

This episode of The Lonesome Cowboy Podcast includes discussion about mental health matters and mentions suicide prevention and loss. If you’re in distress, you can call or text 988 from anywhere in Canada for support 24/7/365. You matter. Please take good care of yourself

https://www.maureenpollard.org/

https://maureenpollardassociates.com/

Maureen Pollard is a registered social worker with a private practice in Cobourg, Ontario. She specializes in supporting people as they integrate the experiences of grief and trauma. Maureen provides compassionate care for individuals and groups in therapy, and she is a dynamic sp...

Like everyone, James has had his share of challenges. He was an energetic and creative child who was always daydreaming and displaying his imagination through acting and drawing. That, of course, was challenging for James’ academics. He struggled in school, except in art class, in which he excelled. His imagination really sparked when, at 16 years old, a friend put a guitar in James’s hands. Right from the start, James didn’t take lessons and didn’t want to learn other people’s songs. He wanted to write his own songs, create his own characters and tell his own stories. A...

What’s to tell? East Coast background, from a family with a musical mother and a TV-holic father. Started playing music seriously later in life and rekindled the love of writing music when I met two lovely young ladies by happenstance (yes, that’s where the name came from) at a local music festival. After 8 years and 3 studio albums, the band sadly dissolved. But when one chapter ends, another begins!

https://www.gallaghermakesmusic.com/

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https://irishmillie.ca/

Irish Millie is an 18-year-old Canadian fiddler, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer from Peterborough, Ontario, blending East Coast drive, Bluegrass energy, and Contemporary Trad grit. A 7-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominee, she has been recognized with two 2026 nominations for her latest EP Between Then and Now — Young Performer of the Year (her fifth in this category) and Single of the Year for her song You Were There. Her previous album GRACE earned her two 2025 CFMA nominations, and she was also nominated for Folk Music Ontario’s 2025 Performing Artist of the Year.

Sh...

Her debut EP Afrikaanman Fairytale was released in May 2024, went #1 on campus radio charts, and was featured on notable Spotify playlists. She has performed at the Ontario’s Black Music Conference, opening for artists like Jully Black, and has received the 2025 Canadian Emerging Artist Music Awards (CEAMA) Artist in Residence in Toronto.

https://zochimusic.com/

James Gedda Music

Taking their namesake from a track off their 2022 album “Heartache Kid,” Matt Moran & the Palominos were born.

Following the release of Heartache Kid, they hit the road at a near constant pace. This work ethic has garnered them a loyal fanbase as well as mentions on national outlets such as American Songwriter and Saving Country Music. They are currently working on their next full-length album. “It’s definitely alternative country,” says Moran. “We’re taking things up a notch.”

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Bree Taylor’s artistry has already been recognized with nominations, competition placements, and national attention, but her journey is only just beginning. With her “Rebel Country” sound, undeniable stage presence, and relentless drive, she is poised to become not just a Canadian success story, but an international force in country music. Bree Taylor is a fearless songwriter and performer, and her story is one of resilience, passion and the power of chasing a dream without compromise.

https://www.breetaylor.com/

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Joel Brogon is a Folk/Americana Singer/Songwriter from South Texas. His musical journey is deeply influenced by a rich tapestry of genres, drawing inspiration from classic Singer/Songwriters, folk sounds of the 70s, and traditional 90s Country music. At the heart of Brogon’s artistry lies a profound commitment to narrative storytelling, weaving tales inspired by his own life experiences and those of the community around him. Through his songs, he sheds light on a wide range of topics, from the beauty of nature to social justice issues like LGBTQ+ rights and environmental stewardship. Brogon’s preference for smal...

REVIEWS:

"Ann Ramsey offers a rare combination of musical, vocal and songwriting delight. Her guitar playing and vocal clarity work together in a way that sweetly carry the evocative lyrics of her originals and timeless covers, captivating the listener and leaving us eager for more.

Ann is as good a performer -- and as nice a person -- as they come. Find out for yourself!"

--Andy Phillips, Host, Music Makers Open Mic

"Ann Ramsey creates beautiful and hypnotic contemporary folk songs with a nod to traditional folk stories and harmonies. Her...

From soft-spoken fingerpicking to full-band barn-burners, singer/songwriter VANCAMP crafts award-winning songs that walk the line between quiet vulnerability and crowd-lifting energy. While rooted in folk, VANCAMP’s sound draws just as much from indie rock and alt-pop — pairing shimmering guitars and layered harmonies with raw, reflective songwriting. The project began in the quiet moments of the pandemic and quickly found traction as live shows returned — rooted in a desire to connect with others through music that doesn’t hide what it means.

https://vancampmusic.net/

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a free pub...

Rushfest has already happened. Sometimes the Lonesome Cowboy schedule doesn’t sync up with events. It’s still a great story!

Curated by RUSHfest Scotland founder Steve Brown and Canadian superfan and music journalist Paul Beaulieu, RUSHfest Canada is more than a fan convention—it’s a legacy event with heart, history, and an extraordinary mission: all profits will be donated to Brain Cancer Research at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto in honour of Neil Peart.

My apologies to the guys that this went up after the event, but The Lonesome Cowboy works on a first-in, first-ou...

Tom Dunphy is the husband of Lonesome Cowboy guest Tara Dunphy. Together, they play in the classic country band, The Rizdales. Now, both of them have solo careers, and Tom has released his first solo album. “I wanted to make a stripped-down country record without a drummer,” he says. “Most of my songwriting is now done standing by the campfire—I have them year-round—working out words and music in my head. I figure out the chords later; it’s been years since I wrote a song with an actual guitar in my hands.”

https://www.rizdales.com/

...

Their music has been featured on film, commercials, radio, and television, and they have performed and recorded with the best in the game from percussion legend Giovanni Hidalgo to NOLA legends Roger Lewis of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Joe Lastie of Preservation Hall fame. Their extensive touring experience has allowed them to share the stage with the likes of Trombone Shorty, The Roots, and The Soul Rebels, among many others.

https://heavyweightsbrassband.com/

country music, traditional music, traditional country, americana, americana music, art, songwriter, old school country, old school country music, old...

Douglas John Cameron has been described as a modern-day troubadour. His songwriting and performing career spans almost four decades and is rooted deeply in the folk/blues/country tradition. In 1985, his tune " Mona With The Children" hit the top 20 in Canada and garnered a Juno nomination. Recently, he has applied his songwriting and composing talents to the world of television and movies. Cameron is also an established children's entertainer who has written songs for top Canadian pre-school shows including "Ants In Your Pants", "Wee 3", and "Big and Small".

https://www.whiskeyjackmusic.com/

Brian Tremblay's...

After Warjunk's demise Glen took 3 years to study Jazz theory and styles and began to focus on acoustic music with an eye towards a primarily “live” musical endeavor aimed at connecting with an audience in intimate settings and through a wide variety of genres performed acoustically. When Glen ran into Graham at a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds show in 2014 he proposed the idea of an acoustic duo. Well a year of rehearsals later, CRASH WORLD made their “live” debut on September 5, 2015. Many performances later at such venues as Guilt & Co., Ouisi Bistro, El Camino’s, Cottage Bistro, Slickity Jim’s, The...

With four nominated albums, a founding member of Oh Darling, headlining four international tours, and sold-out shows across the country, she has also travelled extensively through Ireland, Appalachia and Louisiana to pursue her love of traditional music.

Rosalyn is the Executive Director of Folk Canada, Canada's largest conference for the Folk, Roots, and Traditional music industry. She serves on the executive board of Folk Alliance International and has formerly served on the boards of Folk Music Ontario and AFM Local 1000. She has previously held positions at the Canadian Federation of Musicians, Music Canada, MusicOntario, Canadian Independent Music...

Onion Honey may hail from Ontario’s tech capital, but musicians Dave Pike, Esther Wheaton, Leanne Swantko, and Kayleigh LeBlanc play folk music like an old-fashioned string band. The multi-talented lineup all sing harmony, write songs, and pass around banjo, guitar, mandolin, and double bass in performance. Three years of weekly ‘Banjo Church’ livecasts polished their onstage rapport to a high shine.

https://onionhoney.com/home

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Chris performs solo and with collaborators Jen Calder (percussion, backing vocals) and Jared MacKay (bass), The Larks. His music has always been just a little different. Eccentric, maybe. Quirky even. Original, and at the same time, somehow familiar. Forever fascinated by how music works, he began writing songs as a teenager and since then, has written hundreds. Early days in a punk band, a few years in a celtic-polka-funk outfit, later times in folk and rock groups. Check out the socials for the most up-to-date action.

Chris is releasing new music monthly as of August 2024.

<...

Tara says, “There is nothing like the magic of music to bring back memories, encourage movement and human connection. The first thing I tell residents when we meet is that I want to play what they want to hear, because this is not MY show, it is theirs. We get to know each other, and I find out that magic song that makes them smile.”

https://www.taradunphymusic.com/

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a free publication. There’s no charge to subscribe. If you enjoy what I’m doing here and want to...

Ultimate Rick Jones is an International musical enterprise based in Indiana (Rick's not from there, he just lives there.)

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Marshall has the distinction of being a Maple Blues Award and Canadian Independent Music Award nominee

His fiery approach to guitar playing and catchy song-writing has had him compared to Rory Gallagher (Rock Radio Magazine), Taj Mahal, Roy Bookbinder and Corey Harris (Rootstime), to Johnny Winter and Kim Mitchell (Music Reviews by the Rock Doctor) and Woody Guthrie (Living Blues). He’s also been described as a Neo-Delta visionary (Living Blues Magazine).

Marshall has co-produced and released “Where’s the Party” (2003), “The Morning After” (2008), “Blues Intervention” (2010), “House Call” (2013), and Feeling Fine (2018) to wide critical acclaim.

Brian Trembl...

Not only does Wayne do his own thing, but he is also a member of Split Lip Rayfield and their bluegrass shredding punky vibes. It's been almost 30 years since SLR first mashed up their aggressive stew of acoustic bluegrass instrumentation, tight country vocals, fierce metal shred and in-your-face punk sensibilities. One observer said we all "owe them a huge debt for not only defining a sound, but stretching the possibilities of the acoustic music world."

https://www.stitchgiver.com/

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a free publication. There’s no charge to su...

Matt Gower has been involved in the Ottawa music community for over two decades. His songwriting incorporates elements of folk, alt-country and old-time music tied together with timeless lyrics and a powerful singing voice. Over the years Matt has performed with garage-folk band Capital Grass and the No Men, folk duo Fathom the Sea as well as solo gigs around the National Capital Region.

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a free publication. There’s no charge to subscribe. If you enjoy what I’m doing here and want to support me financially, please go to t...

Formed in the heart of eastern Ontario, The Plowboys are a tight-knit group of musicians brought together by their love for traditional country tunes. With roots deeply embedded in the rich soil of classic country sounds, they’ve cultivated a signature style that pays homage to the legends that paved the way while adding their own unique flair.

https://plowboys.ca/

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James Gedda is an up-and-coming Country and Americana singer-songwriter with a booming voice and a plainspoken honesty in his lyrics. The Crown Point, IN native has drawn comparisons to the likes of Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard with his earthy baritone, and he regularly covers such classics, but what drives him is writing songs and telling stories with modern sensibilities. He's performed in such historic venues as The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, and regularly sings all over Northwest Indiana and the Chicago area on top of having toured through Appalachia & the Southwest. He's released three locally-recorded solo acoustic EP's...

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a free publication. There’s no charge to subscribe. If you enjoy what I’m doing here and want to support me financially, please go to the subscriptions and pledge. Thank you!

Jason's music is a rich tapestry woven from a diverse array of influences, reflecting the melting pot of sounds that is Chicago. Drawing inspiration from folk, Americana, classic rock, southern rock, outlaw country, classic country, blues, gospel, and more, his songs are a testament to the depth and breadth of his musical upbringing.

For over 25 years, Jason has been a familiar face on the Midwest music scene, leaving his mark as both a solo artist and in collaboration. His live performances reverberate with honesty and vulnerability, captivating audiences throughout the region.

https://www.jasonbenefield.com<...

While the native Louisianan has established himself as a fixture of the East Nashville scene these days, Harrison still wears his Cajun heritage proudly on his sleeve, as the album takes its name from the small town where he was born and raised. The title track is a country/western tall tale about a “Titan of Tioga” — written from a first-person perspective — poking fun at the irony of being a big fish in a small pond while still evoking a palpable sense of pride for his roots and Main Street USA in general. “Mommas don’t let your sons end up like...

Joel is active in the Ottawa Music scene. He and his partner are the former co-hosts of The Monday Special Blend, a weekly show on 93.1 CKCU FM. He is the former host of The Ottawa Music Video Showcase and Live! On Elgin Open Mic on Rogers Cable 22. He currently sits on the board of the North Eastern Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA).

Joel is also a singer, composer, and entertainer who has performed with various bands and theatre productions for 20 years. He is the Bandmaster of The Magic Machine, who released their first EP in 2018. In 2017, Joel wrote...

Mike Haggith is an original alternative/indie recording and performing artist, residing in Barrie, Ontario. In the past, Haggith has called the cities of Windsor, ON; Sault Ste Marie, ON; and Thompson, MB home. At thirty-three years old, Haggith is best-known for his distinctive upbeat musical delivery, contrasted by heavily introspective lyrics. Writing largely from personal experience as a therapeutic outlet, his discography traces the ups and downs of relationships, life events, and the hardships of living remotely. An avid writer, producer, and advocate for increased mental health support in Canada's remote northern and First Nations regions, the music...

DAVID LARONDE, a fiercely proud Canadian, is a contemporary Indigenous singer-songwriter who performs his soothing brand of folk, edgy rock, and blues. He hails from the land of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai (Deep Water People) in beautiful Northern Ontario. With the David Laronde Band, duo, or solo, he delivers an energetic and soulful performance to be remembered.

https://www.davidlarondemusic.com

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Bad ideas, VCRs, crumbling factories, hairy dogs, questionable tattoos...all are fair game for Nova Scotian funeral director-turned-songwriter Terra Spencer. And the songs are good ones, judging from the stack of awards her three albums have received, and from the caliber of her collaborators, which include David Francey, Ben Caplan, and Matt Andersen. Although her butterscotch voice, deft fingerstyle guitar, and gospel-charged piano make her a formidable musician, it's her onstage ease and crackling wit that make each show feel like a knee-to-knee conversation in a room of 5 or 500. “The real deal.” - Ron Sexsmith

Brian Trem...

He is a storyteller. The music is singer/songwriter, troubadour, Urban Folk, Folk Blues style, thoughtful, intelligent, sometimes topical, sometimes universal, delivered with flair. It might even make you think. While some might call it a throwback, others call it the leading edge of a returning cycle.

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Happily located in the village of Point Edward, in southwestern Ontario, Ken McLachlin has been performing, writing, teaching and recording music now for over 200 dog years. Making music has been a big part of him for as long as he can remember. Ken grew up in the small village of Corunna, in southwestern Ontario, where his Dad always had country music on the radio or record player, then 8-track tapes and eventually cassettes and CDs. He still enjoys listening to those country music oldies.

I always think back to a cold October night in 2000, when I stood on a makeshift barricade on the Adams Mine Road. Across the road, police were lining up for mass arrests. But the people who were holding the line weren't radicals, they were my neighbours - many of them senior citizens and farmers. Up until that moment, I had never considered a life in politics... as I stood on that barricade, I realized that the people who should have been there to protect the public interest had sold us out."

- Charlie Angus, from his book...

The Ottawa Citizen's Patrick Langston praised Nathan's first solo album, No Wicked for the Rest, as “a smart blend of folk, bluegrass and country that segues nicely from tracks about power and greed to more intimate tunes about love and its struggle to survive in a cock-eyed world.” 

Shawn spent his Covid years watching Italian horror films, knitting, releasing homemade music on cassette, and humbly discovering his Métis heritage. Clarke recently released his latest full-length studio album Softer Scissors, a collage of various sonic influences — from the ‘60s singer-songwriter tradition of Simon and Garfunkel, to the eclectic experimentation of Wilco, to rock energy of Sloan, Softer Scissors is sewn together by Clarke's rich story-telling and winding melodies.

https://www.shawnwilliamclarke.com/

Charlie has always been recognized for exploring his musical horizons. As a six-time ECMA winner and eight-time Nova Scotia Music Award winner, Charlie has earned awards for Blues, Pop, and R&B/Soul Recordings of the Year, and on multiple occasions been recognized as Entertainer of the Year. A’Court has also received multiple Maple Blues Award nominations including Male Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year.

PETE EASTMURE is an Ontario-based country folk artist who often sings with his wife Eva Marie on harmonies and light percussion. Their unique sound is characterized by acoustic layered guitar and sometimes electric Gretsch White Falcon guitar, as well as on Albums, moody pedal steel guitar and mandolins. The song writing draws heavily from traditional Americana folk and country music, bringing to mind Gordon Lightfoot, Elizabeth Cotton and borrowing liberally from Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys. The lyrics speak eloquently about the great cinema graphic life of small-town Canada and the dreams and inspirations of those folks who...

The classic Canadian finger-pickin’ Folk troubadour, another unique, original Artist performing his songs, in his own snazzy, jazzy, classic, timeless way. Will, Originally from South Porcupine, northern Ontario, has an expansive and eclectic repertoire of his unique original songs: from whimsical ditties to foot-stomping rockers, heart-breaking ballads and catchy singalongs, exploring Folk, Folk-Rock, Jazz, Cabaret, Blues, Waltzes, Old-Time, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll and other timeless, classic musical styles.

https://www.willgillespie.ca/

Stephen Fearing was born in 1963 in Vancouver, British Columbia and grew up in Dublin, Ireland where his schoolmates included future members of U2. In 1996 he co-founded Blackie and the Rodeo Kings with Colin Linden and Tom Wilson. Fearing has released ten albums as a solo artist, featuring musical guests including: Bruce Cockburn, Margo Timmons, Rose Cousins, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, and Sarah McLachlan. “Getting on stage is the fun part, especially when the adrenaline kicks in,” he says, with a broad smile. “People want to escape and be taken on a journey. I build my shows so they do just t...

For 45 years, Duncan Fremlin has been plying his trade as a producer (Banjodunc Productions), as a singer/banjo player (Whiskey Jack) and as an author (My Good Times With Stompin' Tom). As band leader and raconteur, he's welcomed to the band elite members of the Canadian music community. The band continues to write, record and tour across the country performing the finest music in their history.

https://whiskeyjackmusic.com/

Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber. It’s free or...

Zachary Lucky is a Canadian country singer/songwriter. He's currently touring with is album The Wind, out now. Check him out at zacharylucky.com

Ken Whiteley is a Canadian folk musician and composer. He has 22 multiple Juno Award nominations. Having received a Genie Award, 18 Maple Blues nominations and Lifetime Achievement Awards from various organizations including the Mariposa Folk Festival and with over 400 songs written, Ken Whiteley is a Canadian folk institution.

This episode's guest is Michel Neray. Michel is a Toronto based musician who has just released a new album and is planning a tour next summer. Michel and I discuss his career, new album and the changes and difficulties in the music business; especially for older musicians.