Craig Small is an award-winning visual artist, director, and animator. A co-founder of The Juggernaut Productions, Craig is constantly inventing unique and striking ways to creatively present ideas. His work is highly sought after by A-list corporate clients, broadcasters, and production houses. Nominated for two Emmy Awards for his film title desi…

Lucy Rose Cash is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter. Her debut album— Windswept Perfectionist—is a 7-song outpouring of tender emotion and compassionate insight. Produced by José Miguel Contreras (By Divine Right), the songs capture beautifully the rawness of a budding self-awareness and the fragility of relationships. Lucy has been surrounded by c…

Yvonne Matsell is a celebrated music booker and long-time friend of the Canadian indie music scene. As the live music talent buyer for clubs like Ultrasound, Ted's Wrecking Yard, The Horseshoe Tavern and The Reverb Room, Yvonne gave countless indie bands their first decent gigs, and watched as many of them went on to become success stories and musi…

Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith first sang and strummed his way into the hearts of music lovers in the early-mid 1990s. At that time, the distorted fuzz and raw angst of grunge bands dominated the airwaves, and most "folk" singers watched from the sidelines, clutching their acoustic guitars and cursing the…

Stephen Stanley is not just a gifted musician and singer/songwriter, but also a wonderful storyteller. His song introductions are almost legendary, and for anyone who witnessed his facebook live shows during the height of the pandemic, you'll know how skilled he is at not just playing and singing, but also communicating with an audience, even when …

It's the most Buddy-ful time of the year! Welcome to the 2nd Annual Solstimas episode. Once again, we asked friends of the podcast to send us their thoughts on winter and the holidays, and to suggest a favourite seasonal song. A huge thank you to all our guests, whose talents and kindnesses continue to warm our hearts and blow our minds. A big shou…

Andrew Rucklidge is an award-winning Canadian visual artist, whose paintings have shown all over the world, and can be found in collections from Toronto, to London, to Dharemshala, India. Andrew is also a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, who has played in several bands, including Farmer in the City (Martin Tielli), John Southworth, The New Rom…

Annelise Noronha is an award-winning audio engineer, producer, composer, musician, singer/songwriter, and actor. In the early days of her career, Annelise found herself honing her production skills at Manta Sound—her first big studio job—where she worked on studio recordings for the likes of Oscar Peterson, James Brown, and Jennifer Lopez. Since th…

Lori Yates is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, photographer and writer. Her bands—The Last Resorts (late 70s), Rang Tango (80s), and Hey Stella (current)— each attracted a dedicated fan base, and Lori's raw talent and endless dedication have resulted in her working with some of the Industry's best. From Queen Street's cow punks to Nash…

Lillian Allen is a Jamaican-born, Toronto-based writer, performer and activist. She is a 2-time Juno Award winner, and is considered the godmother of Canadian rap/hiphop, dub, and spoken word. Lillian was recently appointed as the city of Toronto’s 7th Poet Laureate - a position she’ll hold for 3-years. A trailblazer, ambassador, professor, and cre…

Dave Bidini is a musician, songwriter, author, journalist, publisher, and sports enthusiast. Most people know Dave as the beloved front man of Canada's art rock darlings, Rheostatics. His super-fuelled stage presence is a wondrous thing to behold, and his ability to deliver a song with focused fervour—in addition to the superb musicianship of the b…

Starting in the mid nineties, Eduardo Ottoni and James Ong were the drummer and keyboardist in the band Spygirl, a group that was founded by singer Koralee Tonack and (Music Buddy host) Jane Gowan. The group embodied the spirit of collaboration, and the members developed a deep bond that created a safety net of creative and personal freedoms. Over …

Blair Deptuck is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His band New Driver is a group of all-star musicians based in Nanaimo, BC. Blair's passion for music and commitment to his craft is admirable, and he has managed to balance music-making with raising a family and running his own contracting company. Despite a full and busy life that pulls him in …

Musician/entrepreneur Dave Ullrich is someone whose independent spirit and DIY talents have forged him a fruitful and fascinating career in and around music and the arts. Dave started the much-loved indie rock duo The Inbreds with his high school friend Mike O'Neill (Trailer Park Boys, Tuns). Much revered for their originality and minimalist approa…

Why are there so many pianos being given away, or—worse—sent to the dump? One day, while searching for vintage finds online, journalist, podcaster, and multi-media artist Kelly Crowe discovered that there are hundreds of unwanted pianos out there, many of which end up in landfills, keeping company with old carpets and mattresses and all the other d…

Rich Aucoin is a Halifax-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and actor. His live shows are legendary as being multi-media dance and sing-along extravaganzas, and he's well-loved for his ability to connect with his audience in ways that create a feeling of community and also mutual trust and respect. Rich's most recent project is an ambitious und…

From punk to rock to roots; from the gritty and exhilarating Queen Street scene of the 1980s, to the intrigue of European street culture; from Toronto Subway stations, to a US tour opening for the Tragically Hip...musician/songwriter/producer John Borra has lived the poetic and storied existence of a true artist - a journey rich with good music, lo…

Don Kerr is a drummer, singer, songwriter, cellist, composer, and producer. He's also a pacifist/activist, who believes strongly in the power of positivity and the value of community. A much-sought-after sideman and bandmate since the 1990s, he has performed with Rheostatics, Ron Sexsmith, Bahamas, Dan Mangan, The Weather Station, and many others. …

Seth Akira Feldman is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter, who works tirelessly on many aspects of his craft. His primary musical project is called To The Fields. He released the album Distance in 2021, which he recorded entirely on his own in his home studio, working around his day job work hours. Seth also creates and records with his father, Steve…

Singer Songwriter Jerry Leger is the real deal. His combination of authentic humility and spirited self confidence is a rare thing to witness. He possesses a deep understanding and respect for the great songwriters and performers of our time, while forging ahead with his own style and delivery. Since his teenage years, Jerry has worked relentlessly…

Ansley Simpson is a Toronto-based Michi Saagiig Nishnaabe singer, songwriter, and composer. Her enchanting and powerful sophomore album She Fell From the Sky embraces the origin story of Gizhiigokwe (Sky Woman), who embarks upon an emotional and brave journey on earth in an attempt to repair and restore humanity and the planet. Ansley's musical con…

Monique Barry is a classically-trained singer, songwriter, composer, and music educator. Her music is unique, ethereal, dreamlike, and emotional, and ranges from techno pop to ambient folk. Monique's latest album—HAAK—is being released one single at a time - a slow drip of elegant melodies and intricate beats. The latest single—"Time"—is a spellbin…

Tim Vesely is a bassist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, and sound engineer. Best-known as a co-founder of the Canadian art-rock band Rheostatics, Tim also performs with his own band The Violet Archers. When not performing and writing songs, Tim is the house engineer at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio, which he refers to as his "dream job". In that r…

Laurie Brown is a much-admired Canadian music journalist, writer, TV & radio host, and podcaster. Her remarkable career began in the 1980s at City TV's The New Music, and continued to thrive at Much Music (Pepsi Power Hour), CBC Television (The Journal, The National, and Newsworld's On The Arts), and CBC Radio (The Signal). She is now the creator, …

It's that time of the year again! Festive bells, sparkly lights, caroling, visiting with friends and family, walking in the snow (or maybe on the beach?), and dreaming of good things to come. For this special episode, we're embracing as much of the season as possible. Let's call it "Solstimas". You’ll hear from a plethora of festive musical guests,…

Julian Taylor is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter with a truly independent success story. He has been honing his special blend of timeless roots rock since the 1990s, steadily growing followers while weaving his way into the fabric of Canada's indie music culture and sound. His 2020 album The Ridge earned him 2 Juno Award nominations (Indigenous A…

Simon Paradis is an accomplished roots/rock musician, having played in bands across Canada for over 30 years. One morning in 2008, while working his construction job on the Sunshine Coast in B.C., Simon fell off a scaffold and landed on the pavement below, resulting in massive brain and spinal cord trauma. He and his band The Precious Littles were …

Music releases dopamine, and dopamine makes us feel good! It’s a scientific fact. We get happy when we listen to music. Who doesn't love going to see their favourite band live, or singing along to a treasured album, or staring out the car window with the perfect road song on the radio. But there's so much more to it than that... In her remarkable d…

Alan Matheson is a much-admired jazz composer, trumpeter, pianist, and educator. He is an expert in jazz history, and leads his own big band, nonet, septet and trio. Alan has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Louis Bellson, and Phil Woods, and has taught at several music programs in the Vancouver area, including Vancouver Community C…

Tim Vesely is a bassist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, and sound engineer. Best-known as a co-founder (with Dave Bidini) of the much-revered Canadian art-rock band Rheostatics, Tim has also recorded 2 albums and an EP with his own band The Violet Archers. Tim is the House Engineer at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourh…

Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner aka "The Hungo Hammer" have been bandmates and rock 'n roll co-conspirators since the 1970s. Their band Anvil had massive success in the 1980s after the release of their now-classic album, "Metal is Metal". Bands such as Anthrax, Slayer, and Metallica all credit Anvil with having influenced their sound. Due to fo…

Gill Deacon is a much-loved radio broadcaster and host of CBC Radio’s Here and Now. She is also a best-selling author, a hard-working Mom of 3 boys, an advocate for green living, and a dynamic singer and entertainer. A 2-time breast cancer survivor, Gill has bravely spoken and written on the topic of her diagnosis and treatment. In this conversatio…

Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson are the founders of Toronto’s much-loved roots rock band, Skydiggers. In this conversation, they offer up insight gained over a successful 35+ year career, one fuelled by hard work, passion, creativity, love, and good humour. Andy and Josh discuss the art of songwriting, the secrets to surviving on the road and staying…

Koralee Tonack is a gifted singer and long-time bandmate of Music Buddy host, Jane Gowan. As musical collaborators in the 90s and early 2000s, Koralee and Jane developed a unique but accessible sound, first as the acoustic folk/pop duo Time Waits, then gradually evolving to form Spygirl, a 6-piece power pop group. Enjoy the conversation between two…

In this episode, Director and Producer Mike Downie sits down with Jane for an in-depth conversation that will transport you onto a documentary film set, then backstage at a Tragically Hip concert (with alter-ego Buddy Scrotts), then to a Legacy School in Edmonton, then back in time to an epic rock show in the 1970s, before landing you in the alley …

Stephen Stanley is a veteran of the Canadian indie rock scene, a stellar singer-songwriter, a prolific storyteller, gifted guitarist, and a radio DJ,. He was a founding member of the alternative rock band Lowest of the Low, with whom he toured extensively for many years, and also released 4 albums, including 1991’s much-loved, Shakespeare My Butt .…

Wayne Stewart is a Musician, Actor, Emcee, Stage Manager, and much more. He can work up a crowd like nobody's business, and compose a montuno in minutes. In this episode, Wayne reveals how to get a jazz audience to chill and chuckle, what Wynton Marsalis taught him about mic-ing a band, and how a toxic social climate permeated the lives of so many …

Paul is a seasoned sportscaster and play-by-play guy, having called games all over the world. In addition to an illustrious career in radio and TV, he’s also a writer, teacher, voice-over artist and podcaster. His podcast The Walrus Was Paul is a fabulous deep dive in to the music of The Beatles, where various Canadian musical guests unpack their f…

Andrew Cash is a musician, singer-songwriter, journalist, politician, and lifelong social justice advocate. In this episode, Andrew talks about growing up Catholic in Scarborough, starting a band in the 80s, playing at the infamous Edge Club, singing with his brother Pete Cash, befriending Andy Maize of the Skydiggers, living in Kensington Market, …

Author and journalist Tim Falconer loves music with a passion, especially the sound of the human voice, breaking into song. However, Tim is tone deaf, a condition formally known as "amusic". His 2016 book Bad Singer candidly reveals the bold and emotional journey he took to uncover his amusic diagnosis. In this episode, Tim shares personal stories …

In the late 1990s, Marnie Grey developed "Music with Marnie" - a unique method of teaching music and movement to young kids. Using props, puppets, dance moves and sing-alongs, she delighted young audiences. Before long, parents were lining up around the block to register for classes, and kids were filling gyms to attend her concerts. In this episod…

Following two concussions, teacher and music lover Lisa Sabino developed tinnitus and hyperacusis. In this episode, Lisa speaks openly about how she navigates life with sound sensitivity, and the various ways in which she's working to get back to her concert-going self. Lisa's Learning Centre: Kaleidoscope Learning Munk Hearing Centre https://www.m…

Steve Wright is a singer, songwriter, rocker, composer, sound enthusiast, and teacher. He created the Sound Space, an all-ages music-making and learning hub, on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, Steve talks about creating music with seniors, learning from teens, and rocking out every day. MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Write T…

Musician, singer, songwriter and actor Ryan Myshrall (a.k.a. Chuck Phillips Jr.) talks about growing up the son of a DJ, playing music with life-long pals, moving to the country, recording his newest album "Ramblin' Roll" and weird things that can happen at the gym. More about Ryan: Chuck Phillips Jr. on Apple Music Oldies 990 The theme song "Human…