The project’s first milestone was the release of its first two singles, “The Waiting” and “January Bird Calls,” which were released in August, 2016. Both of these singles were later re-recorded and featured on Grotoko’s first album, entitled We All Fall Down, which was released in July of 2017.

In January 2020, Grotoko toured Western Canada alongside Winnipeg punk rocker, Greg Rekus, shortly before being forced into a hiatus by Covid-19.

After the lengthy challenge navigating a recording process through a pandemic, alongside other obstacles, Grotoko’s second album, entitled Periwinkle, was finally released on December 16th, 2022. The project continues to perform across Canada year after year, and is currently beginning the recording process for the next album, entitled All of the Flowers are Dead.

Name:

The project name is Grotoko. My name as a human being is Blue McLeod.

Genre:

Art rock/Pop Punk/Baroque pop/Alternative

Founded:

2016

# of Albums:

Two (We All Fall Down and Periwinkle)

Latest Album:

Periwinkle (Which was released in December 2022)

Latest Single:

Who Killed Rosallie

Latest Video: 

Favourite musician growing up:

Rise Against

Favourite musician now:

Glockabelle or Mischief Brew

Guilty pleasure song:

Chicken Talk by Richie Kavanagh, because I just cannot get over the chorus, and I still think it would slap as a punk rock cover, despite nobody agreeing with me.

Live show ritual:

I set up equipment, get some water or non-alcoholic beer, and then tune my instrument(s) for an unreasonable amount of time before going on stage.

Favourite local musician:

This is a very difficult question to answer. A lot of them are tied as my favourites. I think I would still have to choose Greg Rekus, even though I’m in his backing band now. Some other favourites of mine are the Secret Beach, On Purpose, Perception Check, Borrowed Standards, and Housepanther.

EP or LP?

LP.

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird. I am up at 4 am every day, mixing demos, drawing, or attempting to do something creative before my day job.

Road or studio?

A bit of both whenever possible. Like many other musicians and artists, the time I spend on the road or in a studio is incredibly limited by my day job and budget, but there’s absolutely nothing I enjoy more than getting out of Winnipeg to tour. As well, I find working in a studio – especially with other people who are open to crazy ideas – incredibly fun.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Grotoko will be playing on April 4th, 2026, at Park Alleys in Winnipeg. I plan on doing some sort of solo tour over the summer, and have had the next two albums on a back burner for quite some time, both of which I’m very excited about. I hope to have some new music out next year, but I’m not ready to promise a date just yet.

Where can we follow you?

You can follow the project on Instagram or Facebook, which is where you can find the most updates. My social media handle for both is @grotokomusic. You can also download my music for a price you name through Bandcamp, where occasionally I post updates as well, although not nearly as often as on Instagram or Facebook. You can find all of these links, as well as other music-related links, on my website.

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Gohe Ethiopian Restaurant

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Osborne Street because it’s generally one of the places you would find street musicians back in the day, as well as a good handful of restaurants and venues.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

The first location that comes to mind (and I don’t know if I could really consider it a park) is Gibraltar Playground. I used to go for long walks with a notepad and recording device when I was a teenager, and I would often go to playgrounds during my walks and sit on the swings to work on ideas. One of the playgrounds I enjoyed writing at the most was Gibraltar Playground. It had a set of toy chimes, and occasionally the wind would blow through the chimes and hit notes that would trigger ideas. This location has a bit of a special place in my heart because it’s where I started writing the first-ever Grotoko song, which was called “Playground”.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Probably Park Alleys or Sidestage. I really enjoy playing smaller venues, especially ones with greenrooms, good non-alcoholic options, and top-notch staff.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

I don’t really have a favourite music store anymore. We’ve lost a few music stores in Winnipeg, so the options have been narrowed down. In terms of instruments, I tend to go to either Long & McQuade or St. John’s Music. In terms of records, I usually just buy directly from the artist at shows or on their websites. A record store that I do miss, though, is Vinyl Revival, which was a record store that, if I remember correctly, was also sort of a café that would have open mics, songwriting circles, and music lessons. It was owned by my friend, Darren Sawchuk, who was always incredibly supportive of local music. He unfortunately passed away from cancer, and his record store seemed to disappear shortly afterwards, but I could undoubtedly call Vinyl Revival my favourite record store of all time. It was a great place, and I had some good memories there.

The post Five Minutes With: Art-Rock Project Grotoko appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Name:

Just Jillian

Genre:

Rock, Indie, Americana, Blues

Founded:

2016

# of Albums:

2 albums

Latest Album:

Story of Mine

Latest Single:

Grey Money

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Nirvana. I was a devout fan

Favourite musician now:

Tough one. But I’d have to say a toss-up between Beck and Amy Winehouse

Guilty pleasure song:

Shoop by Salt n Peppa

Live show ritual:

Dim sum

Favourite local musician:

The Glorious Sons

EP or LP?

LP. I like a slow burn

Early bird or night owl?

Left to my own devices, I’m a bit of a night owl. Real life makes me an early bird.

Road or studio?

I love to travel. I’ve always dreamed of touring Europe. If anyone has some leads for bookings, hit me up!

Any shows or albums coming up?

Story of Mine – Out November 21, 2025

Where can we follow you?

Website | Facebook | Instagram

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

The Local Pub and Eatery on Laird Dr. Great patio and amazing food.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Danforth Ave, aka The Danforth. It’s old Toronto, full of local shops, artisans and restaurants. It hasn’t been swallowed by Corporations…..

Yet. But the Grey Money is slowly seeping in.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

I love Rouge Valley. It’s Canada’s only National Park that’s still within the city limits. Great place to escape.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

I’m a big fan of the Danforth Music Hall. Great size, sloped floor. Intimate and yet always feels full.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Kops records, yet another reason to love the Danforth.

The post Five Minutes With: Rock-Indie Musician Just Jillian appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Back home in Toronto, the band’s concert at Nathan Phillips Square attracted one hundred thousand fans. Lighthouse has performed more than two thousand concerts, and almost everyone who lived in Canada through the 1970s knew the band. They were and remain “Canada’s band”.

Their hits — including “One Fine Morning,” “Sunny Days,” “Pretty Lady,” and “Hats Off (To the Stranger)” — were the soundtrack of a generation and remain staples of classic rock radio. Lighthouse has released 17 albums, including several gold and platinum-selling and the diamond-selling (one million in Canada) “Oh What a Feeling” compilation. Lighthouse has been inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Canada’s Rock Hall of Fame, Canada’s Walk of Fame, and co-founder Paul Hoffert was awarded the Order of Canada in 2004. Lighthouse’s influence continues to resonate, and the band’s unmistakable sound and spirit still shine brightly on stage and on the newly released One Fine Morning (Anniversary Edition) LPs, CDs, and streamed media.

Lighthouse features co-founder Paul Hoffert and an all-star line-up that includes Russ Little, Dan Clancy, Doug Moore, Marc Ganetakos, Chris Howells, Simon Wallis, Michael Stuart, James Naro and Paul DeLong.

Name:

Paul (poli) Hoffert (Lighthouse co-founder/piano/organ/vibraphone)

Genre:

Rock

Founded:

1969

# of Albums:

17

Latest Album:

One Fine Morning Anniversary Edition (LPs and CDs)

Latest Single:

Vitamin B51– Not Lighthouse, but it’s my latest “new” music

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Milt Jackson, Stevie Wonder

Favourite musician now:

George Koller – Bass

Guilty pleasure song:

O Siem – Susan Aglukark

Live show ritual:

Meditation and limbering up [mind & body prep]

Favourite local musician:

Marc Ganetakos – Guitar

EP or LP?

LP

Early bird or night owl?

Both with a short nap during the day.

Road or studio?

Road

Any shows or albums coming up? 

Double LP and CD, Lighthouse – One Fine Morning (Anniversary Edition)

April 1, 2026 – St. Catharines, ON – FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

You can visit our website for more shows

Where can we follow you? 

Instagram | Facebook | Fan Page | Website

Get Lighthouse tracks, CDs and LPs here

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Delicacy Kitchen, Cantonese, 2899 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Bellair St. in Yorkville Village, Toronto. It’s like a European pedestrian-friendly street in the heart of Midtown.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Queen’s Park – historic setting by the Ontario Parliament buildings and the University of Toronto. A quiet country setting in the heart of Toronto.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Massey Hall – it’s as close as we get to the classic old music venues like Carnegie Hall.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Long and McQuade music stores on Bloor St. West near Dufferin.

The post Five Minutes With: Rock Band Lighthouse appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

This isn’t just a stacked bill. It’s a gathering of longtime friends and intertwined creative forces who helped shape an era of Canadian music that still echoes far beyond our borders. Metric’s Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw share deep roots with Broken Social Scene, having contributed to the collective’s most iconic moments, while Stars have spent two decades soundtracking the emotional lives of fans with their signature intimacy and grandeur. Together, these bands represent a uniquely Canadian legacy, one that has been built on community, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to art over industry expectation.

The tour arrives at a moment of renewed momentum for all three groups. Metric will be stepping forward with their new album Romanticize the Dive, Broken Social Scene return with Remember The Humans, and Stars continue their long tradition of turning confession into catharsis. What connects them isn’t nostalgia, it is the rare sense of continuity, friendship, and shared history that still feels alive onstage.

Tickets go on sale February 6 at 10 AM, with pre-sales beginning February 4.

METRIC – BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE – STARS
All the Feelings Tour

Date: August 7, 2026
Location: RBC Amphitheatre — Toronto, ON
All Ages

Tickets available at www.livenation.com

The post METRIC, Stars & Broken Social Scene at RBC Amphitheatre August 7th, 2026 appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Alongside the album announcement, the band also unveiled their new single, the anthemic and instantly singable “Don’t Get Lost In The Dark”. Featuring instrumentation reminiscent of The National and vocals that channel Bruce Springsteen’s emotional intensity, the song is centred on the act of showing up for someone in their darkest moments. Watch the accompanying performance video here.

“Don’t Get Lost In The Dark” reinforces the album’s overarching themes of connection, love, and friendship in an increasingly chaotic world. Also released today is “Downtown Again,” a deceptively simple-sounding track that weaves together three disparate ideas—from a chorus born in early collaboration, to verses about late-night regrets, all wrapped in a rootsy, Travelling Wilburys-meets-CCR vibe.

The new music follows the release of the soulful rock title track, “The Bloody Light,” and the emotionally-charged single “The Breakdown,” which recently hit #1 on Canadian Active Rock Radio.

Produced by The Trews along with Brett and Jay Emmons of The Glorious Sons, The Bloody Light showcases the band’s unmatched musicianship, from hard-hitting riffs and jaw-dropping vocals to hook-heavy, heartfelt songwriting. It stands as a powerful testament to The Trews’ enduring chemistry and creative evolution, while staying true to the rock roots that shaped their sound.

“I have a long history with the Emmons brothers from The Glorious Sons — I produced their debut EP and first LP, The Union, over a decade ago, and we’ve been close pals ever since,” says John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews. “When Brett suggested he and Jay produce us, we thought it would be an interesting experiment. They’ve known our band for years, both on and off stage, which helped bring a unique perspective. We entered the studio in summer 2023 with cautious optimism, and from the first session — recording “The Bloody Light” — it was clear they were bringing their A-game. They pushed Colin lyrically, pushed us all in the studio, and pulled out some of our best performances from the live room floor. After that, we knew we had to finish the record with them.”

Since breaking out with their 2003 debut House of Ill Fame, much has changed, but one thing remains the same: The Trews unwavering commitment to make music that connects people. With the upcoming album release, the band – Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus, bassist Jack Syperek, drummer Theo McKibbon, and touring keyboardist Jeff Heisholt – remains as vital and intensely focused as ever. Expanding on their signature brand of high-impact rock, they bring a sharpened sense of purpose and the same magnetic energy that has defined their career both in the studio and on stage.

Name:

Colin MacDonald, Lead Singer of The Trews

Genre:

Rock

Founded:

We’ve been the trews since 2002

# of Albums:

8

Latest Album:

The Bloody Light

Latest Single:

Manifest

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Nirvana

Favourite musician now:

At the moment, Hudson Freeman

Guilty pleasure song:

Blame it on the rain

Live show ritual:

Warm up my voice while watching old movies

Favourite local musician:

Saya Gray

EP or LP?

LP

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird

Road or studio?

Both, within reason, too long with either can suck.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Our album Bloody Light just came out, and it’s one of our best bodies of work to date. We just announced a 2026 tour. Show dates here.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Union on Ossington. Amazing food, great ambience

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Roncesvalles. It’s like its own little city within the city, and I love being close to High Park

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

High Park! So many beautiful little trails. It’s a great place to clear your mind, a respite from the anxious city life.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

The Danforth Music Hall.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Sonic boom for albums and Steve’s music for equipment!

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Band The Trews appeared first on Toronto Guardian.