by Scott Roos live photo by Scott Roos Our Grade: A “Nobody Roads” (released this past September) feels like both a continuation and a quiet evolution for Josh Stumpf -almost a heartbreaking sequel to last year’s breakaway road trip stomper “Highway Money.”  Where that song reveled in momentum and grit, this one turns inward, tracing the emotional necessity of escape and solitude. It’s a deeply personal track rooted in Josh’s first-ever songwriting trip outside the country, w

by Scott Roos Our Grade: B Mercy Glover’s debut single “Ain’t Mine” captures that quiet, sinking moment when you realize the person beside you has their heart elsewhere . Written and performed by Glover, and produced by Jesse Weiman at Nolita Studios (with mastering by Trevor Case at Case Mastering), the track leans into a glossy, medium-tempo pop-country sound designed for easy connection and wide appeal. At its core, “Ain’t Mine” is undeniably catchy. The chorus lands with

by Scott Roos photos by Aaron Sinclair There’s a certain kind of confidence that doesn’t announce itself loudly. It just grooves. That’s the space Ella Forrest occupies. It’s in that headspace somewhere between jazz-trained precision, disco-era joy, and the quiet assurance of someone who knows exactly why they’re doing what they’re doing. Since debuting in 2022, the Regina-raised, and currently Ontario-based artist has been steadily carving out a lane that doesn’t always get

photos and words by Scott Roos On Friday, January 23rd, Saskatoon’s The North Sound as part of the On Stage  concert series to Prince Albert’s EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts, delivered an intimate, career-spanning performance that showcased both the duo’s evolution and their growing confidence as storytellers, songwriters, and performers. The North Sound - Forrest and Nevada Eaglespeaker - were joined by a formidable backing band affectionately billed by the Eaglespeakers a

by Scott Roos Our Grade: A- Released in August of 2025 , Retrograde , by Ella Forrest is a confident, carefully constructed sophomore EP that wears its influences proudly while carving out a sound that feels refreshingly distinct within the current Saskatchewan music landscape. Rooted in soul, funk, smooth jazz and pop with a retro sensibility, the record immediately signals that a great deal of intention and craft went into both the songwriting and the arrangements. After a

Words and photo by Scott Roos When Forrest Eaglespeaker talks about music, he talks about space—emotional space, physical space, the kind of breathing room that allows a story to unfold honestly. It’s an idea that runs quietly but persistently through The North Sound’s work, from early releases to As the Stars Explode  and now into their latest chapter with What It Takes . It’s also an idea that feels unmistakably rooted in where the music comes from. “I’ve always loved the m

Article and Photography by Andreea Moore ( Andreea the Narrative ) One of the hottest little venues these days is Art Bar. Set somewhere between a theatre and a classroom, it has a warm, cozy feel that lends itself perfectly to intimate shows. It embodies everything that makes a great small-room performance: interactive, familiar, and welcoming. There’s an essence of a house concert here; that close, almost secret feeling that gives the night an exclusive, shared energy. Lach

by Scott Roos Our Grade - C+ Released on Oct. 17th, Regina's Sifu and the Hat's “Wakin’ Up” is a bold attempt at the traditional blues genre. While it doesn’t completely break new ground, it delivers enough grit and energy to make an impression. With a press release citing Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart, R.L. Burnside, and Junior Kimbrough, listeners can expect something raw, angular, and lived-in. Instrumentally, to a degree, the track succeeds. The groove has a decent, unforc

by Scott Roos Our Grade: B+ Softlung, the Saskatoon-based project of S.J. Kardash, returns with “Midnight Mountains,”  a smooth, well-crafted single that leans heavily on strong production and clean melodic instincts. Released on November 4th, the track is silky without being slick, with clear attention paid to how each element sits in the mix. It flirts with adult contemporary territory with a light touch of alt-rock but keeps enough indie-pop character to avoid sounding ove

By Scott Roos band photo courtesy of Fake Paradise Free Fall Released March, 2025 Our Grade - A In March, Saskatoon’s Fake Paradise released their single Free Fall. Collectively, It's a head-bobbing reminder of just how heavy a local band can get. From the first note, guitarist Jace Irvine’s fuzz-laden riff grabs you by the ears and drags you straight into a Master of Reality –era Black Sabbath mood. There’s a boogie-like swing to it, heavy but moving, the kind of riff that m

by Scott Roos photos by Justin Broadbent It’s hard to believe that Shad, the London, Ontario-born wordsmith and hip-hop thinker, is marking his 20th year putting music into the world. “Yeah, it feels good. You know, yes 20th. I put up my first album 20 years ago,” Shad tells NSMZ, sitting back and letting that milestone sink in. “It feels like my 20th year of…putting out music. That’s how I think about it more than kind of being ‘in the business,’ I guess.” And yet, Shad’s re

by Scott Roos photo courtesy of Anna Haverstock Our Grade: B- Anna Haverstock’s latest single, entitled "Lungs", explores the emotional strain of miscommunication - the kind of recurring conversational breakdowns that leave people feeling unheard despite their best intentions. Written and performed by Haverstock, produced by Aspen Beveridge, and supported by background vocals from Jill Haverstock, the track is rooted in personal expression and an earnest desire to connect, ev

by Scott Roos band photo courtesy of The Shyning Our Grade: A With their debut single “Falling,” Prince Albert hard-rock outfit The Shyning come out of the gate with a track that’s confident, polished, and deeply rooted in the traditions of pre-digital rock. What immediately stands out is the production - this is a mix that feels big, warm, and undeniably professional. Everything sits exactly where it should, which gives the song an instant radio-ready sheen. Chris McDonald’s

Words by Scott Roos Photos by Scott Roos Prince Albert’s most eccentrically charismatic musical export, The Prince Albert Band, packed The Spice Trail to capacity for a free show on Friday, Nov. 14 delivering a performance equal parts chaotic, clever, and irresistibly fun. For a group that openly embraces its own weirdness, the five-piece continues to prove that their unlikely blend of jazz, prog rock, punk, and metal isn’t just a novelty - it’s morphing into a bona fide loc

Article by Melanie Macpherson Photos by Tracy Creighton ( Copperblue Photography ) Saturday October 24, downtown Saskatoon’s Green Room pulsed with glowing lights and the erratic heartbeat of Cyberfest. The air outside was cool but comfortable as the crowd gathered, sociable while waiting for soundcheck to finish. When the doors opened, the space slowly filled, Legacy Recall’s mellow, ethereal electronic soundscapes easing everyone into the night. IMMATERIA opened the evening

By Scott Roos Band photos by Scott Roos Live photos by Deanna Roos Get ready, Prince Albert—this Friday, Nov. 14th, the Spice Trail will host a night of unrestrained musical fun as the infamous fab five known as The Prince Albert Band (yes that is actually the band's name) takes the stage for their very first solo show. Known for blending jazz, progressive rock, alternative, punk, and metal, this five-piece group has carved out a sound that is uniquely their own. “We have a p

by Scott Roos photos by Brooke And Media On Friday, November 7th, Regina’s Wolf Willow took the stage at the Rock Trout Café in Prince Albert, with local favourites Rez Boyz opening the night. The Rock Trout continues to be a cool, vibey little space for live music. The red brick walls add warmth and ambience, and acoustically, the room holds up surprisingly well, letting both subtle textures and louder passages come through clearly. It’s a slim room, so when packed, there’s

by Scott Roos photo courtesy of Wolf Willow There’s no band in Western Canada quite like Wolf Willow . The twelve-piece Regina collective have carved out a sound all their own—somewhere between a honky-tonk dance band, a symphonic pop orchestra, and a 1960s country revue. Imagine if a surf-rock pioneer had joined a classic country outfit and made a wall-of-sound record inside the Grand Ole Opry—that’s Wolf Willow in a nutshell. Their latest album, Soul of Slippery Butte , rel

by Scott Roos photos by Scott Roos Sunday, Oct. 19th at the EA Rawlinson Centre for the Arts  in Prince Albert, audiences witnessed a rare meeting of two icons from the ’90s singer-songwriter boom: Paula Cole  and Sophie B. Hawkins . Their dual performance wasn’t nostalgia - it was renewal. Cole and Hawkins, who at that point were four dates into their Western Canadian tour, brought distinct energies to the stage. Hawkins burned bright, spontaneous and unrestrained. Cole fol

Review by Jim Klenz Live p hotos by Tracy Creighton ( Copperblue Photography ) Sharpening any cutting instrument is a precise art. Maybe it’s a bit ironic to describe a grunge/punk album that way; as musical precision. However, the honed edge of take me to the after party got a hold of me in the first few bars of the opening track. And if that’s all it was, artistic precision, I know I could have broken away. But through every track on their debut album, Dead Ex Girlfriends