Hidden Track

In 2007, Canadian-born country & soul singer/songwriter Tami Neilson moved to New Zealand to marry the love of her life. In this Hidden Track Story, she shares that journey and her dreams of joining the galaxy of true country stars. Neilson's new album, Neon Cowgirl, is inspired by experiences touring North America over recent years — including the title track, which pays tribute to a genuine giant neon landmark in Nashville, an iconic and richly symbolic figure which "lights up the sky", as Tami sings. Tami Neilson shares the journey of her non-overnight success. She's lived the highest of highs and lowest of lows. She traveled across North America with her parents, and many years later with her kids. She has stories to share about the Opry, Willie, and feeling like Dorothy in Oz, and of course, always striving to light up the night. CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Theme Music: Doug Hoyer Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Blues and roots musician Steve Marriner is an accomplished singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. In the spring of 2025, he brought all that talent and his band to the Beresh Arts Den at CKUA to launch his new album, Hear My Heart.  This episode of the Hidden Track podcast case was captured live, and you will hear this artist pour his heart out for a rapt audience of CKUA community members.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Theme Music: Doug Hoyer Session Recording: Nick Adkisson Mixing/Mastering: Brendan Cross Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.  

For six seasons we at CKUA have had the opportunity to connect with a wide range of inspired artists, from Albertan expat sensation Feist, to folk/punk firebrand Frank Turner, multi-JUNO Award winning rock band July Talk and homegrown hip-hop great Cadence Weapon, to name a few! For episode 100 of Hidden Track, we cycle back to the guest who joined us for episode one — two albums later, multiple Juno Awards and Polaris Music Prizes later - and for us 99 episodes later — we're thrilled to be able catch up with the true Hidden Track original, and an original in so many ways, Jeremy Dutcher.    CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Theme Music: Doug Hoyer Cover Photo: Kirk Lisaj Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

A few years ago, Calgary musician Reuben Bullock invited the band the Bullhorn Singers to the stage at the Calgary Stampede. This sparked a collaboration which led the musicians to form Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers.  Now they have debut album called All These Roads.  In this episode of the Hidden Track podcast, they will share music and stories, and you'll hear a performance recorded live at the Beresh Arts Den at CKUA's Edmonton building.   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!   CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette  Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Mixing/mastering: Brendan Cross  Music: Doug Hoyer  

Amy Millan is a Montreal-based artist who has been working at a full-on sprint pace with her main band Stars for more than two decades. She's also kept herself busy as a prolific contributor to Broken Social Scene. He musical life includes numerous collaborations. But this spring, at long last, Amy Millan released her first solo album in fifteen years, I Went to Find You.   In this Hidden Track Story, find out how friends and collaborators have helped this talented artist find harmony and use her voice in new ways.   CREDITS  Host: Grant Stovel  Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf  Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette  Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous  Theme Music: Doug Hoyer  Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!   The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!    Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack. 

Rose Cousins is an artist who seems to possess amazing access to pure feeling. She is capable of heartbreaking tenderness one moment, and side-splitting hilarity the next. On her new album, Conditions of Love Vol. 1, she explores a full range of emotions, and she re-connects with the piano, an instrument she first played as a child. In the newest episode of the Hidden Track podcast, Rose Cousins talks about creativity, love, and the human condition. She also shares beautiful performances of three songs from the album: "Borrowed Light," "K's Waltz," and "I Believe in Love (and it's very hard)."    CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Sound Recording: Brendan Cross Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Looking back on 30 years of Captain Tractor's hugely successful, beloved classic album East of Edson, practically everything about it seems unlikely. They came together as a bunch of theatre and music school kids, and became known all over Canada. With the release of that record, the band also hit upon a signature song that remains a buzz track to this day. Enjoy their chat with CKUA's Grant Stovel in this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast.  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack. CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams, and Brendan Cross for recording this conversation. The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! 

Cold Bones Fest was the site of this edition of the Hidden Track podcast, and Lethbridge band Starpainter takes centre stage.  Starpainter is a favourite on the CKUA airwaves, and they have been outspoken about their support of the CKUA community. Their latest album, Rattlesnake Dream, has received international acclaim, with one of its tracks being named #1 Song of the Year by Americana and UK. They also had the opportunity to tour Japan for the first time.  Enjoy this edition of the Hidden Track podcast, which was recorded live at the Drumheller Legion during Cold Bones Fest.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams and a big thank you to Cold Bones Festival! The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Canadian icon Alan Doyle shares his fascinating musical journey in this episode of the Hidden Track podcast. From his humble beginnings in Petty Harbour to performing on global stages, Doyle's narrative is filled with heartfelt reflections and vibrant storytelling. He discusses his evolution with Great Big Sea, his solo career, and his ventures into theatre and writing.   He talks about his educational background, influences such as Ron Hynes, and his new introspective album, Welcome Home. Listen for an engaging tale of music, humility, and gratitude, and enjoy a bonus acoustic performance of "Hard Old Hands," live in CKUA's Studio A.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Caity Gyorgy and Mark Limacher are a formidable musical duo known for their brilliance and creativity on and off stage. Caity, a two-time JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter, and Mark, a versatile composer and pianist, share a unique bond that enhances their collaborative performances. Their ability to blend their talents creates an enchanting experience for audiences, whether they are performing music or engaging in conversation.  Recently, they reunited in Alberta for holiday performances before heading to Japan for a series of shows at The Cotton Club.   Their visit included a special session at CKUA, where they shared their inspired music and insights with fans.    CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Theme Music: Doug Hoyer Mixing and mastering for this Hidden Track Session was provided by Brendan Cross. Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams! The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

MOONRIIVR is a band known for creating lush, cinematic, and atmospheric music inspired by timeless classics, yet uniquely personal in style. Comprised of seasoned musicians Gavin Gardiner and "Champagne" James Robertson, the duo brings a wealth of experience from the Southern Ontario music scene, blending indie rock, folk, jazz, and country influences. Their debut album, Vol. 1, and its follow-up, The Tascam Sessions, showcase their musical alchemy and innovative expression. We're treated to a sample of that magic in this Hidden Track Story, as the duo shares a bonus pair of live performances with us as part of this episode!   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! Subscribe to the Hidden Track podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer

After releasing a captivating debut single called "Dancing with Sue" in June of 2020, Wyatt C. Louis created a stir that saw them gain fans across Alberta, Canada, and beyond.  But it would be nearly four years until Wyatt's debut full-length album was released. The album Chandler, released on May 27, 2024, shot straight to #1 on CKUA's weekly Top 30 chart.  Their songs are pensive, deeply felt, and slow burning, while their supple voice and guitar work express wonder and vulnerability. The candid solo performances that Wyatt shared with us in CKUA's Studio A are intimate and beautiful.  This live session took place in December 2024 — just as CKUA's music library team had crunched the numbers and determined that Wyatt's album, Chandler, had become the most played on CKUA's airwaves for the entire year. As a special bonus, we had the opportunity to surprise Wyatt with the joyful news that they were #1 for 2024! It's a moment of pure joy, alongside Wyatt's blissful music and conversation.   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!   Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording/Mastering for this Session provided by Brendan Cross.

We've got a live one here!   This is a live session with the celebrated Canadian artist Tony D, who for decades has been known as an electrifying guitar talent, equally expressive in styles ranging from blues to swing to acid rock to flamenco! Tony has travelled the world playing music, and has a trophy case worth of awards; but somehow his new record Electric Delta is the first proper new Tony D solo offering of original material in a couple of decades! And the album release party for this long-awaited new record is what we hear in this highly celebratory live CKUA Hidden Track Session.   Between his solo projects, the celebrated Canadian band MonkeyJunk, and plenty of other musical activities, he's toured everywhere from Memphis to Italy, and all across Canada! He's even performed in the northernmost continuously inhabited place in the world — Alert, Nunavut.  Alberta has long been a kind of second home to Tony D; and these days he's actually a part-time resident of this part of the world, when he isn't on the road, as his partner and family live in the province. In this final episode of Hidden Track Season 5, we hear the electrifying Tony D performing in front of a rapt audience at CKUA's Live Performance Space in Edmonton, joined by his longtime bass player Joe Hawkins, as well as two superb Edmonton-based musicians: keyboardist Rooster Davis and drummer Jamie Cooper.   The sparks really fly between these four musicians and the audience, as they perform a diverse set of original material — a Tony D classic called "Argentinian Surf Tango", plus two standouts from the new album, "Highway 7" and the rousing opening salvo: a dynamic instrumental workout entitled "NAS".    Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording/Mastering for this session provided by Brendan Cross. The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  

When you consider that the Yukon's population density is estimated to be roughly 0.07 people per square kilometre, it's kind of amazing the cultural imprint that the territory has made — both in terms of Canadian and global culture! The majestic, dramatic land made world-famous in classics ranging from The Cremation of Sam McGee to The Call of the Wild has long inspired artists of all kinds, and it's truly become a haven for musical creatives. From the territory's living Indigenous musical traditions, to the fabled folk songs of the Klondike, to the incredible people making original music today ranging from bluegrass to hip-hop, the story of Yukon music is a vibrant, diverse, and ever-evolving one — as we hear in this episode, the thrilling conclusion of our first-ever Hidden Track two-parter!  Just as in Part One of our Music Yukon/Hidden Track collab, we're treated to some truly thrilling live performances by artists from that vast territory, and we get a sense of how the Yukon impacts their lives and art practices.  While Edmonton, Alberta is sometimes referred to as the most northerly large city in the Americas, with metropolitan population of more than one million people, you've got to make a roughly 2,000 kilometre-long trip southeast to get from the Yukon's capital city of Whitehorse to Edmonton! So, it was a pretty big deal when a whole troop of Yukon musicians made the big trek down south to perform as part of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in August 2024. This was thanks to the support of Music Yukon and a really cool partnership with the Edmonton Fringe.  While they were here, CKUA was lucky enough to host a whole bunch of them for Hidden Track sessions in our Studio A in Edmonton. They shared stories and songs with us that evoke the unique natural beauty, highly personalized sense of expression, and vibrant community feeling that make the Yukon such a magical place for music.  In Part 2, we hear from Alex MacNeil (leader of the outsider power-pop favourites Alex MacNeil and the Revenants, accompanied here by Hendika), the idiosyncratic punk-inspired stylings of Cryptozoologists, and the spirited soulful beauty of Bria Rose N' Thorns.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording and mastering for this episode by Brendan Cross.  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by our incredible donor community. Thank you for your support!

Joel Plaskett first came to fame in the beloved rock band Thrush Hermit, a group who came together as teenagers in Halifax and barnstormed across Canada and beyond throughout the '90s with a dynamic stage show, plus an actual neon sign reading "Rock and Roll". In fact, last time Joel visited CKUA's Edmonton studios was five years ago during a Thrush Hermit reunion tour, and he told us about keeping that "Rock and Roll" sign in storage for many years.  For his autumn 2024 tour, he certainly wasn't in need of the iconic "Rock and Roll" sign. It was just himself and his guitars (plus a reclining armchair and photo projector) for an album launch tour to celebrate his stunningly intimate acoustic album One Real Reveal.  He's an artist who's been known to challenge himself to ever-greater thematic journeys in his solo work. There's his well-loved 2009 release Three— his third solo outing - a triple album which was largely made up of songs with triple-barrelled titles. Then there was 44, released the day before he turned 45, consisting of four albums of eleven songs each. He's come up with maybe an even more daunting creative challenge this time, scaling the process all the way down to the number one — a record made with a single microphone, created almost entirely by Joel alone. Except for one very notable exception, which he'll reveal to us in this conversation. An unparallelled storyteller and an artist of remarkable candour and curiosity, Joel Plaskett shared very generously with us about the serendipitous musical moment that sparked this whole album, how it represents a return to his roots in somewhat surprising ways, how spoken word suddenly introduced itself as part of his artistry, and the importance of embracing the presence, spontaneity, transience, and cyclical nature of music, art, and life. This is a Hidden Track Story: Joel Plaskett | Four Tracks and the Truth. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donour community. Thank you for your support!