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When she was thirteen years old, her Dad took her on a trip to Nashville, based on their shared love for country music. In August of 2014, Kate moved to Nashville to pursue her musical career. A few years later, in September of 2017, she released her debut EP, titled “Pink and Gold.”. The album gained quick success on Spotify, with over 3 million streams on Spotify and was noted for its “…make-you shiver vocals, lyrics that stick in your head and tug at your heartstrings…” (Beach Metro June, 2020). Her single to follow, Not Having Fun, gained over 2 million streams and was featured on Q with Tom Power. Her songs have been featured on various Spotify editorial playlists such as Folk and Friends, Best Folk Songs of 2021 Canada, and New Music Friday Canada. Kate's music is every bit of hope and heartbreak that her soul has lived and breathed. Her transparent and vulnerable writing complements her poetic storytelling, finger picking, and witty persona to create something truly special. Kate's music has the power to lift people up and heal them, just as it has always done for her. https://www.kategillespiemusic.com/ Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

https://www.joshritchiemusic.com/ To describe Ritchie as just a singer-songwriter/guitar slinger is a massive understatement. This is a young man with complete control and understanding of his craft. He is an arranger, composer and poet; each song is meticulously thought out to serve the listener his chosen themes, stories and commentary on the world. As a young and ambitious person of colour, Ritchie quickly became fascinated with the relationship between art and activism. Growing up, he was influenced by bands and artists that weren’t afraid to make a statement with their art, and he strives to do the same himself. In 2021, Ritchie put this into practice, releasing a self-titled EP about his experiences growing up BIPOC in rural Ontario. His second studio album, Love at the End of the World, which further explored these themes, had a sold-out launch event at Lee’s Palace in Toronto and went on to obtain attention throughout North America through such outlets as The CBC, Cashbox Radio, Canadian Beats, Record World International, Volatile Weekly and many more. Now Ritchie prepares for the release of his third studio album, So Much More Than a Dream, in 2025. This epic concept album tells the story of a young adult searching for peace and purpose in our increasingly turbulent world. Keep a close eye on Josh Ritchie as his artistic and musical prowess soars to new heights in the years to come. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi takes her time crafting lyrics that are poetic and meaningful, often using unusual rhymes and surprising turns of phrase. She spent years on the road playing solo shows at festivals and in concert halls, train cars, backyards, and living rooms, supporting her warm, clear voice with intricate fingerstyle guitar accompaniment, and drawing energy from shifting landscapes and long drives through Canada and the United States. After taking a break from the road to rest, reflect, and write, Shawna returns with her fifth album, Hurricane Coming, a collection of raw, deeply personal songs set against a backdrop of colourful cinematic soundscapes. Shawna also created a series of abstract paintings inspired by the songs on the album, seamlessly combining her work as a musician and visual artist. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

https://tylercraigmusic.com/ Born in Perth and raised amidst the small town rhythms of Eastern Ontario, Tyler learned early that music could be both refuge and community, a lesson that would shape his approach to songwriting.As a teenager, he split his time between hardcore bands and the quiet pull of country music, absorbing the craft of storytelling from writers like Guy Clark and John Prine. That blend of grit and reflection would later define his own voice, earnest, grounded, and deeply human.After nearly two decades of performing mostly behind the scenes, Tyler confronted health challenges in 2021 and 2022. The pause gave him a new perspective, and he returned to music with renewed focus, leaning on the community that had nurtured him since childhood. In 2023, he began writing seriously, quickly amassing the material for his debut album. He recorded it at Brock Zeman’s studio with The Weber Brothers as his backing band, and it was polished by Steve Foley at Ottawa’s Audio Valley Recording Studio. The record captures Tyler’s blend of roots, country, and narrative-driven songwriting.Following his album release show at Bowie’s in Smiths Falls, Tyler has been steadily performing throughout the Ottawa Valley, crafting songs that draw from lived experience and a lifetime of listening. He is currently at work on his second album, slated for early 2026. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

https://www.roseerinstokes.com/ What is undeniable is the deeply honest approach to her musical storytelling, a wide-open emotional tableau that is representative of the silence of the vast forests and big open skies of the northern Ontario city of North Bay, where Stokes was born and raised. Stokes is a five-time Northern Ontario Music and Film Award nominee. Her Sophomore LP, ‘When The Sun Goes Away’, earned her a nomination for Album of the Year at the Ontario Folk Music Awards. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

https://familynamemusic.com/ Their music carries a playful push-and-pull—Ben leans into newgrass and old-timey roots, while Jacob brings a flair for indie-folk and classic country. The result? A dynamic sound layered with heartfelt lyrics, hope, and hard-earned wisdom, all delivered with brotherly charm and just the right amount of tension. The Family Name have just released “Don’t Choke,” their second single recorded at Little Known Studios. Producer and multi-instrumentalist David James Allen plays several instruments on the track - an upbeat departure from the duo’s typical stripped-down acoustic sound. The duo looks forward to releasing a new EP in 2026 and to announcing supporting concerts and tour dates. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

https://www.graciejet.com/ A multi-faceted artist, Gracie is not only a songwriter and performer but also a practicing nurse who worked tirelessly on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those experiences of resilience, compassion, and exhaustion profoundly shaped her perspective and songwriting. Her lyrics often read like journal entries — raw, honest reflections that illuminate her humanity and strength. Since her 2022 debut, Gracie has released a steady stream of singles supported by FACTOR Canada, earning international radio play and over 250,000 views on the self-directed music video for her breakout track Sister. Her follow-up singles Sway and Forest Fire were featured on the national television program CMCTV Talent, further solidifying her rising profile. 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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 speaker, delivering effective training and workshops to professionals, volunteers, and community members. Writing stories captivated Maureen at a young age, perhaps beginning with the class newspaper in Mrs. Voy’s grade four class. For many years, Maureen’s writing focused on telling the stories of real people in professional reports. In 2010, Maureen found her way back to creative writing, gently prompted by a conversation with her eighth-grade teacher, Mr. McLean, and embraced with compassionate encouragement by Firefly Creative Writing. ​ ​In 2020, Maureen discovered songwriting and embarked on a new adventure of telling stories in a whole new way. Keen to learn more, Maureen picked up the guitar in 2021, deepening her connection with the music she’s writing. These experiences have shifted her personal life and enhanced her role as a professional as she explores the therapeutic power of story and song. Her creative heart has cracked wide open, and there’s no looking back. 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 page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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. Although a happy individual, he enjoyed writing about life’s struggles. James would pull from experiences that he saw happen to people around him. Stories of love, determination, cheating, abuse, and heartache. While still passionately writing, recording, and performing his own music, James’ storytelling skills, along with his evolving drawing abilities, led him to a successful career as a Storyboard Artist. His hard work paid off. From there, in 2007, he ended up co-founding Jam Filled Entertainment, an animation studio that now has 700 employees with offices in Ottawa, Toronto and Halifax. Shortly after the release of his third solo album in 2015, These Weights, James took a long hiatus from recording and performing music for personal reasons…Reasons he now regrets. But in January 2020, James was slammed with the biggest challenge he had ever faced; his 23-year marriage came to a shocking and devastating end. How did James make it through? James dug deep and wrote songs that were from a place he had never been before. He wrote with new eyes, new ears, and new emotions. His songs now became personal as opposed to observational. country music, traditional music, traditional country, americana, americana music, art, songwriter, old school country, old school country music, old time music, old time country, folk music, folk, storyteller, folk music, folk song, roots, roots music Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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/ 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 page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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. She has performed across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, appearing at Musik over Præstø Fjord (Denmark), Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, Peterborough Folk Festival, Live From the Rock, St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, and for over 10,000 people at Peterborough Musicfest. She recently showcased at Folk Music Ontario, performing on official stages presented by Folk Canada. Millie has also co-written with Tim Chaisson (The East Pointers) and continues to push her sound forward as both a player and songwriter. Her all-original album GRACE earned praise from Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, who called it “Fresh, lively… cool tunes and great playing,” while Alex Monaghan (FolkWorld Magazine) wrote, “What most grabs me about Irish Millie’s music is the passion — full of fun, fire, and feeling for the music she loves.” A past Peterborough Folk Festival Emerging Artist of the Year and a committed community builder through her ‘Fiddling for Fox’ campaign (which earned her the Peterborough Civic Award for Community Betterment), Millie is now studying Music Industry & Technology at the University of Toronto while touring, writing, and recording new work. 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 page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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/ 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 would like to support me financially, please visit the subscriptions page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

James Gedda Music Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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.” 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 page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe

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/ 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 page and pledge. Thank you! Get full access to Brian Tremblay's Lonesome Cowboy Cowboy Podcast at thelonesomecowboypodcast.substack.com/subscribe