Graventown

As one the three majestic sparkplugs that fire up the magnificent machine of the indie folk-rock/alt-country award winning band Elliott Brood, Mark Sasso had a lot to say and we had a lovely flowing chat about musicality, all things music, songwriting habits, the fashion of music and the power of songs. I really enjoyed this convo and I was thankful that Mark some time out of his busy schedule to chat with little old me. Watch for Mark's new solo side project where he's playing some new songs under the name "Oh Sasso". I actually thought his last name was O'Sasso until he corrected me in the interview. Enjoy the enlightening ear candy of our words and sentences. Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne, Stephen Stanley (Lowest of the Low) and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Heyo friendoes. Here's one from the road in this insanely magically muddy mentally marooning month of May. I'm typing this from the teleport of the toucan. Getting ready for a fun festival atmosphere. There shall be drunken throngs kanoodling and pawing  each other on Princess  Street tonight, dearies. Make no mistake. Slow it down!Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello friendoes: I hope you enjoy my return to the homestead - far from the carcast realm - and into the white hospital desk microphone majorca of the mind. In this hive-zone of busy buzzworld that we reside within, sometimes it's important to remember that a basic day with no plans or no insane tasks can be a major metaphysical gift. Had a few other mental lightning bolts that I wanted to share with y'all as well. Thanks for being here, near and dear to the Graventown ecosystem. Hearts to all.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Oh friends - these days, the good feels seem to have no ends. This was a humdinger straight from the heart of the road-weary but eye-teary Gravenator while being Peterborough bound and recapping a Toronto Tragically Hip-based Dave Bookman benefit that was a night of nights for the soul and mind for oh many reasons. I hope you are ready to cry - because I sure was when I recorded this. I love y'all so much and thanks for stopping by Graventown. You are always welcome here.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends; this was a gushy one from the weatherbeaten civic on a post-Owen Sound/Uxbridge rip. Lots about my pal Krista and the Thornbury crew and lots about my pals in the Uxbridge region (Sandford specifically). If you're not up for some feels, maybe redirect your ear vehicles to an alternate sideroad because this sucker puts the pedal down on the love expressway. Have the best day and thanks for clocking in (PS - another carcast is coming soon) and being you.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends; I appreciate the clicks and the likes and the lingers on this little podcast o'mine - because I'm gonna let it shine. This was a fun one to shoot into the ethersphere and you might even catch a nugget of a new song in the middle somewhere. As we wade through the murky waters of these times, I hope you can find hope - however that looks or manifests itself for you. Hope can be triggering - but it shouldn't be. With a little faith, trust and pixie dust, we will get there. More to come. Thanks for being you and for stopping by Graventown.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello friends - I hope the depth of this world isn't giving you the bends, these days. Hard to escape that out of sorts wonky bonkers vibe - but we are pushing through the weeds, regardless. (Weeds? Deep sea diving? Mixed metaphor Matty?) Here's my latest in a new series called Offroad Recalibrations. I hope you enjoy the viewfinder wayback feels. I appreciate you. More guests coming! Stay tuned to Graventown TV. You're loved.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends without ends. Lorders without borders. How y'all doin' out there in radioland? Is it just me, or this spring seeming to be a bit bleak? Feels like there's way more room for the rich and less room for the meek. But I digress (with little success). Just wanted to fire one off to the universe and yawp one out into the void. Wanted to talk a bit about my Always Everything vinyl and a few other things as I strolled through Bruce Pit. Check out my showdates at graven dot ca. You are loved and you are worthy of love. Peace and lambshank grease. Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Back on the airwaves, my dudes. It's been a minute between roughshod roadway rides through the highways and biways of middle ontario, but I'm back for a heavy hot minute. Really hope to see you at an upcoming April show - but I wanted to take a minute and indulge my mind in the topic of rest. That's right.  For some of us, it can feel like laziness, but it sure ain't that. It's all the good things that your brain needs to cultivate and harvest joy and energy. I hope this hits your solar plexus in that perfect spot. You are loved. Hope to see ya at a stage near you soon.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

81 episodes!?! Someone call the PRESSES!! Oh wait - they're busy dealing with all that nationalism bordering on fascism stuff. Right. Well hey - at any rate - welcome back to Graventown for a super special one off about finding the proper accoutrements to season and spice your mental wellbeing. These are some things that have worked for me. I hope you're alright out there, friends. Much love, peace and chicken grease.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Pals from all canals; what's the hibbidy? Are you singing dippity doo dah or skippity toilet? I hope in all of the chaotic streams of info that you can settle your senses and rest your rendering system for a few moments and find your why. Dig deep into the soil and raw earth of you - you might be surprised what you find. This is the conclusion of a little series I rambled called Finding The Why in a time where it seems like we are told to have no why and to just exist. Keep asking the questions and keep listening to music. I love you.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello friends. It's been a few weeks since I've a couple stones to throw into ye olde pod pond, but I'm back in the saddle. I thought I'd rap a bit about Finding The Why - which is a concept that is going to be important as we all make our way through the shifting sands of our current timeline. It's a two parter - so hang in there and grab some popcorn. I love you and appreciate you.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Folks - hello. Welcome back to the Graventown jamboree. Grab your sonic picnic basket for a little auditory meadow-frolic. This episode was a great and golden flowing convo between myself and western Canadian Edmontonian music maker and multi-project collaborator Mallory Chipman. With 5 records to her name and successful tours across Canada, Europe, and Japan, and an official nominee for Country Music Alberta's Folk Artist of the year, Canadian singer-songwriter Mallory Chipman is forging new paths on the music scene. Her genre-bending tendencies, powerful sound, and story-driven songwriting has been described as “some of the finest folk rock currently being made” (Amplify Music Magazine) and has set her apart as “a rising light in Canadian music” (NewTec Radio). Also known as one half of the rising alt-country duo The Goddamsels, Mallory Chipman is a true raconteuse, praised for her work as both a solo artist and collaborator, and for her skills as a songwriter, arranger, producer, and music scholar. Mallory and I played a show together at Live in Elgin back in fall of 2024, and we will surely be collaborating at some shows again so stay tuned to Graventown FM!Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Well hello, friends. We are back at it - yet again. I hope 2025 is finding you as well as it can so far and I thought I'd take a stab at some healthy ideals to help you on your way out the door into the wild blue yonder of the approaching (insert witty metaphor here). Some great guests coming soon so stay tuned and thanks for all the follows and likes - it means more than you know! Thanks for being here. You are loved.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 alongside Melissa Payne and many other rad artists by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by buying the Always Everthing vinyl or brand new "block heater" toque here or by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Graventowner non-frowners. Thanks for being here. On a dusty dark damp drive across highway 7, I thought I'd pop this two part series out into the mental ethersphere for y'all as I've been pushing my roughshod rickety heart-cart down the mucky and muddy road of self-work these days. I hope it finds you well and helps you realize that your dark pieces are also just parts of your whole - and helpful motivators and magnets to pull you toward your proper emotional polarity. Thanks for being you. You're always welcome in Graventown.Catch me in a town near you in 2025 by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends; hello. Happy almost 2025. I hope part 1 of this 2 part series helps you find that still small inner voice to do some work on the stormy darkness inside you (and inside all of us) in order to find your emotional blue sky. This was a bit of a personal one for me. I hope you all enjoy and start off your new year being alright with the definitive dark pieces of your beautiful bright selves. Stay tuned for some 2025 show announcements! Thanks for kicking around Graventown, ya silly geese. You're so loved. Catch me in a town near you in 2025 by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. Countryfolk. Lend me your auditory holes  (Good thing I never performed Shakespeare). Yahoo for being back in the pod saddle and I had a chance to chat with a very special mystical magical human being and music maker named Miranda Journey  (who I'm playing shows with this coming weekend Dec 13 at Meow That's Hot on Bank Street in Ottawa and on Sat Dec 14 at the fab Free Times Cafe in Toronto - tickets at graven dot ca). Miranda Journey is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, and performer. Her style blends the likes of indie rock, psychedelic, dream pop, and folk genres to create a colourful kaleidoscope of sound. Described as "New Retro", Miranda uses varied sonic techniques on stage and has performed alongside acts like Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, Julian Taylor, Elliott Brood and so many more. We talked all over the musical map and about our funny friendship and I'm sure you'll find some gems in this wildflower field of a convo we had.Catch me in a town near you as I round out my 2024 shows (playing alongside Miranda Journey) by visiting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. Been in the creative womb lately and just trying to listen to my inner quiet  during this loud oncoming holiday season. I also took a bit of a lookback in my existential rearview mirror to appreciate some hefty tour-highway highlights of 2024. Pull up a stoop and come on down to old memory oak tree, acorns. You're loved.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello friends. Well it sure has been a few milliseconds since I popped out a sonic egg of truth into the mental incubator of the podcast ethersphere. This one was meant to be more of an encouragement and a note of hope after all of the strange ingredients were ground and sprinkled into the bizarro political stew of our southerly neighbours. I hope it finds you well. And remember; no one in political power can take away who you are. I love you.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends;  what a special episode indeed because as you hear this, I'll most likely be in the friendly Atlantic Canadian skies, drinking a morning beer on Porter Airlines, as I'm taking a little mental trip eastward to visit some friends in PEI and Halifax. Those two places will always have special meaning and emit warm glow sprinkles deep in the cockles of my heart - and I feel like that part of my tank needs to be refilled. Not playing any shows. No business. Just a getaway. Enjoy my love song for the Atlantic Ocean. Hugs and kisses on all your brain parts.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello Graventown residents. Sorry for the delay - I was fairly truculent with Tuesday uploads for a while and then some life stuff happened. You understand. At any rate, somehow we are here on the wild frontier of 70 episodes. Seventy. Sh*t. You don't know whether to laugh or cry. I hope you enjoy my post-tour unpacking and existential catching up. May you be comforted today! Stay tuned for a special episode (71) coming out Tuesday (yes - Tuesday! I mean it this time)You are loved.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. Sometimes you get the egg whites, and sometimes you get the meaty yolks. Christina Martin is my sister from another mister who I've never even met - a and a multi award winning music maker and singer-songwriter from the east coast of Canada (and you can read all about her awesome accolades here)  but I had the chance to have her back for round deux of Graventown -  and this time, her rad partner and musical superstar collaborator and producer Dale Martin (google that guy for an impressive musical rap sheet) was able to join as well. I think we a had fun, disjointed, awesome, heartfelt, bizarre and sweet convo together about love, mental health, musical friends, the  start of the lockdown days and so much more. I hope it finds  you well.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends - welcome back to the G-town get-down yet again. Musicians and comedians often feel like we are distant relatives; there's a correlation but we can't exactly put our finger on that common throughline. But also, with any performer, there's something beautiful about being out of the spotlight and just laughing. My guest today is one of the funniest people I follow online and he keeps getting  funnier by the day; Byron Bertram. Like a bird flu on an international flight, Byron Bertram travels well. His innate talent for voices and accents and confident vulnerability have taken him worldwide and established him internationally as one of the world's top Canadian comics. He has worked on stage with the likes of Zach Galifianakis, Flight of the Concords, and Eddie Izzard; was a hit with the judges on Brits Got Talent, has been seen on ABC's Once Upon a Time, Dirks Gently, Riverdale, and heard regularly on SiriusXM. His new comedy special "Live At The Biltmore" (released under the massive comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla) will air on YouTube on November 10th. Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends, countryfolk and city scoundrels; hello. This was an extra special cake and ice cream episode of Graventown because I got to talk with someone I deeply respect and admire (and whom I have such a lovely conversational shorthand with)  - Ron Hawkins. He's not just a sweet musical pal, incredible painter and past touring partner of the Gravenator. No, no, friends. Don't box him in. Ron Hawkins has long been revered as one of Canada's greatest contemporary singer-songwriters. As lead singer/multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter of Canada's legendary Lowest of the Low, Ron Hawkins has enjoyed many accolades through the years: In 1996, 2000 and again in 2005, Chart Magazine honoured the group's 1991 debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, with spots in the top 10 of the Top 100 Canadian Albums of All Time. In 2000 and once again in 2015, Hawkins was voted Songwriter of the Year by NOW Magazine's reader's poll.  Also in 2000, Ron received Toronto station 102.1 The Edge's Lifetime Achievement Award. And in that same year, Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails won album of the year at The Indie Awards, for their album Crackstatic. In 2008 The Lowest of the Low was inducted into the Canadian Indie Rock Hall of Fame and awarded gold records for Shakespeare My Butt. It was a delight to roll around in the wild grey matter of this  multi-project/multi-faceeted lovely guy's brainpan for almost an hour. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did chatting with the ever-soaring/ever-seeking Hawkman.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends! Here's one I ripped off into the universe from the municipal roads of Nepean. Just some post thoughts and ponderings. I hope they find you well in the continuation of this glorious fall weather. I'm just getting to a place where I'm trying to embrace the love in my life and not wanting that to wane. For a long time, I've had a blockage that would stop me from those feels. Well - here's me. Trying to accept. Trying to get there. Thanks for being here! Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. I hope this G-man solo ear candy store visit finds you well. Adulting. Music. Gratitude. All these themes and more are in this episode. I hope it hits you in the heart cockles. You're loved.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Graventowners and Getdowners; welcome back. As I continue to pump these episodes out into the ethersphere, I'm so stunned and thankful to meet and connect with some pretty lovely and special folks in this space. Matt Beisner is no exception to that rule. I actually became friends with him on IG before I knew what he was all about and I appreciated his positive outlook and love for dogs - but Matt Beisner (founder of his company THE ZEN DOG) is actually a world renowned certified professional dog trainer and the star of "Dog: Impossible" (a series on Disney+) and was a guest speaker on Netflix's "Inside the Mind of a Dog". Based in Austin TX, Matt specializes in common, confusing, reactive and aggressive behaviors in dogs, and Matt's humane approach is guided by evidence-based positive reinforcement, to help humans get their dog's needs met and improve their quality of life as a whole. We had a pretty beautiful and all-encompassing chat and I hope it finds you well. Thank you for being you and for keeping your dial on Graventown FM. Y'are loved.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Well hey friends. I'm trying to get back into the podcast fray and I always appreciate your ears and support. Starting in September, I'm gonna be riding roughshod across the rugged Ontario terrain with a great friend and an even greater music maker; Stephen Stanley. Wolfe Island-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Stephen Stanley may most immediately be known as a founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist with the acclaimed early 90's alt-rock band "The Lowest of the Low". Since those days, Stephen has gone on to release some of his finest music of all time with "The Stephen Stanley Band" and their new album, Before The Collapse Of The Hive (Wolfe Island Records), is a multi dimensional banger. It's an album brimming with raw, unflinching urgency, steadfast observation and soul-searching storytelling that highlights Stephen's immediate world: those he loves, and those he's lost. This was my second chat with Stephen and we had a lovely time. For tickets and times on our Ontario tour in September, go to https://graven.ca for more info. I love you.Catch me in a town near you (as I head out on tour soon with Stephen Stanley from The Lowest of the Low and The Stephen Stanley Band) by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hallo my d00dz. I've been summering. I hope you have done the same. Amidst the laking and cottaging, it was fun to fire off an August ember into the podfire. Jennifer Baranick is a stark and vivid music maker who is an explosion of art and song and golden guitar fuzz and super unique lyricism and vocalization - and she usually blends all of those elements majestically into her music project Broken Down Golf Cart. Hailing from Liverpool, UK, but cutting her musical teeth here in the nation's capital, it was a treat to catch up with Jen and talk about all things music and art and some key scenic differences between Ottawa and Liverpool. Enjoy yer augusts and remember; yer always welcome in Graventown.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello G town friends. It's been a nanosecond or two. But I'm rested and back in the pod saddle with some fresh rattle/out the box takes on the weird world of artistry right. Please join my Ko Fi. It's 8 bucks a month. For the love of all that is pure. Help me survive. In other news, I canceled a yard show and rescheduled it for later in August. Come if ya can! Have a listen. May your soul glisten.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. How do the seconds turn into days and hours and weeks?  What in the actual Axel Foley is going on around here? At any rate - here we are. Episode 60. Sixty. Wow. And what a way to celebrate with an interview featuring the magnanimous magnificent Dean and Kevin from the ever growing multi-faceted hilarious and friend podcast from Wisconsin: Cocktails with Dimples and The Beard. They are known for having a wild array of guests - from adult entertainers and peformers to professional comedians and musicians and just recently connecting with a guest who tracks down child predators and traffickers. We met over the course of the pandemic and became fast friends, and connected on a variety of topics. This podcast became an emotional and therapeutic one for the three of us, as we all chatted openly about being dads of daughters and seeking out the true emotional lighthouses in the storm of this life. Watch for a video version on YouTube soon!Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends. Hokey  Dinah. It's been another hot minute since I've been in and around the podsphere. I hope this  jargonesque episode wets the stone-saw of your content voracious mind. Thank you for being on this journey. More to come!Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Pals - I've had  this episode simmering slightly on the backburner for a while but  it's finally braised and ready to be plated for your mental pleasure. Dennis  Moseley-Williams  has been described as  dangerously funny and wickedly smart. He is not only an outstanding presenter, but he's also an outstanding person as well (and I can attest to that as he has become a great friend).  He has integrity, honesty and cares about his position and the people he works with.  He provides easy-to-understand ways for improving the strategy for your business. Also  - much like me as  a music maker - as a professional public  speaker and vision spreader,  he understands  the concept of a gig being  live and only getting one shot to impress a room. I hope this episode finds you well.  We  had some great glowing relevatory convo moments. Dennis is an inspirational dude.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello friends - it's been a few buckets  of hot seconds since I've been in the podverse. I found some time between touring to get some shiznit uploaded for your lovely selves and I have a few more on the way. Today's theme is anxiety  - and how remembering a simple mantra  during times of heaviness and stress (and redirecting your focus and energy) can be helpful.  I hope it finds you well. Catch me on tour with Ron Hawkins this month  in Buffalo, Toronto and two nights in Burlington. I love you.

Friends - here we are YET again. I hope you're ready for three hot "Twenty Two-Four" pods in an oven of contentment that are spiced, fresh, ready, saucy and primed to slide  into your emotional gullet.  In this episode, the Gravenator talks about  ways to winterize your habits and keep your mental health primed through such a dark winter season. Stay you, always, m'dudes. Y'are loved.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Graventown Friends from all of  the map-ends. I was feeling pretty raw when this cast of ye olde pod came out just before the yuletide glee. I hope  it finds you  well. It was about the essence of music and art and  just sticking with a craft through all seasons of life - in a phrase; manufacturing authenticity.  I also talk about  seeing failure as a privilege  has  helped me time and time again. Originally recoded  Dec 6, 2023.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hallo  my palllllzzzz. Welcome back to Graventown; Population - You. It's been way too long  since I sang  the podcast song. I've misssed you, you beautiful digital void. Happy 2024 and may this new year bring you new and great things. In this episode, I talk about some recent adventures of love and emotion and how taking the big swings have always helped me in life. I hope it finds you well and builds your love sprinkle into a storm swell.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Was nice to have some runway between Ottawa and Kingston to launch a few thoughts about loss and life and musical light that guides us through it all. The  gig at the toucan with Tom was ethereal and it was important to dissect the whys and hows of getting out of your own way and being a vessel. I always appreciate  you listening and I'll hope to see you in Toronto this coming Saturday December 16th. Email me anytime at gravencanada@gmail.com.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Pals. I'm back with some solo yolo yeet Graven tidings for your G-town sundown fomo. I don't know what that means, but I felt semi cool writing it. It's a hard and fun and sad and happy season we are in, and I just wanted to airdrop you some digital love. I hope you are uplifted, in whatever state of the pre-holiday tinseltown gerbil maze that you're skittering  through. Keep chasing those dreams. You are loved.Also - I'm playing some shows along the frosty December Ontario trail and I'd love to see yer mugs.DEC 9 - The  Toucan Kingston, ON (w Joey Glaze)DEC 16 - The BrocktonToronto, ONDEC 21 - Black Bellows BrewingCollingwood, ON (w Ontarians, Jolie Smith + B Knox)DEC 22 - Corner CafeThornbury, ON(Times and tickets at gravencanada dot com)Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Podpals. Thanks for following the good ship Graventown into the night. After a short hiatus, we are back in the saddle with episode 51 (can ya believe it?!) featuring the fierce fiery phenon music maker Jenn Grant. Jenn Grant's music is deeply empathetic and generous of heart, so of course one day she would invite the whole country to make it with her.  Champagne Problems, her eighth album and first in the producer's chair alongside partner Daniel Ledwell, gathers 13 musicians from coast to territory to coast in a series of collaborative Canadian magic tricks spun into classic country, lost disco hits, and ruminative folk fables. Featuring folks like Kim Harris, Aquaculture, Basia Bulat, Afie Jurvanen aka Bahamas, Dan Mangan, Hannah Georgas, Kevin Drew, Amy Millan AND more,  Champagne Problems is now in the world on platform of your choosing. We had a real deep and honest chat and I hope you listen in.  Hope to see ya for my final full band shows of 2023!  Oct. 28 - House of Targ - 9 PM - w Reverb Syndicate and Tin Constellations - $15  Nov 11 - Super Special Secret Show w Secret Guest! Stay Tuned! Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

G-towner non-frowners. Thanks for being here. This was a lost episode where my pal Kevin Landry interviewed me in Sept 2021 right before I was shipping out to Dartmouth NS to record "Simple Complex" with Joel Plaskett, Charles Austin and so many more talented east coast musical pals. We did it with a phone mic live at the beautiful Big Rig so you definitely hear some clinking and clacking of dishes and cutlery, but it was a fun vibe. I hope you enjoy it and keep finding ways to cultivate joy in your life.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends and fam in the Graventown flock - you're in for a treat for my 50th episode. How do you describe a one-woman ultra-unique powerfully poignant force of nature who is a comedian, director, content creator, film maker, musician and professional dancer? Simple; it's Toni Nagy. Toni is a self decribed "writer that writes real good". Toni is also a stand up comedian and film maker, and has been working diligently for the past 15 years creating content for the internet "often encouraging people to spend less time on the internet (EXCEPT IF THEY ARE LOOKING AT HER!)" Her work often blends kinetic movement with speech and takes a philosophical look at the world, and tries to deconstruct your perception and then reconstruct it again using neon construction paper. Follow Toni on Instagram here. We had a beautiful open chat about mental health and creativity and I'd highly recommend you listen to this one. Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello pals. If you've made it this far through the carcasts, you win a pretzel. Please redeem your voucher at gravensuperfans dot org slash gadzooks. Just kidding. What do I look like? A freakin' pretzel factory ova hee-yeah?! (insert bouncing thumb to four fingers fazool hand gesture) But in all honesty - this one was the gem of my summer carcast series. The audio was great and I felt like my mind and heart were in very thankful places down in the precious pretty pasture of the Picton realm of The County at the acoustic grill. More to come! Stay tuned, you gifted groovers of Graventown.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Hello again from the golden Graventown fountain pen. My apologies for the audio in this episode (as for a good 17 minutes, it sounds like I'm recording it on an airplane ON the actual wing of the aircraft) but I hope you catch the vibe. I'm having fun popping these mind mints in your brain mouth. Does that make any sense? I might be one of the wittiest and verbally eviscerating wordsmiths of our generation, but I might also be a complete imbecile. I'll let you decide. This ditty was recorded on my way to a surprise birthday party my megatalented magical pal Stephen Stanley in the 416. Yes. It's another podcast on the road to Toronto. The hits just keep onnnnn comin'. Love you all.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Ballers. What's the shot? Here's another Carcast on one of my 78 trips to Toronto in 2023. Just kidding - but I bet I went to that lovely city about 7/8 times this year. It's like muscle memory for my Civic, now. I just punch in the coordinates and take a nap. But in all seriousness, this was before playing a showcase show at Great Lakes Brewery for the Four Winds Festival that happened on July 14-16. Great Lakes is a beautiful beer making machine filled with lovely folks and I had a splendid time getting connected with their crew. My main man Russ Boden met me down there and we shared a few pretzels. Anyways - enjoy the pod, you filthy animals. Love you.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Folks. Hello. It's been quiet on the dusty Graventown podcast front. Tumbleweeds have been rustling in studio 26K. It's been a busy summer and the fall isn't slowing down anytime soon - but in lieu of that schedule sap-stuck flow from the podcast tree (am I mixing too many metaphors here? Probably) - I thought I'd throw up (figuratively, not literally) a few carcast episodes from the summer. After all - my car really is my journalpod while I'm on the road (and I was literally Kerouac this summer - ok, I'll stop) so I did a lot of thinking and talking. Please enjoy this pre montreal mindpainter as I was mid-tour with Dennis Ellsworth and about to play some tunes with my pal Gideloa Rock N Rolla (Gideon Yellin) at the cool cozy haunt that Martha Wainwright created called Ursa. Enjoy!Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Well golden Graventowners: that was a lot of fun having Simeon Ross on for the second time since starting the podcast - and before even hitting number 50 on the podcast dial yet. Call me Captain Nepotism. Sigrun Stella is a multi number 1 hit releasing artist from Iceland who was with us in spirit but had another project to tend to in Antartica. Simeon Ross is a talented filmmaker, music creator, producer, multi instrumentalist and all around fairly funny human who I love. We had a whale of a time chatting and I hope you did the same while listening. CHECK OUT OUR SHOW WHERE THE SIMEON ROSS, SIGRUN STELLA AND MYSELF AND MY FULL BAND PLAY TOGETHER ON AUGUST 25TH IN TORONTO AT THE GARRISON.  MORE INFO HERE.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

We're back at it again with the sonic white vans, friends. That's a tik tok reference from 2016. I try to stay hip.  I hope you enjoy this lovely interview with singer songwriter and side player Ally Corbett. Ally knows everyone and they all think she is awesome. Ally Corbett is a folk singer-songwriter from St. John's, NL who is now based in Kitchener, Ontario. A versatile fiddler and seasoned performer, it is Ally's artistry as a songwriter and storyteller that can silence a room. Spinning melodies that linger long after they are sung, her heartfelt lyrics have garnered her comparisons to John Prine and Daniel Johnston. Ally Corbett's first solo EP, "What's in It for You?" was released in June 2022 and it's a humdinger. Ally tours regularly and plays accordion for The Mahones and sometimes sits in with the country music collective residency called The Empty Glasses at the Rivoli in Toronto, Ontario. We chatted about a great many musical things and I hope you allowed your ears steer you to peace and kindness.  Follow Ally on Instagram or check out her website for more info.Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Friends - hello. I'm back in the Graventown basement again - stirring up the dust and making a fuss. What can be said about Oliver George? Oliver is a recent friend (and Nepean neighbour) and a fine who has become a mainstay in the burgeoning Ottawa comedy scene - but he's also been grinding away at his podcast called Just Chill With Oliver George for almost 100 episodes (follow him here) - and he's doing his 100th episode live in the Biagio's basement on Richmond Road as a Yuk Yuk's comedy event. on Tuesday July 11th. He's had some incredible A list guests and he's getting deep into the podcast power zone.  You can buy tickets here. We had a lovely lively chat and I hope you'll listen along as we chatted about music, comedy, fatherhood and just the general woes of existence. I love you. Thanks for being here. Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time artist, you can support me by buying me a coffee at http://buymeacoffee.com/gravencanadaCatch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Fishes of the pod pond; I have not been casting my pod-reel and for that, I apologize - but I've been extremely busy (like a buzzing pollenating bee in a hive of wild music/dad life activity) - so I hope you've been alright with the unannounced hiatus, but just like that - Graventown is back bbz. Today on the podcast, I was very lucky to snag a few golden minutes from a jewel of a human who is always shining and glimmering in many different musical directions; Craig Smith. Craig is a Collingwood, Ontario songwriter in the great folk rock band called Ontarians but he is also a sound engineer, producer, multi instrumentalist, father, renaissance man and just an all around swell fella. He and I became fast pals when he was the entertainment coordinator of a magical spot in Collingwood called Crow Bar and Variety. He had me back quite a few times to take that lovely stage with my band, and a friendship sparked. He and his partner Ariana Dalie are the main lynchpins and curators for a brand new festival called Four Winds Music Festival (in Durham, Ontario on the lovely Riverstone Eco Retreat grounds) and it's all happening July 14-16. I am playing at the festival with my full five alarm band along with some amazing superstar and up and comer acts like Sarah Harmer, Danny Michel, Elliott Brood, Julian Taylor, Queen M, Mountain Head, Jolie Smith, Alysha Brilla and so many more. We had one heck of a lovely chat. For more info about Four Winds, head to the website for tickets and showtimes and I truly am "stoke-level-zebra" to see any and all Graventowners there. Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada

Welcome to carcast 3, my dudes and my 40th Graventown episode! WOOOOT! This was a more recent snapshot of my mindscape after a hardcore storm almost suspended myself and my bandmate Tom in Peterborough, Ontario in early March. I hope it finds you well. I don't really remember what I said. These carcasts are as fun for me to play back as I hope they are for you. Maybe you hate them. Or maybe you curse my name from your window balcony every morning. Or maybe you have posters in your bathroom of my head airbrushed on to Schwarzenegger's body (I mean, I know I do). At any rate - be good to yourself. I love you. Enjoy another carcast for your soul blast. More new podcasts coming soon!Catch me in a town near you by visting my website to see where I'm playing. If people can hate for no reason, I can love for no reason - and I love you. Thanks for stopping by Graventown. Yer always welcome here. As a full time independent artist, you can support me by joining my SUPER RAD subscription service at https://ko-fi.com/gravencanada