Roots Round Up: this week’s news from the Canadian roots scene (and beyond)

BRYAN ADAMS RELEASES PROTEST SONG “51ST STATE” ON CANADA DAY

There’s no questioning Bryan Adams’ love of his home country, despite his status as a global star, and his historically fierce opposition to CanCon regulations. He did, after all, co-write “Tears Are Not Enough,” Canada’s contribution to help fight the African famine crisis in 1985, and has received nearly every accolade Canada can bestow upon him.

Now, Adams has taken a firm stand on Canadian sovereignty with a new song entitled “51st State” that he surprise released on Canada Day. The slickly produced pop-rock track contains a clear message in lines like, “When you’re talking about my home, you better show some respect / ‘Cause up here we take care of our own.”

Adams stated in a press release, “I wanted to write something about Canada because Canada is home. There is more that binds us than divides us. This is a tribute to the pride and spirit of my fellow Canadians — the rest is just noise.”

“51st State” is available on all streaming services, and also on limited edition 7-inch coloured vinyl.

LOGAN STAATS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM PEACEMAKER

Mohawk singer-songwriter Logan Staats has announced plans to follow up his 2023 Juno-nominated album A Light In The Attic with a new 10-track collection entitled Peacemaker, his first full-length for Ishk?dé Records, due out Oct. 2. The first preview, the soulful “Rainwater and Whiskey,” is out now.

Staats said in a press release, “The album title is inspired by the story of the Peacemaker. It was one of the first traditional Mohawk stories that was shared with me, and it always resonated deeply. The Peacemaker came with a message of peace, buried the weapons of war under the tree, and united the Six Nations. Now more than ever, it feels like the world needs a message of peace and love. I wanted to embody everything that the Peacemaker stood for and carry that sacred message of peace forward.”

Staats will support Peacemaker this fall with a six-city Ontario tour beginning Sept. 29 in London (Aeolian Hall) and carrying on Sept. 30 in Waterloo (Emmanuel United Church), Oct. 1 in Toronto (Hugh’s Room), Oct. 2 in Hamilton (Mills Hardware), Oct. 3 in Ottawa (NAC Fourth Stage) and winding up Oct. 4 in Kingston (The Broom Factory). For full details, go to loganstaats.ca.

BILLY STRINGS TO RELEASE SO MUCH FOR GOODBYES ON AUG. 28

Grammy-winning bluegrass phenom Billy Strings has teamed up with producer T Bone Burnett for his latest album So Much For Goodbyes, which will be released Aug. 28 via Reprise Records. The 16-track collection pays tribute to Strings’ mother Debra Apostol, who passed away in 2025.

Strings said in a press release that his intention was, “To notice and embrace this very significant period of grief in my life and make art from it. To turn my heartbreak into songs while using my guitar as a coping mechanism as I always have. It’s always been there for me to lean on through the hard times, and I figure it always will… until it’s my time to say goodbye.”

The album’s first single “Burn The Other End” certainly gets that message across in dramatic fashion, with Strings showing off his trademark skills. As we reported earlier, the Michigan native postponed much of his Spring touring schedule after breaking a leg in a freak skateboarding accident. However, he will be back on the road in July after taping an episode for the upcoming season of PBS’s long-running Austin City Limits.

So Much For Goodbyes can be pre-ordered HERE

LISA LEBLANC RETURNS WITH UPBEAT SINGLE “WHOLE LOTTA TALKIN'”

A few years after embracing a more danceable sound on her Polaris Prize-shortlisted Chiac Disco, Lisa LeBlanc is back with “Whole Lotta Talkin’”, an infectious ‘60s-inspired single that also tips its cap to The B-52’s. The song is accompanied by a playful video directed by Alexandre Pelletier that finds LeBlanc leading a dysfunctional band of puppets.

With her unique blend of roots, rock, funk, and country music, the New Brunswick-born LeBlanc has been an Acadian icon since 2012. After achieving major success with her self-titled debut album, she transitioned from French to English on subsequent releases Highways, Heartaches and Time Well Wasted, leading to her 2017 breakout album Why You Wanna Leave Runaway Queen?, which made the Polaris Prize shortlist.

“Whole Lotta Talkin'” is out via Bonsound and can be streamed HERE

SLOAN’S CHRIS MURPHY BOOKS FALL CANADIAN SOLO TOUR

No one can accuse Chris Murphy of ever being idle. Along with his duties in Sloan, he’s also a member of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen, TUNS, Anyway Gang, and many other projects. However, this fall Murphy will take the stage by himself with just an acoustic guitar, giving a new twist to selections from his extensive catalogue.

Murphy will be joined on tour by Peter Elkas, and tickets are on sale now through Murphy’s official Linktree page.

10/02 Halifax NS – Halifax Urban Folk Festival (with the Halifax All Stars) 10/09 Saskatoon SK – Amigos 10/10 Winnipeg MB – Public Domain 10/15 Burnstown ON – Neat Café 10/16 Ottawa ON – Club SAW 10/17 Kingston ON – Broom Factory 10/18 Wakefield QC – Black Sheep Inn 10/24 Vernon BC – Vernon PAC 10/25 Kelowna BC – Hello Darlin’ 10/27 Victoria BC – Lucky Bar 10/28 Vancouver BC – Fox Cabaret 10/29 Calgary AB – Modern Love 10/30 Edmonton AB – The Aviary