Discoveries of the Day! Savour the Southern Flavour!

Samantha Savage Smith (Calgary, AB) This lady is taking our city by storm! Describing herself as melodramatic indie-folk, Smith is visibly exploding with talent. Her voice is frail yet enormous and her presence is serene — all the while screaming with authority and flair. Her music seems to reach back to days long-passed, when people would spend their time in front of a radio excited by the power of music. www.myspace.com/samanthasavage

Chains of Love (Vancouver, BC) Sick of hearing old sweaty old jerks at record stores reminisce about the ‘60s? Have a listen to Chains of Love and you might finally understand that those dudes really do have something to be sad about! Chains of Love provide a modern take on what was once (and still might be) the hippest sound in the world: fuzzy guitars, edgy melodies, sharp hooks and an incredible vocalist leading the way. It is clear that this band is all but stuck in the past and they are leaving us all behind. www.myspace.com/chainsofluv

Justin Townes Earle (Nashville, TN) It must be a mix of insanity, ingeniousness, intimidation, and inspiration growing up with a dad like Steve Earle. To escape any mention of Justin Townes Earle’s father and the expectation associated with a moniker of the late, great Townes Van Zandt would be exercising an enormous amount of willpower. JTE’s sound is a hybrid of his own, but there is no doubt that the influences of his father and the Americana musicians of that era are embedded in every strum of his guitar. You need look no further than the songwriting on his newest album, Harlem River Blues, with songs like “Move Over Mama” and “Ain’t Waitin’,” to evidence JTE as a young man with roots deeply embedded in the folk-rock-blues of the southern states of America.  

With a heavy past involving drug addictions and quitting school at the age of 14, he has plenty of material to write about. In 2009, just a year after his musical debut, JTE was recognized for his musical talent as the recipient of the Americana Music Award for Emerging Artist of the Year.  JTE’s self-assurance and Southern charm are more than apparent in his live shows and at just 29 years old, he has already earned himself spots at the Grand Olde Opry, SXSW and Bonnaroo. www.justintownesearle.com