Musical Connections with Zach Snow

On this week's episode of the Musical Connections podcast, I welcome one of Newfoundland & Labrador's finest folk groups known for their remarkable musicianship and silky smooth harmonies. I connect you with Rube & Rake! Made up of Josh Sandu & Andrew Laite, the lads are hot off the release of their third studio album, "Good Time After Bad" and come on to talk about the making of the record and their tour dates for the ...

I have another great episode lined up for you this week! I welcome back to the show, Joshua Parsons or PARSONS! We talk about his latest project called “Smugglers International Mixtape” hosted by legendary Newfoundland and Labrador smuggler, Brian O’Dea! From how they met to the creation of the album and the personnel they got for it!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (July 6-12, 2025)

Song: Like A Rock (Live From Quidi ...

He is the mastermind behind the Best Kind BBQ and one of the operators of JibFest Weekender! I connect with event promoter, Brent McNamara on this week’s episode of the Musical Connections podcast! We talk about how he got into the music industry through event promotion and about the 2025 Best Kind BBQ which takes place on July 12 at St. David’s Park which features Quake Matthews, DJ 4Korners and so much more!

Music Featured in Epis...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya wraps up with the lead singer of Andy & the Dannys, Andy Mulcair! I connect with Andy about his band and how the group came together! Plus, we talk about their second stage in St. John's for Lawnya Vawnya, their takeaways from Lawnya Vawnya 15, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (June 22-28, 2025)

Song: For You (Acoustic)

Artist: Anil

Album: For You (Acoustic)

Composers: E...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya continues tomorrow with the Logistics Coordinator of the Atlantic Presenters Association, Kai Bryan! They drop by the Musical Connections studios to talk about their stay at Lawnya Vawnya 15 and talk about what the Atlantic Presenters Association does and who they represent across Atlantic Canada. They also talk about the importance of Lawnya Vawnya to not just the Newfoundland and Labrador music industr...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya continues this week on Musical Connections as I connect you with an author, poet, and a musician from Nova Scotia! I connect you with Colleen "Coco" Collins! Colleen stops by the studio to talk about her time at Lawyna Vawnya 15 which include a poet reading for her new book, "Sorry About The Fire" and a debut performance as a bassist for "Penny & The Pits"! She also talks about her experiences at Law...

On this week's Musical Connections podcast, it's the start of a new series on the program called Fifteen Years on the Lawnya! I speak with some of the performers and industry professionals who attended the fifteenth annual Lawnya Vawnya festival that took place last week! My first interview will be with Penelope Stevens! She was one of the delegates representing the Flourish Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is the lead s...

The Musical Connections podcast heads back to the ECMA Conference at the Delta Hotel in St John’s as I re-connect with Lorna Lovell! Lorna comes on the show to talk about what she’s been up to lately following the release of her two albums, “Bring The Fire” and “Song Seeds”! Plus we talk about growing up in a musical family, her Mi’kmaq roots, what she hoped to take away from ECMA week, and an update on some new music!

Music Feature...

Greetings! If you are listening to this, welcome to the Musical Connections Podcast! This program will help you discover more about the music of Newfoundland & Labrador! I'm Zach Snow and I will be your guide into the ins and outs of the Newfoundland and Labrador music sector! From highlighting the best new releases of each week to the conversations with the personalities that make our music scene so unique and special from the...

On this episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we head over to Corner Brook to speak to the members of electronic/ambient duo, Wite Rino, Aaron Rex & Joe Fowler! The duo recently released their fifth studio album, Dream Tower on May 2 with Milltown Records! They talk about the making of the record, how the group came together, the music scene on the west coast of Newfoundland and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

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My guest on Episode 124 of the Musical Connections Podcast is violinist, composer, and music educator, Gina Burgess! Gina and I connect at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John’s to talk about her projects she was a part of like the Jerry Cans and the Lost & Found! Plus, we talk about how the whole music journey started, what drew her to Newfoundland and Labrador, and her upcoming plans for music and tour dates!

Music Featured...

My guest on Musical Connections is singer-songwriter and music arranger, Evan Watts Smith! Evan’s debut album comes out this Friday with a release show at the Majestic Theatre to boot! We talk about the making of the album, some of the major theatre projects he has worked on, and why he decided to put an album out now!

Timestamps:

Ben's Ekman Spiral: 2:03

Evan Watts Smith: 6:23

Logan Bolt: 9:35

Rube & Rake: 13:17

EWS Interview: 19:27

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It’s the last Musical Connections podcast before the 2025 ECMAs! I welcome singer-songwriter, music producer, and audio engineer, Jim “Wildfinger” Mercer! I connect with Jim about his new song which demo amassed more than 100,000 views on Facebook, “Don’t Tell Me What To Do”. Plus we talk about some memories from Wildfinger Productions which include working on John White’s last album and having the man of a thousand songs, Ron Hyne...

On this bonus episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we continue the road to the 2025 East Coast Music Awards as Zach Snow reconnects with Con O’Brien of the Irish Descendants. He comes on to talk about the 35th Anniversary of the group, their tour which continues into June, and the upcoming 2025 East Coast Music Awards. On May 8, the band will be playing “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s” as the song written by the late Otto K...

I welcome one of the province’s fastest rising francophone duos, Port-Aux-Poutines! I speak with Axel Belgrade and Jenna Maloney on the release of their new album, “Oui, B’y” and their upcoming plans for the summer! Plus, we talk about the formation of the group, the ECMAs, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

Big Jib: 1:56

Port-Aux-Poutines: 5:21

Quote the Raven: 8:45

Rachel Cousins: 12:16

The Irish Descendants: 17:37

Interview with Port-Au...

On this week’s program, I welcome one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier Folk-Pop duo and two of my favourite people in the music industry! My guests are Jordan Coaker & Kirsten Rodden-Clarke of Quote the Raven! We talk about their fourth studio album, Map The Dark, as well as the East Coast Music Awards! They are up for three this year in St. John’s, one which includes a nomination for album of the year! Plus, we talk abou...

My guest this week on the show is one of the nominees for Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year at the upcoming East Coast Music Awards, Andrew Rodgers! Andrew comes on the show to talk about his first nomination as a solo artist and the making of his debut solo effort, Let it Out! Plus, we talk about how he started playing music in Hant’s Harbour, his influences, and the many bands he has opened for with his groups Fairgale, and Ni...

I am so excited to have Matthew Byrne as my guest! He is considered to be one of the finest musicians and storytellers the province has ever produced and he has put together his first album of all new music in seven and a half years! Matt talks about recording “Stealing Time”, a project which sees him working with UK folk giant, Martin Simpson as his producer along with England's finest folk performers. He also talks about fatherho...

The Road to the 2025 East Coast Music Awards continues as I connect with one of the nominees for Global Music Release of the Year, Ana Luisa Ramos. Ana comes on the show to talk about her first ECMA nomination as a solo artist, the making of the album, Solaris, her recent trip with Eric to Folk Alliance in Montreal, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

New Found Releases:

Albert Dalton: 2:14

Heather Feather: 5:36

Quote The Raven: 9:10

Inter...