Trump’s threats. Tariffs. Elon Musk’s antics. Ukraine. Gaza. The news cycle has been insane, so here’s an opportunity to catch your breath and reclaim a little sanity with the pleasures of New Music Friday. There’s some very strong stuff this week.

Singles

1. The Beaches, The Last Girls at the Party (AWAL)

The Beaches picked up a big win at the JUNOS last weekend after being named Group of the Year, so the timing for the release of this new single is perfect. They’ll be roadtesting this song (as well as a few others, I’m sure) from their upcoming third album as they make their way through headlining gigs and festivals like Coachella, Governer’s Ball, and Osheaga. The album will be called No Hard Feelings, which is due August 29. I guess they’re done blaming Brett.

2. The Hives, Enough is Enough (PIAS)

Sweden’s Hives, one of the leaders of the indie rock revival of about 25 years ago, are still making music in their sharp suits. The next album, The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, will be released on August 29. And get this: It was co-produced by Mike D of The Beastie Boys and features contributions from Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. Curious? You should be.

 

3. New Pornographers, Ballad of the Last Payphone (Merge)

The New Pornographers are on an analogue kick right now with a limited 7-inch single. Their object of curiosity is once ubiquitous but now obsolete payphone. And not just any payphone, but the last one in New York City which now lives at the Museum of the City of New York. Its last location was in Times Square. Kinda nostalgic, you know?

4. Sum 41, Radio Silence (Rise Records/BMG)

Back to the JUNOS for a second. Sum 41 appeared on the broadcast with what could very well be their last-ever performance as part of their induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. This, we are told, will be their final single and video, ending 30 years of their particular band of Canadian punk rock. They will be missed.

5. Wet Leg, Catch These Fists (Frontside)

At long last, we have a new Wet Leg single! The band’s self-titled debut album, released back in 2022, was one of the fresh-sounding releases that hauled us out of the pandemic and was sensational. Now it’s time for the Difficult Second Album. Will they do it with Moisturizer (due July 11)? If this single is any indication, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

Albums

1. Miki Berenyi Trio, Tripla (Bella Union)

Shoegaze fans will know Miki from her time with Lush, a dreamy and fuzzy band from the early 90s who toured with Lollapalooza in 1992. This is the debut from Miki’s new project–which, if you wanna be cool about it, can be referred to as “MB3.” There are aspects of Lush in their sound, but there’s also a new electronic element to things. Love it.

2. Craig Finn, Always Been (Tamarac/Thirty Tiger)

The frontman of The Hold Steady likes to keep busy when the band isn’t going anything. This is his sixth solo album. The War on Drugs, Kathleen Edwards, and Sam Fender all make guest appearances.

 

3. Mekons, Horror (Fire Records)

The Mekons, the British art collective that has been around since 1976(!!!) have just released their first album in five years, This could be their…26th(?) album, but they’ve released so much over the decades that I just can’t be sure.

4. Waterboys, Life, Death, and Dennis Hopper (Sun Records)

Finally, the welcome return of Mike Scott’s crew with their 16th album and first in three years, I can’t wait to hear about the fascination with Dennis Hopper. There are also contributions on the album from Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Fiona Apple. Sounds like it’s time for some Big Music again.

 

© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

When the news broke of Sinead O’Connor’s death on July 26, 2023, there were a couple of different reactions. One was “Who’s Sinead O’Connor?” That wasn’t terribly surprising. Her last hit album was released in 1990. A couple of generations have gone by since she was on the charts and may have never heard of any of her songs. The second reaction came from readers of tabloids and gossip columns, those who had at least peripherally heard about her struggles through middle age. The third reaction came from those who remembered not only what a talent she was, but that she was also a force of nature unlike almost anyone we had ever seen in music. That is why her death was front page news around the planet. Sinead O’Connor took a position—many positions, in fact—with her art and her public persona and never, ever backed down… she was always herself…she was a nonconformist. She would not be put in a box and refused to be silenced. Sinead spoke up on things few people would dare talk about, including her own personal struggles (of which there were many). She spoke up on women’s rights, children’s rights, organized religion, the struggles of gay, lesbian, and transgender people, aids patients, racial minorities, and the patriarchy of the recorded music business. Did you know that she donated her house in Hollywood to a family of refugees from Somalia? When she died, she left behind an intriguing body of work that includes solo material and collaborations. Two of those solo albums are all-time classics. But if you know Sinead O’Connor, you already know this and what you’re about to hear will bring back a flood of memories. But if you’re late to the party, you may still be asking yourself “What’s the big deal about Sinead O’Connor?” Here: let me show you. Songs heard on this show (all by Sinead O’Connor)

• • I Am Stretched on Your Grave
  • Heroine (with The Edge)
  • Troy
  • Nothing Compares 2 U
  • All Apologies
  • No Man’s Woman
  • Milestones

Here’s a playlist from Eric Wilhite. The Ongoing History Music can be heard on these stations. Don’t forget that there’s a podcast version, too, in case you miss any episodes. Get them for free wherever you get your podcasts.

• • 102.1 The Edge/Toronto – Sunday night at 7pm
  • Q107/Toronto – Sunday night at 9pm
  • Live 88-5/Ottawa – Saturdays at 9am and Sundays at 6pm.
  • 107.5 Dave-FM/Kitchener – Sunday nights at 11pm
  • FM96/London – Sunday nights at 8pm
  • Power 97/Winnipeg – Sunday nights at 10am and 10pm
  • 107-3 The Edge/Calgary – Sundays at 10am and 10pm
  • Sonic 102.9/Edmonton – Sunday at 8am and 8pm
  • The Zone/Victoria – Sunday at 8am and 9pm
  • The Fox/Vancouver – Sundays at 10anm and 10pm
  • Surge 105/Halifax – Sunday at 7pm
  • WAPS/WKTL The Summit/Arkon, Canton, Cleveland, Youngstown – Mon-Fri at 9pm

Don’t forget about my other podcast, Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry. If you love true crime with your music, you’ll love this. Get Uncharted wherever you get your podcasts.

© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Many musicians engage in extreme behavior, including things that are dangerous and illegal. Why? Probably because artists can turn into thrill junkies. Neurologists believe dopamine—the body’s feel-good hormone—may have less impact on them. Okay, why? Hard to say.

Each of us has individual brain chemistries, meaning that we react to dopamine in different ways. Extreme people need extreme things to get the same dopamine hit as the average person. In other words, they may have a dopamine tolerance that’s built up over years of chasing that feeling on a daily basis. The longer they live, the harder they have to go to get a meaningful and transcendent dopamine high.

This may also extend to areas of their lives beyond music. Here’s where we get into things like becoming addicted to risky and dangerous behavior—anything to feel that feeling that most of us get a much lower levels of dopamine.

© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The very late/early 1990s were a volatile and prolific time in British indie music. Coming off the 80s rave and dance scene, the country was also spitting out Madchester, alt-dance, shoegaze, dreampop, and various forms of pre-Britpop. Among all that was grebo, a short-lived alt-rock/shoegaze cousin that had a lifespan of maybe 24 months. The key acts were Pop Will Eat Itself, Gaye Bikers on Acid, and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.

Complex dance beats? Check. Fuzzy guitars? Bingo. Two bass players? Why not?

This was one of the singles from their 1991 album, God Fodder. Glorious stuff. Where’s me baggy shorts?

© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Everyone reacts to music at different levels and in different ways. You might be a laid-back kind of listener, someone who just sits back and takes it all in. Or you may be the kind of music fan that loses their mind over all music with singing and dancing and jumping about. Why the difference?

It’s largely neurological and chemical. The spectrum of musical reactions is related to how an individual creates and reacts to dopamine, the brain’s feel-good hormone. Dopamine can have wide-ranging effects depending on our own individual chemistries. It doesn’t mean that the quiet listener is less of a music fan than the spontaneous singer and dancer; it just means that the physical reactions are different. Dopamine is an interesting hormone.

© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A century-plus old house of worship in Victoria could be getting a new lease on life, as the church that owns it looks to transform the property.

The United Church congregation that called the First Metropolitan church home held its last service at the end of 2023, before merging with another Victoria congregation at a new home.

Several other faith groups still hold services in the 1913 building on Sundays, but the rest of the week it mostly sits empty.

Now, the United Church has approached developer Aryze with the goal of transforming the property with the conduction of 130 units of rental housing, plus a new arts centre and a renovation of the 400-seat church itself — which would still also hold Sunday services.

“We thought, wow, we could do housing, we could have an arts centre, and we could still have worship services in there,” said Don Evans, director of property development for the United Church of Canada Pacific Mountain Region.

“There’s models out there showing that it works, and it’s a great use of that building because then it will be used all week long.”‘

Chris Quigley, Aryze’s director of development, said the idea is to integrate the new facility into what is already a blossoming arts district in the city.

First Metropolitan sits at the intersection of Quadra Street and Balmoral Road.

The Pacific Opera’s Baumann Centre lies just across the street, while Victoria’s Conservatory of Music — another arts facility operating in a converted United Church — is two blocks away.

“The goal is to reimagine how the church plays a new role in the community, so really leaning into the cultural quarter that Quadra currently is and could be even more so in the future,” he said.

“That means new arts programs, new cultural programs as well as creating new housing and commercial opportunities.”

On top of that, the proposal is to reserve some of the rental units to serve as affordable housing specifically for people working in the arts and culture sector.

The proposal will still need to go through Victoria’s zoning process, which Quigley estimated would take more than a year at minimum.

The Anglican Church of Canada submitted a proposal to rezone its Christ Church Cathedral property for housing two years ago — a project that has yet to move forward.

Quigley said Aryze will be holding a community event later this month to give locals a better look at the proposal.

© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Residents in the Central Okanagan are about to see a change in the weather forecast, as the outlook for the coming days calls for plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, up to 19 C by the weekend.

“Break out the shorts and sweatpants,” said Kelowna resident Tony Tingley. “That sounds all good to me.”

The dry and warm forecast is welcome, especially after a  very wet March.

“It was the second wettest March ever recorded in the Central Okanagan,” said Global News meteorologist Peter Quinlan.

According to Environment Canada, the average precipitation amount for March is 21.6 mm.

However, last month Kelowna recorded more than double that — 49.5 mm — and much of that came down in only two days.

On March 13, Kelowna received 20.5 mm of precipitation and 11.8 mm on March 23.

“It is fairly rare to have these substantial rain events that happen on just one or two days that amount for the majority of a month’s worth of precipitation,” Quinlan said.

“Typically we will see it a little more spread out.”

The precipitation is a critical factor when it comes to he severity of forest fires and the kind of wildfire season the Okanagan may be in for.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, the intensity of the fire season is very dependent on precipitation levels and drying patterns over the spring and summer.

BC Wildfire added that “long-term weather forecasts currently indicate a warmer-than-normal and wet trend heading into the spring, which could benefit spring conditions.”

BC’s River Forecast Centre calls the above-normal rainfall a positive start but said it is too early to tell how things will unfold.

“There’s a lot spring still to go. We’re really just at the start of spring freshet, which is that melt of the seasonal snowpack,” said Natasha Cowie, a hydrologist with the River Forecast Centre.

“How that actually plays out over the coming weeks, how quickly that snow melts, will also dictate a lot of how we’re set up for conditions coming into the summer.”

© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

New technology in China may help an Alberta man born with a rare vision impairment see more clearly and feel more independent.

Josh Freese, 38, of Airdrie has congenital nystagmus — a condition that makes his eyes move uncontrollably and gives him distorted vision.

“It’s an involuntary eye movement and it causes me to not be able to see very good. Not long distances or writing and for driving especially, lights and signs on the highway are a hard thing,” says Freese.

Freese says because of his condition, he can’t do what he wants to do as a father — which includes picking up his son from school or watching his kids play sports.

“He shows up, he always shows up for them,” says Freese’s girlfriend, Stephanie Dunn.

“But he doesn’t get to experience it. Like, I can say my daughter got a basket in basketball and he doesn’t get to experience it. He celebrates with us, but he doesn’t get to see it for himself,” she adds.

According to optometrist Dr. Theodore Buzea, the condition impacts on average six out of 10,000 people; depending on the demographics used for the study.

“It’s really tough, because I want him to see the world like the rest of us do,” says Dunn.

Freese met with a company in Texas last year and is now a candidate for a new surgical procedure in China that’s expected to be approved soon.

It’s a trip that will cost him at least $60,000 to make.

“That’s just the procedure, the hospital stay, (and) the implant itself. That’s doesn’t cover the cost of getting there or staying there,” says Freese.

“And I have to go twice. The first time is the operation and everything like that and we come home for a month and let everything heal and then we go back again to get everything turned on,” he says.

The family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover them cover as much of the cost as possible.

If the operation is successful, Josh already has his sights on getting his learner’s permit and shopping for a car.

© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Canadians concerned about shopping local may have increasingly limited options, now that Alberta-based Sunterra Farms Ltd. has filed for bankruptcy protection.

The order filed in late March protects the company and its subsidiaries for 30 days while it restructures its finances.

The Sunterra Group company has eight Sunterra Market grocery store locations in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, in addition to pork processing and greenhouse divisions with agricultural operations in Alberta, South Dakota, and Iowa.

Patricia Hayes, a Calgary shopper, says she’s disappointed Sunterra Market could be closing its doors.

“Their produce is nice,” said Hayes. “They use local meat, and local milk and eggs… I think that’s what we’re looking for.”

Sunterra Farms was founded in 1970 near the town of Acme, and the company still operates its headquarters and some local production facilities there.

Other shoppers like Patrick Kim say shopping at places like Sunterra Market just isn’t feasible sometimes.

“They do have good quality choices,” Kim explained. “I just think their prices are a little overpriced. But that’s the only reason why I’d rather go to a Safeway or Superstore.”

Global News reached out to Sunterra Farms for comment, but did not hear back by deadline.

© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The family of a young woman who died while in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development is demanding answers about what happened to her.

Chantelle Williams was in the care of Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services when she was found outside and unresponsive on Jan. 28 in the 4900 block of Ian Avenue in Port Alberni.

“I’m still wondering and asking and I never get answers from them of how she died and why she was in the hospital and why didn’t they keep her in the hospital and why they didn’t find her earlier than around five in the morning when they found her on a sidewalk,” Chantelle’s grandfather George Nookemus said in the halls of the B.C. legislature on Wednesday morning.

The family believes Williams froze to death.

Nookemus said that Williams was taken from the family when she was four years old.

“They will not give me any answers yet. I’m in the dark,” he said.

In a statement, the Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services said it is aware of the family’s concerns and is saddened by Williams’ death.

The organization said it is working closely with the Ministry of Child and Family Development and the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth so it can address the family’s concerns.

“The final coroner’s report is not yet available (s0) cause of death is unknown at this time,” the organization said.

Williams’ aunt, Shannon Nookemus said her niece had her whole life ahead of her and was way too young to die.

“I think we just need some answers so we can just go on with our lives.”

Amelia Boultbee, Conservative MLA and critic of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, said there were 103 children who died last year while receiving services from the ministry.

“All too often, these cases are treated like a one-off when in reality there’s a systemic problem,” she said.

“As of right now, only nine of the 72 recommendations have been implemented from the representative for children and youth.”

In a statement to Global News, Jennifer Charlesworth, the representative for children and youth said it is her responsibility to review and in some cases, investigate the critical injuries and deaths of young people in care or those who are receiving reviewable services as defined in the Representative for Children and Youth Act.

Charlesworth said that in accordance with S13 of the Act, an investigation cannot proceed until any criminal investigations are concluded. If there are no criminal investigations, they still must wait one year to allow for the BC Coroners Service and any other organization to complete their mandated reviews.

“If the BCCS and public bodies have not completed these reviews within one year of a child’s death, and there are no outstanding criminal investigations or court proceedings, then we may proceed to full investigation,” Charlesworth said in the statement.

“In light of these provisions, we are not able to initiate a full investigation at this time, given that Chantelle just recently passed away.”

However, Charlesworth did state that the office has undertaken an initial review and spoken with leaders and the Tribal Council to learn more about what happened to Williams.

“Along with three other members of my team, I will be visiting the Port Alberni community in late April to meet with service providers, including the Indigenous child and family service agency and Nuu Chah Nulth Tribal Council, and related police, health, education and community care services,” she added.

© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.