Joshua’s Top Moments and Memories of 2018

2018 has been a year full of amazing memories for me. My son Oliver was born, I got engaged, and I had the chance to see great concerts, interview talented artists, and experience some awesome backstage moments.

As we continue our year in review content series, I've taken a look back at all of the music-related moments to come up with a Top 10 list to share.

It wasn't easy, there were a lot of moments that got left out of this post. But in the end, I think I was able to build a set of stories and memories that I'll keep with me for years to come.

Have a look, read the stories, and leave a comment with your favourite musical moments and memories of 2018!

stories listed in chronological order

The Launch Interviews & Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine

In the early part of the year, we were able to work with The Launch winners to offer congratulations and do interviews the morning after their episode aired on CTV across Canada. It was an awesome experience, offering us the chance to talk to very excited and very talented artists.

One of those winners, Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, have gone on to be one of the fastest rising stars in Canadian music. On the Friday morning that we met them, Elijah and Jamie had been going since the early, early hours, but were still smiling and happy and excited. They were a great hang out in our short time together, and when we saw them again in April when they'd gone Gold with their breakout single, Ain't Easy we got hugs and laughs all over again.

Having the opportunity to support and work with artists as they start their journey is one of our favourite things, and The Launch was a great chance to do that in 2018.

CMA Songwriters Round With Dean Brody, Jessica Mitchell, Marcus Hummon, And Levi Hummon

In January we went to The Great Hall for a Country Music Association songwriters circle featuring Dean Brody, Jessica Mitchell, Marcus and Levi Hummon, and it was special.

The chance to hear songwriters tell their stories and share their songs in an intimate, acoustic setting is unique. All of the production and extras get stripped away and all that you're left with is the undeniable power of music. And when Brody, Mitchell, and the father and son Hummons shared their songs that night, there was something extra special about it.

Country music fans will likely recognize song titles like Workin' On Whiskey, Bulletproof, Don't Waste The Night, Stupid, Good Goodbye, Time, Born To Fly, Cowboy Take Me Away, and Bless The Broken Road. It's a playlist that we could put on and enjoy. And on that Tuesday night, we got to hear all of them live with stories and smiles.

There were a lot of feelings in the room, some tears for sure, and some great moments that we didn't know we were going to get. And those moments are what I won't forget.

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Axe Throwing With The Washboard Union And Morgan Wallen

I like throwing axes, it's a lot of fun and I'm actually not bad at it. And I was fortunate enough to get to BATL on Cherry St. in Toronto twice in 2018 with country stars, and had a great time doing it.

In February we had the chance to hang out with The Washboard Union to play and then grab some dinner as they previewed tracks from their 2018 album, What We're Made Of. I didn't throw very well that day, but we had a good time.

In May I went back to the axe throwing to meet Morgan Wallen, and see if I could do better in the tournament than I did in February. After my interview with the Up Down singer, our group started tossing hatchets and when the dust settled, I was alone at the top, with the tourney win and a trophy (that Wallen signed for me) to bring home.

Good times for sure.

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Singing To My Newborn Son

Just minutes after Oliver was born this April, I found myself alone, holding him in the recovery room as we waited for his mom to join us. It was a wonderful, amazing, and surreal moment, and I really had no idea what to do.

I rocked him and paced around the room and when I had no idea what else to do, I started singing to him. And when I decided that singing was the thing to do, there were two songs that immediately came to mind. The first, was one of my favourite all-time songs, The Tragically Hip's Wheat Kings. The second is a modern country music favourite, Dallas Smith's Sky Stays The Blue.

I used my softest, sweetest, most in love voice, and it was amazing. Thank God for music.

Honoured to be apart of that 1st moment Josh. Enjoy those moments buddy. It all flies by way too quick. https://t.co/LoWmjUmONW

- Dallas Smith (@dallassmith) April 29, 2018

Lindsay Ell Day At Canadian Music Week 2018

Every year, Canadian Music Week packs our schedule with music of all genres in venues all over Toronto, and in 2018 it gave me two awesome memories to hold onto, including our Lindsay Ell day.

On May 10, we had the opportunity to meet Lindsay for the first time at a downtown hotel for a great interview that touched on her #1 single, Criminal, touring with Keith Urban, The Continuum Project (her John Mayer cover album), her influences and more. But as great as the conversation was, and fantastic as it was to learn all about all of those things and having the ability to share them with fans in our post, Lindsay's genuine niceness and general excitement for what she does was the best part.

That night, at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, we saw Lindsay Ell up on stage with her band. They rocked through an eight-song set (plus a guitar battle) that included her #1 single, a cover of Mayer's Slow Dancing In A Burning Room, and more. The performance was full of energy, packed with talent, and was a great part two to our day with the Calgary born singer-songwriter-guitar slinger.

Here's hoping we get another day like that in 2019.

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Jess Moskaluke Headlining Country Wild In Cobourg, ON

Opportunities for women in country music to headline concerts and festivals don't seem to be in abundance in Canada, so when Jess Moskaluke was booked to close the show at the Country Wild Music Festival in Cobourg this summer, we were excited.

I went to the festival on the shore of Lake Ontario early in the afternoon to sit down with Jess for an interview, stayed for the day to watch acts including Robyn Ottolini, Ben Hudson, Alyssa Morrissey, Kansas Stone, and Marshall Dane throughout the afternoon and evening, and then smiled wide as the three-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year took the stage to wow the crowd.

Note: This festival and show were also cool for me as I grew up in nearby Port Hope, ON, and because Ollie and Jess came to meet me, popped backstage to meet Moskaluke, and made it my little dude's first official concert experience... even though he was sleeping most of the time.

The Cobourg audience sang along to all of Jess Moskaluke's hits and fan favourites during the show. They showed their appreciation for her talent and enthusiasm, and they cheered especially loud when a birthday cake was brought out to surprise the Saskatchewan singer during the set.

We hope that more opportunities like this come up for women in Canadian country music because we got to see just how great it can be at Country Wild this summer.

The Legend, Alan Jackson At Boots & Hearts 2018

In a long list of live performances that we got to see in 2018, a legend stands out. Alan Jackson at Boots & Hearts was that legend performance this year.

Throughout a 20 song set on the Saturday night main stage, Alan Jackson commanded the crowd, sang hit after hit, and was amazing. The 60-year-old star was everything we could have hoped for in ripped jeans, a button-down shirt, and his cowboy hat. He tossed t-shirts into the crowd, he laughed and sang and generally kept tens of thousands of country music fans in awe.

There are a lot of great concert opportunities every single year, but an opportunity like this was something truly, truly special.

Midland Interview At Boots & Hearts 2018

Over the last few years we've been able to interview a lot of artists at Boots & Hearts, but in 2018 we got to cross off a big one from our to-do list when we got five minutes with Midland.

We met up with Mark, Cameron, and Jess, turned on the recorder, and I started talking to the guys while Trish snapped photos and we did the best to maximize our time with the trio. Things started with a lot of jokes and non-music related conversation before we got down to the questions that I really wanted to ask. What we learned more than anything is that these guys are still having a good time, even though they are working extremely hard.

This was the fastest of all of the moments that made their way onto this list, and while it might not seem like anything huge compared to all of the cool things I got to do this year, it's Top 10 for me.

Related: Midland at Boots & Hearts 2018

The Reklaws x 2 At The 2018 Canadian Country Music Association Awards Weekend

We've been able to keep up with The Reklaws for more than five years now, and there have been some pretty great moments to celebrate with them over that time. But this fall, when the Canadian Country Music Association awards came to Hamilton, ON, we got two great ones that we'll remember for a long time.

Most obvious is the duo's win of the Rising Star award during the Sunday night show. It was great to see hard-working, talented, dedicated emerging stars recognized in front of fans and their peers, and for a coast-to-coast TV audience.

But there was a moment on Saturday that made my heart very happy, but that wasn't a big performance spot.

As The Reklaws closed out their Universal Music Canada showcase set on Saturday afternoon, I noticed a young boy in the front row, leaning as far forward as possible with a plastic flower in his hand. I was taking photos and notes, but saw him out of the corner of my eye, and felt like maybe I could help. I took the flower from the little guy and got as close to the stage as I could, but sadly, wasn't able to pass it to Jenna as they sang. But it didn't end there.

When The Reklaws left the stage I handed the flower back to the boy and told him and his mom that I would try to get Jenna to come to say hi at the gate. They made their way to security and I made my way to the side of the stage. Jenna and Stuart had barely gotten off the stage when I approached them and pointed to the young man at the security fence. At that exact moment he was let in, he got to meet the duo, give Jenna his flower, and get photos and hugs and make memories of his own.

It was fantastic to witness, special to have been even just a little part of, and one of the sweetest things I saw this year.

Arkells' Rally Cry Meet & Greet

One of the coolest musical moments I had in 2018 came as a fan, not as a writer or reviewer or interviewer. To celebrate the release of Rally Cry, Arkells held a meet and greet at Union Station, and I decided to go. I packed up Oliver, got on the GO Train, and we headed in to meet the boys.

The trip was smooth, Ollie was awesome, we met Trish in line, and the three of us listened to the album on the speakers and made our way through the line. And after two hours, we got to the merch table, got our vinyl, and made our way closer to the front. As part of the event, Arkells invited fans to bring t-shirts with them to be printed with custom screens to become Hand Me Downs merch. We brought a blank white onesie for Ollie, and the team LOVED it. Trish and I didn't get a shirt printed, but the little guy got some sweet merch, he and I got our photo with the band on the riser, and it was a memorable and awesome daddy/baby day + rock & roll day + fandom day.

Related: Ollie Meets Arkells in Toronto

Definitely the cutest Akellian out here 😍😍 @arkellsmusic #RallyCry pic.twitter.com/j0zsm6u6km

- Universal Music CA (@umusic) October 19, 2018