Penny Blacks

With a sound borne from the salt air and desolate fog of their hometown of Saint John, Penny Blacks deliver whisper-in-your-ear intimacy, but with the churning raucous of restless guitar riffs and barroom cacophony not far behind. A band now comfortable and confident enough in their own skin to nod to some of their gritty, 70's forebears, Penny Blacks are undeniably still forging their own path; their arrangements have been described as having "a relevant and inspired punch" by Secret East and "stunning" by Maverick UK. Songwriter Jason Ogden's reflective and seeking lyrics often spin a tale that leads the music into unexpected places, and the band follows wherever it takes them, throwing everything in their arsenal into the fire to keep the way ahead lit. Penny Blacks' upcoming 2026 album finds the band descending deeper into the dark rabbit hole opened by Ogden on 2018's Long Lights - except this time the band matches the anxious grace of their previous effort with energy and assurance - providing us with some of their closest nods ever to straight-on alt-country and 70's roots rock.

Tooth & the Fang

Tooth & the Fang is the folk-rock project of singer/songwriter Geoff Smith, a Saint John-based artist who is known for his intimate storytelling and direct lyricism.