Dana Sipos, Bennett Mitchell, Matthew Dunn, and Nicholas Campbell

Written By Jeff MacCallum

Dana Sipos - Golden Molten

I’ve been absolutely smitten with Dana Sipos’ newest album Golden Molten. This could be her career defining album, I’ve listened to this record countless times in the effort to write these words but I always get so sucked into what I’m hearing that my process for approaching a review disappears and I just enjoy what I’m hearing. I can’t help but get completely lost in the warm tones, the gently picked guitar, the atmospheric accompanying orchestral instruments, the thoughtfully placed percussive moments, and most importantly Sipos’ exquisitely effortless voice. After my month-long love affair with Golden Molten, I’m confidently putting Dana Sipos up with Jennifer Castle, Myriam Gendron, Fiver and Helena Deland as one of the best folk acts in Canada.

Bennett Mitchell - rearranging

The fourth studio album from Calgary’s Bennett Mitchell was this artist’s most tumultuous to put together. The title track, “rearranging,” says everything you need to know as the album details a difficult few years for Mitchell as he moved to and fro, trying to find where he belonged and constantly rearranging his life. His difficult journey is told with the help of alt-country songs that range from toe-tapping, classic-country burners to nostalgic rock-pop to sorrowful folk numbers. We originally discussed this album when it was on the list of our 26 Most Anticipated Album of 2026 and it delivers in all the ways we expected and more.

Matthew Dunn - HERE WE ARE

Matthew Dunn continues to quietly release immaculate albums that never get the attention they’re deserved. Sought out by others (U.S. Girls, Jennifer Castle, Kevin Morby, and more) and in countless bands (The Cosmic Range, Stonegrass, MV & EE, and Sacred Lamp), Dunn churns out incredible records that offer a transportive feel. This album takes me back 35 years to waking up at my grandparents to the am radio. Twangy country ballads with soulful vocals make up HERE WE ARE but the care and attention put into recording them to offer pure nostalgia is what makes this release so special.

Nicholas Campbell - People Like To Talk

Peterborough, Ontario’s Nicholas Campbell pays homage to bygone eras on his latest album People Like To Talk. There’s no reinventing the wheel, just perfect songs that immediately send your psyche back to a time you only saw in the movies (most of us anyway). Western Swing and Rockabilly pave the way for Campbell incredible voice. This is a fun record but I’d imagine the real fun is seeing these songs played live.

Jeff MacCallum

Jeff MacCallum is our founder. He created Cups N Cakes simply because he had a love of local music. Soon the platform grew beyond the confines of his scene in Edmonton to include all of Canada.

"I did it all very DIY. Everything you see was me learning on the fly. I'm a carpenter not a musician, or a journalist, or a publicist... I'm a carpenter and a weird crazy music fan that thought he could do something fun that might benefit something I care about"

Over the years, MacCallum's commitment to elevating Canadian music earned him a spot as a Polaris Prize Juror, a WCMA Juror, a consultant for music festival curation, and a dear friend to independent music in Canada.

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