Beach BOOSTER Radio Podcasts

Since making his debut in front of MuchMusic’s national cameras in 1992, Bill Welychka has emerged as one of Canada’s most enduring, recognizable, and respected television personalities.

As the longest-running VJ for MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic, Bill is commemorating the release of his debut memoir titled “A Happy Has-Been featuring a foreword by The Tragically Hip’s Paul Langlois”.

Bill is widely acclaimed for his thoughtful interview approach and his deep passion and expertise spanning a broad spectrum of subjects, ranging from pop culture to politics.

For decades, Bill has been urged to put pen to paper and write a book. Well, that wait is over and this book is now available, eagerly awaiting the enjoyment of his extensive and devoted following. Music enthusiasts will find delight in Bill’s anecdotes of spending time with numerous prominent stars in the industry.

His book aligns perfectly with the new documentary about MuchMusic that saw a successful release last September accompanied by a sold-out Canada-wide tour. Bill participated in extensive interviews for this documentary and also made several appearances during the tour.

Dianna was delighted to welcome via ZOOM, iconic TV personality and number one top ten best-selling Canadian author, Bill Welychka.

For more information visit billwelychka.ca or his social media platforms.

Canada's remarkable homage to David Bowie, Michael Bell, who first encountered Bowie as a teenager, collaborated on songs with several of his early bands.

Michael, an acclaimed vocalist, channels the sound and styles of David Bowie, captivating audiences young and old with the assistance of an all-star band, theatrical elements, and authentic costumes.

His rendition of "The Bowie Lives" brings all the hits to the stage, from "Space Oddity" to "Lazarus," encompassing everything in between.

Michael is also featured in an upcoming documentary film titled "Being David Bowie," as well as an upcoming web series called "The David Bowie Lives."

He recently returned from the 9th Annual Dublin Bowie Festival and is scheduled to perform at Meaford Hall on May 11th at 7:30 p.m.

Dianna was delighted to welcome via ZOOM Canada’s sensational tribute to David Bowie, Michael Bell.

For more information visit thebowielives.com or his social media platforms. For tickets go to meafordhall.ca

Known as Canada’s beloved figure skating icon and Olympic silver medalist from the 1988 winter games in Calgary, Elizabeth Manley was made a member of The Order of Canada in 1988 and was inducted in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 1989, followed by the Skate Canada Hall of Fame in 2001, and culminating with her inclusion in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

She is a true embodiment of grace, talent and national pride on the ice. She is recognized as both an author and pioneering advocate for mental health awareness.

Elizabeth is at the helm directing the sold-out figure skating extravaganza, “Love is in the Air”. This Valentine’s Day-themed event is set to enchant audiences on Wednesday, February 14th at the new Wasaga Stars Arena, Wasaga Beach's new twin-pad arena.

The show will feature two-time Olympic silver medalist and three-time World Champion, Elvis Stojko, alongside talented local figure skaters from Wasaga Beach.

The ice show is a highlight among a series of events commemorating the 50thAnniversary of the Town of Wasaga Beach. It is also a key feature of the Breaking the Ice Festival, which marks the grand opening of the town’s new twin-pad arena and library situated at 544 River Road West.

It was a true honour for Dianna to welcome via ZOOM, Elizabeth Manley.

For more information on Elizabeth visit her social media platforms. Special thanks go to Tara Klein for making this interview possible.

Award-winning, multi-genre artist, singer, songwriter and guitarist, Lyric Dubee released four albums by the age of 17 that made its debut on the rock and AC music charts.

Lyric is proficient and at ease playing rock, pop, blues, classical and Jazz. His deep appreciation and experimentation with all the genres led Lyric to personalize his own style of music known as “Revolution Rock”.

He has shared the stage with legendary icons such as Buddy Guy, Colin James, Rik Emmett (Triumph) to name a few and last year was the opening act for Tom Cochrane.

Lyric has just returned from Los Angeles, where he had the opportunity to attend NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), the industry’s largest music trade show. Currently, he is immersed in the creative process, collaborating with Will Schollar, a talented producer from England, on a new three-song EP titled “Purple Sky''.

Dianna was delighted to welcome back via zoom, Lyric Dubee.
For more information visit lyricdubee.com or his social media platforms.

They have been telling Canada where they have come from and where they are going for the last 43-years and their latest single “West Coast Band” is really about being in a rock ’n roll and, writing some songs, recording them and getting in the van and taking the show on the road.

Throughout their professional journey, 54-40 has garnered praise from critics and achieved numerous accolades, establishing their status as iconic figures in Canadian Music.

The band consists of vocalist and guitarist, Neil Osborne, bassist, Brad Merritt, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist, Dave Genn and drummer, Matt Johnson.

Dianna was delighted to welcome via ZOOM bassist, Brad Merritt. For more information visit 5440.com or their social media platforms.

Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.

Wasaga Beach CAO, Andrew McNeill presents to Mayor and Council re the findings of an ongoing investigation about certain municipal dealings during the term of the previous council (2018 - 2022). The presentation includes information from a lawyer and the Town Clerk and is followed by questions/comments from members of  Council and The Mayor.  The findings are currently being investigated by the OPP and a decision of council is made unanimously, to have the CAO contact the Attorney General's office and ask them to investigate.

She has been called “Canada’s Folk Country Music Matriarch” and “Canada’s Queen of Folk”, Sylvia Tyson co-founded the legendary folk duo “Ian and Sylvia” that introduced such classics as “Four Strong Winds”, “Someday Soon” and her own composition “You Were on My Mind”.

Sylvia is a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1994, she joined the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.

She’s recorded 10 albums, written more than 200 songs, and has for the last twenty-years also recorded and performed with three other well-known Canadian female singer-songwriters in a group called “Quartette”.

After a decade lay-off from recording on her own, Sylvia Tyson launched her ultimate album titled “At the End of The Day” on November 3rd, a powerful and thought-provoking masterpiece, marking her most impactful recording to date.

Dianna was delighted  to welcome via ZOOM Canadian folk legend, Sylvia Tyson. Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.

She is a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, was honoured with the Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of her charitable work and contributions to the arts. Recently, she was presented with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. This year in France, she was bestowed le Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Renowned Canadian Jazz vocalist, Molly Johnson released her most recent full-length album titled “It’s a Snow Globe World” via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.

 Her first holiday-themed album includes favourites such as “Don’t You Know It’s Christmas”, “This Holiday Season” and more. The project was produced by John “Beetle” Bailey and executive produced by Molly herself.

The six-time Juno-Award nominee will be performing a string of magical holiday shows from December 11th to December 13th at Roy Thomson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops conductor, Steven Reineke and the Etobicoke School of the Arts Holiday Chorus.

Dianna was delighted to welcome via ZOOM one of Canada’s greatest voices, award-winning jazz vocalist, Molly Johnson.

For more information visit mollyjohnson.com or her social media platforms. Tickets are available here

Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible. 
Photo credit Chris Nicholls.

Theatre Collingwood is a not-for-profit organization that will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year. This exceptional organization collaborates with fellow theatre companies to enhance accessibility to theatre and foster both artistic employment and volunteer opportunities.

Again, this year, Theatre Collingwood has emerged as the winner in the 2023 Reader Favourites – Arts, Entertainment and Recreation.

Recently, Theatre Collingwood launched “The 2023 That’s Entertainment Raffle”. There are only 500 tickets printed and by purchasing one or more tickets you are supporting Theatre Collingwood’s Youth and Senior Drama Education Programs as well as Artistic programming.

Dianna was delighted to welcome back via ZOOM executive director and creative visionary of Theatre Collingwood, Erica Angus.

For more information visit theatrecollingwood.ca or their social media platforms.

David Cubitt along with his business partner, Peter Wilkins launched the Beach Bar on July 1st. This restaurant/food and beverage venue offers live entertainment along with a fantastic view of Georgian Bay.

David is co-founder and president of Wasaga Beach Brewing Company. Recently he was honoured at the Wasaga Beach Chamber of Commerce Business Awards and Recognition Ceremony with “The Inspire Award” for Wasaga Beach Brewing Company and “Restaurant, Food & Beverage Award” for the Beach Bar.

This year David lost his beloved wife, Jane Cubitt to ALS, a devastating disease with no treatments or cure. On September 8th, the Fly Fearlessly Campaign along with Wasaga Beach Brewing Company held a fundraiser event at the Beach Bar in memory of his amazing wife, Jane Cubitt.

This marked two-years since history was made in Wasaga Beach where Jane was the first public citizen for a tandem to land on Beach Area Two, part of Wasaga Beach Provincial Park.

Dianna was delighted to welcome back via ZOOM, David Cubitt who will share some of the events at the Beach Bar this summer and the Fly Fearlessly fundraiser campaign. For donation in support of ALS Canada visit flyfearlessly.org and for more information on the Beach Bar visit wasaga.beer or their social media platforms.

Three-time Juno-nominees and four-time Canadian Folk Music Award (CFMA) award-winners, “Sultans of String & Friends” recorded their ninth album titled “Walking Through the Fire” in collaboration with First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island.

With their latest album now in contention on the GRAMMY® BALLOT, they’ve set sail on their most ambitious and pivotal musical expedition yet.

Sultans of String have delighted fans for years with their genre-blending fusion of Flamenco, Gypsy, Jazz, Arabic, Cuban, Celtic and South Asian rhythms, celebrating diversity and creativity with warmth and virtuosity.

Sultans’ violinist Chris McKhool, who was recently awarded the Dr., Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award by Redbird and JAYU Arts for Human Rights for working to amplify these truths through collaborations, was raised in a musical household with his Lebanese father and Egyptian mother who is a piano and theory teacher.

He has composed, recorded and performed with diverse artists including Jesse Cook, Paddy Moloney and the Chieftans, Alex Cuba to name a few.

Dianna was delighted to welcome back via ZOOM producer, bandleader, and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal recipient, Chris McKhool from Sultans of String.

For more information visit sultantsofstring.com or their social media platforms.

Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.

Her remarkable musical journey has spanned the roles of a studio vocalist, providing her exceptional vocal talents to support numerous recording artists, including the likes of Johnny Rivers, Terry Black, Bobby Duvall, among others.

In the seventies, she became the female lead vocalist with the popular Toronto based showband, Bananas.

Canadian pop, rhythm and blues singer, Rita Johns is most noted for receiving a Juno Award nomination for most promising female vocalist at the 1982 Juno Awards.

Recently, Rita released two new tracks “Why Don’t You Do Right” and “Still Got the Blues For You” both songs were recorded and produced by Rita and Bob Federer in collaboration with Maritime Jazz.

Dianna was delighted to welcome back via ZOOM from Nova Scotia Juno nominee, Rita Johns. For more information visit her Facebook page.

He influenced the careers of musicians like Herman’s Hermits, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd-Webber, 10cc and many more, Harvey Lisberg released a new book “I’m Into Something Good: My Life Managing 10cc, Herman’s Hermits and many more”.

When a young 22-year-old accountant, Harvey Lisberg heard The Beatles’ song “Please, Please, Me”, he had an epiphany. He could be Manchester’s answer to Brian Epstein.

Harvey had a musical ear, a knack for numbers and within a year of management took Herman’s Hermits to number one with “I’m Into Something Good”.

In his new tell-all book, he reveals the excesses of life on the road during The Who’s tour with Herman’s Hermits, nurturing the songwriting talent of Graham Gouldman, helping to rekindle the career of Neil Sedaka and the highs and lows of managing the brilliant 10cc.

It was a true honour for Dianna to welcome via zoom, legendary rock manager, Harvey Lisberg. Harvey will share his book and how he discovered Herman’s Hermits.

You can find his book for sale on amazon.com. For more information visit harveylisberg.com or his social media platforms.

Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.

JC Sol, a Canadian native with Eastern European heritage, is a versatile singer/songwriter and performer. Her love for R&B, Motown, and the classic Philly sound infuses her music, capturing retro vibes while giving them a modern twist.

Her distinctive musical style recalls classic female vocalists, blending elements of Dusty Springfield and Natalie Cole, while also featuring a vintage Diana Ross touch.

She toured as a lead singer with various bands, achieving solid success in the early 80s, which led to extensive global touring and a growing fan base. After a break, she's returned stronger than ever, dedicating time to honing her song writing skills.

JC Sol rides on the popularity of last year’s “Our Groove”, a slow, sexy jam with just the right amount of ’70s vibe with the brand-new “Our Groove (remix)”.

Joining Dianna on Beach Corner via ZOOM is Canadian R&B artist, JC Sol. JC will share her life growing up in a musical family and her latest “Our Groove (remix)”.

For more information visit her social media platforms. Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.

Despite his muscular physique and tattoo-covered exterior, this talented artist specializes in crafting heartfelt acoustic anthems that delve into the depths of life experiences, resilience, and introspection.

Singer-songwriter and guitarist, Shane Cloutier has a remarkable ability to resonate deeply with his audience through his music, leaving them eagerly craving more of his soulful sounds.

He’s just dropped his third album “Lie To Me ‘Til It’s Over” this marks the final album of the trilogy (first: “In Light”, second: “Red Wagon”), showcasing a unique fusion of acoustic sounds with cello and programmed beats.

Shane reveals a fresh perspective with his latest singles “We Used To Sit” and “So Behind”.

Joining Dianna via ZOOM is singer-songwriter and guitarist, Shane Cloutier.

Special thanks go to Hanna Cameron for making this interview possible. For more information visit shanecloutiermusic.com or his social media platforms.

Mike McCarthy and Erica Prinn-McCarthy of The Mike McCarthy Band have been performing together for over thirty-years.

The band’s secret weapon is Mike’s soulful expressive voice, which, when combined with Erica’s sweet harmonies creates an irresistible and dance-worthy sound, uniting diverse influences seamlessly.

The band boasts one of the finest lineups with Terry Martell on drums, Len Fligg on bass, Gabor Szepesi, keys/organ, Tony Moretta on lead guitar along with Erica Prinn-McCarthy on vocals and Mike McCarthy on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.

Late spring, they unveiled their inaugural album titled: “Talk to Me”. Today on the show, we have a special treat for you as we showcase an exclusive preview of two of their songs: “Sweep You Off Your Feet” and “County Line”.

Dianna was thrilled to extend a warm welcome via ZOOM to Mike McCarthy and Erica Prinn-McCarthy as they return to share their debut album and some of the standout moments from their performances thus far.

For more information visit themikemccarthyband.com or their social media platforms.

He grew up in Detroit, where the iconic Motown sound left a lasting impression on him from a tender age. Following numerous years of performing in the U.S., a promising opportunity presented itself to move to Toronto, and that’s when his journey truly gained momentum.

Joining Dianna via ZOOM is Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe bassist and vocalist, David G. Rose better known as “Rosie”.

David selected an impressive ensemble of experienced talents from the Canadian music scene to collaborate on the realization of “Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe”. Teaming up with Tony Moretta, Gabor Szepesi and Terry Martell, they are collectively breathing life into “Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe” project.

With the recent launch of their inaugural EP “Welcome to the Smokehouse”, David is stepping into the limelight with a fresh band and eagerly anticipating the exciting journey ahead.

You can catch Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe at the Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival on Sunday, September 17th at 2:15 p.m.

For more information visit rosiesmokehousedeluxe.com or their social media platforms. Special thanks go to Gabor Szepesi for making this interview possible.

SEE FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM HERE: https://tinyurl.com/bdfv69wc

In a few days, Wasaga Beach will be singing the blues with the 11th Annual Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival from September 15th to September 17th.

The international award-winning music event will be spread over three days at Stonebridge Town Centre and will feature an incredible lineup of blues artists such as The Shuffle Demons, K.C. Roberts and the Live Revolution, Ben Racine Band, Boomerang, Soulstack with Roly Platt, Rosie’s Smokehouse Deluxe, Jordan John to name a few.

Beach BOOSTER Media Group is proud to be one of the sponsors of this great annual event.

Dianna is delighted to reintroduce our esteemed guest, Gabor Szepesi, the artistic director of Stonebridge Wasaga Beach Blues Festival and a talented musician. He will be sharing with us all the exciting details about this year's blues fest

For more information visit wasagabeachblues.com or their social media platforms.

SEE FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAM HERE: https://tinyurl.com/bdfv69wc

Candid Frank has an informal sit down with Mayor Brian Smith to chat about what's new at Town Hall and what we can expect in the coming weeks.

Original MuchMusic VJ, author, podcaster and Platinum singer/songwriter, Christopher Ward re-released his debut 1978 album “Spark of Desire” on October 21st.

Christopher is known for writing the number one Billboard hit “Black Velvet” for singer Alannah Myles. Having won a JUNO Award for Songwriter of the Year in 1990, Christopher is among the nation’s most prolific.

He was a recording artist throughout the seventies, a television icon and founding VJ through the eighties and a hit songwriter in the nineties. His repertoire of songwriting includes Diana Ross, Amanda Marshall, Colin James, the BackStreet Boys to name a few, as well as for CTV’s Instant Star, the Degrassi franchise, Cirque du Soleil and more.

Christopher has authored three novels and oral history of MuchMusic titled “Is this Live?” and he also co-host a podcast called “Lost Words”.

Dianna was delighted to welcome via ZOOM original MuchMusic VJ, author, podcaster and Platinum singer/songwriter, Christopher Ward.

For more information visit christopherward.ca or his social media platforms. Special thanks go to Eric Alper for making this interview possible.