Softcult reflect on debut album & DIY ethos after Meadows Music Festival set

Softcult reflect on debut album & DIY ethos after Meadows Music Festival set

Canadian grunge-gaze duo Softcult opened the main stage at Meadows Music Festival on Saturday, marking a hometown-adjacent performance just down the road from their native Kitchener. Mercedes Arn-Horn and Phoenix Arn-Horn spoke with SWOMP backstage following their set, reflecting on their debut full-length album When a Flower Doesn’t Grow and the band’s continued evolution since its release earlier this year via Easy Life Records. The performance brought the twin siblings back to familiar territory in southwestern Ontario, a region closely tied to their early development as musicians. Softcult have built a reputation as a DIY-driven alternative indie-rock project blending grunge, shoegaze, dreampop and punk into what they describe as “music with a message.” The band has become associated with a modern extension of riot grrrl-era ideals, emphasizing feminism, social activism, creative independence and gender inclusivity, while taking a clear stance against sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia and patriarchy. Since forming in 2021, Softcult have released several EPs alongside their 2026 debut album, steadily growing a global fanbase through both recorded work and extensive touring. Their career has included sold-out headline shows in Bangkok, Tokyo, Manila, London and New York, as well as high-profile support slots, including touring with Incubus in the UK. They head out on tour this week in South East Asia. Follow them online, here [https://softcult.band/en-ca].

Joel Plaskett talks new single & Nova Scotia recognition ahead of Meadows Festival set

Celebrating 20 years of anything in an era of shrinking attention spans feels worth applauding. For the Joel Plaskett Emergency, it is an opportunity to lean in. With their brand new single, "Fill in the Blanks," the band delivers their first new music since 2021's Twenty Years Gone: Joel Plaskett Emergency Revisits Down at the Khyber. SWOMP caught up with Plaskett to discuss the track ahead of their set at Meadows Music Festival in Fergus, Ontario on Saturday, May 30, 2026. Marking two decades of rollin’ and rockin’ in their current incarnation, Plaskett himself on guitars, Dave Marsh on drums, and Chris Pennell on bass, the trio returns with a strutting ‘70s-style riff-rocker with playful lyrics subtly inspired by the theory of “hot” and “cool” media established by influential Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan. “I was imagining April Wine jamming with Steve Miller but then Dave and Chris took it to Portland Street like they always do,” says Plaskett. Written as an assignment for an online course Plaskett was taking from Andrew McLuhan on his grandfather's seminal 1964 book Understanding Media, the song began as a "low def" four-track cassette demo in 2024 before evolving into a full-band recording this past winter. The result is a raucous anthem that looks back fondly on life before attention-hijacking technologies, encouraging listeners to embrace ambiguity and participate in the moment. As Plaskett sings, "In a world that's so explicit, at the risk of losing everything, don't make me spell it out." The tune struts with the Emergency's slippery style as tumbling drum rolls and harmonized guitar lines weave through punchy bar-rock rhythms. It's a fitting new song for a songwriter and band that continue to deliver their message through analog mediums and spontaneous performances. Throughout their 20+ years, the Emergency has remained committed to the unvarnished push-and-pull that makes their trio so compelling. When they take the stage this summer for a score of dates, they’ll prove this commitment once again. "Fill in the Blanks" is available now as a limited 7” vinyl single and on all streaming platforms via turtlemusik, distributed by ADA Worldwide/Warner Music Canada. To prove there is more than one way to skin a track, Plaskett’s original, “low def” cassette version appears on the vinyl B-side. The new single arrives just a year after the celebratory surprise 2025 double cover album Songs From The Gang - A Celebration of Joel Plaskett, released in honour of his 50th birthday and featuring Frank Turner, Jill Barber, City and Colour, Bahamas, Julian Taylor and more. The album included some iconic Emergency tracks such "Down at the Khyber" (The Sheepdogs) and "Come On, Teacher" (Arkells). Plaskett was just awarded the prestigious Order of Nova Scotia and in late 2025 received the Portia White Prize. With nearly three decades of odometers rolling, the Joel Plaskett Emergency remains a Nova Scotia band whose joyful energy has rocked the corners of Canada, from Newfoundland and Labrador to Iqaluit and Dawson City. The band returns to select festival stages this summer. Joel Plaskett Emergency LIVE this summer July 9 - Sydney, NS - Makin' Waves at Wentworth Park July 17 - Woodstock, NB - Dooryard Arts Festival July 25 - Fredericton, NB - New Brunswick Highland Games August 1 - New Glasgow, NS - New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee August 20 - Hubbards, NS - Shore Club on the Cove August 21 - Hubbards, NS - Shore Club on the Cove - SOLD OUT August 22 - Hubbards, NS - Shore Club on the Cove - SOLD OUT Visit https://joelplaskett.com/ [https://joelplaskett.com/] for more details.

Dallas Smith chats with SWOMP before closing out Day #1 of Meadows 2026

Canadian country artist Dallas Smith closed out the opening day of Meadows Music Festival 2026 in Fergus, Ontario on Friday, May 29. An hour before Smith and his band took the main stage, SWOMP sat with him backstage for an interview. During his set, Smith was constantly engaging with the crowd, handing out picks to young fans who were sitting on their parents shoulders, many attending their very first concert. Smith has a number of shows scheduled throughout the summer, including on July 16, 2026 at the Grace Hartman Amphitheater. Grab you tickets, here [https://go.seated.com/tour-events/b0270d22-c50b-4b5e-acc4-d7e34f26330f]. Smith has a track record of noteworthy success - from front man of Platinum-selling rock band Default to 3x consecutive CCMA Entertainer of the Year. Across his storied career, the bona fide hitmaker has amassed 21 Gold-certified singles, nine Platinum-certified singles, and four Gold-certified albums, with more than 640 million global streams and over two million album equivalents to date. Follow him at https://dallassmithmusic.com/ [https://dallassmithmusic.com/].

The Glorious Sons' Brett Emmons discusses new 'John Shambles' solo project

Brett Emmons is stepping into more personal territory with Cabin Fever, the new album from his solo project John Shambles. Released April 30, the album sees the The Glorious Sons frontman move away from the band’s arena-ready rock sound in favour of something looser and more stripped down, blending folk, garage rock and lo-fi alternative influences. Songs like “Fool In The Woods,” “Landmines,” “Try Not To Freak Out” and “New Friends” lean into raw, unpolished songwriting while exploring anxiety, isolation and self-reflection. In a recent interview with SWOMP, Emmons dove into the inspiration behind the project. John Shambles has continued building momentum with recent live shows, including a sold-out performance at Mod Club in Toronto. SWOMP also caught Emmons during his May 9, 2026 show at London Music Hall. More details at https://www.johnshambles.co/ [https://www.johnshambles.co/].

Filmmaker & singer discuss legacy of Filipino rock icons in 'Eraserheads: Combo on the Run'

A new documentary chronicling one of the most influential bands in Filipino music has hit theatres across North America . “Eraserheads: Combo on the Run,” directed by Filipino-American filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura, opened April 24, offering an intimate look at the rise, breakup and reunion of the Eraserheads, a band often described as the “Beatles of the Philippines.” The 102-minute film blends concert-scale storytelling with a closer examination of the personal dynamics between band members Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. It centres on the group’s cultural impact and their 2022 reunion concert, “Huling El Bimbo,” which drew massive audiences and briefly united a politically divided country. SWOMP caught up with Buendia and Ventura for an interview.  Ventura said the project goes beyond music, aiming to capture a broader portrait of Filipino identity during a time of social and political change. “Combo on the Run is not just a documentary about an iconic band,” she said in a statement. “It is a celebration of their journey, their music, and their role in shaping the cultural fabric of the Philippines.” The film positions the band’s story alongside the evolving national landscape, drawing parallels between their internal struggles and a society grappling with division and uncertainty. Formed in 1989 in Quezon City, the Eraserheads rose to prominence in the 1990s with albums such as “Ultraelectromagneticpop!,” “Circus” and “Cutterpillow,” helping define the sound of modern Filipino rock. Their influence has endured decades after their 2001 breakup, with their music continuing to reach global audiences through streaming platforms. Ventura, who has worked across music and film industries in Los Angeles and Berlin, said the documentary also reflects themes of communication and reconciliation. “At its heart, this film is about connection,” she said. “It reflects what happens when people struggle to express themselves, and how difficult yet necessary it is to find a way back to one another.” Produced by Mano Y Mano, Offshore Music and Voyage Studios, the film features a mix of archival footage, behind-the-scenes access and interviews, offering both longtime fans and new audiences insight into the band’s legacy. “Eraserheads: Combo on the Run” started screening in select theatres across North America on April 24. More details are available at https://eraserheadsfilm.com/ [https://eraserheadsfilm.com/].