East Coast DNA

09/04/2026

Fantastic Finds Friday: Evan Cooper - “Freshman”

We first featured Evan Cooper on East Coast DNA when he was just 14. Now, at 16, the Fredericton singer-songwriter is back with a new single and his debut full-length album on the way.

“Freshman” is out now, with the album arriving September 18.

There’s a definite early-2000s pop rock feel to the single, but the story behind it is very much Evan’s own. He takes the high school experience and explores heartbreak, isolation, uncertainty and hope, capturing the changes that come with growing up and figuring out where you fit.

Having followed Evan for the past couple of years, it’s great to hear how much his songwriting and confidence have developed.

The album was written, recorded and produced locally with Colin Fowlie of East & Nowhere Songsmiths, and the full record is already available for early access on Bandcamp.

There’s a full music video for “Freshman” coming September 9, created with FLOMotion Productions and artsNB.

Evan is also keeping busy on the live front, with upcoming appearances at Harvest Music Festival, Monarch Night Club, EMERGE Festival and the MusicNB Showcase.

From the 14-year-old artist we first featured to a 16-year-old with a debut album ready to go, it’s been exciting to watch Evan Cooper grow into his sound.

🎧 Evan Cooper - “Freshman” is out now.

09/04/2026

Fantastic Finds Friday: Sun Dried Flies - “Weekend Whore”

Sun Dried Flies dropped their new single “Weekend Whore” yesterday, and they just happen to be spending this Labour Day Weekend with us at Giantstock IV in Merigomish.

The new track comes from songwriter and composer Branden Tyhy on guitar, Ben Pontefract on bass guitar, and Andrew Crozier behind the kit.

Formed in 2021, Sun Dried Flies are a Canadian jam band blending alternative rock with an eclectic, improvisational sound. Their live shows are built around strong musicianship, spontaneous energy and a real connection with the crowd. In 2025, they took home the top honour at Ontario’s Got Talent, adding a pretty impressive milestone to their growing story.

We’re spending the weekend surrounded by music, artists and good times, so having Sun Dried Flies here while this particular song lands feels like one of those happy little festival coincidences.

And while the title might get your attention, it’s the music that earns the listen.

From laid-back grooves to explosive jams, Sun Dried Flies bring something different to every stage. Their shows have taken them from venues like The Horseshoe Tavern, Overflow Brewing Company and The Rainbow Bistro to festival stages, and their improvisational approach means you never quite know where a performance might go.

“Weekend Whore” is the latest release from a band we’re excited to have around Giantstock IV, and we’re pumped for the chance to see them live as the weekend unfolds.

🎧 Sun Dried Flies - “Weekend Whore” is out now.

09/02/2026

The festival grounds were packed for Sloan Music’s set and nobody left disappointed. The band tore through classics and new material, and the entire crowd sang from the first chorus to the last. It felt like the kind of night people talk about long after summer fades. Pure festival energy. Pure community. Pure Atlantic Canadian music culture at its best.

Summer Nights delivered everything you want from a festival. Big crowds. Big moments. Familiar faces. New discoveries. The kind of atmosphere that makes you crave the next event before this one even ends.

📸 Photos: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

If you want more of that feeling, subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/
Live performance videos from Summer Nights will begin appearing there soon. The channel already holds five years of interviews and performances from across the East Coast of Canada, a growing archive that keeps the festival spirit alive all year.

Special thanks to Seventy3 Productions, Summer Nights, Holy Whale B**r Hall and Garden, the artists, the audience, and everyone who helped make this festival happen.

Next, East Coast DNA and the CanCon Artist Services Crew head to Giantstock in Merigomish. The festival runs from September 4 to 7 over the Labour Day long weekend, the perfect send off for summer. This year brings a full wave of newstalgic energy, a blend of new and nostalgic, with Alt Ctrl, Patrick Pentland (Sloan), Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace), and local favourite Andre Pettipas, the ECMA Entertainer of the Year, leading an all star group of musicians through a set of nineties classics.

Summer Nights 2026 is wrapped.
Giantstock: Three Days Of Music, Camping and Pettipasitivity is next.
See you there.

09/01/2026

I’ve been listening to Galaxy of Stooges since its 1997 release, but somehow, through all these years, I’d never managed to catch The Monoxides live. That changed on July 25 in Riverview.

We had drummer Ken Kelley on the East Coast DNA podcast when the band returned with new music in 2023, and Summer Nights gave me the chance to finally check multiple things off my “must do” list. I picked up the new vinyl pressing of Galaxy of Stooges, got it signed by the band, and then finally got behind the camera to see this crew live.

After decades of mental speculation, I can say they did not let me down. It was a kinetic performance that had me singing along from behind the camera.

The Monoxides have been part of the New Brunswick rock scene since 1988, and opportunities to catch them live don’t come around often enough. I’ll make a point to not wait another 30 years this time around.

Follow along as we revisit the 2026 Summer Nights Festival lineup through our photos from the weekend.

📍 Summer Nights Festival, Riverview, NB
📸 Photo: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

09/01/2026

The Orchids brought the fuzz, the volume and the chaos to Summer Nights Festival on July 25.

We’ve been huge fans of this Truro duo for a while, and watching Rhys Poirier and Alexis Grant tear into their set was one of our Saturday highlights. Just two musicians, but an absolutely massive sound built from fuzz-soaked guitars, punk energy and a whole lot of attitude.

The timing couldn’t have been better. As The Orchids were tearing through their set, the tidal bore came crashing down the river alongside the festival site, adding another bit of natural spectacle to an already wild performance.

Formed in 2023, The Orchids have quickly established themselves as one of Atlantic Canada’s most exciting young rock acts. Their self-titled debut album arrived in 2025, and their relentless live schedule has helped earn them a reputation for ferocious performances.

Follow along as we revisit the 2026 Summer Nights Festival lineup through our photos from the weekend.

📍 Summer Nights Festival, Riverview, NB
📸 Photo: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

08/30/2026

Before The Dinosaurs brought some familiar sounds and some new faces to the Summer Nights stage on July 25.

We’ve gotten to know the music of this New Brunswick band over the past few years. Seeing them step onto the Summer Nights stage in Riverview, in their home region and in front of a festival crowd, gave those familiar songs a whole new weight.

They delivered a confident set, along with some new members in the mix. The set left us wanting to hear what comes next.

Follow along as we revisit the 2026 Summer Nights Festival lineup through our photos from the weekend.

📍 Summer Nights Festival, Riverview, NB
📸 Photo: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

08/30/2026

The Magnetic Hills brought their own blend of rock, folk, blues and roots to the Summer Nights stage on July 25.

Formed in Moncton by brothers James and Matt Sutherland, The Magnetic Hills brings together more than 25 years of musical experience. Joined by Jon Arsenault, Steve Arsenault and Eric “Train” Williston, the band has built a sound rich in melody, atmosphere and groove.

Knowing the band’s journey and how much Matt, his brother, and their bandmates are part of making Summer Nights happen, it was great to see The Magnetic Hills take the stage during a festival that means so much to the Sutherland family.

Follow along as we revisit the 2026 Summer Nights Festival lineup through our photos from the weekend.

📍 Summer Nights Festival, Riverview, NB
📸 Photo: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

08/30/2026

Donovan opened Saturday of Summer Nights Festival 2026 with a standout moment.

A graduation performance caught the attention of the Summer Nights team, who brought Donovan into the festival lineup as Saturday’s opener. Seeing a local youth make that jump from a graduation stage to a festival stage is something special.

He stepped onto the Summer Nights stage with real presence, sharp songwriting instincts and a confidence that lit up the crowd from the first chord. It was easy to see why the festival team took notice.

Donovan showed exactly why people are starting to notice him, and why opportunities like this matter.

Follow along as we revisit the 2026 Summer Nights Festival lineup through our photos from the weekend.

📍 Summer Nights Festival, Riverview, NB
📸 Photo: Darcy Walsh // East Coast DNA // CanCon Artist Services

Summer Nights

08/30/2026