The cover image of the new Matt Andersen album (two big men, one small bike) is priceless. Piggyback, a collaboration between harmonica virtuoso Mike Stevens and the Maritimes blues giant Andersen, was recorded at the Cottage Studio in Guelph, Ont., by Scott Merritt who has worked with Fred Eaglesmith and Stephen Fearing, among other roots and folk royalty.

New Brunswick bluesman Ross Neilsen has been engaging audiences for years with his brand of potent and thrilling blues, reminding you that it's good to be alive. Neilsen eats, breathes, sleeps and lives the blues, staying true to his craft while tirelessly touring our great country.

For the past six months, my sales representative has been hounding me to read this book. Somehow it never made it to the top of my must-read pile. I am not sure why or how this happened especially now that I have read it. This book is superb. It is a futuristic action-packed adventure story that explores ideas of controlling governments, survival and teen romantic interests.

I first heard about Erin Costelo from some friends who told me what a wonderful singer/songwriter and performer she is. I trust and value their opinions as they are music lovers always in search of pure art. I went to Costelo's MySpace site to further my curiosity and instantly fell for the music. I sent her an email proclaiming my interest in her music and received a copy of her stylish and soothing new release Fire & Fuss.

I can't believe the summer is over. Well, we did have a couple good weeks of summer-like weather. As we hunker down to our normal school year schedule and sign up the kids for hockey season, we will once again be "working for the weekend" as Loverboy once sang.