Almost Famous Enough

Glen Erickson talks with Winnipeg musician, radio host and country historian Sean Burns. Sean is the frontman of Lost Country and the bassist for Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans. They talk about a career built on work ethic, from Ontario bar gigs at 17 to a sold-out Winnipeg release show. Sean also explains his shift from lost Canadian honky-tonk to Texas dance hall country on his new record, Better Off in Time and Other Songs for the Dance Floor.
Key Topics
Blue-collar musicianship: Sean never had a plan B. He has gigged for a living since 2001 and describes himself as a working musician, whether solo, with Lost Country or with Corb Lund.
Country music as an inheritance: He avoided his father's music as a kid, then dug into his dad's record collection. The conversation covers their complicated relationship and his dad's passing nine years ago.
Preservation of lost Canadian country: Sean shines a light on regional labels and barroom singers from the 60s to the 80s, and on the Texas dance hall tradition behind his new record.
Earning the Corb Lund gig: Sean was not the best bassist at the audition. He bet on himself, learned 40 songs when he was given 15, and got the job through preparation and getting along with the band.
Keywords, names and places
People: Corb Lund, Grant Siemens, Lyle Molzan, Joanna Miller, Skinny Dyck (Ryan), Scott Franchuk, Roy Payne, Ian Tyson, Gordon Lightfoot, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Steve Earl, Johnny Bush, Ray Price, Faron Young, Jake Vaadeland, Danny Michel
Bands, labels and projects: Lost Country, Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans, Leaf Rapids, The Wheat Pool, Department Store Records, Boots and Saddle Show, ARC, Paragon, Marathon, Banff Records, Rodeo Records
Places: Winnipeg, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, Southern Ontario, Toronto, Texas, Crown and Anchor (Edmonton), The Aviary, Folk Fest
Post-fame music recs: Kiwi Jr., Midnight Faces, Slow Pulp, The Haunted Youth, Allegra Krieger
ep54 Sean Burns is very comfortable
released November 5, 2026
1:25:49
https://seanburns.ca
https://www.instagram.com/seanburnsmusic
https://www.youtube.com/@seanburnsmusic
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:03:23 - Fresh off the road: a Western Canada run and the exhaustion of coming home
00:06:26 - Touring with a four-year-old at home and feeling the road differently in your forties
00:08:28 - How Glen and Sean first crossed paths at a birthday show in Edmonton
00:10:25 - Gigging for a living since 2001: Ontario bars, cruise ships and early touring
00:14:00 - Better Off in Time and a run of themed albums
00:15:47 - Rejecting his dad's music, a punk-rock adolescence and a country bar job
00:20:24 - A complicated father-son relationship and what music resolved
00:27:35 - Lost Canadian country: Roy Payne and regional labels
00:31:57 - Texas dance halls and the sound of the new record
00:34:12 - Stage patter, throwback delivery and what radio taught him about confidence
00:38:54 - A tight band: three lead players and knowing when not to play
00:42:23 - Drummer Joanna Miller and a nine-year musical partnership
00:47:37 - Juggling Corb Lund's touring schedule with his own band
00:50:34 - Adjusting from loud bars to polished theaters and in-ear monitors
00:54:32 - Winning the Corb Lund bass audition through preparation and betting on himself
01:00:00 - Skinny Dyck as producer and the friendship behind the record
01:03:54 - What's next: a short-term view and no big trajectory
01:07:30 - The Boots and Saddle Show and curating traditional country on the radio
01:13:19 - Post-fame with Alexi
Alexi pitches her dad's upcoming show with this old band, The Wheat Pool, Nov.21/2026 at The Aviary in Edmonton.

Juno-nominated singer-songwriter and CBC Music host Damhnait Doyle returns with her deeply authentic EP, Bird and Flame. We dig into her surreal start being discovered in Newfoundland at 17, navigating major label pressures, and writing songs alongside icons like Steve Earle. Damhnait opens up about late-diagnosed ADHD, creative burnout, breaking up with the music industry, and finally rediscovering the pure joy of making rhythm-driven indie records strictly on her own terms.
Featured topics
A return to herself: Damhnait describes how Bird and Flame feels like a full-circle return to the creativity and authenticity she had as a teenager.
Grief as a catalyst: The loss of her mother prompted Damhnait to reconsider how she wanted to spend her time and what she wanted to pursue.
ADHD and rejection sensitivity: She discusses how her late ADHD diagnosis helped her understand the emotional challenges she faced in the music business.
Creating without pressure: Damhnait explains how making music without depending on it for income or identity has brought more freedom and joy to her work.
ep53 Damhnait Doyle is finally free
released October 29, 2026
1:27:18
https://www.damhnaitdoyle.com/
https://www.instagram.com/damhnaitdoyle
https://www.youtube.com/user/damhnaitdoyle
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction
 00:03:00 - Pronouncing Damhnait's name and the new EP Bird in Flames
00:10:31 - Her mother's passing as a catalyst, breaking up with music, and making it now without career pressure
00:14:29 - Late-diagnosed ADHD, rejection sensitivity dysphoria, and why the music business feels like constant rejection
00:19:48 - ADHD isn't always a superpower: reading every room, burnout, introvert vs. extrovert, and guarding her energy
00:24:42 - Discovered at 17 in a St. John's record shop, signing with an East Coast label, and her first Juno nomination
00:28:48 - A versatile voice, the trio Shea with Kim Stockwood, and a Juno night beside Nickelback's Chad Kroeger
00:32:37 - Imposter syndrome after sudden fame, opening for Steve Earle, learning guitar, and working with producer Jay Joyce
00:39:35 - The long waits behind a "fast" career, the Montreal record, The Heartbroken, and Serena Ryder's advice to let go
00:44:24 - Grieving a music career, Glen's band reunion, and how CBC and Canadian artists made her want to create again
00:49:47 - The meaning of Bird in Flames and her long road to hosting CBC Mornings
00:55:19 - Writing the EP through COVID, her mother's death and her divorce, and getting the songs out in one sitting
00:58:46 - The fear before release, the relief after, and her all-time favourite songs
01:06:10 - Future plans, how music is curated at CBC Mornings, advice for artists, and the goodbye
01:15:00 - Post-fame with Alexi
Alexi pitches her dad's upcoming show with this old band, The Wheat Pool, Nov.21/2026 at The Aviary in Edmonton.

Brandon on Yukon Blonde, solo music, and building a sustainable creative life
Brandon talks with Glen Erickson about balancing his long-running role in Yukon Blonde with solo work, how a busy Canadian indie career has evolved over 20 years, and what it takes to keep making music without burning out. They also discuss the Vancouver music scene, trusted collaborators, and how visual art continues to shape his songwriting.
Feature moments
Brandon reflects on early acclaim, touring momentum, and the burnout that followed.
He explains how Yukon Blonde rebuilt its team and made the band more sustainable.
Brandon and Glen discuss Vancouver’s music community and why Green Auto matters.
Brandon shares how collaboration helped shape his solo EP Pressed Flowers.
 
ep52 Brandon Wolfe Scott non blonde
released October 22, 2026
1:32:01
https://brandonwolfescott.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/brandonwolfescott/
https://www.youtube.com/@brandonscott1984
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:11 Balancing solo work with a full-time band
00:05:09 Why Yukon Blonde stays the priority
00:07:28 The awkward middle stage of a music career
00:09:10 How longtime fans respond as the band evolves
00:11:25 Early acclaim, CBC Radio 3, and what success felt like
00:13:26 Touring, burnout, and writing solo songs
00:16:13 Mismanagement and hard lessons
00:18:23 Rebuilding the team and making the band sustainable
00:20:43 Vancouver bands and scene connections
00:23:17 Flaming Lips as an early creative influence
00:24:20 Growing up in Quesnel and finding a path into music
00:27:23 The long runway to becoming a solid band
00:28:23 Women, Calgary’s indie scene, and musical peers
00:30:07 What’s thriving in music and why Green Auto matters
00:33:15 Green Auto Fest and DIY infrastructure
00:35:17 Shape and Space, visual art, and film-adjacent work
00:38:42 Creative control over art direction and album visuals
00:41:02 How the solo records differ from Yukon Blonde
00:43:14 Slide guitar, harmonies, and Beatles influences
00:47:09 Pressed Flowers and letting go of control
00:48:11 Collaborating with Gavin and James
00:52:28 Playing live with Dan Mangan and testing new songs
00:54:29 Why the solo project has stayed EP-based
00:58:30 Post-fame with Alexi
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way. 
Alexi pitches her dad's upcoming show with this old band, The Wheat Pool, Nov.21/2026 at The Aviary in Edmonton.

Joel Plaskett on music, identity, and the tension between analog life and AI
Joel Plaskett joins Glen Erickson for a wide-ranging conversation that moves from privacy and digital fatigue to the realities of sustaining a long music career. They unpack what it means to make art in an increasingly algorithmic world, reflecting on place, age, and the changing shape of creative work. Joel shares how his life has been split between Nova Scotia and Vancouver Island, why that tension remains creatively productive, and how honors like the Order of Nova Scotia and the Portia White Award fit alongside his local identity. The conversation also explores Thrush Hermit, the Halifax music scene of the 1990s, building a studio, and why he still feels compelled to make new work rather than settle into legacy mode.
Key topics
Joel’s move to Vancouver Island while maintaining ties to Nova Scotia, family, and his studio and business.
Digital privacy, data collection, AI, and the risks of algorithmic culture.
Why humanities, philosophy, and art matter beyond material efficiency.
Aging, touring, and the realities of sustaining a music career into your fifties.
Thrush Hermit, the Halifax scene, and regional music identity.
Artists like Nick Lowe and Gillian Welch as examples of staying creatively vital over time.
ep51 Joel Plaskett thinking out loud
released October 15, 2026
1:47:18
https://joelplaskett.com/
https://www.instagram.com/joelplaskett
https://www.youtube.com/@joelplaskett
hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:24 Moving to Vancouver Island and living between coasts
00:07:37 Nova Scotia, recognition, and identity
00:12:20 Turning 50 and finding a sustainable pace
00:18:45 Defining success beyond recognition
00:25:37 Building a studio, shop, and creative community
00:31:23 Restlessness, risk-taking, and creative focus
00:35:47 Burnout, aging, and digital saturation
00:38:31 Maps, algorithms, and the value of getting lost
00:41:12 Speed, communication, and Marshall McLuhan
00:44:26 AI, meaning, and the limits of efficiency
00:47:07 Imperfection, analogue sound, and making art human
00:50:14 The efficiency paradox and the cost of “more”
00:55:07 Making space to think instead of react
01:01:15 Thrush Hermit and the Halifax indie-rock scene
01:07:21 Touring lore, regional scenes, and early career lessons
01:15:42 Staying creatively alive across a long music career
01:19:12 Playing the hits while still making new work
01:23:10 Why long-form conversations still matter
01:26:35 Post-Fame with Alexi
 
Alexi pitches her dad's upcoming show with this old band, The Wheat Pool, Nov.21/2026 at The Aviary in Edmonton.

Chevy Beaulieu talks through the long road from playing family gigs in the Northwest Territories to signing with 604 Records and releasing his self-titled album. He also shares how his roots, his mixed background, and a wide range of influences shaped a sound that sits between traditional country, outlaw country, rock, and a little bit of everything else.This is a story about learning the craft first, then learning the business later. Chevy also gets honest about the frustration of being ignored by labels, the value of staying authentic, and why he believes “overnight success” is a myth.
Key topics
Chevy Beaulieu explains the pronunciation of his last name and the family history behind it, including his father, a three-time Canadian fiddle champion.
Music was always around him at home through fiddle tunes, family band performances, and influences like Merle Haggard, Texas Tornadoes, Doug Kershaw, and Cajun music.
Family gigs meant being “always ready,” with little rehearsal and a set list built around weddings, bars, First Nations gatherings, funerals, and old standards.
His first self-released album, Firecracker, came out in 2019 while he was still working full time at a diamond mine and had no real understanding of royalties, registrations, or the business side of music.
Chevy describes the frustration of submitting demos and often getting no response, including blunt rejections from labels that did not even listen to the songs.
He eventually signed with 604 Records after being invited down for what he thought was just an acoustic office performance, not a real audition.
He also talks about the realities of touring, casino gigs, and why live music pay has become harder for working musicians.
https://chevybeaulieumusic.com/
https://www.instagram.com/chevy_beaulieu_music
https://www.youtube.com/@chevybeaulieu2294
ep50 Chevy Beaulieu is a bush baby
released October 8, 2026
1:34:44

hosts: Glen Erickson, Alexi Erickson
AFE: https://www.almostfamousenough.com
AFE instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almostfamousenough
AFE Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1o1PRD2X0i3Otmpn8vi2zP?si=1ece497360564480
Almost Famous Enough is a series of conversations centered around the music industry, pulling back the veil on what it really means to “make it”. Our podcast features guests who know the grind, who have lived the dream, or at the very least, chased the dream. Through these conversational biographies, truth and vulnerability provide more than a topical roadmap or compile some career advice; they can appeal to the dreamer in us all, with stories that can teach us, inspire us, and even reconcile us, and make us feel like we made a new friend along the way.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:42 - Meeting Chevy Beaulieu
00:07:01 - Roots, Heritage, and Identity
00:09:12 - A Family Legacy of Music
00:14:32 - The Family Band and Learning the Craft
00:18:33 - Early Songwriting and Finding Direction
00:23:37 - Developing a Voice as an Artist
00:25:16 - Funding the First Record
00:32:13 - The Story Behind the Name Chevy
00:33:26 - Rejection, Demos, and Breaking Into the Industry
00:36:54 - Finding a Home at 604 Records
00:42:02 - Country Music Influences and Musical Identity
00:49:25 - Songs, Covers, and Country Music Legacy
00:53:24 - Signing a Deal, Waiting, and Building a Team
01:00:59 - New Music, Awards, and Life on the Road
01:15:08 - Post-Fame with Alexi
Alexi pitches her dad's upcoming show with this old band, The Wheat Pool, Nov.21/2026 at The Aviary in Edmonton.