We’re heading back to one of our favourite places—Prince Edward Island—for the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, kicking off this Thursday through Saturday, and we are beyond excited to share it with YOU, Strange Crew.

Before the festival gates open and the amps get cranked, we sat down with none other than Ben Murphy, the man behind the magic. As the CEO of Murphy Hospitality Group and Whitecap Entertainment, Ben has played a major role in shaping some of the East Coast’s biggest and best events, including Cavendish Beach Music Festival and the newer but equally stellar Sommo Music Festival, where we had an absolutely incredible time last year! We straight up swear on it being the best festival around legit. Beyond thought out, so many vendors, great layout, so safe, easy to get to, media is well taken care etc, cannot say enough things about the team too, just beyond amazing crew of people and all day through taking care of people coming in, artists, they are just on it and smiling.

In our exclusive chat, Ben gives us an insider look into what it takes to pull off a festival of this scale, the growing impact of live music on the Island’s culture and tourism, and what fans can expect from this year’s experience at Cavendish, and we are pumped.

And let’s talk about that lineup for a second...there’s over 60 artists across three stages—an incredible variety of country, folk, and local talent!

We have Lainey Wilson and Shania Twain coming to PEI LIKE WHATTTTT!? We are so excited! Catch up at the line dancing tent, besties!

📸 We’ll also be on the ground capturing behind-the-scenes moments, artist interviews, fan stories, giving out fun merch and—of course—enjoying all the music magic.

Make sure to follow along on our socials and stay tuned to Strange Grooves for the latest drops from the field. If you see us out there, come say hi!

SEE YOU AT CAVENDISH, STRANGE CREW!
This episode of Strange Grooves is brought to you by Locarius!

Planning a ticketed event? Book a demo at ⁠⁠⁠https://locarius.io⁠⁠⁠ and mention the Strange Grooves podcast for a discount!

This week on Strange Grooves, we’re joined by one of our favourite music storytellers—Noah Lefevre, the creator behind Polyphonic.

We talk about his punk rock roots, his path from journalism to YouTube, and how Polyphonic became a go-to for deep, thoughtful music analysis. Noah shares his creative process, why research matters, and what it takes to turn a good idea into a great video.

Plus, we chat about Canadian music, his podcast Ghost Notes, and his upcoming book Century of Song. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering his work for the first time, this is a conversation worth tuning into!

This episode of Strange Grooves is brought to you by Locarius!

Planning a ticketed event? Book a demo at ⁠⁠https://locarius.io⁠⁠ and mention the Strange Grooves podcast for a discount!

We first met Declan Rockwell and the dynamic crew of NORTER at PEI’s SOMMO Festival last September—and we’ve been fans ever since. Their high-voltage performance and passion stuck with us, so when we heard a new EP was on the way, we had to bring Declan back on the mic.

In this episode, we dig into The Yearbook Club—NORTER’s latest EP—and talk about the band’s evolution, creative process, and what it feels like to finally share these new tracks with the world.

From their East Coast roots to making waves in Nashville, LA, and NYC, Declan opens up about the challenges and wins of breaking into bigger music markets while staying true to small-town grit. Plus, Cait drops actionable marketing tips for musicians looking to grow their audience and make real connections.

We wrap with a look at what’s next for NORTER—new shows, future plans, and why now’s the time to tune in if you haven’t already.