JUNO-nominated soul, blues and roots group Secondhand Dreamcar performing in Bow Island

Submitted by Abby Hales

Following a breakout year that earned them a JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year, Edmonton’s nine-piece soul, blues and roots collective, Secondhand Dreamcar, is returning with their sophomore album, Get Ready, out Sept. 25. 

Driven by the explosive chemistry of nine seasoned musicians, the album expands the band’s signature blend of soul, blues, rock, gospel and funk, capturing the spontaneity and energy of their celebrated live show. To celebrate the release, Secondhand Dreamcar will perform at Bow Island’s Bow Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Building on the sound that first put the collective on the national radar, Get Ready was road-tested for nearly a year and recorded almost completely live off the floor, capturing the spontaneity and interplay of nine distinct musicians operating as one. Across nine tracks, including lead single “I Don’t Want Anything From You,” an Al Green-inspired slice of classic ’70s soul and funk about the unexpected freedom found on the other side of a relationship, the band explores love, relationships, change and expectations, finding freedom in the idea that life doesn’t always unfold as planned, and that what comes next can be even better.

Bringing together nine of Alberta’s most accomplished musicians, Secondhand Dreamcar has solidified themselves as one of Canada’s most compelling live bands. Their debut album, Answer the Call, earned the group a JUNO Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year, where they were both the category’s only independent act and its only first-time nominee. First recognized by CKUA where the project reached #6 on CKUA’s Top 100 Albums of 2024, the album’s momentum continued with three 2026 Canadian Blues Music Award nominations and a 2026 Western Canadian Music Award nomination, alongside national media coverage from CBC Radio, CKUA, JAZZ.FM91, Range Magazine, the Edmonton Journal, Global News, and CityNews Edmonton. Fronted by powerhouse vocalist, Dana Wylie, the collective has brought their exhilarating live show to major stages across Canada including the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, proving their reputation time and time again with captivating grooves, electrifying live performances, and a deep reverence for the traditions of classic American soul and blues. Drawing comparisons to the harmony-rich soul-rock of Three Dog Night, the expansive musicianship of Tedeschi Trucks Band, and the spirit of Muscle Shoals, the group seamlessly bridges technical sophistication with lyrical authenticity and a distinct, modern perspective.

“When I remember all of the hopes and dreams I had when I was younger, it pleases and amuses me to note that things have turned out so much more interesting than I ever could have envisioned back then,” shared lead vocalist Dana Wylie. “It’s hard to relinquish control, but there’s something liberating in admitting you can’t mastermind everything, because it comes with the realization that you don’t have to mastermind everything. Get ready, because it’s going to be something you never could have imagined.”