Madison Galloway

Madison Galloway's very impressive debut album is a lesson in roots music performed by a young artist with an incredible talent. Several genres of roots music are showcased here and Madison's soulful and passionate vocals deliver the excellent choice of songs, originals and covers, in a delightful and exceptional way that belies her age, making her sound like a seasoned professional. The production is earthy and fresh and is supported by tight instrumentation and a an overall sound that transports with an upbeat vibe. - The Blues and Roots Music Blog

A stunning full length debut here for this 19 year old Ontario-based roots artist. Her earthy blend of folk/rock and blues with mainly acoustic instruments is utterly charming.
Growing up in the small town of Fergus, Ontario, Madison began pursuing her passion for music at a young age. She discovered a love of nature, community and roots music that continues to inspire her today. Moon & Mercury can’t be pinned down to any one particular genre, at least not for long. Galloway and her band make good use of acoustic, slide and electric guitars, harmonica, keys. Ukulele, banjo and more for a spirited, beautifully off-kilter yet somehow right on approach to their songs, particularly numbers like Coffee Stains, a thoroughly engaging instrumental with middle eastern overtones.
Madison Galloway is as far from being a pop tart as you can get. She tours relentlessly, playing hundreds of shows with her band and as a duo and solo performer too. This a mature and fully realized disc, surprising for a first record from someone this young. Sometimes you have to hear an album a few times to get to know it and find your way in but making friends with Moon & Mercury was effortless. Madison has an easy, confident vocal style (Rickie Lee Jones? Edie Brickell? Maybe both?) with threads of mystery and intrigue weaving throughout the songs. This is one of my favourite albums of 2019. - John Kereiff, The Rock Doctor

Juno Nominated “Breakthrough Artist” Virginia to Vegas and Coquitlam BC native Tyler Shaw co-headlined a sold-out concert that supported the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington’s “Free to Grow Program”. The show was organized by Inspiration Guelph and had Fergus ON artist Madison Galloway who was the winner of the 2019 Inspiration Guelph “Battle of Performers” as the opening act. - Dan Fischer, Canadian Beats Media

Tired of young ladies too young to even know what they are bitching about bitching their way to critical acclaim? Galloway eschewed prom and teen aged hijinx to be a road warrior leading a band of gypsies across Canada spreading her roots rocking gospel. With youthful energy that makes left leaning pioneer woman like Rhianna Giddens and Ruthe Foster seem totally old school, she's like Joan Jett going alt.roots. Totally crazy and totally right on----or totes as the kids would say. - Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher, Midwest Record

Translated from French: “At the rate things are going, it will soon be more difficult to start a musical career at thirty. Indeed, in a market dominated by people in their fifties (and well beyond, if affinities), new entrants are becoming more and more precocious. Thus the young Madison Galloway, who at 19 years old (and after a 5 tracks EP) comes with her first album. Already proud of her strong reputation as a live performer, this Canadian native of Fergus, Ontario does not only perform guitar parts (slide, acoustic, electric and banjo), but also keyboards and harmonica. Not content with composing most of her repertoire, she also has a powerful and evocative voice record. True avatar of space-time, it displays references to her scale of prehistory! So from the opening beach, "Can’t Buy Time", folk-rock ride in the spirit of Dylan's "Bringing It All Back Home" (harmo zinzinant in support), to fork on a diddley-beat to the chorus, and Hindu agreements on the bridge! Other influences are emerging, such as the Balkans on "Beginnings & Ends" (accordion, trombone, laughter and tintinabulants glasses included), and these oriental accents that are accentuated on the instrumental "Coffee Stains", introducing sitar, tampura, tablas and hurdy-gurdy, as in the blessed days when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant found themselves for a "No Quarter" that fully assumed the legacy. We are not yet at Ravi Shankar, but Harry Manx is not far away. Madison Galloway is also able to evolve into a ragtime country blues good blues ("Bye Bye"), or in a muscled folk-rock way Sheryl Crow ("Doors", "Infectious Eyes"). It is supported in this company by a solid team of musicians, in the first rank of which we distinguish the multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Markov and Ron Hawkins (of Lowest Of The Low), which produces everything and duettise with the young girl on "Season of Treason". Capable of howler the Delta blues as an adult ("My Baby Don’t Care"), she concludes this galette by her only cover, the traditional "House of The Rising Sun", which she specifies that she refers to the version of the Animals, even if its finale to the harmonica returns once again to this kid from Duluth who revolutionized the folk here already almost sixty years. If the bad show-biz does not swallow all raw, this newcomer already has everything a great: to follow, and closely ... - Translated from French: “At the rate things are going, it will soon be more difficult to start a musical career at thirty. Indeed, in a market dominated by people in their fifties (and well beyond, if affinities), new entrants are becoming more and more p

Local talent – Local artist Madison Galloway held a CD launch party at the Fergus Grand Theatre on May 25. Galloway wrote the majority of the performed songs that were also included on her new CD called Moon and Mercury. Galloway sang while performing on the guitar, harmonica and ukulele. Photo by Bill Longshaw - Wellington Advertiser

BELWOOD – Fergus singer/songwriter Madison Galloway is currently recording her first ever full-length album.

“I just feel like now is a really good time in my career to do a new album but also I just have all these songs that I just want to share with everyone,” Galloway said.

The 19-year old is recording her new record at Escarpment Sound Studio in Belwood with producer and fellow Canadian artist Ron Hawkins.

“I like the energy and I like her opinion,” Hawkins said. “That’s the important part … of an artist is that they have their own ideas and … we’re all going to be forever sculpting towards the so-called perfect thing and we’re probably never going to get there but we’re all on the same journey.”

Galloway’s album will have a range of songs and genres.

“I’d say the overall thing is it’s a rootsy, rocksy, bluesy kind of mix and … there’s one (song) that’s straight up rocking and then there’s another that’s very atmospheric and soft and there’s another one that’s more just stripped down and raw and it’s just going to be myself and a slide guitar, playing a kick drum and my harmonica, but it’s just myself versus the whole band, which is what most of the album is.

“It’s got this kind of blend throughout it.”

Galloway wrote 11 of the album’s songs; one is a traditional folk song and another is a co-write with Hawkins.

“We co-wrote a song which is actually oddly enough the first time in my entire life that I’ve ever done that,” Hawkins said.

“I’ve never co-written a song with anybody before so that was a fun experience and I think it’s a song that’s going to make it on the record and we’re both pretty happy with it so that was cool.”

The co-write was Galloway’s suggestion.

She and Hawkins met in September when she opened for his show at the Heritage Barn at the Wellington County Museum and Archives in Aboyne.

“I always try to listen to the opening band but she really sort of grabbed my ear with some of the open tuning things that she does and the fact that she was playing a suitcase kick drum,” Hawkins said.

“There were a lot of unique things about her.”

The progression to the producer-artist relationship was organic after that first meeting.

“I’m not the kind of producer who wants to walk away with it sounding like a record I made or my record or whatever,” Hawkins said.

“I want it to be her record and I just want to be there to help guide the process and hopefully bring 30 years of experience with that and help people not make some of the mistakes I made when I was starting out.”

Since completing high school in June, Galloway has made music her full-time job but producing the album isn’t cheap.

“I’m putting my entire personal life savings into this project and then I’m fundraising for the other portion and that is through Indiegogo so I’ve got a campaign up there and there’s lots of different perks.”

Her goal is to raise $13,000 by March 31. The campaign can be found at bit.ly/2TW0lZs.

The album is scheduled to be completed by the end of May and Galloway is planning a CD launch party at the Fergus Grand Theatre.

To keep up to date on performance dates and to purchase tickets to the launch party visit madisongalloway.com.

by Jaime Myslik - Wellington Advertiser

Fergus, Ontario’s singer, songwriter Madison Galloway, and her band The Mud Guppies performed at their CD release party in this historic theater. Moon & Mercury her first full-length album was produced by Lowest Of The Lows member Ron Hawkins who also opened the show. - Dan Fischer, Canadian Beats Media

Canadian singer Madison Galloway shared the album “Moon & Mercury” that combines folk, country and rock elements, and its drive is striking.
“Can't Buy Time,” the album opener, is a peppy and refreshing tune that also has a bewitching psychedelic part. Not only Madison plays multiple instruments, but also shows strong and infectious vocal skills. “Can't Buy Time” is a great track for the approaching summer season. - Tonic Grain

Jul 03, 2019 by Jason Schneider

Madison Galloway is an emerging voice in Canadian roots music and at just 19 years old, she has already begun making her mark, with her debut album Moon & Mercury, produced by Lowest Of The Low’s Ron Hawkins. The 13-track collection—including a stellar version of House Of The Rising Sun—displays a remarkable range of styles, from foot-stomping highs to ambient lows, all while blending elements of folk, blues and rock into an eclectic sonic journey.

Growing up in small-town Fergus, Ontario, Galloway’s early passion for music was complemented by an equal love of painting and protecting the environment. She began with classical piano training, but it wasn’t until she picked up a guitar as a teen that she discovered her true calling and started pouring out original songs.

Soon after, Galloway released a five-song EP entitled Who Knows Where and started building a reputation as a road warrior, touring with her band, and as a duo and solo performer. She’s played hundreds of shows since then, including notable performances at the Mariposa Folk Festival, Riverfest Elora, and RBC Bluesfest, sharing the stage with 54-40, Colter Wall, and others.

She performs in her hometown of Fergus on July 4, with further Ontario dates to follow, along with shows in B.C. in August. To check out more of Moon & Mercury, go to madisongalloway.com.



Congrats on your debut album Moon & Mercury. What was the process like making it?

Overall, I’d say it was exciting, fun, stressful, and magical. Between our producer Ron Hawkins, engineer Brian Hewson, my band, the guest musicians, and our family, we all made a great team, and I’m so grateful to have gotten to work with all of them. We lived at the studio for two weeks, which was a cool experience in itself, but by the end of it, I think everyone was a bit exhausted. I painted the front cover of the album and designed all of the artwork throughout the CD, so there was still a lot to be done after the actual recording. All of our efforts were completely worth it though, and I’m thrilled to have been able to bring Moon & Mercury to life.

What songs on the record are you most proud of and why?

One song I’m most proud of is My Baby Don’t Care. It’s the only song on the record I performed solo, and I’m pleased with how it turned out. It had been an instrumental guitar piece when I wrote it a couple of years ago. But when I started prepping the songs for the album, I began envisioning lyrics and harmonica on it. I wrote the words about a week or two before going into the studio and tracking the harmonica was one moment where I have to admit I was impressed with myself!

What drew you to the blues and roots music in general?

I grew up listening to [Toronto rock radio station] Q107 with my parents, and Led Zeppelin became my favourite band, which I think introduced me to blues and roots music. They have such an incredible range of styles, but I was just really drawn to their bluesy side. Those are some of my favourite tunes that they did.

What's your best touring story?

I don’t know that this is the “best” story, but in 2017, the band and I had a show in Wasaga Beach [Ontario], so we were staying at my house the night before. Joe, our drummer at the time, had a large carrot in his backpack. While we were sleeping, my lil’ doggie, Myles, found it and ate the entire thing. Jonathan, our guitarist, and I happened to find some little carrot pieces in the morning, so we cleaned them up and decided not to mention it to Joe. When he looked for his carrot later that day, it was gone of course. Then when got to Wasaga, Myles had the most vibrant orange poop I’ve ever seen in my life, and it was then that Joe realized where his carrot went! We all had a really good laugh about it.

What do you recall about your first time performing in public?

I took piano lessons from the age of six and performed at the end-of-year recital each year. What I remember about that is asking how many songs I could play and always picking the max! I have more vivid memories about the first open mic I ever went to. It was in Mississauga at the Living Arts Centre, and my mom had called the host and asked if we would be able to sign up in advance since we were coming from an hour away. He marked me down on the list, so we made our way to Mississauga. There was a huge snowstorm, so we weren’t sure if we should still go, we decided we shouldn’t bail since we were signed up. There wasn’t a huge turnout because of the snow; even some folks from Mississauga didn’t show up. But I remember loving getting up there to perform in front of everyone. It was a pivotal point in my deciding to pursue music instead of painting, which I still love to do as well. - fyi music news

Fergus, Ontario's Madison Galloway played her energetic folk for the Riverfest Elora 2018 crowd at the Dine Alone Records Wax on Wheels stage. - one in ten words

Singer, songwriter, storyteller and all around joker Ron Hawkins, the voice of Canada’s iconic alternative band The Lowest of the Low performed an intimate sold-out solo show at the Heritage Barn in Fergus ON. He was supported by Fergus artist Madison Galloway who also performed solo. - Dan Fischer

What is there to say about Madison Galloway, except that she does it all?

Armed with her guitar, ukulele, banjo, or harmonica at any given time (she also plays the piano, of course!), she strums her way through catchy folk tunes that she writes, singing of love, hope, and nostalgia. Whether solo, paired, or with her band, The Mud Guppies, Madison is right at home making music. Her debut EP, Who Knows Where, was released a couple of years ago. At just 18 years old, Madison already has an impressive track record, having shared the stage with musicians like Coco Love Alcorn, The Sadies, and Alysha Brilla.

Hailing from Fergus, Madison is Owen Sound-bound on July 29th to play Harbour Nights. This is your chance to see her solo before she hits the Summerfolk Youth Discoveries with her musical partner, Jonathan Markov, as the duo Fork n’ Harp.

Check out this video of Madison tearing into her guitar for LZ Blues, a song she wrote.

After seeing that clip, you know this Harbour Nights show is going to rock! Her skill and the joyful energy she puts into her performances make for a memorable experience. Mosey on down to the Owen Sound Marine Rain Museum at 7:00 on Sunday evening (earlier, if you want good seats!) and get ready for some serious talent.


Written by Sarah Goldman - Rrampt. By Sarah Goldman

Madison Galloway to perform in Toronto as part of female artist showcase Honey Jam

by Jaime Myslik

FERGUS - Local musician Madison Galloway is preparing for a performance in front of the biggest crowd of her life.

On Aug. 11 the 16-year-old from Fergus will be performing in Toronto at the Mod Club as part of Honey Jam.

Female artists from across Canada auditioned in June to be part of the Toronto showcase - and only 15 were chosen.

“I was pretty excited because it’s a pretty big and insane competition,” Galloway said. “Like all those girls who were auditioning were really, really good and ... back before Nelly Furtado was real big she had actually done the competition.

“That was one of the things that kind of started off her career. So that was pretty cool.”

Honey Jam is a yearly concert that features Canada’s next generation of up-and-coming female artists.

This year artists will come from as far west as British Columbia and as far east as Nova Scotia, representing a range of genres, including pop, hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul, dance, country and folk.

“We were all so impressed by the high level of talent that came out to the auditions,” Ebonnie Rowe, founder and producer of Honey Jam, stated in a press release.

“We can’t wait for others to see them hit the stage and for the rest of the country to meet them.”

For Galloway, the audience of potentially 750 people will be the biggest of her career so far.

“I love performing and the more people the better,” she said. “So I’m really excited about that and the Mod Club is a really awesome venue for it so that will be really cool to play there - just like there in general plus 750 people and there’s going to be a lot of people from the industry as well there.”

On Aug. 11 Galloway will be performing House of the Rising Sun, made popular by The Animals in 1964.

However, even though Galloway has been chosen as one of the showcase performers, she has her sights set to also be chosen to perform at Honey Jam Barbados.

“I love travelling and it would just be amazing to go to Barbados but to perform there, that’s an entirely new audience ... and there’s also going to be a lot of opportunity to collaborate and jam with other musicians from there who are in the Honey Jam Barbados,” Galloway said.

“So that would be really cool and I love learning new instruments so I might be able to learn a traditional instrument from their culture because I also really love other cultures and experiencing those and ... I think it would be really cool and it would just be a really awesome opportunity.”

To help Galloway get to Barbados Honey Jam, she asks that people watch, “like”, comment and share on her contest video which can be found at https://youtu.be/AkR9o--RJPk.

However, engagement on Facebook (Madison Galloway Music), Twitter (@madison13music) and Instagram (@madisongallowaymusic) using the hashtags #HoneyJam2016 and #GetMadisonToBarbados would also help her gain traction for a better chance to represent Canada in Barbados.

Galloway is also set to perform at Wreckless Eric in a Riverfest Elora after party on Aug. 20.

“They asked me to play back in March for Ice Jam so that was a lot of fun,” Galloway said. “So they asked me to come back for Riverfest and play at one of the after parties.”

She said one of the most rewarding aspects of performing is being a role model for young girls.

“I think that my age is a really good reason for me to represent Canada in Barbados because it would be more inspiring and relatable to younger girls and they’ll be like ‘hey, I want to do that, I want to go and put myself out there and perform,’” she said. “If they’re an aspiring young artist, have the confidence to put their music out there.”

Galloway will be performing at the Mod Club in Toronto on Aug. 11 at 8pm. Doors open at 7pm. The 19-plus event has an admission of $20. Tickets are available online at Universe.com (search Honey Jam), in person at Play De Record in Toronto or by contacting Galloway at madisongallowaymusic@gmail.com.

August 5, 2016 - The Wellington Advertiser

ELORA - Ice Jam’s move to Bissell Park in Elora was a success, Riverfest Elora’s president and artistic director Jon Ralston told the Advertiser.

“We had initially decided that we might not do it and then changed our minds at the last minute ...” he said

“But it meant we had a very compressed promotion schedule and we were switching locations, putting it under a tent so there’s a lot of unknowns there for the general public and we were definitely concerned that would have an effect on it, but it went off really well actually.”

In previous years the event was held at the Elora Mill property but with development on the horizon, organizers switched venues this year, bringing the March 5 Ice Jam to the same space as Riverfest.

“It allowed us to ... have a clean slate for how to lay the thing out and definitely out of all the feedback we’ve been getting the big one is that the layout and the setup was really, really good,” he said. “So people were definitely happy that there was a big, heated tent but still had this interactive outdoor side of it by having all of the outdoor space and the food trucks and the fire barrels.”

Approximately 700 people attended Ice Jam this year. The headliner was 54-40 and local musician Madison Galloway opened the show.

If the event expands in the future Ralston said there’s room for about 1,200 people.

For tickets to Riverfest Elora visit riverfestelora.com.

March 11, 2016 - The Wellington Advertiser

It often seems to be the ones from the smaller towns have the biggest dreams.

And Madison Galloway dreams of making it big.

The 15-year-old from Fergus, Ontario – a community of under 20,000 nestled along the banks of the Grand River best known for its pastoral tranquility – is a singer, songwriter and musician who took to the Brampton Garden Square stage for the downtown Friday Night Live Spotlight concert series.

“I want music to be my job,” she said. “I want to tour.”
Music has been an important part of her life growing up.
“I’ve been playing piano since I was six and I started taking guitar lessons about three years and teaching myself other instruments,” said Galloway following her gig in front of an older but appreciative crowd.
“I love it, actually,” she said. “I love writing my own stuff. I just started writing this year and I have five of my songs on my CD.”

Galloway’s cover song selection ranged from the obvious for a young highschooler – Taylor Swift – to another Canadian singer/songwriter she probably heard through her parents’ music collection – Neil Young.

Following her show, Galloway signed a few copies of her debut CD which was, quite literally, hot of the presses.
“I actually just finished packaging them right before coming here,” she said. “I was up until six in the morning printing out and cutting up CD covers and putting them into jewel cases.”

Galloway packs up in Brampton and takes her tour crew – her parents and grandparents – to Mansfield, Ontario, just north of Orangeville, for a Saturday session at the local classic cars show.
“Anywhere there’s somewhere to play, I’ll go play,” she said.

July 3, 2015 - Mike's PhoBlography

Local 16-year-old musician, singer-songwriter Madison Galloway came first at the Western Fair District’s Rise 2 Fame Youth Talent Search in London on Sept. 18 and was awarded $1,500. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Rise 2 Fame Youth Talent Search, an annual event presented by the Western Fair District in conjunction with local fairs, festivals and events. The competition provides non-professional youth, ages 6 to 21 a chance to perform their art on a local stage. There are 18 preliminaries held during the summer in communities from Essex to Hamilton with many stops in-between. The winners of those regional competitions move forward to the finals in September at the annual Western Fair for a chance to win up $1,500. For more information and upcoming shows visit www.madisongalloway.com.

September 30, 2016 - The Wellington Advertiser

FERGUS - Nick Gush and friends with special guest Madison Galloway will be at the Fergus Grand Theatre on Nov. 20 at 8pm. The show will feature an array of local musical talent and is presented by The Grand Impresarios.

As part of this event, concert goers will get a special treat as they experience Madison Galloway starting off the evening’s entertainment. Galloway is an up and coming musician who is no stranger to Fergus crowds, playing several instruments on stage as well as singing.

The lineup also includes Janice Howie and Pam Davies showcasing their unique brands of celtic, folk and blues as they join their vocal harmonies with long-time favourite Nick Gush.

This concert is the second in a series of events being produced by The Grand Impresarios at the Fergus Grand Theatre this fall. The Grand Impresarios are members of a class in event production being offered by the theatre, and have been meeting weekly since early September learning the ins and outs of event production while working on real shows to produce as part of the course.

“I’m so proud of what the participants in this course have accomplished,” said Eric Goudie, Fergus Grand Theatre coordinator ina press release. “The Grand Impresarios have worked hard to put together a concert featuring some great local talent, and they have done so within strict limitations of time, money and other resources. I can’t wait to see Nick, Madison and all the other artists take to the stage.”

All tickets are $25, and can be purchased by phone at 519-787-1981 or online at www.fergusgrandtheatre.ca.


November 13, 2015 - The Wellington Advertiser