advertisement
Music News

Owen Riegling Celebrates The Tragically Hip's 40th Anniversary With "Bobcaygeon" Cover

The Amazon Music Original finds the rising country star from Mildmay, Ontario taking on an Ontarian folk-rock classic.

Owen Riegling for Amazon Music

Owen Riegling for Amazon Music

Courtesy Photo

One of Canada's best-loved bands is turning 40, and rising country star Owen Riegling is celebrating with a new tribute.

The Mildmay, Ontario singer has released a cover via Amazon Music of The Tragically Hip's "Bobcaygeon," celebrating the band's 40th anniversary.


Riegling, who was named an Amazon Music Breakthrough Artist To Watch for 2024, got his start playing covers in small town Ontario bars, and "Bobcaygeon" was one of his favourites to perform. The cottage campfire classic is one of The Hip's most famous, coming from their 1999 album Phantom Power.

Alongside the song, which is exclusively available on Amazon Music, Riegling has released a behind-the-scenes video of the recording process, where Riegling also describes his own songwriting process and what he loves about The Tragically Hip.

advertisement

"I just try to write songs that are honest and true to my experiences growing up, and I think that is exactly what Gord [Downie, the late lead singer of The Tragically Hip] was doing as well, writing what he knows, and a lot of that is small town Canada, small town Ontario," Riegling says. "That's where the majority of the hardest working people in this country come from."

"Bobcaygeon" is named after the 3,500-person town of the same name, and sung from the perspective of a police officer falling in love, dreaming of quitting his job and reflecting on a white supremacist riot.

Riegling, who earlier this summer undertook a tour of Canadian small towns, will perform the cover live next week at Cavendish Festival in Prince Edward Island.

The Tragically Hip, meanwhile, have been celebrating their 40th anniversary in style this year as Record Store Day Canada ambassadors, releasing a live album of original recordings from 1993 as well as an upcoming deluxe edition of their breakthrough album, Up To Here.

advertisement

Riegling's "Bobcaygeon" is available to listen on Amazon Music.

advertisement
Owen Riegling leads CMAOntario) Awards nominations with six.
Matt Berinato

Owen Riegling leads CMAOntario) Awards nominations with six.

FYI

Music News Digest: Country Music Association of Ontario Awards Ready To Roll, Toronto Jazz Fest Names Lineup

Also this week: Jessica Sevier signs to Paquin, the Toronto Blues Society celebrates its 40th anniversary party and the return of the star-studded Dream Serenade benefit.

Awards News

The annual Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) Awards and Festival takes place in Hamilton this weekend. “’Hamilton is Home’ goes the popular local expression, and that’s just what it feels like as we return to Hamilton for the 13th annual CMAOntario Festival and Awards, to reward and celebrate the best of us,” said the organization’s chair Patrick Duffy.

Events include the industry-driven R2i TuneUp Conference, Songs and Stories: Songwriters in the Round, featuring such notables as The Redhill Valleys, Andrew Hyatt, Sacha, Nate Haller, Robyn Ottolini, The Western Swing Authority and other nominees, all performing on May 30 at the Textile Building, the Bonfire showcase plus two open stages. The weekend concludes with the grand finale, the 13th Annual CMAOntario Awards Show, at the historic The Music Hall (in New Vision United Church) on June 1.

keep readingShow less
advertisement