2014 | Breakthrough Group of the Year (Sponsored by FACTOR and Radio Starmaker Fund) | July Talk | | The JUNO Awards

Upon returning home from a final European tour with his band, Peter Dreimanis sat in a candlelit bar paying little attention to the beat-up acoustic guitar being passed from patron to patron; that was until it found its home in the hands of Leah Fay. He sat listening, dumfounded, realizing he'd met his match. Clearheaded the next day, he started his search for the stranger from the bar with whom he seemingly shared a soul. He found her; they founded July Talk. After linking up with Ian Docherty, Josh Warburton and Danny Miles, the band created a signature sound that is not easy to pigeonhole. Imagine Tom Waits and Amy Millan shouting whiskey-soaked lullabies while backed by the members of Crazy Horse and you'd have a good start. Striking a frenzied balance between Americana and dance-floor-filling indie-rock, July Talk?s Beauty and the Beast aesthetic burns a little going down, but is sure to warm your belly and have you coming back for more.