Bringing together nine of Alberta’s most accomplished musicians into a powerhouse ensemble that effortlessly blends blues, soul, funk, and roots music with exceptional musicianship and undeniable chemistry, JUNO-nominated group Secondhand Dreamcar has rapidly emerged as one of the country’s most compelling live bands. Fronted by Dana Wylie, the Edmonton collective has earned a reputation for delivering exhilarating performances built around electrifying musicianship, infectious grooves, and a deep reverence for the traditions of classic American soul and blues. Beyond recognition in the music industry, media across Canada quickly took notice, with the group receiving features nationally across CBC Radio, on Jazz FM, in Range Magazine, The Edmonton Journal, and on Global News and CityNews Edmonton. Drawing comparisons to the harmony-rich soul-rock of Three Dog Night, the expansive musicianship of Tedeschi Trucks Band, and the timeless spirit of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Secondhand Dreamcar balances technical sophistication with lyrical authenticity and an unmistakably modern perspective. A combination that earned the band widespread praise from audiences and media alike, journalist Peter North called them “the most exciting thing to come out of the city since k.d. lang and the Reclines,” while CKUA has become one of the group’s strongest champions, helping propel their debut album, Answer the Call, to No. 6 on the station’s Top 100 Albums of 2024. Secondhand Dreamcar earned their first ever JUNO nomination the following year for that same album, Answer The Call, in the Blues Album of the Year category, where they were both the only fully independent act and the only first-time nominee, and later received three 2026 Canadian Blues Music Award nominations, in addition to a 2026 Western Canadian Music Award nomination. Following sold-out shows and standout performances at major festivals including the Edmonton Folk Festival and Calgary Blues Festival, the group has announced their sophomore album, Get Ready, set for release in September 2026, with a brand new single titled “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby”.
Bursting with the band’s signature blend of soulful vocals, driving rhythms, vibrant horn arrangements, and joyful, positive energy, “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby” offers an irresistible, Rock ‘N’ Roll introduction to a record that further showcases the collective’s evolution while remaining rooted in the timeless sounds that have made them one of Canada’s most exciting independent bands. “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby” will be released on Friday, July 31 2026.
About “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby”:
A song that encourages listeners to step outside the noise and embrace the present moment, Secondhand Dreamcar’s “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby” is a vibrant and soulful, vintage Rock ‘N’ Roll ode to the idea that letting go of worries might be the best way to begin to solve them. Driven by an ascending groove and the group’s undeniable chemistry, their latest single maintains the spark, spontaneity, and chemistry that defines their sold-out live performances by being captured almost completely live off the floor. Starting as a deceptively simple composition that grew with each instrument, “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby” blends the band’s biggest influences, from the swagger of classic Rock ‘N’ Roll and the deep pocket of vintage R&B to the soulful grit of Blues and the infectious groove of Funk, into a retro yet modern, intricate sound that is unmistakably Secondhand Dreamcar. Anchored by Dana Wylie’s warm, commanding vocal performance and lifted by jubilant horn arrangements and an irresistible rhythmic pulse, the song radiates the kind of joyful energy that can only come from nine seasoned musicians creating together in real time. From a group recognized early in their career for their exceptional musicianship and uplifting, positive messaging, “Take Your Mind Off It, Baby” continues Secondhand Dreamcar’s encouraging nature and musical excellence by offering listeners a vibrant reminder that worry isn’t a solution.
Quote: “It’s easy to feel like problems are never going to get solved unless you rope them and wrestle them to the ground like ornery cattle. And certainly, some problems have straightforward solutions. But the ones that don’t are asking you to slow down, ease up, admit you just don’t know, and open yourself up to a deeper wisdom that comes from outside of yourself. That’s when problems magically transform into gifts, into lessons. Call us oddballs, but for us, it doesn’t get more rock and roll than that.” – Secondhand Dreamcar
Upcoming Performances
July 27 2026 – Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival – Salmon Arm, BC – Tickets
August 14 2026 – Bear Creek Folk Fest 2026 – Grand Prairie, AB – Tickets
September 24 + 25 2026 – Varscona Theatre – “Get Ready” Album Release Show – Edmonton, AB Tickets
October 3 2026 – Bo’s Bar & Stage – Red Deer, AB – Tickets
October 16 2026 – Legacy Centre – Slave Lake, AB – Tickets
October 22 2026 – Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON – Tickets (with Joe Nolan)
October 23 2026 – Oxigin – Hamilton, ON – Tickets (with Joe Nolan)
October 24 2026 – Harmony Music Hall – Vandorf, ON – Tickets (with Joe Nolan)
November 7 2026 – Horizon Stage – Spruce Grove, AB – Tickets
November 21 2026 – Blues at the Bow – Bow Island, AB – Tickets
2027 Tour Dates
February 26 2027 – Edson Cultural Heritage Organization – Edson, AB – Tickets
March 3 2027 – Griffin Park School – Brooks, AB – Tickets
April 9 2027 – Arden Theatre – St. Albert, AB – Tickets
April 10 2027 – Coronation Community Center – Coronation, AB- Tickets
June 24 2027 – Maclab Centre – Leduc, AB – Tickets
Secondhand Dreamcar Biography
Secondhand Dreamcar, an explosive soul/roots/blues band based in Edmonton, is a true
superband – a consummate constellation of veterans of Canadian music who have worked on
some of the finest jazz, funk, folk, soul, and blues projects ever created in Alberta. Collectively,
they craft a distinct, funky, and lyrically-driven sound that journalist and programmer Peter North has deemed the most exciting thing to come out of the city since k.d. lang and the Reclines. One of CKUA radio’s favourite acts, Secondhand Dreamcar saw its debut album Answer The Call land at Number 6 on the station’s Top 100 albums of 2024. But the band’s true superpower is as a dynamite live act, having cut its teeth as an ensemble in a 9-month residency at Edmonton’s legendary Blues on Whyte club, and since fostering an Alberta-wide, ever-growing following of devotees who never miss a show.
The Dreamcar had a very busy 2025, selling out a two-nighter at Edmonton’s Yardbird Suite and playing a full roster of summer festivals, including the Edmonton Folk Festival and the Calgary Blues Festival. They’ve started off 2026 right, receiving three Canadian Blues Music Awards nominations and a JUNO nomination for Blues Album of the Year for Answer the Call, and just finished tracking their second album, which will be released in September of 2026.
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