The Sheepdogs

The Sheepdogs are proof that premium Southern rock need not actually come from the South. Formed in Saskatoon in 2004, The Sheepdogs already had a couple DIY releases under their thrift-store belts when, in 2011, they became the first unsigned band to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone, after winning a reader-voted indie-band competition sponsored by the magazine. That victory prompted a wide re-release of the group’s third album, Learn & Burn, which summoned the bluesy grit of vintage Allman Brothers (via Ewan Currie’s soulfully Gregg-arious vocals), but reined in the joyful jamming for more radio-friendly qualities, earning them a Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year. The Sheepdogs’ 2012 self-titled effort came outfitted with some authentic Black Keys swing courtesy of producer Patrick Carney, leading to a Top 30 showing on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and major American festival appearances.