We had a blast in Saskatchewan attending the country music week events, playing showcases, seeing our friends, and learning a whole lot from industry folks.  

We’ve been keeping a secret... and we’re so excited we can finally share it!

On Friday, August 28, we'll be taking the stage at Music in the Fields in Lucknow, Ontario, opening for an incredible lineup featuring Finger Eleven, Matthew Good, and JJ Wilde.

This is one of the biggest festival opportunities we've had, and we're so grateful to be sharing the stage with artists we've admired for years. We can't wait to bring our music to the festival and meet so many new faces along the way.

If you're planning to be there, we'd love to see you in the crowd. Come early, sing along, and help us kick off an unforgettable day of live music.

See you in Lucknow!

Our brand-new single Good In Goodbye is coming July 31. It's the start of a new era of music for is. This is a song about being caught between craving and closure. It's honest, emotional, and one of our favourite songs we've released to date. Whether you've ever questioned a goodbye or found yourself looking back, we hope this song reminds you that healing doesn't always happen all at once.

Be sure to pre-save Good In Goodbye so it's waiting for you the moment it's released.

https://ffm.to/good-in-goodbye

Thank you for coming along on this journey with us. We can't wait to share what's next.

Rudy Blair has interviewed everyone from Shania Twain to Sam Smith … and this week he interviewed US about our nomination for Group or Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Ontario Awards, which are happening next Sunday in Port Credit. Check it out!

We’ve got some exciting news…

We have officially been named one of the TOP 20 qualifying artists in the Hot Country Breakout Artist Contest with the Route 905 Country Festival! The announcement was made live on Hot Country Mornings with Tracy Lynn, and we are honestly so grateful and excited to be part of this.

Now comes the important part: VOTING.

From now until Friday, May 29 at 11:59pm, fans can vote once per day on BOTH radio station websites. The Top 10 artists with the most votes will move on to perform at a live showcase at Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. in Dundas on Saturday June 20. The winner of that showcase gets a spot on the Route 905 Country Festival and we would love to be on that stage!

Because of the Canadian news restrictions on social media platforms, we can’t reliably share voting links on Facebook or Instagram right now — so email support means everything.

If you’d like to support us, here’s how. Visit BOTH station websites:

Vote on Hot Country 93.9 

Vote on Hot Country 88.5 

Please vote for us on EACH station (and come back once a day until May 29and do it again)! Every single vote genuinely matters in a contest like this, and having your support behind us means more than we can say.

Thank you for cheering us on, supporting independent Canadian country music, and helping us take this next step.

We appreciate you so much!
Amanda & James

We’re so excited to share that our single “Comeback” has officially reached #1 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown!

This song has meant so much to us from the very beginning. “Comeback” is the kind of song that leans into heartbreak while still letting you roll the windows down and sing at the top of your lungs. Seeing it connect with listeners in such a big way has been incredibly special.

To everyone who has streamed the song, requested it, added it to playlists, shared it online, or sung along at a live show - thank you. Independent artists truly feel every bit of support, and this milestone belongs to all of us.

Shout out to songwriters Sam Daviau, Ali Dutton, and Joey DePaiva. We share this fun moment with them. 

We’re so proud of this new chapter for Amanda & James, and we can’t wait to share more music with you soon.

— Amanda & James

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAOntario) announced the nominees for the 14th annual CMAOntario Awards and we’re nominated for Group or Duo of the Year for the second year in a row! Plus, our producer Matt Koebel is nominated for Producer of the Year for our song “Two Wrongs Don’t Make A Right.”

The awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 31, at Port Credit Memorial Arena in Mississauga. The CMAOntario Awards Show will close out the CMAOntario Festival & Awards Weekend from May 29-31, 2026. 

Tickets for the CMAOntario Awards Show go on sale Monday to the public April 6^th at 11am. 

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

Amanda and James

James Barker Band

Rosewood Avenue

School House

The Reklaws

The Western Swing Authority

RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR

Adam Newcomb – Tyler Lorette

Jay Allan, Aaron Murray – Olivia Mae Graham

Matthew Koebel – Amanda & James

Ron Lopata – Jessica Sevier

Tebey and Danick Dupelle – Tebey

The Agenda, Beverley Mahood, Mac Shepherd – Dayna Reid

Read more: https://cknx.ca/blogs/country-music-news/2026/03/sully-burrows-leads-cmao-nominations/

Evoking James' track from his 2023 album, Amanda & James have landed in Mexico! But unlike the spirit of “Got Mexico'd”, which suggests that the warm tropical air, the Caribbean concoctions, and the sunshine conspire to derail productivity, we're in high gear!

You might know that we meet once or twice a week to deal with the business side of music. Well, February seems like a great time to ditch the snowy drive between Stratford and Waterloo, and replace it with comfy sandles in the Caribbean sunshine! 

We've got a packed week in Puerto Aventuras, a marina community in Mexico's Mayan Riviera. The week is chock full of live music, writing, and, of course, plotting a friendly takeover of the Canadian country music scene! (Oh, and maybe also the Mexican live music scene?).

Our first musical stop was a private poolside concert - such an incredible experience! Next up is Amanda & James live at the Nauti Burro, Puerto Aventuras' premiere live music venue, a unique open-air fast-casual bar in the heart of the commercial district.

We're also really excited to bring a somewhat scaled-back version of our “Time of My Life: The Greatest Duets in Concert” for a showcase for local music directors. Could we see a Mexican tour in 2026-27? You never know!

Some things come back in style - vinyl, bell bottoms, even the Backstreet Boys. But that relationship that finally pushed you past your limit? Leave it in the archives. Comeback is Amanda & James’ new chapter-closing, door-locking, don’t-text-me-at-3am break-up anthem about finally letting go. Powered by a playful groove, bluesy melodies, and the soaring harmonies Amanda & James are known for, Comeback celebrates moving on for good - no reunion, no revival, no Ross-and-Rachel energy here. Produced by Matt Koebel (CMAO & CCMA nominee) and mixed/mastered by Brandon Unis (7x JUNO nominee), Comeback is a fun, fierce soundtrack for anyone done with the on-again/off-again cycle. 

Comeback is available on all streaming and download platforms on February 6, 2026!

We had a blast at the CCMAs in Kelowna (what a gorgeous place!). It was so fun hanging out with our fellow country artists, connecting with industry pros, and learning a whole pile of things. Highlights: The mentor round tables at the conference, singing at the Strut Entertainment party, Music Rescues, and attending the awards show with some stellar performances. Congrats to our friends Rich DaSilva (Drummer of the Year), Chris Bray (Guitar Player of the Year), Ben Miller (Bass Player of the Year), and many others on their well-deserved awards. Shout out to Owen Riegling for winning F-150 Album of the Year - we love that album and Owen is an Ontario boy that we have loved watching rise in the industry.