Alberta-based Country recording artist Drew Gregory released his new EP, “One For The Road”, a stand-out 6-track collection that reflects a genuine bond to his surroundings and upbringing on his fifth-generation family farm in the heart of the Canadian Prairies.
The title track stands as the emotional core of the EP. The song beautifully captures Drew’s upbringing, milestones of life, and the inevitable changes that shape us. “It’s a tribute to the places and experiences that stay with us, no matter where we go,” Drew says. The music video for “One For The Road”, produced and edited by Codi McIvor, was filmed on Drew’s family farm and the surrounding roads he grew up on.
Known for his powerful vocals and commanding stage presence, Drew has earned multiple accolades over his career, including his most recent win of Horizon Male Artist of the Year at the 2024 Country Music Alberta Awards. He is currently nominated for several 2025 CMAB awards, including Horizon Male Artist of the Year, Fan’s Choice, Songwriter of the Year, and Horizon Single of the Year. The awards will be presented on March 2.
Drew will also be performing at Stampede City Sessions on March 22 at Webber Academy Performing Arts Centre in Calgary with Gord Bamford. Additionally, he will perform for the tenth consecutive year at Calgary Stampede, July 9-13, on the Nashville North stage.
Your EP celebrates everything from life’s defining moments to small-town nostalgia and overcoming life’s challenges. What do you hope listeners take away from this collection of songs?
It’s fun looking back on other albums and remembering where I was at for each of them. There’s a big chunk of what I was going through while writing and recording each one, and I hope that trend always continues. What I think changed slightly on this EP was really leaning into the honky-tonk side of things I’ve always loved and maybe never gone all the way on. Bobby Wills (of Willing Records) approached me almost 2 years ago with the idea that we should do something like that together and we started working on it. This was long before the resurgence of that kind of music was there, but I’m so glad some big names are bringing back that more traditional sound, and I think anyone else who is happy that sound is back will enjoy this EP
“One For The Road” is described as the emotional centerpiece of your new EP. Can you share the inspiration behind the song and what it means to you personally?
This song is incredibly close to home for me. There’s a stretch of road between our farm and my hometown that I could almost drive blindfolded. This one takes me back to being 16 and getting my first truck and just how much of life ends up happening on that road in that truck because you really have nowhere else to go. But I think it’s something everyone can connect with because wherever home is for you, we all have that feeling of pulling up in the drive after being gone for a long time. There’s a sense of calm that comes with it. If anything, ever happened to that road where something changed about it, I know it would sting, so that the direction the lyric takes to tell the story.
You said that for this EP you focused less on recording commercial songs and more on music that resonates with you personally. How do you strike a balance between contemporary country sounds and staying true to your roots?
When you’re an artist who finds songwriting an essential part of the artistry, the first album is probably about as true as it gets. Songs you just wrote in your bedroom by yourself, not sure if they would ever see the light of day, end up out in the world. Then, all the criticisms and industry experts start weighing in, sometimes maliciously and sometimes in a genuine effort to help you improve, and it can be hard to navigate that if you want success on the business side of things. But then, as you get older and find that balance between what sounds good and what connects with you, I think it’s where you can start having some real joy in this business. I feel great about everything we’ve been working on lately: commercial quality and being confident in what I want to say and do as an artist.
You’ve earned a lot of recognition in the Canadian country scene, including six Country Music Alberta awards and your fourth win for Horizon Male Artist of the Year in 2024. And you are nominated in multiple categories in 2025! How do these accomplishments influence your approach to creating new music and shaping your career moving forward?
Winning these awards is an incredible honor, but they don’t necessarily shape my creative process. If anything, they give me the confidence that the stories I’ve been sharing over the years resonate with people, which inspires me to keep doing what I love. It’s a privilege to be recognized, and it’s also an opportunity to acknowledge the talented people I collaborate with. Of course, being recognized opens doors—whether it’s working with new people or securing more performance opportunities. But when we write, we never think about winning awards. It all starts with what connects with me personally, and then we focus on how we can bring that connection to the live show and share it with the audience.
Is there a particular category that is on your bucket list to win this year?
The Fan’s choice is one I’ve always wanted to take home. I think we have some amazing fans, but we also have some incredible artists in Alberta, so there’s always been some stiff competition. I honestly just love the awards weekends for the chance to catch up with all our artist friends. We’re on the road so much it’s hard to get together, so it’s a great weekend to be able to hang out!
Country music has a strong tradition of storytelling. What’s one story from your life that you haven’t written a song about yet but would love to?
Great question! My wife and I have two boys, and now that we’re back living on the farm, I’m getting to see them grow up a lot like I did. I think it would be awesome to show that comparison. They are giving us lots of material to work with!
You’ve been performing songs from the EP on stages for a while now. Have there been any standout moments where you really felt the audience connect with these songs?
I remember being in Grande Prairie, Alberta, and performing One For The Road and reading lips from a couple right up front, just looking at each other and smiling, saying, “I love this!” Haha. Such a little moment, but those are the moments I remember. We’re known for a pretty high-energy show, so we’re used to people jumping around, laughing, and getting everyone singing along, but when you know someone is just listening to the lyrics and thinking about how the story connects to them, that’s when you know for sure you have a tune worth recording!
What do you think sets Canadian country music apart from the rest of the genre globally?
Country music has always been rooted in storytelling, but Canadian country has its own unique voice, shaped by our geography, culture, and experiences. Canada is much more diverse compared to the US in terms of being more multicultural and less of a melting pot, and I think I think we have a lot less of the “screw you if you’re different than me” kind of songs, which I’m happy about. Those songs always rub me the wrong way. Artists need to tell their stories, convey their unique experiences, and then find their audience for it. I think Canadian Country does more to bring people together than drive people apart, and the more we lean into that, the more interesting I think the music scene gets!
Who are your favourite up-and-coming Canadian country artists?
I’ve been on the Owen Riegling train since I saw him play this past summer. I met him a few years ago, and he’s a really nice guy, and his show is electric. As far as some lesser-known artists, I’m just a big fan of so many here in Alberta. Morgan Klieber, Devin Cooper, Tommy Charles, Mariya Stokes. Hailey Benedict is killing it on the national stage! I could fill up the rest of this page with names, but I’ll just say I love any artist who is being authentic. Whether I can relate to the exact story matters less to me than authenticity, and I think we have a ton of that in Canadian country right now!
What’s next for you? Are you already thinking about your next release or are you focused on bringing “One For The Road” to as many people as possible? Do you have a busy summer ahead?
Winter is always a little slower on the farm, so I’ll be recording new music almost simultaneously with the release of the EP! It’s a great opportunity for diving into the creative process. I’m confident that I have the best material I’ve ever had coming down the pipe, and I know 2025 will be a crazy busy year. I’ll be promoting the EP, playing live, and recording all at the same time! We are going to put everything we can into this release. And of course, the Country Music Alberta Awards are coming up on March 2, so that’s exciting. I’ll be performing at the Stampede City Sessions on March 22 at Webber Academy Performing Arts Centre in Calgary with Gord Bamford and also returning for five nights on the Nashville North stage at Calgary Stampede for the 10th year in a row. Festival season is right around the corner, so keep an eye on my website/socials for more dates to be announced soon.
