Tupelo Honey (band)

Tupelo Honey
Company type	Independent
Industry	Music
Founded	February 2003; 23 years ago
Headquarters	Toronto, Canada
Products	Music recordings, live performances
Website	www.tupelohoney.ca

Tupelo Honey was a rock ensemble originating from St. Albert, Alberta, Canada, established in February 2003. Throughout their career, they shared stages with prominent artists such as Bon Jovi, Default, Theory of a Deadman, Bif Naked, Three Days Grace, Thornley, The Trews, Billy Talent, and Sam Roberts.

Origins

The group members connected while attending Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, where they studied music. Prior to forming Tupelo Honey, each member had diverse musical backgrounds: Tyler Dianocky performed in a world music instrumental ensemble; Dan Davidson was active in indie and punk rock scenes; Matt Landry participated in various rock outfits; and Greg Williamson along with Steve Vincent played together in a jazz-influenced cover band. This varied experience contributed to the band’s eclectic sound, which ranged from hard rock to more moderate acoustic tempos.

Initially, Dianocky (guitar), Davidson (guitar), Williamson (drums), and Vincent (bass) performed folk music for paid gigs before recruiting Landry (vocals) through shared contacts. This folk direction diverged from their preferred rock genre.

The name Tupelo Honey—inspired by Matt Landry’s father’s favorite Van Morrison track—was adopted to enter a music competition. Although intended as a temporary moniker, the band retained it after winning the contest and cultivating a following under that title.

Self-titled EP and September Sessions EP (2003–2007)

Tupelo Honey’s first performance took place at Stage 13 in Camrose, Alberta, where they played before an audience exceeding 5,000 as the opening act for Our Lady Peace. By July 2007, they had opened for Bon Jovi before crowds of over 13,000 at Edmonton’s Rexall Place and Calgary’s Saddledome.

In 2005, the band claimed victory in the Xtreme Bandslam Competition at Canadian Music Week, which awarded them 30 hours of recording time at Metalworks Studios along with a $5,000 National Radio Promotion package. The following year, their track "Screaming" earned them the regional title in the Canadian Radio Star National Songwriting Competition.

Machines and Robots EP (2008–present)

The Machines and Robots EP was released on April 15, 2008, showcasing the band’s incorporation of technology into their production process; guitarist Dan Davidson recorded parts remotely from his home studio. The EP was produced by Jeff Dalziel—recognized for his work with Thornley and Edwin—who also co-wrote the second single "We Are." Additionally, Tupelo Honey contributed session performances on Canadian Idol winner Brian Melo’s debut album Livin' It.

The lead single "Morphine" was accompanied by a graphic-novel inspired video created by Vancouver-based Blatant Films, which received the "Best Music Video" award at the 2008 Leo Awards, honoring excellence within British Columbia's film industry. The subsequent video for "Not Alone," also produced by Blatant Films, garnered a nomination for "Best Video" at the same event.

In 2010, vocalist Matt Landry left to embark on a solo career, prompting Dan Davidson to step up from backing vocals to lead singer. Despite efforts to sustain their presence—including touring with Econoline Crush and bringing guitarist Brad Simons into the lineup—the group found it challenging to replicate Landry’s vocal style. They returned to the studio to record their first full-length album and released the single "Best I Could."

From 2015 onward, Tupelo Honey has remained largely dormant following Dan Davidson’s successful emergence as a solo country artist.

Exposure

Tupelo Honey has attained recognition through notable radio broadcasts, such as Humber College's well-regarded 'Unsigned' program on 96-9 FM. Additionally, in 2008, they appeared in a short documentary created by Crystal Perin.

Musical approach

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Tupelo Honey develops and records their original songs through a collaborative process. Rather than relying on a single primary songwriter, the band divides into smaller writing teams before collectively polishing the compositions.

Although they have received several offers from record labels, Tupelo Honey chooses to operate as an independent band. This status restricts their presence on commercial radio but grants them greater freedom in how and when they release music. Their independence aligns with their approach of frequently launching EPs, reducing the interval between releases and emphasizing quality content to maintain fan engagement.

Their annual routine typically includes recording sessions in September, promotional activities during winter months, followed by touring throughout spring and summer. This cycle allows them to efficiently coordinate new releases alongside live performances.

Albums

Tupelo Honey EP (Released November 1, 2006)
September Sessions EP (Released April 2, 2007)
Machines & Robots EP (Released April 8, 2008)
Caught Up in the Excess LP (Released March 8, 2011)

Singles

Year	Song	Chart peak	Album
2011	"Pull Me Closer"	35	Caught Up in the Excess
2012	"Last Thing"	32	Caught Up in the Excess
"—" indicates a release that did not chart.

Music videos

Year	Title	Director	Producer
2005	"Why I Bother"	Chris Halmo	Mike Maxxis
2007	"Make Me Believe"	Jeff Dalziel/Dan Davidson	Jeff Dalziel
2008	"Morphine"	Jon Busby	Blatant Films Inc.
2009	"Not Alone"	Jon Busby	Blatant Films Inc.
2011	"Falling"	Jeremy Brown	Rattlesnake Films

External links