Nova Scotian ECMA-winning singer-songwriter’s new single appears on his upcoming EP Big Red Sky
On his new single “Makin’ Time” — out now on Bandcamp and streaming services, Aaron MacDonald offers a classic road song that also serves as a metaphor for getting the most out of what we’ve been given.
It’s the first taste of the Nova Scotian singer-songwriter’s upcoming EP Big Red Sky, which continues to build MacDonald’s reputation as one of the east coast of Canada’s most popular singer-songwriters. Based in Cape Breton, Aaron’s most recent accolades are a 2026 ECMA win for Fans’ Choice Video of the Year (“Beaches & Bands”), and multiple Music Nova Scotia Awards nominations, including Country Recording of the Year, for his 2025 EP It’s In My Blood.
Aaron is carrying that momentum forward on Big Red Sky, with its six songs drawn from long drives, hard lessons and the bright chaos of family life. Produced by Jamie Foulds at Soundpark Studios in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the EP features Aaron backed by a four-piece band that includes Foulds on keyboards along with guests, creating a sound that is equal parts folk grit and country soul. In total, Big Red Sky reaffirms Aaron’s place among a generation of songwriters from the Maritimes who understand that honest stories still cut the deepest.
“I am on a mission to record and document this life of mine through song,” Aaron says. “A few years ago, as our oldest kids started leaving home, I had a bit of a realization—I’ve written hundreds of songs over the years, but songs don’t really exist until they’re recorded. It hit me that life moves fast, and if I wanted these stories to outlive me, I had to start documenting them properly. I want my kids, grandkids, family and friends to always be able to hear the stories that made up my life. That’s really what drives me now.”
Another goal for Aaron is to reach a wider audience beyond his loyal fan base in eastern Canada that has followed him through each phase of his progression from house concerts to festivals to sold-out theatres. Big Red Sky is another big step forward in reaching that end, with each track reflecting the palpable energy of an artist hitting his stride.