jD breaks down the October 4th event. Tickets are on sale now.

As we close in on the Top 5, the conversations get heavier, funnier, and more personal. This week, jD welcomes Keith from Calgary—drummer, GetFest founder, and long-haul Hip fan—for a ride through the moments that shaped his fandom. From the spark of discovery, to sweaty live-show floors that move as one, to building something new for the community with GetFest, Keith’s stories capture the essence of what it means to belong to The Hip’s orbit.

Keith first stumbled into The Hip through a mix of MuchMusic, Columbia House roulette, and the kind of tapes that never left your Discman. Decades later, he’s still hooked—and now he’s part of the engine keeping the flame alive. As the founder of GetFest, Keith has helped create a multi-city tribute festival raising funds for cancer charities, proving that fandom can ripple outward into real impact.

What starts with one song, one show, one memory—becomes a community. Keith’s Hipstory is proof of how the band’s catalogue doesn’t just soundtrack our lives, but stitches them together with others. Whether it’s a packed bar, a festival stage, or a room full of fans swapping stories, it’s that shared electricity that keeps The Hip alive long after the amps are turned off.

• First sparks: the early singles and tapes that hooked a generation
• The magic of the live show: when the floor moves as one
• The community connection: parallels between Hip fans and Deadheads
• How GetFest grew into a cross-Canada event with charitable impact
• The records and Gord solo cuts Keith is spinning right now

Big thanks to Keith from Calgary for the laughs, the memories, and the work he’s doing to keep the spirit of The Hip alive through GetFest. We’re getting dangerously close to the Top 5—Song #5 drops next Monday. Got a Hipstory of your own? Send us a note or a voice memo—we’d love to share it on the show.

• Sunday Evening Jam (Sundays 8pm ET): News, banter, and Hip chatter with Sara J & jD
• A Celebration of The Hip for ALS (Oct 4): Live finale + online silent auction supporting ALS Society of Canada
• Discovering Downie: A curated tour through Gord’s solo catalog

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Instagram: @tthtop40

Email: tthtop40@gmail.com

Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40

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Meta Description (SEO, 160 chars):

jD and Keith from Calgary unpack discovery, live-show magic, and building community through fandom—plus how GetFest channels Hip love into real impact.

SEO Tags: Tragically Hip podcast, The Tragically Hip Top Forty Countdown, Gord Downie, Hip fandom, Canadian rock podcast, Tragically Hip fan stories, GetFest

Each and every Sunday, jD and Sara J hang out and talk about all things The Tragically Hip!

On its 36th anniversary, we revisit the raw riffs, the swagger, and the small-town grit that turned heads in 1989 and still hits hard today. It’s one of our earliest episodes, so you’ll actually hear us figuring out the format on the fly. Revisit Up to Here with us and rediscover the album that started it all.

Join jD and Greg every week as they recap the song of the week by exploring the back catalogue of the Fully & Completely episodes.

This week, jD welcomes Jeremy from Buffalo — frontman of The Strictly Hip — for a conversation that blends fandom, performance, and a lifetime spent studying Gord Downie’s words. From the band’s early days to their lasting legacy, Jeremy shares how The Hip became his passion, his career, and his way of connecting with audiences on both sides of the border.

Together, Jeremy and jD unpack what it means to live inside these songs, to carry them night after night on stage, and to explore the magic of The Hip’s catalogue from a fan’s and performer’s perspective.

Jeremy Hoyle is the lead singer of The Strictly Hip, the Buffalo-based tribute band that has been celebrating The Tragically Hip’s music for decades. With hundreds of performances under his belt — including symphonic collaborations and cross-border tours — Jeremy has built a career around keeping this music alive and vital for fans everywhere.

This episode digs into what it means to be more than a fan — to be a steward of the songs. Jeremy reflects on his first encounters with The Hip, the spark that drew him in, and how he channels Gord’s spirit in performance while still making the music his own. It’s about memory, community, and the ways we keep the band’s voice resonating long after the final encore.

A huge thanks to Jeremy from Buffalo for joining the Countdown and sharing his story. If The Tragically Hip have changed your life too, we want to hear your Hipstory. Send us a voice memo or a message — your story might make it onto a future episode.

We’ll be back next Monday with Song #6 and another unforgettable conversation with a fellow fan.

• Join the TTH Top Forty Facebook Group
• Follow us on Instagram @tthtop40
• Email us: tthtop40@gmail.com
• Website: dewvre.com/tthtop40
• YouTube: youtube.com/@dewvre1974

• Sunday Evening Jam – live every Sunday night with jD & Sara J
• The Ultimate SuperFan Search – nominations open until Aug 25!
• Tickets for A Celebration of The Hip for ALS – Oct 4, Toronto
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Meta Description (SEO):

jD is joined by Jeremy from Buffalo, lead singer of The Strictly Hip, to talk fandom, performance, and the lifelong impact of The Tragically Hip’s music on both sides of the border.

Tags: Tragically Hip podcast, Gord Downie, Canadian rock podcast, Hip fandom, The Strictly Hip, Tragically Hip tribute band, Tragically Hip countdown.

jD get's the band back together for an update on their Hip journey since that fateful summer in '93

Join Sara J and jD each and every week at 8pm for The Sunday Evening Jam.