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JJ and the Pillars
JJ and the Pillars is a Canadian folk-rock band from Peterborough, Ontario, and are currently based in Toronto, Ontario. The band was formed in 2013. The bands rise to fame was started by the winning of the contest The Next Big Thing hosted by the radio station 102.1 The Edge, based in Toronto. The band consists of three members: JJ Thompson, Brett Wright, and Stefan Hegerat.

History
JJ and the Pillars are originally from Peterborough, Ontario, and are now based in Toronto, Ontario. The band is made up of three best friends – JJ Thompson, Brett Wright, and Stefan Hegerat. Their first EP “Wolves” was released on August 6, 2014, and made available on iTunes on August 19, 2014. “Wolves” was recorded at Media One Studios in Toronto, and produced by Ross Hayes Citrullo, who also worked with bands like The Sheepdogs. The band started out playing at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto in 2013, and headlining The Opera House in Toronto before going on to participate in The Next Big Thing contest hosted by 102.1 The Edge.

Personal Life
Stegan Hegerat (drums) is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto jazz program, and in addition to performing with JJ and the Pillars, performs with Tia Brazda, Lisa Bozikovic, Island Years, Kite Hill, The Blue Sky Miners, Amanda Brown, Physical Graffiti, the Brandon Wall Trio, Rickshaw, and Money House.

Brett Wright (bass) currently works in graphic design and client relations at Nite Owl Creative, a company involved in graphic and web design. Wright also works as a freelance graphic designer with at his own company, Brett Wright Design. Wright also founded The Trenches Media in 2014.

The Edge Next Big Thing
In 2014, JJ and the Pillars participated in a contest hosted by the radio station 102.1 The Edge, based in Toronto. The contest was called The Next Big Thing, and the winners were to receive $35000, airplay on 102.1 The Edge, $10000 worth of gear from Long & McQuade, studio time at Metalworks Studios, the chance to work with Dine Alone Records, and the chance to open the 2014 CASBY Awards. The Next Big Thing started with 627 bands submitting entries, and over the next four months, this number was whittled down to one. The bands had to go through more than 20 interviews, a consultation with Dine Alone Records, and a final showcase to decide who the winner was. On August 22, 2014, the top six artists in the competition competed against each other at The Sound Academy in Toronto to decide the winner. JJ and the Pillars competed against Gray, Brothers of North, Coronado, The Fiscals, and Xprime. On August 26, 2014, JJ and the Pillars were announced the winners of the contest.

Sugar Beach Session
On September 23, 2014, JJ and the Pillars participated in The Edge Sugar Beach Sessions, in which they performed their single Wolves, their song Come With Me, as well as a cover of Latch by Disclosure.

CASBY Awards
JJ and the Pillars are set to perform at the 2014 CASBY Awards (Canadian Artists Selected By You) on October 23, 2014, along with the Arkells, Tokyo Police Club, Current Swell, Mounties, Dear Rouge, and others.

Band Members
JJ Thompson - Vocals, guitar, writer

Brett Wright - Bass

Stefan Hegerat - Drums

Discography
Wolves (August 6, 2014)

Songs
The Wolves (Wolves)(single)

Slip Away (Wolves)

Burning Leaves (Wolves)

Gone (Wolves)

I'm On Fire (Wolves)

The Bench (Wolves)

Come With Me (Wolves)

Single
JJ and the Pillars released their single “The Wolves” from their album Wolves in 2014, as part of the contest The Edge Presents The Next Big Thing. The Wolves has been receiving airplay from 102.1 The Edge since the contest began. As of October 9, 2014, "The Wolves" hit the Edge Top 30, coming in at number 19.

JJ and the Pillars are set to release their next single "I'm On Fire" during Indie Week in Toronto from October 15-19, 2014.

Music Videos
Prior to JJ and the Pillars winning The Next Big thing, they released a music video for their song “Slip Away” on July 12, 2014. The video for Slip Away was put together by The Trenches Media, which band member Brett Wright founded. In October of 2014, the band released their video for their single The Wolves.

Performances
JJ and the Pillars began their musical careers playing at The Horseshoe Tavern and The Opera House in Toronto.

JJ and the Pillars performed during Canadian Music Week on May 9, 2014, at Cadillac Lounge in Toronto.

JJ and the Pillars performed at Koi Music Festival on September 20, 2014, in Downtown Kitchener. They performed alongside bands like Such Gold and Wildlife.

JJ and the Pillars are set to perform during Indie Week 2014 on October 17, 2014, at The Underground Garage in Toronto, during the East Coast Showcase.