Seated at one of five tables inside their beloved lunch spot in Toronto’s west end, Champagne James Robertson and Gavin Gardiner are beaming. Everyone here shares the look, it’s an “if you know you know” kind of spot, and everyone here knows. It’s this feeling, this culture, this heart-and-soul-of-our-city energy that MOONRIIVR has embraced since their formation in 2023.

The universe did not have to reach far to pull together the orbits of Champagne James Robertson and Gavin Gardiner, the core of what would become MOONRIIVR. Each has played an integral and vibrant role in the Toronto music scene for the past two decades, and their range of styles, community and skills have come together in an easy and tape-echo filled fit.

Gardiner’s background in vintage and analogue recording paired with Robertson’s passion for instruments of the same era come together to define MOONRIIVR’s sound. Gavin Gardiner, of JUNO Award and Polaris Music Prize nominated indie-folk outfit The Wooden Sky and established audio engineer at All Day Coconut (Georgia Harmer, Fiver, Dan Mangan, Jason Collet), was a quick match for Robertson, whose musical collaborations with Dwayne Gretzky have redefined the sound of the Canadian music scene.

The 2023 release of their debut album, MOONRIIVR - Volume 1 quickly garnered critical acclaim and put the band on stages across Canada, the UK and Europe. Rolling Stone Magazine saying it’s “as if Buddy Holly and Chris Isaak made a record with Damien Jurado”

Unable to contain the vision found in their collaboration, MOONRIIVR has expanded their work as a production duo. Digging in and exploring new sonic territory with artists like Peter Dreams (July Talk), Reuben Bullock (Reuben and the Dark), Brandon Wolfe Scott (Yukon Blonde) and Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings).