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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween (Brock Zeman, Monster Mash, More)

Here are a few pics from last Halloween weekend




Boon (right) from Boon's House


Craig from Burnin' Ethyl

Here's a Halloween related video from Brock Zeman courtesy of Jean Off House Concerts



Links: Brock ZemanMore Brock Zeman Stories

Of course, no Halloween would be complete without this classic, courtesy of The Video Jukebox.



More of our Halloween stuff

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Ray Materick and Friends@Hamilton Folk Club (October 23, 2012)

Ray Materick (vocals, guitar), John Ludgate (guitar, harmonica), Sheila Ludgate (bass), Shelley Hastings (harmony vocals)











There was an Open Stage before his show: Click here for Part 1Click here for Part 2 (includes a Ray Materick performance)

Blast from the Past: Ray Materick@Roots N Rails Festival

Links: Ray Materick, More Ray Materick Stories

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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Steve Strongman and Harrison Kennedy Among Those Nominated for Maple Blues Awards

Two talented Hamilton players have a great chance at bringing some award hardware home. Local soul/blues legend Harrison Kennedy and  bluesman Steve Strongman have been nominated for the 16th annual Maple Blues Awards .

Strongman has the distinction of having the most (six) nominations for this year. Kennedy will be up for two awards.

The Maple Blues Awards are taking place at Koerner Hall (Toronto) on January 21, 2013. Voting  runs October 27-December 8, 2012. Click here to register to vote.

Entertainer Of The Year
  • Colin James
  • Matt Andersen
  • MonkeyJunk
  • Shakura S'Aida
  • Steve Strongman
Electric Act Of The Year
  • Anthony Gomes
  • JW-Jones
  • MonkeyJunk
  • Paul Reddick
  • Steve Strongman
Acoustic Act Of The Year
  • Harrison Kennedy
  • Michael Jerome Browne
  • Ray Bonneville
  • Steve Strongman
  • Suzie Vinnick
Male Vocalist Of The Year
  • Chuck Jackson
  • Harrison Kennedy
  • Matt Andersen
  • Paul Reddick
  • Steve Marriner
Female Vocalist Of The Year
  • Dawn Tyler Watson
  • Nanette Workman
  • Shakura S'Aida
  • Suzie Vinnick
  • Treasa Levasseur
New Artist Or Group Of The Year
  • Ben Racine
  • Boogie Patrol
  • Conor Gains Band
  • Steve Kozak
  • The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer
BB King International Artist Of The Year
  • Tedeschi Trucks Band
  • Michael Burks
  • Dr. John
  • Curtis Salgado
  • Joe Louis Walker
Recording Of The Year
  • Steve Strongman: A Natural Fact 
  • The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer: Checkered Past (Independent)
  • Shakura S'Aida: Time
  • Treasa Levasseur: Broad
  • Paul Reddick: Wishbone
Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
  • Alec Fraser
  • Michael Jerome Browne
  • Danny Brooks
  • Ellen McIlwaine
  • Joe Murphy
  • Ken Whiteley
  • Michael Fonfara
  • Stephen Barry
  • Tom Lavin
  • Matt Minglewood
  • Brent Parkin
  • Bob Walsh
  • Jim Zeller
  • Nannette Workman
  • Theresa Malenfant
  • John Dickie
Guitar Player Of The Year
  • David Gogo
  • Garrett Mason
  • Kevin Breit
  • Steve Strongman
  • Teddy Leonard (Fathead)
Harmonica Player Of The Year
  • Carlos del Junco
  • David Hoerl (The Twisters)
  • Guy BĂ©langer
  • Paul Reddick
  • Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)
Piano/Keyboard Player Of The Year
  • David Vest
  • Julian Fauth
  • Kenny "Blues Boss" WayneLance Anderson (Shakura S'Aida)
  • Michael Fonfara (Downchild)
Horn Player Of The Year
  • Al Lerman (Fathead)
  • Chris Whiteley
  • Frank Thiffault (Ben Racine)
  • Jon Wong (The 24th Street Wailers)
  • Pat Carey (Downchild)
Drummer Of The Year
  • Bucky Berger (Fathead)
  • Chris Nordquist (Jim Byrnes)
  • Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
  • Sam Harrisson (Paul Deslauriers)
  • Tom Bona (Soulstack)
Bassist Of The Year
  • Alec Fraser
  • Gary Kendall (Downchild, David Vest)
  • Omar Tunnoch (Fathead)
  • Stephen Barry
  • Terry Wilkins (Raoul and the Big Time)
Songwriter Of The Year
  • Julian Fauth
  • Paul Reddick
  • Shakura S'Aida & Donna Grantis
  • Steve Strongman
  • Treasa Levasseur 
Blues Booster of the Year
  • John Valenteyn (Toronto Blues Society)
Blast from the Past: Last Year's Maple Blues Winners


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Friday, October 26, 2012

Hamilton Music Award Nominations

 
The local music scene will be celebrating it's own on Sunday, November 18 during the Hamilton Music Awards held at the McIntyre Theatre in Mohawk College.

The nominations were recently released - here are a few highlights.  Click the album title to read our review of the CD: 

Female Artist of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Local Group of the Year by the Peoples Choice

New Artist/Group of the Year
Jazz Recording of the Year
  • Ralf Buschmeyer – JazzSpeak
  • Chantal Chamberland – Chantal Chamerland No. 5
  • Diana Panton – To Brazil With Love
  • Skip Prokop - Smoothside
  • Trio Arjento – Love Lets Go

Roots Recording of the Year
Alternative/Indie Rock Recording of the Year
  • Motem – Psychos
  • The Rest – Seesaw
  • San Sebastian – Relations
  • CA Smith – Someone You Love
  • Still Life – Page One

Folk/Traditional Recording of the Year
Rock Recording of the Year
  • Arkells – Michigan Left
  • Fat Cats – Shine Box
  • Illusion Avenue – Illusion Avenue
  • Radio Free Universe – Six
  • The Zilis – Sketches
Adult Alternative Recording of the Year

Blues Recording of the Year
Alt/Country Recording of the Year
Pop Recording of the Year
Religious Recording of the Year
  • Eric Brandon – Stories
  • Neeraj Prem and Bruce Harding – A Black and White Christmas
  • Skip Prokop – Smoothside
  • Peter Tigchelaar – More Like Lightening
ArcelorMittal Dofasco Artist Lifetime Achievement Award

Instrumental Recording of the Year
Songwriter of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Male Vocalist of the Year

Canadian Recording of the Year by Peoples Choice (Sales over 10,000 units)

Record of the Year
  • Arkells – Michigan Left
  • Lee Reed – Emergency Broadcast
  • The Rest – Seesaw
  • Tomi SwickTomi Swick
  • Whitehorse – The Fate Of The World Depends On This Kiss
Click here for the complete list of the nominees

More from the Hamilton Music Awards

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

New John Ellison Autobiography

Soul legend (and Dundas resident) John Ellison recently published Some Kind of Wonderful, his entertaining autobiography (co-written with the Spectator's Jon Wells).

His life is an intriguing, incredible story filled with pain, happiness, love, music and cherished memories.

In the book, Ellison remembers his rough early life in West Virginia, where he confronted racism, poverty and violence.

Later on, he also struggled with a blossoming music career.  That path led him to write and record (with the Soul Brothers Six) one of the most covered songs in history: Some Kind of Wonderful. 

This interesting look at the life of a local (and international) superstar is definitely worth reading.



The bio is mainly available for purchase at his website.

Below is a video interview (with a live song at the end) with the performer. Video courtesy of Cable14 Replay.




Blast from the Past: John Ellison (and others) Performing@Stewart Memorial Church

Links: John Ellison, More John Ellison Stories

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Previous (View Magazine Readers' Choice Awards) - - - Next (Hamilton Folk Club, Part 1)

Friday, October 19, 2012

View Magazine Readers' Choice Awards 2012

The readers of View Magazine have spoken and they've chosen the best Hamilton and the area have to offer.

Here are the music-related highlights below
The order goes:
Gold
Silver
Bronze (if applicable)



FREE EVENT
Festival of Friends
Supercrawl
Locke Street Festival

FESTIVAL
Festival of Friends
Greenbelt Harvest Picnic
Winona Peach Festival

RADIO STATION
102.9 K-LITE
Y108

RADIO PERSONALITY
Sunni Genesco (K-LITE)
Ric Taylor (CFMU)

INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL
Hidden Pony
Sonic Unyon

BAND
Arkells
Walk Off the Earth
Monster Truck

BAND WEBSITE
Monster Truck
Brian Melo
Jeremy Fischer

ALBUM ARTWORK
Walk Off the Earth

COOLEST INSTRUMENT TO PLAY
Guitar
Drum

RECORDING PRODUCER
Nick Bladona
Daniel Lanois

RECORDING STUDIO
Jukasa
Catherine North

REHEARSAL SPACE
Rock Parlour
Lou's Music

FEMALE ARTIST
Rita Chiarelli
Sharon Musgrave
Terra Lightfoot

MALE ARTIST
Jeremy Fischer
Matt Paxton
Luke Doucet

COVER BAND
Crimps
Practically Hip
Eggmen

BAND MOST LIKELY TO MAKE IT BIG
Skynet
Harlan Pepper

LIVE VENUE
Stonewalls
This Ain't Hollywood
Casbah

OPEN STAGE
Lazy Flamingo
Carrigan Arms

COUNTRY BAR
Wellington
Dirty Dogs
Galley Pump

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE
Long & McQuade
Mountain Music
Pongetti

NEW MUSIC STORE
HMV
Cheapies

USED MUSIC STORE
Dr. Disc
Beat Goes On

Click here for the full list.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

New Andre Bisson CD: Till the Real Thing Comes Along

If the latest CD from local guitar master Andre Bisson, Till the Real Thing Comes Along, doesn't get you movin', you better check your pulse.  This is the kinda music that's perfect for groovin' and havin' a good time.

Andre is joined by a fabulous gang of music makers, including members of his J-Tones backing band (Loretta HaleMatt BurnsBrad Cheeseman, Francis Smith) as well as Jesse O'Brien and Darcy Hepner.  Together, they bring the swing, R&B, blues, soul, and rock to the masses

To top everything off, we have some great covers, including Otis Redding's Don't Mess With Cupid and a unique, slow, bluesy take on Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name.

The disc is available at his live shows and through cdbaby, iTunes, and eMusic.

Below are two videos of song from the CD, courtesy of Andre's YouTube page.




Blast From the Past: Review of Andre's Covers CD


Links: Andre Bisson, More Andre Bisson stories

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

New Ginger St. James EP: Tease

The incredible new EP from Hamilton's own Ginger St. James is called Tease. That's quite an apt title 'cause it'll leave you wantin' more.

The CD features 4 cool tracks that are chock full of rockabilly, blues, rock, country and anything else Ginger can throw in.  It'll definitely get yer toes tappin'.

Ginger's sultry, dynamic voice is in full swing here.  Her talented band takes things into high gear as well.

The disc is available through her web site and cdbaby.

Below are two tracks from the EP, courtesy of  Ginger's YouTube Page.






Blast From the Past: Review of Ginger Previous CD

Links: Ginger St. James, More Ginger St. James Stories

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Previous (Russell DeCarle@Pine Street)

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Russell de Carle (of Prarie Oyster) and Friends@Pine Street Gardens (July 13, 2012)

Videos courtesy of Bassman0611 

Russell deCarle of Prarie Oyster (vocals, guitar), Steve  Briggs of Bebop Cowboys (guitar), Denis Keldie (accordion)







Bonus videos courtesy of Frelgon





Links: Russell deCarle

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Friday, October 5, 2012

New Jacob Moon CD: Landing 2

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his great classic CD, Landing, local singer/songwriter Jacob Moon has released Landing 2: The 10th Anniversary Concert.

Recorded at Catherine North Studios in front of a live audience, it showcases all but two tracks from the first Landing CD and a few others extras thrown in.

Rather than just perform straightforward live versions of the tunes, Jacob has offered his fans something extra special.  The songs are wonderfully reinterpreted and re-imagined.  Lucky listeners get new arrangements, tempo changes, and sometimes just little tweaks.

Along with the live show, Landing 2 boasts five new tracks: one original and four covers, including Bruce Hornsby's The Way It Is).  Whether they're old are new, the songs all contain Jacob's trademark amazing guitarwork and emotional, inspiring voice.

It is pretty much a solo affair for most of the CD but the singer/songwriter is joined by Ali Matthews (vocals) and Rick Francis (steel guitar).

The CD is available at Jacob's live shows and through his website, cdbaby, and Noisetrade (download by donation).

Below are a few performances of tracks from the disc, courtesy of Jacob Moon's YouTube Page






Blast from the Past: Review of his previous CD, Maybe Sunshine

Links: Jacob Moon, More Jacob Moon Stories

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Mark Reeves@Private Function (September 23, 2012)











Links: Mark Reeves

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