Play Your Ukulele Day! Videos by Dan Medakovic, Walk Off the Earth, Gathering Sparks

Links: Dan Medakovic, More Dan Medakovic Stories, Video above courtesy of Dan Medakovic

Links: Walk Off The Earth, More WOTE Stories, Video above courtesy of Walk Off the Earth

Links: Gathering Sparks, More Gathering Sparks Stories, Video above courtesy of Ukulele Orchestra of Toronto

More Ukulele Day Videos

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Previous (Black History Month Videos) - - - Next ('Day the Music Died" Videos)

Happy Halloween! Videos by Brock Zeman, Rob Lamothe, Gathering Sparks

Update of 2013 Post

Links: Brock Zeman, More Brock Zeman Stories, Video courtesy of  Gilmour Street Music Hall



Links: Rob Lamothe - More Rob Lamothe Stories, More Mike Daley covers/stories, Video courtesy of Scarygroove

Links: Gathering Sparks, More Gathering Sparks Stories, Video above courtesy of Gathering Sparks

Click here for more Halloween videos

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Previous (Devil's Night Videos) - - - Next (2023 Maple Blues Award Nominations)

News Roundup (1st SOCAN CEO Passes, Juno Master Class, Mary Simon, Gathering Sparks)

Jan V. Matejcek (First SOCAN CEO) Passes

Social media reaction:

Christopher Gonda (Pure Grain Audio CEO): In large, the Canadian Music Industry is what it is today thanks to Jan Matejcek's tireless work. Much of who I am and what I do is also thanks to him.

Orchestras Canada: Orchestras Canada was saddened to learn of the death of one of our founders, Jan Matejcek, on September 23. A musicologist and lawyer, he came to Canada in 1969. He believed in collective action, in the power that artists and arts organizations could wield by working together towards common goals, and helped to start such organizations as the Association of Canadian Orchestras, the Ontario Choral Federation, and SOCAN. He was also integrally involved in the Canadian Music Centre. Indeed, a mighty tree has fallen. We are grateful for his life and work.

Click here for the SOCAN story.

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News

Local

• CHCH Videos: Rob Graham, Wes Mason
• Local Artists on CBC's Best Cover Songs List
• Dan McKinnon Wins Amy Louie Grossman Scholarship
• Mighty Duck Blues Band Debut Album

Juno Master Class Winners Announced

• Ivory Hours (London)
  
  
  
  Links: Ivory Hours, Video above courtesy of Ivory Hours
  
  
• Caveboy (Montreal)
• Quake Matthews (Halifax)

World

• Thelonious Monk's 100th Birthday

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The Adventures of Trebleclef, the Music Loving Monkey

Trebleclef went to the The Gary DePodesta Celebration of Life @ Pearl Company in Hamilton

Treble with host Christopher Clause

Click here for more pictures from the event

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Featured Videos



Links: Mary Simon, More Mary Simon Stories, Video above courtesy of BOYDWILSONFILMS



Links: Gathering Sparks, More Gathering Sparks Stories, Video above courtesy of randallstaffordcook

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Previous (Local Musicians on CBC's Best Cover Songs List) - - - Next (New Hamilton Musicians' Guild Nominees)

Guelph's Jane Lewis Releases a Perfect Pop-Folk CD: Stay With Me

Guelph singer/songwriter Jane Lewis has a perfect gem on her hands with her latest album, Stay With Me.  This mainly piano-driven disc is filled with stunning musical moments.  Her gorgeous voice and elegant lyrics supply many of those.

Though primarily a folk-pop recording, Jane and her friends pepper the album with primal funky rhythms, soul and blues.  For proof, check out the stunning jazzy cover of the Beatles' Come Together and the reggae feel of Evening Come!

Her backup group includes Gathering Sparks bandmates Sam Turton (guitar) and Eve Goldberg (harmony vocals) along with Jesse Turton (bass) and Adam Bowman (drums). Special guests include Jason Fowler, Doug Wilde, Katherine Wheatley, Tannis Slimmon, Linda McLean, and the Levy Sisters.

You can pick up a physical CD from Jane's live shows or her website.  It can also be downloaded through cdbaby and iTunes.



Video above courtesy of Jane Lewis



Video above courtesy of MaySound1

Blast from the Past: Gathering Sparks Debut EP 

Links: Jane Lewis, More Jane Lewis Stories, More Releases

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Previous (New Toadhouse CD)

Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominate Many Local Artists

Musicians throughout our area were honoured with nominations from the 2014 Canadian Folk Music Awards.  Gathering, the latest CD from Hamilton's Poor Angus is up for Traditional Album of the Year.  Former Hamiltonian Matthew Barber is in the running for both Solo Artist and Contemporary Singer. Another former resident of Hammertown, Luke Doucet received a Producer nod for his work with his duo, Whitehorse.



Links: Poor Angus, More Poor Angus Stories, Video above courtesy of Larry Steeves



Links: Matthew Barber, More Matthew Barber Stories, Video above courtesy of Outside Music

Gathering Sparks, which features Guelphites Sam Turton and Jane Lewis along with Eve Goldberg from Toronto were nominated for Best Vocal Group.



Links: Gathering Sparks, More Gathering Sparks Stories, Video above courtesy of Gathering Sparks

To top things off, Matt Andersen's Weightless (an album featuring writing contributions from Hamilton's Tom Wilson and Niagara's Suzie Vinnick) is up for Best Contemporary Album.

The awards ceremony will take place November 27-29, 2014 in Ottawa.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Here is the complete list of nominees.

Traditional Album

• Poor Angus: Gathering 
• Moustafa Kouyaté and Romain Malagnoux: Les frontières imaginaires 
• The High Bar Gang: Lost and Undone: A Gospel Bluegrass Companion 
• Sarah Jane Scouten: The Cape

Solo Artist 

• Matthew Barber
• Shari Ulrich
• James Keelaghan
• Lennie Gallant
• Del Barber

Contemporary Singer

• Matthew Barber
• Jadea Kelly
• James Keelaghan
• Del Barber
• Matt Andersen

Producer

• Marc Maziade: Chasse-Galerie by MAZ
• Tom Terrell and Karl Falkenham: City Ghosts by The Modern Grass
• Luke Doucet: Éphémère sans repère by Whitehorse
• The Fretless with Joby Baker: The Fretless by The Fretless
• Steve Dawson: St. Louis Times by Jim Byrnes          

Vocal Group

• Gathering Sparks
• The Fugitives
• The High Bar Gang
• The Marrieds
• Sweet Alibi

Contemporary Album

• Matt Andersen: Weightless (featuring writing by Tom Wilson and Suzie Vinnick)
• The Bros. Landreth: Let it Lie
• Colleen Rennison: See The Sky About To Rain
• Jill Zmud: Small Matters of Life and Death
• The Strumbellas: We Still Move On Dance Floors

Children’s Album

• Helen Austin: Colour It
• Rattle and Strum: Rattle and Strum
• Alex Mahé: Réveillons les bonnes chansons
• Kathy Reid-Naiman: When It’s Autumn
• Fred Penner: Where In The World

Instrumental Group

• The Andrew Collins Trio
• MAZ
• Còig
• Brishen
• The Fretless

Instrumental Solo Artist

• Maxim Cormier
• Gillian Boucher
• Steve Dawson
• Jayme Stone
• Robert Michaels

Ensemble

• The High Bar Gang
• Brishen
• Notre Dame de Grass
• The Fretless
• Ventanas

The Oliver Schroer Pushing The Boundaries Award

• Tanya Tagaq
• MAZ
• Mark Berube
• The Fretless
• West My Friend

French Songwriter

• Klô Pelgag: L’Alchimie des monstres by Klô Pelgag
• Alexandre Poulin: Le mouvement des marées by Alexandre Poulin
• Antoine Corriveau: Les Ombres Longues by Antoine Corriveau
• Julie Aubé, Viviane Roy, Katrine Noël: Mon Homesick Heart by Les Hay
• Babies

Aboriginal Songwriter

• Tanya Tagaq: Animism by Tanya Tagaq
• Vince Fontaine: Colors by Indian City
• Amanda Rheaume: Keep a Fire by Amanda Rheaume
• Buffy MacNeil and Larry Boutilier: Surrounded by Buffy and Larry
• Jasmine Netsena: Take You With Me by Jasmine Netsena

World Solo Artist

• Quique Escamilla
• Jorge Martinez
• Susan Aglukark
• Amanda Martinez
• Robert Michaels

English Songwriter

• Shari Ulrich: Everywhere I Go by Shari Ulrich
• James Keelaghan: History by James Keelaghan
• Lennie Gallant: Live Acoustic at The Carleton by Lennie Gallant
• Del Barber: Prairieography by Del Barber
• Chris Ronald: Timeline by Chris Ronald

Young Performer

• Keiffer Mclean
• Rebecca Lappa
• Quinn Bachand (Brishen)
• Kacy and Clayton
• Benjamin Rogers

Traditional Singer

• Kim Beggs
• Joël Fafard
• Mélisande
• Sarah Jane Scouten
• Tamar Ilana (Ventanas)

New/Emerging Artist

• The Bros. Landreth
• Robyn Dell’Unto
• Scott Cook
• Quinn Bachand (Brishen)
• Kacy and Clayton

World Group Artist

• MAZ
• Shtreiml
• TANGA
• Moustafa Kouyaté and Romain Malagnoux
• Brishen

Unsung Hero Award (Not announced)

Blast from the Past: The 2013 Winners

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Previous (News Roundup w Polaris Prize, Tom Finochio, Steve Goldberger, Kori Pop) - - - Next (Local Artists Win Toronto Independent Music Awards)

Gathering Sparks Debut EP

Each member of Gathering Sparks is a musical force to be reckoned with as a solo performer.  These three artists mesh well and now they've recorded that fabulous spirit.  Their debut self-titled EP is packed with rich harmonies, great musicianship and multiple instruments played with pizzaz.

This wonderful trio consists of talented Guelphites Sam Turton and Jane Lewis plus Toronto singer/songwriter extrodinaire Eve Goldberg. Together, they create an amazing organic roots-filled sound. 

In six songs, the group manages to incorporate blues, folk, gospel, swing and more. The tunes will inspire you, move you, and make you dance at the same time!

You can buy a copy of this increible CD at their online store or download it through cdbaby and iTunes.





Videos courtesy of Gathering Sparks

Links: Gathering Sparks, More Gathering Sparks Stories, More Releases 

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