Sunday, September 29, 2013

John Ellison to Receive West Virgina Award

In 2009, Dundas resident and Soul legend John Ellison received the lifetime achievement award from the Hamilton Music Awards.  Now on October 3, 2013, his native city of West Virginia will bring him even more accolades.

The Some Kind of Wonderful songwriter will receive a Because of  You (Spirit of the Coal Fields) award during the 2013 Miners' Celebration.  It's given to honour the heritage of the West Virginia coal fields (Ellison was born in the mining town of Landgraff).

Congratulations

Click here for the Spectator article.



Video above courtesy of NYC Dig Deeper

Blast from the Past: John Ellison Receives Rev. John C. Holland Award 

Links: John Ellison, More John Ellison Stories

Previous (Dawn & Marra Nominated for Canadian Folk Award) - - - Next (New Pearly Jenkins CD)

Friday, September 27, 2013

Dawn and Marra Nominated for 2013 Canadian Folk Music Award

Dawn and Marrathe fabulous local folk duo, have been nominated for a 2013 Canadian Folk Music Award (Vocal Group).  The talented ladies will be up against such luminaries as the The Good Lovelies and The Wilderness of Manitoba. Good Luck!

Nominees include former Jackie Washington musical co-hort Ken Whiteley, Stephen Fearing (Blackie and the  Rodeo Kings), David Francey, Kevin Breitand Corin Raymond.

The winners will be announced on November 10, 2013 in Calgary.



Links: Dawn and Marra , More Dawn and Marra Stories,

Here is a complete list of nominees.

Vocal Group of the Year
  • Dawn and Marra
  • Good Lovelies 
  • Trent Severn 
  • Sweet Lowdown 
  • Wilderness of Manitoba
New/Emerging Artist
  • Ashley Condon 
  • Lemon Bucket Orkestra
  • Mo Kenney
  • Ten Strings And A Goat Skin
  • Trent Severn 
Pushing The Boundaries
  • Kevin Breit
  • Jaron Freeman-­Fox & The Opposite of Everything
  • New Country Rehab 
  • Orchid Ensemble 
  • Wilderness of Manitoba
English Songwriter
  • David Francey
  • Old Man Luedecke
  • Lynn Miles
  • Justin Rutledge
  • John Wort Hannam
French Songwriter
  • Chantal Archambault 
  • Louis-­Jean Cormier
  • Catherine Durand 
  • Alexis Normand 
  • Dany Placard 
Aboriginal Songwriter
  • Don Amero 
  • Diem Lafortune 
  • Nancy Mike 
  • Kristi Lane Sinclair 
  • Vince Fontaine 
World Solo Artist
  • Aviva Chernick
  • Alex Cuba
  • Lenka Lichtenberg 
  • Jorge Miguel 
  • Sora 
World Group
  • Njacko Backo & Kalimba Kalimba 
  • David Buchbinder & Odessa
  • Lemon Bucket Orkestra 
  • Jaron Freeman-­Fox & The Opposite of Everything
  • Jaffa Road 
Traditional Album
  • Long Gone Out West Blues (Pharis Romero & Jason Romero)
  • Lume, Lume (Lemon Bucket Orkestra)
  • Mosaïk (Vishtèn)
  • Seinn (Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac)
  • Tune Tramp (Erynn Marshall)
Traditional Singer
  • Natalie Edelson (The Blue Warblers)
  • Ian Bell 
  • Ken Whiteley 
  • Pharis Romero
  • Mary Jane Lamond 
Contemporary Album
  • Downpour (Lynn Miles)
  • Rise (Annabelle Chvostek)
  • So Say We All (David Francey)
  • These Wilder Things (Ruth Moody)
  • Valleyheart (Justin Rutledge)
Contemporary Singer
  • Stephen Fearing 
  • Old Man Luedecke
  • Justin Rutledge 
  • Ian Sherwood 
  • John Wort Hannam 
Instrumental Group
  • Boxcar Boys 
  • Jaron Freeman-­Fox & The Opposite of Everything
  • Gordon Grdina’s Haram 
  • Lemon Bucket Orkestra 
  • Log Drivers 
Instrumental Solo Artist
  • Stephanie Cadman 
  • Maxim Cormier
  • Chrissy Crowley
  • Rachel Davis 
  • Jorge Miguel 
Ensemble
  • Genticorum 
  • Good Lovelies
  • Mary Jane Lamond & Wendy MacIsaac
  • Corin Raymond & The Sundowners 
  • Vishtèn for Mosaïk
Solo Artist
  • Maria Dunn
  • Stephen Fearing
  • David Francey 
  • Lynn Miles 
  • John Wort 
Children’s Album
  • Helen Austin: Always Be A Unicorn
  • Funky Mamas: Pickin’ in the Garden 
  • Jennifer Gasoi: Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well
  • Madame Diva: Viva la Diva
  • Gary Rasberry: What’s the Big Idea?!
Producer
  • David Francey (David Francey: So Say We All)
  • David Travers-­Smith (Ruth Moody: These Wilder Things by Ruth Moody & Jaron Freeman-­Fox and The Opposite of Everything)
  • Jory Nash (Jory Nash: Little Pilgrim)
  • Rick Scott  (Great Gazzoon -­ A Tall Tale With Tunes & Turbulence)
  • Steve Dawson (Kelly Joe Phelps: Brother Sinner & The Whale & Jim Bynes I Hear The Wind In The Wires)
There will also be Unsung Hero and Innovator Awards

Previous (News Roundup w Pete Van Dyk, Azalea, Mike Lynch, Bob Bryden) - - - Next (John Ellison to Receive West Virginia Award)

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Exclusive Interview with Sugar Blue

Our lucky Blogger, Lou, got a once in a lifetime chance to chat with blues vet Sugar Blue.

Sugar Blue's a Grammy winning singer and harmonica virtuoso who's played with Louisiana Red, Howlin' Wolf, the Rolling Stones (that's his harp on Miss You!), Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and many others.  On top of all that, he has an amazing solo career packed with unique, amazing, rockin' blues.

He spoke about his new son, his upcoming Blues Explosion show at Hamilton Place (Sept 27), the new live double-CD and much more.

Click here to purchase tickets to this fabulous show

Here are a few choice quotes:

"We came there for a Blues Explosion. We intend to light the fuse and keep it blowing up as long as they let us!"

"At some point, I might even say that I'm a bit of a poet"

"The stuff that we're working on is very different from anything that we've done before"

The interview video is below. Click here if you can't see it.





More Rolling Stones covers/stories



More Junior Wells covers/stories

Two videos above courtesy of Melodie

Previous (Niagara Music Award Winners) - - - Next (News Roundup w Pete Van Dyk, Azalea, Mike Lynch, Bob Bryden)

Thursday, September 19, 2013

2013 Niagara Music Award Winners


Even after flooding damaged the original venue for the 6th annual Niagara Music Awards, the event couldn't be stopped.  On September 17, 2013 the Niagara music scene celebrated their best and brightest at the Seneca Queen Theatre.  Congratulations to all the winners!

Click here for the story in Niagara This Week

Here's a listing of the award recipients:


Links: Jordan Raycroft, Video courtesy of Katelyn Elizabeth




Links: Aaron BergerMore Aaron Berger StoriesVideo courtesy of Carl David Onofrio

Links: Niagara Music AwardsMore NMA Stories

Previous (Videos: Lionel Lodge@Brantford Station Gallery) - - - Next (Exclusive Interview with Sugar Blue)

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

New Shawn O'Halloran CD: Jumpin' the Gun on Mardi Gras

The Hammer meets New Orleans is the best way to describe the latest wonderful disc from local bluesman, Shawn O'Halloran.

Usually seen playing great straight-ahead blues with the Stingrays, Shawn has stepped into the spotlight with some great Cajun-infused, jazzy tunes.  There's a lotta fun, a lotta soul, and a lotta funk!

Joining this party are Paul Panchezak of Trickbag (drums), Lindsay Harnett (guitar and uke), Neil Nickafor (bass), Ed Roth (accordion, keyboards), Leo Sullivan (sax), and Wayne Krawchuck (harmony vocals).  The whole package is ably produced by Michael J. Birthelmer.

You can catch this CD at the Stingrays shows or contact Shawn through the Stingrays site.

Below is the title track from the album.



Blast from the Past: Videos-Stingrays@Coach and Lantern

Links: Stingrays, More Stingrays Stories, More CD Releases

Previous (Videos: Chuck Jackson and Blues Approved@Private Show) - - Next (Videos: Lionel Lodge@Brantford Station Gallery)

Thursday, September 12, 2013

News Roundup (CCMA's, Payne Music, John Marlatt)


Local


Canada 


World

Funny/Weird Stuff

Blasts from the Past 

Featured Videos



Video courtesy of Live from the Moonshine



Links: Gord Bamford, Video courtesy of Gord Bamford TV


Previous (Videos: Dave Jensen & Cyndi Devereux@Private Show)

Sunday, September 8, 2013

John Willett (Powerhouse, Brass Union) Passes

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of local musician, John Willett.  He passed way September 2, 2013 after a brave battle with cancer.

John played with Powerhouse, Brass Union, and other bands.  Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.

From the Powerhouse website:
"John was the driving force behind the formation of the band in the mid 80’s and was the only member to be with the band from the start to his last show earlier this year.  We will miss John’s larger-than-life stage presence and the energy he brought to the band from his great love of performing music."

From the Brass Union website:
"John is one of only a few band members to carry on with his music once the Brass Union ended.  John continued to do what he love best throughout his adult career and stayed performing regularly right up until a few months before his passing. John now joins fellow Brass Union members Dave Baylis, John Hannah, Peter Hume and Vuk Kovinich in the Brass Union alumni band up above.  He will be greatly missed by all of us."

Video below courtesy of Debi Ferguson



Blast from the Past: Phil Kott of Powerhouse passes

Links: Powerhouse, More Powerhouse Stories

Previous (Videos-Private show w/Whiskey Epiphany, Crackers, Terry Edmunds, Dave Rave) - - - Next (Videos: Dave Jensen & Cyndi Devereux@Private Show)

Monday, September 2, 2013

New Poor Angus CD: Gathering

Local band Poor Angus seem to have done the near-impossible with their 3rd CD, Gathering.  The gang have created a glorious Celtic Folk album that has many modern touches yet can still truly be called traditional.

You'll definitely hear amazing fiddle-playing and some cool bagpipes plus many other Celtic elements (especially on the instrumentals).  Powerful lyrics and a stronger singer/songwriter feel sets it apart from the average release in the genre.

This may be due to the newest member of the group (replacing the retired lead singer Scott Cameron Smith) Joel Guenther.  His background is more in the rock/blues vein.  With the addition of this talented musician, the band has started an incredible new chapter.

In fact, Something I Can't See, a tune written by Joel and included on Gathering came in fourth in the CBC Searchlight Competition.  This song is one of the highlights of the collection  - as well as a beautiful rendition of Stan Roger's Barrett's Privateers.

The veterans of the group (Andrew Bryan, Ross Griffiths, Brian LeBlanc, and DJ Moons) have done an amazing job of moving forward while still keeping their roots in the traditional.  Together, they've surely made a future for their sound.

You can check out this new direction by purchasing or downloading the album through the band's website or pick it up at their explosive live shows.

Videos below courtesy of MusicFerret




Link: Poor AngusMore Poor Angus Stories, More CD Releases

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