Sunday, June 29, 2014

Joel Johnson and Ghost Town Orchestra Up for Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards


Brantford band, Ghost Town Orchestra (which features singer/songwriter Logan Staats rocking it up) and Ohsweken bluesman Joel Johnson have been nominated for 2014 Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards. GTO is up for Best New Artists and best Rock CD while Joel is in the running for Best Blues CD.  Hopefully, they'll be taking home the harware on September 12, 2014 when the awards are handed out.

You can help them win by voting at this link.  Voting closes July 19, 2014.



Links: Joel Johnson, More Joel Johnson Stories, Video above courtesy of Blues Johnson



Links: Ghost Town Orchestra, More Logan Staats Stories,  Video above courtesy of Ghost Town Orchestra

Below are some highlights


Blues CD
Folk/Acoustic CD
Country CD
Fiddle CD
New Artist
Rock CD
Single
Songwriter
Aboriginal Entertainer
Click here for full listt of nominees

 Blast from the Past: Derek Miller Wins APCMA in 2012
Previous (News Roundup w Troy Harmer, Bop Cats, Blues Blast Awards, Justin Sawicki) - - - Next (New Patrick Ballantyne CD)
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Thursday, June 26, 2014

News Roundup (Troy Harmer, Blues Blast Awards, Justin Sawicki)

Mike Du Jour by Mike Lester
Local
Blues Blast Award Nominees

 Contemporary Blues Album
Traditional Blues Album
Soul Blues Album
Rock Blues Album
Acoustic Blues Album
 New Artist Debut Album
 Blues DVD Recording
 Song Of The Year
 Blues Band
 Male Blues Artist 
Female Blues Artist
Rising Star Award
World
Recently Added

Our Performer List
    Our Venue List
      Saturday, June 28
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      Wednesday, June 25, 2014

      Gathering Sparks Debut EP

      http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gatheringsparks
      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 
      Previous (Area Artists Win SOCAN Awards) - - - Next (News Roundup w Troy Harmer, Bop Cats, Blues Blast Awards, Justin Sawicki)
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      Sunday, June 22, 2014

      Many Area Artists Win 2014 SOCAN Awards

      Picture courrtesy of SOCAN
      During the 25th Anniversary SOCAN Awards, local musicians were well represented in the winners circle.  The kudos were handed out on June 16, 2014 in Toronto.

      Hamilton music veteran Ian Thomas recieved the prestigious National Achivement Award. Burlington's Walk Off the Earth and St. Catharines country star Tim Hicks continued their winning ways by earning a Pop/Rock Music Award and a Country Award respectively. Local singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards took home the Folk/Roots top prize. Congrats to everyone!




      Links: Ian Thomas, More Ian Thomas Stories , Video above courtesy of Great Tunes



      Links: Kathleen Edwards, More Kathleen Edwards Stories, , Video above courtesy of Mariposa Festival

      Highlights
      Country
      Click here for the complete list

      Previous (Local Musicians on Polaris Music Prize Long List) - - - Next (Gathering Sparks Debut EP)
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      Saturday, June 21, 2014

      Local Musicians on Polaris Music Prize Long List

      http://polarismusicprize.ca/blog/2014-polaris-music-prize-long-list-is-here/

      The Polaris Music Prize 2014 Long List has been announced and a few local musicians are in the running for the prestigious award.

      Both Guelph singer/songwriter Bry Webb and soulful Hamilton gal Jessy Lanza are nominated.  Also of note is the music project, The Kennedy Suite (featuring the Cowboy Junkies) which is in the running as well.  This CD features work by area artists such as Lee Harvey Osmond, Sarah Harmer, Harlan Pepper and Darcy Hepner. 



      Links: Bry Webb, More Bry Webb Stories, Video above courtesy of the National Post Sessions



      Links: Jessy Lanza, More Jessy Lanza Stories, Video above courtesy of HyperDub Records

      Links: Cowboy Junkies, More Cowboy Junkies Stories, Video above courtesy of the National
       

      The Short List will be announced July 15 and the prize itself will be awarded on September 22, 2014.

      Below is the complete long list.

      Bry Webb - Free Will
      Cowboy Junkies / Various - The Kennedy Suite
      Jessy Lanza - Pull My Hair Back
      BADBADNOTGOOD - III
      Basia Bulat - Tall Tall Shadow
      Mounties (w Hawksley Workman) - Thrash Rock Legacy
      The Strumbellas - We Still Move on Dance Floors
      Timber Timbre - Hot Dreams
      Chad VanGaalen - Shrink Dust
      Arcade Fire - Reflektor
      AroarA - In the Pines
      Austra - Olympia
      Philippe B - Ornithologie, la nuit
      Chromeo - White Women
      Cousins - The Halls of Wickwire
      The Darcys - Warring
      Dead Obies - Montréal $ud
      Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
      DIANA - Perpetual Surrender
      Drake - Nothing Was the Same
      Freedom Writers - NOW
      Fresh Snow - I
      Frog Eyes - Carey's Cold Spring
      Gorguts - Colored Sands
      Tim Hecker - Virgins
      Jimmy Hunt - Maladie d'amour
      Kalle Mattson - Someday, the Moon Will Be Gold
      Moonface - Julia with Blue Jeans On
      Odonis Odonis - Hard Boiled Soft Boiled
      Owen Pallett - In Conflict
      Pink Mountaintops - Get Back
      PUP - PUP
      The Sadies - Internal Sounds
      Shad - Flying Colours
      Shooting Guns - Brotherhood of the Ram
      Solids - Blame Confusion
      Rae Spoon - My Prairie Home
      Tanya Tagaq - Animism
      Thus Owls - Turning Rocks
      Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - UZU

      Blast from the Past: Whitehorse on Polaris Short List 2013
      Previous (News Roundup w Lee Baby Sims, Logan Staats, Travelling Beer Bellies, Kerosene Creek, Casey Kasem and More) - - - Next (Area Artists Win SOCAN Awards)
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      Thursday, June 19, 2014

      News Roundup (Lee Baby Sims, Travelling Beer Bellies, Casey Kasem)

      http://jam.canoe.ca/Celebrities/2014/06/15/21741991.html
      Local
      World

      Featured Video


       Links: Travelling Beer Bellies, More TBB Stories, More Pink Floyd Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Rob M
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      Wednesday, June 18, 2014

      City and Colour Awarded #1 Song Honour from SOCAN

      Picture courtesy of Socan
      St. Catharines singer/songwriter City and Colour (aka Dallas Green) recently recieved a #1 song award from SOCAN.  This amazing honour was for his very successful song, Thirst, which topped the M3 (formerly much More Music) chart in September of last year.



      Blast from the Past: City and Colour Wins 3 Indie Awards

      Links: City and Colour, More City and Colour Stories, Video above courtesy of City and Colour
      Previous (New Steve Strongman CD) - - - Next (News Roundup w Lee Baby Sims, Logan Staats, Travelling Beer Bellies, Kerosene Creek, Casey Kasem and More)
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      Sunday, June 15, 2014

      New Steve Strongman CD: Let Me Prove it to You

      https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/let-me-prove-it-to-you/id875909752
      After proving his amazing acoustic talent (and even winning a Juno last year) with the CD, A Natural Fact, Hamilton's pride and joy, Steve Strongman, has changed gears and revved up again. The bluesman's electric sound is back with the latest album, Let Me Prove it to You (through Sonic Unyon Records) and he's sounding more powerful than ever.

      If this CD doesn't get you up and dancing, you must be dead.  The band's energy is infectious and they know how to groove.  Steve and the gang throw in funk, soul, rock, a little country and more into the mix and keep it raucous!

      There some wonderful local boys backing Steve up, including Dave King, Mark McIntyre, and Jesse O'Brien.  He's also enlisted Marc Rogers, Emma-Lee, Adam Warner, Alec Fraser, and Quebec harmonica master Guy Bélanger.  Good friend Rob Szabo once again co-produced the album with the hammertown bluesman.

      If you want to get blown away by this great disc, it can be purchased through his website or downloaded using iTunes.



      Video above courtesy of Mako Funasaka



      Video above courtesy of Richard Bryan

      Blast from the Past: Steve Strongman CD - A Natural Fact

      Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman stories, More Releases
      Previous (News Roundup w Social Animals, WCMA Nominations, CMT Award Winners, Kerosene Creek, more) - - - Next (City and Colour Wins #1 Song SOCAN Award)
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      Thursday, June 12, 2014

      News Roundup (Social Animals, WCMA Nominations, CMT Winners, Kerosene Creek)

      Free Range by Bill Whitehead
      Local
      Western Canadian Music Award Nominations

      Blues Recording
      Country Recording
      Jazz Recording of the Year
      Roots Duo/Group Recording
      Roots Solo Recording
      Songwriter(s) 
      Video

      World
      Recently Added

      Our Performer List
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      Tuesday, June 10, 2014

      Ron Sexsmith Receives Honorary Degree from Brock University

      Picture courtesy of the St. Catharines Standard
      Juno Award winning St. Catharines Singer/Songwriter Ron Sexsmith was recently awarded an honourary degree from Brock University.  This was part of the graduation ceremonies on June 3, 2014.  Ron spoke to the graduates and sang as well.  CONGRATULATIONS!


      Click here for the Brock U story



      Video above courtesy of Brock University





      Above 2 videos courtesy of Ron Sexsmith

      Blast from the Past: Ron Sexsmith (and other local acts) win Junos

      Links: Ron Sexsmith, More Ron Sexsmith Stories
      Previous (Ash and Bloom Videos) - - - Next (News Roundup w Social Animals, WCMA Nominations, CMT Award Winners, Kerosene Creek, more)
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      Saturday, June 7, 2014

      Ash and Bloom You Tube Videos

      http://www.ashandbloom.com/




       More Paul Simon Covers/Stories






      More Joni Mitchell Covers/Stories




      Videos courtesy of Ash and Bloom

      Blast from the Past: Their Previous EP

      Links: Ash and Bloom,  More Ash and Bloom Stories
      Previous (Tom Wilson and Suzie Vinnick Write for Matt Anderson's CD, Weightless) - - - Next (Ron Sexsmith Receives Honourary Degree from Brock U)
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      Tom Wilson and Suzie Vinnick Co-Write for the New Matt Andersen CD: Weightless

      http://www.emusic.com/album/matt-andersen/weightless/14709225/
      New Brunswick artist Matt Andersen, enlisted quite a few co-writers for his latest album, Weightless (his first for True North Records).  He even included some local musicians to help create his wonderful CD.

      Hamilton legend Tom Wilson and Niagara's incredible Suzie Vinnick lend their songwriting talents to this amazing disc. Other co-writers include Joel Plaskett, David Myles, Dave Gunning, and Keith Mullins.

      Accompanied by Paul Rigby of the Neko Case Band (Guitar), Amy Helm (background vocals) and others, Matt shows his wonderful ability to blend genres as he masters blues, folk, rock and more.  On this CD, it's all about the tunes as he forgoes the usual guitar solos to concentrate on crafting the songs. 

      You can pick up the disc at many physical and online shops, include his own shop.  It's also available on vinyl through his official store.

      Downloads are available through eMusic and iTunes.

      Videos below courtesy of CBC Music.



      Links: Suzie Vinnick, More Suzie Vinnick Stories



      Links: Tom Wilson, More Tom Wilson Stories



      Links: Matt Andersen, More Matt Andersen stories, More Releases
      Previous (News Roundup w Red Orkestra, Tonya Horoky Cooper, Roger Marin and Herb Jeffries) - - - Next (Ash and Bloom Videos)
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      Thursday, June 5, 2014

      News Roundup (Red Orkestra, Tonya Horoky Cooper, Roger Marin, Herb Jeffries)

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhppnr5YIe4
      Click pic for video
      Local
      World
      Recently Added

      Our Performer List
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      Tuesday, June 3, 2014

      Waterdown's Ty Baynton Wins Boots and Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase

      http://bootsandhearts.com/showcase/
      Waterdown Country artist Ty Baynton received more than 50,000 votes to help him win the Boots and Hearts Emerging Artists Showcase.  Congratulations!

      The talented local boy won a spot on the popular Boots and Hearts Music Festival in Bowmanville (opening for Hunter Hayes on the main stage).  On top of that, there's a week in Nashville and a single release from Big Machine Label Group.

      The excited Ty wrote about it on his website:

      The Boots & Hearts Emerging Artist Showcase voting has come to an end and we finished first. I received over 50,000 votes during the three week event and I can’t thank you enough for all the love, support, and dedication you have shown me. Special thanks goes out to the Waterdown Memories Facebook Page, The Burlington Fire Department, everyone at Waterdown District High School, and my cousin, Jonathan, for single handedly getting the majority of my West coast votes.

      Congratulations to my fellow finalists, I can’t wait to meet with you all in person at Boots & Hearts later this year. Finally, thank you to everyone at Boots & Hearts and Sirius XM for this amazing opportunity.

      Cheers,
      Ty




      Video above courtesy of Boots and Hearts Music Festival





      2 videos above courtesy of Ty Baynton

      Links: Ty Baynton, More Ty Baynton Stories 
      Previous (Hamilton Arts Awards Winners) - - - Next (News Roundup w Red Orkestra, Tonya Horoky Cooper, Roger Marin and Herb Jeffries)
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