Happy Halloween! Videos by Lindi Ortega, John & Sheila Ludgate, Tim Gibbons

Update of 2014 post

Our esteemed blogger, Lou as The Mighty Hercules! Oympiaaaa!

Click Pic for a video

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Links: Lindi Ortega, More Lindi Ortega Stories, Video above courtesy of Last Gang Records

Links: John and Sheila Ludgate, More John and Sheila Stories, Video above courtesy of saxondale2

Links: Tim Gibbons, More Tim Gibbons Stories, Video above courtesy of Tim Gibbons

Click here for more Halloween videos

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Happy Devil's Night (Videos by Fraser/Daley, Shawn Brush, Terry Gillespie)

Update of 2018 Post

Links: Fraser/Daley, More Mike Daley Stories, More Alec Fraser Stories, Video above courtesy of Brush Bass



Links: Shawn Brush, More Shawn Brush Stories, Video above courtesy of thekrookedcowboy



Links: Terry Gillespie, More Terry Gillespie Stories, Video above courtesy of Terry Gillespie

More Devil's Night Songs

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Previous (Josie Music Award Winners)

2023 Josie Music Award Winners! Including Local & Canadian Artists

On October 22, 2023 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, a number of Canadian artists were honoured at the 9th Annual Josie Music Awards. This included Fergus' own Madison Galloway The ceremony rewarded talent throughout the independent music industry around the world.

Below is a complete  winner list

Canadian Winners

• Artist (Southern Rock/Country Rock): Madison Galloway (Fergus)
  
  
  
  Links: Madison Galloway, More Madison Galloway Stories,  Video above courtesy of Madison Galloway
  
  
• Album (Folk/Americana): After All That We’ve Been Through – Medd & Shaw (BC)
• Fans Choice (Under 18) Jadyn Rylee (Toronto)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Jadyn Rylee
  
  
• Holiday Song (Single Songwriter): It’s Christmas Time Again – Andrew Frelick & Amanda Riley (Debbie Teal-Frelick) (Halifax)
• Modern Country Song (Multiple Songwriters): A Lie I Can Live With – Ryan Keown (Manitoba) (Ryan Griffin, Steve Pasch, Clay Mills) 
• Song - Rock (Single Songwriter): Long Hard Rain – Cory M Coons (Eastern Ontario)
  
  
  
  Links: Cory M Coons, Video above courtesy of Cory M Coons
  
  
• Vocalist (Modern Country - Male): Brandon Lorenzo (Alberta)

Albums

• Blues: Girl Singing The Blues – Justine Blazer
• Christian/Gospel/Inspirational: If These Boots Could Talk – Kathryn Shipley
• Country: Someone Like You – Lia Caton
• Instrumental: Chasing Horizons – Russ Hewitt
• Modern Country: Back To My Roots – Jake Bradley
• Multi-Genre: Sincerely, June – June Shelton
• Outlaw/Country Rock: Outlaw Mountain Music – Kentucky Music Mafia
• Rock: Loud & Proud – Clydeton Road

Fans Choice

• Female: Auti
• Male: Andy Davis
• Duo/Group: Kindred

Holiday Song 

• Multiple Songwriters: Who Let The Jolly In – Kezia Alford, Corey Lee Barker, Claudette King, Justine Blazer (All Performers Are Songwriters)

Modern Country Song

• Female: Not In This Heartbreak – Morgan White
• Male: Falling In Love With You – Chad Bushnell
• Two Songwriters: Worth A Shot – Trey Calloway (Trey Calloway, Aaron Pax Taylor)
• Duo/Group: Your Name – Southpaw

Song

• Bluegrass: Everyday Thing – The Goodwin Brothers
• Country/Duo/Group: A Different Kind Of Rush – Sugar and Spice
• Country (Multiple Writers): Country By Birthright – Hollis Dorian (Hollis Dorian, Wes Protich)
• Country (Single Writer): It’s All Part Of Being Southern – Caleb Kelly
• Folk/Americana: 10:43  - Jayna Jennings
• Gospel (Multiple Songwriters): The Gospel Truth – Billy Walker (Jason Cox, Kenna Turner West)
• Gospel (Single Songwriter): Revival – Ben Byers
• Instrumental: Angels On Steroids – Andrew Chervak
• Jazz/Blues: Ride That Lightning – Skylar Rogers
• Multi-Genre (Single Songwriter): Beautiful Drug – Tiffaney Nesbeth
• Multi-Genre (Multiple Songwriters): Better With You – Kamber Cain (Kamber Cain, Rich McCreedy, Kimberly Smoak)
• Outlaw: Something To Say – Trace Thompson
• Pop (Multiple Songwriters): Talk – Rags And Riches
• Pop (Single Songwriter): I Like Rain – Irene Michaels
• R&B/Soul: Love Triangle – Alyssa Ruffin
• Rock (Multiple Songwriters): Living Waters – Rusty Shipp (Rusty T Shipp, AJ Newton)
• Southern Rock/Country Rock: Blowin’ Smoke – Meg Williams
• Traditional Country (Multiple Songwriters): Flowers – Grace Scott (Grace Scott, Wes Scott)
• Traditional Country (Single Songwriter): You Could Of Had Me When I Cared – Jake Blocker

Artist

• Folk/Americana/Roots: Christina Gaudet
• Gospel/Christian/Inspirational: Leah Oduro-Kwarten
• Instrumental: Hyram Posey
• Jazz/Blues: Travis Bowlin
• Modern Country: Michelle Robinson (Female) / Danny Kensy (Male)
• Outlaw​: Michael Austin
• Pop: Grayson
• R&B/Soul: Charm
• Rock: Ronda Ray
• Traditional Country: Lee Newton (Female) / Webb Dalton (Male)
• Multi-Genre: Abbie Thomas (Female) / Taylor Hernly (Male)
• Under 18: Cara Bishop
• Concert Series: On Fire Concerts

Duo/Group

• Stace & Cassie
• Country: Lan Law
• Gospel/Christian/Inspirational: The Journeys

Entertainer

• Female: Tobi Lee
• Male: Nate Venturelli
• Duo: Malpass Brothers

EP

• Female: Impressions – Carrie Brockwell
• Male: An Adoption Story. One Journey. Three Glorious Miracles – Kitt Wakeley
• Duo/Group: Rolling Back Clouds – Midwest Thick

Group

• Bluegrass: My Brother's Keeper
• Country: Southpaw
• Country Rock/Southern Rock: The Jess Zimmerman Band
• Multi-Genre: William Lee Golden & The Goldens

Music Video

• Male: Speed Of Sand – Joe Satriani & Brian Tarquin
• Female: Dandelion – April Prevost
• JMA Alum:  Firecracker – Taylor Sanders (Female)/ Me And The Bottle – Landon Heights (Male)
• Duo/Group: Man I Miss It – Mark McKinney & Co
  

Musician

• Asta (Flute)
• Guitar: Jonathan Goodwin
• Piano/Keys: Rusty Golden

Songwriter

• Corey Lee Barker
• Personal Portfolio (Female): Hailey Newman
• Personal Portfolio (Male): John Dennie
  

Vocalist

• Bluegrass: Chase Bush (The Goodwin Brothers)
• Country: Sam Roark (Female) / Aaron Lacombe (Male)
• Country Rock/Southern Rock: Ethan Vincil
• Folk/Americana/Roots: Jayna Jennings
• Gospel/Christian/Inspirational: Reviving Dayvid
• Jazz/Blues: Stephanie Adlington
• JMA Alum Country: Jackson Snelling
• JMA Alum (Multi-Genre): Taylor Hughes
• Junior (6-12 Years Old): Blair Kudelka
• Modern Country: Tiffany Haseker (Female)
• Modern Country JMA Alum: Macy Tabor (Female) / Adam Calvert (Male)
• Multi-Genre: Danni Stefanetti
• Outlaw: Darrell Davis
• Pop: Katie Belle
• R&B/Soul: Cerissa McQueen
• Rap - 6B.Low
• Rock: Keely Brennan
• Traditional Country: Tina Patterson-White (Female) / Jackson Truluck (Male)
• Young Adult (13-17 Years Old): Cormac Thompson

Various

• Humanitarian: Jimmy Wayne
• Independent Country Music Hall of Fame: Bobby Mackey
• JMA Performance of 2022: Lacy J. Dalton
• Lifetime Career Achievement: Deborah Allen
• Live Performance Video Production: Overtones Live
• Management Company: Three13 Management
• ​Media Company: H.D. Ainsworth Morning show/ KBEF Radio
• Music Businesses/Organizations: The Song Shack – Independent Songwriting & Music Business School
• ​Music Producer: Julian Sundby
• Performance In A Music Video: Nunuthurman – Toxic Love (Female) / Barney “Fife” Woods – Cruising Through A Small Town (Male)
• ​Personal Artist Management: Katav’allo Entertainment
• Photographer​: Luciano J. Bilotti Photography
• ​PR/Promotion Company: Wayne PR
• ​Record Label: MTS Records
• Rising Star: Jenna Jane (Female) / Brad Morgan (Male)
• Rock Group: The Almas
• Social Impact Song: Spread Hope Send Love Around The World – Amy McAllister & Friends (Suicide Prevention And Awareness)
• Social Impact Video: MOH – Blackbird Anthem (Honoring Veterans)
• Stage Entertainment​: The Chicago Hitmen (Rocking the House for St. Jude 2023 Band)
• Tribute Artist: Lisa McClowry – Cher (Beat Goes On Show)
• Tribute Band: Ocean’s Rat Pack – Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., & Frank Sinatra
• Venue: The Coyote Store
• Video Production: Torrent Cinemas
• Vocal Event: Angel Without Wings – Jimmy Parker & Rita Faye Tanner
• World Artist: Prana Kishore – Multiple Languages

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Happy 'Punk for a Day' Day! Videos by Adelleda, Go Ogopogo, The Squids

Links: Adelleda, Video above courtesy of Adelleda Punk

 

Links: Go Ogopogo, Video above courtesy of Go Ogopogo - Topic

Links: Video above courtesy of Punks And Rockers

Links: More Punk Stories, More Punk Day Videos

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2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominees

Highlights from the news release: 

October 17, 2023 – Ottawa, ON -  The Canadian Folk Music Awards celebrates its 19th edition, with a roster of nominations that celebrates the breadth and depth of Canadian folk music in all its forms. This year’s nominees span the country from coast to coast to coast.  A new record of submissions, we are happy to announce a total of 110 nominees spanning over 20 categories — celebrating the diversity and talent of artists and musicians across Canada.

Established by Canada’s vibrant and internationally-recognized folk music community, CFMA nominees are chosen for each category through a two-stage jury process. More than 100 jurors, located across Canada, representing all provinces, territories and in both official languages, help determine the official recipients in each category. “Every year, the CFMA Nominee Announcement is an important moment for Canada’s folk music community to take note of the outstanding work done over the past year and celebrate the outstanding talent our country has to offer” explains CFMA president Graham Lindsey. “We are proud of the diversity of the nominated recordings, and it is a true testament to what our country’s musicians have to offer”.

The CFMA 2024 Awards Weekend takes place April 4th to the 7th, 2024, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The weekend will capture the true heart of our folk community, while celebrating the nominees and the category recipients.

Here is the nominee announcement

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories, Video above courtesy of prixfolkawards

Below is a complete list of nominees. Local acts are bolded.

*Signed to Waterdown's True North Records

Children’s Album of the Year

• Mr Ben (Hamilton) - Here Comes the Train
• The Relative Minors (Cambridge) - Minor Third
• Ginalina - Going Back: Remembered and Remixed Family Folk Songs
• Darrelle London - Primary
• The Swinging Belles - Welcome to the Flea Circus

Contemporary Album of the Year

• Terra Spencer & Ben Caplan (Hamilton) - Old News
  
  
  
  Links: Terra Spencer, More Terra Spencer Stories, Ben Caplan, More Ben Caplan Stories, Video above courtesy of Terra Spencer - Topic
  
  
• Jill Barber (Hamilton) - Homemaker
  
  
  
  Links: Jill Barber, More Jill Barber Music, Video above courtesy of Jill Barber
  
  
• Lynn Miles - TumbleWeedyWorld*
• The East Pointers - House of Dreams
• William Prince - Stand in the Joy
• NQ Arbuckle - Love Songs For The Long Game
• Tami Neilson - Kingmaker
• The Sadies - Colder Streams

Contemporary Singer of the Year

• Terra Spencer & Ben Caplan (Hamilton) - Old News
• Suzie Vinnick (Vineland) - Fall Back Home
  
  
  
  Links: Suzie Vinnick, More Suzie Vinnick Stories, Video above courtesy of Suzie Vinnick - Topic
  
  
• Julian Taylor - Beyond The Reservoir
• Kaeley Jade - Turpentine
• Joe Nolan - Lost Verses

English Songwriter(s) of the Year

• Whitehorse (Hamilton)- I'm Not Crying, You're Crying
  
  
  
  Links: Whitehorse, More Whitehorse Stories, Video above courtesy of Whitehorse
  
  
• The East Pointers - House of Dreams
• Jacob Brodovsky - I Love You and I'm Sorry
• Dave Gunning - The Same Storm
• Noah Derksen - Sanctity of Silence
• Noah Zacharin - Points of Light

Ensemble of the Year

• Whitehorse (Hamilton)- I'm Not Crying, You're Crying
• The East Pointers - House of Dreams
• Genticorum - Au coeur de l'aube
• The Bombadils - Dear Friend
• Jackson Hollow - Roses

Producer(s) of the Year

• Jill Barber (Hamilton) and Erik P. H. Nielsen - Jill Barber: Homemaker
• Jeremy Ledbetter - Seré Libre (Eliana Cuevas with the Angel Falls Orchestra)
• Steve Dawson - Eyes Closed, Dreaming (Steve Dawson)
• Kaitlin Milroy, Alex Millaire, Charles Fairfield, Olivier Fairfield - Salt (Moonfruits)
• Drew Jurecka and Dan Rosenberg - Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango (Payadora Tango Ensemble)

Traditional Album of the Year

• Meredith Moon - Constellations*
• The Bookends with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra - A Celtic Celebration
• Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira - All It Brings
• Mary Beth Carty - Crossing the Causeway
• La Déferlance - Le feu aux poudres

French Songwriter(s) of the Year

• Catherine Durand - La maison orpheline
• Veranda - Là-bas
• Marie-Ève Laure - Reviens
• Dans l'Shed - La nouvelle saison
• Aleksi Campagne - For The Giving / Sans rien donner

Global Roots Album of the Year

• Sophie Lukacs - Bamako
• Tarek Ghriri - Refugee in the Sea
• Roberto López - Ritual
• Taraf Syriana - Taraf Syriana
• Empress Nyiringango - Ubuntu

Indigenous Songwriter(s) of the Year

• Willows - Maison vent
• Kaeley Jade - Turpentine
• Cynthia Hamar - Joint & Marrow
• Qattuu - Midnight Sun
• Kyle McKearney - A Traveler's Lament

Instrumental Composer(s) of the Year

• Queen Kong - Fray
• Steve Dawson - Phantom Threshold
• Vinta - Beacons
• Don Ross - Water
• Dario Montanino - Rio Lyon

Instrumental Group of the Year

• Queen Kong - Fray
• Vinta - Beacons
• So Long Seven - only elephants know her name
• Archetype Trad - Explorer
• Medusa - Medusa

Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year

• Paul Pike - Echoes Of Our Ancestors
• Steve Dawson - Phantom Threshold
• Don Ross - Water
• Troy McLaggan - Wood, Steel & Bones
• Joy Lapps - Girl In The Yard
• Aaron Collis - Before Daylight in the Morning

New/Emerging Artist(s) of the Year

• Moonfruits - Salt
• Mia Kelly - Garden Through the War
• Kaeley Jade - Turpentine
• La Déferlance - Le feu aux poudres
• Steven Taetz - Late Bloom
• Youngtree & The Blooms - Youngtree and The Blooms

Oliver Schroer Pushing the Boundaries Award

• Al Qahwa - Weyn Allah
• De Lònga - Codex XXI
• So Long Seven - only elephants know her name
• Kuné - Universal Echoes
• Kyle McKearney - A Traveler's Lament

Single of the Year

• Delaney's Dad (Moira & Claire)
• Have You Seen My Sister? (Aruna and the Sirens + guests) 
• In 40 Years (Barbra Lica)
• Light Under The Door (Zaac Pick)
• Seeds (Julian Taylor)
• Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming (The Bombadils)
• When You Miss Someone (William Prince)
• Worth The Time (Big Little Lions)

Solo Artist of the Year

• Julian Taylor - Beyond The Reservoir
• Dave Gunning - The Same Storm
• Barbra Lica - Imposter Syndrome
• Julie Title - After the Sun
• William Prince - Stand in the Joy

Traditional Singer of the Year

• Mary Beth Carty - Crossing the Causeway
• François-Félix Roy - Peines perdues
• La Yeni - Yarrow Under the Moon
• Hannah Shira Naiman - The Wheels Won't Go
• Jackson Hollow - Roses

Vocal Group of the Year

• Musique à bouches - Il est grand temps
• Big Little Lions - AMPM
• The Bombadils - Dear Friend
• Twin Flames - Twin Flames Unplugged Live
• Basset - In the Clay

Young Performer(s) of the Year

• Abigale - Different Roads
• Mia Kelly - Garden Through the War
• Paige Penney - Game Changer
• La famille LeBlanc - Perdrais-je mon temps...Would I be losing my time...
• Fiddelium - Lit Up
• Irish Millie - The Trilogy

Links: CFMA, More CFMA Stories

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2023 St. Catharines Arts Awards Nominees

The 2023 St. Catharines Arts Awards nominees were recently unveiled. Winners will be announced at a wonderful ceremony at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (Robertson Theatre) on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

Below is a complete list.

Click here for the winners

Arts in Education Award

• Alice Burke (dance)

Emerging Artist Award

• Ren Foster (digital art)
• Jennifer Lynn (musician)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Jennifer Lynn - Topic
  
  
• Vik Mudge (dance)

Established Artist Award

• Sandy Middleton (photography)
• Eva Tihanyi (writer, poet)
• Jamie Williams (actor, playwright)

Making A Difference Award

• Avanti Chamber Singers (choir)
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Avanti Chamber Singers
  
  
• Todd Green - Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation (choir program)
• The Holi Festival of Colour
• Jenn Judson (multiple art collectives)
• Matter of Black (not-for-profit organization)
• PK Hummingbird Steel Orchestra
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of Lois Friesen-Smith
  
  
• ROUTINE EXPLOITS (art/music label)

More St. Catharines Arts Awards Stories

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Previous (Friday the 13th Videos) - - - Next (2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards Nominees)

Happy Friday the 13th! Videos by Flamboro Guns, Downchild, Harrison Kennedy

Update of 2019 post

Links: Flamboro Guns, More Albert King Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Jim Utton



Links: Downchild Blues Band, More Downchild Stories, Video above courtesy of Gus Far Blues



Links: Video above courtesy of Harrison Kennedy - Topic

Click here for more Friday the 13th videos

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Happy Hug a Bassist Day! Videos of Gary Kendall

Links: Dwayne LaForme, More Dwayne LaForme Stories, Video above courtesy of Vee’s Music

Links: Jay Douglas, Video above courtesy of jimcasson

Links: The Mighty Duck Blues Band, More MDBB Stories, Video above courtesy of KendallWallBand

Links: Gary Kendall, More Gary Kendall Stories, More Bassist Day Posts

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Happy Hug a Drummer Day featuring Claude Des Roches

Links: Shakers, More Shakers Stories, Video above courtesy of surferjpc

Links: The Lowdown Dirty Mojos, More Mojos Stories, Video above courtesy of Lowdown Dirty Mojos - Topic

Links: Tim Gibbons, More Tim Gibbons Stories, Video above courtesy of Tim Gibbons

More Drummer Day Videos

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Happy Thanksgiving! Videos by Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, The Marigolds, Maple Blues Band

Links: Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, More Kenny "Blues Boss" Stories, Video above courtesy of Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne - Topic

Links: The Marigolds, Video above courtesy of The Marigolds - Topic

Links: Maple Blues Band, More Maple Blues Band Stories, Video above courtesy of The Maple Blues Band - Topic

More Thanksgiving Videos

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Kids Music Day! Videos by Mr. Ben, TURKEY Rhubarb & Erick Traplin

Links: Mr. Ben, More Mr Ben Stories, Video above courtesy of MrBensMusic

Links: TURKEY Rhibarb, Video above courtesy of TurkeyRhubarb

Links: Erick Traplin, Video above courtesy of Erick Traplin - Topic

Click here for more Kids Music Day videos

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Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Turns 50 + Local Covers

Today (October 5, 2023) Elton John's classic album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road turns 50 years old.

Trivia:

• Release date: October 5, 1973 on DJM Records
• Produced by Gus Dudgeon
• It was a double LP
• Sold more than 20 million copies worldwide

Below are a few local covers of songs from the album.

Links: Rick Prinsthal, More Rick Prinsthal Stories, Video above courtesy of David Crossley

Links: Jim Witter, More Jim Witter Stories, Video above courtesy of Schauer Arts Center

And now a song from Elton himself.

Links: Elton John, More Elton John Stories/Covers, Video above courtesy of Elton John, More 50th Anniversary Albums

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Happy Toot Your Flute Day featuring videos by Erin Moffat

Update of 2020 Post 

Links: Erin Moffat, Videos above courtesy of Erin Moffat, More Flute Day Videos

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