Happy Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day! Videos by Walk Off the Earth

Links: Scott Hellman, More Weeknd Stories/Covers

More Adele Covers/Stories

Links: Walk Off The Earth, More WOTE Stories, Videos above courtesy of Walk off the Earth, More Uncommon Instrument Videos

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CONGRATS! Hamilton/Dunville's Rob Lamothe on Powerplay Magazine's Top Singers List

Former Hamiltonian and current Dunnville resident, Rob Lamothe got some well-deserved national recognition recently. UK rock mag Powerplay included the talented singer/songwriter him in their 'Top 50 Favourite Singers List' in the August 2021 issue. He was number 23. CONGRATS!

Here's what the magazine had to say: 

"As frontman for The Riverdogs, Rob was at the helm of one of the most overlooked debut albums in rock music history. I got to see The Riverdogs (long after the debut came and went) when they ventured over to the UK in support of their wonderful ‘Bone’ record, recalls Mike Gaffney.

Lamothe was in spectacular form that night (and every night I’ve seen him since), and his voice, rather than diminish, just gets better as the years go by. He has an extensive collection of solo records too, each of which is a must-listen (everyone should own a copy of his debut solo album ‘Gravity’)."

Links: Riverdogs, Video above courtesy of kucukdede

Links: Rob Lamothe, More Rob Lamothe Stories, Video above courtesy of pejoha

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Take An Incredible Musical Journey with Waterloo's Craig Cardiff

Both musically and lyrically, All This Time Running, the latest incredible album from Waterloo's Craig Cardiff is a journey. With songs like Wyoming, Moon, Greyhound SK, Yellowknife and more, Craig and his friends take you on a trip and weave captivating stories with every tune.

Released by Waterdown's True North Records, the recording proclaims Craig's songwriting skills and  stunning vocals. There are little bits of folk, country, Jazz and more scattered along the musical route.

You can get this fabulous collection through labelstore.ca, his Bandcamp page, iTunes, spotify, and many other shops.

The album can be streamed below:

Links: Craig Cardiff, More Craig Cardiff Stories, More Releases

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2021 Polaris Short List (including Hamilton's Zoon)

The Polaris Prize Shortlist was unveiled on July 15, 2021and talented Hamilton musician Zoon made the cut. a date hasn't been set yet for the grand prize.

We will post the Short List ceremony video here when it become available.

Complete list (local artists are bolded)

• Zoon (Hamilton) – Bleached Wavves
  
  
  
  Links: Zoon, Video above courtesy of Paper Bag Records
  
  
• Cadence Weapon – Parallel World
• DijahSB – Head Above The Waters
• Dominique Fils-Aimé – Three Little Words
• Klô Pelgag – Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
• Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Theory of Ice
• Mustafa – When Smoke Rises
• The OBGMs – The Ends
• The Weather Station – Ignorance
• TOBi – ELEMENTS Vol. 1

Click here to see the winner

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories

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In-Person Live Music is Back! Videos by Chris Chambers, John Ladds, Cameron & Cameron

Now that Ontario is in Stage 2 of it re-opening plan, in-person live music has returned to the province.

Here's just a sample of the musicians who are back to performing at venues (with hopefully more to come).

Click here for our live music listings.

Click here for his upcoming shows

Links: Chris Chambers, More Chris Chambers Stories, Video above courtesy of Chris Chambers - Topic

Check his Twitter page for gigs

Links: John Ladds, More Beatles Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of John Ladds

Check out their Facebook page for events

Links: Cameron & Cameron, More Cameron Stories, Video above courtesy of Bobby Cameron

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GOOD LUCK! 2021 Polaris Music Prize Long List (incl local artists)

From the Polaris Music Prize website:

In total, 204 albums were considered for the Long List by the 199 member jury.

This year’s Long List was unveiled in a video broadcast via the Polaris Facebook page and YouTube channels. 

The 10 album Short List will be unveiled live on July 15 as part of a two-hour special during Drive on CBC Music. An encore broadcast of the special will be available on CBC Music, Sunday, July 18 at 10 p.m. The 2021 Polaris Music Prize-winning album will be revealed in the fall via CBC Music. More details on this will be announced in the coming weeks. Leading up to the reveal of the Short List, CBC Music will have a retrospective special on Sunday, July 11 at 10 p.m.

The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. Additionally, the nine other nominated acts whose albums make the 2021 Short List will receive $3,000 each courtesy of Slaight Music.

Below is the Long List Reveal video

Links: Polaris Music Prize, More Polaris Stories, Video above courtesy of polarismusicprize

Complete list (local artists are bolded)

• Kathleen Edwards (Hamilton) – Total Freedom
  
  
  
  Links: Kathleen Edwards, More Kathleen Edwards Stories, Video above courtesy of Kathleen Edwards
  
  
• Daniel Lanois (Hamilton) – Heavy Sun
  
  
  
  Links: Daniel Lanois, More Daniel Lanois Stories, Video above courtesy of Daniel Lanois - Topic
  
  
• Zoon (Hamilton) – Bleached Wavves
  
  
  
  Links: Zoon, Video above courtesy of Paper Bag Records
  
  
• Art Bergmann – Late Stage Empire Dementia
• Bernice – Eau De Bonjourno
• The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings
• Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Theory of Ice
• BIG|BRAVE – Vital
• Cadence Weapon – Parallel World
• Charlotte Cardin – Phoenix
• CFCF – memoryland
• Clairmont The Second – IT’S NOT HOW IT SOUNDS
• Helena Deland – Someone New
• DijahSB – Head Above The Waters
• Dominique Fils-Aimé – Three Little Words
• Fiver with the Atlantic School of Spontaneous Composition – Fiver with the Atlantic School of Spontaneous Composition
• Thanya Iyer – KIND
• Yves Jarvis – Sundry Rock Song Stock
• Rochelle Jordan – Play With the Changes
• LAL – Meteors Could Come Down
• Thierry Larose – Cantalou
• Russell Louder – Humor
• Elliot Maginot – Easy Morning
• Mustafa – When Smoke Rises
• Laura Niquay – Waska Matisiwin
• Nyssa – Girls Like Me
• The OBGMs – The Ends
• Dorothea Paas – Anything Can’t Happen
• Klô Pelgag – Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs
• Savannah Ré – Opia
• Allison Russell – Outside Child
• Julien Sagot – Sagot
• Sargeant X Comrade – Magic Radio
• Shabason, Krgovich & Harris – Philadelphia
• Yu Su – Yellow River Blue
• Julian Taylor – The Ridge
• TEKE::TEKE – Shirushi
• TOBi – ELEMENTS Vol. 1
• Vagina Witchcraft – Vagina Witchcraft
• The Weather Station – Ignorance

Click here to see the Short List

Click here to see the winner

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CONGRATS! 1st Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Award Winners (incl local artists)

On June 12, 2021, the inaugural Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards were handed out at an online ceremony (shown below).

Links: SSIMA, More SSIMA Stories, Video above courtesy of Summer Solstice 

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

• Live Musical Performance: Joshua Arden Miller (Oshweken): Rez Bluez 25th Anniversary Concert
  
  
  
  Links: More Joshua Arden Miller Stories, Video above courtesy of Toronto Blues Society
  
  
• Recording Artist(s): DJ Shub (Six Nations)
  
  
  
  Links: More DJ Shub Stories, Video above courtesy of DJ Shub
  
  
• Artistic Video: Mother Roots by Silla and Rise
• Country Album: Don’t Mind If I Do by Jerry Sereda
  
• Hand Drum-Fiddle-Instrumental Album: Singing Is Healing by Joel Wood
• International Indigenous Artist-Group Recording: Cihkkojuvvon / Hidden by Gájanas
• Inuit Artist-Group: Silla and Rise
• Metis Artist-Group: Sandra Sutter
• Music In The Arts: Twin Flames: Grace Too
• Pop-Alternative-Rock Album: Omen by Twin Flames
• Pow Wow Traditional-Contemporary Album: Honouring Our Languages by Wabanaki Confederacy
• Radio Song Single: Battlefields by Twin Flames
• Rap-Hip Hop-Electronica Album: 20/20 by Mattmac
• Rising Star: Mary Bryton
• Roots Album: North Star Calling by Leela Gilday
• Social Voice: Burnstick
• Youth Leadership In Music: Warrior Women

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CONGRATS! Hamilton Arts Award Winners

From the Hamilton Arts Awards website:

The City Hamilton is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 City of Hamilton Arts Awards, presented in a series of eleven online podcast-style episodes that aired from June 3 to 12 as part of 2021 Hamilton Arts Week.

Here's the complete list of winners. Music-related ones are bolded.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Wilson

More Tom Wilson Stories

Arts Champion

• Erica Commisso (CFMU)
• Judy Marsales (Brott Music Festival, Hamilton All Star Jazz Band, Hamilton Music Collective, Hamilton Music Advisory Team)
  
  
  
  More Judy Marsales Stories
  
  
• Nancy McKibbin Gray (Carnegie Gallery)
• Bradlee Henry

Creator Awards

• Daniel Edmonds (musician)
  
  
  
  More Dan Edmonds Stories
  
  
• Andrew McPhail (visual art)
• Jim Ruxton (media artist)
• Jennifer Gilles (GritLit Festival)
• Jordi Alfaro (sculpture)
• Karen Ancheta (Porch Light Theatre)
• Leon ‘Eklipz’ Robinson (multi-dimensional artist)
• Olivia Brouwer (artist, sculptor)
• stylo starr (visual art)

Links: Hamilton Arts Awards, More Hamilton Arts Awards Stories, Videos above courtesy of City of Hamilton

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Happy Portugal Day! Videos by Tony Gouveia, Banda Portuguesa de Hamilton, Amália Rodrigues

Please join us in celebrating our founder/blogger Lou's ethnic background!

Tony Gouveia is from Kitchener

Links: Tony Gouveia, Video above courtesy of Tony Gouveia - Topic

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Links: Banda Portuguesa de Hamilton, Video above courtesy of Manny Rego

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Below is a video featuring the late Amália Rodrigues, one of the biggest names in Portuguese music.

Links: Amália Rodrigues, More Amália Rodrigues Stories, Jorge Fernando, Video above courtesy of Amália Rodrigues - Official

More Portugal Day Videos

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CONGRATS! More 2021 Juno Winners

The televised 50th Juno Awards were broadcast on June 6, 2021. During the streamed opening night gala, a number of local artists brought home awards. Click here for our report on that.

You can view the show below.

Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Below is a complete list of winners from the broadcast.

• Juno Fan Choice: Shawn Mendes
• Album: After Hours by The Weeknd
• Artist: The Weeknd
• Breakthrough Artist: JP Saxe
• Breakthrough Group: Crown Lands
• Canadian Music Hall of Fame: Jann Arden
• Humanitarian Award: Tragically Hip
• Pop Album: Changes by Justin Bieber 
• Special Achievement Award: Pegi Cecconi
• Traditional R&B/Soul Recording: Solid by Savannah Re

Video Highlights

The Band's Robbie Robertson from Six Nations wished the Junos a happy 50th

Links: Robbie Robertson, More Robbie Robertson Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music

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Feist and the surviving members of the Tragically Hip perform.

Links: Tragically Hip, More Tragically Hip Stories, Feist, More Feist Stories, Video above courtesy of CBC Music

Links: Juno Awards, More Juno Stories

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