Ruben Young performed at a private showcase for industry peeps earlier this evening at the Rivoli. In case you haven't heard of him his latest single Bad Habits was produced by Classified. In 2015 Ruben Young tried to .start a music festival. "Didn't work. I lost some money. So I was broke, Thought I was going to marry this girl I was chasing around since I was sixteen years old. Didn't work. It had me at a low. So I started writing ... I wrote like 45 songs. Put them in someone's cabinet and locked them up." Ruben Young played four songs for us this evening - Running For You, Bad Habits, Take Her Down, and a brand new, never heard before, single that had everyone wishing that the party was just getting started. Well, speaking as a new fan, I can't wait to hear the other 41.
0 Comments
Monday, November 20, 2017, OTTAWA, CANADA - Twenty awards were handed out over two bilingual evening celebrations at the Canadian Folk Music Awards 13th edition in Ottawa, Canada over the weekend. Hosted by musicians Jean Hewson and Benoit Bourque, 2017 nominees MAZ, Twin Flames, Beyond The Pale, BEYRIES, Kobo Town, Danny Michel, Cassie and Maggie, Braden Gates, Coco Méliès, Scott MacMillan & Colin Grant, Oh Susanna and Stephen Fearing performed live during the proceedings.
Canadian Folk Music Award 2017 recipients by province: BRITISH COLUMBIA
ALBERTA
MANITOBA
ONTARIO
NOVA SCOTIA
Members of Stompin' Tom Connors family including his widow Lena Connors (left) and sons Tom Jr. (second from left) and Taw Connors (right), along with Tom Jr.'s wife Jessica Roselle (second from right) TORONTO, ON - On November 15, one of Canada's most prolific and iconic artists, Stompin' Tom Connors, was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame during the Beyond Famous Gala at Toronto's Liberty Grand. The intimate evening featured a Stompin' Tom tribute video from Ron MacLean and Don Cherry, with a special performance of "The Hockey Song" by Whiskey Jack. Tom Connors Jr. was on hand, along with members of the Connors family, to accept the honour and unveil Stompin' Tom's new star that will have a permanent place of display in the streets of Toronto.
"My father as most of you know, was one of the proudest Canadians I ever knew. In his honour I would like to say something that he would have probably said; there is no way that he could have done this without the help of his wife, Lena Connors, sons, family, friends and his band members but, most of all, all of his fellow Canadians across this country," said Taw Connors. June 30, 2017 saw the release of the Stompin' Tom Connors 50th Anniversary album (ole label group / Anthem Legacy), which will also be available on vinyl December 8. The album includes an introduction from NHL Legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden, as well as all of Stompin' Tom's timeless classics. The album also features four new renditions from notable Canadian Country stars including; The Jim Cuddy/Polley Family Band, Corb Lund, George Canyon and Whiskey Jack. Pre-order the Stompin' Tom Connors 50th Anniversary vinyl edition here. TORONTO, ON - ole Label Group are pleased to announce the release of American Country artist Josh Dorr's five track EP Sundancer. Produced by Marshall Altman (Amy Grant, Matt Nathanson), Sundancer encapsulates Dorr's country rock sound and authentic lyrical style, reflecting the sense of renewal he has experienced over the past year.
Dorr co-wrote four of the EP's five songs with fellow songwriters: Adam Hambrick, Ryan Hurd, Matt Rogers, Dave Turnbull, Blake Bollinger, Kyle Jacobs and producer Marshall Altman. He also chose a track from the catalog of hit artist/songwriter Jon Bellion and production/songwriting team, The Elev3n. "Sundancer is a product of the ups and downs of the past few years. The time I have spent writing and developing my sound has not only developed me as an artist but also as a person. I wanted these songs to have meaning and depth lyrically while maintaining energy and movement," said Josh Dorr. "My goal for the production was for the songs to be intimate and anthemic at the same time. Some of these songs are new to me, and some have been waiting for their turn to be heard for a few years now." From the anthem-like chorus and guitar riffs of "Bad Boys," to the soaring vocals and piano melodies of "Ready or Not," to the soulful sounds of the EP's title track, Sundancer showcases Dorr's distinctive voice and his own unique brand of lyric driven, rock-edged country. You can find Sundancer here. Toronto ON - Today, Canada's Godfather of Hip Hop Maestro Fresh Wes has a brand new album out titled Coach Fresh. I first heard the album on November 8th via livestream. I was doing my best to share the link and odd lyric via my twitter feed. It was Maestro's first time doing a livestream. He had a DJ Shortcut spinning for him that night. The DJ apparently lived up to his name clipping some of the tracks short excluding pieces that Maestro Fresh Wes wanted his peeps to hear. "You gotta play it all the way through." Coach Fresh starts out with Put Ya Guard Up. That's sound advice in any realm. On the Coach Fresh track he's owning it. TO Icons brought together two icons Ghetto Concept and Infinite for the first time in twenty years. Ras Kass is on the Mr Evans track. Real life observations are voiced throughout the album including "You all too social with the media." found in the lyrics for Ambition. and "Borrowers turn into swallowers." on the Skyscrapers . (When I heard that last lyric I was laughing so hard. Cuz it's true. You all know it.) Then there's Jurassic Park his ode to the Toronto Raptors. I'm not a basketball fan but I LOVE this track. Tuition deals with the notion that any outbursts could result in paying for their lawyers sons tuition. "All we really doin' is paying Johnnies tuition." Designated Driver now that's not a concept often associated with the genre. Tomorrow Never Promised is a tribute to King Reign Saukrates and Rich Kidd joined forces with Maestro Fresh Wes on The Distance. Danko Jones dropped in on the Last Waltz. The final track is a remix of Skyscrapers.
Finally, let me say that I agree with Maestro Fresh Wes when he was admonishing DJ Shortcut for clipping his tracks. "You (really) gotta play it all the way through." It's time for you to hit the field. Coach Fresh is waiting. Canada's Walk of Fame Emerging Artist Music Mentorship Program concert took place on November 13th, 2017 at the Great Hall on Queen West. Enclosed you will find some fab photos of the Emerging Artists that performed last night.. The following slideshow includes pictures of the Finalists The Redhill Valleys, Wolf Saga, Rough Hands, Sarah Jickling and Her Good Bad Luck Band, & the Birds of Bellwoods, the Second Place Winner Wells, and Grand Prize Winner Jaryd Stanley. The Hallowe'en candy has vanished along with the ghosts and goblins . The temperature has dropped. There is a dusting of snow on the ground. Retail stores have transformed into their versions of the North Pole. Aside from Black Friday the most significant upcoming date on most of my friends and families calendars would be Christmas.
Now, I don't know about you. Maybe you have a favourite movie playing in the background as your opening your presents. Or, maybe you have a favourite Christmas album playing in the back ground of giggles or groans as wrapping paper is being ripped from packages. I do know that Hanson's Finally It's Christmas will be playing as part of my family's soundtrack this Christmas and for many more to come. In contrast with the sentimentality of many Christmas releases, Hanson bring an organic rock ‘n’ roll energy to the album, featuring iconic favorites like Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas”, Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas” and Aretha Franklin’s “Winter Wonderland”, along with a re-imagined arrangement of Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmas Time” and lively renditions of modern classics like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas”. The album’s original songs, like the title track and “’Til New Years Night” burst with celebratory energy, layered vocal arrangements calling to mind the Beach Boys and British invasion-era guitar riffs, while “Peace On Earth” highlights the band’s earnest lyrics and powerful melodies. The album is not without sentimentality, entirely, closing out with an intimate rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, with guitarist Isaac singing lead on the Judy Garland classic, and a soulful gospel medley of two well-known songs from the Christmas Hymnal, “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and “Joy To The World”. Besides, this album proves that Christmas is as much about remembering good times, as it is about making new memories. Hanson has always held a special place in my family's story. Theirs was the one and only concert that I allowed my daughter (Sophia) to skip school so that we could get wristbands to attend a private performance. I think we "MMMbop"ped all the way home on the subway afterwards. Click here to purchase Finally It's Christmas as well as a number of other holiday related goodies. My main question this year is are any of the inspirational speakers current or former TCHC residents?
This years theme was "Something Different". I'm happy to announce that all my submissions made it into the Scarborough Arts' Big Art Book. Earth, Air, Fire, Water (1) Chanel (Lost & Found) Fake News Yup, I actually had a tweet accepted into the Big Art Book! Now I am waiting to hear if either of my first two submission have been accepted as part of the juried exhibition. I'm beyond grateful that all three are being published.
I'm also waiting to hear how my grandsons fared with their Scarborough Arts' Big Art Book submissions. My fingers and toes are crossed for both my boys. MEMBERS' DAY IS COMING
Plan on joining us at the 2018 Hot Docs Festival Members' Day? This is your chance to SAVE BIG on passes and packages! On Tuesday, November 14, Hot Docs members get access to Festival passes and packages at our LOWEST PRICES EVER. Members also enjoy advance ordering opportunities and free tickets to select Festival screenings plus amazing benefits year-round at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. Not a member yet? BECOME A MEMBER AND SAVE |