Global icon and recent Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Dolly Parton, has joined forces with some of rock music’s most legendary artists along with today’s biggest stars for her first-ever Rock album, Rockstar, including Linda Perry for their 4 Non Blondes’ cover of “What’s Up?” The ever-evolving Parton teamed up with an all-star roster of musicians for the 30-song collection which includes 9 original tracks and 21 iconic rock anthems. Rockstar is available as a 4 LP set, 2 CD set, digital download and on all streaming services.
‘A Portrait of the Queen’ Box Set Compiles Early 1970s Albums From Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin was known the world over as the “Queen of Soul,” a distinction that will be honored in an upcoming box set featuring her musical catalog. Scheduled for release by BMG on December 1, A Portrait of the Queen – 1970-1974 compiles the noteworthy music of this celebrated singer-songwriter from the early 1970s.
Five classic Aretha albums presenting an early-’70s portrait of the Queen! Also includes a sixth bonus LP of session alternates, outtakes and demos. The original albums were remastered from the analog master tapes by Grammy Award-winning engineer Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Produced by Grammy Award-winner Cheryl Pawelski with liner notes from Billboard’s Gail Mitchell and British Ambassador of Soul, David Nathan.
Includes the hit Young, Gifted and Black, released in 1972, which hit #2 on Billboard’s R&B albums survey and #11 on the Billboard Top 200 as well as being certified GOLD. Aretha won the 1972 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and the album ranked at number 388 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Also includes This Girl’s In Love With You which features the first commercial release of “Let It Be,” and came out two months ahead of The Beatles. Both this album and Spirit In The Dark feature the Muscle Shoals Rhythm section and an appearance by Duane Allman. Along with production on both from Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin.
Track Listings
Disc: 1
1 Son of a Preacher Man
2 Share Your Love With Me
3 Dark End of the Street
4 Let It Be
5 Eleanor Rigby
6 This Girl’s in Love With You
7 It Ain’t Fair
8 The Weight
9 Call Me
10 Sit Down and Cry
11 The Fool on the Hill (This Girl’s in Love with You Outtake)
12 Pledging My Love / The Clock (2018 Mono Remaster)
13 You Keep Me Hangin’ On (This Girl’s in Love with You / Spiri
14 I’m Trying to Overcome (This Girl’s in Love with You / Spiri
15 Are You Leaving Me (Demo)
Disc: 2
1 Don’t Play That Song
2 The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday’s Kiss)
3 Pullin’
4 You and Me
5 Honest I Do
6 Spirit in the Dark
7 When the Battle Is Over
8 One Way Ticket
9 Try Matty’s
10 That’s All I Want From You
11 Oh No Not My Baby
12 Why I Sing the Blues
13 You’re Taking up Another Man’s Place (Spirit in the Dark Out
14 My Way (Spirit in the Dark Outtake)
15 Bridge Over Troubled Water (Long Version)
Disc: 3
1 A Brand New Me
2 April Fools
3 I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
4 First Snow in Kokomo
5 The Long and Winding Road
6 Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)
7 Border Song (Holy Moses)
8 Young, Gifted and Black
9 All the King’s Horses
10 Rock Steady
11 Day Dreaming
12 Oh Me Oh My (I’m a Fool for You Baby)
13 My Cup Runneth Over (Young, Gifted and Black Outtake)
14 You’re All I Need to Get By (Take 2)
15 Lean on Me
16 Heavenly Father (Young, Gifted and Black Outtake)
17 Spanish Harlem (Alternate Mix)
Disc: 4
1 Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky)
2 Somewhere
3 So Swell When You’re Well
4 Angel
5 Sister From Texas
6 Mister Spain
7 That’s the Way I Feel About Cha
8 Moody’s Mood
9 Just Right Tonight
10 Master of Eyes (The Deepness of Your Eyes)
11 Sweetest Smile and the Funkiest Style (Hey Now Hey The Other
12 The Boy from Bombay
13 This Is (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky Outtake)
14 Tree of Life (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky Outtake)
15 Do You Know (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky Outtake)
16 Can You Love Again (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky Ou
17 I Want to Be With You (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky
Disc: 5
1 Let Me in Your Life
2 Every Natural Thing
3 Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing
4 I’m in Love
5 Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)
6 The Masquerade Is Over
7 With Pen in Hand
8 Oh Baby
9 Eight Days on the Road
10 If You Don’t Think
11 A Song for You
12 Suzanne (Hey Now Hey The Other Side of the Sky Outtake)
13 The Happy Blues (Let Me in Your Life Outtake)
14 At Last (Let Me in Your Life Outtake)
15 Love Letters (Let Me in Your Life Outtake)
16 Til It’s Over (Demo)
Paris. Bursts Onto The Scene With Smooth New Single “IDK”
22-year-old rising hip-hop/R&B star from Burnaby, British Columbia – officially releases his new single “IDK” today. This is the second single to release from the Filipino-Canadian artist via Universal Music Canada,
Making waves with his first single “Ice Spice” and earning a spot as one of Spotify’s top 50 Canadian artists to watch on their RADAR Canada playlist, PARIS. continues his momentum with the new single “IDK.” The rising artist serenades a prospective partner with contemplative lyrics over a smooth beat, singing, “What would I do without you?” before getting into all that he finds intriguing about her in the catchy chorus. “Is it her lips or hips, or ‘cause she got a gangster vibe? I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.”
The song, co-written and produced by QESTN, speaks directly to the chase of early love. “IDK” explores this topic by describing a lustful and confusing relationship between two people. PARIS. speaks on wanting the it girl and how he is in a constant chase with her. He can’t come to a solid conclusion as to why he’s chasing her, which leaves him in a cycle of lust. “This is the girl that everybody wants and knows, but not everyone can get,” adds PARIS.
Synergizing R&B and Hip-Hop in his own charismatic way, PARIS. has always been drawn to the impulse of trying new things. “I don’t worry too much about the future, I’m always ready to go,” he says on his quick-minded approach to music and life. From spending his childhood moving in-and-out of various impoverished spaces in Canada, to grounding himself through the discovery of music, basketball, and his eventual BC-based community, PARIS. has always been drivenby the idea of moving forward regardless of the circumstances at hand.
A current star on the rise with upcoming single “IDK” set to be released on October 19, PARIS. continues to garner media and audience-related hype across the country. Being recently featured in Canadian outlet 6ixBuzzTV, alongside performing at venues like the Safe and Sound Festival, watch for more as he continues to establish himself as one of 2023’s up and coming artists.
Having only begun his musical journey a couple of years ago, PARIS.’ trajectory is looking bright, with his first two singles cementing him as one of Canada’s most exciting artists to keep your eyes on. Stay tuned for more new music from PARIS. in the coming months.
U2 Adds More 2024 Dates to Sphere Engagement in Las Vegas
Following the record-setting, unprecedented launch of U2’s globally-acclaimed U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere, Sphere Entertainment Co. and Live Nation today announced that an additional 11 dates have been added for January and February 2024. The announcement comes after the first 9 sold-out shows to meet the overwhelming demand for U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere, a first-of-its-kind live music experience that ushers in a new era of live entertainment with the world’s biggest rock band, U2, in the world’s most cutting-edge venue, Sphere.
The news follows U2’s new track “Atomic City” taking the top spot on Billboard’s Alternative Digital Song Sales Chart, marking their first No. 1 and fifth Top 10 on this chart. The track has also landed in the top 5 at Triple A radio and is climbing.
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere marks U2’s first live outing in four years and Sphere will be the only place fans can see this show, now with 36 total dates running through February 18, 2024. Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton will once again be joined onstage by Bram van den Berg, sitting in on drums for Larry Mullen Jr.
The following 11 dates were announced today, including two can’t miss shows kicking off Super Bowl Weekend as the hottest ticket in town:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
U2.COM PRESALE:
All U2.com paid subscribers are eligible to submit a ticket request for the eleven (11) newly added shows, even if they have requested or secured tickets for previously announced dates. The presale opens Thursday, October 19 at 10am PT and closes Saturday, October 21 at 10pm PT. Ticket confirmations will be sent out by the evening of Tuesday, October 24.
GENERAL ONSALE: Tickets will be available during a general onsale starting Wednesday, October 25 at 11am PT at Ticketmaster.com. On sale times may vary, check the Ticketmaster listing for more information.
DETAILS ON GENERAL ADMISSION FLOOR TICKETS: In an effort to help minimize resale and keep ticket prices at face value for fans, GA floor tickets for ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere ‘will be restricted from transfer. They may only be resold at the original purchase price.
Fans will still have protection against unforeseen circumstances. Those who purchase tickets and are no longer able to attend their show will be able to sell their tickets at the price they paid using the Ticketmaster Face Value Exchange. More information on how the Ticketmaster Exchange works is available here.
RED ZONE: At each ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ performance, 50 tickets to experience the show from an exclusive VIP riser will be made available for purchase benefitting (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006 to fight AIDS and the injustices that enable pandemics to thrive.
“We’re so grateful once again to U2 for their generosity. And we’re very excited that each ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ performance will feature an iconic (RED) Zone, which lets fans choose (RED) and save lives while enjoying the show with an excellent view of the stage”, said Jennifer Lotito, President and COO of (RED). “Over the years, U2’s generosity has delivered nearly $23 million for (RED)’s fight to end AIDS. Thanks to U2 and U2 fans everywhere for helping (RED) make preventable and treatable disease preventable and treatable for everyone.”
VIP: Vibee, the music-led destination experience company founded by Live Nation, continues its partnership as the exclusive Hotel Package and VIP Experience provider for the extended run of ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ shows. Vibee hospitality packages include premium concert seating with priority entry to Sphere and hotel rooms at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, the only resort attached to Sphere. The Premium VIP package includes limited edition U2 memorabilia, luxury airport shuttle service, access to Tao group nightclubs, and more. Zoo Station, the immersive U2 installation and pop-up shop at The Venetian will also extend, including the Zoo TV Cinema curated by The Edge and powered by Dolby Atmos. Vibee package holders receive front of the line access to Zoo Station and VIP package holders receive complimentary access to a Zoo TV Cinema screening plus access to private pre-show VIP shopping windows. Vibee VIP & Hotel Packages for the new dates are on sale now at https://u2.vibee.com/.
The complete list of dates for U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere is:
2023
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
2024
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Acknowledged as the best live act in the world, U2 have always – since their earliest days, including the industry-defining ZOO TV Tour which broke the mold in 1991 – consistently pushed the boundaries of live performance, with ground-breaking stage shows that embrace the latest in technology and innovation. The announcement that the band will be the first musical act at Sphere, the next-generation entertainment medium that dominates the Las Vegas skyline, is fitting for a show from the world’s most thrilling live band.
Formed in Dublin in 1978, the band were marked out by their drive and ambition from the beginning. U2 has toured the globe countless times, released 14 studio albums, sold over 170 million albums and won numerous awards, including 22 Grammys and Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience award. U2 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 and have twice been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song: in 2003 for ‘The Hands That Built America’ for Gangs of New York, and in 2014 for ‘Ordinary Love’ for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. U2’s fourteenth studio album Songs Of Experience – the companion release to 2014’s Songs Of Innocence – was released in December 2017 debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200, setting U2 apart as the only band in history to have topped the chart in four successive decades. In 2018, the U2 hit the road with the eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour, an arena production which saw the band continue to push the creative boundaries of technology and engineering. And following 2017’s acclaimed stadium run with The Joshua Tree Tour – the record-breaking smash hit tour celebrating the band’s seminal 1987 album The Joshua Tree – The Joshua Tree Tour took U2 to New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, as well as bring “the biggest band in the world” (The Guardian) to Singapore, Seoul, Manila and Mumbai for the very first time. In November 2019, the band released a track in collaboration with A.R. Rahman titled ‘Ahimsa’, which was performed live at Mumbai’s, D.Y. Patil Stadium. In 2020, SiriusXM and U2 announced the launch of U2 X-Radio, a complete immersion into the work and influences of the band from the Northside of Dublin, all curated by U2. Songs Of Surrender – a collection of 40 seminal U2 songs from across the band’s catalogue, re-recorded and reimagined for 2023 in sessions spanning the last two years – was released on Friday March 17th this year, topping the album charts around the world including the UK and Ireland. On September 29 of this year, U2 lit up Las Vegas and once again pushed the boundaries of live performance as they kicked off their groundbreaking U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere shows launching the world’s most state-of-the-art venue, Sphere.
U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere is the band’s latest ambitious creative project and will see them work once again with longtime U2 creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams, as well as artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard and Marco Brambilla. The critically-acclaimed show will run for a total of 36 dates until February 18, 2024.
Peter Gabriel Announces Full Release Details For I/O – His First Album Of New Material In Over 20 Years
At the end of a year in which Peter Gabriel has released a new song on the occasion of every full moon, as well as performed live to rapturous audience throughout the UK, Europe and North America, December 1st sees the release of his much-anticipated new studio album, i/o.
i/o is 12 tracks of grace, gravity and great beauty that provide welcome confirmation of not only Peter’s ongoing ability to write stop-you-in-your-tracks songs but also of that thrilling voice, still perfectly, delightfully intact. Throughout the album the intelligent and thoughtful – often thought-provoking – songs tackle life and the universe. Our connection to the world around us – ‘I’m just a part of everything’ Peter sings on title track i/o – is a recurring motif, but so too the passing of time, mortality and grief, alongside such themes as injustice, surveillance and the roots of terrorism. But this is not a solemn record. While reflective, the mood is never despondent; i/o is musically adventurous, often joyous and ultimately full of hope, topped off as it is, by the rousingly optimistic closing song, Live and Let Live.
Recorded mostly at Real World Studios and Peter’s home studio, the lengthy gestation of i/o means it has a sizeable cast list. Peter has kept his trusty inner circle of musicians close to hand, which means guitarist David Rhodes, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Manu Katché are sterling presences throughout. Several songs bear the fingerprints of long-time associate Brian Eno, whilst there are notable contributions from Richard Russell, pianist Tom Cawley, trumpeters Josh Shpak and Paolo Fresu, cellist Linnea Olsson and keyboard player Don E. Peter’s daughter Melanie contributes warm backing vocals, as does Ríoghnach Connolly of The Breath, while Real World regulars Richard Chappell, Oli Jacobs, Katie May and Richard Evans collectively provide programming and play various instruments. Soweto Gospel Choir and Swedish all-male choir Oprhei Drängar lend their magnificent harmonies to a selection of tracks, and the mass strings of the New Blood Orchestra, led by John Metcalfe, both soothe and soar.
Renowned for being a boundary-pushing artist, i/o is not simply a collection of a dozen songs. All 12 tracks are subject to two stereo mixes: the Bright-Side Mix, handled by Mark ‘Spike’ Stent, and the Dark-Side Mix, as reshaped by Tchad Blake. “We have two of the greatest mixers in the world in Tchad and Spike and they definitely bring different characters to the songs. Tchad is very much a sculptor building a journey with sound and drama, Spike loves sound and assembling these pictures, so he’s more of a painter.” Both versions are included on the double-CD package, and are also available separately as double vinyl albums. And that’s not all. A third version – the In-Side Mix, in Dolby Atmos, comes courtesy of Hans-Martin Buff “doing a wonderful job generating these much more three-dimensional mixes” and is included in three-disc set, including Blu-ray.
Continuing the idea developed for Peter’s US and UP albums, he has again invited a range of visual artists to contribute a piece of art to accompany the music and each of i/o’s 12 songs were handed to a world-renowned artist to create an accompanying work, whether paint, photography, sculpture or even Plasticine. The dozen artists make an exceedingly impressive team of collaborators: Ai Weiwei, Nick Cave, Olafur Eliasson, Henry Hudson, Annette Messager, Antony Micallef, David Moreno, Cornelia Parker, Megan Rooney, Tim Shaw, David Spriggs and Barthélémy Toguo.
Another visual link with Peter’s past work is the cover shot. Taken by photographer Nadav Kander, it echoes with the covers of his earlier albums, always present but, with the exception of So, intriguingly obscured or manipulated.
These echoes of the past might resonate, but i/o is fundamentally an album of – and for – the here and now. Many of its themes may be timeless, but they’re also warnings that we’re living on borrowed time, both as a planet and as individuals. As Peter sings on the divine So Much, “this edition is limited”.
The wait has been worth every minute. i/o is another triumphant Peter Gabriel record.
Tracklist:
CD | Digital
- Panopticom
- The Court
- Playing for Time
- i/o
- Four Kinds of Horses
- Road to Joy
- So Much
- Olive Tree
- Love Can Heal
- This Is Home
- And Still
- Live And Let Live
2LP
SIDE A
- Panopticom
- Playing for Time
- The Court
SIDE B
- Four Kinds of Horses
- i/o
- Love Can Heal
SIDE C
- Road to Joy
- So Much
- Olive Tree
SIDE D
- This Is Home
- And Still
- Live and Let Live
A detailed track-by-track guide is available on request.
Formats:
Peter Gabriel – i/o
PGLP21 2LP Bright-Side Mix
2LP black vinyl, 33rpm. Gatefold jacket, obi-strip, 32page booklet and hi-res download card.
PGLPX21 2LP Dark-Side Mix
2LP black vinyl, 33rpm. Gatefold jacket, obi-strip, 32page booklet and hi-res download card.
PGCD21 2CD Bright-Side Mix | Dark-Side Mix
2CDs, one Bright-Side Mix, one Dark-Side Mix. 6panel digi-pack, with obi-strip and 32page booklet.
PGCDBR21 2CD+Blu-ray Bright-Side Mix | Dark-Side Mix | In-Side Mix
2CDs one Bright-Side Mix, one Dark-Side Mix. 1Blu-ray with the In-Side Mix (Dolby Atmos) and 24/96 hi-res stereo mixes. 8panel digi-pack, with obi-strip and 32page booklet.
PGBOX21 4LP, 2CD, 1Blu-ray Bright-Side Mix | Dark-Side Mix | In-Side Mix *
Foil blocked, clamshell box with obi-band. Bright-Side and Dark-Side Mixes across 4 pieces of black vinyl, 33rpm. 2CDs one Bright-Side Mix, one Dark-Side Mix. 1Blu-ray with the In-Side Mix (Dolby Atmos) and 24/96 hi-res stereo mixes. Casebound book with expanded liner notes and a poster.
*Release date 8 March 2024
Bachman & Bachman Live At The JW Marriott – The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa
Saturday, October 21, 2023 : 7:00pm Start with Zach Oliver / 8:00pm with Bachman & Bachman
JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa, 1050 Paignton House Road Minett, ON P0B 1G0
Tickets On Sale Now Here
Out of a global pandemic comes a new story from Father-Son duo Randy & Tal Bachman. Following the success of their respected musical careers (The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Tal Bachman’s solo success), the pair now tell stories through song and visuals as Bachman & Bachman. The show includes a mix of old hits and brand-new songs they’ve written together from their forthcoming album Shadows of Yesterday.
Produced by Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Vance Joy, Brandi Carlile) in the historic Bear Creek Studios, Shadows of Yesterday brings you a 13-chapter masterpiece built over two generations. The new album will also serve as the soundtrack for an upcoming documentary in the works about Randy’s lost and found Gretsch guitar.
Join the duo for an unforgettable in-person event at the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa in Minett, ON. This event promises to be a night filled with soulful melodies, electrifying performances, and a whole lot of fun. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to witness these music icons live on stage. Get your tickets now and prepare to be blown away!
Music from The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO), and Tal Bachman solo career. Featuring American Women, These Eyes, No Sugar Tonight, Takin Care of Business, Roll on Down The Highway, Let it Ride, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, No Time, She’s so High and much, much more!
Come early for opening act Zach Oliver prior to the concert of Bachman and Bachman. The main concert is scheduled for 8pm start.
The Bachman and Bachman concert is scheduled to be outdoors at the great lawn overlooking Lake Rosseau. There will be seating available for all. It will be located indoors if inclement weather.
Nov 2 in Mississauga, ON: SULTANS OF STRING Shine a Light on Contributions of Refugees at the FESTIVAL OF ARABIC MUSIC & ARTS
Global Ambassadors of Musical Diversity, SULTANS OF STRING, will shine a light on the Plight as well as the Extraordinary Contributions of Refugees with its Cannes World Film Festival winning Documentary, Sultans of String: The Refuge Project – Visual Album, at the FESTIVAL OF ARABIC MUSIC & ARTS, Nov 2, 7:30pm with tickets here, at the Unitarian Congregation, 84 S. Service Rd, Mississauga, ON L5G 2R9.
Winning a CFMA for “Global Roots Album” and “Producer of the Year” for their “Sanctuary” CD, this Billboard charting band’s film features music and interviews from this recording as well as sister album “Refuge”, both served up under lockdown.
This 95 minute Mississauga debut screening will be featured at the Festival of Arabic Music and Arts FAMA2023, and will be followed by a Q&A with bandleader and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient Chris McKhool (Makhoul in Lebanon), Syrian refugee Leen Hamo, hosted by Raja Khouri of Khouri Conversations.
Mixed in full Dolby Atmos, this ambitious, diverse, inclusive, and passionately expressive film puts this world music supergroup face-to-face with a VIP roster of global ‘ambassadors,’ some of whom are recent immigrants and refugees to Canada and the U.S., side by side with essential Indigenous voices. All are masters of global music that communicate with each other through the universal language of music.
Addressing the struggles of life on Mother Earth has always inspired this band. In Sultans of String: The Refuge Project – Visual Album, they bring their unique brand of musical synergy and collaboration to bear on discussion and songs that speak to the challenges facing the world’s displaced peoples—their stories, their songs, their persistence and their humanity.
Joined by an international cast, this three-time JUNO nominated band immerses themselves in the plight of the international refugee, and the humanitarian response that should greet everyone in search of a home.
McKhool (whose paternal, Makhoul, grandfather was from Lebanon) explains, “The larger Refuge Project is centred around the positive contributions of refugees and new immigrants to Canada and the United States. We are bringing in special guests that are newcomers to this land, as well as global talents that have been ambassadors for peace. We wish to celebrate the successes of those who make the journey here and bring their extraordinary talents with them, in this case, music. Each one of us has a remarkable story to tell, and we are excited to share the beauty of these collaborations with you.”
The Refuge Project features stellar performances by Ahmed Moneka and Imad Al Taha, refugees from Iraq, Syrian refugee Leen Hamo, Donné Roberts from Madagascar with partner Yukiko Tsutsui from Japan, Algeria’s Fethi Nadjem, Colombian refugee Juan Carlos Medrano, Iran’s Padideh Ahrarnejad, Romani Nyckelharpa player Saskia Tomkins, tabla player Ravi Naimpally from India,sitar player Anwar Khurshid from Pakistan, string ensemble Gundem Yayli Grubu from Istanbul, and many, many more, including an orchestral version of “The Power of the Land” featuring Indigenous performers Duke Redbird and Twin Flames.
“The true inspiration behind these albums and film is the incredible artists we get to collaborate with,” says McKhool. “We learn so much from these diverse voices, and each one of them is so personally inspiring. As Ahmed Moneka, an artist and refugee from Iraq says, ‘Love is the main reason for a great future,” and we are so privileged to be able to collaborate with so many incredible voices on this project.”
The film is receiving industry recognition on the Film Festival circuit including the Cannes World Film Festival, Vancouver Independent Film Festival, Best Istanbul Film Festival, Paris Movie Festival, Montreal Independent, Hamburg Indie, Boston Independent, and Folk in Film Festivals.
The African-Canadian Fusion: A Cross-Cultural Celebration: October 28 at Daniels Spectrum in Toronto
African Women Acting (AWA), celebrating their 10th anniversary this fall, is set to host The African-Canadian Fusion: a Cross-Cultural Celebration of Art, Music, and Poetry this fall. On Saturday, October 28 Daniel’s Spectrum, a cultural center on Dundas Street in Regent Park, Toronto, will be transformed into a home of music and other performing arts that celebrate the African diaspora in Canada. Tickets are available here.
Founded in 2011, AWA is a nonprofit focused on empowering, preserving and promoting women issues and the heritage of African culture through African art. And it’s known for its rocking events, including its long running annual Niagara Festival, which in the waning days of summer this year took over RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston. One donor paid for 300 tickets, too, so that fans could enjoy the full day, family-friendly program.
The Fall event, meanwhile, will feature Cameroonian Afropop singer Jbwai, spoken word artist and singer J Nichole Noel, Susan Heaten, and Nigerian vocalist Sonia Aimy, who founded AWA back in 2011.
Dabbling in genres including classic rock, reggae and pop, Noel has been performing for over 20 years on stages in Canada, the U.S., Spain, UK and Jamaica. She has recorded three audio CDs as well as published books of poetry and stories for children. Sonia Aimy, or the “Velvety voice of Africa” as she’s called, has released several albums. In 2021, she released the quarantine-era “Reconnect,” a fantastic upbeat meditation on Pan-Africanism which feels out of Fela Kuta’s lab. Though the African diaspora is spread all over the world, the chorus, “reconnect, reconnect, my people… motherland, motherland” is a reminder of an everlasting connection to the African continent. One of several October performers who is truly a Jane of all trades, Aimy also released her film “TRACE: Tracing African Canadian Extraordinaire,” which focuses on the accomplishments of seven African-Canadians making impact in the country.
The October event will feature an Afrobeat selections by DJ Moussa, who has played all around Toronto-area haunts and is sure to keep the party going and people dancing. African-Canadian Fusion will run from 2pm to 5pm. The $50 admission includes food and wine tasting.
Neil Young To Reissue Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972 CD Box Set On November 10
The start of a musician’s career is not only an intriguing collection of what happened, but maybe even more important is a gaze into what their future might hold. With musical artist Neil Young, Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972 offers the sounds of his first decade, but just as importantly holds a light on the future of what’s to come. Young’s world of sound and spirit remains a never-ending adventure. It starts here.
Neil Young Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972 is the first in a series of archival box sets encompassing Young’s entire career. Vol. I was originally released on June 2, 2009, in three formats: A 10-disc deluxe edition in either Blu-ray or DVD and an 8-disc CD box.
Out of print for over a decade, the 8-CD box set is now being re-issued in its original format – housed in the “Garypak”, a unique package designed by Young’s long-time art director, the late Gary Burden. Each CD has its own custom sleeve. Neil Young Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972 will be available from Young’s Greedy Hand online store, all retail outlets and on most DSP’s. Hi-Res digital audio is available at Xstream download store through Neil Young Archives. All Greedy Hand Store purchases come with free hi-res digital audio downloads from the Xstream Store © at NYA.
At the time of release in 2009, 13 of the songs had never been released before. A further 34 tracks were previously unreleased live or alternate versions. The repertoire covers the first decade of Neil Young’s career, including material from the Squires, Buffalo Springfield, Crazy Horse, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and his early solo albums.
The box set comes with a 24-page booklet and a large fold-out Archives poster.
Neil Young Archives Vol. I: 1963-1972 TRACKLISTING:
- CD 1: Early Years (1963-1968)
- ‘Aurora’ – The Squires
- ‘The Sultan’ – The Squires
- ‘I Wonder’ – The Squires
- ‘Mustang’ – The Squires
- ‘Iʼll Love You Forever’ – The Squires
- ‘(Iʼm A Man And) I Can’t Cry’ – The Squires
- ‘Hello Lonely Woman’ – Neil Young & Comrie Smith
- ‘Casting Me Away From You’ – Neil Young & Comrie Smith
- ‘There Goes My Babe’ – Neil Young & Comrie Smith
- ‘Sugar Mountain’ – Neil Young
- ‘Nowadays Clancy Canʼt Even Sing’ – Neil Young
- ‘Runaround Babe’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Ballad Of Peggy Grover’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Rent Is Always Due’ – Neil Young
- 15 ‘Extra, Extra’ – Neil Young
- 16 ‘Flying On The Ground Is Wrong’ – Neil Young
- ‘Burned’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Out Of My Mind’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Down, Down, Down’ – Neil Young
- ‘Kahuna Sunset’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Mr. Soul’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Sell Out’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Down To The Wire’ – Neil Young
- ‘Expecting To Fly’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘Slowly Burning’ – Neil Young
- ‘One More Sign’ – Neil Young
- ‘Broken Arrow’ – Buffalo Springfield
- ‘I Am A Child’ – Buffalo Springfield
- CD 2: Topanga 1 (1968-1969)
- ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Loner’ – Neil Young
- ‘Birds’ – Neil Young
- ‘What Did You Do To My Life?’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Last Trip To Tulsa’ – Neil Young
- ‘Here We Are In The Years’ – Neil Young
- ‘Iʼve Been Waiting For You’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Old Laughing Lady’ – Neil Young
- ‘Iʼve Loved Her So Long’ – Neil Young
- ‘Sugar Mountain’ – Neil Young
- ‘Nowadays Clancy Canʼt Even Sing’ – Neil Young
- ‘Down By The River’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Cowgirl In The Sand’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- CD 3: Live At The Riverboat (Toronto 1969)
- ‘Sugar Mountain’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Old Laughing Lady’ – Neil Young
- ‘Flying On The Ground Is Wrong’ – Neil Young
- ‘On The Way Home’ – Neil Young
- ‘Iʼve Loved Her So Long’ – Neil Young
- ‘I Am A Child’ – Neil Young
- ‘1956 Bubblegum Disaster’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Last Trip To Tulsa’ – Neil Young
- ‘Broken Arrow’ – Neil Young
- ‘Whiskey Boot Hill’ – Neil Young
- ‘Expecting To Fly’ – Neil Young
- CD 4: Topanga 2 (1969-1970)
- ‘Cinnamon Girl’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Running Dry (Requiem For The Rockets)’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Round And Round (It Wonʼt Be Long)’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Oh Lonesome Me’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Birds’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Everybodyʼs Alone’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘I Believe In You’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Sea Of Madness’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘Dance Dance Dance’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Country Girl’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘Helpless’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘It Might Have Been’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- CD 5: Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Live At The Fillmore East (New York 1970)
- ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’
- ‘Winterlong’
- ‘Down By The River’
- ‘Wonderinʼ’
- ‘Come On Baby Letʼs Go Downtown’
- ‘Cowgirl In The Sand’
- Disc 6: Topanga 3 (1970)
- ‘Tell Me Why’ – Neil Young
- ‘After The Gold Rush’ – Neil Young
- ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ – Neil Young
- ‘Wonderinʼ’ – Neil Young
- ‘Donʼt Let It Bring You Down’ – Neil Young
- ‘Cripple Creek Ferry’ – Neil Young
- ‘Southern Man’ – Neil Young
- ‘Till The Morning Comes’ – Neil Young
- ‘When You Dance, I Can Really Love’ – Neil Young with Crazy Horse
- ‘Ohio’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘Tell Me Why’ – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- ‘Music Is Love’ – David Crosby, Graham Nash & Neil Young
- ‘See The Sky About To Rain’ – Neil Young
- CD 7: Live At Massey Hall (Toronto 1971)
- ‘On The Way Home’
- ‘Tell Me Why’
- ‘Old Man’
- ‘Journey Through The Past’
- ‘Helpless’
- ‘Love In Mind’
- ‘A Man Needs A Maid/Heart Of Gold (Suite)’
- ‘Cowgirl In The Sand’
- ‘Donʼt Let It Bring You Down’
- ‘Thereʼs A World’
- ‘Bad Fog Of Loneliness’
- ‘The Needle And The Damage Done’
- ‘Ohio’
- ‘See The Sky About To Rain’
- ‘Down By The River’
- ‘Dance Dance Dance’
- ‘I Am A Child’
- CD 8: North Country (1971-1972)
- ‘Heart Of Gold’ – Neil Young
- ‘The Needle And The Damage Done’ – Neil Young
- ‘Bad Fog Of Loneliness’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Old Man’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Heart Of Gold’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Dance Dance Dance’ – Neil Young
- ‘A Man Needs A Maid’ – Neil Young with the London Symphony Orch.
- ‘Harvest’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- 9 ‘Journey Through The Past’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Are You Ready For The Country?’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Alabama’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Words (Between The Lines Of Age)’ – Neil Young with The Stray Gators
- ‘Soldier’ – Neil Young
- ‘War Song’ – Neil Young & Graham Nash with The Stray Gators
Oliver Tree Announces 2024 North American Tour Dates
Now boasting more than 4 BILLION global streams, over 1 BILLION YouTube views, over 14.7 MILLION TikTok followers, and an cumulative social reach of over 30 MILLION, Oliver Tree has already had a very productive 2023 with releases such as his first-ever collaboration with fellow superstar David Guetta, “Here We Go Again,” [listen HERE]. An official lyric video, written and directed by Oliver, has earned over 13 MILLION views [view HERE]. “Here We Go Again” in turn followed KSI’s “Voices (Feat. Oliver Tree),” joined by an official music video now boasting close to 7 MILLION views [watch HERE]. Last year also saw Oliver join forces with GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer Robin Schulz for the high-energy viral hit, “Miss You,” which swiftly amassed over 300 MILLION global streams following top 10 debuts on both Billboard’s “Hot Dance/Electronic Songs” chart and the UK’s Official Singles Chart. Recently certified 2x Platinum in Australia as well as Platinum in both the UK and Canada, the track is accompanied by a typically quirky official music video, directed by Oliver and currently boasting more than 190 MILLION views via YouTube HERE.
Oliver wrapped up his very busy 2022 with the long awaited release of Cowboy Tears Drown the World in a Swimming Pool of Sorrow, an expanded deluxe edition of his acclaimed sophomore LP, Cowboy Tears, available now HERE. Highlights include such favorites as “I Hate You,” “Placeholder,” and “Suitcase Full Of Cash,” the latter accompanied by an official visual featuring guest appearances from viral stars Alissa Violet, Tana Mongeau, Viking Barbie, and Melissa Ong, streaming now at Oliver’s YouTube channel HERE.
Following the release of his highly anticipated third album, ALONE IN A CROWD (LISTEN) last week, today, the multi-talented, global phenomenon that is Oliver Tree today announces the North American leg of his biggest headline tour to date, OLIVER TREE PRESENTS: ALONE IN A CROWD, produced by Live Nation.
The 13 city North American leg starts on January 13 at Chicago’s historic Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, with additional stops planned in Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, New York City, Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Magna, Utah, Oakland, CA before concluding February 15 in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Palladium. Joining Oliver on the road in North America is American rock outfit, FIDLAR, with additional special guests to be announced soon.
Tickets will be available starting with artist presale beginning Wednesday, October 4 at 10am local time. Fans can sign-up for early access to tickets by visiting HERE. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, October 6 at 10 am local time at OliverTreeMusic.com.
The international leg of the tour officially gets underway next week, on October 13 at Brisbane, Australia’s Fortitude Music Hall before traveling through November with stops in France, Luxembourg, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.
Last week marked the arrival of Oliver’s latest full-length album, ALONE IN A CROWD featuring the new focus track ‘With You,’ paired with an official music video self-directed by the chart-topping, genre-bending artist himself. The visual is the third and final installment, following the storyline and music videos for ‘Bounce’ and ‘One & Only.’ Filmed in Serbia, each visual follows Oliver Tree’s latest character creation Cornelius Cummings, a fashion designer from London.
His most personal album to date, ALONE IN A CROWD follows a string of stellar releases this year, including ‘Bounce,’ ‘One & Only,’ ‘Essence’ Ft Super Computer and ‘Fairweather Friends,’ all taken from the 14-track full-length released today, each produced by Oliver Tree, and accompanied with a signature music videos also written, created, directed, and edited by the self-proclaimed workaholic himself.
Undeniably a one-of-a-kind artist who continues to top the charts and sell out amphitheaters worldwide, Tree satisfies his dedicated and growing audience with his Kaufman-esque Dadaist, “meta-humor” while continuing to explore and dissect the absurdity of modern culture, obsession with fame and social media. His latest album ALONE IN A CROWD serves to reflect both the light and the darkness of human nature within popular culture, while holding a mirror up to us all and embracing the absurdity of it all. Exploring themes of loneliness, disconnect, and the human experience.
OLIVER TREE PRESENTS: ALONE IN A CROWD
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:
01/13 – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom – Chicago, IL**
01/15 – HISTORY – Toronto, ON**
01/19 – MGM Music Hall at Fenway – Boston, MA**
01/20 – The Met Philadelphia – Philadelphia, PA**
01/24 – The Anthem – Washington, DC**
01/26 – Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY**
01/29 – Coca-Cola Roxy – Atlanta, GA**
01/31 – ACL Live at the Moody Theater – Austin, TX**
02/03 – 713 Music Hall – Houston, TX**
02/04 – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX**
02/07 – The Great Saltair – Magna, UT**
02/09 – Fox Theater – Oakland, CA **
02/15 – Hollywood Palladium – Los Angeles, CA**
** Support from FIDLAR
OLIVER TREE PRESENTS: ALONE IN A CROWD
INTERNATIONAL TOUR DATES
10/13 – Brisbane, AUS – Fortitude Music Hall^^
10/14 – Sydney, AUS – Hordern Pavilion^^
10/15 – Wollongong, AUS – Yours and Owls Festival *
10/18 – Melbourne, AUS – Festival Hall^^
10/20 – Adelaide, AUS – Hindley Street Music Hall^^
10/21 – Perth, AUS – Metro City^^
11/01 – Paris, France – L’Olympia++
11/02 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal++
11/04 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy Birmingham++
11/05 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy Glasgow++
11/07 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy Leeds++
11/08 – Manchester, UK – O2 Apollo Manchester++
11/09 – London, UK – Troxy++
11/11 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique++
11/14 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium++
11/16 – Munich, Germany – TonHalle München++
11/17 – Cologne, Germany – E–Werk++
11/19 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle++
11/20 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457++
11/21 – Milan, Italy – Fabrique++
* Festival Performance
^^ Support from Sueco
++ Support from Tommy Cash