Is there anything quite like the anticipation of a new season? When the air is thick with dreams, and every supporter’s heart is filled with hope and the unspoken phrase, ‘This could be our year!’ And all this is heightened by the sight of a beautiful new pitch, as smooth as a carpet—a testament to the groundskeeper’s art. Like a blank page ready for the season’s triumphs to be written.
‘The Greenest Green’, the lush indie pop ode to football (soccer) from Toronto band Spotkix is packed with raw driving guitars and polished harmonies and celebrates the feeling on the first day of a brand-new season—before a ball’s been kicked. A day when however fleetingly, everything seems possible…
Spotkix are Steve Maradona (Guitar + vocals), Georgina Best (Keyboards, guitar + vocals), Pete Rodriguez (Guitar + vocals), and Johnny Singh (Drums). After meeting at a pick-up game in Bickford Park, they discovered they were all musicians.
It didn’t take long for them to start jamming, and one thing led to another. Fast forward a year or so to the release of their debut single from the upcoming album On a Yellow, scheduled for release in November 2023.
Tracked by Toronto producer Derek Downham who’s worked with Tragically Hip, Broken Social Scene, and Serena Ryder. The tune is mixed by veteran UK producer Neil Ferguson, best known for producing Chumbawamba.
Georgina Best says, “Once the season gets underway, social is full of fans slagging off players and each other. We wanted to write a love song to the game.” Steve Maradona adds, “We wanted the song to give you the same feeling as a freshly mown pitch.”
The Greenest Green —I nspired by the beautiful game and dedicated to everyone whose heart has ever been broken by a goal in stoppage time. Cruel disappointments come with every season, but until they do…
Famed singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has announced ten highly anticipated shows across the U.S. this September and October. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Thursday, September 14 at FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, TN making stops across ten cities in Austin, TX, Tampa, FL, Pittsburgh, PA and more before wrapping up in Charleston, WV at Charleston Coliseum on Thursday, October 5. Her latest tour announcement comes on the heels of a sold out Arkansas performance and her third ever visit to Mexico City with 2 shows earlier this month.
Del Rey has become a true icon of our time, captivating audiences worldwide with her unique blend of hauntingly beautiful melodies and evocative lyrics. Her highly anticipated ninth studio album, Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, was released in March via Interscope Records/Universal Music Canada.
The album takes fans on an introspective journey through Del Rey’s signature storytelling style while showcasing her distinctive voice, poetic prowess and emotionally charged compositions that have garnered critical acclaim. Singles include “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd,” “A&W,” “The Grants,” as well as the videoclip of “Candy Necklace” ft. Jon Batiste and the latest single: “Say Yes To Heaven,” that has amassed more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.
With multiple chart-topping albums and an extensive discography, Del Rey has established herself as one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her unique blend of alternative pop, dreamy melodies and poetic lyrics has earned her a dedicated fanbase worldwide.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available during the general onsale beginning on Friday, August 25 at 10am local time at livenation.com.
TOUR DATES:
Thu Sep 14 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater
Sun Sep 17 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Tue Sep 19 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
Thu Sep 21 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater
Sat Sep 23 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Mon Sep 25 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Wed Sep 27 – Brandon, MS – Brandon Amphitheater
Fri Sep 29 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
Tue Oct 03 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Thu Oct 05 – Charleston, WV – Charleston Coliseum
The smart speaker market is estimated to grow by USD 16,659.23 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 18.75% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.
Companies: 15+, Including Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Bang and Olufsen Group, Belkin International Inc., Bose Corp., Edifier International Ltd., Imagine Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., NXP Semiconductors NV, Onkyo Corp., Portronics Digital Pvt. Ltd., Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sonos Inc., Sony Group Corp., Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd., Zebronics India Pvt. Ltd., and Zound Industries International AB, among others
Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and company landscape; company product insights and recent developments; key companies; and market positioning of companies
Segments: end-user (residential and commercial), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).
The growing competition in the market is compelling companies to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their services. Technavio report analyzes the market’s competitive landscape and offers information on several market companies including – Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Bang and Olufsen Group, Belkin International Inc., Bose Corp., Edifier International Ltd., Imagine Marketing Pvt. Ltd., Lenovo Group Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., NXP Semiconductors NV, Onkyo Corp., Portronics Digital Pvt. Ltd., Qualcomm Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Sonos Inc., Sony Group Corp., Xiaomi Communications Co. Ltd., Zebronics India Pvt. Ltd., and Zound Industries International AB
Rapidly increasing unit sales of smart speakers is a key factor driving market growth. The smart speaker market is witnessing significant growth, mainly led by major players like Amazon, Alphabet (Google), and Apple in 2022. Other significant contributors to the market are Alibaba, Baidu, and Xiaomi.
Additionally, Amazon and Google have notably dominated this market. The increase in smart speaker sales is attributed to their versatility as personal digital assistants. They offer various features like music streaming, weather updates, alarms, radio, games, smart home control, news, product search, calls, traffic updates, messaging texts and even shopping. This versatility is driving consumers to invest in smart speakers. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
The increasing popularity of voice commerce is a major trend in the market. Voice commerce is increasingly recognized worldwide as an alternative to traditional online ordering and purchasing methods. Consumers can easily search and buy products online using voice commands from smart speakers equipped with virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
In addition, this method offers fast and convenient shopping, attracting users with hands-free operation, multitasking ability, and quick response. For example, Amazon’s Alexa-enabled smart speaker allows customers to search, order, and purchase products. Leveraging users’ shopping history, Alexa recommends relevant items and streamlines purchases with voice commands, while smart speaker enhancements simplify online shopping. Hence, the increasing popularity of voice commerce is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.
Privacy and security threats associated with smart speakers are significant challenges restricting market growth. Privacy and security concerns are prevalent among consumers around the world. For example, many people in the United States are worried about the potential threat to their privacy and personal data when using smart speakers. Manufacturers in the market have hired many people around the world to listen to voice recordings recorded by smart speakers in USers’ homes. This method aims to improve the understanding of human speech by smart speakers and improve their response to commands. Weak or default passwords for Internet-connected smart speakers can be hacked, leaving the network owned by the end user compromised. In addition, unsecured connected smart speakers can also make it easier to download malware onto the network. Hence, the increasing Privacy and security threats are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period.
The Bluetooth speaker market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.98% between 2023 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 9,014.54 million. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by product (portable and fixed), distribution channel (offline and online), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The increasing adoption of smart speakers is notably driving market growth.
The multimedia speakers market is estimated to grow by USD 21.33 billion between 2022 and 2027 at a CAGR of 11.33%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by distribution channel (offline and online), type (wireless multimedia speakers and wired multimedia speakers), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The growing consumer preferences for in-home entertainment systems are notably driving market growth.
In a heartwarming gesture of community support, African Women Acting (AWA) Niagara Festival, the acclaimed annual arts and culture festival, is spreading joy by giving away 300 tickets to eager attendees, all made possible through a generous donation.
This act of benevolence not only reflects AWA Fest’s commitment to making the event accessible to a diverse audience but also showcases the profound impact that collective contributions can have on creating meaningful experiences. The festival is now poised to touch even more lives, as its spirit of giving resonates throughout the community, fostering a sense of unity and shared appreciation for the arts presenting talented, hard-working, resilient artists, who demonstrate tremendous effort in pursuing their artistic visions and careers.
Saturday, August 26 & Sunday, August 27, 2023 from 2:00-10:00pm
116 Queenston Street, Queenston, Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON
The 3rd edition of the AWA Niagara Festival 2023, presented by the African Women Acting (AWA) organization, celebrates African Cultural Heritage and special guest artists. The annual festival presents talented, hard-working, resilient artists, who demonstrate tremendous effort in pursuing their artistic visions and careers. The festival offers a full day, family-friendly program, with an action-packed schedule including professionally curated arts and crafts exhibitions, interactive African Djembe drumming workshops for all ages, dance, music, delicious authentic African and Canadian food, and vendors, all in one stunning site in celebration of the best of African and Canadian Music, artisans, and vendors.
Artists Roster – August 26th
African Drum Circle – Mohammed Diaby, Khadim Mbegue
Afrobeat Music/Dance – DJ Moussa
Alternative/Contemporary Music by J.A.S
Native Artist – Esther Jane Willow
RnB – Kyla Wheeler
RnB/Soul Music – Shake Street (Rob Leclerc)
Afrobeat – Exclusive Connection FT Tolu
African Drumming – Mohammed Diaby & Khadim
Artists Roster – August 27th
African Drumming Circle – Mohammed Diaby, Khadim Mbegue
Afrobeat Music/Dance – DJ Moussa
Native Artist – Esther J Willow
Alternative/Contemporary Music by J.A.S
Choral Music – Minuscule
Arabic Music – Tabiba
AfroJazz Music- Waleed Kush & Razab Dareer
Bollywood Music and Dance – KL Company
The AWA Festival and RiverBank Art Museum have an incredible team of staff, contractors, suppliers, and community visionaries working hard to ensure a most memorable event for the entire family. New for 2023, ALL AGES ZONE that will include drum circle activities, face painting, afrobeat dancing, and more fun activities.
My Own Addiction’s new single “How The Story Goes” is right in line with this exciting new rock band’s guitar-driven, high-energy sound. This time around, they added the cello — an unusual instrument for the genre, while the band was inspired by Metallica’s use of the cello in some of their songs.
My Own Addiction is a mainstream rock band out of Oshawa, Canada. The four-piece band formed in the late summer of 2022, and they wasted no time getting into the studio to record their full LP that same year. The band is composed of Andrew Losier on guitar, Todd Burrows on drums, Tim Reesor on bass, and fronted by Alexandra Augustine on vocals (she is also known as an actor). These four musicians are driven by their passion for performing music that combines high-energy classic rock with hard blues undertones and a sprinkle of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.
Their new single “How The Story Goes” was written and rewritten a few times, Alexandra says. “I really like storytelling in my lyrics, but I truly had no idea what story to tell when I wrote this song. [It] was the bane of my existence for, like, three weeks, which in hindsight seems like a short amount of time—but I was wrestling with it. I guess that’s how the story goes! Anyway, it’s probably one of my most honest songs, and I leave it to you as a listener to find what it means for you.”
Having opened for rock legends Buckcherry this past summer, and supporting Anvil in the fall, audiences can expect high energy driven rock ’n roll that compels you to move and encourages you to let loose and rock out.
Mark your calendars and get ready to swing into a world of mesmerizing melodies and soulful rhythms at the much anticipated Kensington Market Jazz Festival. Returning to the heart of Toronto’s eclectic Kensington Market, this year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of jazz in all its vibrant forms.
🗓️ FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
📍 Location: Kensington Market, Toronto
Whether you’re a seasoned jazz aficionado or just looking to groove to some captivating tunes, the Kensington Market Jazz Festival has something for everyone.
Born and raised in Kensington Market, founder, organizer, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist Molly Johnson O.C., has been proud to showcase hundreds of established musicians on the Toronto jazz scene since the festival’s start in 2017, in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, in the heart of Toronto’s heritage district. Over the last seven events, KMJF has presented hundreds of concerts featuring hundreds of Toronto’s jazz musicians, in local venues and with the help of over 150 volunteers.
“This year, the motto is ‘Better, Not Bigger,” says Johnson. “There’s an intimate charm and a unique sense of connection that make the Kensington Market Jazz Festival an exceptional experience. This year, the intimate gatherings allow attendees to truly immerse themselves in the music, getting up close and personal with the artists in a way that can be rare elsewhere. We can’t wait to tell you what’s in store!”
Under the Kensington Market Jazz umbrella, there have been many other projects that have come to life, including a winter and spring series in the market, two live recordings, and in April 2018, KMJF Kids Music was launched in partnership with the festival’s patron saint, Tom Mihalik of Tom’s Place, Yamaha Canada Music Ltd., Discovery Through The Arts, Youth Arcade Studio, and St. Stephen’s Community Centre. KMJF has received financial support from the City of Toronto, and the Ontario Arts Council, alongside continued support from Slaight Music and other private donors.
The Kensington Market Jazz Festival is proud to be an artist-driven, volunteer-fuelled festival that has been met with overwhelming support. KMJF wishes to honour the history in the market and strives to ensure that our vision remains in tune with that of the neighbourhood.
Stay tuned for more updates on the lineup, special events, and ticket information. Don’t miss out on this spectacular jazz extravaganza right in the heart of Toronto’s cultural hub. Let’s create unforgettable memories together at the Kensington Market Jazz Festival!
In 2023, streaming is abundant. It has its pros: reach, convenience, cost. But what streaming offers in ease it lacks in intimacy. There is no medium more suited for such than vinyl.
Of the many musical genres the world over, jazz and blues remain among the most intimate. Quality blues records never lose their mystique, aging like wine through every era. Tapes, CDs, and streaming cut into vinyl’s market, but nothing can put it to bed.
That’s part of why Maple Blues Band is so excited about the vinyl version of its latest album, “Let’s Go.” The Toronto outfit’s 10-track project was released in January through Cordova Bay Records. It has since climbed to the No. 1 spot on Roots Music Report’s Canadian Chart while residing on the list for 27-straight weeks. It has earned itself quite the reputation, and lovers of jazz can now enjoy the band’s suave grooves through timeless means; its vinyl unveiling provides listeners with the art in its purest form. You can buy it here.
“I’m really encouraged by the growing popularity of the vinyl record,” the band’s musical director and bassist Gary Kendall said. “Although digital recordings have improved over the years, you can’t beat the sound of good vinyl on a first-class stereo system. It’s the correct and proper way to listen to music.”
It’s been a long time coming for the Maple Blues Band and this release. It took a 24-year collaboration, originating at the Toronto Blues Society programming recap meeting following the 1998 Maple Blues Awards. There, Kendall told the audience that the music that accompanied the award presentations should be better. They retorted: “Let’s see what you can do.” So, Kendall did.
“Twenty-four years ago, the ball was in my hands, and I knew I had to make it good, really good,” he explained.
He also knew he needed to find a collection of musical creators capable of contortion.
“I wanted a big band that could play all the blues styles: Delta Blues, Southside Chicago Blues, New Orleans Funk, Uptown Blues, Zydeco, Blues Rock, and most of all Canadian Blues,” Kendall recalled.
What Kendall made turned into something unique itself. Infusing styles from across the Canadian Blues scene and borrowing pieces from the genre’s many niches, Maple Blues Band has a one-of-a-kind sound born from the beauty of organic collaboration.
The Maple Blues Band has been a staple of the Maple Blues Awards ever since, and more than two decades have brought it to this point. Song writing credits on the album include band members past and present. What started as a way to improve a local event has turned into something much more.
For Kendall in particular, it’s been an arduous but rewarding path.
“Over the years, the musicians that have contributed to making this dream possible all rose to the occasion lending their talent and support,” Kendall said. “The Maple Blues Band made a really great album with ‘Let’s Go.’ Being able to listen to it with that warm, fat vinyl sound has made my artistic journey complete.”
Singer-songwriter Lara Eidi soars high with the release of her latest single “Breathe Love” out on all platforms on August the 4th from her debut album Sun, out September 4 on Pastiche Records. With its genre-defying sound and heartfelt lyrics, the song is a testament to Eidi’s unique artistic vision and creative prowess.
Relocating to Athens, Greece from London, England during the pandemic, Eidi found herself in the city’s streets and gathering inspiration during her daily walks. These moments led Eidi to confront her fears and rediscover her true voice. She felt empowered to create music that reflected her courage and resilience on her journey of self-discovery.
“Breathe Love is about embracing every single side of oneself. The shy, the free, the brave, the timid, the wanderer, the observer, the giver and the receiver,” says Eidi. A highly versatile multi – instrumentalist. Eidi composes in a manner that builds on drawing the listener’s attention starting with the simple to the highly complex. `Starting with a piano riff , Eidi’s dexterity as a pianist set the foundation for the development of ‘Breathe Love’ . Influenced by the diversity of artists such as Jose James, Chet Faker and Laila Biali , she managed to fuse 90s dub feels with enlisting Fatis on drums, whilst floating vocally over each beat, developing the sound by layering one vocal overlay at a time, ending with strings soaring into an emotional crescendo to juxtapose Eidi’s intricate and dynamic 14 vocal harmonies.
The music video for “Breathe Love” was filmed in an urban park in Athens by Petros Ioannidis and features dancer and performer Demelza. The video visually captures the essence of embracing one’s multifaceted self as two sides merge into one voice and movement. Eidi and Demelza breathe love back out to the universe, symbolizing the unity and strength found within oneself. “When I sat down to come up with a concept for this video, I could immediately picture movement and a dancer. So, I invited the stellar Demelza who features as my ‘other side’ in this video. The two ‘sides’ come together as sisters, as one voice, one movement, breathing love back out to the universe,” says Eidi.
To make up the album Sun, Eidi revisited old unreleased songs like “Forgive,” “Tide,” and “Sun” along with unfinished tracks such as “Damien” and “Hang On.” Additionally, she crafted new compositions like “Hello Gravity,” “Breathe Love,” and “Maybe Then.” Each song is layered with raw emotions and honest storytelling. The album captures Lara’s growth, vulnerability, and resilience in the face of personal challenges.
To bring her vision to life, aside from performing lead and backing vocals switch between piano and guitar as a multi -instrumentalist, Lara assembled a group of exceptionally talented musicians from Athens’s diverse music scene. Collaborating with drummer Petros Fatis,bassist Harrys Pandazis, cellist Stavros Parginos, cellist Eirini Anastasiou, violinist Catherine Tepelena, and violinist Tasos Gousetis, Eidi created a rich and dynamic sound that perfectly complements her storytelling.
Eidi is an artist known for her genre-bending style and captivating presence that is on display in her new single “Breathe Love.” Her ability to connect with audiences on a profound level coupled with her powerful voice and evocative songwriting has made her debut album Sun a piece that showcases her artistic evolution and delivers a message of hope, empowerment, and freedom.
‘Breathe Love’ is out on all digital platforms on August 4, with the full album Sun set for release September 4 via Pastiche Records.
In “Insomnia,” Lagos, Nigeria-born, Edmonton, AB-based Osasioo perfectly captures the feeling of losing a lover and knowing you deserved to do so. It’s about realizing that you didn’t treasure someone when they’re around and accepting that they made the right choice to protect themselves from the pain you inflicted by walking away.
Osasioo, born Osas Igbinosun, is known for his descriptive songwriting style and his captivating blend of R&B and modern pop. The Nigerian-born Canadian based artist has amassed a great number of fans with his unique voice and relatable lyrics. His songwriting processes, much like his songs, are a journey, as he originally started “Insomnia” in 2021 during the pandemic.
The song is written from a place that many will find relatable: whether they’re the abuser or the one that was abused. Whichever side of the fence you belong to, his distinctly warm and velvety voice carries the song’s lyrics straight to your heart and you find yourself immediately drawn to the song’s message from the get-go.
“’Insomnia’ was inspired by a friend’s nasty breakup which left him inconsolable. It takes listeners on a journey of the regret that he feels for the wrongs that he did in his past relationship,” he said of the inspiration.
For this soulful track, he enlisted the help of his longtime collaborator Femi Sobaki and worked with Calgary-based producer Colin Carbonera to match the song’s deeply meaningful lyrics with a sad, melancholic instrumental, giving listeners an overall immersive experience.
“Sunday morning’s not the same without you/There’s no dancing around/Picture frames been taken down/Words you said completely shattered my heart/At the door as I stood/I was wrong,” he sings in the opening verse, before going on to describe the degree of his pain in the chorus.
The bridge is another part of the song that’s lyrically heavy and describes so much with its few lines, as he sings, “I’ll understand if you don’t come back/You deserve better and you know better/To find the one who can give the love right back.”
Growing up, he was inspired by the likes of Ne-Yo, Usher and Vianney, and like his influences, he is determined to create songs that’ll leave a lasting impression on the hearts of people.
What do Crystal Shawanda, Leela Gilday, Northern Cree powwow group, a dozen other Indigenous artists, and Roots band Sultans of String have in common? They have all come together in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and Final Report that calls for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to work together to create Walking Through the Fire. This album and live show are a powerful collection of collaborations between the roots group and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island, with the CD releasing September 15, 2023, and a live concert tour launching on September 28, leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. You can pre-save the album here and pre-order the pjysical CD here.
Fire can be destructive, as we have seen with the unprecedented forest fires still burning in Canada. But what we see right afterward is interesting, as collaborating Indigenous art director Mark Rutledge explains, referencing the title and cover art of Walking Through the Fire. “You’ll see the burnt-out husks of trees and the ash and the charcoal on the landscape. But fireweed is the first plant after a forest fire that emerges, and you’ll see rivers and fields of magenta within the barren landscape, and those nutrients are going back into the soil for the next generation of trees and flowers and regrowth.”
There is fear instilled within the very notion of fire because it can be so destructive, not just to the landscape, but to the lives of people. But what lies beyond fear that holds people back from achieving what they want to achieve? “The other side of fear is growth and potential with collaboration between non-Indigenous and Indigenous people,” Mark continues. “When we drop the word reconciliation on people, there’s a large group of people who don’t understand what that means. And when you don’t understand something, you are fearful of it. But if we go through the same experience together, we walk through that fire together, and we come out together on the other end and have that unified experience together, that’s the power in this album.”
Together these artists are making a safe, creative space where new connections can be dreamed of – not in the Western way of thinking and problematizing – but instead a deeper sharing and understanding, with music being the common ground to help cultures connect and understand each other. “We are opening doors for each other, as Indigenous peoples, as settler peoples. This project is about creating connections and spaces to learn from each other” explains collaborator Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, violist with Métis Fiddler Quartet.
Nine-time Grammy-nominated Northern Cree and community organisers in Kettle and Stony Point welcomed Sultans of String to their annual powwow for one of these collaborations. Steve Wood, drummer and singer, explains, “When you’re collaborating with mainstream music, it shows that we can work together to bring out the very best in who we are as human beings, and we can bring out something very beautiful.”
A central theme running through Walking Through the Fire is the need for the whole truth of Residential Schools and the Indigenous experience to be told long before reconciliation can possibly take place. Grammy-nominated Elder and poet Dr. Duke Redbird, who in many ways provided the initial inspiration for this project, explains, “The place that we have to start is with truth. Reconciliation will come sometime way in the future, perhaps, but right now, truth is where we need to begin the journey with each other.”
Sultans violinist Chris McKhool, who was recently awarded the Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award by Redbird and JAYU Arts for Human Rights for working to amplify these truths through collaborations, says, “This country has a history that has been ignored, distorted, twisted to suit colonialist goals of destroying a people. We are so fortunate for the opportunity to work with Indigenous artists, sharing their stories, their experiences, and their lives with us, so we can continue our work of learning about the history of residential schools, genocide, and intergenerational impacts of colonization. Music has a special capacity for healing, connecting, and expressing truth.”
McKhool leads the 3x JUNO nominated, 6x CFMA-winning band, who recorded the bed tracks at Jukasa Studios, an Indigenous-owned world-class recording facility on the Six Nations reserve south of Hamilton, Ontario. “We were so fortunate to be able to work at Jukasa, as well as consult with exceptional Indigenous artists on this project,” says McKhool. “We were lucky to be able to work with Indigenous designer Mark Rutledge and Indigenous filmmakers and videographers Eliza Knockwood and Marc Merilainen, working with our usual team, to come up with a look and feel for the album.”
The Honourable Murray Sinclair, former chair of the TRC, said, “The very fact that you’re doing this tells me that you believe in the validity of our language, you believe in the validity of our art and our music, and that you want to help to bring it out. And that’s really what’s important: for people to have faith that we can do this.” Sinclair also spoke about the importance of using Indigenous languages so these do not become lost. The recording and concert features lyrics in Dene, Inuktitut, Sm’algyax, Cree, and Michif.
Sultans of String is a fiercely independent band that has always tried to lift up those around them and has exposed many of their collaborators and special guests to new audiences at their shows, including at JUNOfest, NYC’s legendary Birdland Jazz Club, Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow, and London’s Trafalgar Square. Led by Queen’s Diamond Jubilee recipient McKhool, they have collaborated with orchestras across North America and have played live on CBC’s Canada Live, BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and SiriusXM in Washington. They have recorded and performed with such diverse luminaries as Paddy Moloney & The Chieftains, Sweet Honey in The Rock, Richard Bona, Alex Cuba, Ruben Blades, Benoit Bourque, and Béla Fleck. Their work during the pandemic on The Refuge Project amplified the voices of new immigrants and refugees, earning them CFMAs and Best Musical Film at the Cannes World Film Festival.
Says Raven Kanatakta of Digging Roots: “We have to move beyond ally-ship, and we have to move into relationships of being co-conspirators, get down into the dirt and start working together and start moving forward. We’re all equals here, and we all need to communicate as equals. We actually need Canadians to step up and take that first move.”
TRACK LISTING
1. A Beautiful Darkness feat. Marc Meriläinen / Nadjiwan (Ojibwe)
2. The Rez feat. Crystal Shawanda (Ojibwe Potawatomi)
3. Take Off the Crown feat. Raven Kanatakta of Digging Roots (Anishinaabe Algonquin /
Onkwehón:we Mohawk)
4. Kǫ́ feat. Leela Gilday (Dene) & Leanne Taneton (Dene)
5. Nîmihito (Dance) feat. Northern Cree (Cree)
6. Lost and Found feat. Shannon Thunderbird & Kate Dickson (Ts’msyen)
7. Black Winged Raven feat. Shannon Thunderbird (Ts’msyen)
8. Our Mother The Earth feat. Dr. Duke Redbird (Chippewa/Anishinaabe)
9. Sweet Alberta feat. The North Sound (w/ Forrest Eaglespeaker – Blackfoot)
10. Humma feat. Kendra Tagoona & Tracy Sarazin (Inuit)
11. Highway of Tears feat. Don Ross (Mi’kmaw) & M.J. Dandeneau (Métis)
12. Chanson de Riel feat. Métis Fiddler Quartet (Métis)
13. Tkaronto Reel feat. Métis Fiddler Quartet (Métis)
14. Quviasuliqpunga feat. Kendra Tagoona & Tracy Sarazin (Inuit)
WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE TOUR DATES:
2023 Tour
With Leela Gilday, The North Sound, Don Ross, Shannon Thunderbird, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan), and a multimedia extravaganza including Northern Cree, Kendra Tagoona, Tracey Sarazin, Duke Redbird and more.
Sep 28 – Markham Flato Markham Theatre
Sep 29 – Stratford Stratford Symphony
Sep 30 – St Catharines Niagara Symphony
Oct 1 – St Catharines Niagara Symphony
Oct 2 – St Catharines FirstOntario PAC Education show
Oct 3 – Brantford Brantford Symphony
Oct 4 – Lindsay Flato Academy Theatre
With Shannon Thunderbird, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan), and a multimedia extravaganza including Northern Cree, Kendra Tagoona, Tracey Sarazin, Duke Redbird, and more.
Oct 10 – Sudbury Café Heritage – Education & Evening show
Oct 11 – North Bay Capital Centre
Oct 12 – Timmins Timmins Museum, O’Gorman HS
Oct 13 – Geraldton Geraldton Concert Series
Oct 14 – Thunder Bay Sleeping Giant Folk Music Society
Oct 15 – Dryden Dryden Entertainment Series
Oct 16 – Sioux Lookout Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series
Oct 17 – Red Lake Red Lake Entertainment Series
Oct 18 – Kenora Lake of the Woods Concert Group
Oct 19 – Fort Frances Tour de Fort Entertainment Series
Oct 22 – Burlington Burlington PAC
Oct 23 – Burlington Burlington PAC Education show
Nov 12 – Walkerton Victoria Jubilee Hall
2024
Jan 19 – Ottawa Centerpointe Theatre
Jan 23 – Kingston Kingston Grand Theatre – Education & Evening show
Jan 25 – Brampton Rose Theatre – Education & Evening show
Jan 30 – Guelph River Run Centre Education show
Jan 31 – Guelph River Run Centre Education show
Feb 1 – Guelph River Run Centre – Education & Evening show
Mar 2 – Winnipeg Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Mar 3 – Winnipeg Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
April 15 – Markham Flato Markham Theatre – Education Show
April 16 – Markham Flato Markham Theatre – Education Show
