All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her through Instagram or Twitter
Photo Gallery: Crowded House with Spirit Of The Bear at Toronto’s Budweiser Stage
Ottawa-Based Pianist Huguette Lavigne Releases Shimmering, Atmospheric “Pixie Dust”
Much like its name, “Pixie Dust,” the new song from Ottawa-based pianist and composer Huguette Lavigne, is shimmering and transfixing, putting the listener under a hypnotic spell.
A wholly instrumental piano piece from her new album Jazzed Up Dreams, “Pixie Dust” manages to be both bright and haunting at the same time, evoking both optimism and an ache for bygone days.
When she wrote it, Lavigne imagined an enchanted forest, a mental or spiritual place to retreat from the many difficult demands on our time, resources, and attention in today’s increasingly difficult epoch.
“First, you find yourself on a mysterious path as you enter a strange, lush, and hypnotic green forest,” Lavigne invites us to imagine. “Then, you let yourself slip into enchantment, illusion, and the supernatural. With a sprinkling of golden, glitter-like fairy dust, you are mesmerized. Keep your eyes open for the green-goddess fairy at the end, you may even think that anything is possible.”
The corresponding video guides us on this journey, using beautiful animation to take us on a tour of a mossy forest alive with glittering fireflies, electric trees, shimmering milkweed, glowing mushrooms, moths, and butterflies, and, yes, plenty of fairies.
Lavigne came to the song via improvisation, sitting at her piano and just playfully experimenting until the entire work unfolded rather quickly. As part of her process, Lavigne does not fully write down her music, rather, she relies on her shorthand to summon her memory recall for future performances. The final piece is then impressively stored entirely in her head and fingers. Once her composition is recorded, she then moves onto the next score.
“Given the world’s seemingly precarious future, the social challenges, and other dire predictions, I’m happy to have created a theme that digs in to find the child in us, and the video delivers this to us splendidly,” she says. “Beautiful ethereal scenes unfold. The child escapes to a world of fairies and golden-sprinkled pixie dust.”
Huguette Lavigne was brought up in a milieu of three Canadian cultures – Franco Ontarian, Quebecois, and English Canadian. She has recorded three albums prior to her current one: Five O’clock Somewhere, Yin and Yang, and Free and Easy. Lavigne studied composition at McGill University and piano at l’universite de Montreal. Her music is influenced by elements of Neo-Classicism, Neo-Romanticism, Minimalism, Jazz, Folk, and Classical music from India. In effect, she creates a modern fusion of styles.
Toronto-Based MAPLE BLUES BAND Capture A Jazzy, Sultry, Strutting Confidence with Aptly Named “Mating Cry”
“Mating Cry,” the new single from Toronto-based Maple Blues Band goes into the jazz world for this, and is exactly what its name suggests – a sexily strutting tune that announces its grand entrance with bright horns and a fun, cocky confidence. And its tenor sax solo by Alison Young adds just the right amount of sultriness to seal the whole deal.
With crossover appeal in both jazz and blues, Maple Blues Band reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Album Chart for a fifth week total for their album Let’s Go, consisting of 12 of the instrumental compositions the band compiled during their association with The Maple Blues Awards. Their release of a full-length album of instrumental music is part of a master plan to launch the group into the performance market of festivals and concerts.
“Mating Cry” was composed by the late piano/organ genius Michael Fonfara. A founding member of The Maple Blues Band, Fonfara was with the band for 16 years.
“We added ‘Mating Cry’ to a show we did at the Calgary Blues Festival in August 2021 to make sure we wouldn’t run out of material,” recalls band leader Gary Kendall. “When I was editing a performance video of that show I realized that our version of that song was strong and should be added to the recording plans. And especially because it’s a fitting tribute to Fonf, who passed away in January, 2021.”
A highlight of the recording is Young’s aforementioned sax solo. “Alison is normally on baritone saxophone in our horn section, but I asked her to switch to tenor for the solo at our sessions,” Kendall recounts. “It was a good call for sure!”
The Maple Blues Band consists of Gary Kendall, bass/band leader; Pat Carey, tenor/saxophone/horn arrangements; Teddy Leonard, guitar; Al Lerman, harmonica; Jim Casson, drums; Lance Anderson, piano/Hammond B3 and accordionist; Howard Moore, trumpet; Meirion Kelly, trombone; Alison Young, baritone saxophone; and Roshane Wright, percussion.
The 12 tracks on Maple Blues Band’s Cordova Bay Records release Let’s Go are a group effort, as the songwriting credits are spread over 24 years, including past and present band members.
Calgary’s Dynamic Rocker Duo THE WANDERING OFF Release “Knick Of Time”
The Wandering Off, a dynamic rock duo from Calgary, Alberta comprised of husband-and-wife, Emily, and Kyle Corner, have released their third single “Knick Of Time” from their debut, self-titled album – both available now.
This electric, newly released energy-driven track by The Wandering Off is the third single from their 12-song self-titled record, released in conjunction with the full album. Knick of Time, which tackles the subject of mental health, is a big, loud rock song written from the heart and is the first track on the album, setting the tone for the rest of the record.
“The story of Knick Of Time is a personal one for us”, explains Emily. “It’s an inspirational tale from the other side of conquering a difficult time as there are so many people that struggle – and we can’t forget about the people who hold up and save someone they love through a dark time. Anyone can be anyone’s hero.”
The soulful rock and roll couple’s debut album was released on March 31, 2023, and is a product of the unexpected creative burst that emerged during the pandemic. With the chemistry of a long-term relationship and a mutual passion and talent for music, Emily and Kyle have produced a record that captures a nostalgic rock sound with a unique twist.
“There would be no record if Emily didn’t become my superhero. Many things saved me during that dark period and now music is one of them,” says Kyle about the creation of their new self-titled album.
The talented singer/song-writing couple recorded most of the new album in their home studio before recruiting mixing engineer Warne Livesey to add some of his own flavour and refinement to their recordings. The duo also worked with Blake Manning on drums at Noble Street Studios.
“We were big fans of Warne’s work, and he took a chance on us,” says Kyle. “He is a sound wizard! We learned so much from him. He added some polish to our recordings, and we were ecstatic working with him.”
The Calgarian duo have garnered worldwide attention with their first single “Hey There” receiving radio airplay in several different countries. The couple is grateful for all their success, and they are enjoying the closeness this experience is bringing them, referring to it as “the ultimate date night!”
The Wandering Off’s sound has often been compared to that of 90s grunge rock, as they draw inspiration from their favourite bands such as Garbage, Hole, Momma, and Letters to Cleo. Vocally, raw, and gritty with memorable hooks and melodies, this record captures an emotional, fresh yet familiar rock sound.
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Seasoned Canadian Bluesman David Deacon Decries Our Endless Summer of Superficiality with “California Has No Winter”
We live in a world that increasingly celebrates youth and beauty in snapshots and doctors’ reality to taste, all while ignoring the value to be found in people and things with age, history and experience. Accomplished Guelph, ON-based blues/roots singer-songwriter David Deacon is eschewing instant aesthetics with his provocative new single “California Has No Winter”, released in tandem with his new album Four.
Soaking in the sunshiny tropes of the Golden State and delivering knowingly dark, spoken verses å la Leonard Cohen, Deacon points a poetic finger at the see through superficiality of today’s youth culture in his new release – and he certainly can. After five decades of creating poetry, music and visual art, careers as a race car driver, an advertising executive and a businessman and almost losing his life in a terrible motorcycle accident, turning a critical, musical eye on our modern societal state of affairs is Deacon’s hard won right.
“‘California Has No Winter’ is an observation about the thinness of the veneer of American youth culture, which stresses the beauty of the moment and has so little charity for the long term, the historic, the aging, the difficult,” explains Deacon. “It is my soft, non-belligerent, and very short version of Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’.”
While Allen Ginsberg’s 3-part opus is a voluminous hallmark of beat poetry, Deacon’s artistic observations are delivered in a tidier, four-and-a-half-minute song that packs its own, slow burn punch. Deacon’s softly commanding, world-weary baritone juxtaposed with an octave-higher female vocal rises into a crescendo in the outro, insistently asking “without seasons, without signs, how do we know when it’s over?” A very good question we should all ask ourselves from time to time.
You won’t see the leaves fall, there’s no snow at all
Time is only a clock, no need to take stock
You’re in the summer of life, you’ve got a California wife
California has no winter
While it certainly looks perfect on the surface, there’s a dark side to that shiny California coin. “It seemed to me that images of nature are perhaps the best possible way to contrast the idea of an eternal summer of life and the consequences of actually living that way both culturally and politically,” notes Deacon.
The third single from Deacon’s just released album “Four”, “California Has No Winter” is the album’s smoothly cynical cornerstone. As with all ten tracks on the new album, it was co-written by Deacon and his guitarist Andy Ryan. Deacon and Ryan also co-produced the new album, which was recorded by Grammy nominated and Juno winning producer Eddie Bullen and mastered by Lacquer Channel’s Noah Mintz. Rounding out Deacon’s musical quartet are Etric Lyons on bass guitar and Aaron Spinks on drums.
An album that marks a re-invigorated return to music making after a long hiatus, Deacon describes “Four” as ‘a ride that starts out on a freeway, takes a long stretch down a winding road, makes a few off-road excursions, and ultimately has faith that just keeping on will get you somewhere interesting.’ After years of writing, recording, and performing in decades past and detours into periods without music over the years, it’s the creative road ahead that excites Deacon now.
A chronicle of thoughtful and soulful reflections on life paths, relationships, and the state of the world around us, “Four” is a comprehensive example of Deacon’s approach to songwriting, which is two-pronged.
“I think the main starting point about writing songs for me is sorting out whether in my mind the song is a story or whether it’s a poem,” notes Deacon. “For example, the song ‘Poetry’ is a poem. That probably didn’t surprise you, did it? The song ‘Hard Time’ is the story that happened after the poem. They are both about the same woman, the same relationship but they were from different times and different points of view.”
It’s those different points of view about personal events and world perspectives that only an artist with David Deacon’s history and experience could possibly gather and turn into the poetry of his fourth album. With renewed vigor and creative spirit, the fourth time is the charm for this blues and roots journeyman.
Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder Battle It Out In This Grammy Synth Showdown From 1985
At the 1985 Grammy Awards, the synthesizer really took off as an instrument to be used (and not be afraid of using). Check out their segment with Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, Herbie Hancock, and Stevie Wonder joining forces for a synthesizer spectacular.
Hear A 19-Year Old Prince Play Every Instrument In This Jam From 1977
Prince’s Loring Park Sessions ’77 is a series of free recording sessions in the studio of Loring Park in Minneapolis, owned by Owen Husney, Prince’s first manager. Eight tracks, all instrumental and untitled, realized with the participation of bassist Andre’ Cymone and drummer Bobby Z, who will soon become members of Prince’s first band.
The Muppets Stay In Character During This Blooper Reel
The comedy of The Muppets is multi-layered, appealing to audiences of all ages with its clever wordplay, physical humor, satire, and engaging characters. Their ability to balance child-friendly entertainment with subtle jokes for adults has made them beloved by generations, showcasing the enduring appeal of their comedic style. And like most TV shows and movies, sometimes they flub their lines, too. Here are some of the best, while staying in character.
Brian Eno’s Music for Airports Being Performed By Musicians…In An Airport
“Music for Airports” is an ambient music album created by Brian Eno, and released in 1978. It is considered one of the pioneering works in the genre of ambient music. Eno conceived the album as a form of functional music designed to create a calming and tranquil atmosphere, particularly suitable for airports and other public spaces.
The Bang on a Can All-Stars perform Michael Gordon’s arrangement of Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports 1/1” at the San Diego Airport in October, 2015.
Indie Night In Canada 2023 Hosts Annual Showcase With 18 Indie Artists During Canadian Music Week
Indie Night In Canada (INIC) will host its annual artist showcase on June 6, 2023, featuring a lineup of 18 independent artists on two amazing stages during Canadian Music Week.
The showcase will take place at the legendary El Mocambo, and each stage will be emcee-hosted so as to keep things flowing as well as keep the energy levels high. Each of the 18 selected artists will perform a 30-minute set, with the schedules staggered between the two stages.
This format allows for everyone in attendance, whether they are music-loving fans, music media, or music industry attendees, to catch at least 15 minutes of all 18 performers. As INIC is produced during, but not part of, Canadian Music Week, running the schedule in a tight fashion allows everyone to be able to effectively get between venues and see who they want to see.
For 2023, INIC received 184 submissions to perform. “This year’s INIC Artist lineup might be the most diverse and talented offering we have ever presented,” says INIC Producer Paul Husband of The Next Level Entertainment Consulting Inc. “INIC is open to all genres of music because good music is good music, period.”
The El Mocambo is located at 464 Spadina Avenue in Toronto. The event is 19+, and doors open at 6 p.m. and the bands start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $30 at the door. Tickets are available at https://indienightincanada.com/buy-tickets. Each ticket includes performances from all 18 bands.
The lineup is as follows (in alphabetical order):
5th Projekt
5th PROJEKT’s music is a warm, psychedelic embrace and a kiss to your third eye. Critically acclaimed for the seamless blending of genres into their atmospheric music, 5th PROJEKT is a female-fronted, cinematic art-rock band that paints with sound. Their new independently released EP The Wolf debuted in the !earshot National Top 50 albums chart. The band’s captivating live presence has led them to showcase at music festivals like NXNE, Canadian Music Week, Indie Week, Kaleidoscope and Spirits of Earth Festival.
Back Alley Gospel
Back Alley Gospel is a Canadian outfit hailing from Toronto, playing an anthemic, emotional, and rustic strain of punk rock. The group’s upcoming debut EP Hold Up Your Head is a poignant reflection on renewal, new beginnings, and the power of starting over. With plenty to say and a drive for playing live, the band is eager to make their mark on the local music scene.
Circle The City
Formed in 2018, the Sarnia, Ontario natives have managed to capture not only the essence but the technicality of multiple genres and with that they have managed to mold a sound that stands out among their peers. Circle The City blends hints of jazz fusion, prog rock, blues and funk to create an idiosyncratic sound that has allowed them to share the stage with such bands as Texas King, Big Wreck, and Blue Rodeo. Currently in the studio working on an EP with new vocalist/bassist Karina Pakalnis, 2023 looks to be a promising year for Circle The City.
Cudbear
Cudbear is an alternative rock trio from Barrie, Ontario, that delivers melody with power. The minds behind the music are Bennett Jones (guitar/vocals), Adam Pox (bass), and Derek Stewart (drums). Their debut album, recorded in their hometown by local heroes Shane Heath and Daryl Sarnat, was released on Halloween of 2019. In 2023, the band will be releasing a few singles and music videos in support of their new EP. They set no boundaries or limitations for themselves, and they are on a mission to leave their mark on music forever.
Derev
Derev is a progressive rock/metal band hailing from Toronto, and was formed by guitarist Armando Bablanian and drummer Michel Karakach. Their music is a unique blend of metal intensity and atmospheric old-school progressive rock, with Arabic and Armenian influences incorporated into their sound. After reuniting in Canada, the duo added bassist Liam Horrigan to their lineup and released their debut EP Leap of Faith in May 2021. It received widespread attention and acclaim. Derev’s lyrics tackle deep and controversial issues, offering listeners a new perspective on the modern world.
Fall of Earth
Hybrid metal band Fall of Earth (FOE) have created music that stretches boundaries, resulting in a unique sound all their own. Each song is crafted with meaningful lyrics to tell the complex stories of life, both tragic and inspiring. Talented and passionate with a flair for owning the stage, they have rapidly developed a reputation as can’t-miss live performers. 2023 is a big year for FOE with the release of their sophomore album From The Ashes.
Fluffio
Hailing from Toronto, Fluffio has managed to develop a platform for himself just as diverse as the city itself. Fluffio has forged his own form of punk – loud guitars, catchy melodies, upbeat rhythms, and thought-provoking poetic lyricism – to ultimately deliver a mature sound with juvenile undertones. In fact, his music is perhaps best described as “nursery rhymes on drugs.” Paired with his endless energy and bold fashion sense, Fluffio routinely burns a lasting impression into his audience’s minds.
Frail Fragment
Frail Fragment formed in 2005 in Toronto as a brainchild of songwriter Len Lamanna. The band played more than 350 shows across southern Ontario and NYC between 2007 and 2011. Some highlights: Frail Fragments’ single “Time Thrown” was played on Toronto radio station 102.1.. In 2014, the band was featured nationally on Explore Music TV. Frail Fragment’s fifth full-length album was released in 2022. The album was previewed on 94.9FM The Rock – Generation Next. What’s more, Frail Fragment haunts many horror films. Len Lamanna scored a full-length horror/comedy movie called The Last Slay Ride released in 2022, and it’s available on Apple TV, Amazon & Tubi.
Live Animals
Personifying sonic grit and raw performance, Canadian hard rock band Live Animals bring authenticity back to rock n’ roll with their anthemic new single, “Into the Wild.” Electrifying right out of the gates with the infectious hard-hitting guitar riffs of Spencer Bailey and the exceptionally developed vocal stylings of Andrew Healy, “Into the Wild” also introduces the anomalous musicianship of new members Ben Challet on bass and Dave Schattmann on drums. Their musical chemistry is on full display with the follow-up to their sophomore release, “(ep)iphany”.
Living Dead Girl
Living Dead Girl is a female-fronted band that seamlessly melds heavy metal with pop punk attitude. The band exploded onto the scene with their debut album Exorcism in 2021, and has since been touring North America, featured in world-renowned magazines, and landing spots on radio charts.
Moondoggy
Moondoggy is a five-piece alternative rock band formed in Collingwood, ON, in 2019. Now based in Toronto, Moondoggy delivers an energetic live show that showcases their catchy songwriting. In 2023, the band is preparing to release their debut album Mad and Noisy, recorded at Toronto’s very own Dream House Studios.
Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold
Acclaimed as a Top 10 indie talent across Canada (Starbeat) and the No. 1 local rock band in their hometown (Reverbnation), Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold have quickly established a reputation for writing catchy songs and compelling audiences. Named a “favourite” by media legend Bill Welychka, they have rocked audiences of 200,000+ and shared bills with ’90s hitmakers SmashMouth and Canadian legends Platinum Blonde. A “one-of-a-kind talent,” Perry’s vocals have been said to be the “perfect blend of Alanis Morissette and Norah Jones” (Kaotic Notes), while her songwriting is full of “raw visceral power, killer hooks and punch-in-the-gut riffs” (Spill Magazine).
Scarlet Sins
Formed in Toronto in 2004, Scarlet Sins is an all-female hard rock band that features heavy riffs, catchy choruses, and lead vocalist Sylvia Niewinski’s powerful vocals. Guitarist Cristina Canas and Niewinski founded the band, later adding bassist Tanya Nicklaus and drummer Elie Bertrand to the lineup. Scarlet Sins have received critical acclaim for their live shows, known for their high energy and intensity. They opened for national acts such as Mötley Crüe, Buckcherry, Anvil, and April Wine. Scarlet Sins appeared four times on the shortlist for the 51st Grammy Awards. The band disbanded in 2009, but they reunited in 2019 for a series of shows. New music is set to be released in 2023, and two new members, Monica Julie (bass) and Jen Bryan (guitar), have been added for live shows.
Spades GT
Spades GT is a crossover punk/thrash band featuring J.D Pearce (Jack Spades, Frightlight) on vocals, Dan Horton (Jack Spades) on guitar, James Roy Dayley (Stand Against Fear) on bass, Tyler Reiner (Caym) on drums, and Jay Sarrazin (Hellrager, Sierra Pilot, Decatur) on guitar. Playing with such acts as Anvil, Random Killing, Ripchords, Dayglo Abortions, and many more notable Canadian bands, Spades GT first performed in March of 2022 to a great reception from fans and peers alike. With a full year of amazing shows, the band is back in 2023 with the release of their album Sewer City Radio.
Taylor Simpson & The Wishful Feeling
Taylor is an indie folk-rock artist from Toronto. He’s also a mental health and suicide awareness advocate. He writes from personal experiences and hopes that by sharing his stories with his listeners, they can form a safe and uplifting community.
Ted Axe
Ted Axe is part of Canadian punk history as the legendary frontman for The Action, ”Canada’s First Punk Band”. Touring with The Stranglers and The Ramones, Ted Axe became known as a provocateur and a powerful vocalist. The Action released their hit EP TV’s on the Blink on Montreco Records. Ted formed Sister Hyde in Seattle signing to Heart of Steel in 2007. Now, in 2023, he leads his own band and has released his album Sex, Horror, Violence and just released a new EP as well. Ted Axe is currently performing dates in Canada and the US.
The Sunset Drip
The Sunset Drip are a hard-hitting rock trio from Montreal. Their first official release BadDriver, a six-song EP made noise upon its arrival in 2021, attracting the attention of CBC music (Nationwide) and CHOM 97.7FM (Montreal’s #1 Rock Radio), where their title track “Where is the Sun” stayed in rotation for more than 40 weeks. It was that summer that The Drip made their way over to Toronto and began their takeover of the underground. Fast forward to 2023, and The Drip have a very booked summer across Ontario and Quebec and an arsenal of new material. The Drip are eager to ROCK YOUR WORLD.
Us Or Aliens
Us Or Aliens, a.k.a. artist Shawn Kirkpatrick, has been in the music industry for more than two decades. During that time, Kirkpatrick has written, composed, recorded and produced hit songs for both himself and for other artists. He has performed live in more than 500 venues worldwide. An accomplished musician, vocal coach, jingle writer, and TV theme composer, Kirkpatrick’s varied experience in the industry led to the creation of pop/Top 40-genre Us Or Aliens, a project that showcases his musical prowess and undeniable talent.