“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 (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.
A young artist with the rasp of a seasoned rocker and the heart of a sensitive songwriter, Bailey Zimmerman has arrived at the cusp of superstardom with the release of Religiously. The Album. marking not only the biggest streaming debut album of the year across all genres, but also the biggest streaming country debut of all time. “Comfortably bruising and appealingly bruised” (The New York Times), the LP debuted Top 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, No. 7 on their all-genre Billboard 200 chart and No. 8 on The Billboard Canadian Album Chart.
Writing “some of mainstream country’s most emotionally powerful tracks” (The Tennessean), Zimmerman has already surpassed 2 billion global streams to date and recently celebrated a six-week #1 single with his multi-Platinum smash “Rock And A Hard Place.” Achieving this feat solidified his place in history as “the first male artist to spend six weeks atop Country Airplay just two or fewer promoted chart entries, in a lead role, into a career,” according to Billboard.
The 2023 ACM Awards New Male Artist nominee performed the monster hit as part of the live TV event earlier this month (WATCH HERE), where he was also recognized as the latest artist selected by Amazon Music for their Breakthrough Artist program. This honor follows his first time as a CMT Music Awards nominee earlier this year, earning recognition in both the Male Video of the Year and Breakthrough Male Video of the Year categories.
Establishing himself as “one of the most exciting new names in the music industry” (Forbes), Zimmerman’s collaboration with YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Dermot Kennedy for the original song, “Won’t Back Down” is out now (LISTEN HERE). The track and its music video (WATCH HERE) are part of the official soundtrack for Fast X; the tenth and penultimate installment of the Fast & Furious mega franchise.
Working tirelessly to bring his music to fans around the world, the Illinois native is out on the road now for Morgan Wallen‘s 2023 One Night At A Time World Tour. The 50+ date trek will visit multiple legendary venues including stadium stops at LA’s SoFi Stadium, Boston’s Fenway Park and Chicago’s Wrigley Field before wrapping on October 7th at Washington’s Tacoma Dome. Tickets are on sale now at BaileyZimmermanMusic.com (see full list of tour dates below).
Credited as “the biggest new country artist this side of Morgan Wallen” by Rolling Ston, Zimmerman’s record-shattering 2022 debut EP, Leave The Light On, also made history upon release as the most-streamed all-genre debut of 2022. Ranked as Billboard’s 2022 No. 2 Top New ountry Artist and No. 4 Top New Artist across all genres, he was named to multiple Year End Best Of lists including LA Times’ 100 Best Songs of 2022 and NY Times’ Best Songs of 2022. I addition, he was the only country artist in 2022 to receive two Platinum certifications from the RIAA, beginning with his No. 1 debut single “Fall In Love,” the fastest debut single toreach No. 1 at country radio since 2015 and the first debut hit to make it all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart in 2022.
BAILEY ZIMMERMAN 2023 TOUR DATES
*Morgan Wallen’s 2023 One Night At A Time World Tour
Sat, May 27 Durant, OK Choctaw Casino & Resort
Sat, June 3 Panama City Beach, FL Gulf Coast Jam
Sun, June 4 Madison, IL Confluence Music Festival
Sat, June 10 Myrtle Beach, SC Carolina Country Music Festival
Fri, June 16 Bloomington, IL Interstate Center
Wed, June 21 Mack, CO Country Jam
Thu, June 22 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field*
Fri, June 23 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field*
Tue, June 27 Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena*
Thu, June 29 Detroit, MI Ford Field*
Fri, June 30 Detroit, MI Ford Field*
Thu, July 6 St. Louis, MO Busch Stadium*
Fri, July 7 St. Louis, MO Busch Stadium*
Sat, July 8 Fort Loramie, OH Country Concert
Thu, July 13 Chicago, IL Windy City Smokeout
Fri, July 14 San Diego, CA Petco Park*
Sat, July 15 San Diego, CA Petco Park*
Sun, July 16 Craven, CAN Country Thunder Saskatchewan
Wed, July 19 Phoenix, AZ Chase Field*
Thu, July 20 Phoenix, AZ Chase Field*
Fri, July 21 Culman, AL Rock The South Festival
Sat, July 22 Los Angeles, CA SoFi Stadium*
Sun, July 23 Twin Lakes, WI Country Thunder Wisconsin
Fri, July 28 Auburn, MI Tailgate N’ Tallboys Auburn
Sat, July 29 Taylorville, IL Tailgate N’ Tallboys Taylorville
Thu, Aug 3 Detroit Lakes, MN WE Fest
Thu, Aug 10 Malone, NY Franklin County Fair
Fri, Aug 11 Oro-Medonte, CAN Boots And Hearts
Sat, Aug 12 Columbus, OH Ohio Stadium*
Tue, Aug 15 Hamburg, NY Erie County Fair
Wed, Aug 16 Boston, MA Fenway Park*
Thu, Aug 17 Boston, MA Fenway Park*
Fri, Aug 18 Boston, MA Fenway Park*
Sun, Aug 20 Calgary, CAN Country Thunder Alberta
Wed, Aug 30 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park
Thu, Aug 31 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park
Sat, Sept 2 Washington, DC Nationals Park*
Fri, Sept 8 Moline, IL Vibrant Arena*
Sat, Sept 9 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena*
Thu, Sept 14 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage*
Fri, Sept 15 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage*
Sat, Sept 16 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage*
Mon, Sept 18 London, ON Budweiser Gardens*
Thu, Sept 21 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre*
Fri, Sept 22 Quebec City, QC Videotron Centre*
Sat, Sept 23 Montreal, QC Bell Centre*
Thu, Sept 28 Winnipeg, MB Canada Life Centre*
Fri, Sept 29 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre*
Sat, Sept 30 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome*
Tue, Oct 3 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena*
Wed, Oct 4 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena*
Sat, Oct 7 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome*
Fri, Oct 20 Simpsonville, SC Greenville Country Music Festival
Sat, Oct 21 Rome, GA Rome River Jam
Sun, Oct 22 Kissimmee, FL Country Thunder Florida
SiriusXM announced today that Dave Matthews will play a special invitation-only concert exclusively for SiriusXM at Irving Plaza in New York City on Wednesday, June 7.
Dave Matthews: Live & Acoustic will feature Dave Matthews doing an acoustic set featuring music from Dave Matthews Band’s recently released 10th studio album Walk Around The Moon, as well as other fan favorites. Walk Around The Moon is a reflection on our current times, highlighted by singles “Madman’s Eyes,” “Monsters,” and the title track “Walk Around The Moon.”
SiriusXM subscribers can enter for a chance to win tickets to see Dave Matthews perform, through the SXM App on Dave Matthews Band Radio through Thursday, June 1. For all entry details and official rules visit siriusxm.com/davematthewspr. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
Dave Matthews: Live & Acoustic will air live on Wednesday, June 7 at 8:00 pm ET on SiriusXM’s Dave Matthews Band Radio (ch. 30) and will be available to stream on the SXM App.
“Dave Matthews’ music has one of the most loyal and long-lasting fan bases amongst entertainers. We are thrilled to give listeners an exclusive one-night only experience with Dave performing fan favorites as well as new music acoustically,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer.
Every Friday night, the channel is exclusively broadcasting live concerts from Dave Matthews Band’s 2023 tour as part of the DMB Friday Night Concert Series, giving fans and subscribers nationwide unprecedented access. DMB Friday Night Concert Series is also available to stream on the SXM App. Dave Matthews Band Radio plays music from the band’s extensive career, including their indelible hits, live songs, and musical influences.
Eligible customers can get their first three months of SiriusXM streaming for free. Click here to sign up and experience all that SiriusXM has to offer. See Offer Details.
Jim Carrey performs the A-ha classic “Take on Me” on the Dacid Letterman Show in 2010, and ends the performance by trying to keep the last note as long as he can while breaking one of the host’s coffee cups.
Atlantic Records is proud to announce BARBIE THE ALBUM, the groundbreaking and star-studded musical companion to the highly anticipated summer event film Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The soundtrack campaign kicks off today with the electrifying first single “Dance The Night” from 3x GRAMMY® Award-winning global superstar Dua Lipa, who also makes a special appearance in the film. “Dance The Night” was produced by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt and the Picard Brothers. The sexy, fit for summer track can be heard in the film’s global official trailer, which launched earlier today, and arrives alongside a dazzling official video featuring a special appearance from Barbie writer/director/executive producer Greta Gerwig (“Little Women,” “Lady Bird”) – watch HERE. BARBIE THE ALBUM is now available for pre-order HERE and arrives in stores and at all online retailers on Friday, July 21st in conjunction with the theatrical release of the feature film.
BARBIE THE ALBUM will feature new tracks from an unprecedented lineup of artists including Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, Lizzo, KAROL G, Charli XCX, PinkPantheress, Ava Max, Dominic Fike, Khalid, The Kid LAROI, Tame Impala, HAIM, GAYLE and FIFTY FIFTY feat. Kali. Barbie star Ryan Gosling also joins the robust roster of soundtrack artists with his iconic original song performed as his character, Ken. See below for full tracklisting.
BARBIE THE ALBUM continues the hugely successful partnership between Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Pictures. The two companies previously teamed up for 2020’s BIRDS OF PREY: THE ALBUM which spawned the RIAA Certified 2x Platinum smash “Boss B*tch” by Doja Cat, along with the 2016’s GRAMMY® Award-nominated SUICIDE SQUAD: THE ALBUM, which topped album charts in over 70 countries around the world, including two consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200, and featured the RIAA Certified Diamond hit “Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots.
BARBIE THE ALBUM was executive produced by internationally renowned DJ and Oscar, Golden Globe and 7x GRAMMY® award winning artist and producer, Mark Ronson and Barbie writer/director/executive producer Greta Gerwig. The soundtrack album was Produced and overseen by Atlantic Records’ West Coast President, Kevin Weaver (Soundtrack Album Producer of The Greatest Showman, Suicide Squad, Daisy Jones & The Six, Birds Of Prey, Furious 7, The Fault in Our Stars, The Fate of the Furious) and Atlantic Records’ EVP and Co-Head of Pop/Rock A&R, Brandon Davis. Named by Rolling Stone as a “soundtrack guru,” Weaver is a GRAMMY® Award winner and five-time nominee, who has produced numerous multi-platinum soundtrack projects that have amassed tens of millions of albums sold worldwide. Additional key players involved on the project include Soundtrack Album Co-Producers, Brandon Creed and Joseph Khoury, as well as the Barbie Music Supervisor and Album Executive Producer, George Drakoulias.
To live in Barbie Land is to be a perfect being in a perfect place. Unless you have a full-on existential crisis. Or you’re a Ken. Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a Heyday Films Production, a LuckyChap Entertainment Production, an NB/GG Pictures Production, a Mattel Production, Barbie. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and released in theaters only nationwide on July 21, 2023 and internationally beginning July 19, 2023. Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell. The film is written by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach, based on “Barbie” by Mattel, and produced by David Heyman, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner. The executive producers are Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams. The film’s music supervisor is George Drakoulias, with music by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt.
BARBIE THE ALBUM TRACKLIST
1. Lizzo – Pink
2. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night
3. Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice – Barbie World (with Aqua)
4. Charli XCX – Speed Drive
5. KAROL G – WATATI (feat. Aldo Ranks)
6. TBA
7. Tame Impala – Journey To The Real World
8. Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken
9. Dominic Fike – Hey Blondie
10. HAIM – Home
11. TBA
12. The Kid LAROI – Forever & Again
13. Khalid – Silver Platter
14. PinkPantheress – Angel
15. GAYLE – butterflies
16. Ava Max – Choose Your Fighter
17. FIFTY FIFTY – Barbie Dreams (feat. Kali)
There’s nothing like putting in a hard day’s work – and then having something to show for it! Alvinston, ON-based Celtic-rockers the Mudmen pay tribute to the ultimate sign of hard work in their fun, toe-tapping, raucous ditty “Farmer’s Tan.”
Written by bandmembers Sandy and Robby Campbell in their mother’s old farmhouse, “Farmer’s Tan” features rockin’ guitars juxtaposed with whimsical bagpipes, and the song carries an inspirational message about friends, family, community, and a strong work ethic.
Well, they raised us right, they made us strong,
and they taught us how to get along
That our roots are deep, and promises we keep,
and I’ll roll up my sleeves to show…
“Our mom, Mary Dewar Campbell, is the one who inspired hard work and the one who tried to raise us right,” the Campbell brothers said. “Still to this day, at 80 years old, she has a large garden and gives vegetables to seniors in town and keeps her farm well maintained. She’s a strong person and has likely never missed a day of work in her life.”
The song’s corresponding music video features performances from three different festivals – the Western Fair in London, ON; The Kincardine Scottish Festival; and New Year’s Eve in Ottawa, ON – as well as scenes of folks doing actual farming. It also includes heartwarming shots of fans rolling up their sleeves to “show your farmer’s tan,” which the Mudmen often ask people do at their live shows (kids, especially, love this!).
“Hopefully ‘Farmer’s Tan’ will become a summer anthem and a song people can relate to and have fun with,” The Mudmen said.
Always entertaining and definitely unique, The Mudmen are a blast of Celtic energy whose members are known to be characters both on and off the stage. First discovered in 1993 as The Campbell Brothers, the brothers signed a record deal with EMI Records and changed their name to Mudmen. The Mudmen – consisting of Robby and Sandy Campbell, Colin Amey, Jordon Brosseau, Andy Gingerich, and Alex Showdra – believe that nice guys can finish first, and they believe deeply in connecting with their audiences. Established in 1998, Mudmen will be celebrating their 25th Anniversary in 2023.
At this point, the longstanding Mudmen are a beloved institution. Their music has been featured on Xbox and PlayStation games, NBC’s The Black Donnelly’s, WWE Wrestling, six Don Cherry’s Rock ’Em and Sock ’Em hockey videos, The Mackenzie Brothers’ TWO-FOUR Anniversary Special on CBC, HBO’s Shameless, HNIC Coach’s Corner (a special tribute to Dale Hunter), six music videos on Much Music/MTV, as well as reaching the Top 20 Countdown on Toronto’s 102.1 The Edge radio. In 2008, the Campbell brothers were asked to perform on the new “Hockey Night in Canada” theme song produced by iconic Canadian music producer Bob Rock, whereupon Ron MacLean declared to the nation, “Mudmen, we love ’em!”
Some of the best, most innovative musical acts ever started out when they were merely teens – The Runaways, The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys, to name just a few – and Canada’s Teen Jam, a first-of-its-kind performance showcase, is well aware of the immense talent and creativity that can be developed during that wonderful time of life.
Canada’s Teen Jam will allow finalists to perform on a massive concert stage as an opener to this year’s Wayback Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, on July 22 featuring JUNO Award winners Kim Mitchell and Sass Jordan. The performance will allow teen artists to explore their natural musical talents in front of both their peers and industry heavyweights.
Teen Jam counts Premier Doug Ford, as well as Kitchener Councillor Bil Ioannidis, as supporters. “Music and the arts have the power to engage and inspire young people,” Ford said. “Music gives our youth a chance to express themselves, develop discipline, and excel.”
“Thank you to the wonderful team behind Canada’s Teen Jam and the Wayback Festival for giving our next generation of musicians and musical performers this platform to hone their talents and gain exposure to audiences and music industry professionals,” Ford continued. “And congratulations to all the young people taking the stage. You’re all absolute champions. Keep up the good work!”
Teen Jam was created by Mark Higgins, producer, and founder of Big Music Fests, which has featured A-listers including Aerosmith, Bryan Adams, Soundgarden, The Tragically Hip, Slash, ZZ Top and many more legendary acts.
“When you support musical teens, you empower the entire teen community,” Higgins said. “Musical growth is absolutely essential for the future of our music industry. Without our up-and-coming next generation of artists being supported, the creative wall will crumble.”
Teens ages 13 to 19 can submit video performances here, along with a $10 submission fee. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best performances – $1,000 in the band category, and $500 for the solo-artist category. All sounds and musical styles are encouraged, as well as both original songs and covers. More information can also be found on Canada’s Teen Jam’s Instagram and TikTok.
The Teen Jam and corresponding Wayback Festival will also include a free concert on Saturday, July 22nd, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., featuring Kim Mitchell and very special guest Sass Jordan.
Jazz singer-songwriter Fiona Ross undertakes the difficulty of capturing the everyday – via both its birds-eye view and its sharp, minute detail – on her new album Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists.
She manages to crystallize the racing interior monologue, the standstill of the post-breakup blues, the gentle flow of a thirst for knowledge. She also deftly paints the party atmosphere, the easy camaraderie between friends, and the steadfast desire for truth.
The album’s opener, “When Will You Leave My Mind,” is a paradoxical song in the sense that it’s sonically full of movement – it has the pace of a cha-cha, a chugging train, a bustling city – while the lyrics capture perfectly the state of stuckness and standstill after a breakup. Replete with a catchy Latin guitar groove, the track makes the internal turmoil palpable with Ross’ syncopated singing, her words moving deftly in and out of the sensual instrumentation as she inquires, “When will you leave my mind/ You’ve spent too long in my mind/ You don’t belong in my mind.” The overall effect, however, is sassiness and steadfastness rather than wilted defeat, and the listener gets the sense that she’s going to solve this – if not right now, then quite soon.
Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists moves from strutting (“I Want To Know More”) to pensive and meandering (like the sax-studded “The Small Things”) to the wild, raucous and adventurous (“When You Walked In The Room”). Ross’ voice soars, strides, and shimmies through “A Single Source of Truth,” about looking for straightforwardness and low-drama in a world of melodrama and fake news.
Meanwhile, Trumpet Man” is sexy and undulating, an ode to a sort of renaissance man, with (of course) sublime trumpet accents in all the right places. “The Don’t Stop Just Breathe Ragtime” features wildly fun, almost cartoonish instrumentation with a sense of deep playfulness. And the glittering piano, danceable beats, and groovy guitar on the instrumental “#ThursdayThoughts” at the album’s conclusion replicate a mind racing with ideas and boundless energy.
Written, arranged and produced by Ross, the 14-track album is a compendium of several themes reflecting Ross’ day-to-day life. While some songs are busy, with lots going on from every angle, others are more interior and reflective, mirroring Ross’ headspace.
“Someone asked me what my new album was about and I explained that it’s just really some of my thoughts, some conversations I’ve had, and my To-Do lists,” Ross recalls. “That kind of stuck, so decided to call it exactly that – Thoughts, Conversations and To Do Lists.”
Named among the 100 Alternative Power Music List for 2020, multi-award winning jazz artist, editor-in-chief, journalist and founder of the award-winning Women in Jazz Media organization Fiona Ross never stops. As a vocalist, pianist, composer and producer, Ross has become known for creating her own contemporary jazz sound incorporating fast-paced Latin jazz, vintage jazz club, and a little bit of neo-soul along with heart wrenching ballads. She came to the world’s attention as the artist that gave Ed Sheeran his “first push,” but she very quickly established herself as an artist in her own right and has received incredible reviews and awards across the globe for all of her albums.
Ross has achieved many accolades for her work, including Best Jazz Song from the World Songwriting Awards, Outstanding Achievement awarded by the Global Music Awards, and International Female Songwriter of the Year from the International Singer-Songwriters Association. She has been featured in publications including Tinnitist, Jazziz, Record World Magazine, Jazz Corner, Ink 19 and Jazz Quarterly. Fiona’s song “Mistress” (which was recorded live in a stairwell) was selected to be included in the British Library archives for prosperity. “Ross’s lyric phrasing, vocal register and arrangements deliver brilliant presence and form,” says Music Interview Magazine.
Over the years, we’ve heard that love is the answer, the drug, can build a bridge, lifts us up where we belong, is endless, a crazy little thing and is, of course, all you need. Most certainly, this highest of emotions is at its best when it’s shared as far and wide as possible. Award-winning Canadian Singer-Songwriter Henry Lees is aiming to spread the love far beyond his own glowing heart with his funkified, grooved-up new single “Free This Love”, available everywhere on May 1, Global Love Day.
Co-written with noteworthy, award-winning Ontario singer-songwriters Heather Hill and Matt Gerber, and produced by Vancouver-based musical wunderkind Sean Thomas (Debbie Gibson, Joey McIntyre, NKOTB, New Edition), “Free This Love” was borne out of a collective wish to uplift and inspire human reconnection during a time rife with fear, isolation and uncertainty around the world.
“‘Free This Love’ is a song that celebrates and reminds us of the importance and power of brotherly love,” shares Lees. “Spotlighting that was one of our goals when Heather and I had our first writing session for the song. Then, Matt joined us to help hone things stylistically and lyrically.”
“We imagined love being ‘let out of the cage’ into a space of greater freedom and compassion,” adds Lees.
I want you by my side
I’ll never leave you behind
Let’s lift each other high
And free this, free this love
This passionate anthem about compassion mixes Lees’ warm, soulful tenor with syncopated guitar, playful keyboard riffs, dramatic percussion and a four-on-the-dance-floor, total sing-along chorus. To create the sparkling pop sound that showcases the song’s powerful message, Lees turned to his friend and frequent collaborator, Vancouver producer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sean Thomas.
“Sean and I have collaborated a number of times since we first met and clicked during the annual SongStudio Workshop in Toronto five years ago,” notes Lees. “He’s done amazing work in recent years with brilliant pop icons like Debbie Gibson and Joey McIntyre and I knew he would be able to transform our earnest demo into this big, beautiful banger that we’re so proud of!”
“When listening to the demo of ‘Free This Love’, I could hear the emotion that Henry was conveying through his beautiful vocal performance and the impactful message of the lyrics that he wrote along with Heather and Matt,” recalls Thomas. “It was a pleasure to produce and an honour to work with such amazing talent!”
This collaborative effort has already paid off with accolades from two major international songwriting competitions. “Free This Love” was selected as a Top 10 Finalist for the 2022 USA Songwriting Competition and was recently chosen as a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 International Songwriting Competition.
“When I think of the thousands and thousands of entries that are submitted each year for these competitions and it hits me that ‘Free This Love’ has been singled out by industry peers for recognition not once, but twice, I’m completely blown away and so grateful,” says Lees.
With three years of pandemic, war and conflict, increasing divisiveness and climate crises all playing havoc with humanity, choosing to drop this joyful jam on Global Love Day was a no-brainer and an all-heart decision for Lees.
“As I was considering potential mid-spring release dates, I discovered that May 1 is Global Love Day,” he notes. “It’s a symbolic day of unconditional love that recognizes our oneness through love. ‘Free This Love’ celebrates the same idea, so it was a drop date slam dunk!”
Global Love Day was established in 2004 by The Love Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2000 by Harold W. Becker to “inspire and remind people of the simple, practical power of loving unconditionally”. Since then, it has grown to include close to fifty local coordinators in over forty countries, including three in Canada. According to thelovefoundation.com, Global Love Day has garnered 854 proclamations and greetings from governors, mayors, city councils and other prominent elected officials over its 20-year history. In 2023, the Canadian municipalities of Oakville, Saskatoon and Victoria have all issued proclamations honouring Global Love Day.
“I was born on the first day of summer in the Summer of Love. So, I’ve always thought that the natural belief I have in the innate goodness of humanity has been with me since day one,” Lees offers. “We all have our struggles with the darker sides of human nature but, we were also born to love one another.”
The love of making music has also been with Henry Lees since day one. Writing, recording and performing everything from radio jingles to musical theatre has taken him to the national airwaves and to stages across Canada, including singing on two cross-Canada Huron Carole benefit tours with singer-songwriter, actor, philanthropist and Order of Canada recipient Tom Jackson. In 2022, Lees celebrated his first number ones as a songwriter when triple Maple Blues Award nominee Chris Antonik and his album “Morningstar” hit #1 for 2 weeks on Roots Music Report’s all-genre, Top 50 Canada Albums Chart and “Back to the Good”, one of six songs Lees’ co-wrote with Antonik for the album, also hit #1 on the RMR.
Also in 2022, Lees released the single “Walking With Fear”, a very personal song of support for those dealing with anxiety disorders co-written with multi-award winning singer-songwriter David Leask and co-produced with Leask and JUNO winner Steve Dawson. “Walking With Fear” was released in partnership with Anxiety Canada in support of Action Anxiety Day.
In 2021, Lees was honoured with a Top Ten Finalist Award from the International Acoustic Music Awards and a Second Place Award from the Indie International Songwriting Awards for his song “Nothing Left to Lose”, co-written and co-produced with Sean Thomas.
These recent accomplishments have led to plans to release another digital single and an EP later this year. Until then, Lees hopes “Free This Love” will spread the love groove everywhere this summer from nightclubs to backyard barbecues.
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Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.
Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com
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