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Caribbean-Dutch-Toronto Rapper Big Lou Delivers a Message of Self-Love with Vibrant “I Got You”

Eric Alper
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Caribbean-Dutch-Toronto Rapper Big Lou Delivers a Message of Self-Love with Vibrant “I Got You”

Hailing from the thriving paradise of Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and back there after living in Toronto for 15 years, Caribbean-Dutch rapper Big Lou delivers the message of self-love we need in the world today with the vibrant new single “I Got You.”

Big Lou is a sonic burst of positivity with “I Got You,” an upbeat rap song highlighting the value of loving oneself and embracing personal growth. Infectious enthusiasm is effortlessly conveyed through Big Lou’s cadence and flow while drawing on his own challenges of giving permission to forgive and love one another.

With an emphasis on vulnerability and openness, “I Got You” is an attempt to connect with anyone endeavoring to overcome their struggles, with Big Lou saying, “we all have our battles, and we can all use some help.”

Prioritizing emotional depth and positivity through music is an essential part of Big Lou’s artistic identity and style of “happy rap music.” Big Lou’s philosophy of authentically communicating through his art comes from the various hardships endured and lessons learned. The radiant optimism embedded within the thoughtful lyrics in “I Got You” is not borne of naivety but is derived from a series of transformational events that provided context on the value of loving oneself.

“Maybe now you’re thinking why I should love me
Cuz without it, is when you’re truly lonely
Caught up inside, without any doubt
It’s a bloody demise, don’t scream or shout
If you do it then you prove it that you’re about to lose it
They’ll abuse it and misuse it, be the one to disprove it.”

It’s the harmonic manifestation of pure musical sunshine, perfect for rhythmically uplifting any cloudy day.

Big Lou began his artistic journey honing his lyrical penmanship and singer/songwriting skills in mid-2019 while practicing his raps for any person who would listen. As Big Lou dealt with many personal hurdles, including knee surgery, he subsequently launched the Go Produce podcast, which featured interviews with music industry professionals offering advice to up and comers. With experience, persistence, and determination, he would realize his musical vision with the debut single “As A Crew,” which was released to overwhelmingly positive reception.

Big Lou has been breaking onto the Canadian and worldwide hip-hop scene sure to appeal to all hip-hop fans. “I Got You” is the second single in a musical career that is already on an upward trajectory.

44-time (!!) Saskatchewan Country Music Awards nominee AMY NELSON Celebrates the Joyful Clumsiness of Falling in Love with “Trippin’”

Eric Alper
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44-time (!!) Saskatchewan Country Music Awards nominee AMY NELSON Celebrates the Joyful Clumsiness of Falling in Love with “Trippin’”

Falling in love is a real trip, isn’t it? Racing hearts, rising temperatures, and that delicious, dizzy feeling when you’re near the object of your affection all add up to one heckuva white knuckle ride we all want to take. Well, buckle up because rising Canadian country-pop artist Amy Nelson is living for the love drop with her smile-a-minute new single, “Trippin.’”

From the first beat, “Trippin’” climbs with a steady march and Nelson’s sweet, sassy vocal before letting go into an undeniably sing-along-able chorus detailing that wild, heart-in-your-mouth descent into love land.

“This song is all about the ups and downs of falling for someone new,” says Nelson. “It’s clumsy, it can be messy, and it’s 100% me.”

Tripping leads to callin’, and callin’ leads to fallin’
And fallin’ leads to I need you, I do
We’re in all of a sudden, why am I always rushing,
Next my Head is spinnin’, back at the beginning, oh my heart is always
Trippin’ and Fallin’

“Trippin’” was co-written by Canadian country hitmakers and multiple BCCMA/CCMA winners Madeline Merlo and Patricia Conroy, along with Dave “Dwave” Thomson and Tina Gemza. The minute she heard the song, Nelson knew it was telling her story and headed into the studio to record it with multi-platinum, multi-award-winning Canadian producer Jeff Dalziel (The Washboard Union, Jim Cuddy, Jessica Mitchell, Brett Kissel).

“This song was written by four amazing writers, but it sounds so much like me that it’s like I was in the room with them,” explains the 44-time (!!) Saskatchewan Country Music Awards nominee. “I don’t really fall in love gracefully, I generally trip over my own feet.”

That’s an endearing reveal that makes this effervescent artist and song instantly relatable and lovable.

Shot in Nelson’s hometown of Regina and released with perfect timing on Valentine’s Day, the video for “Trippin’” adds a ton of visual lovability to the tune. At least one of the local filming locations, which includes a vintage clothing store and a bowling alley, has a very personal connection for the Saskatchewan-born and raised singer/songwriter.

“It was so fun to film. We had two great actors and we even shot the dance scene at my own studio where I run my music school for kids.”

With as much drive to support and develop other artists as she has for herself, Amy Nelson has grown into being one of the crown jewels in Saskatchewan’s music scene. A former high school music teacher, Nelson opened a music school in 2011 called Sing Like A STAR, at which she has taught over 3,000 children to confidently follow their own artistic dreams. Concurrently from 2011 – 2018, Nelson served on SaskMusic’s board of directors, playing an instrumental role in advancing the province’s music industry.

2019 was a big year for Nelson. Her third and most recent album, Good Intentions, was voted the #2 Best Album in Saskatchewan in all genres. She won 620 CKRM’s Proudly Saskatchewan Showcase, a 40-year-old provincial competition with previous winners including Jess Moskaluke, Brad Johner, and Tenille Arts. Also in 2019, Nelson was recognized from the floor of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly for her intercontinental musical successes.

Nelson’s roots, both personal and musical, may be planted in the heart of Saskatchewan but her fast-growing career has taken her far afield to make lasting impressions. She’s lit up stages Down Under for Australian Music Week, as well as at Australia’s Groundwater Music Festival and Gympie Music Muster. Her 2019 single “Hey Love”, written by multi-award winner Jeff Cohen (Sugarland, The Band Perry, Big & Rich), reached #6 on the Australian country music charts. Elsewhere, Nelson was set to showcase just last month at the 2022 AmericanaFest UK in London, which was unfortunately canceled due to the Omicron COVID variant wave.

Now, with the world cautiously re-opening in 2022, Amy Nelson is poised to go trippin’ up the Canadian and international charts and hopefully, down the road to many waiting stages.

Wet Leg release new song “Ur Mum”

Eric Alper
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Wet Leg release new song “Ur Mum”

On Friday, Isle of Wight’s Wet Leg will release their eagerly anticipated self-titled debut album. Since unleashing their first single in June last year, things have moved at lightning speed for Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers – from selling out all their live shows in minutes, performing on US TV three times, being crowned number 2 in BBC’s Sound of 2022 to racking up 40M global streams and 9M YouTube views as well as been touted, most recently, by Dave Grohl, Lorde and Jack White. Before all twelve tracks from Wet Leg are revealed, today the duo share new song “Ur Mum”.

“Ur Mum” opens with a spectacular insult lobbed in the direction of an ex-boyfriend: “When I think about what you’ve become, I feel sorry for your mum” but the song also nods to outgrowing the slow pace of life and small town energy of the island: “When the lights go down on this fucking town, I know it’s time to go” and results in Rhian letting out her “longest and loudest scream” for 11.02 seconds. Teasdale says of the song: “I was pretty angry at the way things had gone in this particular dynamic. It’s just a diss song I wrote to make myself feel better. It worked.”

The video directed by Lava La Rue who says: “The Ur Mum video was all about bringing the viewer into the Wet Leg world – sprinkling details throughout the visual that not only reference at least 4 songs off the album but also plenty of inside jokes within the band too. Artistically it shows where the aesthetic of American indie films like Napoleon Dynamite fit perfectly in the scape of rural British settings – this concept first came to me when the band took me to IOW for the first time – I saw the connection and it all clicked into place.”

The band have just completed an extensive round of touring in North America including roadblock SXSW showcases, an Academy Awards pre party for YSL, performing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Late Show with James Corden.

Upcoming live dates
Thursday 7th April – Banquet @ PRYZM, Kingston (early & late) – sold out
Friday 8th April – Rough Trade East, London (matinee & evening) – sold out
Saturday 9th April – Resident, Brighton – sold out
Sunday 10th April – Rough Trade, Bristol – sold out
Monday 11th April – Rough Trade, Nottingham – sold out
Tuesday 12th April – HMV, Birmingham – sold out
13th April – Bear Tree Records out-store at The Foundry, Sheffield – sold out
16th April – Newcastle University, Newcastle – sold out
17th April – The Mash House, Edinburgh – sold out
19th April – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds – sold out
20th April – Gorilla, Manchester – sold out
21st April – Trinity Centre, Bristol – sold out
23rd April – o2 Institute, Birmingham – sold out
24th April – Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich – sold out
26th April – Electric Ballroom, London – sold out
27th April – The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth – sold out
14th May – Point Ephemere, Paris – sold out
15th May – Le Nuits Botanique @ Botanique Rotonde, Brussels
16th May – Jaki, Cologne
19th May – Doornroosje, Nijmegen
20th May – Rotown, Rotterdam – sold out
21st May – London Calling @ Paradiso, Amsterdam
23rd May – Milla, Munich
24th May – Milla, Munich – sold out
25th May – Berghain/Kantine, Berlin – sold out
28th May – Neighbourhood Weekender @ Victoria Park, Warrington
16th June – Isle of Wight Festival, Newport
23rd June – The Louisiana, Bristol – Independent Venue Week/sold out
9th July – TRNSMT @ Glasgow Green, Glasgow
31stJuly – Osheaga Music Festival, Montreal
25th August – Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver – sold out
23rd October – Strom, Munich
25th October – Magazzini Generali, Milan
26th October – Mascotte, Zurich
29th October – Mojo Club, Hamburg
4th November – Trix, Antwerp
5th November – Vera, Groningen
6th November – Astra Kulturehaus, Berlin
7th November – Kantine, Cologne
9th November – Elysee Montmartre, Paris
10th November – Rockhal Club, Esch-sur-alzette
11th November – Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam
13th November – UEA, Norwich – sold out
14th November – O2 Academy Bristol, Bristol – sold out
15th November – O2 Academy Liverpool, Liverpool – sold out
17th November – SWG3, Glasgow – sold out
18th November – Leeds Beckett Students Union, Leeds – sold out
19th November – O2 Ritz, Manchester – sold out
21st November – O2 Institute, Birmingham
23rd November – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London – sold out
24th November – O2 Forum Kentish Town, London – sold out
25th November – Rock City, Nottingham – sold out
27th November – Limelight, Belfast
28th November – Academy, Dublin

George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition Wins Grammy Award For Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

Eric Alper
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George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition Wins Grammy Award For Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition (Capitol/Ume/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company), released in celebration of five decades of the legendary songwriter and musician’s transformational and timeless masterpiece, won the Grammy Award for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, Sunday, April 3, 2022. The award was accepted at the ceremony by George’s widow, Olivia Harrison, who collaborated on the artwork and unique packaging with her son, Dhani Harrison, and art director Darren Evans. All Things Must Pass previously received a 1972 Grammy Award nomination for “Album of the Year” while the #1 single, “My Sweet Lord” earned a Grammy nod for “Record of the Year.” The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014.

“This is the 50th anniversary of this record and I guess it’s here to stay. It’s here for you, this music is filled with hope and compassion and healing and rock and roll,” said Olivia Harrison. “I want to thank the support of Universal, Paul Hicks for remixing this epic album, David Zonshine, Rachel Cooper, Darren Evans for his design work, but really Dhani Harrison, my son, for the respect and love he’s always showed his father and the attention he’s given to his father’s music and career and legacy.”

Decades in the making and lovingly crafted by the Harrison family, the All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition is anchored by a stunning new remix of All Things Must Pass which has been completely remixed from the original tapes, fulfilling George Harrison’s longtime desire. Executive produced by Dhani Harrison, and mixed by triple GRAMMY® Award-winning engineer Paul Hicks (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, John Lennon), with the product produced by David Zonshine, the new mix transforms the album by sonically upgrading it – making it sound brighter, fuller and better than ever. The expansive collection explores the 1970 album sessions through 47 (42 previously unreleased) demos and outtakes, offering an inside look into the creative process like never before.

Housed in an artisan designed wooden crate, resembling something that may have been dug up from the grounds of the Harrison’s century old family estate, Friar Park, the Uber Deluxe Edition is the ultimate, immersive edition of Harrison’s beloved triple album. The lavish boxed set presents the original album, demos, and outtakes in a variety of formats, including on eight 180-gram LPs, five CDs, and one Blu-Ray disc, which allows one to experience the main album in high-res stereo, enveloping 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos mixes.

The crate boasts an elaborate 96-page scrapbook curated by Olivia Harrison, which includes a wealth of photos and previously unpublished imagery of the recording sessions, memorabilia from the era, handwritten lyrics, diary entries, studio notes, tape box images, a comprehensive track-by-track, and more. The elegantly designed book pays homage to Harrison’s love of gardening and nature with recurring design elements and an organic forest motif throughout and most strikingly with a wooden bookmark made from a felled Oak tree (Quercus Robur) from Friar Park cut in the shape of a maple leaf that matches the cut out on the cover of the book. The book has been made to replicate the look of a personal family scrapbook as it showcases photos as glossy images that pop off the page like the real thing and Harrison’s personal recording artifacts as tactile objects that feel real to the touch. A second 44-page book chronicling the making of All Things Must Pass through extensive archival interviews with richly detailed notes compiled by Don Fleming & Richard Radford, is also included and serves as a listening guide when experienced together with the music.

This truly unique box also contains 1/6 scale replica figurines of Harrison and the gnomes featured on the iconic album cover, a limited edition illustration by musician and artist Klaus Voormann who performed on the album, as well as a copy of Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Light from the Great Ones” and Rudraksha beads, contained in individual custom-made boxes.

Released in August 2021 via Capitol/UMe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of All Things Must Pass, the 50th Anniversary Edition was met with worldwide acclaim and returned the album to the Billboard 200 where it debuted at No. 7. The album’s additional charting achievements included No. 1 placements on the Top Rock Albums, Catalog Albums, and Tastemaker Albums charts and the No. 2 slots on the Top Albums Sales and the Vinyl Albums charts, just behind Billie Eilish on both. ­Upon release in 1970, Harrison’s first post Beatles solo album was met by unanimous critical acclaim and spectacular commercial success, spending seven consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and eight weeks atop the UK’s official albums chart. All Things Must Pass’ return to the Top 10 marked the first time since 1971.

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the War and Peace of rock and roll” and “an intensely personal statement and a grandiose gesture,” All Things Must Pass has only grown in influence and stature in the half-century since its initial release, including induction in the GRAMMY® Hall of Fame and inclusion on The Times of London’s “The 100 Best Albums of All Time” and Rolling Stone’s 2020 listing of “The Top 500 Albums of All Time.” Pitchfork declared it to have “changed the terms of what an album could be.” It was recently certified 7x platinum.

Jon Batiste Wins 5 Grammy Awards Including Album Of The Year From His Genre-Bending Record ‘We Are’

Eric Alper
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Jon Batiste Wins 5 Grammy Awards Including Album Of The Year From His Genre-Bending Record ‘We Are’

Jon Batiste has won 5 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, across 5 different categories at this year’s ceremony, becoming the night’s biggest prize-winner. His electrifying performance of “FREEDOM” capped off an incredible night for the talented singer, pianist and composer where he took home wins for Album of the Year, Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, Best Music Video, and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Birthed during the first wave of the global pandemic and volatile social unrest, Batiste’s latest studio album, WE ARE, represents a body of work characterized by consciousness, rooted in catharsis, and grounded in optimism. The captivating album is a true love letter to Batiste’s southern roots and the heritage of Black music.

One of the most prolific and versatile musicians of any generation, Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing music back to where it started — with the people. Jon was born in New Orleans into the legendary Batiste family, and later studied at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City. There, he established the Stay Human band which became famous for their musical virtuosity and their signature street performances called “love riots.” Batiste’s skills as a pianist, composer and bandleader quickly made him one of the country’s most sought-out collaborators and performers, with appearances that include the GRAMMYs, Kennedy Center Honors, the US Open and the NBA All-Star Game.

In 2015, Jon was named bandleader and musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS. In 2018, he received a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Performance and in 2020, he received two GRAMMY nods for albums he self-produced: Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard and Meditations (with Cory Wong). In 2020, Jon won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the Disney/Pixar film Soul, an honor he shared with fellow composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Jon’s work on Soul also earned him a Golden Globe, BAFTA, NAACP Image Award and a Critic’s Choice Award. Jon was the second black composer in history, after legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock, to win an Academy Award for composition.

Jon’s latest studio album, WE ARE, was released on Verve Records in March 2021 to overwhelming critical acclaim. The versatility of the album which was envisioned by Batiste as he processed the tumultuous times of 2020, earned him praise by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard and more. The deluxe edition of the album, with six additional tracks, was released in October 2021. Batiste’s virtuoso composing skills will soon be showcased in his large-scale, genre-melding symphonic work “American Symphony,” set to premiere at Carnegie Hall in May 2022.

Shawn Mendes Announces Additional North America Dates For “Wonder: The World Tour”

Eric Alper
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Shawn Mendes Announces Additional North America Dates For “Wonder: The World Tour”

In support of his most recent album Wonder, GRAMMY nominated, multi-platinum singer/songwriter Shawn Mendes has announced 13 additional “Wonder: The World Tour” shows in the US & Canada, with 86 arena dates announced so far spanning across North America, the UK & Europe. The new dates include stops in Shawn’s hometown of Toronto, new shows in San Diego, and St. Louis, as well as a second stop in Brooklyn. More great tickets have also been added to all previously announced shows in North America. On the tour, Shawn will be joined by Dermot Kennedy and Tate McRae in North America (see tour listings for respective opener in each city).

Tickets for the added North America dates will be available via Presales that begin Wednesday, April 6th at 10am local, and go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 8th at 10am local time. The added tickets for all previously announced North America shows will be available on Friday, April 8th (timing varies by market). For presale info, download the ShawnAccess app or sign up at ShawnAccess.com. Presales are available to all ShawnAccess members for free by logging in and claiming a presale code. Please see WonderTheTour.com for a full list of presale & onsale timings.

The FirstAccess Presale is the first chance to get tickets & VIP by simply adding a ShawnAccess Passport to your order at checkout where tickets are sold. The FirstAccess Presale offers priority access to the best seating locations at your show. The General Fan Presale is also available to all ShawnAccess members, and provides access to tickets & VIP still ahead of the Public Onsale.

The American Express Presale & North America FirstAccess Presale begin on April 6th at 10am local time until April 7th at 10pm local time, and tickets for the general public will go on sale on Friday, April 8th at 10am local time.

The announcement of additional tour dates follows the release of Shawn’s new song and video for “When You’re Gone.”

North America Tour Dates
Leg 1 with special guest Dermot Kennedy
6/27/22 Portland, OR – Moda Center
6/28/22 Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
6/30/22 Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center
7/2/22 Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
7/4/22 Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome*
7/5 Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
7/7/22 Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre*
7/9/22 St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
7/10/22 Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center Omaha*
7/12/22 Milwaukee, WI – Fiserv Forum
7/15/22 Rosemont IL – Allstate Arena
7/16/22 St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center*
7/19/22 Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
7/20/22 Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
7/22/22 Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center
7/23/22 Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
7/27/22 Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
7/29/22 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun
7/31/22 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*
8/2/22 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center
8/5/22 Boston, MA – TD Garden
8/6/22 Boston, MA – TD Garden
8/12/22 Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
8/15/22 Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
8/16/22 Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
8/19/22 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center
8/20/22 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center*

Leg 2 with special guest Tate McRae
9/7/22 Glendale, AZ – Gila River Arena
9/9/22 Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
9/10/22 Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
9/12/22 San Jose, CA – SAP Center*
9/15/22 Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
9/17/22 Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
9/19/22 San Diego, CA – Pechanga Arena*
9/21/22 Salt Lake City, UT – Vivint Arena
9/24/22 Denver, CO – Ball Arena
9/26/22 Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
9/27/22 Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
9/29/22 El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center*
10/1/22 Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
10/3/22 Austin, TX – Moody Center
10/4/22 Houston, TX – Toyota Center
10/7/22 Jacksonville, FL – Vystar Memorial Arena*
10/8/22 Miami, FL – FTX Arena
10/11/22 Tampa FL – Amalie Arena
10/12/22 Orlando, FL – Amway Center
10/14/22 Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
10/16/22 Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium*
10/18/22 Columbus, OH – Schottenstein Center*
10/19/22 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena
10/21/22 Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena*
10/22/22 Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
10/24/22 Indianapolis, IN – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10/26/22 Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

*FirstAccess Presale April 6th at 10am local time; General Fan Presale April 7th at 10am local time; Public Onsale April 8th at 10am local time.

All other North America dates are on sale to the general public now, with more tickets available starting April 8th at 10am local time.
UK & Europe Tour Dates
5/31/23 Bologna, Italy – Unipol Arena
6/1/23 Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum
6/3/23 Bordeaux, France – Arkéa Arena
6/5/23 Madrid, Spain – WiZink Arena
6/7/23 Lisbon, Portugal – Altice Arena
6/9/23 Barcelona, Spain – Palau Sant Jordi
6/11/23 Bilbao, Spain – BEC! Arena
6/14/23 Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle
6/16/23 Budapest, Hungary – Papp László Budapest Sportaréna
6/19/23 Krakow, Poland – Tauron Arena
6/20/23 Krakow, Poland – Tauron Arena
6/22/23 Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
6/25/23 Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
6/27/23 Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
6/29/23 Paris, France – La Défense Arena
7/2/23 Mannheim, Germany – SAP Arena
7/3/23 Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
7/5/23 Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
7/6/23 Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
7/9/23 Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
7/11/23 Stockholm, Sweden – Avicii Arena
7/13/23 Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
7/15/23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
7/16/23 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome
7/18/23 Antwerp, Belgium – Sportpaleis
7/19/23 Rotterdam, Netherlands – Rotterdam Aho
7/22/23 London, UK – The O2
7/25/23 Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
7/26/23 Manchester, UK – AO Arena
7/28/23 Glasgow, Scotland – The SSE Hydro
7/29/23 Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena
8/1/23 Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

Jimmie Allen Announces New Album Tulip Drive Arriving June 24, 2022

Eric Alper
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Jimmie Allen Announces New Album Tulip Drive Arriving June 24, 2022

Hot on the heels of a highlight first GRAMMY Awards weekend, multi-platinum recording artist Jimmie Allen announced his third album Tulip Drive will arrive Friday, June 24 via Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group. The lead single from the record – “Down Home” – is available everywhere now, and Allen will perform it tonight on The Late Late Show with James Corden on CBS.

Much like its predecessors, the album’s title is deeply personal to Allen’s family ties – Tulip Drive is the name of the street his late grandmother grew up on. His 2018 debut album Mercury Lane was named for the street Allen grew up on; his 2020 & 2021 releases Bettie James & Bettie James Gold Edition were named for his grandmother (Bettie Snead) and father (James “Big Jim” Allen), who passed away in 2014 and 2019, respectively.

“A lot of the songs on this album are from that time period. This is the first album where a lot of the songs are actually written based off a lot of my own personal life experiences – from relationships, the hardships of life, to the parties & the good times,” Allen shares. “A lot of these songs are based off things I went through when I was in later in high school and college, at a place where I was just learning a lot of life lessons from my grandmother. I wanted to honour her by naming this album Tulip Drive, after the street she lived on in Lewes, DE.”

Allen was nominated for Best New Artist at the 64th Annual GRAMMY® Awards this weekend and attended the show for the first time in addition to performing “Down Home” & presenting multiple categories during the Premiere Ceremony, which streamed live on YouTube and on live.grammy.com on Sunday, April 3. Watch his performance here and his presenting slot here. He also performed the song at the Recording Academy Honors, presented by the Black Music Collective, on Saturday, April 2. Other appearances throughout the weekend included attending the 31st Annual MusiCares Person of the Year Benefit Gala, Spotify’s Best New Artist celebration & participating in a panel for I AM Musicology Presents: Road to the GRAMMYs.

On Monday, April 11, Allen will appear on CBS Mornings for a one-on-one sit down with co-host Nate Burleson to discuss his career journey and the new single.

The music video for “Down Home” was co-directed by Allen & Chris Beyrooty and shot between Allen’s hometown of Milton, DE and nearby town of Lewes, DE. The video is a poignant visual complement to the song, purposely shot in black & white to keep focus on the song’s subject matter and features many locations vital to Allen and his father’s relationship – Allen’s childhood home, the baseball field his father taught him how to play on, and his father’s favourite restaurant, among others.

Hailed by Billboard as a “winner” and a “power ballad that exudes sincerity” by MusicRow, “Down Home” marks one of the proud Delaware native’s most personal, honest songs to date. The track impacted Country radio on March 14 as the most-added song and Allen’s biggest add day to date, with 60+ first-week stations.

Co-written by Allen, Cameron Bedell, Rian Ball & Tate Howell, the song takes shape as a letter to his late father. Billboard further noted the track as “a musical vessel detailing both precious moments he spent with his father, but also how life has progressed since his father’s passing.”

Allen is currently on the Down Home Tour – his first ever solo headline tour – which kicked off with a sold-out start earlier this year and recently notched his third career No. 1 with his single “Freedom Was A Highway.” He also earned a Male Artist of the Year nomination at the 57th ACM Awards (which he co-hosted alongside Dolly Parton & Gabby Barrett) and an Outstanding New Artist nomination at the 53rdNAACP Image Awards. Allen is currently the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year, having won the award in November 2021.

Jimmie Allen – Down Home Tour 2022
*Jimmie Allen only
**Neon Union & Madeline Merlo
***Chayce Beckham & Neon Union
≠Neon Union only

Thursday, February 3 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour**
Friday, February 4 – San Diego, CA – Moonshine Flats**
Saturday, February 5 – Las Vegas, NV – Stoney’s Rockin’ Country**
Friday, February 11 – Reno, NV – Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort≠
Saturday, February 12 – Indio, CA – Spotlight 29 Showroom***
Thursday, February 24 – Tyler, TX – Tyler Junior College≠
Friday, February 25 – Katy, TX – Mo’s Place≠
Saturday, February 26 – San Antonio, TX – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo*
Friday, March 4 – Ft. Myers, FL – The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon≠
Saturday, March 5 – West Palm Beach, FL – Rib Roundup Music Festival*
Friday, March 11 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone≠
Saturday, March 12 – Milwaukee, WI – UW Milwaukee Panther Arena*
Friday, March 18 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall≠
Saturday, March 19 – Charles Town, WV – The Event Center at Hollywood Casino≠
Thursday, April 21 – Tulsa, OK – Paradise Cove Margaritaville – River Spirit Casino Resort≠
Friday, April 22 – Wichita, KS – Orpheum Theatre≠
Saturday, April 23 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District≠
Thursday, April 28 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s***
Friday, April 29 – Columbia, MO – The Blue Note***
Saturday, April 30 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee***
Thursday, May 12 – Richmond, VA – The National***
Friday, May 13 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVa***
Saturday, May 14 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom***
Saturday, May 21 – Ft. Worth, TX – Billy Bob’s Texas≠
August 13, 2021 – Milton, DE – Hudson Fields (Bettie James Fest)*

Hurray For The Riff Raff Announces 23 New Tour Dates Opening For Bright Eyes

Eric Alper
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Hurray For The Riff Raff Announces 23 New Tour Dates Opening For Bright Eyes

Hurray for the Riff Raff (aka Alynda Segarra) announces twenty-three new US tour dates, supporting Bright Eyes, beginning May 19, 2022 in Oklahoma City and continuing through July 3 in Omaha. Segarra (she/they) is currently on a North American headlining tour in celebration of LIFE ON EARTH, their Nonesuch Records debut. Summer dates in Europe begin July 16 in the UK and continue through September 20 in Berlin, with stops in Dublin, London, Paris, and Amsterdam, among others (full schedule below).

Life on Earth is a departure for the New Orleans-based Segarra. Its eleven new “nature punk” tracks on the theme of survival are music for a world in flux—songs about thriving, not just surviving, while disaster is happening. For their eighth full-length album, Segarra drew inspiration from The Clash, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Bad Bunny, and the author of Emergent Strategy, adrienne maree brown. Recorded during the pandemic, Life on Earth was produced by Brad Cook (Waxahatchee, Bon Iver, Kevin Morby).

Life on Earth has received critical praise, appearing on most anticipated records of 2022 lists by NPR, Pitchfork, the Guardian, Stereogum, the Observer,Vulture, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, the Evening Standard, and the Irish Times, among others. The Guardian says, “What’s most impressive about Life on Earth is the way Segarra metabolises bleak and disturbing subjects into songs that brim with hope, beauty and cheer,” while the Observer says, “Hurray for the Riff Raff promises a manual for Life on Earth, a ‘nature punk’ album for tough times,” and NPR’s Ann Powers says, “If you need some music to take you forward in this strange winter, I think Life on Earth is gonna do it for you.” Mojo, in its four-star review, calls it “a remarkably delicate, tender record full of gentle empathy, of lines that ring with the truth of shared experience. Hurray for The Riff Raff might not be able to save the world, but Life on Earth is a compassionate, humane record at a time when it can only be a gift.”

Alynda Segarra was born and raised in the Bronx, which they left at age seventeen, running away from everything and everyone they knew, hopping freight trains or hitchhiking across the country in the company of a band of street urchins. Segarra moved to New Orleans in 2007 and formed two bands: Dead Man’s Street Orchestra and Hurray for the Riff Raff. In 2015, Segarra decamped to Nashville, then to New York, to make 2017’s critically praised The Navigator, an ambitious and fully realized concept album that was her quest to reclaim her Puerto Rican identity. Segarra’s previous records as Hurray for the Riff Raff are Crossing the Rubicon (EP, 2007), It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You (2008), Young Blood Blues (2010), Hurray for the Riff Raff (2011), Look Out Mama (2012),My Dearest Darkest Neighbor (2013), and Small Town Heroes (2014).

Hurray for the Riff Raff Tour
Tuesday, March 29 San Francisco, CA Independent
Thursday, March 31 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
Friday, April 1 Seattle, WA Tractor Tavern
Saturday, April 2 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theater
Tuesday, April 5 Salt Lake City Urban Lounge
Wednesday, April 6 Denver, CO Bluebird Theater
Friday, April 8 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
Saturday, April 9 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
Sunday, April 10 Columbus, OH Skully’s Music-Diner
Monday, April 11 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Wednesday, April 13 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club *
Friday, April 15 New York, NY Elsewhere *
Saturday, April 16 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts *
Sunday, April 17 Washington, DC Union Stage *
Monday, April 18 Durham, NC Motorco Music Hall
Wednesday, April 20 Nashville, TN Basement East
Saturday, May 7 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Saturday, May 14 Houston, TX We Are One Music Festival
Thursday, May 19 Oklahoma City, OK The Jones Assembly
Friday, May 20 The Factory in Deep Ellum Dallas, TX **
Saturday, May 21 ACL Live at Moody Theater Austin, TX **
Sunday, May 22 The Lawn at White Oak Music Hall Houston, TX **
Monday, May 23 Orpheum Theater New Orleans, LA **
Wednesday, May 25 Charleston Music Hall Charleston, SC **
Thursday, May 26 Hard Rock Live Orlando, FL **
Friday, May 27 Fillmore Miami Beach Miami, FL **
Saturday, May 28 St. Augustine Amphitheatre St Augustine, FL **
Sunday, May 29 The Eastern Atlanta, GA **
Tuesday, May 31 The Fillmore Charlotte Charlotte, NC **
Wednesday, June 15 Knitting Factory Boise, ID **
Thursday, June 16 Knitting Factory Spokane, WA **
Friday, June 17 Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA **
Saturday, June 18 McMenamin’s Edgefield Amphitheatre Troutdale, OR **
Monday, June 20 The Masonic San Francisco, CA **
Friday, June 24 Soma San Diego, CA **
Saturday, June 25 The Van Buren Phoenix, AZ **
Tuesday, June 28 The Union Salt Lake City, UT **
Thursday, June 30 Mission Ballroom Denver, CO **
Friday, July 1 Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO **
Saturday & Sunday, July 2 & 3 The Admiral Omaha, NE **
Saturday, July 16 Aberdeen, UK Lemon Tree
Sunday, July 17 Stirling, UK Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival
Tuesday, July19 Newcastle, UK The Cluny
Wednesday, July 20 Barrow in Furness, UK Barrow Library
Thursday, July 21 Hebden Bridge, UK Trades Club
Friday, July 22 Oxford, UK The Bullingdon
Wednesday, July 27 Portsmouth, UK The Wedgewood Rooms
Thursday, July 28 Exeter, UK Phoenix
Wednesday, August 31 Dublin, Ireland Whelan’s
Friday, September 2 Glasgow, UK St Luke’s
Saturday, September 3 Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
Sunday, September 4 Salisbury, UK End of the Road Festival
Monday, September 5 Cardiff, UK Clwb Ifor Bach
Wednesday, September 7 Manchester, UK YES
Thursday, September 8 Birmingham, UK Hare & Hounds
Friday, September 9 London, UK Lafayette
Saturday, September 10 Brighton, UK CHALK
Monday, September 12 Paris, France Point Éphémère
Wednesday, September 14 Zurich, Switzerland Bogen F
Friday, September 16 Brussels, Belgium Botanique
Saturday, September 17 Amsterdam, Netherlands Tolhuistuin
Monday, September 19 Cologne, Germany Jaki
Tuesday, September 20 Berlin, Germany Hole⁴⁴
**with Bright Eyes

Canadian Author & Music Historian TOM LOCKE Chronicles The Most Memorable “Moments In Time” in New Book

Eric Alper
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Canadian Author & Music Historian TOM LOCKE Chronicles The Most Memorable “Moments In Time” in New Book

We all have a list of artists and songs that were major influences on us from youth to adulthood. They were the posters on our bedroom walls. They made up the playlists on our cassette cases or now, in our apps. They’re the audio bookmark in all the chapters of our lives. In reverence to the power of music and the indelible influence, it has had in his own life, Canadian entertainment executive, music historian, and author Tom Locke brings us his new book, “Moments In Time – Stories About Artists and Songs of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. For Fans of Music…From a Music Fan” — available now.

“This book is the culmination of a journey that started back in 1986 with an idea I had about creating a legacy to the music that shaped my life, and a desire to share this legacy in an entertaining and informative way with others,” says Locke.

Entertaining, informative, and interactive from cover to cover, “Moments In Time” fuels the reader with a more than soundbite-sized dive into the stories behind an intriguing aspect of each song and artist that it profiles, from popular to obscure. At the end of each short “story” is a QR code for the relevant song that readers can position their smartphone cameras over and open a file to listen to, adding an interactive, full-circle experience to the book.

How did Tommy James come up with the title for his hit record, “Mony Mony”? Who was the three-time Oscar winner to have a Top 10 record at the age of 67? What singer was classified as a two-time “one-hit wonder”? These are just a few of the classic hit questions that “Moments In Time” answers.

Many of them likely came up in the mind of the passionate music enthusiast that Locke has been throughout his life; a successful Vancouver-based Film and TV production executive since 1984, Locke grew up in Toronto in the ‘50s and ‘60s with radio as a staple in his house.

“Living in a ‘border’ town, we were privy to many major U.S. radio and TV stations and their programs,” he recalls. “It was one of those U.S. radio programs that gave me the inspiration for my legacy idea. That program was called The Rest of the Story, hosted by the incomparable newscaster Paul Harvey, who originated this nationally sponsored segment out of Chicago. His tag line ‘And now you know the rest of the story’ stayed in my mind.”

If each mystery-unraveling story in the book feels like it could also be narrated by a favourite radio host, you’d be feeling it right. “Moments In Time” was originally a five-minute radio segment that Locke created and first demoed in 1986 to air during drive times to and from work.

“An interesting musical fact or period of time would be introduced for the listener to ponder during the commercial break,” describes Locke. “After the break, the listener would get the ‘rest of the story’, culminating in the playing of the record mysteriously featured in the segment.”

“Moments In Time”, the book, is a curated collection of the scripts for Locke’s long-running “Moments In Time” (MIT) radio segments, which found a broadcast home in 2000 with Michael Godin’s “Treasure Island Oldies,” a weekly internet radio show with worldwide affiliates that have aired the weekly MIT feature for over 20 years since.

“The impetus for the book was to honour this milestone by sharing a selection of segments that have aired on Treasure Island Oldies over these years,” notes Locke.

Locke also credits our two-year, global pandemic for igniting the fire in him to make this long-held book idea a reality.

“With my traveling and physical interfacing with clients dramatically reduced, I was able to move this project from the corner of my desk and dedicate the appropriate amount of time required,” explains Locke in a recent interview with reviewvancouver.org. “However, my motivation was to put smiles back on people’s faces, and what better way than the tunes we grew up with in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.”

And the smiles of music fans who’ve already eagerly devoured the book are starting to show up in droves. Since its official launch last November, all the reviews for “Moments In Time” left by readers on Amazon.com are 100% five-star.

“In short, the book is not about me… It’s about the music we grew up with; music that put a smile on our faces and became part of who we are.”

Tom Locke’s “Moments In Time – Stories About Artists and Songs of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. For Fans of Music…From a Music Fan” is available now in both print and digital formats on Amazon worldwide.

Jesse Cook Reveals New “Solace” Single & Video Alongside New Cross-Canada Tour

Eric Alper
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Jesse Cook Reveals New “Solace” Single & Video Alongside New Cross-Canada Tour

Alongside the release of new single and video, “Solace,” multi-Platinum/Gold award-winning and internationally acclaimed producer, composer, and guitarist Jesse Cook announces newly updated Canadian dates for his highly-acclaimed “Tempest II” tour.

Originally marked for 2020 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his acclaimed debut album, Tempest, the newly announced 18 homegrown shows will span from Quebec to B.C.; with 43+ cross-continent dates on the docket, Cook recently kicked off the tour in the U.S. alongside the release of his 11th studio album, Libre — to rave reviews.

“Nylon-string maestro Jesse Cook finds release in electronic beats on Libre, his latest fret-burning effort,” Guitar Player’s Jimmy Leslie reviews. “Libre is a return to that early DIY approach, but the deep electronic grooves differentiate the new album from any of Cook’s previous studio efforts…”

Released via his own Coach House label imprint, and distributed by Outside Music/Redeye, the 10-track album combines Cook’s iconic Spanish guitar flair with Algerian multi-instrumentalist Fethi Nadjem, modern trap rhythms, and 808 beats.

“I wrote and recorded Libre during the pandemic when, like most people, I was longing for freedom,” Cook shares of Libre. “My music was my escape from the four walls that surrounded me, and the storm that was swirling outside.”

The inspiration came from a long summer-day drive with his 14-year old, Cook reveals. “My daughter entertained me with her favourite playlists, much of which were trap and 808-inspired. I loved them too, and a question was planted in my mind: ‘what would my music sound like mixed with those sounds?’”

Featuring the newly released single, “Solace,” Libre was selected as JazzTrax Radio Show’s 2021 Album of the Year. “Jesse Cook is a master musician and composer, and he always delivers live,” Eclectic Arts’ Mark Sugiyama writes. “The world aspect of Portugal, Algeria, and Canada being represented just adds to the wonderful energy of the performances.”

It’s with that same zeal that Cook crosses Canada with upcoming dates in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia this Spring and Fall 2022.

“When it comes to classical guitar stylings, few can match Jesse Cook’s musical resume,” Inlander’s Seth Sommerfeld says. “The JUNO-winning Torontonian virtuoso infuses world music flair into his Flamenco fusion sound, often traveling to far-flung parts of the world like Colombia or Egypt to inject the authentic tones of a region’s traditional music into his own sonic blend.”

It’s been more than 25 years since the internationally-lauded virtuoso first stepped onto the scene with his now-iconic release, Tempest. In the time since he’s come to hold ten Gold and Platinum studio albums with a combined sales of two+ million copies, five concert DVDs and live discs, five PBS specials, and multiple awards — a JUNO win, 11 nominations, three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, a Gemini, and an Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award.

The digital convergence of the past several years has also resulted in Cook’s music streaming in rather impressive numbers across a series of platforms; by Fall 2021, his Spotify stats had surpassed 55+ million, and plays on Pandora soared beyond the 300+ million milestone. YouTube’s universal visual appeal has also grown steadily for Cook’s connection with audiences, with his channel accumulating upwards of 25+ million views since 2010 — including 3+ million of those for “Azul.”

Jess Cook Canadian Tour Dates:
May 11 – Centennial Hall, London, ON
May 12 – Centre in the Square, Kitchener, ON
May 13 – Meridian Hall, Toronto, ON
May 14 – The Empire Theatre, Belleville, ON
May 15 – National Arts Centre – Southam Hall, Ottawa, ON
June 8 – Salle Louis-Frechette at the Grand Theatre de Quebec, Quebec City, QC
July 9 – Maison Symphonique at Place des Arts, Montreal, QC
September 20 – The Port Theatre, Nanaimo, BC
September 21 – The Centre, Vancouver, BC
September 22 – The Clarke Theatre, Mission, BC
September 23 – Key City Theatre, Cranbrook, BC
September 24 – Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna, BC
September 25 – Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre, Vernon, BC
September 27 – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB
September 28 – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, Edmonton, AB
September 29 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
September 30 – Knox United Church, Saskatoon, SK
October 1 – Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB

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That Eric Alper

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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