Award-winning music duo HuDost are calling on planet conservation with the release of their pressing new single and mesmerizing new music video, “Beat The Drum Harder” — available now.
Led by Montreal, QC artist Moksha Sommer, and Bowling Green, KY artist Jemal Wade Hines, the song is from HuDost’s forthcoming November 2021 album, Anthems of Home.
“The single addresses our disconnection from — and harm of — the planet, and our awakening to the needed return,” the band says. “It is a joyous and celebratory call for us to open our ears and consciousness to the heartbeat of the earth that brings us back to the source.”
For the music video, HuDost was able to partner with esteemed choreographer Rebecca Steinberg and accomplished videographer Sam Boyette. They worked with the WKU Dance Program & WKU Dance Company and involved almost 20 additional dancers.
“The creation process was challenging as all preparations were done within the restraints of Covid,” HuDost recalls. “Rehearsals were conducted via zoom, and all preparation was done separately.
“It was only on the day of filming that everyone came together in-person, freshly vaccinated, and delighted to work. That in-person union was a symbolic mirroring of the greater message of the song and video…
“Even if we are estranged or isolated from our greater source, the return can and will happen.”
Moksha Sommer grew up in the mountains of southern Quebec and, through her entire childhood, her parents fought for the conservation of Mount Pinnacle (land of the Western Abenakis) that they were fortunate enough to call “home.” The land was finally protected, and the struggle and fortune of the process taught Sommer a great deal about what it truly means to respect the land and live in alliance with it.
HuDost have been committed advocates/activists for ONE (non-profit organization) for several years, and have learned a great deal about music as a form of advocacy. “Beat the Drum Harder” reflects that in subtle, but accessible ways.
HuDost’s previous album, of Water + Mercy (2019) received rave reviews and, as an independent release, reached #24 in the BILLBOARD SALES CHARTS for Folk/Americana; it also won the duo the Independent Music Award for Social Action Song.
In the last year, HuDost have also received two Best of Nashville 2020 awards. They have been fortunate to have prestigious performance opportunities throughout the years, and have toured internationally since 2006 — collaborating with wild, accomplished, and respected artists, musicians, dancers, and activists.
“It is through music that the losses and gains, pains and triumphs, and excruciating beauty of life can be given a voice of empathy,” they say.
“Beat the Drum Harder” is available now. Anthems of Home is available November 2021.
Supergrass today announce details of the remastered expanded version of their beloved, classic second album InIt For The Money. The 3CD, 2 x 2LP and Digital Formats will be released on August 27, 2021 on BMG, which sees the album available on vinyl for the first time since its original release in 1997. Preorder here. The announcement is accompanied by a previously unreleased early version of ‘It’s Not Me’.
Originally released on April 21, 1997 to a hail of critical and commercial acclaim, In It For The Money saw Supergrass reach #2 in Album Charts, passing platinum status in the UK and selling over a million copies worldwide. It was voted in the NME‘s top 10 Albums of 1997 and included in Robert Dimery’s ‘1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die’. Shedding their skin as the jolly japey kids we met on archetypal teenage debut I Should Coco, In It For The Money was dark, perverse and bristling with barely-repressed anger. It is the sound of Supergrass creating a world that was at once reassuringly normal and exhilaratingly weird. To crystallize this bold and assured step on from their debut, with In It For The Money the band were now producing themselves, (albeit with the aid of simpatico engineer/ co-producers in the form of John Cornfield and Sam Williams), and had welcomed in Gaz’s keyboard-playing brother Rob as a fully contributing member of the band.
As well as featuring the hit singles ‘Going Out’ (UK #5), the dark, dense and heavy ‘Richard III’ (UK #2), ‘Sun Hits the Sky’ (UK #10) and the lush, languorous longing of ‘Late In The Day’ (UK #18), In It For The Money also spawned a raft of classic videos in its wake.
This brand new expanded edition of In It For The Money features remastered audio from analogue tape on 180g Black and 140g Turquoise Vinyl. The LP also includes 12” single ‘Sun Hits The Sky (Bentley Rhythm Ace Remix)’ / ‘The Animal’ on 140g White Vinyl. The album hasn’t been available on LP since its original release in 1997. The 3CD format includes 43 tracks over two CDs of B- Sides, Rarities, Outtakes & Live Tracks, many of which are previously unreleased, imagery from revered photographer Kevin Westenberg, and sleevenotes from Charles Shaar Murray. The album has been remastered by Supergrass and all formats have been compiled by them.
Reuniting in 2019 after more than a decade apart, Supergrass once again witnessed success with “The Strange Ones 1994-2008” career spanning Deluxe Boxset and a sold out world tour. Formed in Oxford UK in 1993, the Brit, Q, NME and Ivor Novello-winning outfit released their Mercury-nominated No.1 debut album I Should Coco in 1995. Fourth single, ‘Alright’, was a pop masterpiece and became a massive hit, catapulting the band to global success. Supergrass subsequently released another five acclaimed studio albums: In It For The Money (1997), Supergrass (1999), Life On Other Planets (2002), Road To Rouen (2005), Diamond Hoo Ha (2008) as well as top 5 best of, Supergrass Is 10 (2004). Other top 20 singles include: ‘Lenny’, ‘Going Out’, ‘Richard III’, ‘Sun Hits The Sky’, ‘Pumping On Your Stereo’, ‘Moving’ and ‘Grace’. They scored an unbroken run of five Top 10 albums, among them three platinum sellers generating millions of worldwide sales spawning ten Top 20 singles, and scored the biggest-selling debut for Parlophone since The Beatles. Supergrass split in 2010, though the band members went on to lead successful solo careers: Gaz Coombes released solo albums Here Come The Bombs in 2012, Matador in 2015 and World’s Strongest Man in 2018; Mick Quinn has been playing with his own group, DB Band, and been a member of Swervedriver since 2015, Danny Goffey has released solo material including album Schtick in 2018. Ten years to the day since they split, Supergrass appeared on stage at Glastonbury Pilton Party 2019, in a secret special guest slot to announce their return. A string of 5 star reviews greeted their subsequent worldwide reunion tour, culminating in two sold-out nights at London’s Alexandra Palace.
3CD & SD DIGITAL DELUXE
DISC 1: ‘In It For The Money’ (Remaster)
1. ‘In It For The Money’ (2021 Remaster)
2. ‘Richard III’ (2021 Remaster)
3. ‘Tonight’ (2021 Remaster)
4. ‘Late In The Day’ (2021 Remaster)
5. ‘G-Song’ (2021 Remaster)
6. ‘Sun Hits The Sky’ (2021 Remaster)
7. ‘Going Out’ (2021 Remaster)
8. ‘It’s Not Me’ (2021 Remaster)
9. ‘Cheapskate’ (2021 Remaster)
10. ‘You Can See Me’ (2021 Remaster)
11. ‘Hollow Little Reign’ (2021 Remaster)
12. ‘Sometimes I Make You Sad’ (2021 Remaster)
DISC 2: ‘Research & Development – Studio Extras & B-Sides’
1. ‘Susan (AKA Going Out)’*
2. ‘Melanie Davis’
3. ‘Can’t Dig It (AKA G-Song)’*
4. ‘Late In The Day’ (Demo)*
5. ‘Get Away (AKA Richard III)’*
6. ‘Charles II’ *
7. ‘Sun Hits the Sky’ (Monitor Mix)*
8. ‘It’s Not Me’ (Original)*
9. ‘Silver Lining’*
10. ‘Cheapskate’ (Monitor Mix)*
11. ‘In It for the Money’ (Monitor Mix)*
12. ‘Hollow Little Reign’ (Güiro Mix)*
13. ‘Tonight’ (Monitor Mix)*
14. ‘You Can See Me’ (Demo)*
15. ‘Sometime We’re Really Sad’ (Edit)*
16. ‘Sometimes I Make You Sad’ (Guide Vox)*
17. ‘Nothing More’s Gonna Get in My Way’
18. ‘We Still Need More (Than Anyone Can Give)’
19. ‘Don’t Be Cruel’
20. ’20ft Halo’
21. ‘The Animal’
CD3: ‘Product Placement – Live Recordings’
1. ‘Going Out’ (Opera House, Toronto, 11 Sep 95)*
2. ‘Melanie Davis’ (Lowlands Festival, Netherlands, 25 Aug 96)*
3. ‘G-Song’ (Rehearsal cassette recording, 18 Jun 95)*
4. ‘Hollow Little Reign’ (O2 Academy Islington, London, 01 Jun 2004)*
5. ‘In It for the Money’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
6. ‘Cheapskate’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
7. ‘Mansize Rooster’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
8. ‘Richard III’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
9. ‘You Can See Me’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
10. ‘Late in the Day’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
11. ‘Alright’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
12. ‘Just Dropped In’ (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
13. ‘Lose It’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
14. ‘Sun Hits the Sky’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
15. ‘Going Out’ (aborted) (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
16. ‘Caught By the Fuzz’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
17. ‘Going Out’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
18. ‘Strange Ones’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
19. ‘Lenny’ (Rock City, Nottingham, 18 Jan 98)*
20. ‘Sometimes I Make You Sad’ (Paradiso, Amsterdam, 08 Oct 97)*
Supergrass 3CD
1LP BLACK/TURQUOISE/HD DIGITAL
A1. ‘In It For The Money’ (2021 Remaster)
A2. ‘Richard III’ (2021 Remaster)
A3. ‘Tonight’ (2021 Remaster)
A4. ‘Late In The Day’ (2021 Remaster)
A5. ‘G-Song’ (2021 Remaster)
A6. ‘Sun Hits The Sky’ (2021 Remaster)
B1. ‘Going Out’ (2021 Remaster)
B2. ‘It’s Not Me’ (2021 Remaster)
B3. ‘Cheapskate’ (2021 Remaster)
B4. ‘You Can See Me’ (2021 Remaster)
B5. ‘Hollow Little Reign’ (2021 Remaster)
B6. ‘Sometimes I Make You Sad’ (2021 Remaster)
Music fans have spoken! “Western Skies,” written and performed by Billy Raffoul of Leamington, Ontario, is the winner of the 16th annual SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
Music fans from across Canada voted from June 17th to July 1st for the 10 exceptional finalist songs written by emerging songwriters. The nominees were selected by a panel of 15 music industry experts for each of the prizes.
An emotional call to action, “Western Skies” delivers a timely message about the importance of fighting for common good in difficult times.
In addition to the prestige of winning, Billy Raffoul receives $5,000, a Yamaha Keyboard, and a $500 gift card from Long & McQuade.
“Songwriting has been a part of my life since the very beginning, and I am so fortunate to have grown up in a family full of artistic expression,” Raffoul said. “‘Western Skies’ is a song about the imminent threat of climate change and our responsibility to future generations. To be recognized for a song that means so much to me is an incredible honour. Thank you to SOCAN, thank you to the nominating panel, and thank you to everyone who voted for ‘Western Skies’ amongst an exceptional group of songs.”
As music creators continue to be particularly hard hit by the effects of the pandemic, for a second straight year SOCAN presented cash prizes of $500 to the writers of each of the remaining nine nominated songs, providing timely relief for several of Canada’s most talented emerging songwriters.
“‘Western Skies’ is such an important song as we all come to terms with our past, our present, and our collective desire to create a better future for generations to come,” said Jennifer Brown, CEO of SOCAN. “The invaluable power of music to tell stories, to teach, to evoke heartfelt emotion is never more evident than in the 2021 SOCAN Songwriting Prize winner.”
Karen Bliss, eminent music and arts journalist and a SOCAN Songwriting Prize panelist, said this about the song: “I chose Billy Raffoul’s ‘Western Skies’ because it’s a powerful message delivered in an understated logical manner. While I can’t guess at what inspired Billy, my interpretation – and of course I could be way off – is that we are passing on the world to the next generation, so no matter on what side your politics lies, think about the kind of world they will be inheriting.”
The SOCAN Songwriting Prize is the only major songwriting award in Canada where fans vote to determine the winner. Ten outstanding songs created by Canadian songwriters over the past year are nominated by a panel of 15 esteemed music industry experts. The public is then invited to vote once a day for their favourite song for two weeks to determine the winner.
SOCAN plays no role in determining the nominees or winners, apart from ensuring that they meet eligibility criteria.
The winner of the Prix de la chanson SOCAN, the competition conducted separately for songs in French, was “Les amants de pompéi,” written and performed by Thierry Larose, and published by Les éditions Bravo musique inc.
The English category also included the following extraordinary songs:
“Black Woman” – written by Emanuel Assefa, Ryan Bakalarczyk, John Fellner, Kardinal Offishall; performed by Emanuel; Kardinal Offishall published by BMG Rights Management Canada.
“Dancing In My Room” – written by Carter Britz, Aidan Fuller; performed by 347aidan; published by Kobalt Music Publishing Canada.
“delicate” – written by Jonah Yano, Schott Zhang; performed by Jonah Yano.
“Dream” – written by Clairmont Humphrey II; performed by Clairmont The Second.
“Frontin’ Like Pharrell” – written by Kahdijah Payne; performed by DijahSB.
“homebody” – written by Michael Brandolino, Alexander DiMauro, Karah McGillivray, Tom Peyton, Robert Sowinski; performed by Valley.
“No Smoke” – written by Vanessa Kalala, David Charles Fischer, Christopher Larocca, Hrag Sanbalian; performed by LU KALA.
“Purple Carousel” – written by Sydanie Nichol, Casey Manierka; performed by Sydanie.
“Solid” – written by Savannah Ré Simpson, Johann Deterville, Akeel Henry; performed by Savannah Ré; Savannah Ré published by Sony Music Publishing.
The 2020 winner of the SOCAN Songwriting Prize was “The Spark” written and performed by William Prince. Previous winners are available to view at SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
“Classical Antiquity in Heavy Metal Music” By K.F.B. Fletcher & Osman Umurhan demonstrates the rich and varied ways in which heavy metal music draws on the ancient Greek and Roman world. Contributors examine bands from across the globe, including: Blind Guardian (Germany), Therion (Sweden), Celtic Frost, Eluveitie (Switzerland), Ex Deo (Canada/Italy), Heimdall, Stormlord, Ade (Italy), Kawir (Greece), Theatre of Tragedy (Norway), Iron Maiden, Bal-Sagoth (UK), and Nile (US). These and other bands are shown to draw inspiration from Classical literature and mythology such as the Homeric Hymns, Vergil’s Aeneid, and Caesar’s Gallic Wars, historical figures from Rome and ancient Egypt, and even pagan and occult aspects of antiquity.
These bands’ engagements with Classical antiquity also speak to contemporary issues of nationalism, identity, sexuality, gender, and globalization. The contributors show how the genre of heavy metal brings its own perspectives to Classical reception, and demonstrate that this music-often dismissed as lowbrow-engages in sophisticated dialogue with ancient texts, myths, and historical figures. The authors reveal aspects of Classics’ continued appeal while also arguing that the engagement with myth and history is a defining characteristic of heavy metal music, especially in countries that were once part of the Roman Empire.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is excited to honour the induction of rock legend, songwriter, and broadcaster Kim Mitchell. Mitchell’s induction was announced last year to take place during the 2020 Canadian Music Week, but was postponed due to the pandemic. To coincide with the release of his latest single, “Best I Never Had,” and success of The Big Fantasize, Mitchell’s latest album in more than 13 years, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame will present Mitchell with the honour next week at one of Canada’s music landmarks, the El Mocambo, which is also the record label for his newest endeavor.
“We have been waiting for the right moment to celebrate Kim’s induction to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in the true fashion that he deserves; and we’re thrilled to be able to honour his legacy of songwriting on the stage, where he shines best,” said Vanessa Thomas, VP, Member and Industry Relations for SOCAN. “Kim is an originator and authentic in everything he pursues, from songwriting to transforming radio airwaves, defining the indie-rock genre in Canada and putting it all on the stage for his fans. He is among Canada’s rock elite, and continues to influence and innovate through his music.”
Mitchell, through the influential and eclectic band Max Webster, defined ‘alternative’ and ‘indie’ long before the words became clichés. He is among Canada’s most respected singers, songwriters and guitar players, having achieved critical acclaim and multi-platinum commercial success. In addition to being the frontman, guitarist, and lead writer with his writing partner Pye Dubois of the influential and eclectic band Max Webster, he rose from there to prominence and massive Canadian success as an award-winning solo artist.
He is credited with penning (in partnership with his writing partner Pye Dubois of Max Webster), and recording numerous classic hits including “Go For Soda”, “Rock N Roll Duty”, “Patio Lanterns”, “I am a Wild Party”, All We Are”, and “Easy To Tame” – all which have become part of the Canadian musical genome. Mitchell received the JUNO Award on three separate occasions including for Male Artist of the Year (1990) and Album of the Year (Shakin’ Like A Human Being, 1987); and recognized with numerous SOCAN Awards. With his band Max Webster, he released five albums which generated Canadian top 100 hits including “Paradise Skies.”
In the early 2000’s while maintaining a busy touring schedule, Mitchell was invited to join the on-air staff at the CORUS flagship station Q107 in Toronto. Before leaving Q107 in 2014, he had become one of the most popular and most listened to afternoon drive DJs in the country. Mitchell went back to the recording studio in 2018 to mark his first solo recording in half a dozen years.
In November 2020, Mitchell released his 15th studio recording, The Big Fantasize, through El Mocambo Records, owned by Canadian entrepreneur Michael Wekerle. The full new studio recording was produced by friend and Grammy Award-winning producer, Greg Wells (Keith Urban, Adele, Twenty One Pilots), and includes the single “WISHES” and “Best I Never Had” to be released July 16th available on Spotify. The Big Fantasize is Mitchell’s first full-length recording since 2007’s Ain’t Life Amazing.
Following Kim Mitchell’s induction presentation, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame will recognize his songwriting accomplishments in the National Music Centre, located at Studio Bell, in Calgary. The National Music Centre is the physical home of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and will continue to honour and preserve the legacy of new inductees through exhibitions which feature stories, exclusive artifacts, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) honours and celebrates Canadian songwriters and those who’ve dedicated their lives to the legacy of music, and works to educate the public about these achievements. National and non-profit, the CSHF is guided by its own Board of Directors, who comprise both Anglophone and Francophone music creators and publishers, as well as representation from the record industry. In December of 2011, SOCAN (the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada) acquired the CSHF. The Hall of Fame’s mandate aligns with SOCAN’s objectives as a songwriter and publisher membership-based organization. The CSHF continues to be run as a separate organization. www.cshf.ca
Juno Award-winning, powerhouse rock duo Crown Lands – Cody Bowles (vocals and drums) and Kevin Comeau (guitar, bass, and keys) – are proud to announce, “The Big Wave Tour,” kicking off this October. The band’s first headlining tour will be a 13-date cross-Canada tour with Skye Wallace joining as support, see list of full tour dates below.
Commenting on the tour announcement and returning to live shows, Crown Lands note, “This is the biggest moment in Crown Lands history: our first headlining tour. ‘The Big Wave Tour’ takes its namesake from the opening line of ‘White Buffalo’; ‘The Big Wave has come to wash away the ancient world.’ Live music is back. We are here to push the boundaries of what two people can create together.” The band continues, “It’s been a hell of a year and we are emerging out of our musical cocoon better for it. The musicality and the production will set new bars across the board. We promise. We’re excited to have Skye Wallace as our special guest each evening. She and her band deliver true rock & roll.”
The tour announcement follows the release of two new tracks, “White Buffalo” and “The Oracle,” which Crown Lands shared last week through Spinefarm Records/Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. Both tracks were recorded with three-time Grammy Award-winning, Toronto producer David Bottrill (Tool, Mastodon, Rush, Peter Gabriel).
“’White Buffalo’ arrives as a symbol of aspiration, in recognition of the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities to overcome injustice while manifesting a prosperous future. Crown Lands explain, “’White Buffalo’ is the third instalment in our trilogy of songs about Indigenous rights,” says Crown Lands. ‘Mountain’ is what happened. ‘End of the Road’ is what is happening. White Buffalo is manifesting what will happen: overcoming oppression and rising up to reclaim one’s land. The White Buffalo is a symbol of manifestation. When Colonizers came to North America, they tried to wipe out the Buffalo to starve Indigenous people to death. The buffalo are still here. We are too, and together we’ll overcome. Also, never has 7/8 ever been more danceable.”
“White Buffalo” was released with the accompanying official music video, directed by Alim Sabir. The spirited visual sees Crown Lands immersed in the elements, performing in a new age forest with dancers that fortify the theme of movement.
Over the course of a thirteen-minute, multi-part composition, “The Oracle,” continues another story that Crown Lands is creating, revealing the origins of the Queen character featured in the “Context: Fearless Pt. 1” music video. “We wanted to take the listener somewhere and evoke a sense of adventure,” says Bowles. Taking solace from the realities Crown Lands confront in a fictional world they continue to create.
For the last year and a half, Crown Lands have introduced themselves through the release of their self-titled debut album, their acoustic EP, Wayward Flyers Volume 1, plus the four tracks so far from 2021 (“Context: Fearless Pt. 1”, “Right Way Back”, “White Buffalo” and “The Oracle”). Canadian fans now finally have a chance to see what Crown Lands do best with some up-close-and-personal live shows this fall.
“THE BIG WAVE” 2021 TOUR DATES
Friday, October 15, 2021 – Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret
Saturday, October 16, 2021 – Saskatoon, SK – The Roxy
Tuesday, October 19, 2021 – Red Deer, AB – Bo’s Bar & Grill
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
Thursday, October 21, 2021 – Calgary, AB – Commonwealth Bar & Stage
Saturday, October 23, 2021 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
Friday, November 26, 2021 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwell’s Music Hall
Saturday, November 27, 2021 – Oshawa, ON -Biltmore Theatre
Sunday, November 28, 2021 – Hamilton, ON – Bridgeworks
Tuesday, November 30, 2021 – London, ON – Rum Runners
Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – Toronto, ON – The Axis Club
Friday, December 3, 2021- Ottawa, ON – Bronson Centre
Saturday, December 4, 2021 – Montreal, QC – Petit Campus
It’s official; marking its fourth annual year celebrating music in Durham Region, the Oshawa Music Awards have announced this year’s nominees!
Spanning seven award categories — including Durham Song of the Year, Emerging Artist or Band of the Year, Album of the Year, and more — public voting for nominees has officially begun via theomas.ca. It will close on August 20th at 11:59 p.m. EST, and the awards are across three days: September 9, September 16, and September 23.
This year’s recipients of OMA’s Music Industry Leader and Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame honours were also revealed; Artemis Chartier will receive the 2021 honour of Music Industry Leader of the Year, and Ivan Berry — alongside the late Al Cole and the late Andy Gondek — will receive Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame nods.
“The OMAs are excited to officially reveal the names of our nominees,” says co-director, Julius Allan Rondilla. “The Durham Region is front row to so many incredibly talented candidates; our arts scene is home to some of the nation’s best!”
// 2021 Official Nominees & Recipients
Artist or Band of the Year — Presented by 360 Insights Crown Lands (Context: Fearless Pt. I)
Judgement (Define Alive)
Lindsay Schoolcraft (World’s Away)
Single of the Year Crown Lands (Context: Fearless Pt. I)
Hunter Sheridan (To You, My Friend)
Valdii (The Mirror)
Songwriter of the Year — Presented by Trent University Durham GTA Judgement w/ Evangelos Aivaliotis, Riley Robertson, James Hack, Cameron Smith (Terra Firma, November, Define Alive)
Tania Joy (Planks and Marietta, The Drought)
The Rockin Krolik (More Than Enough)
Music Video of the Year Dead Defined w/ Director Luke Camozzi (Lifeline)
Gal George Gjurin w/ Director Gal George Gjurin (Secret)
Judgement w/ Director Roberto Spadafora (Define Alive)
Emerging Artist or Band of the Year NERiMA (Home)
Hollowsage & the Three Mile Islanders (Nuclear Home)
Nothing Special (Brandi)
Album of the Year Crown Lands (Crown Lands)
Hollowsage & the Three Mile Islanders (Nuclear Home)
Hunter Sheridan (Life Is a Dream)
Durham Song of the Year Daniel Raymond (115)
Gal George Gjurin (I Don’t Want to Meet You In Heaven)
Tania Joy (Planks and Marietta)
Receiving two nominations of her own, Canadian folk singer/songwriter Tania Joy hosted the broadcasted nomination event.
“We were honoured to have Tania Joy host our nominee announcement ceremony,” says OMA Director Thao Nghiem. “She is not only such an enthusiastic supporter of Durham’s local arts community, but an amazing contributor to it as well.”
Based in Uxbridge, Tania Joy was proud to host the event. “There’s something about this place,” she muses of the Durham Region and its rich creative scene. “It’s got such a tight-knit and supportive arts community — from sculptors, to musicians, to theatre, as well as the #1 bookstore in Canada…
“I think we’re all pretty proud to live here.”
Tania Joy walks the talk in more ways than one, having hosted an open mic night at local pub, Col. McGrady’s, for nearly a decade. With performance credits with the likes of Serena Ryder, The Weeknd’s original backing band, and more, she is a multi-talented artist with a forthcoming new sophomore EP slated for this Fall. Among her recently released singles are “The Drought,” a moseying country-soul musing on the loss of love, “Who I Am,” a rootsy anthem embracing unspoken fears, and “Planks and Mairetta,” an acoustic, reflective protest song, with all proceeds directed towards Black Lives Matter.
“The Drought” and “Planks and Marietta” were recognized in her nomination for Songwriter of the Year, and “Planks and Marietta” received a nod for Durham Song of the Year.
Launched in 2018, previous Oshawa Music Awards’ recipients include Shawn Mendes, Crown Lands, Zaftig, Skye Wallace, Mogens Galberg, and more.
The 2021 Oshawa Music Awards are proudly presented by Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism. Sponsors and contributors consist of Spark Centre, Trent University, 360Insights, Long & McQuade, 94.9 The Rock, SOCAN Foundation, and Durham College’s Music Business Management Program.
“While honouring and supporting local artists is important every year, and the reason we founded the OMAs in the first place, the 2021 Awards hold a special significance given the hurdles musicians have faced over the last year,” Thao Nghiem adds. “With that, we look forward to celebrating a bright spot on the horizon with the announcement of this year’s official nominees!”
The 2021 Oshawa Music Awards are across three days: September 9th, September 16th, and September 23rd.
We’re all so happy to announce that Bruce Cockburn is getting back on the road with live concert tour dates starting in December, 2021.
Bruce’s last live concert show was November 23, 2019, in Monterey California at the Golden State Theatre.
Here’s what Bruce has to say about getting back on the road: “As 2020 rolled up on the horizon, it was shaping up to be an exciting year — the fiftieth anniversary of the release of my first album. A considerable number of shows had been booked. The expectation was that much of the year would be spent on tour in celebration of that first step into what has been a pretty interesting professional life.
“My expectations, like everyone else’s, took a big hit from the pandemic and all that has gone with it. That “Big 50th” was not to be!
“Now, as we poke our heads up to see where this past year-and-a-bit has brought us to, I’m getting excited again about getting out and sharing my songs with all who will do me the honor of listening — in actual rooms! With people who are physically present! The 50th Anniversary Tour: 2nd Attempt…May we all stay safe and functional so it can happen!”
Here are Bruce’s first confirmed dates, with more to follow:
DEC 7 GRASS VALLEY CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
DEC 8 SANTA CRUZ CA RIO THEATRE
DEC 9 BERKELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 10 BERLELEY CA FREIGHT & SALVAGE
DEC 12 EUGENE OR SORENG THEATRE
DEC 13 BEND OR TOWER THEATRE
DEC 14 GRANTS PASS OR ROGUE THEATRE
DEC 16 PORTLAND OR ALADDIN THEATRE
DEC 17 PORTLAND OR ALADDIN THEATRE
DEC 18 SPOKANE OR BING CROSBY THEATRE
DEC 19 SEATTLE WA NEPTUNE THEATRE
FEB 24 BURLINGTON VT HIGHER GROUND
FEB 25 ALBANY NY THE EGG
FEB 26 NORTHAMPTON MA ACADEMY OF MUSIC
FEB 27 BOSTON MA WILBUR THEATRE
MAR 1 WATERVILLE ME OPERA HOUSE
MAR 2 FALL RIVER MA CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
MAR 4 RIDGEFIELD CT RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE
MAR 5 NEWTON NJ NEWTON THEATRE
MAR 6 NEW YORK NY SYMPHONY SPACE
MAR 8 ANN ARBOR MI THE ARK
MAR 10 CHICAGO IL OLDTOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK
MAR 11 CHICAGO IL OLDTOWN SCHOOK OF FOLK
MAR 12 MADISON WI BARRYMORE THEATRE
MAR 13 IOWA CITY IA ENGLERT THEATRE
APR 19 PETERBOROUGH ON SHOWPLACE CENTRE
APR 21 KITCHENER ON CENTRE IN THE SQUARE
APR 22 TORONTO ON MASSEY HALL
APR 23 OTTAWA ON NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
For on sale ticket information please check in your local market.
New York Times best-selling author, award-winning playwright, multi-disciplined artist and singer/songwriter Ralph Pezzullo brings an exceptional group of musicians together to set 2021 ablaze with his debut single, “Lockdown Blues” –– available now.
As the first single off Pezzullo’s self-titled album, “Lockdown Blues” is a sonically exhilarating up-tempo Blues fusion that’s anything but isolating. Pezzullo’s vision comes to life with the help of a star-studded band that includes John Prine’s keyboardist, P!nk’s bass player, The Wallflowers’ guitarist, and Dolly Parton’s drummer to create something wholly unique.
This project came together after Pezzullo reached out to producer Rocco Guarino (Velvet Revolver, Scott Weiland) with some early song ideas. Guarino immediately responded to the music with enthusiasm, saying: “I’ve been waiting to work with someone like you.”
The recording process took place in the sun-kissed studios of North Hollywood, California. “Working with them in the studio was fantastic,” Pezzullo says of the extraordinary chemistry in the room. “They got the feel of the tunes and the grooves right away, and we took off creatively.”
“Lockdown Blues” takes the fallout of our tumultuous recent history with the pandemic and flips it on itself with a bright, splashy guitar progression and a chorus that begs to be sung live in concert halls. The process of capturing this song is immortalized in the corresponding music video peppered with footage of the genesis of this post-Covid anthem.
Ralph Pezzullo’s self-titled release is the result of a decades-long journey of creative discovery that began as a teenager in Bogota, Colombia as a member of what one music blogger calls “a seminal Latin rock garage band,” Wallflower Complexion. The son of a diplomat who is still filled with enthusiasm and curiosity, Pezzullo says he’s “traveled to more than fifty countries and lived in a dozen, and discovered that every one of them has its own distinct culture and sound. Each has left an indelible impression on my musical and creative psyche.”
The result is a eight-song debut LP brimming with lived experience and musical influences as varied as Bob Marley, Ruben Blades, Radiohead, and even Stravinsky — all delivered with the assured voice and sonic resonance of a band that has toured for decades.
When Ralph Pezzullo isn’t putting together a low-key supergroup, he’s adding to his bibliography of over two dozen bestselling books. He’s also a poet, award-winning playwright, and screenwriter — with hits Off-Broadway; his most recent play, “The American Wife” which premiered in London
“Lockdown Blues” and Ralph Pezzullo are available now.
For the first time since its exclusive limited-run vinyl release, 54•40 alum Neil Osborne’s creative persona Niz Wiz’s single “God Do Me A Solid” is available for streaming.
As Side A’s track three from the nom de plume project’s self-titled double album, Niz Wiz: Limited Edition Double Album, “God Do Me A Solid” echoes the release’s expression of feelings and fears around prescient themes: America, money, God, A-I, “and a little bit of Canada,” Osborne shares.
“Many people have asked me in the past if I would ever consider a ‘solo’ record, but I never felt the need to…” he reveals. “54•40 is the perfect vehicle for me as ‘Neil’ in our themes of fun, unity, thoughtfulness and reflection couched in a three chord rock combo.
“That all said, I had a sudden inspiration to create a conceptual body of work alone somewhere in early 2019. As a person — as Citizen Niz — I began to sense some kind of disconnect with common sense, and outdated or hijacked cultural values.
“I supposed some of it could be attributed, as my father used to say, as feeling ‘well, the world is passing me by,’ but I had this insistent, nagging feeling it was much more than that.”
As for what in particular was plaguing Osborne’s observations, the world’s skyrocketing political partisanship, an increasingly chasmal wealth gap, and the damaging disconnect caused by social media in its attempts to increase connection were among the top contenders.
And this was all before a catastrophic global pandemic and stirring social unrest spread to each corner of the globe.
“For this album, I started to think about the bizarre rules of what money and ‘ownership’ really means; the way many people carry old beliefs and impotent faith as one would with ‘phantom leg syndrome;’ how artificial intelligence is infiltrating and defining our very identity, distilling our emotions and values to ikons.
“I remember pontificating these thoughts in my basement studio before looking up and saying, ‘Hey! Am I the only one feeling this?! Am I the only one thinking about this change? This undertow of a tide sweeping us all potentially under water? And how we don’t know when we can come up for air?’”
When it came to tangible pieces of inspiration for the album, Osborne looked beyond the endless news cycle to his bookshelf: a copy of Thomas Mann’s 1924 novel, The Magic Mountain, and the character Hans Castorp in particular.
“That book reflects on the ability and necessity for a person to take on, and try on, as many opposing points of view to keep a healthy perspective and get a taste for certain themes,” Osborne explains. “It encourages to see if you like them, and if they’re worthy enough to suit you, all the while allowing respect for individuals who choose ‘this’ or ‘that’ as their point of view.
“So, on that early spring day in 2019, I covered my studio door with a canvas, grabbed some markers, and wrote down any song title that immediately entered my mind.
“I ended up with 17, and every track is a stream of consciousness. I would adopt a vocal ‘character’ to inhabit and tell the story, and I’d record this directly to the track over and over until I had the right character cadence, words, and personality.”
To date, and by deliberate design, Niz Wiz: Limited Edition Double Album has been exclusively available as a vinyl-only offering via El Mocambo Records — and intended for consumption in order, Side A to D. The video for “God Do Me A Solid” features a clever collaboration between Osborne and 2010 Visual director, Charlie Darragh.
“I wrote and recorded it all myself, and in consecutive order, before Rave (Dave Ogilvie) mixed and Greg Calbi mastered it,” Osborne offers. “Because it was both written and recorded in order, the intention of this work is to be listened to in consecutive order; moving stylus or skipping cuts isn’t recommended until the story I’ve embedded is familiar. I wanted it to be on vinyl so the listener hears it as I intended.
“Like the good ol’ days… Even if times are changing quickly.”
“God Do Me A Solid” and Niz Wiz: Limited Edition (vinyl only) Double Album are available now via El Mocambo Records.
