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My Next Read: “Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock’n’Roll Underdog” by James Kennedy

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My Next Read: “Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock’n’Roll Underdog” by James Kennedy

“Noise Damage: My Life as a Rock’n’Roll Underdog” by James Kennedy is the tale that follows is not another clichéd collection of rock’n’roll debaucheries (sorry) nor is it another tired fable of triumph over adversity (you’re welcome).

It’s the story of a half-deaf kid from a tiny, remote village in South Wales who was hailed as a genius by the UK’s biggest radio station and headhunted by major record labels, only for the music industry to collapse. It crashed hard, taking with it an entire generation of talented artists who would never now get their shot. CNN called it ‘music’s lost decade’.

Along the way, there are goodies, baddies, gun-toting label execs, life-saving surgeons, therapy, true love, loyalty, hope, breakdowns, suicidal managers, betrayal, drummers and way too many hangovers. James Kennedy shows that the best lessons are to be learned from good losers. It really is all about the journey.

Part memoir, part exposé of the music world’s murky underbelly, Noise Damage is emotional, painfully honest, funny, informative and ridiculous. It’s also a celebration of the life-changing magic of music.

Giant Tiger Kicks-Off Fundraiser for Op Santa with Star-Studded Holiday Concerts

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Giant Tiger Kicks-Off Fundraiser for Op Santa with Star-Studded Holiday Concerts

Giant Tiger is kicking-off its annual fundraising effort for Operation Santa Claus (Op Santa) with a livestream holiday concert on Sunday, November 1 at 7 p.m. ET on the retailer’s official Facebook page.

Hosted by Canadian rock legend Gowan, the show will feature a dozen performances from award-winning musicians from coast-to-coast. The show is being produced to raise awareness about how, from November 1st-11th, Giant Tiger stores across Canada will be collecting $2 in-store donations at check-out to purchase items for Op Santa gift boxes that are sent to deployed members of the Canadian military during the holidays.

The full star-studded line-up is below:

Gowan

Scott Helman

Fred Penner

HUMAN KEBAB

Maestro Fresh Wes

Gord Bamford

The Trews

Kalsey Kulyk

Sam Roberts Band

Eric Ethridge

Donovan Woods

Stuck On Planet Earth

“We’re thrilled that many of Canada’s top musicians are lending their talents to such a wonderful cause,” said Cindy-Lynn Steele, Senior Vice President Marketing and Strategy, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. “As a proud Canadian retailer, working with Op Santa to help provide care packages to deployed members of the Canadian military during the holiday season is something we’re delighted to support. Thank you in advance to all our customers who join us in our efforts, we greatly appreciate your generosity.”

A French language livestream concert to promote the fundraiser, also hosted by Gowan, featuring musicians Marie-Clo, Yves Lambert, Marco Calliari, and Jérôme Charlebois will take place at 8 p.m. ET on the Tigre Géant Facebook page.

“Despite the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, Giant Tiger has been a steadfast supporter of our military community,” said Commodore (Retired) Sean Cantelon, CEO, CFMWS. “Giant Tiger continues to champion the well-being of our women and men in uniform, and their families, in a myriad of ways by supporting initiatives across Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). It is in great thanks to this partnership that we can continue to deliver necessary support for our troops”

Op Santa is a program administered by the Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services – through the generous support from corporate Canadian partners, the packages are filled with items containing a piece of home for every deployed Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member over the holiday season. The packages are an integral part in helping lift spirits, improving mental health and letting CAF members know their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. Packages contain products ranging from food, entertainment, merchandise, hygiene items, and cards with messages from home.

Since 2014, Giant Tiger has played an integral role in the success of Op Santa, contributing over $500,000 in product to help fill the packages to 17,135 CAF members at over 30 locations worldwide.

Music fans are encouraged to ‘like’ Giant Tiger’s Facebook page to access the livestream.

To learn more about Operation Santa Claus, please visit: https://www.supportourtroops.ca/Operation-Santa-Claus

Christmas Sweaters From Your Favourite Musicians

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With it beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! 

Christmasjumperclub.com has slowly been building its name curating the best Christmas jumpers. They even have curated jumpers for your favorite musicians. There were a few that stood out for us!

Abbey Road Beatles / Elf Christmas Sweater. This is modeled on the iconic cover of the fab four’s Abbey Road album. Instead, it adds a Christmas vibe with Santa’s four elves.

Another cool Beatles Christmas sweater to check out is this one below. It is influenced by the artwork of Help album blended with a snowy white Christmas vibe.

Away from the Beatles, but sticking to British bands from the 60s and 70s. We love this Rolling Stones Christmas sweater. It has the classic tongue and lips Stones logo with a knitted Fairisle effect. It will keep you warm throughout the cold winter months. And make you feel like the 5th member of the Rolling Stones!

These are a small sample of holiday sweaters on Christmas jumper club’s website. CJC has been scouring the web since 2017, looking for the best jumpers for you. Click here to find similar jumpers.

SiriusXM and Pandora Present Halloween at Home with Music, Talk, Comedy and Entertainment Treats For All

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SiriusXM and Pandora Present Halloween at Home with Music, Talk, Comedy and Entertainment Treats For All

SiriusXM and Pandora announced today they will feature a wide variety of exclusive Halloween-themed programming on both platforms. With traditional Halloween activities affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, SiriusXM and Pandora plan to help families and listeners find creative and safe ways to keep the spirit alive with endless hours of music and entertainment for the whole family.

Beginning on October 15, SiriusXM will air extensive programming including everything from scary stories, to haunted house-inspired sounds, to Halloween-themed playlists across SiriusXM’s music, talk, comedy and entertainment channels.

Pandora offers a lineup of Halloween stations and playlists for the whole family, including the newly updated Halloween Party station with Modes, and a hosted playlist by Halloween-obsessed music trio LVCRFT. All programming from SiriusXM and Pandora is available to stream online on the SiriusXM and Pandora mobile apps, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices.

SiriusXM’s Scream Radio channel is an annual tradition for Halloween enthusiasts, providing the ultimate bone-chilling soundtrack of creepy sound effects, traditional Halloween favorite tunes, ghost stories, spooky music from classic horror films, and more. The limited run channel will also feature a top 50 Halloween song countdown, “The Freaky 50” and will play scary score music, sound effects, spoken word stories 24 hours a day, and will set the tone for a spooktacular haunted house vibe. Scream Radio will run from Thursday, October 15 through Saturday, October 31 on SiriusXM channel 105 on both streaming and satellite. Click here to catch a sneak preview of the channel.

In addition, Jenny McCarthy will host a virtual Halloween special “Jenny McCarthy’s Halloween Hollywood Séance with Psychic Medium Matt Fraser” airing on Friday, October 30 at 10:00 am ET on SiriusXM Stars channel 109. The special will feature Jenny McCarthy and her BFF’s with special guest psychic medium Matt Fraser in front of a live virtual audience. It’s a spin of the spirit world wheel to see what dearly departed Hollywood stars, friends and family want to connect with Jenny McCarthy and her BFF’s.

Radio Andy’s Jeff Lewis will host a special show “A Virtual Spooky Drink or Five with Jeff Lewis Live” airing on channel 102 on Friday, October 30 at 5:00 pm ET. The special will feature Jeff Lewis as well as Jeff Lewis Live regulars Megan Weaver, Doug Budin, Krista Llamas, and Jamison Scala dressed up in their Halloween best.

SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live will launch a “Virtual Trick or Treating” Halloween special for kids and their families. The channel will spin non-stop kid-friendly Halloween music and will play messages from children sharing what they plan to dress up as this Halloween, their favorite candy, or something special they’re doing to celebrate whether they’re at home or not. Kids are encouraged to call in to the channel all month long by dialing 866-328-2345 and selecting option 5 to leave messages, and they might hear themselves on the radio this Halloween! “Virtual Trick or Treating” will begin on Saturday, October 31 at 5:00 am ET and run through Sunday, November 1 on SiriusXM Kids Place Live, channel 78.

Kids Place Live also offers the ultimate “Halloween House Party” playlist featuring an hour mix of family-friendly Halloween songs: everything from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” music, to the “The Monster Mash,” to independent kids’ artists, to MC Hammer’s Addams Family cover! The eclectic, kid-appropriate seasonal mix will be available On Demand at any time on the SiriusXM app and streaming platform.

Beginning on October 23, the SiriusXM app will be hauntingly designed to attract Halloween enthusiasts. One of the features unique to the app are the classic guest DJ Halloween shows pulled from our archives starring artists such as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Gene Simmons, and Fred Schneider. The app will also showcase individual horror tales from Radio Classics (ch. 148), including Dracula, Frankenstein, and more.

SiriusXM’s Raw Dog Comedy will air “The Raw Dog Comedy Halloween Special” on Friday, October 30 at 5:00 pm ET and run through Monday, November 2 at 10:00 am ET on SiriusXM channel 99. The spooky special will be moderated by comedian and horror movie enthusiast Jim Norton. The SiriusXM host will lead a panel discussion breaking down what makes a good horror film, the greatest horror film directors, iconic scenes, what makes the horror genre so great, and what films stand out as the Greatest Horror Movies of All-Time. Expected panelists include “Scream Queen” Danielle Harris, lead actress in “Halloween” 4 and 5, Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, mixed martial artist who starred in “Girl on the Third Floor,” Kane Hodder, stuntman, who has portrayed Jason in five of the “Friday the 13th” film series, Bill Moseley from “House of 1,000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects,” Henry Zebrowski, comedian and host of the podcast “The Last Podcast on the Left.” The Raw Dog Comedy Halloween Special will be followed by an hour block of Halloween-themed comedy bits including Conan O’Brien’s “And They Call Me Mad,” a spoken word of Mary Shelley’s classic, “Frankenstein.”

Pandora is offering listeners a musical treat this season with a lineup of Halloween stations including “Family Halloween,” “Ghostly Grooves,” “Halloween Metal,” “Hipster Halloween,” “Spooky Symphonies,” and “Witch House.” To celebrate the holiday, Pandora is also launching new Modes on its Halloween Party station, where listeners can customize their experience to find their favorite types of Halloween music—featuring Hip-Hop Horrorween Mode, Creepy Country Mode, Disney Halloween Party Mode, Rock from the Crypt Mode, and Haunted House Mode.

Additionally, Pandora will also be launching a “slaylist” playlist on Thursday, October 15 hosted by the horror-obsessed, award-winning hitmakers of music trio LVCRFT – who have worked with Madonna, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and countless other pop greats. LVCRFT will be guiding listeners through songs from their new Halloween-inspired album, “The Sequel,” with extra-eerie cameos from horror icons like Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead”), John Kassir (“Tales from the Crypt”) and more.

Additional Halloween programing will include:

1st Wave (SiriusXM channel 33):
Billy Idol’s Halloween Transmission
“Billy Idol’s Live Transmission” punks up your Halloween with an hour of classic alternative and punk from Sex Pistols, The Smiths and more on Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 pm ET with replays on Thursday, October 29 at 11:00 pm ET and on Halloween at 7:00 pm ET.

Diplo’s Revolution (SiriusXM channel 52):
Major Lazer’s “Music Is The Weapon” Halloween Special!
Global Dance Trio Major Lazer celebrates the release of their album “Music Is The Weapon” with an all-day special! Hear a performance captured from their drive-in show in California and hear them discuss tracks along with song collaborators. Airs all day on Halloween at 12:00 pm ET until Sunday, November 1 at 12:00 am ET.

Shade 45 (SiriusXM channel 45):
Bad Meets Evil – Shady Halloween
Shade 45 circles back to 2011 when Eminem and Royce da 5’9″ AKA Bad Meets Evil ran down some of their favorite Halloween cuts on the heels of their release, Hell: The Sequel (EP).  Hear tracks from Big L, D12, Dana Dane, Three 6 Mafia, Dr. Dre & Ice Cube, and more on Friday, October 30 at 6:00 pm ET. It will rebroadcast on Sunday, November 1 at 12:00 am and 8:00 pm ET.

Devil’s Night on Shade 45
DJ Wonder will mix up tons of Horror-Core treats for two hours while artists provide scary tales to keep listeners spooked this Halloween! It airs Saturday, October 31 at 6:00 pm ET and rebroadcasts at 10:00 pm ET.

Hip-Hop Nation (SiriusXM channel 44):
‘Omari’s Spell’ Playlist
Omari Hardwick, you may remember as Ghost on hit Starz series, “Power”, will host his favorite 15 Hip Hop Halloween cuts on the weekend of his new Horror movie release, Spell. Hear music from Kanye West, Eminem, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, and more airing on Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 pm ET with replays at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm ET.

U2 X-Radio (SiriusXM channel 32):
Halloween Special 
He’s an artist, lifelong U2 friend and collaborator – and every month, he takes control of the channel to share commentary and a new hand-selected playlist. This month, explore a killer list of spooky vibes with Gavin Friday on this Halloween episode of “Gavin Friday Presents.” Airing Friday, October 30 at 11:00 pm ET.

Hits 1 (SiriusXM channel 2):
Hits 1 HalloWeekend Countdown edition with Spyder Harrison
Enter Spyder Harrison’s Haunted House, where he and his pal Mickey The Wonder Pup count down the biggest songs in North America. Expect some spooky surprises and Halloween hits airing on Halloween at 7:00 am ET with replays throughout the day, on Sunday, November 1 and Monday, November 2.

Alt Nation (SiriusXM channel 36):
The Return of Emo-Halloween-O
This Halloween Weekend, Alt Nation is bringing back Emo-Halloween-O featuring the best emo/screamo and pop-punk tracks the 2000s had to offer. Starting Halloween Eve and continuing all weekend long, listen for blocks comprised of throwback tracks from Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Death Cab for Cutie, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World and more! Airs Friday, October 30 and rebroadcasts each hour through Sunday, November 1.

Volume (SiriusXM channel 106):
Motörhead: 40 Years of ‘Ace of Spades’ Special 
In celebration of the release of the deluxe collectors box set and special anniversary editions of Motörhead’s fourth studio album “Ace of Spades,” SiriusXM Volume presents a one-hour special featuring a full deck of A-list rockers paying tribute to this iconic album and its fearless leader, Lemmy Kilmister. The special will air on Friday, October 30 at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm ET and replays on Halloween at 12:00 pm and 11:00 pm ET.

Feedback’s Virtual Halloween Costume Trick or Treat Fright Fest 
Feedback hosts Nik Carter and Lori Majewski refuse to let Halloween be cancelled, so they are throwing a Virtual Halloween Party and inviting SiriusXM subscribers to join the show in costume via Zoom. Fans in attendance will be asked to come dressed as their favorite musicians, and Nik and Lori and the Feedback staff will vote and give the top three costumes special prizes. The episode will also include guest judges and other spooky surprises. Premieres Friday, October 30 at 9:00 am ET.

Ozzy’s Boneyard (SiriusXM channel 38):
40 years of Motörhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ Weekend 
Ozzy’s Boneyard spotlights the 40th anniversary of Motörhead’s iconic adrenaline surging album “Ace of Spades!” Hear songs and insights from the band every hour throughout Halloween weekend beginning on Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1.

Octane (SiriusXM channel 37):
Octane’s Halloween Costume Covers Contest
Octane highlights the best bands that “dressed up as other bands” for a Halloween Costume Covers Contest and will let the fans vote on their favorite Hard Rock cover songs, playing them back on Halloween weekend. Hear the Top 20 Hard Rock cover songs hosted by horror fanatic and Motionless In White front man Chris Motionless alongside Octane’s Jose Mangin as they share their love of Halloween, covers, and horror! The three-day one-hour special show begins on Friday, October 30 at 9:00 am ET and will rebroadcast throughout the weekend.

SiriusXMU (SiriusXM channel 35):
Halloween Cover-All Costume Party
Even the songs will be wearing masks this Halloween! Listen in for indie artists covering all kinds of songs, and other artists covering indie songs beginning on Saturday, October 31 at 7:00 am through Sunday, November 1 at 1:00 am ET.

Business Radio (SiriusXM channel 132): 
The Business of Halloween During a Pandemic
Halloween has become a multi-billion-dollar industry, but with limited group gatherings and social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the holiday is bound to look gravely different in 2020. This will inevitably distort the sales of Halloween costumes, decorations, haunted attractions, candy and more. Host Dan Loney of “Wharton Business Daily” will talk with executives who are finding innovative ways to keep their business alive in the grip of a global pandemic. Airs Friday, October 30 at 11:00 am ET.

For more information and a full schedule of SiriusXM’s Halloween programming, please visit https://www.siriusxm.com/halloween.

SiriusXM subscribers can listen to SiriusXM’s Halloween programming beginning on Thursday, October 15 via SiriusXM radios, and those with streaming access can listen online, on-the-go with the SiriusXM mobile app, and at home on a wide variety of connected devices, including smart TVs, devices with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant, Apple TV, PlayStation, Roku, Sonos speakers and more. SiriusXM has special offers for new subscribers including three months of a SiriusXM Essential Streaming subscription for Free. To see Offer Details and to subscribe, visit www.SiriusXM.com/free3.

Pandora Launches Artist-Made ‘Endless Playlist’ with Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish, and more

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Pandora Launches Artist-Made ‘Endless Playlist’ with Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish, and more

Pandora today introduced the Endless Playlist, where artists can share their favorite songs along with personal messages, then pass the mic to fellow artists to make their picks. Beginning today, listeners can journey through handpicked songs and discover the music loved by Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Snoh Aalegra, The Neighbourhood, Billie Eilish, and Arlo Parks, with more to come in this ever-growing playlist.

  • Alicia Keys > Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work”
  • Maxwell > Snoh Aalegra’s “You”
  • Snoh Aalegra > The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather”
  • The Neighborhood > Billie Eilish’s “My Future”
  • Billie Eilish > Arlo Parks’ “Cola”

“The Endless Playlist is the first of its kind—a living, growing and inspirational playlist filled with great music and heartfelt commentary,” said Bill Crandall, VP of Editorial Content at Pandora. “Now more than ever, we want to create a platform that connects artists and music fans in a unique and personal way. This is just the beginning, the possibilities of where this journey can lead are truly endless.”

“I love this endless game of musical tag,” said Alicia Keys. “Music is the most incredible way to connect! Can’t wait for ya’ll to vibe with us.”

Pandora Premium listeners can tune into the Endless Playlist HERE. Pandora is also giving listeners with ad-supported Pandora and Pandora Plus the ability to unlock access to the playlist by viewing a short video ad via its Premium Access feature.

Music NB 2020 Breakthrough Artist Of The Year KYLIE FOX Navigates Nostalgia And The Now In GREEN Album

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Music NB 2020 Breakthrough Artist Of The Year KYLIE FOX Navigates Nostalgia And The Now In GREEN Album

Winsome and tender at every turn, Saint John and this week announced as Music NB’s 2020 Breakthrough Artist Of The Year KYLIE FOX has released both her new alt-folk LP, Green and its latest single, “Glowstars.”

The album wastes little time showcasing Fox’s unique brand of song-based storytelling, and the results teem with unmistakable genuineness and endearing charm — all traits that have earned Fox an attentive audience coast to coast, including features on CBC, charting on earshot!, festival stage spots, and more, for the quick wit, signature sarcasm, and inherent empathy that drives her delightful songwriting.

“‘Glowstars’ was inspired by the experience of teaching school while, at the same time, living with my parents,” she recalls. “I finished writing the song during my prep when I was supply teaching at my old high school, and filling in for my favourite English teacher.

“Each morning, I would put on a blazer and maintain a role of authority all day, and then come home to my parents asking how school was before going to bed and laying under the glow-in-the-dark stars I’d put on my ceiling when I was ten.

“The song speaks to the role-playing of adults,” she continues. “It speaks to how we feel a certain jealousy to the naivety of those experiencing the era of our own nostalgia, which I think is childhood, and to the tragedy of growing up and losing the inhibitions that make children so compelling.

“I felt it was so poignant to film the video at Harbour View High School where I experienced both sides of the duality the song speaks of: the teenager wanting to move on from school, and the grown-up in denial.”

The video shoot wasn’t fully in the clear without one minor hiccup, however. “All the little kids in the video are my nephew’s friends, and all the ‘big kids’ are friends I went to high school with,” Fox details. “We were supposed to shoot the dance sequence in the hallway and, when everything was perfectly lit and enough smoke had filled the space, the fire alarm went off!

“The fire department came, and it was very embarrassing, but the following day the principal emailed the crew to apologize. They said they shut the alarms off for us that day, which I thought was the hippest thing.”

The song is the latest to land from Green; the heartfelt album is her debut LP and sophomore offering following 2017’s six-track introductory release, Balcony – EP.

“I recorded with Dale in his remote Nova Scotian farm house,” Fox recalls of laying Green with East Coast Music Award-winning producer Dale Murray. “I would drive over from Saint John and stay for a night or two at a time throughout the summer to work on it.

“Dale’s wife (and fellow ECMA-winning artist) Christina Martin is an insane cook. I would relish in the opportunity to ask them about bizarre touring stories and professional advice while we shared meals and a bottle of wine at the end of a work day. Christina even bought fireworks for the session drummer’s birthday…

“The process was a dream.”

St. Catharines’ Jazz-R&B SAMMY JACKSON is ‘With You’ In Her Sophomore EP

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St. Catharines’ Jazz-R&B SAMMY JACKSON is ‘With You’ In Her Sophomore EP

Jazz-R&B artist Sammy Jackson is With You in song, thanks to the release of her sophomore EP and its title track — both available now.

The five-track album’s unveiling follows this year’s earlier release of single, “Past Tense,” and fully encapsulates Jackson’s uniquely distinct, genre-fusing sound with thoughtful lyricism that’s honest and relatable.

“With You explores themes of vulnerability, broken relationships, and love,” the St. Catharines, Ontario-based singer/songwriter shares. “The song ‘With You’ was inspired by the many road trips my husband and I have taken in Canada, the most memorable being our cross-country trip from Toronto to Vancouver where we marvelled at some of Canada’s finest landscapes, monuments, cities and parks.”

“‘With You’ symbolizes the overall journey in a relationship and the changes you encounter,” Jackson continues. “Much like a road trip, you often face detours and setbacks, but the destination is worth it.”

As heard and seen on JAZZ FM, One-Stop Jazz Safari, The Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar, Luminato, TIFF Bell Lightbox, and more, Sammy Jackson has also shared the stage with the likes of Barbra Lica, Robi Botos, Rich Brown, and Larnell Lewis, to name a few.

The follow up to her debut release, 2016’s Take Me Back, With You features all-original compositions in collaboration with vocalist and songwriter Jacqueline Teh, as well as Tom Fleming (guitar), Chris Pruden (piano), Mark Godfrey (bass), and Ian Wright (drums).

SULTANS OF STRING Raise Awareness of 26+ Million Stateless Around the World with New Single, “Refuge”

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SULTANS OF STRING Raise Awareness of 26+ Million Stateless Around the World with New Single, “Refuge”

For their latest release, Canadian world music collective Sultans of String set out to raise awareness of the nearly 26 million+ refugees currently stateless and away from their homes in a project centred around the positive contributions of new immigrants. The result was Refuge, and its title track, the award-winning “Refuge” featuring Edmar Castaneda — both of which are available now.

The song just won Folk Music Ontario’s Songs From The Heart Award — Instrumental, and is raising funds for the band’s campaign to aid the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canada.

The single spotlights the work of the astonishing Colombian harpist known for reinventing the instrument the world over, and celebrated for his improvisation and dynamic counterpoints created in the track. “It’s a great vibe, the whole tune,” Castaneda says. “It fits right with the harp, so I’m happy to be a part of this.

“I just added my soul into the track.”

Sultans of String are sharing the wealth. In more ways than one.

“We love to expose people to sounds they might not have heard before,” explains violinist and bandleader Chris McKhool, summarizing the mission statement of the groundbreaking and acclaimed world music ensemble. “And we love collaborating with other artists.”

Over the past dozen years and six albums, McKhool and his bandmates — co-founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté, bassist Drew Birston, Cuban percussionist Rosendo ‘Chendy’ Leon and second guitarist Eddie Paton — have excelled at both. Thrilling listeners around North America with their genre-hopping fusion of Celtic reels, flamenco, Gypsy jazz, Arabic, Cuban, and South Asian rhythms, Sultans of String celebrate diversity and creativity with warmth and virtuosity. And they often do it with artists such as Paddy Moloney and The Chieftains, Richard Bona, Benoit Bourque (Bottine Souriante), Nikki Yanofsky, Alex Cuba, Ruben Blades, Crystal Shawanda and Ken Whiteley.

With their historic and visionary seventh album Refuge (released March 20, 2020), McKhool and co. bring their unique brand of musical synergy and collaboration into the studio like never before. Their most ambitious, diverse, inclusive and passionately political album, Refuge puts the Toronto-based Sultans face-to-face with a VIP roster of artists from around the globe — including American banjo master Béla Fleck, Israeli vocalist Yasmin Levy and others, like Iraqi violinist Imah Al Taha and Iranian santur master Amir Amiri, who have fled the peril and persecution of their homelands for the safer shores of North America.

Sultans of String have never taken the easy road. Since releasing their debut album Luna in 2007, they have continually strived to make each chart-topping album more original and meaningful than the last. That includes working with an orchestra (2013’s Symphony), teaming with Pakistani sitarist Anwar Khurshid (2015’s Subcontinental Drift) and even crafting a world-music holiday album (2017’s Christmas Caravan), which landed them on the Billboard charts and the New York Times. Their ambition and work ethic have garnered them multiple awards and accolades, including three JUNO Award nominations, first place in the International Songwriting Competition (out of 15,000 entries), three Canadian Folk Music Awards, and countless other honours.

Their live resumé is similarly stellar. Equally at home in a concert hall, jazz club or festival setting, the Sultans have gigged at the legendary club Birdland in New York, the renowned Celtic Connections Festival in the U.K. and the San Jose Jazz Festival. They have performed with symphonies across Canada and the U.S., and played live on BBC TV, Irish National Radio, World Cafe and SiriusXM in Washington. No matter the venue, the goal is the same, McKhool says.

“I’ve always wanted our concerts to be a place where everyone feels welcome. I want to reach out to diverse communities to say, ‘Come out and enjoy music with us — you’re going to have a really good time.’ And it’s great to see people from, say, the South Asian community mixed in with the hipster crowd. Or to play some very small towns where they might not have heard a sitar played live before. It benefits society as a whole, to have people from around the world blending their ideas, mixing their cultures.”

And sharing the wealth.

Sultans Of String’s Chris MCKHOOL & THE GANG Present A Free Kids Halloween Zoom Party Online October 31

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Sultans Of String’s Chris MCKHOOL & THE GANG Present A Free Kids Halloween Zoom Party Online October 31

Halloween 2020 is bound to look a little different. As parents watch the cases of Covid-19 continue to rise, many are trying to figure out how to carry on the tradition while keeping their children safe. In many parts of Canada, where cases numbers continue to soar, politicians and doctors are saying they would that prefer parents not take their kids door-to-door as Canada works to keep the virus under control.

Enter JUNO Award nominee and MASC artist Chris McKhool with an idea: a free Kids Halloween Zoom Party on Saturday October 31 at 6:00 PM EST, where children can show off their costumes, sing some songs, and have a dance party with other children… virtually.

“I love Halloween, and I wanted to do something nice for all the families struggling with what to do with their kids. I wanted to find a fun and safe way for me, my wife, and 9 year old daughter to celebrate Halloween with her friends and neighbours,” says McKhool.

“The idea grew from there and now we are extending the invitation across the country for families to join with us. We will sing a few songs, have a dance party, a costume contest, and give away prizes. This will be on Zoom so we can see each other and celebrate together.”

“As a MASC artist, Chris has already had to be innovative in his approach to sharing his music with schools and communities across Eastern Ontario and Western Québec” says Micheline Shoebridge, Co-Executive Director of MASC.

“Since the pandemic has necessitated restrictions on live performances and workshops, he has transitioned to offering an online program with MASC, through which he has been able to reach even more children and youth across Canada. We are grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts for supporting Chris’s latest creative project!”

Community-minded Chris McKhool is hailed as a “Children’s musical star” and “Canada’s greatest eco-troubadour for young people.” (Mississauga Living Arts Centre). He is also the bandleader and violinist in three time JUNO Award nominated Sultans of String, but the band will not be joining him for this show.

Instead his educator wife will be helping to lead the party with the Zoom kids, and his daughter will work the puppets and stuffies. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance to ensure a safe moderated Zoom room to party in.

Reserve your free tickets here: https://sidedooraccess.com/shows/OpBNeLGNHbk8E6bUVVVw

Gowan: Livestream From The Empire Theatre in Belleville October 29

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Gowan: Livestream From The Empire Theatre in Belleville October 29

GOWAN – LIVESTREAM FROM THE EMPIRE THEATRE IN BELLEVILLE
Date: Thursday October 29, 2020
Time: 8pm
Live Stream Link here

If any performer/musician was built for these times…it’s Gowan.

He is recognized internationally as one of the planet’s most electrifying & talented entertainers, from both his stellar solo career and as a member of the legendary STYX.

His mastery of the video art form with his landmark works: “A Criminal Mind”, “Strange Animal” and “Moonlight Desires”…have long since defined the ever evolving artist, that is Gowan!

A concert for the ages…prepare to be blown away!

Be sure to leave any question you may have of Gowan in the chat and he will answer those after the show.

Live From The Empire Theatre is a live streaming service coming to you direct from The Empire Theatre in Belleville Ontario Canada. A State of the Art Audio / Video studio has been set up to capture the beautiful setting of the Empire Theatre and the amazing performances by many artists.
The Empire Theatre has been Live Streaming multiple shows for the past 12 weeks.

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Follow us on Instagram @thatericalper

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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