This is a great interview with Dick Cavett and the great Miles Davis.
CBC/Radio-Canada And Canada Council For The Arts Announce “Digital Originals” Funding Initiative To Support Canadian Arts Community
CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts today announced the creation of Digital Originals, a new time-limited funding initiative to help artists, groups and arts organizations pivot their work to online audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will directly benefit creators of original digital content.
The Canada Council will provide a total of $1 million in funding to successful applicants to develop, create and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online. CBC/Radio-Canada will showcase and amplify the discoverability of select projects on one or more of its platforms.
The Digital Originals initiative will allow artists, creators and makers to apply for a maximum of $5000 in funding per project. The Canada Council will fund approximately 200 projects. CBC/Radio-Canada will curate and feature select projects in a digital showcase; these showcased projects will receive a $1000 grant supplement. Artists can apply with a brand-new work or adapt their work for online sharing. For more information, please visit the Canada Council for the Arts website.
Also launching today is CBC’s Art Uncontained, a rich collection from CBC Arts offering inspiration for audiences and support to the Canadian artistic community in these unprecedented times. New original content includes:
- CBC Podcasts’ PlayME: The Show Must Go On, featuring adaptations from Canadian playwrights whose projects have been disrupted by the pandemic;
- COVID Residencies, video diaries from artists sharing how isolation has affected their art;
- Showcasing provocative original theatre from the National Theatre School of Canada’s Art Apart program, which supports young and emerging Canadian theatre artists;
- Scenes From An Exhibition, offering exclusive virtual tours of Canada’s finest galleries and museums;
- CBC Books’ Transmission, featuring Canadian writers reflecting on these uncertain times;
- CBC Music’s Quarantunes, highlighting Canadian music created in isolation;
- A COVID-19 resource list for artists and freelancers; and weekly virtual arts listings to help people explore culture from home.
Radio-Canada also continues to add new cultural offerings to its digital platforms:
- La commande culturelle is asking Canadians to submit their ideas for special cultural commissions—songs, readings, poetry, dance, comedy acts, or visual art to help them get through these trying times. These “command performances” will be published on Radio-Canada.ca and on its Facebook page.
- On the Radio-Canada OHdio app, Théâtre à la carte gives listeners the chance to revisit original theatre productions that were recently on stage or on the radio, adding to the app’s robust cultural offering of comedy shows, audio books and music playlists that showcase Canadian talent.
- ICI ARTV, Canada’s only French-language specialty channel focused on culture, continues to promote local artists and their works through its programming, on its social media and on ICI.ARTV.CA.
Apple TV + Brings Back The Fraggles in “Fraggle Rock: Rock On! Produced by The Jim Henson Company
The Fraggles make their return in Apple’s “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!,” a new, original collection of mini-episodes, produced by The Jim Henson Company, premiering today for free exclusively on Apple TV+, a home for award-winning, educational children’s programming. The beloved stars of the classic 80s series, Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle Traveling Matt, join together again for new stories and classic Fraggle songs that show everyone how we are all connected through friendship. New mini-episodes will continue to premiere globally for free, every Tuesday.
While the Fraggles might be in different parts of the Fraggle Rock caves, they can still find ways to have fun together, with music, silliness, special guests, and of course the help of devices created by the industrious Doozers – lovingly called the Doozertubes! In the first mini-episode entitled “Shine On,” now streaming on Apple TV+, new Doozertubes are delivered to the Fraggles’ caves, allowing them to come together for a favorite song “Shine On, Shine On Me.”
The all-new short form episodes are produced by The Jim Henson Company, and executive produced by Halle Stanford and John Tartaglia. In accordance with the Covid-19 “Safer at Home” guidelines, “Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” is all shot on iPhone 11 phones from the homes of the production team and individual artists from all over the U.S.
“Fraggle Rock: Rock On!” joins an award-winning lineup of shows from today’s most trusted brands in kids and family programming that are now streaming for free on Apple TV+, including Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters” and “Ghostwriter”; and “Snoopy in Space,” from Peanuts. With families around the world staying at home, Apple is featuring curated collections of TV shows, movies, music, podcasts, books, apps and games for families and kids of all ages. These collections have been created to help parents educate and entertain their kids and to assist teachers who are exploring creative ways to facilitate remote learning.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, as well as at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. The Apple TV app will be available on Sony and VIZIO smart TVs later this year. For a limited time, customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. This special offer is good for three months after the first activation of the eligible device.
1-minute tip for artists: Have some fun and do a Q&A!
You can now be a host (or subject) in your own Q&A. Ever wanted to have your own talk show? Now you can.
Foo Fighters Announce Rescheduled Tour Dates
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Foo Fighters have rescheduled the remainder of their April/May Van Tour 2020.
For a full listing of the rescheduled Van Tour dates, see below. Tickets for the original shows will be honored for the corresponding new performances. For further information, please continue to check in at foofighters.com from the safety of your homes—we want to rock with each and every one of you when we get back out there! FOO FIGHTERS VAN TOUR 2020 Previously scheduled for 4/12/2020 Previously scheduled for 4/14/2020 Previously schedule for 4/16/2020 Previously scheduled for 4/18/2020 Previously scheduled for 4/20/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/10/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/12/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/14/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/16/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/18/2020 Previously scheduled for 5/20/2020 |
Toronto Alt Garage Rockers THE VANIERS Ask ‘Who Are You To Say?’ In Debut EP
Toronto alt rockers The Vaniers are out with their debut EP, Who Are You To Say? — and sophomore single, “On The Regular” — available now!
The five-track breakout EP hits with inspo from band beacons like The Strokes or Arctic Monkeys alongside original, intuitive and tightly-knit musicality from the three former high school classmates — Diego Paz on bass guitar and vox, Alex Iacobellis on guitar, and Nick Donato on drums.
“It’s got a carefree, toe-tapping rhythm that’s perfect for a day drink in the summer,” Paz offers of “On The Regular”s warm weather vibes and retro-inspired video. “It was written over a weekend at a cottage in Tiny, Ontario… We hauled all the equipment up after a late-night gig at Junction City Music Hall, set up after getting there around 3:00 am, and jammed the entire weekend.
“We were just focused on having a good time when we wrote ‘On The Regular’ and I think you can feel that in the music.”
The Vaniers (pronounced ‘van-ee-ays’) have taken the stage at The Horseshoe Tavern, Lee’s Palace, Taste of the Danforth, and more since their 2016 inception. Who Are You To Stay? is the Toronto-based band’s official premiere release.
“The EP speaks to finding your footing through the ups and downs of an experience, and not being afraid of who or what’s out there to judge you,” says Paz on the album’s overall theme. “They’re a diverse collection of tunes — some to party to, make love to, sing along to, and even cry to.
“Tracking the recording finished relatively quickly,” he continues, adding about early days converting the Iacobellis family’s living room into a rehearsal space. Who Are You To Stay? was ultimately laid at Inception Sound Studios with producer Brandon Pero. “The mix, however, took months as we were extremely particular about how we wanted the EP to sound.
“We learned to appreciate the subtleties in our music and taste, and were determined to have that come out in the record.
“We hope people dig it.”
“On The Regular” and Who Are You To Say? are available now.
You Need To Watch This Now: Poppin John Staying Indoors Just For You
Here’s a stunning 4-minute dance clip of Poppin John staying indoors and groovin’ along. You’d be a fool not to watch the whole thing and bust your own move.
The Black Crowes: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and his brother Rich stopped by the NPR offices to perform three tunes from their platinum album, Shake Your Money Maker: She Talks to Angels and Jealous Again, Wiser Time.
1-minute tip for artists: User and product reviews.
User reviews are proven to be one of the best methods of sales, and building trust with your brand, and this is where you come in – talk about your instruments – what guitar you play, the pedal, the mic, the drum kit, the sticks – even if you don’t have a sponsorship deal, this just might get you one.

