Composer Gershon Kingsley (of Perrey and Kingsley) first recorded “Popcorn” for his 1969 album Music to Moog By. In 1971 the track was rerecorded by Kingsley’s band First Moog Quartet; later he released a version under the name of The Popcorn Makers and was this the version that hit most successfully the charts. The record was one of a rash of Moog synthesizer-based releases, following the Billboard albums chart success Wendy Carlos had in 1968 with Switched-On Bach, and which characterized electronic music of the future.
Blood Orange Announces 2020 North American Tour Dates
Blood Orange – aka Dev Hynes – is heading out on tour in March 2020. He will headline shows in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, DC and Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with special guest Tei Shi. These dates follow a massive run of shows this fall opening for Tyler, The Creator in arenas across the country.
Blood Orange 2020 Tour Dates:
March 7 – Okeechobee, FL @ Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival
March 9 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
March 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
March 13 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre *
March 14 – Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall *
March 16 – Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
March 18 – Washington, DC @ Lincoln Theatre *
March 20 – New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall *
* Tei Shi support
2019 has been a remarkable year for Hynes, who recently released the original motion picture score for the acclaimed film Queen & Slim. As Blood Orange, he released the mixtape Angel’s Pulse this past summer, in addition to directing a video for Beck, writing a collection of classical music with Third Coast Percussion, directing and releasing a series of his own videos, and being called one of the Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People for 2019.
Smithsonian Folkways to Re-Issue Three Seminal LPs of Global Music from the Gambia, the Sahel, and the Caribbean
Coming January 31, 2020, Smithsonian Folkways will re-issue three seminal LPs on vinyl from their extensive collection of music dating back over seventy years. These LPs are coming as part of Smithsonian Folkways Vinyl Reissue Series, which brings to light hidden gems and revisits some of the most iconic and influential albums released by the label. Each LP was a seminal recording at the time, influencing the development of global music in the 20th century.
Tuareg Music of the Southern Sahara, released in 1960, traces the origins of today’s more popular Tuareg bands like Tinariwen and Bombino, and provided a very early glimpse into a tradition that was barely known at the time. Gambian Griot Kora Duets, released in 1979, marked a watershed music in the appreciation of West African traditions, and featured master Gambian musician Dembo Konte at the beginning of his international career alongside his father Alhaji Bai Konte. Calypso Travels featured master calypsonian Lord Invader shortly before his death in 1961. Lord Invader’s calypso had a sharp bite, an art form derived from bloody street battles and a channel to speak truth to power, a powerfully resonant inclusion in Folkways’ extensive collection of protest music.
These reissues were remastered from the original tapes by GRAMMY Award winning engineer Pete Reiniger and are presented in the iconic Folkways fold-over, paste-on jackets, replicating the feel of the original releases. “Smithsonian Folkways is very excited to bring a diverse array of albums from around the world back onto vinyl for the first time since their original release,” says Associate Director John Smith. “They are incredible examples of the rich history and diversity in the Folkways catalog and are just as fascinating and relevant now as they were decades ago.”
Tuareg Music of the Southern Sahara
In the 21st century, the music of the Tuareg people, a diverse group spread across the Sahara encompassing Mali, Niger, and beyond, has reached an unprecedented international audience. Groups including Bombino, Mdou Moctar, Tinariwen, and Les Filles de Illighadad have incorporated the mesmerizing, repetitious qualities of the region’s folk music into rollicking, full-band rock and roll, bringing countless new ears to these styles developed in the African desert. Tuareg Music of the Southern Sahara, originally released on Folkways in 1960, traces the origins of these sounds and styles, focusing on the ecstatic vocalizations and singing accompanied by sparse instrumentation. These raw, extemporaneous recordings offer a glimpse at the musical traditions dating back hundreds of years from many tribes and localities from throughout the Sahel.
Lord Invader – Calypso Travels
Lord Invader was one of the most iconic and well-regarded calypso musicians of the mid-20th century. Coming from humble beginnings in the musical hotbed of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Invader gained notoriety for his unique voice and lyrical prowess. Calypso Travels, his final album released just before his death, was produced in New York in 1960 by Folkways founder Moses Asch. The album showcases Lord Invader’s talent for biting lyrics that reference contemporary happenings, such as the rise of Fidel Castro, his experience at the 1956 World Fair in Belgium, the arrival of the Little Rock Nine in 1957 desegregating the public schools in the United States, and his touring experiences in Europe in the 1950s. An icon of Caribbean music, and one of the major forces exporting it to the world, Lord Invader epitomizes the spirit of calypso – boisterous, acerbic, and joyful.
Alhaji Bai Konte, Dembo Konte, Ma Lamini Jabote – Gambian Griot Kora Duets
The hypnotic, delicate strum of the kora, the harp-like instrument strung on a halved gourd, has been a trademark of West African music for centuries. Gambian Griot Kora Duets (1979), featuring the master player Alhaji Bai Konte, his equally influential son Dembo Konte, and Ma Lamini Jobate, is a remarkable recording that documents an evolution in the kora’s use in the traditional music of the Gambia. The album, made in Dembo and Alhjai Bai Konte’s living space, shows the musicians incorporating complex, polyrhythmic arrangements. Though these musicians are intrinsically linked to the Jali tradition of griot families in West Africa, in which kora players are the historians and record keepers of local cultures, these recordings, with their stylistic flourishes, marked a new beginning for international interest in the kora. Dembo Konte went on to tour internationally, performing on John Peel’s legendary BBC program in 1989 and collaborating with the influential group Mustaphas 3.
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Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie Announce “Together Again, Live” Canadian Dates
Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie announced today that they will be returning to the stage, together again for performances in Toronto and Ottawa in 2020: Friday, July 3, 2020 at The National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Saturday, July 4, 2020 at the Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.
Judy Collins has long inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.
The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy’s dreamy and sweetly intimate version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music, won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She’s garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinum-selling albums. Recently, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.
Judy’s most recent collaboration with her as a singer-songwriter is the 2019 album Winter Stories, including critically-acclaimed Norwegian folk artist Jonas Fjeld, and masterful bluegrass band Chatham County Line. Winter Stories, is a collection of classics, new tunes, and a few surprises, featuring spirited lead vocal turns, breathtaking duets, and Judy’s stunning harmony singing.
Judy is as creatively vigorous as ever, writing, touring worldwide, and nurturing fresh talent. She is a modern-day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished painter, filmmaker, record label head, musical mentor, and an in-demand keynote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to create music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the heart.
Arlo Guthrie has been known to generations as a prolific songwriter, social commentator, master storyteller, actor and activist. Born in Coney Island, New York in 1947, Arlo is the eldest son of Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a professional dancer with the Martha Graham Company and founder of The Committee to Combat Huntington’s Disease, and America’s most beloved singer/writer/ philosopher/artist Woody Guthrie. Arlo has become an iconic figure in folk music in his own right with a distinguished and varied career spanning over fifty years.
Growing up Guthrie, Arlo was surrounded by such renowned artists as Pete Seeger, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott to name only a few. Not surprisingly, Arlo drew from these influences and he in turn became a delineative artist bridging generations of folk. He and Pete Seeger created a legendary collaboration that was sustained for over forty years. The last Pete & Arlo show was in November 30, 2013 at Carnegie Hall, only a few months before Pete passed away at the age of 94.
In addition to his musical career, Guthrie is an accomplished actor with numerous television appearances. Arlo has had recurring roles in two major network television series (The Byrds of Paradise and Relativity), and feature films, the aforementioned Alice’s Restaurant and Roadside Prophets (1992). Arlo is the author of four children’s books and a distinguished photographer, showing his works in selected galleries.
Inspired by his parents’ activism, Arlo bought the old Trinity Church (“the” church) that is now home to The Guthrie Center and The Guthrie Foundation. Named for his parents, The Guthrie Center is a not-for-profit interfaith church foundation dedicated to providing a wide range of local and international services. The Guthrie Foundation is a separate not-for-profit educational organization that addresses issues such as the environment, health care, cultural preservation and educational exchange. In 2009 Arlo was awarded the ASCAP Foundation Champion Award for making a difference through social action on behalf of worthwhile causes and demonstrating exceptional efforts in humanitarianism.
My Next Read: Towards Gender Equality in the Music Industry by Catherine Strong and Sarah Raine
Gender inequality is universally understood to be a continued problem in the music industry. This volume presents research that uses an industry-based approach to examine why this gender imbalance has proven so hard to shift, and explores strategies that are being adopted to try and bring about meaningful change in terms of women and gender diverse people establishing ongoing careers in music.
The book focuses on three key areas: music education; case studies that explore practices in the music industry; and activist spaces. Sitting at the intersection between musical production, the creative industries and gender politics, this volume brings together research that considers the gender politics of the music industry itself. It takes a global approach to these issues, and incorporates a range of genres and theoretical approaches. At a time when more attention than ever is being paid to gender and music, this volume presents cutting edge research that contributes to current debates and offers insights into possible solutions for the future.
Catherine Strong is Senior Lecturer in the Music Industry program at RMIT in Melbourne, Australia. Among her publications are Grunge: Music and Memory (2011), and Death and the Rock Star (2015, edited with Barbara Lebrun). Her research deals with various aspects of memory, nostalgia and gender in rock music, popular culture and the media. She is currently Chair of IASPM-ANZ and co-editor of the Popular Music History Journal.
Sarah Raine is Research Fellow at Birmingham City University, UK. She is co-editor of The Northern Soul Scene (forthcoming), the Review Editor and special issue Guest Editor (2018) for IASPM@Journal, and the co-Managing Editor of Riffs: Experimental Writing on Popular Music. She researches the hidden histories and peripheral participant voices within multigenerational music scenes.
Buy Beats From The Gemtracks Marketplace
Today we would like to introduce an up and coming beats marketplace known as Gemtracks. The mastermind behind the website is 22-year-old Jesse Neo, a DJ and singer-songwriter from Sydney, Australia, currently living in Los Angeles. What started out as a side hustle from singing and recording took an unexpected turn when an opportunity was introduced to transform the website into a start-up, and we have Neo here to give us the exclusive details on how it happened.
“I started Gemtracks as a way to make some money through selling beats and backing tracks,” Neo told us. “This was at a time when I was signed as a composer at a major label and doing work for some big YouTube channels too. Eventually, my producer friends that I met at the studio started showing great interest in the website and even suggested turning the store into a marketplace so they too could sell beats on it.”
According to the singer, each beat fetches between $99 to $600. Unlike other marketplaces, Gemtracks only sells each beat once. This means once a beat is sold, it will be removed from the website and the new buyer becomes the new legal owner of it. Yes, this implies they become the new copyright holder. The advantages of this are the new owner can keep all royalties and distribute unlimited copies of their track.
“I know beats marketplace isn’t a new concept,” Jesse explained. “The one thing that has always kept me from actually buying from other marketplaces is the fact that the same beat, graphic or whatever they are selling, can be sold to multiple people. Imagine releasing a song and realizing it contains the same stems as another song!”
When we asked about the future of Gemtracks, we were told that some exciting marketing tools are currently being developed for beat makers and producers to use for free as an incentive for using the platform. Examples include a newsletter builder, a playlist that can be integrated into external websites, and a coupon management system.
Eventually, the marketplace will also include studio bookings so that singers can easily transfer the beats they have bought into a recording session, and get the vocals and mastering done as soon as possible.
“I really want Gemtracks to be more than just a marketplace,” the singer-turned-technologist revealed. “I want Gemtracks to be more of a tool where beat makers can use to help sell their products and connect with their customers too, like what all businesses should do. I think that would be a real gamechanger in the industry.”
We looked through the website and could see the beats on sale covered a spectrum of different genres, from EDM, hip hop, rock to country. There is even a section dedicated to showcasing the different gears used by big named producers and singers, and a blog containing helpful industry guides. We were not disappointed.
So if you are looking to buy beats or perhaps sign up yourself as a beat seller, head over to Gemtracks now!
Matthew Good Announces North American Tour Dates
The iconic Canadian songwriter and performer Matthew Good announced a 32 date headline tour. The run of dates is Matthew’s first return to the road with his full band since his sold-out nationwide tour with Our Lady Peace in 2018. The current slate of shows begin on March 4 in Pictou, NS and will bring Matthew across Canada with stops in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver to name just a few.
In addition to the tour dates, Matthew has announced his new album MOVING WALLS, available everywhere music is sold on February 21. The sumptuous, orchestral, and wildly multifaceted album is a 15 track masterpiece, recorded at the legendary Bathouse Studios with longtime Good producer Warne Livesey.
Tour Dates
DATE CITY VENUE
March 4, 2020 Pictou deCoste Centre^
March 5, 2020 Moncton Casino New Brunswick^
March 6, 2020 Halifax The Marquee Ballroom^
March 7, 2020 Halifax The Marquee Ballroom^
March 9, 2020 Kingston The Grand Theatre %
March 10, 2020 Oshawa Oshawa Music Hall %
March 12, 2020 Toronto Meridian Hall #%
March 13, 2020 London London Music Hall
March 14, 2020 Kitchener Elements %
March 15, 2020 Sarnia Imperial Theatre %
March 18, 2020 Ottawa Bronson Centre &
March 19, 2020 Ottawa Bronson Centre &
March 20, 2020 Montreal Corona Theatre &
March 21, 2020 Hamilton FirstOntario Concert Hall #&
March 24, 2020 Peterborough The Venue &
March 25, 2020 Midland Midland Cultural Centre &
March 26, 2020 Sault Ste Marie Sault Community Theatre &
March 28, 2020 Winnipeg Burton Cummings Theatre &
March 29, 2020 Saskatoon Coors Event Centre &
March 31, 2020 Regina Casino Regina &
April 1, 2020 Edmonton Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium &
April 2, 2020 Calgary Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium &
April 4, 2020 Lethbridge ENMAX Centre &
April 6, 2020 Nanaimo The Port Theatre &
April 8, 2020 Victoria Distrikt &
April 9, 2020 Victoria Distrikt &
April 10, 2020 Vancouver Vogue Theatre &
April 11, 2020 Vancouver Vogue Theatre &
April 15, 2020 Detroit Shelter *
April 17, 2020 Buffalo Town Ballroom *
April 18, 2020 New York City Le Poisson Rouge *
^= w/ Villages
%= w/ Ellevator
#= w/ Born Ruffians
&= w/ Ria Mae
* – Solo acoustic
Photo Gallery: Crash Test Dummies with Damhnait Doyle at the St. Catharines’ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
Video: Rare Footage Of The Rolling Stones’ Visit to Oslo in 1965
On July 23 1965, The Rolling Stones arrived at Oslo’s Fornebu airport for two concerts held in the exhibition hall at Skøyen, and here’s some amazing video of the concerts.