In 1978, The Rolling Stones made their first appearance as the hosts and musical guests for Saturday Night Live, and here’s 40-minutes of their rehearsal of “Shattered”, “Beast of Burden” and “Respectable”.
RBC Foundation Supports Unison’s Counselling & Health Solutions with $50,000 Commitment
Unison Benevolent Fund’s Counselling & Health Services has received a $50,000 grant from the RBC Foundation to continue investing in the health, longevity, and resilience of the Canadian music community.
As demand for counselling services exponentially increases, the significant infusion of funds into the program will ensure Canadian music-makers continue to receive quality care from Unison in their times of need.
“We’re incredibly grateful to receive support from the RBC Foundation,” says Unison’s Executive Director, Amanda Power. “Music-makers navigate a rewarding, but difficult industry. It’s crucial we have support systems in place to take care of the wellness of our music community. Thanks to the RBC Foundation, music-makers can count on Unison’s Counselling & Health Solutions to provide life-changing mental health support, while also giving our community access to invaluable help through legal guidance, family counselling, assistance with childcare or eldercare resources, nutrition advice, and more.”
“We recognize the importance of mental well-being on a young person’s ability to achieve success,” said Valerie Chort, Vice-President, Corporate Citizenship, RBC, “and are proud to strengthen the critical supports and services provided by Unison – to aid Canadian musicians on their journeys from emerging to established.”
For more information on Unison’s Counselling & Health Solutions supported by the RBC Foundation, please visit their website.
The Darkness Kicks Off North American Leg of ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ Tour on April 13
Multi-platinum selling UK rock band The Darkness – frontman Justin Hawkins, guitarist Dan Hawkins, bassist Frankie Poullain and drummer Rufus Taylor – released Easter Is Cancelled, their first ever concept album, in October via Cooking Vinyl. The band will spread their Easter Is Cancelled message across North America on their headlining Easter Is Cancelled Tour kicking off on April 13th in Edmonton, Alberta at Union Hall and wrapping on May 23rd in Chicago at Park West. The Darkness will play Easter Is Cancelled in full, followed by a set of their greatest hits and fan favorites. The shows promise to reflect the grand scope and vision of the new album alongside the band’s spectacular canon.
Justin Hawkins shares, “North America! We come to you again, humble in our mission but resolute in our purpose. Join with us in the benediction of ROCK, as we bring our Easter is Cancelled World Tour to your spume-flecked shores. We cancelled Easter and now we are going to cancel your souls – let’s reboot together in the epiphany that only 150% pure adrenalin can bring. You are me, I am you, and music is the river that will carry us to our destiny. P.S. concert tickets available at extremely reasonable prices from all usual outlets.”
Easter Is Cancelled became The Darkness’ fourth Top 10 Album in the UK, it topped the iTunes Rock Chart, debuted at #4 on the Billboard Current Hard Rock chart and #39 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart, and has garnered wide critical acclaim. Kerrang! declares, “For those who like their rock adventurous, Easter may be cancelled, but Christmas has come early.” Classic Rock Magazine raves, “Every track here is whip-smart and shout-it-out hooky.“ The Telegraph calls it “A record of ballsy energetic rock,” Clash Magazine gushes it’s “A lavish, complex, ambitious record,” and The Music announces, “Easter Is Cancelled is a high energy salute to everything rock.” Metal Insider effuses, “From first listen, you’re hoisted into sing-along power pop melodies and foot-stomping rock riffs that easily suck you in. You can feel these songs in your soul and they feel good.” Smells Like Infinite Sadness praises, “Rock and Roll will never die as long as The Darkness are standing. They are the heroes we need, yet don’t deserve. Easter is Cancelled is a welcome reminder of their peerless musical powers.”
Easter Is Cancelled is a mini-rock opera examining the role of the musician in the barbarous culture of the world today. At the core of the tale is love, loss and heartbreak, where redemption is ultimately found in the brotherhood of band friendship and the power of the guitar. The album boasts new single and the video for “In Another Life” that portrays Justin Hawkins banished to hell only to be redeemed by the power of rock pulsating through his guardian angel bandmates and a beautiful archangel. “Rock And Roll Deserves To Die” sees the band hailing the death of rock and roll in an epic five-minute masterpiece featuring monumental riffs, thunderous bass and almighty drums, “Heart Explodes” is a rock aria that finds The Darkness baring all in a multitude of emotions reflecting the hardships, struggles and changing relationships of life. “How Can I Lose Your Love” is a huge rock anthem steeped in emotion, featuring space-age synths, a gigantic chorus with beautiful hands-in-the-air moments, and almighty guitar solos, while title track “Easter Is Cancelled” encapsulates the explosive majesty of the record.
Easter Is Cancelled Tour – North American Dates:
4/13 Edmonton, AB @Union Hall
4/14 Calgary, AB @The Palace Theater
4/15 Vancouver, BC @Vogue Theatre
4/17 Portland, OR @Wonder Ballroom
4/18 Seattle, WA @Showbox
4/21 San Francisco, CA @Regency Ballroom
4/22 Los Angeles, CA @The Novo
4/24 San Diego, CA @The Observatory – North Park
4/25 Tempe, AZ @Marquee Theatre
4/28 Houston, TX @The Studio at Warehouse Live
4/29 Dallas, TX @Granada Theater
5/1 Concord, SC @Epicenter Festival*
5/2 Atlanta, GA @Shaky Knees Festival*
5/3 Birmingham, AL @Saturn
5/5 Nashville, TN @Cannery Ballroom
5/6 New Orleans, LA @Republic NOLA
5/8 Fort Lauderdale, FL @Culture Room
5/9 Daytona Beach, FL @Welcome To Rockville*
5/11 Boston, MA @Royale
5/12 Philadelphia, PA @Union Transfer
5/13 New York, NY @Webster Hall
5/15 Pittsburgh, PA @Rex Theater
5/16 Columbus, OH @Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival*
5/17 Detroit, MI @Majestic Theater
5/19 Minneapolis, MN @Skyway Theatre
5/20 Kansas City, MO @Truman
5/22 St. Louis, MO @The Ready Room
5/23 Chicago, IL @Park West
*Festival dates, not headlining shows
Jonathan Wilson Announces Tour and Releases New Music Ahead of New Album DIXIE BLUR
Acclaimed artist/producer Jonathan Wilson has announced select spring tour dates in support of his upcoming new album Dixie Blur (BMG/Bella Union). The highly anticipated new collection will be released on March 6th and features Wilson’s most personal and fully realized work to date. See full list of dates below.
Check out the recently released single “In Heaven Making Love” below.
Wilson says of the song, “I wanted to write a song about a perfect evening, something worth remembering. A song about carrying letters of rock & roll freedom all over the world.” He adds, “SO happy to share this new music with Cousin Kenny Vaughn taking that sweet guitar break and the legend Mark O’ Connor playing that fiddle solo. I remember the moment clear as a bell.”
For Dixie Blur, the North Carolina-bred, Los Angeles-based Wilson chose to go to Nashville and work with co-producer Pat Sansone of Wilco at Cowboy Jack Clement’s legendary Sound Emporium Studio. He recorded live in the studio with a personal wish list of players that included Mark O’Connor (fiddle), Kenny Vaughan (guitar) Dennis Crouch (bass), Russ Pahl (pedal steel), Jim Hoke (harmonica, woodwinds), Jon Radford (drums), and Drew Erickson (keyboards).
The results are incredible. Just listen to the tracks “So Alive” and “Korean Tea” to get a feel for Wilson’s vision, Watch the video for “69 Corvette”, featuring in-studio footage and home movies from Wilson’s youth that feed the longing for home narrative that runs throughout Dixie Blur.
While Jonathan Wilson may not be a name immediately recognized in mainstream pop culture, chances are that the multi-talented artist’s work has crossed your path. As a producer, Wilson has worked with artists that include Father John Misty, Conor Oberst, Laura Marling and Dawes. As a musician, he has appeared on albums by artists ranging from Jackson Browne to Karen Elson to Roger Waters. Wilson was also musical director, guitarist and vocalist on Waters’ epic US+THEM tour. As a solo artist, Wilson has released Gentle Spirit (2011), Fanfare (2013) and Rare Birds (2018), where he played nearly every instrument. On top of all of that, he is even a gifted luthier. There seems to be no limitation to what this modern renaissance artist is capable of.
JONATHAN WILSON SPRING TOUR DATES
March 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
March 7 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever
March 10 – Toronto, ON – The Great Hall
March 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
March 13 – Philadelphia, PA – XPN Free at Noon
March 15 – Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage
March 17 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
March 18 – Denver, CO – Bluebird
Legendary Canadian Guitarist & Songwriter Myles Goodwyn Performs at Lakeland’s Annual Snowbird Extravaganza
Legendary Canadian guitarist, bandleader and songwriter Myles Goodwyn is returning to his first love – the blues – with the second recording of Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues, the follow-up to his JUNO nominated and East Coast Music Award winning blues debut.
He’ll also be performing at the annual Snowbird Extravaganza, an active-lifestyle event geared toward winter visitors, taking place at the RP Funding Center, 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland, on Jan. 28-29.
Friends Of The Blues 2 has 13 original songs written by Goodwyn and a cover of “All Over Now” by Bobby Womack. As with Friends Of The Blues 1, the album features a supporting cast of the “who’s who” on the Canadian blues music scene, including Jack de Keyzer, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Warren Robert, Ross Billard, Bruce Dixon, JR Smith, Matt Andersen, Mike “Shrimp Daddy” Reid, Jack Semple, Sherman “Tank” Doucette, Joe Murphy, Bill Stevenson, Will Van Hansolo, Steve Segal and more. A real feature on Blues 2 is a stunning duet with six-time winner of Female Vocalist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards, Angel Forrest.
Myles Goodwyn, singer, guitarist, writer, producer and leader of the multi-platinum selling rock band April Wine, has shaped and directed the group from its earliest beginnings. April Wine has sold over 20 million recordings worldwide.
Goodwyn grew up poor and is the classic “small-town kid makes good” success story. As a young teenager Goodwyn honed his skills playing in cover bands and began writing original material as soon as he could play the guitar. One of April Wine`s biggest hits, “You Won’t Dance With Me”, was written when he was a teenager.
Myles Goodwyn’s voice is as distinctive and immediately recognizable as his songwriting skills are prolific. Myles and the other members of April Wine were inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 2010. Goodwyn received the prestigious East Coast Music Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 and the SOCAN National Achievement Award in 2002. In 2016 he released his memoir named, Just Between You and Me, which became an instant seller on the Globe and Mail`s Non-Fiction List. His second book, Elvis and Tiger – this time fiction was published in 2018 and was well received.
The Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues recording earned him international acclaim and Juno Nomination for Blues Recording of the Year 2019. The recording won the East Coast Music Award for Blues Recording of the Year in 2019.
Not a bad start to a blues career and his first blues recording effort at age 70 or at any age.
Goodwyn was committed to making his follow up recording, Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2, using the same logic as his blues debut release; “I wanted to write some good blues tunes and sing these tunes as best that I could. I really appreciate great blues material because it is timeless, it is vital and its passionate, even heartbreakingly so”, says Goodwyn. His decision to use only “real blues players” was again, deliberate; “I wanted the real deal when it came to the performances.”
The result of these collaborations is testament to the care that went into Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2 will surely show, yet again, that Myles Goodwyn is not only a gifted blues singer/songwriter and musician, but also a real blues man at heart.
mylesgoodwyn.com | linusentertainment.com
Myles Goodwyn and Friends Of The Blues 2 Track List
01 – Hip Hip
02 – Like A Dog Ain’t Had Its Day
03 – Over Now
04 – You Got It Bad
05 – Fish Tank Blues
06 – Speedo (Revisited)
07 – Daddy Needs New Shoes
08 – Being Good
09 – I Love My Guitar
10 – Help Me Baby
11 – When Your Ship Came In (I Was At The Airport Drinking)
12 – Sick And Tired (Of Being Sick And Tired Over You)
13 – I Saw Someone That Wasn’t There (And It Was You)
14 – (Bonus Track) Even Singing Cowboys Get The Blues
Steve Jordan, Founder Of The Polaris Music Prize Steps Down As Executive Director – Takes Position As Senior Director Of CBC Music
Steve Jordan, Founder of the Polaris Music Prize, will be leaving his position as Executive Director. Starting March 2, he will be the Senior Director of CBC Music.
Steve founded The Prize in 2006. Its winners and Long and Short List nominees have benefited from both a major cash prize, and with boosts to record streams, media attention, and live audience both domestically and internationally.
Steve released this statement today:
“I’ve been really struggling to articulate the mixed emotions I have leaving something I started and have devoted myself to for the last 15 years. I’m sad to leave the day-to-day, but feel a lot of joy that Polaris, culturally and financially, is in the strongest position it’s ever been. I have every confidence that the stewardship of the jury, our team, and our stakeholders will ensure Polaris continues with the integrity and vitality that people expect of it. It also feels good that so many of our sponsors and suppliers have been with us since the beginning and continue to support our mission of amplifying the musical excellence in this country. The various hands that touch Polaris throughout the year are all good hands to be leaving it in.”
Polaris Music Prize Board Chair, Miro Oballa adds, “On behalf of the Polaris Music Prize’s board of directors, we’d like to thank Steve for the vision and passion he’s brought to The Prize since its inception and we wish him all the best in his new role at the CBC. Polaris events manager Claire Dagenais will take on an expanded role within Polaris while Steve will continue to provide guidance for the Prize in his new role as a Polaris board member. We look forward to an exciting new chapter at Polaris.”
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity.
Kesha on the changes the music business needs to make: “There are sides of it you don’t see coming, especially when you’re young”
“From my personal experience, I don’t think the human mind knows what to do sometimes when you reach a goal and, especially with fame and traveling so much, it being just such a strange way of life,” Kesha told Music Week. “The mental health aspect of it is really real. A lot of musicians I know don’t necessarily have the answers to how to do this; we just kind of figure it out along the way. If the head of a label is reading this, I would say: we’re human beings, we’re not robots. I know I’m the luckiest person in the world for getting to achieve my dreams and my goals, but there are also sides of it that you don’t see coming, especially when you’re young – 15, 16, 17 years old – and you’re dreaming up this thing. It’s a really intense, insane ride. Again, I’m so grateful, and I’m very lucky to have put out music and people listen to it. But [people should] just remember, we are human beings and we have emotion. I think a lot has changed, but there’s still a lot of changing to be done in terms of the industry.”
In this brand new long form series, Gibson sits down with Bob Rock
In this brand new long form series, Gibson sits down with some of the most iconic artists, producers and music business pioneers the industry has ever known.
In this episode, Gibson speaks with producer Bob Rock and learns about his early years in Canada, the love of guitar and his musical journey that has spanned over 40 years.
Bon Jovi Kicks Off 2020 With New Album And Tour with Bryan Adams
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band BON JOVI has broken every touring record imaginable, topped every chart, and received every accolade, and now has their sights set on kicking off 2020 with new music and touring. The Grammy Award winning band announced the Bon Jovi 2020 Tour today, presented by Live Nation, will start in the U.S. this June and play arenas across America.
Recently named by Pollstar as one of the top touring bands of all time with nearly 10 million tickets sold in just the last decade alone, the magazine said: “One can count on one hand the number of rock bands that broke out in the 1980s that are still successfully touring today, but doing so with fresh, new music that retains the authenticity that is at the heart of the best in rock ‘n’ roll.”
Jon Bon Jovi has spoken in recent interviews of the depth and breadth of a forthcoming album, set for release later this year from Island Records. Fans will get exclusive access to that album; every ticket sold includes one CD copy of Bon Jovi 2020.
TOUR ITINERARY
Wednesday, June10 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome **
Thursday, June 11 Portland, OR Moda Center **
Saturday, June 13 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center **
Tuesday, June 16 San Jose, CA SAP Center at San Jose **
Thursday, June 18 Los Angeles, CA The Forum **
Saturday, June 20 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
Tuesday, June 23 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center **
Thursday, June 25 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center **
Friday, June 26 Tulsa, OK BOK Center **
Friday, July 10 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
Tuesday, July 14 Newark, NJ Prudential Center **
Thursday, July 16 Boston, MA TD Garden **
Sunday, July 19 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena **
Tuesday, July 21 Chicago, IL United Center **
Thursday, July 23 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center **
Saturday, July 25 Washington, DC Capital One Arena **
Monday, July 27 New York, NY Madison Square Garden **
Tuesday, July 28 New York, NY Madison Square Garden **
** with Bryan Adams.