Home Blog Page 2064

The CMAOntario Awards Return to London in 2020

pssadm
-
0
The CMAOntario Awards Return to London in 2020

The CMAOntario Awards are heading back to southwestern Ontario as The Country Music Association of Ontario announced today that London will host the 2020 CMAOntario Festival and Awards, May 29-31, 2020.

Presented by Slaight Music, the 8th annual CMAOntario Awards will cap off a weekend of festivities on Sunday, May 31, 2020 at Centennial Hall. This will mark the third time that London will host the event, with previous editions taking place in 2017 and 2018. With a thriving country music market and excellent track record of events, London offers tremendous opportunity to showcase and celebrate Ontario talent.

“The support of our members, Ontario artists and fans is what keeps our Festival, Conference and Awards weekend evolving to greater heights. London has been a terrific host in the past, and we’re thrilled to return to Music City next year,” said Steve Kassay, CMAOntario President.

“We are fast gaining a reputation as Canada’s ‘Music City’ and for good reason,” said London Mayor Ed Holder. “From intimate performances at Aeolian Hall to the main stage at London Music Hall or the award-winning Budweiser Gardens, we know how to party. When London plays host, the entire city rolls out the welcome mat, and the 2020 CMAOntario Awards will be no different.”

“Ontario is incredibly rich with some of the best country artists in Canada and a wealth of emerging talent. It’s an honour to welcome the CMAOntario Awards and Festival back to London. It’s great for London and our entire region,” said Chris Campbell, Director of Culture and Entertainment Tourism for London Tourism and host event chair.

Country music fans will have the opportunity to applaud their favourite country artists and experience up-close interactive performances by some of the top names in Ontario country music throughout the weekend.

Smart Home Essential

pssadm
-
0

Are you planning to build a smart home? Or are you currently in the process of renovating your it to integrate smart home features? You are definitely on the right path because a smart home is becoming the norm in today’s society. 

Smarthome gadgets provide more comfort and efficiency to any homeowner. If you’re still starting the renovation process, these condo renovation tips from Precondo are worth looking into. Also, consider investing in a better internet provider, which can significantly enhance your smart home experience, ensuring seamless connectivity for all your devices and applications. As for smarthome devices you should consider adding to your home right now, take a look below.

Six Smart Devices for Your Home this 2019 

If you want to build a home for the future, make sure you are equipped with these smart home essential devices. 

Google Nest Hub: Best Smart Display

Amazon spearheaded the innovations on smarthome display technology with the arrival of the Echo Show. However, it was Google that managed to refine this concept when they unveiled the Google Nest Hub into the market. From Home Hub, Google updated its smart display technology into Nest Hub and upgraded the standards both in terms of design and voice assistant capacity. 

According to its creators, the Nest Hub can add convenience to your day-to-day activities at home in so many ways. The tasks it can do include showing you a recipe for a dish that you want to make for dinner, making you aware of weather conditions, playing Youtube music, viewing Google Photos, and more. It can also be linked with your home security system. 

The display will show you the camera feed on-screen so you can keep an eye on your home premises. But due to privacy concerns, Google opted to skip the video camera feature on the Nest Hub. 

If you want to use the Google Nest Hub for video chatting, there are third-party options. But if you simply want to monitor your home or keep an eye on your family, it is a good tool to have in your smart home.

Philips Hue White LED: Best Smart Bulb

As a reliable brand, Phillips has been the authority when it comes to the manufacture of light bulbs. Therefore, it is not a surprise when they opted to venture into creating smart light bulbs. If you are looking to build a smart home, the lights from this brand are a good choice for you. 

Even with the standard white light bulbs, you can get a pair of bulbs and a Hue hub that you can set up online for $70. You can also get the Bluetooth version for an extra $30, which will enable you to integrate them with your Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

Having smart lightbulbs at home means you’ll be able to control your lights more easily at the touch of a button, even if you are outside of the house. This means you can save on your energy bills, too.

TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug Mini: Best Smart Plug

It is easy to install and use. As such, it is a must-have for any smart home. It enables you to toggle the power within your home on and off remotely. 

There are many smart plugs in the market today. However, this one from TP-Link might be the best of them all. It also comes with a single outlet that can be connected to your WiFi network. 

You can also use TP Link’s well-designed app that enables you to control the power at your home (on or off) according to a schedule. Or, you can change the control based on your location. 

The best part is that you can integrate the smart plug to your smart assistant or smart home speaker. The good thing about it is that it works with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

Nest Thermostat: Best Smart Thermostat

Among the most reliable smarthome thermostats in the market today, the Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) is one of the most reliable. For a price of $249, you can get a large display with better resolution and efficient temperature control. 

It is a solid smart thermostat that can provide you with detailed information about weather forecast and indoor temperature control settings. Also, it has an improved sensor technology that delivers a more accurate auto-adjustment of indoor temperature, based on whether you’re at home or away. 

Even so, you can still tweak the settings manually via the Nest app. When you are at home or away, you can still control your home thermostat. This will ensure that the temperature inside your house is within the right comfort setting. 

August Smart Lock Pro: Best Smart Lock 

Another integral part of boosting your home security with technology is the usage of smart locks. How many times have you left your home wondering if you locked your doors? You no longer have to worry about that because now this smart lock system can do that for you! 

A keyless design enables you to lock all possible entry points to your home in one go. The app is easy to install and is compatible with most existing deadbolt designs. It can be set up within 15 minutes and can be connected to your phone via Bluetooth. 

You can also assign timed virtual keys to other people. For example, if your in-laws or a relative is visiting, you can give them a virtual key so they could let themselves in even if you’re not yet home. You know exactly who has access to your home at any point in the day, too.

This is the most complete solution in the market for those who are constantly worried about forgetting to lock their homes when they leave. 

SimpliSafe: Best Home Security System

A security camera is not the only solution for keeping your home secure. With the SimpliSafe home security system, you have everything you need to have peace of mind. For $299, the SimpliSafe kit comes with a base station, motion sensor, open/close sensor, and keypad. 

If you want to go for a more comprehensive security system, you can choose up to 8 different sensors: from smoke, glass-break, and many more. You can, therefore, adjust the different components of the home security system to match your security needs. 

With these smarthome devices and systems, modernizing your home and making it more secure and efficient becomes a breeze. Which of these smarthome devices do you think you would be installing soon?

 

Malvern, Pennsylvania

pssadm
-
0

Overview

Malvern is a borough located in Chester County in the state of Pennsylvania. It had a total population of 2,998 residents as of the 2010 US census. The nearest major city to Malvern is Philadelphia which is about 19 miles west of the borough.

Restaurants and Dining

Some of the popular dining places in Malvern not only boast of their excellent cuisine but of their historical background as well. The White Horse Tavern was first built in 1825 and features antique and vintage decor. Flanigan’s Boathouse uses fresh local produce to prepare contemporary cuisine of steak, lamb, poultry and seafood. The Tuscany Ristorante and Cafe serves quality Italian meals such as pasta dishes with seafood, poultry, and traditional sauces. Burgers, salads, sandwiches and kids’ menu are also available.

Best Hotel Accommodations

Whether visiting for business or pleasure, you will find lots of lodging options in Malvern to fit your needs and budget. The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center Malvern offers cable TV, private baths, onsite restaurant, and other amenities. The Courtyard Philadelphia Great Valley is a smoke-free hotel that features free buffet breakfast, wireless high-speed internet, large screen TV’s, and large work desks. The Homestead Studio Suites Malvern has an indoor pool, laundry facilities, cable TV, and other on-site amenities, and is very near dining places, shops, and city attractions. Malvern’s Summerfield Suites offers cable TV, a private bathroom, private voice mail, and other pleasant amenities. Book your Malvern Hotels with Reservations.com.

Fast Facts

  • If you want to have a taste of Pennsylvania’s Small Town USA, then Malvern is the ideal place to be. The borough was settled by Welsh immigrants in the 17th century and is rich in history, such as the Civil War heroism of Pennsylvania’s 52nd Regiment Infantry.
  • The borough was named after Malvern Hills near the Welsh border in England. William Penn sold the land to Welsh immigrants that inhabited the area for 10 cents an acre. Malvern was officially incorporated as a borough in 1889, until it converted to home-rule on Aprill 22, 2008.
  • Japanese author Nitobe Inazō originally wrote the literary ‘Bushido: The Soul of Japan’ in English in Malvern in 1900.
  • Singer-songwriter Jim Croce, originally born in Philadelphia, attended the Malvern Preparatory School for a year. He is buried at the Haym Salomon Cemetery, also in Malvern.

Tourist Attractions

Malvern abounds with parks, gardens, historic landmarks, and other points of interest. The Swiss Pine Japanese Garden is a private arboretum built in traditional Japanese style, with several acres of colorful flower gardens, nature trails, and ponds. Its steep and uneven terrain is ideal for challenging walks. The Paoli Battlefield is the site of what Washington referred to as the Paoli Massacre. The site is nearly untouched for more than two centuries and is considered one of the most unchanged Revolutionary War battlefields in the country. It is listed as a significant historic site on the National Register of Historic Places. Other notable destinations worth visiting are the Duffy’s Cut railroad line, Immaculata University, and the Great Valley Corporate Center.

 

The 30-minute version of The KLF’s “The Rites Of Mu”, rumoured to be narrated by Martin Sheen, 1991

pssadm
-
0

…or it could be Joe Estevez, Martin Sheen’s brother. Anyway, The KLF is still going to rock you, with their second of three long form videos during their career – Waiting, The Rites of Mu, and The Stadium House Trilogy. They also worked on an ambitious road movie – The White Room – which was never released (although bootleg copies are in circulation).

The KLF released three long form videos during their career – Waiting, The Rites of Mu, and The Stadium House Trilogy. They also worked on an ambitious road movie – The White Room – which was never released (although bootleg copies are in circulation).

The Muppets Spoof Nine Inch Nails In 1997

pssadm
-
0

The Nine Inch Snails, a spoof of the band Nine Inch Nails, appeared on episode 206 of Muppets Tonight.

Two of the snails appeared in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa as mail carriers. They were cut out of the aired version, but do appear in the extended DVD version and in the deleted scenes. They were played by Martin P. Robinson and Tyler Bunch. Gonzo calls one of them Kevin.

Here’s Nine Inch Nails’ Tour Projection Footage From 1999

pssadm
-
0

Graphic designer David Carson who basically invented the iconic 90s style of grunge, distressed, broken, DTP typography and layout while working on Ray Gun and Wired, also created the visual backdrop on screens behind Nine Inch Nails’ live show in 1999.

Legendary Canadian Rockers 54-40 Release New Video for “Sublime Like Me”

pssadm
-
0

Even in today’s absurdly fragmented music scene, it’s easy to spot legendary bands. They’re the ones reliably cranking out great album after great album, each distinct and accessible, in sync with the times, yet timeless.

Witness pop/rock luminaries 54-40 and their newest single — the swirling, futuristic, yet somehow vaguely psychedelic “Sublime Like Me” — available now. Established New Year’s Eve 1980 at Vancouver’s famed Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret, these award-winning, gold and platinum-selling writers and of countless, iconic, enduring, and chart-topping gems fit neatly within the use of the word.

Fresh off their most recent release, Keep On Walking, “Sublime Like Me” is one of 11 originals whittled down from 25-odd demos, and a vivid snapshot of where singer/guitarist Neil Osborne, bassist Brad Merritt, drummer Matt Johnson, and guitarist Dave Genn are right now: dialled in and seriously on fire.

“My favourite song on the album,” Johnson says of “Sublime Like Me.” “I love the groove.”

“We’ve played the song live a few times and it’s already evolving,” Merritt adds. “I think it has the potential to become a staple of our live shows well into the future.”

Speaking of live shows, the band are set to take the stage:
August 31 @ Shake the Lake Festival, Regina SK
September 1 @ Party In The Park, Calgary AB
September 6 @ Maxwell’s Music House, Waterloo ON
September 7 @ East Valley Days, Sudbury ON
October 11 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
October 12 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
December 5 @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON
December 6 @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON
December 7 @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto ON
January 10 @ FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St Catharines ON
January 11 @ FirstOntario Arts Centre, Milton ON
January 12 @ Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington ON
January 14 @ Dominion Telegraph Event Centre, Paris ON
January 18 @ The Music Hall, Oshawa ON
January 19 @ River Run Centre, Guelph ON

“Sublime Like Me” and Keep On Walking are available now.

Save the Music Launches First-Ever Electronic Music Grant Named After Legendary Producer J Dilla

pssadm
-
0
Save the Music Launches First-Ever Electronic Music Grant Named After Legendary Producer J Dilla

MTV and Save the Music—a non-profit organization that has launched over 2,000 music programs within schools across the country—today announced a first-of-its-kind program supporting electronic music production to develop students’ creative and technical talents and reflect how modern music is being made today.

The grant, which was developed in partnership with Pharrell Williams’ creative collective i am OTHER and Arizona State University (ASU), is named the J Dilla Music Tech Grant after the legendary producer who worked with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Common and Erykah Badu, among others, and whose revolutionary approach to making beats continues to inspire artists more than a decade after his death. The program’s innovative combination of music technology and a forward-looking curriculum focuses on the fundamentals of electronic music creation, recording and production, bringing out each student’s inner creativity, talent, and confidence.

Beginning next month, seven high schools across the country will participate in the multi-year initiative. The schools include:

  • Barringer HS, Newark, NJ
  • High School for Public Service, Brooklyn, NY
  • South Philadelphia HS, Philadelphia, PA
  • Hialeah Senior HS, Miami, FL.
  • Arts High School, Newark, NJ
  • McDonogh 35, New Orleans, LA
  • Belmont HS, Los Angeles, CA

“This expanded focus into electronic music technology was driven by listening to the needs of the community and realizing where we could make the most impact on kids,” said Henry Donahue, Executive Director of Save the Music. “After 20 years of providing students and teachers with more than $50 million of band and string instruments, we have now added mixers, turntables, and drum machines to accurately and equitably reflect the music ecosystem today.”

“DJs with turntables and producers with MIDI controllers and state-of-the-art technology are the vanguard of new music makers today—across all musical genres,” said Amy Doyle, General Manager of MTV, and Board Co-chair of Save the Music. “The J Dilla Music Technology Grant underscores MTV and Save the Music’s commitment to cultivating the future creators, providing them with cutting edge tools and innovative instruction to enable them to participate in the future of music.”

“With the J Dilla Music Tech Grant we are deepening our collective efforts to broaden access to the highest quality music education and thinking equitably about the communities we serve to build and expand the pedagogy and curricula that foster young people’s skills, creativity, and expression,” said Evan Tobias, Associate Professor of Music Education at Arizona State University and head of the Consortium for Innovation and Transformation in Music Education.

Watch Tobe Nwigwe play “Houston Tribute”, “Caged Birds”, “Against the Grain”, “Shine” and “I’m Dope” at the Tiny Desk.

pssadm
-
0

Hailing from the southwest region of Houston and of Nigerian descent, Tobe Nwigwe made his Tiny Desk debut a family affair, with an entourage that included his seven-week old daughter. The baby was in the arms of Tobe’s wife, Fat, known for her striking beauty and lead role in the magnificently directed music videos that have paved the way to Tobe’s rapid growth on Instagram.

Watch Tobe Nwigwe play “Houston Tribute”, “Caged Birds”, “Against the Grain”, “Shine” and “I’m Dope” at the Tiny Desk.

My Next Read: Steve Gorman’s “Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes–A Memoir”

pssadm
-
0
My Next Read: Steve Gorman’s “Hard to Handle: The Life and Death of the Black Crowes–A Memoir”

For over two decades, The Black Crowes topped the charts and reigned supreme over the radio waves, even as hair bands, grunge, and hip-hop threatened to dethrone them. With hits like “Hard to Handle,” “She Talks to Angels,” and “Remedy,” their massive success launched them to stardom in the early ’90s, earning them a place among rock royalty. They were on the cover of Rolling Stone, MTV played their videos 24/7, and Generation X re-discovered the power of classic rock and blues by digging into multi-platinum classics like Shake Your Money Maker and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.

But stardom can be fleeting. For the Black Crowes, success slowly dwindled as the band members got caught up in the rock star world and lost sight of their musical ambition. Despite the drinking, drugs, and incessant fighting between Chris and Rich Robinson–the angriest brothers in rock and roll, with all due respect to Oasis and the Kinks–the band continued to tour until 2013. On any given night, they could be the best band you ever saw. (Or the most combative.) Then, one last rift caused by Chris Robinson proved insurmountable for the band to survive. After that, the Black Crowes would fly no more.

Founding member Steve Gorman was there for all of it–the coke and weed-fueled tours; the tumultuous recording sessions; the backstage hangs with legends like Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and the Rolling Stones. As the band’s drummer and voice of reason, he tried to keep the Black Crowes together musically–and in one piece emotionally. In his first-person history of the Black Crowes, Hard To Handle–the first ever account of this great American rock band’s beginning, middle, and end–Gorman makes it clear just how impossible that job was. Fortunately, Gorman tells the tale with great insight, candor, and humor. They don’t make bands like the Black Crowes anymore: crazy, brilliant, self-destructive, inspiring, and, ultimately, not built to last. But, man, what a ride it was while it lasted.

You can get the book here.

1...2,0632,0642,065...3,054Page 2,064 of 3,054

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

Popular posts

Popular category

© Copyright - That Eric Alper