The viral-worthy computer parts orchestra The Floppotron is back with another song, Kenny Loggins’ track, Danger Zone, best known for its appearances on the Top Gun soundtrack.
Members of Arkells to join Walk Off The Earth and more at Memorial & Tribute Concert for Mike “Beard Guy” Taylor
Members of Arkells will join Walk Off The Earth and more at a free Memorial & Tribute Concert for Mike “Beard Guy” Taylor, Walk Off The Earth’s beloved keyboardist who passed away late last weekend. Presented by The City of Burlington and Sound of Music Festival, family, friends and fans will come together to celebrate Taylor’s life and legacy on Sunday, January 13th at Civic Square in Downtown Burlington.
Additional special guests such as Scott Helman, members of The Barenaked Ladies and more will perform at the event. For those not able to attend, the band will continue paying tribute to Taylor during their 2019 world tour, saying, “Mike loved our fans so much. We want to honor him and his legacy by continuing our world tour to bring the spirit of this memorial to our fans across the globe.”
Also announced today, CBC Music will livestream the tribute concert nationwide starting at 4:30 p.m. ET on the free CBC Gem streaming service. Following the live event on Sunday, the concert will be available to stream anytime on demand on CBC Gem.
Taylor’s family has partnered with MusiCounts, an organization that celebrates musical excellence and puts instruments into the hands of kids who need them the most, to collect donations in his name. A long-time supporter and advocate for MusiCounts, Taylor believed that all children across Canada should have access to music through their school and community. Donations can be made here: https://www.musicounts.ca/in-memory-of-mike-taylor/
This 3-Part Series On Guitar Players From 1929-1989 Is GREAT
Rick Beato has created a landmark YouTube series discussing the greatest guitarists between 1929 and 1989. No easy feat. The first part spotlights guitarists from 1929-1969, which includes such players as Andres Segovia, Julian Green, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, BB King, Albert King, Django Reinhardt, Jim Hall, Dick Dale, George Harrison, Steve Cropper, Chet Atkins, Glen Campbell, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Peter Green.
The second part encompasses the decade of the 1970s and watch for Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Roy Buchanan, Pat Metheny, Joe Pass, Jerry Reed, Duane Allman, Terry Kath, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Tommy Iommi, Brian May, Pete Townshend, Eddie Van Halen, Mark Knopfler and Randy Rhoads.
The third part focuses on real-life guitar heroes from 1980-1989 Rick divides up into innovators shredders, blues and super shredders. The super shredders category includes Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, Tony MacAlpine and Buckethead. In the blues category were guitarists Brian Setzer, Gary Moore and Richie Sambora. The shredders include Phil Collen, Dimebag Darrell, Adrian Vandenberg, Vito Britta, George Lynch and Jake E. Lee. The innovators included Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, David Gilmour and Joe Satriani.
David Foster to receive Humanitarian Award at the 2019 JUNO Awards
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) today announced that David Foster, renowned musician, songwriter, composer, arranger and producer, will be recognized with the 2019 Humanitarian Award. The award honours Foster’s lifelong dedication to philanthropy through his support of hundreds of charities, including his own non-profit organization, The David Foster Foundation, which raises organ donation awareness and provides financial support to Canadian families in need of life-saving transplants.
The Humanitarian Award recognizes philanthropic efforts by Canadian artists and industry pioneers who have made a significant and meaningful impact on social welfare around the world. The award, given annually by the JUNO Awards, will be presented to Foster at the 48th Annual JUNO Gala Dinner & Awards Presented by SOCAN on Saturday, March 16 at the London Convention Centre in London, Ontario, and live-streamed via CBCMusic.ca/junos.
In the 33 years since Foster established The David Foster Foundation, the organization has helped over 1,100 families with children in need and provided millions of dollars in financial support. In the past twenty years, Foster has supported over 400 charities, including the annual Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night, The Andre Agassi Foundation and Carousel of Hope, to name a few.
Throughout his impressive career, spanning nearly five decades, Foster established himself as one of the most successful songwriters, composers and record producers in history. He has spearheaded albums that have collectively sold in the hundreds of millions and has created hit songs for notable artists including 10-time JUNO winner Diana Krall, global hit-makers, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and many more. Foster created soundtracks that defined a generation with the likes of The Bodyguard, Urban Cowboy and St. Elmo’s Fire. A natural at spotting new talent, Foster played a key role in the discovery and career launches of 20-time JUNO winner Céline Dion, Josh Groban and 13-time JUNO winner Michael Bublé.
For his groundbreaking work in music and composing, Foster has won six JUNO Awards, 16 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe and has received three Oscar nominations for “Best Original Song.” In 1998, Foster was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame; in 2002, the Canadian Walk of Fame; and in 2010, he was honoured by both the Canadian and the American Songwriters Halls of Fame. In 2013, Foster received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, located notably next to his icons – John, Paul, George and Ringo – of The Beatles.
In 2018, Foster set his sights on Broadway, immersing himself in New York theatre culture and embracing it as a new creative outlet. He is working on a Betty Boop production as well as an adaptation of Lucky Us with Jewel. His most recent foray out of retirement saw him working with Michael Bublé to co-produce his new album, Love (2018).
Tickets to The 2019 JUNO Awards are available online at budweisergardens.com, by phone at 1-866-455-2849 and in-person at the Courtesy Ford Box Office at Budweiser Gardens (Located at Gate 1).
The 48th annual JUNO Awards and JUNO Week 2019 will be hosted in London from March 11 through March 17, 2019, culminating in The JUNO Awards, on Sunday, March 17, at Budweiser Gardens, broadcast live at 8 PM ET on CBC, CBC Radio and globally on cbcmusic.ca/junos.
Ever Seen How Easy It Was To Create Music Sheet Music With A Keaton Music Typewriter?
The Keaton Music Typewriter was first patented in 1936 by Robert H. Keaton from San Francisco, California. Another patent was taken out in 1953 which included improvements to the machine. The machine types on a sheet of paper lying flat under the typing mechanism.
Usually only found in museums and private collections, the Keaton music typewriters was marketed in the 1950s and sold for around $225. The typewriter made it easier for publishers, educators, and other musicians to produce music copies in quantity.
Paul McCartney’s: The Bruce McMouse Show Playing In Select Theaters Around The World On January 21st
Abramorama announced today a partnership with MPL/Capitol/UMe to premiere Paul McCartney’s The Bruce McMouse Show in select theaters around the world on January 21. The Bruce McMouse Show is a previously never-before seen film that tells the story of how Paul McCartney and Wings came to meet the inimitable impresario Bruce McMouse. Part concert film, part animated feature, The Bruce McMouse Show features footage from Wings’ 1972 European tour, interspersed with animated scenes that introduce a family of mice living under the stage.
After opening the film with ‘Big Barn Bed’ – the camera takes us down through the floorboards into this charming animated world. We see Bruce McMouse regale his children with stories from his past, when son Soily rushes into the room in a whirlwind of excitement announcing that “The Wings” are playing above them. As the concert plays on, Bruce declares to his wife Yvonne that Paul and the band need his help. Bruce then proceeds to venture on stage to offers his services as producer. As the concert progresses, the animated scenes culminate with dozens of animated mice flocking to the venue to see Wings play. ‘The Bruce McMouse Show’ has been fully restored in 2018 at Final Frame Post alongside a brand-new audio mix (stereo and 5.1) created at AIR Studios where it was also mastered.
The film was directed by Barry Chattington and produced by Roger Cherrill with the live elements taken from four shows in The Netherlands and Germany in 1972. Paul viewed the initial concert edit and realized there was great potential in the material captured. Prior to the European tour Paul had the idea of a family of mice and sketched the characters. Picking up the idea, Eric Wylam took Paul’s sketches and created the final McMouse family. This storyline was incorporated and used as a linking theme within the concert footage. The voice-overs for the animated mice took place at the end of 1973, recorded by Paul and Linda McCartney, Deryck Guyler, Pat Coombs and Derek Nimmo. Production stretched from 1972 through to 1977 when the film was complete, however with changes in the band’s line-up and music scene, the project was held in the MPL archives.
Evan Saxon, Head of West Coast Acquisitions and Business Development at Abramorama stated, “There’s no greater compliment than to be entrusted to oversee the global release a Paul McCartney film and continue our long-standing relationship with The Beatles family. Fans attending these special screenings of The Bruce McMouse Show will be transported to a Paul McCartney & Wings concert with the best seat in the house, just above Bruce McMouse and his family.”
For tickets and information www.BruceMcMouse.com
Cinemas where The Bruce McMouse Show is screening:
US:
New York: IFC Center
Los Angeles: ArcLight, Hollywood
Bethesda: ArcLight Bethesda
Chicago: ArcLight Chicago
Dallas: ANGELIKA
Honolulu: Kahala 8
Nashville: Belcourt Theatre
Phoenix: FilmBar
Sacramento: The Tower Theatre
San Diego: ANGELIKA, Carmel Mountain
San Rafael: San Rafael Film Center
Seattle: SIFF Uptown
UK:
Liverpool: Everyman Cinema Liverpool
London: Everyman Cinema Hempstead
Australia:
Melbourne: Rivoli Cinemas
Perth: Event Cinemas Innaloo
Sydney: Event Cinemas George Street
Canada:
Montreal: Cinéma Banque Scotia Montréal
Toronto: Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Vancouver: Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver
Jon Spencer Releases Kaleidoscopic Video for “Beetle Boots”
In anticipation of his US tour beginning this Friday in Philadelphia, legendary rabble-rouser JON SPENCER and his revolutionary band of sonic avengers, the HITMAKERS, are unleashing their groovy, poptastic video for their latest smash “Beetle Boots” today.
The track appears on Spencer’s cryptically titled debut solo album, Spencer Sings The Hits! out now via In The Red Records.
Additionally, West Coast dates have been announced today, beginning February 23 in Los Angeles right after the HITMAKERS lightning tour of Japan! See below for full tour dates.
The first-ever solo record from Jon Spencer, a milestone in a legendary career that has spanned three decades of brain-splattering innovation, groovy-ghoulie noise, and swank-as-fuck salvation!
Often imitated, never duplicated, the original NYC underground-rock legend returns from the wilderness with twelve red-hot hits, each more powerful than the last!
This is Garage Punk for Now People, weaponized with sci-fi skronk and industrial attitude, calibrated for the Revolution, a Molotov cocktail of sound guaranteed to destroy any post-modern hangover!
JON SPENCER, THE BLUES EXPLOSION MAN who put the BELLBOTTOMS on BABY DRIVER! The Top Cat who spread the Secret Sauce in BOSS HOG! The Rockabilly Right-Hook from Heavyweight Outlaws HEAVY TRASH! The Swank-Fucking Master of PUSSY GALORE is back, bringing the hits to Your Town USA!
Says Spencer: “This is the truth serum the world has been craving, the beginning of a new rock’n’roll rebellion that takes no prisoners and puts the squares on ice!”
JON SPENCER – 2019 TOUR DATES
1/11 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s (w/ Taiwan Housing Project)
1/12 Washington, DC @ Black Cat (w/ The Ar-Kaics)
1/13 Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall (Capital Ale House) (w/ The Ar-Kaics)
1/14 Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall (w/ Dex Romweber Duo)
1/15 Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle (w/ Uncle Kurtis)
1/16 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl (w/ Subsonics)
1/17 Birmingham, AL @ Saturn Bar (w/ Dan Sartain)
1/18 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks (w/ Chicken Snake)
1/19 Houston, TX @ House of Blues – Bronze Peacock (w/ Poizon)
1/20 Austin TX @ 3TEN AC (w/ Hey Jellie)
1/21 San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger (w/ Rocket 808)
1/22 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada (w/ Mind Spiders)
1/23 Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz
1/24 Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe (w/ NOTS)
1/25 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In (w/ NOTS)
1/26 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light (w/ Nots)
1/27 Charlotte, NC @ Side Stage at the Neighborhood Theatre (w/ Dex Romweber Duo)
1/28 Virginia Beach, VA @ Bunker Brewpub & Cadence Hall (w/ Des Demonas)
1/29 Harrisonburg, VA @ The Golden Pony (w/ Shagwuf & Des Demonas)
1/30 Landcaster, PA @ Chameleon Club (w/ Des Demonas)
1/31 Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC (w/ Bodega)
2/1 Allston, MA @ Great Scott (w/ Bodega)
2/2 Pawtucket, RI @ The Met (w/ Bodega)
2/20 – Tokyo, Japan @ Liquid Room
2/21 – Osaka, Japan @ Shangri -La (w/ King Brothers)
2/23 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
2/24 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
2/26 Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
2/27 Portland, OR @ Dante’s
Sass Jordan Becomes First Canadian Female Rocker to Have Her Own Wine
Canada’s Queen of Rock Sass Jordan has ventured among the vines, and added winemaker to her already-impressive collection of accomplishments.
In partnership with Ontario-based Vineland Estates’ Vice President, winemaker, and long-time friend Brian Schmidt, Jordan has launched Kick Ass Sass — a double dip series into the realm of whites and reds.
Available January 1st, 2019 at Vineland Estates, Jordan’s wine line features Kick Ass Sass Red 2016 ($20) — a velvety Cabernet Franc brimming with hints of cherry, black currant, herbs, bramble, and spice — and Kick Ass Sass White 2017 ($20) — an unoaked Chardonnay and Riesling blend, boasting notes of apple, citrus, peach, lime, and honey.
“This red is to die for,” she raves of the Red. “It’s 100% dragon’s blood and, if you drink it, it will give you superpowers.
“(It’s) f***king badass!”
Of the Kick Ass White, Jordan is quick to note it didn’t come together as initially expected. Having just one stipulation, she’d firmly vetoed use of two varieties from the get-go: “There are two grapes I cannot stand. Chardonnay and Riesling.”
So what’s the final blend of Kick Ass Sass White? Chardonnay and Riesling.
The results are “my spirit and soul” in a glass, she shares, on what Kick Ass Sass White embodies to her. “Like the taste of the sun. It has this juicy (and) fruity flavour to it… But the thing that’s astounding to me is I can taste Niagara, the Earth, the vines, the sun…
“It’s cerebral. I guess I’m a Schmidt Riesling and Chardonnay fan!”
Jordan is confident fans of hers will be fans of the line. And fans, she has in spades.
Having planted musical roots in Europe, Jordan edged across the pond to the veins of metal pulsing in the musical metallurgy of Montreal in the 70’s. The city’s burgeoning scene included a ‘no holds barred’ approach to glam, punk, blues, prog, metal, country, jazz, folk — with the added attraction of a homegrown sound created by the Quebecois artists of the decade, unique to the landscape and pertinent to the denizens of the period.
This was the backdrop that would nurture one of the country’s and world’s most inimitable pioneers of female-fronted rock.
In the years since these auspicious beginnings, Jordan has found herself working with and in the company of many of the people that inspired her to do what she does — including Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Steve Miller Band, Van Halen, The Foo Fighters, Cheap Trick, Santana, Joe Cocker, Styx, Rodger Hodgson, April Wine, Jeff Healy, and countless others. She has won various awards, including JUNO and Billboard, and has sold over a million records worldwide.
A feature actor in the episodic TV show “Sisters”, Jordan also starred as a judge on Canadian Idol. Her songs and performances have been featured on numerous television shows, including the iconic 90’s ‘Baywatch’ and ‘Knight Rider’, The Dennis Miller Show, and SyFy’s ‘Defiance’.
2017 saw Jordan re-imagine her major-label breakout masterpiece, Racine, as Racine Revisited some 25 years later. She continues to work on new music, perform live, and develop the webisode/podcast series Roadogs and the 10 Commandments of Rock, in support of friend Tom Petersson’s foundation, RockYourSpeech.com
Wine was next.
“I said to Peter (Wark, her manager), ‘I want to make a wine. Let’s go talk to Brian’,” she explains on her innate interest to level up in the world of Niagara’s most well-known export. “I didn’t want to go to one of those strip-mall wine places.”
Her connection with Schmidt and Vineland Estates is more than a decade in the making. Having first connected during a tasting session featuring Vineland Estates wine, Schmidt quickly became Jordan’s mentor and advisor for all things wine-related.
“He said ‘Don’t worry, we’ll make a wine for you,’” she recalls. “What the —? Did he just say this? Now we have to do it!”
Not one to sit idle on the sidelines, Jordan revels in playing a key role in the wine’s production. The rocker-turned-vintner assists in designing the final blends for both Kick Ass White and Kick Ass Red, as well as label designs and product roll-out.
Patience in the process aside, Jordan is quick to confide her search for “instant gratification” as soon as bottles are in-hand. “(I wanted) something I would be thrilled with when I opened the bottle,” she shares, adding it had to be something to open for friends and not have to put down in the cellar for years. The results are a “body wine… A wood-fire wine… Comforting.”
Early tasters agree, and now fans can partake.
Kick Ass Sass is available at Vineland Estates and in their online shop now.
Blues Music Awards 2019 Nominees Announced: Canada’s Sue Foley Gets 2 Nomination
The 2019 Blues Music Awards brings together Blues performers, industry representatives, and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in Blues recordings and performances from the previous year. The BMAs are generally recognized as the highest honor given to blues musicians and are awarded by vote of Blues Foundation members. Canadian Sue Foley gets two nominations, in the best song category for “The Ice Queen,” and in the Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female Artist).
Tickets for the 2019 Blues Music Awards are available at blues.org.
Acoustic Album:
“A Woman’s Soul” — Rory Block
“Black Cowboys” — Dom Flemons
“Global Griot” — Eric Bibb
“Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues” — Joe Louis Walker/Bruce Katz/Giles Robson
“Wish The World Away” — Ben Rice
Acoustic Artist:
Ben Rice
Guy Davis
Hadden Sayers
Harrison Kennedy
Rory Block
Album of the Year:
“America’s Child” — Shemekia Copeland
“The High Cost Of Low Living” — The Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling
“Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues” — Joe Louis Walker/Bruce Katz/Giles Robson
“Rough Cut” — Curtis Salgado and Alan Hager
“Why Did You Have To Go” — Anthony Geraci
B.B. King Entertainer:
Beth Hart
Bobby Rush
Lil’ Ed Williams
Michael Ledbetter
Sugaray Rayford
Band of the Year:
Anthony Geraci & The Boston Blues All-Stars
Larkin Poe
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Nick Moss Band
Welch-Ledbetter Connection
Best Emerging Artist Album:
“Burn Me Alive” — Heather Newman
“Free” — Amanda Fish
“Heartland And Soul” — Kevin Burt
“Tough As Love” — Lindsay Beaver
“Wish The World Away” — Ben Rice
Blues Rock Album:
“The Big Bad Blues” — Billy F Gibbons
“High Desert Heat” — Too Slim and the Taildraggers
“Live At The ’62 Center” — Albert Cummings
“Poor Until Payday” — The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
“Winning Hand” — Tinsley Ellis
Blues Rock Artist:
Billy F Gibbons
Eric Gales
J.P. Soars
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Tinsley Ellis
Contemporary Blues Album:
“America’s Child” — Shemekia Copeland
“Belle Of The West” — Samantha Fish
“Chicago Plays The Stones” — The Living History Band
“Hold On” — Kirk Fletcher
“Wild Again” — The Proven Ones
Contemporary Blues Female Artist:
Beth Hart
Danielle Nicole
Samantha Fish
Shemekia Copeland
Vanessa Collier
Contemporary Blues Male Artist:
Kenny Neal
Rick Estrin
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Selwyn Birchwood
Toronzo Cannon
Instrumentalist — Bass:
Danielle Nicole
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Patrick Rynn
Scot Sutherland
Willie J. Campbell
Instrumentalist — Drums:
Cedric Burnside
Jimi Bott
June Core
Tom Hambridge
Tony Braunagel
Instrumentalist — Guitar:
Anson Funderburgh
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
Laura Chavez
Monster Mike Welch
Ronnie Earl
Instrumentalist — Harmonica:
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Dennis Gruenling
Kim Wilson
Mark Hummel
Instrumentalist — Horn:
Doug James
Jimmy Carpenter
Kaz Kazzanoff
Mindi Abair
Nancy Wright
Vanessa Collier
Pinetop Perkins Piano Player (Instrumentalist – Piano):
Anthony Geraci
Bruce Katz
Jim Pugh
Marcia Ball
Mike Finnigan
Instrumentalist – Vocals:
Beth Hart
Danielle Nicole
Janiva Magness
Michael Ledbetter
Shemekia Copeland
Song of the Year:
“Ain’t Got Time For Hate,” written by John Hahn and Will Kimbrough
“Angelina, Angelina,” written by Anthony Geraci
“Cognac,” written by Buddy Guy, Tom Hambridge and Richard Fleming
“No Mercy In This Land,” written by Ben Harper
“The Ice Queen,” written by Sue Foley
Soul Blues Album:
“Back In Business” — Frank Bey
“Every Soul’s A Star” — Dave Keller
“I’m Still Around” — Johnny Rawls
“Love Makes A Woman” — The Knickerbocker All-Stars
“Reckoning” — Billy Price
Soul Blues Female Artist:
Annika Chambers
Barbara Blue
Candi Staton
Thornetta Davis
Whitney Shay
Soul Blues Male Artist:
Frank Bey
Johnny Rawls
Sugaray Rayford
Wee Willie Walker
William Bell
Traditional Blues Album:
“The Blues Is Alive And Well” — Buddy Guy
“The High Cost Of Low Living” — Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
“The Luckiest Man” — Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
“Tribute to Carey Bell” — Lurrie Bell & the Bell Dynasty
“Why Did You Have To Go” — Anthony Geraci
Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female Artist):
Fiona Boyes
Lindsay Beaver
Ruthie Foster
Sue Foley
Trudy Lynn
Traditional Blues Male Artist:
Anthony Geraci
Cedric Burnside
James Harman
Lurrie Bell
Nick Moss
Midnight Shine Releases Video For Neil Young Cover “Heart Of Gold”
When 16-year-old Adrian Sutherland in the isolated Cree community of Attawapiskat borrowed a harmonica from an Elder, he fashioned a homemade harness using a coat-hanger, two sticks and elastic bands, and set out to learn Neil Young’s Heart of Gold. He had no way of knowing back then, that 25 years later, his own musical journey would come full circle with the release of a music video that not only pays homage to the song, but also the place where he learned to play it.
In October 2018, a production crew of three traveled to Sutherland’s home in remote Northern Ontario with 14 cases of gear and one ambitious plan: shooting two music videos in five days. Getting the job done in only four, they used the remaining time to shoot this fun little video for Heart of Gold. You could say it came together spontaneously, magically, and with a little help from some adorable friendly faces.
Midnight Shine recorded Heart of Gold for their third album High Road. It brings a timely new take to a timeless classic, and is a song that means a lot to Sutherland:
“Growing up in an isolated area, I listened to a lot of music, especially once I started playing guitar. Neil Young was one of my biggest musical inspirations, and Heart of Gold is still one of my favourite songs. We wanted to record it, but in a way that’s different from everyone else. That’s how we ended up giving it a little ‘shine’ of our own, and we’re really happy with the way it turned out.”
Midnight Shine’s version honours the heart and soul of the original, yet is distinctly different, featuring heavy drum beat, slide guitar, pow wow singing, and a verse performed in Mushkegowuk Cree. With 2019 having been declared the International Year of Indigenous Languages by the United Nations and UNESCO, the timing couldn’t be better for a song like this cover.
Midnight Shine’s Heart of Gold continues to gain new fans across Canada, into the US, and internationally, with ever-increasing radio airplay and growing streaming numbers. Music critics are impressed, too, with several rave reviews, and accolades from Neil Young’s own biographer, John Einarson, who says, “Quite a fascinating version of Neil’s song. Love the First Nations’ feel of it. Very cool.”
Heart of Gold is written by Neil Young, with lyrics translated into Mushkegowuk Cree by Sutherland, and recorded with permission from Wixen Music Publishing, Inc. It was produced by Midnight Shine and John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews at Jukasa Studios in Ohsweken, Ontario, with engineers Jill Zimmermann and Darren Magierowski, and mastered in Toronto by João Carvalho.