Think financier Michael Wekerle isn’t serious about getting Toronto’s iconic music video El Mocambo up and running again? Check this out, then. He won’t be returning to Season 13 of Dragons’ Den, and putting his efforts on making sure we misfits have another place to see live music.
The Future Is Female Panel Is A Must-See at Canadian Music Week
Maureen Holloway is the 2018 recipient of the The Rosalie Award from the Radio Trailblazers. A fan favourite on the Toronto airwaves, after longtime stints at Mix 99.9 (CKFM-FM), then Q107 (CILQ-FM), she is now one half of Darren and Mo on 98.1 CHFI-FM. Holloway is also familiar to listeners as host of nationally-syndicated entertainment feature The Last Word, now rebranded as Other People’s Business. Holloway will also moderate a panel during Canadian Music Week entitled The Future is Female addressing the #metoo and #timesup movements. Any CMW delegate can take in the May 10th panel featuring media exec Denise Donlon; Julie Adams, SVP Rogers Radio; and Susan Marjetti, CBC’s executive director of radio/audio, among others.
John Legend and 2018 BBMA Host, Kelly Clarkson, To Perform at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards
dick clark productions and NBC announced today that “2018 Billboard Music Awards” host, Kelly Clarkson, and two-time Billboard Music Award winner, John Legend, will both perform on the three-hour live telecast, airing Sunday, May 20th at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on NBC.
NBC’s “The Voice” coach was announced as the “Billboard Music Awards’” host last week and will emcee the award show for the first time. Legend is coming off his starring role in NBC’s commercially and critically acclaimed “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.”
The artists will join previously announced performers BTS, Camila Cabello, Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Shawn Mendes on a night filled with music’s biggest names. The show will feature performances from this year’s hottest musical acts, unexpected collaborations and buzzworthy moments that celebrate 60 years of the Billboard Hot 100.
Kelly Clarkson made her Billboard chart debut a little over 15 years ago and has charted over two dozen hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including 11 Top 10s. Three of those songs soared all the way to No. 1: “A Moment Like This,” “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” She’s also claimed 10 entries on the Billboard 200 albums chart, including three No. 1s. Her most recent release, 2017’s “Meaning of Life,” bowed at No. 2 and launched a pair of Top 20-charting hits on the Adult Pop Songs chart: “Love So Soft” and “I Don’t Think About You.” Clarkson has earned four Adult Pop Songs No. 1s, among 16 Top 10s, the latter total a mark that only two other artists have achieved in the chart’s two-decade-plus history. In total, Clarkson’s catalog of albums has earned 18.6 million equivalent album units in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music, while her songs have sold more than 35 million downloads and generated over 1.5 billion on-demand streams.
Two-time Billboard Music Award winner John Legend has been adding to his collection of chart accolades for over a decade, dating to his Billboard chart debut in May 2004 on Slum Village’s “Selfish,” with Kanye West. Since then, the R&B singer has launched 15 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including his smash hit “All of Me” in 2014, which spent three weeks atop the chart and finished the year at No. 3 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 ranking. Legend has also scored six Top 10 albums on the Billboard 200, which has helped him earn over 8 million equivalent album units in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music.
Kelly Clarkson has sold more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles worldwide. She has placed 11 singles in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and a CMA Award. The acclaimed singer/songwriter released her highly anticipated new album “Meaning of Life,” the first for Atlantic Records, on Oct. 27, 2017. “Meaning of Life,” featuring the emotionally charged single “I Don’t Think About You,” is the album Clarkson was destined to make with Atlantic, a collection of smart and sensual soul-inspired pop that immediately belongs among the legendary label’s classic canon. For her eighth studio album – and follow-up to 2015’s chart-topping “Piece By Piece” – Clarkson united a stellar team of top songwriters and producers to collaborate, among them past collaborators Jason Halbert, Jesse Shatkin and Grammy-winning Producer of the Year Greg Kurstin, as well as first-time collaborators Mick Schultz, the Monarch and Nick Ruth, among others.
Clarkson’s “Piece by Piece,” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking her third No. 1 debut. “Piece by Piece” garnered two 2016 Grammy nominations (Pop Vocal Album and Pop Solo Performance for her hit single “Heartbeat Song”). Clarkson’s 2011 release, “Stronger,” was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, and produced the smash singles “Mr. Know It All” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” which marked her ninth and 10th Top 10 hits. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” was No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks (three weeks total), marking her third No.1 on the Hot 100 chart. In 2013, she released her first holiday album, “Wrapped in Red,” which debuted at No. 3, was the biggest holiday album debut for a female artist since 2010, and is certified platinum.
Clarkson is also a New York Times best-selling author, having recently released her second children’s picture book, “River Rose and the Magical Christmas”. This is the follow-up to “River Rose and the Magical Lullaby,” which debuted at No. 7 on The New York Times bestsellers list for children’s picture books.
Clarkson currently serves as a coach on the four-time Emmy Award-winning competition series “The Voice.”
Midge Ure To Release New Album ORCHESTRATED June 8
Grammy and Brit Award winning musician Midge Ure will release his new album Orchestrated in North America on June 8th. This remarkable new album features stunningly reimagined orchestrated versions of Ultravox hits and Midge Ure classics including ‘Vienna’, ‘Dancing with Tears In My Eyes’, and ‘If I Was’. Musician, singer-songwriter, producer and activist, Midge Ure has worn many musical hats over the years; however, working on a fully orchestrated album has been a new venture for Midge. Said Midge: “The record took eighteen months to make, but a lifetime of work to achieve.” The set will be released by BMG on CD and clear vinyl.
Midge Ure was one of the 80’s most visible pop/rock stars as the stylish lead singer of Ultravox. Born in Scotland, Midge began playing music in bands at a young age. As soon as he moved to London he soon found himself immersed in a scene he had previously only read about. He was a member of Slik, The Rich Kids, Visage, and, for a short while, Thin Lizzy, after which he joined Ultravox as the new front man.
Ultravox, the electronic rock pioneers who helped soundtrack the 1980’s, regrouped with Midge at the helm after two of the original band members left to pursue solo careers. As singer, songwriter, guitarist and second keyboardist, this second incarnation would become the classic line-up. The album, ‘Vienna’, was recorded in 1980. Although it was the band’s fourth album, it was the first with Midge, and the first one to chart. When the title track ‘Vienna’ was released as a single in early 1981 it became a huge hit and spent four weeks at no.2 in the UK singles chart and was the 5th highest selling single in the UK that year. The album itself re-entered the album chart and peaked at no.3.
Midge produced and co-wrote the Band Aid anthem ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ with Bob Geldof and also co-organized the Live Aid concert in 1985 as well as the Live 8 concerts.
Midge and Bob jointly set up the Band Aid Trust, and is still active as a Band Aid Trustee. Both Midge and Bob have been honored with two Ivor Novello awards for writing the song. After working on the Band Aid project and during a hiatus from Ultravox, Midge pursued a highly successful solo career in 1985. The single, ‘If I Was’, was a UK number 1 single, and his debut album, ‘The Gift’, reached No. 2. After returning to Ultravox for what would be their final album together, the band effectively disbanded in 1987 and Ure concentrated solely on his solo career.
Now Midge Ure is back with this fabulous collection, celebrating his catalogue with these beautifully crafted versions of his classic hits.
Official Tracklisting
01. Hymn
02. Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
03. Breathe
04. Man Of Two Worlds
05. If I Was
06. Vienna
07. The Voice
08. Ordinary Man
09. Death In The Afternoon
10. Lament
11. Recap The Wild Wind
12. Fragile
Ure also returns to North America this summer on a co-headline tour with old friend, and fellow Brit, Paul Young. The first leg of the ‘Soundtrack of your Life’ Tour will hit Texas, the Midwest and Northeast with more to be announced including a second leg hitting the west coast in August.
Midge Ure will be performing Ultravox, Visage and solo material as well as playing songs from his highly acclaimed album Fragile, released in 2014. Listen here via Billboard Magazine. There are a handful of solo acoustic dates for Midge but the rest of the tour is very much plugged in, featuring Ure on electric guitar and synthesizer recalling the groundbreaking, innovative sound he is known for.
Paul Young will be performing songs from his chart topping catalogue spanning 4 decades including the smash hits “Come Back & Stay” “Every Time You Go Away.” and, “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” as well as tracks from his latest album Good Times, released in 2016.
Midge Ure/Paul Young Tour Dates: (More TBA)
May 29 – Austin, TX – 3Ten (Midge Solo Acoustic)
May 30 – Denton, TX – Dan’s Silverleaf (Midge Solo Acoustic)
May 31 – New Orleans, LA – The Parish @ HoB (Midge Solo Acoustic)
June 1 – Atlanta, GA – City Winery (Midge Solo Acoustic)
June 2 – Bordentown, NJ – Randy Now’s Man Cave (Midge Solo Acoustic)
June 5 – Bethesda, MD – Bethesda Blues & Jazz
June 6 – Sellersville, PA – Sellersville Theatre
June 7 – Huntington, NY – Paramount
June 8 – New York, NY – Highline Ballroom
June 10 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House (Paul Young Only)
June 12 – Toronto – The Phoenix
June 14 – Detroit, MI Magic Bag
June 16 – Chicago – B House Live
June 17 – Milwaukee – Shank Hall
June 19 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box
June 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Live @ Ludlow Garage
Peter Sellers does various English accents
An interview with Peter Sellers for Dr. Strangelove where he does several different English accents.
Fishbone Announce Original Lineup, New Summer Tour Dates
Fishbone announced back in February on their Facebook page the group is back to all original members minus Kendall Jones. In the last year, drummer Fish and guitarist John Bigham returned and this month vocalist/keyboardist and trombone player Chris Dowd is now back as well. They’ve since set about adding a series of tour dates to their 2018 calendar, starting this month and continuing through late August.
Fishbone 2018 Tour Dates
5/24 — Pioneertown, CA — Pappy & Harriet’s
5/25 — Las Vegas, NV — Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival
6/23 — San Diego, CA — 91X Beer Festival
6/29 — Los Angeles, CA — Levitt Pavilion, Downtown LA
7/14 — Ventura, CA — Surf Rodeo Festival
7/28 — Tokyo, Japan — Fuji Rock Festival
8/23 — Silver Spring, MD — Fillmore
8/24 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Bowl
8/25 — Worcester, MA — Palladium (supporting Mighty Mighty Bosstones)
Ray Davies To Release ‘Our Country: Americana Act II’ June 29
The continuing story of The Kinks co-founder’s journeys through America, as depicted in his 2013 memoir Americana and last year’s album of the same name, OUR COUNTRY: AMERICANA ACT II is an album borne from Davies’ vision of America — how it shaped him and evolved through the years. His reflections on his experiences in America instigate personal reformation, and eventually rediscovery and celebration of his own origins.
OUR COUNTRY, like its predecessor, was recorded at the legendary Konk Studios in London with guitarist Bill Shanley and The Jayhawks once again serving as Davies’ backing band plus a group of UK musicians. The album picks up several intriguing musical threads from Davies’ extraordinary songwriting catalog, from the opener “Our Country” – which is developed from a melodic theme heard in AMERICANA’s title track – to reinterpretations of songs inspired by America and written for various projects over the years, including “Oklahoma USA” (first heard on The Kinks’ MUSWELL HILBILLIES), “The Real World” (from 2007’s acclaimed solo album, WORKING MAN’S CAFÉ) and “The Getaway” (from 2006’s OTHER PEOPLES LIVES).
OUR COUNTRY: AMERICANA ACT II was arranged and produced by Ray Davies; the album was co-produced by Guy Massey and John Jackson. All songs by Ray Davies.
Davies’ first all original solo work in a decade, AMERICANA was greeted with international critical acclaim upon its release last year. “The Kinks legend uses AMERICANA to blaze a path through both America’s rock ’n’ roll history and his own,” raved Pitchfork. “Its back-to-basics energy and prosaic storytelling make it Davies’ best solo album in years.” Mojo called it “his most personal album to date” and Uncut said that “AMERICANA is a deeply satisfying reminder that Davies remains a songwriter with a huge reach but few equals”. “There’s a lot to chew on,” wrote American Songwriter, “but AMERICANA is a first class offering from one of the UK’s most feted songwriters and a worthy entry into Ray Davies’ rightfully esteemed catalog.” “AMERICANA is a big story,” wrote Consequence of Sound, “and it’s not one with tidy resolutions or easy fixes. But Davies is far less preoccupied with trying to tie up the loose ends than he is pointing out America’s dual narratives. There is the fantasy and there is real life, and more often than not they bleed over into one another. And once again, it took the efforts of one of our greatest living songwriters to spell it all out for us.”
Ray Davies is currently working on a theatre/film piece based on both AMERICANA and OUR COUNTRY.
RAY DAVIES – OUR COUNTRY: AMERICANA ACT II TRACKLISTING:
Our Country
The Invaders (spoken word)
Back In The Day
Oklahoma U.S.A.
Bringing Up Baby
The Getaway
The Take
We Will Get There
The Real World
A Street Called Hope
The Empty Room
Calling Home
Louisiana Sky
March Of The Zombies
The Big Weird
Tony And Bob
The Big Guy
Epilogue
Muswell Kills
P!nk Announces 2019 North American Dates For Acclaimed “Beautiful Trauma” World Tour
After incredible success and demand, esteemed performer and international pop icon P!NK today announces her Beautiful Trauma World Tour will extend in to 2019 with an additional 37 spring dates across North America. Produced by Live Nation, the new outing will kick off March 1, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the highly praised show will make stops in Nashville, New Orleans, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping May 21, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
To ensure tickets get in to the hands of fans, Fan Registration for the North American tour dates will be available through Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform beginning today, Thursday, May 3 at 10am local time through Sunday, May 6 at 10pm local time. Presale tickets for registered fans will go on sale beginning Tuesday, May 8 at 10am local time, while limited supplies last.
Citi is the official presale credit card for the Beautiful Trauma World Tour 2019. As such, Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase U.S. presale tickets beginning Tuesday, May 8 at 10am local time until Thursday, May 10 at 10pm local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit here. In Canada, American Express Card Members can purchase pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, May 8th at 10am local time until Thursday, May 10 at 10pm local time. For more information, please visit here.
U.S. and Canadian residents who purchase tickets online will be able to redeem (1) physical copy of P!NK’s new album “Beautiful Trauma”. All albums must be redeemed by the end of the tour in May 2019. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 11 here.
Since her debut in 2000, P!NK has released 7 studio albums, 1 greatest hits album, sold over 50 million albums equivalents, over 75 million singles, over 2.4 million DVDs worldwide and has had 15 singles in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (four at #1). In addition, she is the recipient of three Grammy Awards (19 nominations), one Daytime Emmy Award, three Billboard Music Awards, seven MTV Video Music Awards (including the 2017 Michael Jackson Vanguard Award recipient), two MTV Europe Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2013 and has sold out arenas all over the world. Her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma is certified platinum, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s 200 chart and marked a career high for first week sales. Additionally, the album debuted at #1 in 10 other countries, on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart and Digital Albums Chart. The first single, “What About US” is also certified platinum, received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance and reached #1 on the Adult Pop Songs chart earning her ninth leader on the chart, the most number-ones at the format for a female (second overall).
P!NK is a huge supporter of various charities, including Make a Wish Foundation, Autism Speaks, Human Rights Campaign and No Kid Hungry. She remains on the UNICEF team as an Ambassador. She recently graced the cover of People Magazine’s The Beautiful Issue.
P!NK BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA WORLD TOUR 2019 DATES:
DATE CITY VENUE
Friday, March 1, 2019 Fort Lauderdale, FL BB&T Center
Sunday, March 3, 2019 Tampa, FL Amalie Arena
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Thursday, March 7, 2019 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
Saturday, March 9, 2019 Charlotte, NC Spectrum Center
Sunday, March 10, 2019 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Tuesday, March 12, 2019 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Thursday, March 14, 2019 Birmingham, AL Legacy Arena at The BJCC
Saturday, March 16, 2019 Bossier City, LA CenturyLink Center
Sunday, March 17, 2019 New Orleans, LA Smoothie King Center
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Thursday, March 21, 2019 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
Saturday, March 23, 2019 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
Sunday, March 24, 2019 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Saturday, March 30, 2019 Glendale, AZ Gila River Arena
Monday, April 1, 2019 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena
Friday, April 5, 2019 Vancouver, BC Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Monday, April 8, 2019 Portland, OR Moda Center
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Sacramento, CA Golden 1 Center
Friday, April 12, 2019 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
Monday, April 15, 2019 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 San Jose, CA SAP Center
Friday, April 19, 2019 Los Angeles, CA The Forum
Friday, April 26, 2019 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena*
Saturday, April 27, 2019 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena
Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Thursday, May 2, 2019 Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin Entertainment and Sports Center
Saturday, May 4, 2019 Fargo, ND FargoDome
Sunday, May 5, 2019 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
Tuesday, May 7, 2019 Omaha, NE CenturyLink Center
Thursday, May 9, 2019 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
Saturday, May 11, 2019 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
Monday, May 13, 2019 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
Friday, May 17, 2019 Montreal, PQ Bell Centre**
Saturday, May 18, 2019 Montreal, PQ Bell Centre
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 New York, NY Madison Square Garden
*Re-scheduled date. Tickets for previously scheduled March 25, 2018 performance will be honored.
**Re-scheduled date. Tickets for previously scheduled March 23, 2018 performance will be honored.
Photo Gallery: Alice In Chains with Walking Papers at Toronto’s Massey Hall
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
John Coltrane and the Economy of the Blues
It’s true: sometimes less is more. Instructor Vince di Mura uses the music of John Coltrane to explain the limitless interpretations that improvisors can create from a composer’s seemingly simple material. This episode of Soundfly’s free series “A Conversation with the Blues,” explores how Coltrane broke down the 12 bar blues to make room for harmonies and improvisation.