Dear Rouge Announces National Headlining Tour For Fall 2018
Today, JUNO award-winning Canadian band, Dear Rouge, announce their national headlining tour in support of their sophomore album, PHASES, released this March via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. Kicking off in Saskatoon on September 27, the PHASES Tour will make 22 stops across Canada and the US. See below for full tour dates.
Dear Rouge have partnered with Plus1 Organization for the PHASES tour. $1 from every ticket sold will go towards saving lives, revitalizing communities, and transforming global health through Partners In Health.
The PHASES tour follows the success of top 10 radio single “Boys & Blondes”, the first single released from PHASES. Quickly added to Spotify’s most prominent playlists including New Music Now and Indie Pop, and Apple Music’s Best of the Week playlists, the lead single broke into top 10 at Canadian radio and is continuing to climb, currently sitting at number six. Dear Rouge has also announced “Live Through The Night” as their next official single at Canadian radio.
Formed in 2012, Vancouver natives Danielle and Drew McTaggart (Dear Rouge) are partners in life and music that channel their energies into honing their sinewy, hook-driven indie rock. Since their debut in 2015 with critically-acclaimed album, Black To Gold, Dear Rouge has become one of Canada’s greatest acts with over 8 million streams globally, a #1 most added single at Canadian Alternative radio and an array of impressive accolades, including a Juno award for “Breakthrough Group of the Year” and the SOCAN Songwriter prize for their single “I Heard I Had”. Dear Rouge has has seen a number of stages and festivals including SXSW, Edgefest, WayHome, Rifflandia, Osheaga, Field Trip and more, and has opened for Phantogram, Arkells and most recently provided direct support for LIGHTS on her North American tour.
“PHASES” Tour Dates:
27 September – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’
28 September – Winnipeg, MC @ The Park Theatre
29 September – Thunder Bay, ON @ Crocks
20 September – Sudbury, ON @ The Townehouse
3 October – Fredericton, NB @ The Capital
4 October – Charlottetown, PEI @ Charlottetown Beer Garden
5 October – Halifax, NS @ The Seahorse
6 October – Moncton, NB @ Tide & Boar
8 October – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory
10 October – Kingston, ON @ The Mansion
11 October – Quebec City, QC @ L’Anti
13 October – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus
17 October – St. Catharines, ON @ Warehouse
18 October – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
20 October – Windsor, ON @ The Windsor Beer Exchange
25 October – Morden, MB @ Access Events Centre
26 October – Regina, SK @ The Exchange
3 November – Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theatre
7 November – Kelowna, BC @ Sapphire
8 November – Kamloops, BC @ The Blue Grotto
13 November – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
14 November – San Francisco, CA @ Café du Nord
Matt Andersen & The Mellotones Live at Olympic Hall To Be Released On May 25, 2018
From the first notes of “Weightless” to the slow-dying roar of the crowd as the last licks of “Devil’s Bride” squeal out, Matt Andersen’s newest release, Matt Andersen & The Mellotones Live at Olympic Hall is a rollicking, sizzling night captured and preserved at the famed and historic Halifax dance hall.
It’s a release to revel in. Between his thunderous, one-of-a-kind voice and hot guitar playing mashed up with his superbly talented friends, the ten-piece force of nature that is The Mellotones, Live at Olympic Hall makes for what Andersen calls “the most drastic thing I could do.
“I make an impact when I’m soloing by getting them with the quiet parts more than the loud parts,” he reflects. Having played thousands of live shows around the world, Live at Olympic Hall is a far cry from Matt Andersen’s usual “one guy, one guitar” captivating and commanding notoriety. “With a band, it’s the opposite.”
If you’re going to have a band, The Mellotones is the one to have. Fixtures of Halifax’s live music scene, the ten-piece features a smoking horn section, keys, drums, and then some.
“I felt like a rock star,” says Andersen, who himself holds two European Blues Awards, six Maple Blues Awards, a JUNO Award nomination, and more than 10 million views on YouTube.
One ingredient for a successful live album is a stirringly soulful singer with powerful songs. The second is a live band that rounds out the energy of sound. The third? The live audience.
And to no surprise, Andersen had one that was hot to trot.
“They were a really great crowd. To look out into the audience was pretty special from that stage. They sold the balcony, too, so there were two tiers of people.
“I don’t get to play shows with everyone standing up,” he continues. “I usually play soft-seater shows, so it was great to get on stage and have that kind of energy.”
So why a live album — with a full band — and why now?
Andersen wanted a snapshot fans could come back to again and again, much like he did as a kid with Eric Clapton Unplugged. “It’s a bit of a subconscious confirmation that it is real,” he says. “You can’t really fake it.
“A lot of people like to have that representation of what happened. Any time I play a show, people ask: ‘which album is most like your live show?’ They want to take home their experience.
“It’s a basic connection, to be part of that energy going on,” Andersen continues, noting that, for artists that don’t get a lot of radio play, live music is vital. “I just wish everyone could come to a live show. It’s the best way to hear music, for sure.”
Now with Matt Andersen & The Mellotones Live at Olympic Hall — available May 25, 2018 — they can.
U2 Release Video For Latest Single “Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way” Highlighting Youth Culture
Vogue photographer and filmmaker David Mushegain has created a visual portrayal of youth culture in the new video for U2’s latest single, “Love is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way,” from the international #1 album, Songs of Experience.
BTS Announces World Tour With Stops In Six North American Cities
The next step towards BTS world domination takes another leap as the Korean boy band announced their upcoming Love Yourself world tour in 11 cities throughout Asia, North America, and Europe, with the promise of more shows getting announced in the future.
BTS Love Yourself Tour Dates:
Seoul, South Korea – Aug. 25-26, Olympic Stadium
Los Angeles, California – Sept. 5-6 and 8, Staples Center
Oakland, California – Sept. 12, Oracle Arena
Fort Worth, Texas – Sept. 15-16, Fort Worth – Convention Center
Hamilton, Ontario – Sept. 20, 22-23, First Ontario Centre
Newark, New Jersey – Sept. 28-29, Prudential Center
Chicago, Illinois – Oct. 2-3, United Center
London, England – Oct. 9-10, The O2 Arena
Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Oct. 13, Ziggo Dome
Berlin, German – Oct. 16-17, Mercedes-Benz Arena
Paris, France- Oct. 19-20, Accorhotels Arena
A 9-Year-Old Girl Enters The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest And Should Win
Alice Kassnove tries her hand at The New Yorker’s cartoon-caption contest, and I laughed hard at each one.
The George Harrison Estate announces new label, HariSongs
The George Harrison Estate is happy to announce their new label, HariSongs, created in partnership with Craft Recordings to release Harrison’s archive of Indian Classical and World music and his collaborations with the finest exponents of Indian Classical music.
To celebrate this body of music, HariSongs launches today with two reissues in honour of both Ravi Shankar’s birthday (b. 7th April, 1920) and Ali Akbar Khan’s birthday (b. 14th April, 1922) this month. These titles — both recently out-of-print, and never before available via streaming platforms — are the acclaimed Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan In Concert 1972 and the last collaboration by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, Chants of India. These digital-only reissues are now available for the first time via streaming outlets, as well as to download (In Concert is also on Hi-Res 96/24 and 192/24 formats).
In Concert 1972 was originally released via Apple Records in 1973, with a statement that read: “Within the small community of Brilliantly Gifted Musicians there exists an even smaller world of Masters. Two of these masters recently joined together in concert …”. The album features two of Indian Classical music’s greatest artists at the height of their powers, the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar and master of the sarod, Ali Akbar Khan. The album captures the live recordings from a performance which took place at New York City’s Philharmonic Hall on October 8, 1972 and was mixed and edited by George Harrison (with Zakir Hussain and Phil McDonald). Featuring tabla accompaniment by the great Alla Rakha, this mesmerising concert comprises three ragas played in the jugalbandi style (or a duet played by two solo musicians) and became a poignant tribute to the guru of both soloists (and the father of Ali Akbar), the great Allauddin Khan, who had died but a month previously.
Chants of India by Ravi Shankar and produced by George Harrison was originally released in 1997 on Angel Records. Recorded in both Madras, India, and Henley-on-Thames, UK, this collaboration was referred to by Shankar as “one of the most difficult challenges in my life, as a composer and arranger”, and draws upon the sacred Sanskrit texts of the Vedas, Upanishads and other scriptures. He added, “the repetitive use of mantras invoke a special power within oneself and I have tried to imbibe this age-old tradition in this recording… into which I have poured my heart and soul”.
DIGITAL TRACK LISTING:
In Concert 1972
Ravi Shankar (sitar) & Ali Akbar Khan (sarod) with Alla Rakha (tabla)
- Raga Hem Bihag – 25:18
- Raga Manj Khamaj – 51:01
- Raga Sindhi Bhairavi – 26:18
Chants of India
All songs are traditional, arranged by Ravi Shankar, except where indicated.
- Vandanaa Trayee – 4:32
- Omkaaraaya Namaha – 1:53
- Vedic Chanting One – 3:12
- Asato Maa – 7:12
- Sahanaa Vavavtu – 4:26
- Poornamadah – 1:28
- Gaayatri – 3:26
- Mahaa Mrityunjaya – 4:43
- Veenaa-Murali – 3:36
- Geetaa – 2:13
- Managalam (original composition by Shankar, Dr Nandakumara) – 4:03
- Hari Om (original composition by Shankar) – 2:57
- Svara Mantra (original composition by Shankar) – 4:34
- Vedic Chanting Two – 2:13
- Prabhujee (original composition by Shankar) – 8:06
- Sarve Shaam – 5:09
Photo Gallery: Blue October at Niagara Falls’ Rapids Theatre
All photos by Mini’s Memories. You can contact her at minismemories@hotmail.com
The Rolling Stones Announce A Massive 15-Album Vinyl Box Set
Whenever The Rolling Stones do anything, they do it with quality and gravitas. Having defined rock’n’roll in the 60s, The Rolling Stones entered their imperial phase in 1971 with Sticky Fingers. What followed is a run of albums that couldn’t have happened at any other time, by any other band: the decadent excess of Exile On Main St, the Jamaican voodoo swamp of Goats Head Soup, the disco and punk-infused prowl of Some Girls. With each new decade, the Stones evolved while staying true to their roots, coming full circle in 2016 with Blue & Lonesome, a love letter to their first inspiration: the blues.
‘The Studio Albums Vinyl Collection 1971-2016’, a brand new 15 studio album limited-edition vinyl box-set, is now available for pre-order and scheduled to be released on June 15, 2018. ‘The Studio Albums Vinyl Collection 1971-2016’ will cost £399.99, and pre-order is available now from here.
‘The Studio Albums Vinyl Collection 1971-2016’ presents this monumental era in rock’n’roll history in a highly bespoke, lenticular mounted, limited edition box-set housing the 15 studio albums from Sticky Fingers through to Blue & Lonesome in faithful and intricate original packaging replications. Every album has been lovingly remastered and cut at revelatory half-speed at Abbey Road Studios, from vinyl specific original tape transfers designed to get the very best possibly sound from the format. Each album is pressed on heavyweight 180-gram black vinyl and includes a download card for HD digital redemption of the catalogue and includes a numbered certificate of authentication.
Cut at half speed, these are among the highest quality vinyl pressings that these classic Rolling Stones albums will have ever received. Half speed mastering and pressed to a very high standard ensures top notch sound quality for the listener.
Special care has been taken to create packaging to the same high standards, creating a detailed artwork reproduction for each album. ‘Some Girls’ comes housed in the replica design including 20 cut-outs on the cover, while the sleeve of ‘Sticky Fingers’ is presented as Andy Warhol’s original design, complete with a working zip with a hidden image underneath and ‘Exile On Main Street’ comes with a set of 12 original postcard inserts.
Abbey Road Studios’ engineers have been cutting grooves into discs since the studios first opened in 1931. In 2013, award-winning engineer Miles Showell joined their existing mastering team, bringing a wealth of disc-cutting experience with him.
One of the artisan techniques offered by Abbey Road Studios that results in the very highest quality sound reproduction is Half Speed Cutting. This process involves the master source being played back at precisely half its recorded speed while the cutting lathe is similarly turned at half the desired playback speed. This allows the cutting head twice the time to cut the intricate groove, allowing considerably more accuracy with important matters such as frequency extremes and micro-dynamic contrasts. The resulting cuts have excellent high frequency response (treble) and very solid and stable stereo images.
It’s not quite as simple as running everything at half rate. There is an EQ curve applied to all vinyl records and by running the lathe at half speed, all the frequencies are wrong. However, the technical staff at Abbey Road Studios have had new custom-built filters installed which allow Miles to practice half speed cutting to the full on a modified Neumann VMS-80 lathe.
Jason Mraz Wants You To “Have It All” With His New Single
Multiple GRAMMY Award winner Jason Mraz has announced today’s release of his eagerly anticipated new single. “Have It All” is available now at all digital music retailers and streaming services.
“Have It All” was written by Mraz with David Hodges (Christina Perri, Kelly Clarkson) and JKash (Maroon 5, Charlie Puth, Meghan Trainor) in collaboration with his friends in Raining Jane (Mona Tavakoli, Chaska Potter, Mai Bloomfield, and Becky Gebhardt), and produced by Andrew Wells. The track was originally conceived after Mraz received and translated a blessing from a Buddhist monk during a moving visit to Myanmar in 2012. However, current events compelled him to bring “Have It All” fully to life at last.
A dedicated artist and gentleman farmer, Mraz is first and foremost a committed global citizen. His impassioned social activism and philanthropic efforts span from environmental advocacy in regenerative agriculture, to ardent support for human rights. His own Jason Mraz Foundation serves to shine for inclusive arts education and the advancement of equality. Through it all, Jason Mraz continually confirms and celebrates music’s myriad forms and miraculous power, inspiring and delighting his countless fans around the world.
“The world had changed a lot since 2012,” Mraz says. “More people are marching for their freedoms and equality; to be seen and heard. Activism is back in style. I wrote a lot of frustrated, angry, even sad songs between then and now, but nothing I wanted to come forward with; nothing I wanted to sing. ‘Have It All’ stood out as a song with a hopeful message to help me heal and move forward; a song with a message of generosity – the antithesis of despondency; a song bestowed to me by translating a message from a monk. It’s a blessing disguised as a rap song and it’s meant to be paid-forward and shared.”
“Have It All” is joined by a colorful companion video, streaming now at Mraz’s official YouTube channel (WATCH). Directed by longtime collaborator Darren Doane (“I’m Yours,” “Make It Mine,” “Lucky”), the visual captures the song’s bright spirit with a stroll through Mraz’s hometown of Richmond, VA, joined by students from the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC), as well as students from the Richmond area Turnaround Arts schools, plus actors Katie Grober (Waitress) and Greg Grunberg (Alias, Heroes).
“Have It All” heralds Mraz’s upcoming North American summer tour, “GOOD VIBES.” The tour – which sees Mraz joined by his SuperBand and featuring special guest Brett Dennen – begins Wednesday, July 25th in Grand Rapids, MI at Meijer Gardens, and continues through early September (see attached itinerary). For complete details, and ticket information, please visit jasonmraz.com/tour.
Prior to “GOOD VIBES,” Mraz – who recently concluded his acclaimed Broadway debut run in the hit musical, Waitress – has set a pair of very special concert appearances, beginning with INSPIRE 2018, presented by Sands Cares and set for May 18th at The Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas, NV. All proceeds from concert ticket sales will be donated to the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. Tickets and additional information can be found HERE.
Next up will be the School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community’s 6th annual SPARC Presents LIVE ART: LOVE, of which Mraz is not only a performer, but also a sponsor and program advisor, set for June 3rd at Richmond, VA’s Altria Theater. Mraz calls this his “favorite show of the year.” The award-winning mega-concert pairs nationally, internationally, and regionally recognized recording artists with SPARC’s LIVE ART students. This year’s event will see Mraz joined by a truly remarkable line-up that includes Josh Groban, Sara Bareilles, Michael McDonald, Rayvon Owen, René Marie, Raining Jane, Robbie Schaefer, Chris Caswell, and many other local artists, plus a cast of 200 student performers.
Mraz recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of his RIAA platinum certified major label debut album, “WAITING FOR MY ROCKET TO COME,” with the album’s first-time-ever vinyl release. The “WAITING FOR MY ROCKET TO COME” double LP is available now on standard black vinyl at all music retailers carrying vinyl records; an orange vinyl edition is exclusively available via Barnes & Noble (purchase here). All vinyl editions feature expanded artwork by Robert Fisher and Alison Dyer, plus lyrics and new liner notes by Mraz.
As PEOPLE recently noted, “WAITING FOR MY ROCKET TO COME” launched Mraz “from the Southern California coffee house scene into global stardom and the forefront of contemporary American singer-songwriters.” Released October 15th, 2002, “the album indeed propelled Mraz to the forefront of contemporary American pop, fueled by a trio of indelible hit singles in “You And I Both,” “Curbside Prophet,” and the #1 favorite, “The Remedy (I Won’t Worry).” The latter single proved Mraz’s breakthrough, ascending to the top 15 on Billboard’s “Hot 100” while also reaching the top of the “Top 40 Adult Recurrents” chart.
JASON MRAZ – 2018 LIVE DATES
MAY
18 Las Vegas, NV INSPIRE 2018 @ The Venetian Theatre
JUNE
3 Richmond, VA SPARC Presents LIVE ART: LOVE @ The Altria Theater
GOOD VIBES
ALL DATES W/ SPECIAL GUEST BRETT DENNEN EXCEPT *
JULY
25 Grand Rapids, MI Meijer Gardens
27 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
28 Rochester Hills, MI Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
29 Toronto, ON RBC Echo Beach
AUGUST
1 Shelburne, VT The Green at Shelburne Museum
2 Boston, MA Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
3 Gilford, NH Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
4 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena *
7 Brooklyn, NY Prospect Park Bandshell
9 New York, NY SummerStage, Central Park
10 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
11 Philadelphia, PA Mann Center for the Performing Arts
12 Bethlehem, PA Musikfest
14 Charlotte, NC Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre
15 Charleston, SC Volvo Car Stadium
17 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place Amphitheater
18 Atlanta, GA State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park
19 Nashville, TN Ascend Amphitheater
21 Southaven, MS Bank Plus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
22 Cincinnati, OH PNC Pavilion at the Riverbend Music Center
24 Indianapolis, IN Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park
25 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival Pavilion
26 Cedar Rapids, IA McGrath Amphitheater
28 St. Paul, MN Minnesota State Fair
29 Moorhead, MN Bluestem Center for the Arts Amphitheatre
30 Lincoln, NE Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater
31 Kansas City, MO Starlight Amphitheatre
SEPTEMBER
2 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
4 Nampa, ID Idaho Center Amphitheater
6 Jacksonville, OR Britt Pavilion
7 Troutdale, OR Edgefield
8 Redmond, WA Marymoor Amphitheater
9 Redmond, WA Marymoor Amphitheater
11 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
13 Berkeley, CA The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley
14 Irvine, CA Five Point Amphitheatre
15 Santa Barbara, CA Santa Barbara Bowl