Earlier today, the Underwood Administration delivered a message via Facebook Live video.
House of Cards Season 5 launches on Netflix on May 30, 2017.
Ron Sexsmith And The Toronto Symphony Orchestra Are Performing A Free Concert At Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square
As part of the City of Toronto’s Canada Days—a citywide celebration for Canada’s 150th birthday—the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) and guest conductor Jean-Claude Picard join forces with Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith on Saturday, July 1 at 9:45pm. The free concert, taking place at Nathan Phillips Square, also features Canadian folk-pop singer-songwriter Rose Cousins as a special guest. Sexsmith will perform some of his greatest hits, including songs from his 13th album, The Last Rider (Warner Music). The TSO is thrilled to be part of the festivities, which run June 30–July 3 at Nathan Phillips Square, and July 1 in Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke.
Ron Sexsmith’s status as one of the greatest songwriters of his generation has never been in doubt, even from the moment he released his self-titled major-label debut album in 1995. Since then, his career arc has, in some ways, been a study in how that pure ability has been handled in the studio. On his many albums, Sexsmith has worked with some of music’s most celebrated producers—Daniel Lanois, Mitchell Froom, Tchad Blake, Ray Kennedy, Martin Terefe, Bob Rock, and Jim Scott. Like one of his main inspirations, Ray Davies, Sexsmith is a rare songwriter, able to extract profound meaning from even the most mundane aspects of urban life, while simultaneously lamenting what remains of our simpler past. But always, hope springs eternal.
As the TSO continues to celebrate Canadian music and its many genres, this event is part of the TSO’s Canada Mosaic—a Canada 150 Signature Project.
Ron Sexsmith & the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, with special guest Rose Cousins
Jean-Claude Picard, conductor
Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 9:45pm
Nathan Phillips Square
FREE
Full Canada Days festival info at toronto.ca/Canada150
Ori Dagan Announces Jazz Music’s First Visual Album
Toronto jazz singer songwriter Ori Dagan is working on an ambitious project: his third- full-length recording, Nathaniel: A Tribute to Nat King Cole will be released as the first visual album in the jazz genre, a collection of music videos he is currently raising funds for by way of a PledgeMusic campaign. In collaboration with 6 Canadian independent film directors, Dagan’s team is producing 12 music videos over the next 6 months with the first video for lead single “Pretend” to be released in late summer.
The project follows up on Dagan’s music video success with “Clap On The 2 And The 4”, an original and humorous “jazz anthem for the rhythmically challenged.” The 2016 clip has earned over 85,000 online views, was screened at 15 film festivals worldwide and garnered 7 international awards including “Best Educational Jazz Short” at the inaugural New York Jazz Film Festival.
“These days you could be a Charlie Parker but if you don’t have a video for your single, nobody’s going to share your track,” says Dagan. “At first I was pretty surprised by the success of “Clap On The 2 And The 4” considering we made the video on a budget of $1000, Canadian! But then when you think about it, social media in particular has changed the way people consume just about everything, music included. Most success stories you read about today in the music business have to do with a video going viral, making a platform like YouTube key to having your music discovered by new fans.”
Dagan is looking to his fans – and those of Nat King Cole – to support this project by pre-ordering the album on PledgeMusic. In addition to fresh takes on Cole classics, he presents 5 original songs on this album, inspired by the master musician’s life, music and legacy, from the bright nod to his style “Keep it Simple” to the haunting “Complexion,” which was inspired by Dagan’s learning of the April 10, 1956 onstage attack on Cole by white supremacists in Birmingham, Alabama.
So, why Nat King Cole and why now?
Dagan explains, “As we gear up for Nat’s centennial in 2019, I think a lot of listeners take for granted just how much of a genius he was, maybe because he made everything sound so easy. Pianistically he made dazzling solos seem almost casual. In researching for this project, I was completely surprised by his forays into foreign languages like Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian and the way he effortlessly and honestly delivered any song.”
Recorded with producer Doug Romanow at Noble Street Studios in Toronto, the album features special guests: 5-time JUNO award winner Jane Bunnett, “Canada’s Sweetheart of Swing” Alex Pangman and 88-year-old jazz legend Sheila Jordan, the first female vocalist to record for BlueNote Records back in 1963.
Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young Inducted Into Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
On Saturday, September 23, 2017, after a five year hiatus, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) Induction ceremony returns with four incredible inductees, Beau Dommage, Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young, and Stéphane Venne at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall. The bilingual ceremony presented by Richardson GMP, will feature remarkable tributes and performances from sought after Canadian artists including, Arkells, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Damien Robitaille, Daniel Lavoie, Don Ross, Élage Diouf, France D’amour, Florence K, Julie Payette, k.d. lang, Randy Bachman, William Prince and Whitehorse with special surprise Artists to be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans can expect an exhilarating live show with breath-taking music, moving stories and stunning visuals. Tickets will be available to the public on Friday, May 19 starting at 10:00 a.m. via www.cshfinduction.ca and www.masseyhall.com.
“We are thrilled to be back to celebrate the extraordinary careers of Beau Dommage, Bruce Cockburn, Neil Young and Stéphane Venne at this year’s ceremony at Massey Hall,” said Stan Meissner, Chair, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “These inductees truly highlight the depth and incredible legacy of the songwriting talent we have here in Canada.”
The CSHF is a national, bilingual, non-profit organization, founded to honour and celebrate Canadian songwriters. Since 2003, the CSHF has held seven highly successful induction ceremonies focusing on the unique craft of the song and celebrating the value of music in our society. This year’s induction ceremony will be recorded for later broadcast by CBC Music in association with ICI Musique.
Multi-platinum selling rock band Beau Dommage consisting of members Marie-Michèle Desrosiers, Michel Rivard, Pierre Huet, Robert Léger, Pierre Bertrand, Michel Hinton, and Réal Desrosiers, broke sales records with their self-titled debut album in 1974. Their second album, Où est passée la noce?, went platinum on the first day of sales. Beau Dommage went on to be the first group to receive the Medal of Honour at the National Assembly of Quebec and in 2013 they were chosen by Canada Post to be depicted on their own stamp.
“For nearly a century, from Madame Bolduc to Louis-Jean Cormier, thousands of Québec artists have sung and still sing, day in, day out and in French, the very soul of the people,” said Beau Dommage. “Beau Dommage is proud to be one link in that chain. To us, this honour underscores the smiling tenacity of la chanson Québécoise.”
Bruce Cockburn’s illustrious career has spanned over five decades. Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song, earning him 12 JUNO Awards, a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
“I’m honoured and deeply gratified to have the recognition of my work expressed by my being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. It’s a gas!” said Bruce Cockburn.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Neil Young is one of the most influential and idiosyncratic singer-songwriters of his generation. From the beginning of his solo career in the late ’60s through to the 21st century, he has never stopped writing, recording, and performing. The multi-platinum GRAMMY Award-winning artist has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Acclaimed songwriter, arranger, and producer Stéphane Venne has written over 400 songs (words and music) to date. Twenty of his works charted at number one and are currently among the SOCAN Classics for accumulating over 25,000 radio plays.
“Beyond the ultimate compliment of being inducted in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, I would like to make a wish. I have, for the vast majority of my career, been a writer and composer, with basically no exposure as an artist. I hope my experience can be an inspiration for those who like me, that have something special to contribute thanks to their writing and nothing but their writing,” said
Stéphane Venne.
“At Richardson GMP Wealth Management, we share a passion for the Canadian independent spirit and we recognize not only the great talent but the commitment of our songwriters to this country,” said Andrew Marsh, CEO, Richardson GMP. “As we celebrate 150 years as a nation, we proudly support the CSHF Inductee Ceremony and the recognition of these four great artists.”
Pixies announce third and final leg of the band’s 2017 North American Tour
With Leg One of Pixies’ 2017 North American tour sold out, and the five-week Leg Two set to kick off on September 19, Pixies – Joey Santiago/guitar, Black Francis/guitar & vocals, David Lovering/ drums, and bassist Paz Lenchantin – announce the addition of a third and final American tour leg in support of the band’s second post-reunion release, Head Carrier (pixiesmusic/Play It Again Sam). Leg three launches on November 30 with two shows in Portland, OR and will see the band making stops along the North American west coast. The Orwells will provide support for the first part of the tour with Whitney joining the band for the second part. More dates are expected, but those confirmed are listed below.
In Pixies’ ongoing effort to thwart ticket scalping and put as many show tickets as possible into the hands of Pixies fans, there will be no pre-sales for this third leg. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 19 at 10AM PT – log in here for all purchasing info.
As with Legs One and Two, the Leg Three shows will feature a brand new stage set designed by the band’s longtime production manager Simon Foster and lighting designer Myles Mangino. The design is simple and sleek and fashioned around special pods that are positioned behind the band, housing all of the lighting. Fans can expect a set list comprised of the classics and catalogue rarities as well as newer songs from Indie Cindy and the band’s latest release, Head Carrier. As is the Pixies’ norm, there will be no firm setlist for any of the shows. The band has rehearsed and is prepared to play nearly 90 songs from all points of their career, and what is played on any given night is determined mere seconds in advance. Either via hand signals or a live onstage mic that feeds only to the band members and lighting director Mangino, Black Francis calls out what the next song will be. On the nightly customization of the sets, Black Francis recently told Live Nation’s Setlist.fm, “The best is when you can sense what the next song should be based on the atmosphere in the room. That’s really, ultimately what we’re going for, to read the room and to be able to make the right choice.” Added drummer Lovering, “Not having a set list also it makes it exciting for us, an adventure.”
Pixies launched the European leg of this 2016-17-18 global run last November, playing sold-out shows throughout the UK and wrapping up in Birmingham on December 8. Following the North American leg one that wraps up next week with four sold-out dates in New York, Pixies will head to Europe to play a series of major summer festivals.
Confirmed Pixies dates are as follows:
North American Tour, Leg One
MAY
16 Lincoln Theatre, Washington, D.C.
17 Lincoln Theatre, Washington, D.C.
19 House of Blues, Boston, MA**
20 House of Blues, Boston, MA**
21 Paradise Ballroom, Boston, MA**
23 Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA**
24 Webster Hall, New York, NY**
25 Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY**
26 Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn, NY**
** Cymbals Eat Guitars will support
July 6 – August 11, 2017
UK/Europe
North American Tour, Leg Two
SEPTEMBER
8 The Ohana Fest, Dana Point, CA
19 College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT*
20 John M. Greene Hall at Smith College, Northampton, MA*
22 The Westbury Theatre, Westbury, NY*
23 Stone Pony Summerstage, Asbury Park, NJ*
24 The Capitol Theatre, Portchester, NY*
26 State Theatre, Portland, ME*
27 Metropolis, Montreal QC*
29 Massey Hall, Toronto, ON*
30 Massey Hall, Toronto, ON*
OCTOBER
1 UB Center for the Arts, Buffalo, NY (support TBA)
3 The Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH*
4 Stage AE, Pittsburgh, PA*
6 The Fillmore Detroit, Detroit, MI*
7 20 Monroe Live, Grand Rapids, MI**
8 The Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL**
10 Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN**
11 Palace Theatre, St. Paul, MN**
12 Bluestem Center for the Arts, Moorhead, MN**
14 Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO**
15 Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, Kansas City, MO**
17 Boulder Theatre, Boulder, CO**
18 Fillmore Auditorium, Denver, CO**
21 The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV**
* Sunflower Bean will support
** Mitski will support
North American Tour, Leg Three
NOVEMBER
30 Roseland, Portland, OR*
DECEMBER
1 Roseland, Portland, OR*
3 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA*
4 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, BC CANADA*
7 Fox Theatre, Oakland, CA**
9 Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA**
10 City National Civic, San Jose, CA**
* The Orwells
** Whitney
Katy Perry Announces New Album, Witness, And North American Tour
Today, Katy Perry announced on her socials the June 9 release of her new album, Witness on Capitol Records / Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, and an extensive arena tour. With Witness, Katy reflects on the changes in her own life and in the world around her, delivering songs that both challenge and inspire. The singles released thus far – the Platinum-certified “Chained to the Rhythm” featuring Skip Marley and the follow-up single, “Bon Appétit” featuring Migos – hint at the breadth of the musical and thematic elements found on Witness. Each ticket purchase for WITNESS: The Tour also includes a copy of her album, Witness.
The North American leg of WITNESS: The Tour, will kick off on September 7 in Columbus, OH and will include two New York City shows, an evening at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, and three dates in Canada – September 9 at Bell Centre in Montréal, September 12 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and February 5, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
Tickets for the U.S. dates go on sale to the general public on Monday May 22, with the Canadian dates on sale May 26. WITNESS: The Tour Presale Powered By Ticketmaster Verified Fan Runs Thursday, May 18, from 9am – 12pm in the U.S. and in Canada runs Tuesday, May 23, from 10am – 10pm local time.
WITNESS: The Tour is Katy’s first run since the sold-out, 151-date Prismatic World Tour, which concluded in 2015 and was hailed by Rolling Stone as “a show to damage retinas and blow minds.”
Katy, who will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on the May 20 season finale, made her Capitol Records debut with 2008’s One of the Boys after signing to the label in 2007. She cemented her status as a global superstar with the follow-up album, Teenage Dream (2010). PRISM, her 2013 album, debuted at No. 1 on iTunes in 100 countries and has sold more than 12.5 million adjusted albums worldwide. With the singles “Firework” and “Dark Horse” each surpassing the 10 million threshold including song sales and streams, Katy is the first female artist to earn two RIAA Digital Single Diamond Awards. In her 10 years with Capitol, she has racked up a cumulative 18+ billion streams alongside worldwide sales of more than 40+ million adjusted albums and 125+ million tracks. She is the most-followed person globally on Twitter.
See the Katy Perry’s Witness: The Tour dates below:
9/7 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
9/9 – Montréal, QE @ Bell Centre
9/12 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
9/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
9/21 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
9/25 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
9/29 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
10/2 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/3 – Uniondale, NY @ NYCB Live!: Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
10/8 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/11 – Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center
10/15 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
10/16 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
10/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
10/22 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
10/24 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
11/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Center
11/14 – San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
11/24 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
11/26 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
11/28 – Omaha, NE @ CenturyLink Center
11/29 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
12/1 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
12/2 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
12/4 – Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Harris Bradley Center
12/6 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
12/9 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
12/10 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
12/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
12/15 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
12/17 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
12/20 – Miami, FL @ AmericanAirlines Arena
2018
1/5 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
1/7 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
1/10 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
1/12 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena
1/14 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
1/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Gila River Arena
1/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena
1/31 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden1 Center
2/2 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center at Rose Quarter
2/3 – Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
2/5 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
Potato Pipes: Brothers Make Music from Vegetables
The freshest thing in new music is fresh vegetables, and whatever is on the table at Nan Weidong and Nan Weiping’s household tonight, it probably isn’t healthy. The two have been using all their veg for making musical instruments from vegetables and giving numerous performances in China.
https://youtu.be/N7qiwu46hrA
Georgian choir covers Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place”
Check out this Georgian choir – from the county, not Georgia the state – revealing even more substance behind Radiohead’s Everything In Its Right Place.
Convert Your Cassettes to MP3 With This Converter
Want to breathe new life into your old cassette tapes? Grab the SuperUSB converter and easily transfer your old tapes to your Mac or PC. Use the included software and USB cable to rip your tapes to your computer. All you have to do is connect to your computer, put your tape in the SuperUSB, and press play. The autoreverse function means that you’ll get a single audio file as the SuperUSB plays both sides of the tape. Get it here.