2015 Polaris Prize nominee and great human being, Buffy Sainte-Marie was a regular cast member on Sesame Street for five years beginning in 1975. She was one of the only Aboriginal people on television at that time, so she was pushing boundires at that time. But it wasn’t the only time. Check out this clip of Sainte-Marie explaining to Big Bird how she feeds her son Cody.
BADBADNOTGOOD, Alvvays, Drake, Buffy Saint-Marie Among 2015 Polaris Prize Short List
The 2015 Polaris Music Prize Short List was announced this morning at The Carlu in Toronto. The event was live on TFO’s BRBR and Periscope. Over 150 members of the media and music industry were in attendance.
It was also announced that singer/songwriter Fred Penner will be the host of this year’s Gala event, taking place on September 21st at The Carlu. “I am honoured to be the host for this year’s prize. I have been part of the Canadian music scene for over four decades. As I perform at festivals from coast to coast I am continually impressed with the incredible range of talent we have in this country. I particularly love that Polaris celebrates this musical diversity. The level of prestige involved with this organization is admirable and I am delighted to be associated with it,” said Penner. Fred Penner is a member of the Order of Manitoba and Order of Canada.
2015 Polaris Music Prize Short List:
Alvvays – Alvvays
BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah – Sour Soul
Braids – Deep In The Iris
Caribou – Our Love
Jennifer Castle – Pink City
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers
Buffy Sainte-Marie – Power In The Blood
Viet Cong – Viet Cong
Listen to all the Polaris Music Prize nominees of the 2015 Short List playlist below.
The eligibility period for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize runs from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015. An independent jury of 196 music journalists, broadcasters and music bloggers from across Canada determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people are selected from the larger jury pool to serve on the Grand Jury. They will convene the night of the gala to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The Polaris Music Prize will award $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year. Courtesy of Slaight Music, each of the nine other short listed artists will receive $3,000. Judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration of genre or record sales, the prize’s past winners have included Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007), and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
David Gilmour Announces “Rattle That Lock” Album And North American Tour
David Gilmour has announced that his new solo album Rattle That Lock will be released worldwide on Friday, September 18, 2015 on Columbia Records. The album will be available for preorder and the first single, also titled “Rattle That Lock” will be released on Friday, July 17, 2016.
Additionally David Gilmour’s first North American dates in ten years were announced today. The “David Gilmour Live 2016” concert  appearances will take place in March & April with stops in Los Angeles, Toronto, Chicago and New York. Ticket buyers will be among the first to receive the new album, as every ticket purchased online will include a Rattle That Lock CD.
The “Live 2016” appearances will be David Gilmour’s first live concert dates since the “On An Island” tour in 2006, and will follow his UK and European tour this September/October. All tickets for the North American Tour dates go on sale Friday, July 17, 2015 (exact times listed below).
March 24, 2016 – Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles – on sale 12pm (PST)
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B004EE9EA7F4F7C
March, 31 2016 – Air Canada Center, Toronto – on sale 10am (EST)
http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/10004EEADDA29010
April 8, 2016 – United Center, Chicago – on sale 12pm (CST)
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/04004EEAA319243C
April 11, 2016 – Madison Square Garden, New York – on sale 10am (EST)
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/3B004EEA22A81FCF
Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone.
Rattle That Lock is David Gilmour’s fourth solo album and follows his 2006 #1 in the UK record On An Island.   The primary lyricist for the new album is Gilmour’s long-term writing partner, Polly Samson, and it is co-produced by
David Gilmour and Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera. Rattle That Lock’s striking cover has been art directed by Dave Stansbie from The Creative Corporation under the creative directorship of Aubrey Powell from Hipgnosis.
RATTLE THAT LOCK tracklisting:
1) 5 A.M (Gilmour)
2) Rattle That Lock (Gilmour/Samson/Boumendil)
3) Faces Of Stones (Gilmour)
4) A Boat Lies Waiting (Gilmour/Samson)
5) Dancing Right In Front Of Me (Gilmour)
6) In Any Tongue (Gilmour/Samson)
7) Beauty (Gilmour)
8) The Girl In The Yellow Dress (Gilmour/Samson)
9) Today (Gilmour/Samson)
10) And Then…..(Gilmour)
The title track, “Rattle That Lock”, will be heard for the first time on BBC Radio 2 in the UK on Friday, July 17 and will be available immediately to download and stream worldwide. The song begins with the four notes, created by Michaël Boumendil, which precede announcements at French SNCF railway stations which Gilmour recorded on his iPhone at Aix-en-Prevence station. Samson’s lyrics are inspired by Book II of John Milton’s Paradise Lost, which is also featured in her recent acclaimed novel, The Kindness.  The single also features The Liberty Choir and singers Mica Paris and Louise Marshall.
Here’s Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love Mock Sassy Reader’s Angry Letter
If you’re an artist, one way to handle criticsm or shade, as the kids like to call it, is to simly ingore them, and don’t feel the trolls. Or, if you’re Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain in 1992, you can make a video mocking the letter-writer in response to their Sassy Magazine cover story. Yes, that’s Kurt standing in a dress, lipstick, and fake mustache, mouthing along and acting out the words.
Here’s the couple in response to someone not liking their iconic Sassy cover.
https://youtu.be/uRagA5bl1to
A$AP ROCKY Gets It Right When Talking About These Kids Today And Their A.D.D.
“It’s 2015, so our attention span is so short. Most of us kids got A.D.D. these days. You get on the Internet and so-and-so dropped a new video, and then next week it doesn’t matter, because so-and-so has another video. That’s the world we live in right now… So you gotta adapt to it, make some visuals, go out there, make some creative s***.”
– A$AP ROCKY
I SAID…STUDY CLAIMS TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘1989’ IS LOUDER THAN AC/DC’S ‘BACK IN BLACK’
According to a new study conducted by a mastering engineer, Taylor Swift’s 1989 is officially a louder album than AC/DC’s Back In Black.
The enlightening study, comparing the volume of a variety of popupar albums, was carried out by Ian Shepherd who is the founder of Dynamic Range Day. According to Shepherd’s research, Swift’s ‘1989’ clocked in at a DR6 rating, which makes it a hell of a lot louder than both ‘Back In Black’ (DR12) and Metallica’s ‘The Black Album’ (DR11).
The loudest albums in the study were identified as Metallica’s ‘Death Magnetic’, which reached a DR3 level, and Skrillex’s ‘Recess’, which charted at DR4.
Check out Shepherd’s full findings here.
Via Gigwise
Revolutions On Air: The Golden Era of New York Radio 1980 – 1988
New York City Radio during the 1980s featured the most dynamic and influential soundtrack the city has ever heard. Revolutions On Air is the story of mix show legends and studio wizards like Shep Pettibone, Tony Humphries, The Latin Rascals, Marley Marl, and Kool DJ Red Alert – innovators whose “anything goes” attitude pushed the emerging hip-hop, electro, freestyle, and house music scenes and kept radio listeners citywide hooked to their tape decks in order to record these now-classic mixes.
https://youtu.be/VeoA9Z2iQl8
That Time Johnny Cash Did Commercials For Canada Trust ATM Machines
The Man In Black wants to make sure you’re in the black with Canada Trust’s ATM Machines, in this TV commercial from the 1980s.
Gord Bamford, Dean Brody, Brett Kissel, Jason Blaine and Dallas Smith lead 2015 CCMA Award Nominations
The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is pleased to announce the nominees in thirty-four (34) CCMA Award categories today, eight (8) of which will be presented on the 2015 CCMA Awards Show, being broadcast on CBC-TV at 8 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. NT) with an encore airing on CMT (Canada) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Sunday, September 13.
Gord Bamford heads into the 2015 CCMA Awards season with six nominations, five among artist award categories: Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year, and one industry award nod for Producer of the Year. Dean Brody also boasts six nominations, total, in the categories of Fans’ Choice, Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year. Following close behind in nominations is Brett Kissel who is up for Male Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, Video of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year; as well as Dallas Smith who has nominations for Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
With three nominations each is Jason Blaine, artist award nods for Blaine include Songwriter(s) of the Year and Video of the Year, as well as Producer of the Year in the industry award category; Tim Hicks for Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year; and High Valley with nominations for Album of the Year, Group or Duo of the Year and Interactive Artist of the Year. Jess Moskaluke is also up for three CCMA Awards this year, including: Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
The 2015 CCMA Fans’ Choice Award nominees were revealed last night on Entertainment Tonight Canada. This prestigious award, voted on by Canadian country music fans is once again stacked with powerhouse male performers: Gord Bamford, Paul Brandt, Dean Brody, Johnny Reid and Dallas Smith. Voting for the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award is open as of today at 12:00 p.m. ET. Those who vote have the opportunity to enter the CCMA Ultimate Fan Contest, which will see one lucky winner flown to Halifax to attend Country Music Week 2015 and present the CCMA Fans’ Choice Award live on the 2015 CCMA Awards Show. CLICK HERE to cast your vote.
For the first time in CCMA Awards history, there are eight (8) final nominees in the Rising Star category (as a result of multiple ties on the previous ballot, used to determine these nominees). “This speaks to the strong emerging talent found across the country,” notes CCMA President, Don Green. “The Canadian country music industry is burgeoning when it comes to both fan recognition and artist development.”
He continues, “The CCMA Board of Directors and staff wish to extend heart-felt congratulations to the 155 CCMA Members with nominations today, especially those 26 individuals who are being nominated for the first time. This is a huge achievement and we are proud to celebrate your accomplishments.”
Forty-one (41) CCMA Awards will be given out over four (4) awards ceremonies during Country Music Week in Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 10 – 13. Ticket and event information regarding Country Music Week can be found at ccma.org.
ARTIST AWARDS
FANS’ CHOICE AWARD
Gord Bamford
Paul Brandt
Dean Brody
Johnny Reid
Dallas Smith
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
5:01 – Tim Hicks
County Line – High Valley
Gypsy Road – Dean Brody
Lifted – Dallas Smith
Light Up The Night – Jess Moskaluke
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Terri Clark
Kira Isabella
Beverley Mahood
Jess Moskaluke
MacKenzie Porter
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford
Dean Brody
Tim Hicks
Brett Kissel
Dallas Smith
GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Autumn Hill
The Boom Chucka Boys
High Valley
The Road Hammers
Small Town Pistols
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
3-2-1 – Brett Kissel
Another Man’s Gold – Dean Brody
Cheap Wine and Cigarettes – Jess Moskaluke
Wastin’ Gas – Dallas Smith
Where A Farm Used To Be – Gord Bamford
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Country Side – Jason Blaine
If You Ask Me To – MacKenzie Porter
Tough People Do – Brett Kissel
Upside Down – Dean Brody
Where A Farm Used To Be – Gord Bamford
SONGWRITER(S) OF THE YEAR
Before You Drive Me Crazy
(Written By: Wes Mack, Micah Wilshire, Rick Ferrell, Performed By: Wes Mack)
Country Side
(Written By: Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan, Performed By: Jason Blaine)
Never Didn’t Love You
(Written By: Walt Aldridge, Michael Pyle, Bobby Wills, Performed By: Bobby Wills)
Upside Down
(Written By: Dean Brody, Performed By: Dean Brody)
Where A Farm Used To Be
(Written By:Â Gord Bamford, Buddy Owens, Phil O’Donnell, Performed By:Â Gord Bamford)
INTERACTIVE ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR
Leah Daniels
Tim Hicks
High Valley
Brett Kissel
Twin Kennedy
RISING STAR
Jason Benoit
Lindsay Broughton
Leah Daniels
Lindsay Ell
Tristan Horncastle
Jordan McIntosh
Madeline Merlo
Steven Lee Olsen
ROOTS ARTIST OF THE YEAR
The Bros. Landreth
Tim Chaisson
The Lovelocks
Lindi Ortega
The Western Swing Authority
MUSICIAN AWARDS
All Star Band – BASS
Chris Byrne
Scott Cooke
Lisa Dodd
Justin Kudding
Travis Switzer
All Star Band – DRUMS
Ben Bradley
Stephen Broadhurst
Corbett Frasz
Chad Melchert
Ben Shillabeer
All Star Band – FIDDLE
Denis Dufresne
Shane Guse
MacKenzie Porter
Ali Raney
Tyler Vollrath
All Star Band – GUITAR
Jason Barry
Ryan Davidson
Matt McKay
Mitch Merrett
Darren Savard
All Star Band – KEYBOARDS
Scott Galloway
Mike Little
Bart McKay
Carly McKillip
Dale Wallace
All Star Band – SPECIAL INSTRUMENT
Dave Barber (Banjo)
Shane Chisholm (Gastank Bass)
Shane Guse (Mandolin)
Robin Pelletier (Mandolin)
Tyler Vollrath (Mandolin)
All Star Band – STEEL GUITAR
Darrek Anderson
John Ellis
Smokey Fennell
Doug Johnson
Ed (Peewee Charles) Ringwald
RADIO AWARDS
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – LARGE MARKET
Dayna Bourgoin – CKKL – FM, Ottawa, ON
Larry Donohue – CFCW, Edmonton, AB
Pat Dubois – CKBL – FM, Saskatoon, SK
Mark Patric – CJJR – FM, Vancouver, BC
Scott Phillips – CKRY – FM, Calgary, AB/CISN-FM, Edmonton, AB
MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR – MEDIUM OR SMALL MARKET
Paul Ferguson – CHCQ – FM, Belleville, ON
Cal Gratton – CJVR – FM/CIXM – FM, Melfort, SK/Whitecourt, AB
Jody Seeley – CFXO – FM, High River, AB
Peter Walker – CJKX – FM, Oshawa, ON
Abbey White – CKGY – FM, Red Deer, AB
INDUSTRY AWARDS
ALBUM DESIGN OF THE YEAR
5:01 (Artist:Â Tim Hicks)
(Design Team:Â Mitchell Nevins Photography: Dustin Rabin)
The Fighters (Artist:Â Chad Brownlee)
(Design Team:Â Brandon Heard/Sheila Hash (Mediavandals) Photography: John Fucile/SmackDab Media
Gypsy Road (Artist:Â Dean Brody)
(Design Team:Â Mitchell Nevins Photography: Margaret Malandruccolo)
MacKenzie Porter (Artist:Â MacKenzie Porter)
(Design Team:Â Shan Designs Photography: Kelsey Porter Photography)
Ramble (Artist:Â The Boom Chucka Boys)
(Design Team:Â Brandon Heard (Mediavandals) Photography: Ashley Champagne)
BOOKING AGENCY OF THE YEAR
The Agency Group
The Feldman Agency
Invictus Entertainment Group
Paquin Entertainment Group
Sakamoto Entertainment
COUNTRY CLUB OF THE YEAR
Boots & Bourbon Saloon – Toronto, ON
Cook County Saloon – Edmonton, AB
Cowboys Dance Hall – Calgary, AB
Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall – Calgary, AB
Rock ‘N’ Horse – Toronto, ON
COUNTRY FESTIVAL, FAIR, OR EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR
Big Valley Jamboree – Camrose, AB
Boots and Hearts Music Festival – Bowmanville, ON
Calgary Stampede – Calgary, AB
Cavendish Beach Music Festival – Cavendish, PE
Dauphin’s Countryfest – Dauphin, MB
COUNTRY MUSIC PROGRAM OR SPECIAL OF THE YEAR
Canadian Country Spotlight – Media BemBem Inc.
The Casey Clarke Country Countdown – Casey Clarke Productions
Chevrolet Top 20 Countdown – CMT
Down East Country with George Canyon – KaromaCS-Media2K
Live At The Edison – CMT
MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Cache Entertainment Inc.
Chief Music Management
Invictus Entertainment Group
MDM Recordings Inc.
RGK Entertainment Group Inc.
MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY OF THE YEAR
CCS Rights Management
ole
Royalty Music Publishing Inc.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada
Warner/Chappell Music Canada
RECORD COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Big Star Recordings Inc.
MDM Recordings Inc.
Open Road Recordings Inc.
Royalty Records Inc.
Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
RECORD COMPANY PERSON OF THE YEAR
Warren Copnick – Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc.
Mike Denney – MDM Recordings Inc.
Brianne Deslippe – Universal Music Canada
Louis O’Reilly – Big Star Recordings Inc.
Rob Smith – Royalty Records Inc.
RECORDING STUDIO OF THE YEAR
Barrytone Studios – St. Clements, ON
Bart McKay Productions – Saskatoon, SK
MCC Recording Studio – Calgary, AB
Noble Street Studios – Toronto, ON
OCL Studios – Chestermere, AB
RECORD PRODUCER(S) OF THE YEAR
Gord Bamford (Album: Ramble, Artist: The Boom Chucka Boys)
Jason Blaine/ Deric Ruttan (Single: Country Side, Artist: Jason Blaine)
Jeff Coplan (Album: 5:01, Artist: Tim Hicks)
Danick Dupelle/ Tebey Ottoh (Album: Two, Artist: Tebey)
Joey Moi (Album: Lifted, Artist: Dallas Smith)
RETAILER OF THE YEAR
HMV Canada Inc.
iTunes Canada
Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack
Walmart Canada Corp.
RON SAKAMOTO TALENT BUYER OR PROMOTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Biro/Shawn Sakamoto – Sakamoto Entertainment
Jim Cressman/ Rob Cyrynowski – Invictus Entertainment Group
Lindsay Ell/Rod Tate – Calgary Stampede
Rob Waloschuk – Performance Promotions Ltd.
Larry Werner – Big Valley Jamboree
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Stephano Barberis
(Video:Â Undressed, Artist:Â Bobby Wills;Â Video:Â Boat On The Water, Artist:Â Aaron Pritchett;Â Video:Â I Only Smoke When I Drink, Artist:Â Small Town Pistols)
Harv Glazer
(Video:Â Where A Farm Used To Be, Artist:Â Gord Bamford)
Wes Mack
(Video:Â Before You Drive Me Crazy, Artist:Â Wes Mack)
Lisa Mann
(Video: Tough People Do, Artist:Â Brett Kissel)
David Tenniswood
(Video: If You Ask Me To, Artist:Â MacKenzie Porter)
Sonny Rollins On How Practicing Yoga For 50 Years Made Him A Better Musician
If you’re a a beginner or advanced yoga practitioner, you’ve probably noticed the benefits of yoga – such as better sleep, better health, improved flexibility, builds muscle strength, a clearer mind. Musicians can easily benefit from any of those changes, which happen almost immediately.
Sonny Rollins, the legendary jazz tenor saxophonist and widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians, discusses his 1967 trip to India, where he lived in an Ashram and studied yoga, and how the practice helped him become a better player.