Cover Story

Story: Lenny Stoute/James Lizzard

Like all the other muzik fests of its kind, Canada Indie Week prides itself on offering way too much of a good thing. It’s not on them, it's who we are as a culture and I’m right in there with y’all. As a result, folks tend to drop their bucks on acts they’ve at least heard of before. Which, when you think of it, is the exact opposite of exploring the indie aesthetic.

With one or both of those in mind, more or less, here are five acts you may not have heard about but you'll hate yourself later if you have to hear about their shows from your friends.

The Rabid Whole This quintet out of Regina, SASK. claim to do it all. From dual female/male vocals, alternating lead vocals, polished (but not overly polished) rock guitar, energetic rhythmic bass, and drums, all tied neatly together with catchy electronic beats.

These diverse abilities derives from the members’ varied musical backgrounds. From metal and hard rock to Latin jazz, as well as being submerged in the music scene in the form of other bands and projects for almost a decade, The Rabid Whole came together in 2007 to create the edgy, cold, angry and powerful musical stylings which define them.

Story: Lenny Stoute

God bless the child that finds it’s calling early in life, for it may grow up to be Eliades Ochoa. In the esteemed Cuban guitarist’s case, he was all of six when he plucked at the instrument for the first time in his rural home close by the old city of Santiago de Cuba. In that instant, the boy who would grow up to be called Cuba’s Johnny Cash, heard the siren call of music, calling him to his future.

Around the age of eight the family moved to Santiago de Cuba, in financially tight circumstances. With money scarce and all hands on the wheel, in addition to odd jobs such as selling lottery tickets and shoe-shining, young Eliades started playing his guitar in the streets, graduating to the cafes and brothels of Santiago’s inner city.

"I worked as a shoeshine boy by day, and in the night I would play in the ghetto, in the barrio, for tips. I know that in America, the barrio is thought of as a dangerous place, but I was always very happy in the barrio. In Cuba, barrios are just different parts of the city, and every one has its own feel, its own neighbourhood identity."

"When I pass those places today it all comes back to me vividly. That keeps me going, I get emotional about it still."

Submitted by Cashbox Canada

Modraphelia, Toronto’s official Mod shop in the heart of downtown, is holding a charity fashion show and music event on Sept.19, 2012, to introduce their new women’s line of clothing. Store owner, Sati Banger, has been supplying Torontonians with 60’s-era clothing and accessories since 2005, when the doors opened to her Queen West store. Celebrities, musicians and industry insiders have turned to Modraphelia time and again for the best of Mod attire. The exciting new line is inspired by the exotic era of Rajput India fused with 60’s style and silhouettes. This collection pays homage to the rich colours and embellishment, while maintaining the youthfulness of the 60’s.

Later this year, Banger will shut the doors at her Queen West store, and take Modraphelia online-only, to better accommodate her global clientele. "I’m really excited about this fashion show as we’re taking Modraphelia to a new dimension with the new fall line by Sarah Fayaz. We have predominantly supplied menswear in the past and we felt it was time for us to expand our womens-wear line. Our event will provide a sneak peak of Sarah’s designs before they hit our online store and all the proceeds will go to Because I Am a Girl Canada (BIAG), which supports the fundamental rights of women and girls around the world." Modraphelia opened its doors in 2005 and is currently the only Mod shop in Toronto which captures the sharp, custom, personalized style of Mod fashion with a number of British brands as well as Modraphelia's very own label.

Submitted by Don Graham

The Canadian Country Music Association’s annual awards extravaganza is here again, this year in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. From September 6th through the 9th, 2012 the cream of the crop in Canadian country music will gather for four days of networking, catching up and seeing some of the finest talent in this country in one place. One of the highlights is the CCMA talent showcase, available to the undiscovered talent, giving them a chance to strut their stuff in front of an audience comprised of industry professionals who can help them reach their goals.

But there are only so many spots available and a lot of very talented people would, ordinarily, have sit on the sidelines, in a room full in influential career making folks.

This dilemma didn’t go unnoticed by one Angie Morris of Sirroma. A company she owns and operates. Morris decided to take matters into her  own capable hands, and went about creating an avenue to solve this problem. Morris described her venture to Cashbox, “ We were looking for a way to help emerging artists make the most of the gathering of industry folks at the CCMA’s. Together, with Sherman by Designs (Tracy Lee Sherman), who will be displaying various paintings of Canadian artists in the lobby. We created a much needed opportunity for these artists. This is not a sanctioned event, however we have the blessing to host this event during this week.We hope everyone will take some time out of this hectic week and stop by to support our Canadian artists.”