Entertainment

Canadian Music Royalty Honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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Story: Don Graham
 
Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Ontario, was the scene of a unique gathering on Monday June 18th, 2012.

Commemorative medals were presented to distinguished Ontario residents who have already been invested with the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario. All living Order of Canada and Order of Ontario recipients were invited.  It is unusual for these recipients to come together in one place said The Honourable Ontario Lt. Governor David Onley.

Lt. Governor Onley, Governor General David Johnson and other prominent Canadians presented the prestigious awards. CBC Anchor Peter Mansbridge hosted the gala and also received a medal.

Susan Aglukark, Molly Johnson, Ben Heppner and Gordon Lightfoot took the stage at Roy Thomson Hall Monday evening. The four musicians, all members of the Order of Canada, performed at a presentation of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals to more than 600 people. The special medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.

Orillia’s Lightfoot was one of several who gave Lt. Governor Onley the idea for the gala. Lt. Governor Onley said he put the event together hastily, after presenting the first 25 Diamond Jubilee Medals on Feb. 6, at a gathering that brought together a remarkable group of people, including Gordon Lightfoot and actor Gorden Pinsent.

Canada-Japan Music Connection Gets Stronger

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Submitted by McClure Music
Photo at right: Maylee Todd

The Canada-Japan music connection is getting stronger. Several Canadian acts have signed deals with Japanese labels or are set to perform in Japan as a result of the Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA)’s trade mission to Tokyo and Canadian Music Week (CMW)’s Spotlight on Japan.

They include:
Singer/songwriter Maylee Todd, who performs at Billboard Live Tokyo on June 22
Singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith, who is performing at the Fuji Rock festival on July 26
“Mediterranean”-style guitarist Pavlo, who’s signing with King Records and set to play Tokyo’s Cotton Club Aug. 31
Crooner Matt Dusk, who’s due to perform at this year’s Tokyo Jazz Festival, which takes place Sept. 6-8
Female rock trio Hunter Valentine, who will play at the Summer Sonic festival in Tokyo on Aug. 11

There are also rumors that Toronto-based power-pop band Courage My Love may strike a Japanese label deal. On the other hand, it seems to be harder for Japanese acts to break into Canada. Trumpeter Chihiro Yamazaki scored a booking for the Toronto Jazz Festival following her performance with the Route 14 Band at the CMW Japan showcase on March 20. Sebastian Mair, head of Tokyo-based consulting company Music Solutions, says many CMW delegates expressed interest in Japanese female rock act Baby Metal.

Traynor-Yorkville 50th Anniversary Celebration in Toronto

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Submitted by Michael E. Williams

Saturday, May 4th, 2013, Willi William blew the roof off the Phoenix in Toronto when he performed at the Reggae Ska Explosion. His band for the event featured Gordie Johnson on guitar and Gary Lowe on bass. Both names you will recognize from Big Sugar. Carl Harvey, who you know from Toots and the Maytals as well as Crack of Dawn, joined them. In the words of Gordie Johnson “Willi Williams always gives an inspiring performance and it’s an honour to play with him.”

Twenty-four hours later, the music continued at the Steam Whistle Brewery where Traynor/Yorkville celebrated their 50th anniversary. Gordie Johnson and Big Sugar kicked off the celebration. At this event, Willi Williams was their guest performer. They performed their new single “Bust No Guns”. And this was just the start of an evening of outstanding performances and jams with friends, and endorsees, of Traynor and Yorkville Sound.

Traynor and Yorkville Sound started with Pete Traynor in the backrooms of Long and Mc Quades in 1963 with the Dynabass Amplifier and the matching 15”speaker that became legendary. The first time I heard about Traynor gear was in 1968 when I was living in Cleveland, Ohio. All the serious bassists had to have a Traynor amplifier, there was no question and only one choice. It is still the choice today of many musicians including Donna Grantis (Prince’s 3rd Eye Girl), Gordie Johnson, and Randy Bachman (BTO, Bachman Cummings, The Guess Who, Randy Bachman), to name a few.


Canada’s Premier A cappella Music Festival Coming to Harbourfront in Toronto

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Submitted to Cashbox Canada

Launched in 2012, SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival features world-class concert performances in a wide range of genres, including pop and jazz groups, classical and gospel choirs, and world music ensembles.  Toronto’s only a cappella festival educates as well as entertains, with industry veterans leading vocal workshops for singers of all ages and levels of experience.  SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival will also offer a school workshop day, public sing-along, and presentation of the SING! Legacy Award to Toronto native Frank Busseri of The Four Lads. 
Feature concerts will include the Swingle Singers, a UK-based multi-Grammy winning ensemble celebrating 50 years as a vocal super group; Sweden-based The Real Group, performing bop, vocalese, pop, and originals; and Moments to Remember: A Tribute to Harmony Groups of the ‘50s and ‘60s, Honouring Frank Busseri of The Four Lads.

“The response to last year’s festival was overwhelmingly positive,” says artistic director Aaron Jensen, an award-winning, internationally-published composer, arranger, and performer.  “Since then, we’ve grown – both in size and with respect to artistic vision.”

“Building on last year's model that focused on world-class performances, workshops and educational outreach, this year we have expanded our programming to include cross-cultural collaborations and a world premiere concert of new Canadian choral works,” adds Jensen.  “We have more than a few surprises up our sleeves for our 2013 season.”

Saskatchewan Country Music Association 2013 Winners

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Submitted to Cashbox Canada

17 Million And Counting on Music

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Submitted by Michael E. Williams

Live Music generates an estimated $455 million in revenues and contributes $252 million to the Canadian economy growing at an annual rate of 6.4 % since 2010. (Source:  An Economic Analysis of the Sound Recording Industry in Canada, PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2011)

A few weeks ago, the Ontario government started a Live Music Working Group with 21 industry experts including Graham Henderson, Gil Moore and Neill Dixon.  The aim is to make Ontario a world class destination for live music.

As I have seen such a waste of these funds over the years, I wanted to see what this new program might have to offer and how its success would be evaluated.   I called the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Michael Chan to answer my questions.  He graciously made time for me and I thank him.

MW:  Why did the provincial government decide to get involved in live music?
MC: I think it’s a good thing to do. Since the digitization of music, recorded music has been spiraling down, so we looked at the statistics, numbers and talked to industry leaders, big and small, in the music industry. We all joined together collectively to create a strategy for the growing segment of the industry, Live Music, to make Ontario an even greater destination for live music, sports and cultural based entertainment events.I have been driving this music file quite aggressively and we think there is a lot of good in there, that’s why we are doing it.

PledgeMusic And Fontana North Distribution Announce Partnership

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Submitted to Cashbox Canada

PledgeMusic will now be the default direct-to-fan platform for Canada's premiere distribution house Fontana North and the legendary e-commerce store MapleMusic.com. The partnership opens up new avenues in Canada for getting ahead, building up a strong fan base, and exploring new paths for marketing in the Canadian market. The union is off to a positive start with campaigns for a variety of notable Canadian bands. Fontana North's General Manager Matt Smallwood says, "We are proud to be in a partnership that is innovative and pushing the music business forward."

Established in 2006, Fontana North provides full marketing, promotional, and publicity support accompanied by a nationally dedicated sales force. Fontana North has received the Independent Music Distributor of the Year award three years in a row at the Canadian Music Industry Awards and its roster includes some of the world's best independent labels such as Warp, Paper Bag, Daptone and Savoy.

MapleMusic.com provides e-commerce services to hundreds of fantastic Canadian artists. Founded in 1999, Maple Music's been a strong advocated of bringing Canadian music to the world...and the world's music to Canadians. They specialize in the selling of physical / digital goods, from music to t-shirts to concert tickets. With an ever growing roster, Maple remains the premiere music shop in Canada.

The Perfect Liaison with John Malkovich

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Submitted by Cashbox Canada

The Giacomo Variations, starring Hollywood icon John Malkovich as the legendary lover
Casanova, will play Toronto’s Elgin Theatre, June 7-9, 2013 for four shows only.

Based on the life of Giacomo Casanova, the Italian adventurer, writer and womanizer, The Giacomo Variations  is a remarkable and sophisticated fusion of theatre and opera and features
a superbly talented cast, breathtaking sets and costumes, and a live 35-piece Viennese orchestra,
Orchester Wiener Akademie, playing Mozart's most beloved arias.

John Malkovich (Warm Bodies, The Killing Fields, The Glass Menagerie, Dangerous Liaisons, In the
Line of Fire, Red, Burn After Reading, Being John Malkovich) is one of the most respected actors in
Hollywood. His career began in the theatre, in 1976, when Malkovich joined Chicago’s Steppenwolf
Theatre, newly founded by Gary Sinise. He appeared on stage in New York in the early eighties
before his film debut in 1984 as the blind lodger in Places in the Heart (Academy Award nomination).

The Giacomo Variations is Malkovich’s second foray into the world of opera. His first, and very
successful collaboration, in 2008 with the same production and creative team, was The Infernal
Comedy, which he continues to tour internationally.

Prior to its Toronto engagement, The Giacomo Variations  will receive its Canadian Premiere at
Place des Arts in Montreal, QC, June 4 & 5, 2013.

The 2013 Juno Nominations List

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Submitted by Cashbox Canada

The 2013 Juno Awards, scheduled for April 21. 2013 will be held at The Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. Hosting by Canadian crooner, Michael Buble, the first announcements of the nominees were made on February 19, 2013. Congrats to all!

JUNO Fan Choice Award
Carly Rae Jepsen 604*Universal
Céline Dion Columbia*Sony
Drake Aspire/Cash Money*Universal
Hedley Universal
Justin Bieber Island Def Jam*Universal
Leonard Cohen Columbia*Sony
Marianas Trench 604*Universal
Metric Metric Music International*Universal
Michael Bublé Reprise*Warner
Nickelback Universal

Drake Jensen Releases Second Album – OUTlaw

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Submittted by Cashbox Canada

With his debut album, Drake Jensen started to make his mark on country music worldwide. Charting at #16 on the European Country Music Associations Top 100, achieving Top 20 in France with his single “All You Need”, his ground breaking video “On My Way To Finding You”, receiving various awards and accolades for standing up and being heard in his support of the gay community and freedom for all from bullying, while raising awareness through his causes and his music.

Jensen has had quite a journey this last year, travelling to Nashville, touring and performing to raise awareness of his music offerings that are country through and through. The results of these efforts are shown in his friends list on his Facebook  - http://www.facebook.com/drakejensenmusic?fref=ts.

Jensen is back now with a new offering – aptly named OUTlaw, and now in 2013 Drake is back with  a vengeance with the release of his  second album – OUTlaw, a great combination of meaningful songs, well produced and engineered with the great input of Jonathan Edwards of Corvidae Music.

Launching at the prestigious National Arts Centre in Ottawa, on Wednesday March 13, at 7:30 pm. and the evening is sure to be as eclectic a performance as the crowd this talented artist attracts at all times.

Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.ca or the National Arts Centre Box Office at htt.p://nac-cna.ca/boxoffice

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