Maple Blues Band Capture A Jazzy, Sultry, Strutting Confidence with Aptly Named “Mating Cry”

Fri May 19, 2023

“Mating Cry,” the new single from Toronto-based Maple Blues Band goes into the jazz world for this and is exactly what its name suggests – a sexily strutting tune that announces its grand entrance with bright horns and a fun, cocky confidence. And its tenor sax solo by Alison Young adds just the right amount of sultriness to seal the whole deal.

Check it out on YouTube here:

 With crossover appeal in both jazz and blues, Maple Blues Band reached No. 1 on the Roots Music Report’s Canadian Album Chart for a fifth week total for their album Let’s Go, consisting of 12 of the instrumental compositions the band compiled during their association with The Maple Blues Awards. Their release of a full-length album of instrumental music is part of a master plan to launch the group into the performance market of festivals and concerts.

Herb Albert Canadian Date May 14th Hamilton First Ontario Concert Hall

Fri May 19, 2023

Herb Alpert signed Quincy Jones, Gino Vanelli, and Williams D. Smith (Motherloade) and Brenda Russell ( Brian and Brenda ), Joan Armatrading, Melvin Van Pebbles, Paul Williams, Garland Jeffreys (Herb Alpert played trumpet on “Matador” on Garland’s “One Eyed Jack”), Bryan Adams, The Tubes ,Supertramp, Cats Stevens and the Carpenters.

Making Music history by putting the artist and music first…

 As a kid I grew up on Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, but had never seen them live except on television, I was really looking forward to this!

The live show, a beautiful retrospective of a wonderful life lived artistically, always leaving spaces for improvisation, kindness and more music… Musically he was outstanding; the Band was killer, Lani Hall (The Sundown Lady) one of the iconic voices of Sergio Mendes Brazil 66. Herb Alpert tells a story about an early fan letter which said thank you for transporting me around the world with your music.

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame to Induct Rock n’ Roll Songwriter Myles Goodwyn

Fri Apr 28, 2023

Founding member of April Wine to be celebrated during the 2023 East Coast Music Awards, May 4

In 2003, acclaimed songwriter and April Wine frontman Myles Goodwyn received the ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada. Exactly 20 years later, he’ll return to the East Coast Music Awards to accept his latest distinction as the newest Inductee to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF). Considered by many as one of Canada’s greatest rock n’ roll songwriters, the CSHF will celebrate Goodwyn’s catalogue of songs penned for April Wine, spanning more than five decades.

A classic April Wine hit, You Won’t Dance With Me:

velours Changes Name to Vikki Minor

Fri Apr 14, 2023

The 23-year-old alt-pop artist formerly known as velours has changed her name to Vikki Minor. The name change comes as Minor embarks on a new chapter in her career, preceding the release of her upcoming E.P., Call Me Vikki.

"I'm so excited to share this new chapter in my life with my fans," comments Minor. "I've felt for some time that I've outgrown the artist name 'velours', and I'm finally able to embrace this new era as Vikki Minor."

The new name is just one of many changes Minor has made in recent months. She has also been honing in on her new sound, as heard on recent releases, which she describes as "Neo-'90s Alternative Pop." Additionally, moving from Saskatoon to Toronto has placed Minor at the epicentre of Canadian music.

"I'm really psyched about continuing to develop this sound under my new name," adds Minor. "The music I'm working on is my best so far and I can't wait to share it!"

Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band Add Dates To Spring 2023 Tour

Fri Apr 14, 2023

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band - Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette - have added 4 dates to their upcoming Spring 2023 tour which begins May 19 and concludes June 17. The new dates are: May 23 Long Beach, CA Terrace Theater; May 30 Prescott Valley, AZ Findlay Toyota Center; June 4 Woodinville, WA Saint Michelle Winery and June 10 Jacksonville, OR at the Britt Festival.

 “The joy for me about touring is playing live to an audience with the All Starr Band - so I’m always happy when we can add some more dates. See you in May!” said Ringo. 

Israel-Based RnB Producer Kutiman Contemplates Life's Darkness In "Sun Don't Shine"

Fri Apr 14, 2023

Ambient music is typically defined by soothing, psychedelic beats that have the goal of relaxing the listener. In producer Kutiman's newest single "Sun Don't Shine", he urges the listener to sit with their feelings before moving on from them. Check it out on YouTube here:

When it comes to the production, a looped electronica beat with a smidge of hip-hop evokes a feeling of stagnancy. Supplementing the beat are a line of lyrics droning like a desolate chant: "Why, why the sun don't shine when I'm down."

At the same time, the song also urges the listener to move, to try and stop being stuck. The hip-hop portion of the song combines with a more frantic electronica beat to convey someone taking a more active role in their life despite their hopelessness.

Ontario Country Artists Organize Benefit Concert For CAMH

Fri Apr 14, 2023

Ontario country artists are coming together to share untold stories about mental illness and mental health in a benefit concert for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

May 24, 2023: Moonshine Café, Oakville

More info and tickets at countrytalks.eventbrite.ca

Country Talks: Mental Health, taking place on Wednesday, May 24 at the famous Moonshine Cafe in Oakville, will feature a lineup of top Canadian independent country artists, all with a history of living with mental illness, addiction, and mental health challenges, sharing stories about their struggles, obstacles, and using music to overcome them. All proceeds from the benefit will be donated to the CAMH Foundation.

The lineup features Maddie Corinne, Taylor Wilson, Broadtree, Caves, Jessica Towler, and Katy Topham performing in a writers’ round format. The event will be hosted by Nicole McCafferty and Armand Antony, who will also be performing in the show as Broadtree.

Arctic Music Conference and Arctic Music Awards Lineup Released: Susan Aglukark, Twin Flames and More!

Thu Mar 23, 2023

Only a few more days until the first-ever Arctic Music Conference and Arctic Music Awards! These online events are created to celebrate and support artists, music industry professionals, and other participants from the Arctic region.

The Keynote Speaker for the 2023 Arctic Music Conference and Arctic Music Awards will be multi-award winner Susan Aglukark. There will be virtual performances from Twin Flames, Beatrice Deer, Uyarakq, Tarrak x Peand-eL, Aasiva, and Jacob Okatsiak. Learn more at hitmakerz.com/blog/lineuppart1

Workshops for the 2023 Arctic Music Conference & Arctic Music Awards include: 60 Things to Post on Social Media in 60 minutes - Eric Alper, Performance and Stage Presence - K.ÓLA, Songwriting - Anna Fauske, Fundraising for Music Projects - Nunavut Music (Thor Simonsen), Entertainment Law for Artists - Edwards Creative Law (Byron Pascoe), and Music Distribution and Marketing with CD Baby - CD Baby (Darryl Hurs & Kevin Breuner). Learn more at hitmakerz.com/blog/lineuppart2

World Music Icon LOREENA MCKENNITT to be Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Fri Mar 03, 2023

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) is pleased to announce its first Inductee to the Class of 2023 – celebrated Celtic fusion singer-songwriter Loreena McKennitt. Her masterful songwriting, ethereal soprano voice, and imaginative arrangements that combine her passion for traditional Celtic music with world music influences, have forged her own distinctive genre of ‘eclectic Celtic.’

Check out The Mummers’ Song on YouTube here:

Global critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who has sold more than 14 million albums worldwide will be recognized at the Inaugural Women in Music Canada Honours event on International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2023.

LASSO Montréal Announces 2023 Stellar Lineup

Fri Mar 03, 2023

LASSO Montréal, presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Original, is back after a hugely successful first run in 2022. Last year's inaugural edition of the country music fest surpassed all expectations, creating a massive buzz in the city, and proving that Montrey'all is a country music Mecca! Right out of the gate, LASSO Montréal has proven to be a bonafide phenomenon, offering a state of the art festival experience with all the country fixins you'd expect, on a beautiful island in the St Lawrence River, overlooking the stunning Montreal skyline, and with all that momentum from last year's kickoff edition, the 2023 edition is shaping up to be incredible! With the warm weather just around the corner, Canadians and Quebecers are already gearing up for those long summer days and nights, hanging out with friends and family, eating and drinking to their hearts’ content, while being serenaded by that golden country twang - that is the raison d’être of LASSO!

Women In Music Canada Share Long List Of Nominees For The Inaugural WIM Honours

Fri Feb 24, 2023

As International Women’s Day 2023 draws closer, Women In Music Canada excitedly shares the long list of nominees for the Women In Music Canada Honours. The Honours event will take place on March 8 at the Opera House in Toronto, where the recipients will be recognized and celebrated, alongside a reception-style dinner and showcase of incredible performances.

“I have been told often over that last few months that this recognition program has been needed for a long time,” says WIMC Executive Director, Robyn Stewart. “On behalf of the WIM Canada board, we couldn’t be more excited to recognize the long list today, and to bring the Canadian music community together to celebrate March 8th, on International Women’s Day. Thank you to all jury, all applicants, sponsors and funders for helping us bring this dream to reality. And above all, congratulations today to all of our long list.”

Women In Music Canada Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023

Fri Feb 03, 2023

Women In Music Canada has announced their special programming that will take place in March in celebration of International Women’s Day. Through March 7 and 8 in Toronto, ON, artists and industry professionals will be able to take part in workshops, speaking engagements and networking opportunities, followed by the inaugural Women In Music Canada Honours, where the 2023 recipients will be recognized for their outstanding success and contributions to the music industry. Tickets to the WIMC Honours are available in advance along with more information about the categories. Full event details can be found below.

Canada’s Teen Jam, A Prelude to Kitchener’s Wayback Festival, Will Showcase the Best of Musical Talent

Fri Feb 03, 2023

Some of the best, most innovative musical acts ever started out when they were merely teens – The Runaways, The Strokes, The Arctic Monkeys, to name just a few – and Canada’s Teen Jam, a first-of-its-kind performance showcase, is well aware of the immense talent and creativity that can be developed during that wonderful time of life.

Canada’s Teen Jam will allow finalists to perform on a massive concert stage as an opener to this year’s Wayback Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, on July 22. The performance will allow teen artists to explore their natural musical talents in front of both their peers and industry heavyweights, and counts Kitchener Councillor Bill Ioannidis as a supporter.

Teen Jam was created by Mark Higgins, producer, and founder of Big Music Fests, which has featured A-listers including Aerosmith, Bryan Adams, Soundgarden, The Tragically Hip, Slash, ZZ Top and many more legendary acts.

JUNO Award Winner / Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee Shirley Eikhard Passes Away At Age 67

Sat Dec 17, 2022

Shirley Eikhard, writer of the Grammy-Award winning "Something To Talk About" as well as a two-time JUNO and multi-BMI Award winner and inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, had died. She passed away at the Orangeville Hospital surrounded by wonderfully caring staff and dear friends at age 67.

Born in Sackville, New Brunswick, Eikhard loved her Canadian roots and over the past 43 years, has travelled the world both as a performer and writer.

Eikhard’s songs have been covered by the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Anne Murray, and Ginette Reno to name but a few of the incredible artists who have enjoyed success with Eikhard’s writing and she had written well over 500 songs to date.

Raitt’s recording of Eikhard’s composition “Something to Talk About” proved a spectacular success. The single, off Raitt’s Luck of the Draw album, peaked on Billboard’s Hot 100 and adult contemporary charts at #5 in October 1991, and at No. 8 on Cashbox. It placed even higher in Canada, at #3 on the RPM Top 100 chart and #4 adult contemporary and made the top 20 on RPM’s 1991 year-end chart.

Nazareth’s Original Lead Singer, Dan McCafferty Passes Away

Fri Nov 11, 2022

Dan McCafferty, an original member and longtime lead vocalist of the Scottish rock group, Nazareth, died today (Nov. 8, 2022) at age 76. The news was shared by their bassist Pete Agnew, also a founding member, on the band’s Facebook page calling it “the saddest announcement I ever had to make.”

Nazareth originally formed in Dumfermline, Scotland in 1968, by McCafferty, Agnew, guitarist Manny Charlton and drummer Darryl Sweet, all members of a local band the Shadettes. The new band took their name from the Pennsylvania town referred to in The Band’s song from earlier that year, “The Weight.”

After releasing their eponymous debut album in 1971, the band broke big when, after supporting Deep Purple on tour, they released the Roger Glover-produced Razamanaz album in early 1973 to critical and fan acclaim. They then released a string of singles including “Broken Down Angel,” “Hair of the Dog,” and “Love Hurts.” The power ballad, released in 1975, reached #8 on the Hot 100 in early 1976, and hit #1 in several territories. The band has continued to release albums and tour the globe since.

Jeff Cook, Co-Founding Member Of Country Band Alabama, Dies At Age 73

Fri Nov 11, 2022

Jeff Cook, a co-founding member of the trendsetting Country Music Hall of Fame band Alabama, died Monday at age 73.

For a decade, Cook battled Parkinson’s disease, a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement and causes tremors. He publicly disclosed his diagnosis in 2017.

A representative for the band confirmed his death Tuesday afternoon to the Tennessean. Cook died at his beachside home in Destin, Florida.

Hannah Shira Naiman - “The Wheels Won’t Go” in Concert November 6th

Fri Oct 28, 2022

Singer/Songwriter/Square Dance Caller/Early Childhood Musician Hannah Shira Naiman has released her 3rd full length album out now on all major platforms. She’ll be celebrating the release with a concert on November 6th at 7:00 pm at the Tranzac Club in Toronto. Opening set will be with Nathan Smith (Barrel Boys) and Alan Mackie (Vinta) All proceeds (after expenses) will go towards the Canadian Perinatal Mental Health Collaborative: an important advocacy group lobbying for a national maternal mental health plan. www.cpmhc.ca Tickets $18 Advance/ $20 Door. For more information please visit any of the links below or Hannah’s website

Official Album Release Party

Newly Formed EuroCan Presents Inaugural Spark Houston x The Magnettes

Fri Sep 02, 2022
Spark Houston
Spark Houston

On Tuesday, September 27th, live at Bar Cathedral (54 The Esplanade), Spark Houston and The Magnettes are performing a free show to launch the new global initiative EuroCan. Industry professionals and true music fans are expected to attend in celebration of the new initiative and to experience the transformative blending of cultures. Spark Houston, one of Canada’s most promising and exciting rap talents and The Magnettes, Sweden’s brash, beautiful, feminist punk icons are sure to own the stage.

Through a groundbreaking collaboration between Canada and Europe, EuroCan is proud to announce the beginning of a new frontier in live music, where cultural bridges are built, and new opportunities are created for artists of all backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender ideologies. 

Legendary GROSSMAN'S TAVERN Announces Return of Annual Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship & Fundraising Event

Fri Aug 05, 2022

Following a two-year hiatus on account of the pandemic, Toronto’s legendary Grossman’s Tavern has announced its annual Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship and fundraiser event will return for 2022.

Created in memory of the late Amy Louie — a member of the family that has owned Grossman’s Tavern since 1975 — the ALGMS is an artist development bursary that provides two musicians or bands from the Greater Toronto Area $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, to help with career development.

The 2022 Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship fundraising event will take place Tuesday, September 27th at Grossman’s Tavern, 379 Spadina Ave, Toronto.

ALGMS applications are officially open and can be received until September 16th, 2022 at 11:59pm EST. Successful candidates will be chosen by a panel of judges that include members of the Louie family, music industry professionals, and individuals with long-standing connections to Grossman’s Tavern.