Hugh’s Room Live Presents ‘Walking Through The Fire’

Sat Mar 23 2024
Walking Through The Fire

Sultans of String & Indigenous Collaborators across Turtle Island Create Trailblazing Musical Response to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action

Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 8:00pm

Hugh’s Room Live presents
‘Walking Through the Fire’ – Indigenous Collaborations with Sultans of String

Featuring Dr. Duke Redbird, The North Sound, Shannon Thunderbird, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk, Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan), and a multimedia extravaganza including Northern Cree, Kendra Tagoona, Tracy Sarazin, and more!

Hugh’s Room Live
296 Broadview Avenue,
Toronto ON M4M 2G7

TIX: $45 in advance, $50 at the door, 647-347-4769

showpass.com/sultans-of-string-walking-through-the-fire/

The North Sound and Sultans Of String Team Up To Sing The Sound Of The Prairies In “Sweet Alberta”

Thu Feb 29 2024
Sultans of String

“Sweet Alberta” is the new single off the Sultans of String album entitled Walking Through the Fire, the most ambitious and important project of their career, a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island. The song started as a poem penned by Grammy nominated and legendary Chippewa/Anishinaabe Elder Dr. Duke Redbird, set to music by Chris McKhool and Sultans of String.

This track features the gorgeous vocals of The North Sound, formed in 2014 by lead singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Forrest Eaglespeaker along with his wife Nevada Eaglespeaker who composes and provides vocal harmonies.

Keeping true to the traditions of Forrest’s heritage, The North Sound was created to share stories of Forrest’s Blackfoot identity and traditions from Treaty 7 Territory. This track was perfectly suited to these award-winning artists, with their connection to the land.

Shannon Thunderbird + Sultans of String + Orchestra Soar with New Video and Single "Black Winged Raven"

Fri Sep 29 2023
Shannon Thunderbird + Sultans of String + Orchestra

Black Winged Raven is the new single off the album Walking Through the Fire by Sultans of String. It is a foot-stomping barn burner of a song that celebrates the project with Ts’msyen artist Shannon Thunderbird, who is originally from the Pacific Northwest coast of British Columbia: Gilut'sau Band of the Royal House of Niis'gumiik, Gispudwada (Orca) Clan. The lyrics are sung in Sm'algyax, with the music beautifully arranged with Sultans of String and the epic strings of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Raven is the culture hero of the Pacific Northwest Indigenous People” explains Shannon, whose fireside chats, lectures, and original music open the minds and hearts of audiences to the rich culture and history of Canada's Indigenous people. “My sister Kate and I grew up with the stories of Raven. He is a very robust character that our people, the Coast Ts’msyen love and respect – to this day we listen to these stories.”

Indigenous Artists and Sultans of String Walking Though the Fire - A Trailblazing Musical Response to the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action

Fri Sep 08, 2023

I have been personally listening to and watching music and videos from Sultans of String for years now, and I consider myself to be one of their biggest fans. Always collaborating with artists that have a cause and especially artists who need a voice, the empathy that this group shows in their choices for their recordings not only has extremely talented participants but always presented with a moral compass.

 What do Crystal Shawanda, Leela Gilday, Northern Cree powwow group, a dozen other Indigenous artists, and Roots band Sultans of String have in common? They have all come together in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and Final Report which calls for Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to work together to create Walking Through the Fire. This album and live show are a powerful collection of collaborations between the roots group and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island, with the CD releasing September 15, 2023, and a live concert tour launching on September 28, leading up to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Sultans Of String And Crystal Shawanda Collaborate On New Single Close To Her Heart “The Rez”

Fri Jul 21 2023
Sultans Of String

“The Rez” is a collaboration between 2x JUNO Award winning blues and country music artist Crystal Shawanda and 3x JUNO nominated, 6x CFMA winning Sultans of String. Crystal is an Ojibwe Potawatomi Indigenous singer, born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island in Ontario, is also decorated with multiple Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards, Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, a CCMA, a Canadian Radio Music Award, and too many JUNO nominations to list.

Watch and listen to this beautiful piece of music here on YouTube here:

Sultans of String and Digging Roots “Take Off The Crown” In New Single

Fri Jun 02 2023
Sultans of String

‘Take Off The Crown’ is a collaboration between Raven Kanatakta of 2x JUNO Award winning Digging Roots, and 3x JUNO nominated, 6x CFMA winning Sultans of String, with bed tracks recorded at Jukasa Studios, an Indigenous-owned world-class recording facility on the Six Nations reserve south of Hamilton, Ontario. It is the fourth single off the upcoming Sultans album entitled ‘Walking Through the Fire’ (Sept 22, 2023 release), a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.

The lyrics are penned by Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache and Sho-Shona Kish, and the music created with Sultans of String.\

Smudge burning in the morning
Makes a healing cloud
News blackout on the lost ones
100,000 souls singing loud

Sultans of String and Dr. Duke Redbird Release New Single “Our Mother the Earth”

Fri Apr 21, 2023

Our Mother the Earth’ is a collaboration between legendary Chippewa/Anishinaabe Elder Dr. Duke Redbird and Sultans of String. It is the third single of the upcoming album entitled ‘Walking Through the Fire’ (Sept 22, 2023 release), a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.

Watch and listen on YouTube here:

Redbird was inspired by the idea that every country has a national anthem, yet there is no anthem for Our Mother the Earth.  Redbird said, “if people included an anthem to the Earth along with their national anthem at every event, it would serve to acknowledge our identity, values, and sense of pride in the fact that we are all children of the Earth.”  With this idea in mind, he wrote the poem Our Mother the Earth.

Our Mother the Earth

Sultans Of String Shine A Light On The Plight Of Refugees With Its Cannes World Film Festival Winning Doc, Sultans Of String: The Refuge Project

Fri Mar 24 2023
Sultans Of String

Global Ambassadors of Musical Diversity, SULTANS OF STRING, will shine a light on the Plight of Refugees with its Cannes World Film Festival Winning Documentary, Sultans of String: The Refuge Project - Visual Album, at the 18th Annual CANADIAN FOLK MUSIC AWARDS on Sat April 1, 2023 3pm).

Leading with four nominations for their “Sanctuary” album (Contemporary, Global Roots, Pushing the Boundaries, and Producer of the Year), this Billboard charting band’s film features music and interviews from “Sanctuary” as well as sister album “Refuge”, both served up under lockdown.

This 1.5 hour screening will be followed by a fun Q&A with bandleader and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient Chris McKhool and co-producer John “Beetle” Bailey, hosted by Michael Tymchuk.

Sultans of String: The Refuge Project - Visual Album OFFICIAL TRAILER

Sultans of String and Marc Meriläinen Explore The Light In “A Beautiful Darkness”

Fri Mar 10 2023
Sultans of String

A Beautiful Darkness is a collaboration between 3x JUNO nominated, 4x CFMA winning Sultans of String and Marc Meriläinen, the creative force also known as Nadjiwan, who has been recognized in many corners, including Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, the Native American Music Awards, the Indigenous Music Awards, along with invitations to perform at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2015 Pan-Am Games in Toronto.

Watch A Beautiful Darkness - Sultans of String feat. Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan) on YouTube here:

It is the second single off the upcoming Sultans of String album entitled Walking Through the Fire (Sept 22, 2023 release), the most ambitious and important project of their career, a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island.

Sultans of String and Northern Cree Release “Nîmihito (Dance)” And Announce 2023 Tour Dates

Fri Jan 20 2023
Sultans of String and Northern Cree

“Nîmihito (Dance)”is a collaboration between 3x JUNO nominated, 4x CFMA winning Sultans of String and Northern Cree, a nine-time Grammy nominated pow wow and round dance group from Treaty 6 territory in Canada, who have released more than 50 albums over their 40-year history.

Check out “Nîmihito (Dance)” on YouTube here:

 It is the first single off the upcoming Sultans of String album entitledWalking Through the Fire(Sept 22, 2023 release), the most ambitious and important project of their career, a CD and concert of collaborations with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island. 

Lemmon Entertainment Releases Holiday Mixtape To Benefit School Music Programs via MusiCounts Band Aid Program

Sat Dec 17 2022
 Lemmon Entertainment Releases Holiday Mixtape To Benefit School Music Programs via MusiCounts Band Aid Program

Support the future of music this holiday season! Own Holiday Tracks from Jessica Moskaluke, Myles Goodwyn, Chris Hadfield, Olivia Penalva, And More

Lemmon Entertainment is releasing the Lemmon Holiday Mixtape – available now – featuring a wide variety of Canadian artists spreading Holiday cheer for an excellent cause. 100 percent of the mixtape’s proceeds will go to the MusiCounts Band Aid program.

Available from Dec. 9 through Dec. 30, the mixtape features Jessica Moskaluke, Bif Naked, Josh Bogert, Olivia Penalva, Andrew Allen, Maggie Szabo, Jim Bryson, Pavlo, Zach Oliver, Ellen Doty, Chris Hadfield, Cassie Dasilva, The O’Pears, Helix, Chris McKhool (Sultans of String), Myles Goodwyn (April Wine) and more. The compilation will be available for purchase on S!NG (LINK) for $9.99 CDN.

Feature Film Release: Sultans of String shine their light on the Silver Screen in Toronto and Hamilton

Fri Nov 18 2022
Sultans of String

Billboard-charting world music supergroup Sultans of String are excited about the launch of their feature length film "Sultans of String: The Refuge Project - Visual Album" – their pandemic project that just won at the Cannes World Film Festival, Best Istanbul Film Festival, and selected for the Vancouver Independent, Scarab, and Folk in Film Festivals.

Come join their Cast and Crew party, and celebrate their recent wins with a film screening, as well as another birthday “year around the sun” for bandleader Chris McKhool, all while raising donations for a good cause!

TORONTO: Sunday November 20
Doors at 6 pm, Film at 7 pm sharp.
Tranzac Main Hall, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2M7
Tix: https://sultansofstringfilm.eventbrite.ca

All admission proceeds of Toronto show after hall rental cost are donated to the UN Refugee Agency for their life-saving programming. Sultans of String have raised more than $10,000 so far!

3x JUNO Nominees / 4x CFMA Winning Canadian Global Music Supergroup Sultans of String Celebrate Film Win With Sanctuary CD Release Concert in Toronto November 4

Fri Oct 07, 2022

NY Times and Billboard-charting world music supergroup Sultans of String celebrate their “Best Musical Film” win with "Sultans of String: The Refuge Project - Visual Album", as part of the monthly competition of Cannes World Film Festival, with a milestone Sanctuary CD Release concert in Toronto at Jane Mallett Theatre on November 4, 2022.

3x JUNO Nominees / 4x CFMA Winning Sultans of String & Friends Recording “Walking Through the Fire”

Fri Sep 16 2022
Sultans of String

Canadian 3x JUNO Award-nominees and 4x Canadian Folk Music Award-winners Sultans of String & Friends are now embarking on the most ambitious and essential project of their career: Their ninth album entitled “Walking through the Fire”, which will be a beautiful collection of collaborations with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit artists across Turtle Island/Canada. The band has launched an INDIEGOGO campaign to raise funds and they would love your support. With your help they we can make this recording a reality! 

Visit Sultans of String's INDIEGOGO page: indiegogo.com/projects/indigenous-collabs-w-sultans-of-string-friends#/

Sultans of String Unleash New Single “Hurricane” into the Soundscape

Fri May 20 2022
Sultans of String

Canadian 3x JUNO Award-nominees and 4x Canadian Folk Music Award-winners Sultans of String release their latest single, “Hurricane”; featuring Turkish pop superstar Suat Suna recording English vocals for the first time.

Watch and listen to “Hurricane” on YouTube here:

The NY Times and BILLBOARD charting world music supergroup collaborated with Suat Suna for the new song fresh from their eighth and most recent album, Sanctuary: The Refugee Project.

Suat Suna has released 12 studio albums selling millions of copies in his native Turkey. Born in Istanbul to a master violin father, he started learning the violin at the age of four. Suat graduated from Istanbul University Conservatory and started winning many awards, leading to becoming a giant of Turkish pop music, touring endlessly across the country.

3x JUNO-Nominees & 4x CFMA Winners Sultans of String Release New Single, “The Power of the Land” with Duke Redbird & Twin Flames

Fri Apr 15 2022
Sultans of String

Featuring Ojibway Elder Dr. Duke Rebird and Indigenous artists Twin Flames, NY Times and BILLBOARD charting band Sultans of String have released their collaborative new single, “The Power of the Land” – check it out on YouTube here:

The orchestral version of the song is the latest to land from the multi-award-winning and JUNO-nominated group’s most recent album, 2021’s Sanctuary — an 11-track offering featuring a broad range of incredible talents from the USA/Canada, many of whom arrived as recent immigrants and refugees, and essential Indigenous voices.

Sultans of String Release the Classic Cover of “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”

Fri Oct 15 2021
Sultans of String

Dubbed by Maverick Music Magazine as the “very epitome of world music: no boundaries, no rules,” NY Times and BILLBOARD charting Canadian supergroup Sultans of String have released their brand-new single, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” — available now!

The song features the four core Sultans, as well as incredibly talented and inspiring special guests Tara Salah Moneka and Ahmed Moneka, and arrives ahead of this November’s upcoming album, Sanctuary.

Check out the YouTube here:

Originally written by Sonny Bono, and sung by Cher and Nancy Sinatra, this is a new take on the song that speaks to people from the perspective of marginalized voices; it is a benchmark of how the world has changed with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the thirst for equality around the world.

3x JUNO Award Nominees & 3x CFMA Winners Sultans of String Release New Single, “Mi Santuario”

Fri Sep 24, 2021

Toronto, ON-based NY Times and BILLBOARD-charting global music supergroup Sultans of String have released their brand-new single, “Mi Santuario”.

This song features the four core Sultans, as well as an incredibly talented and inspiring special guest Juan Carlos Medrano, who co-wrote the music with the band, and sings his original lyrics, as well as performing on gaita, the traditional flute.

Check out “Mi Santuario” on YouTube here:

Originally from Cartagena in the north coast of Colombia, Juan Carlos moved to Canada in 2006 as a refugee. “It was tough back home, lack of opportunity for people like me, people that look like me, Afro-Colombian” says Juan Carlos. “We were not comfortable with the system, the rules, and how they treat their people.”

BTW - Sultans of String, Matthew Cardinal, Diana Krall, Friggin’ Arab Orchestra Company, Adam Solomon, Christina Martin, Nyssa, Walk Off The Earth, Tom Jackson and The Huron Carole

Fri Dec 11 2020
Sultans of String

‘Ho, Ho, Ho’ said judgemental Santa, as he walked by the three young women at Sherbourne and Dundas.

This week we spotlight Second Harvest Central Food Bank 1450 Lodestar Road Unit 18 Toronto, Ontario
Tel: 416-408-2594
email@secondharvest.ca

The Turkey Drive goal is to provide 8,000 turkeys to our agency network to help nourish people who have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Member agencies have been coping with the new realities of providing emergency food relief during COVID, whether it’s changing their community dining programs to take away meals or offering prepared hampers instead of food bank access. Many agencies have closed their doors, which has put further strain on the food resources of agencies that have remained open.

Support your local food bank. The need is dire.

It’s a digital Christmas y’all. The otherworldly Sultans of String is doing a zoom celebration of their Billboard charting festive release Christmas Caravan, featured on the New York Time Hits List.

SULTANS OF STRING Raise Awareness of the 26+ Million Stateless Around the World

Fri Oct 30, 2020

For their latest release, Canadian world music collective Sultans of String set out to raise awareness of the nearly 26 million+ refugees currently stateless and away from their homes in a project centred around the positive contributions of new immigrants. The result was Refuge, and its title track, the award-winning “Refuge” featuring Edmar Castaneda.

Experience “Refuge” here:

The song just won Folk Music Ontario’s Songs From The Heart Award — Instrumental, and is raising funds for the band’s campaign to aid the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Canada.

The single spotlights the work of the astonishing Colombian harpist known for reinventing the instrument the world over, and celebrated for his improvisation and dynamic counterpoints created in the track. “It’s a great vibe, the whole tune,” Castaneda says. “It fits right with the harp, so I’m happy to be a part of this.