Award news
The Forest City London Music Hall of Fame has announced the Class of 2024 who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the local Music Week celebration June 9-16 in London, Ontario. The three new inductees are hip-hop star Shad (Shadrack Kavango); , popular children's artist Glenn Bennett and eclectic pop/rock band The Capers. Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to radio programmer and concert promoter Ian Davies, urban music DJ and promoter Siva Markandu, and Embassy Hotel owner and operator Helen Haller.
– Last week, the 2024 City of Edmonton Music Award (and $15,000 in prize money) was awarded to Filipino-born pop singer HAIDEE’s debut album, “This Shouldn’t Be Typical.” Arlo Maverick's Blue Collar and Home Front's Games of Power each won $5,000 runner-up prizes.
festival news
– The Trois-Rivières en Blues Festival has announced that the annual event has come to an end after 15 years. Co-founder and programmer Brian Slack said on Facebook: “We, the Trois-Rivières-en-Bleus family, are thrilled to receive this news given all the hard work we have put into putting together the best festival possible. It's still difficult to understand.” Sixteen years ago, we started modestly and have grown to become one of Quebec's must-see events. I'm very proud of what we've accomplished and hope to continue, but this is the end of this chapter. ”
Hamilton blues artist Steve Strongman also posted on Facebook: “This is very sad news. I would like to thank the entire team at Trois-Rivières en Blues for inviting me to perform at such a special, world-class festival. I would like to thank you. Congratulations to the entire team.” It's a community that has created such an exciting and welcoming place for all artists and the music they create. ”
– Oshawa Tourism has announced that multi-platinum selling artist and 2024 Juno Award Breakthrough Artist of the Year will headline the 2024 Convergence Music and Arts Festival on September 21st.・Nominated TALK of the year. It will also be featured on the event's three live music stages in downtown Oshawa. Local hero Dizzy (also a Juno winner) and other artists are mentioned. Learn more about.
industry news
– In recent years, Canadian wineries have become increasingly important as live music presenters. One example is the annual Redstone Winery Summer Concert Series, produced by the Beamsville, Ont., winery, which just announced a major new addition to its 2024 lineup. On June 6th, Redstone aired A Night with Sam Roberts, which featured rock hitmaker Sam Roberts in conversation with host Dave Hodge, and Dave Hodge, lead guitarist of the Sam Roberts Band.・There will be a performance with Nugent's accompaniment. Roberts joins an impressive lineup of previously announced Canadian artists, including Joel Plaskett, Ron Sexsmith, Royal Wood (all previous performers), Elliott Brood, and Pretzel Logic. Tickets for these concerts are currently on sale here.
Since its inception in 2017, the Redstone Winery Concert Series has featured notable artists such as Jim Cuddy, Chantal Kreviazuk, Serena Ryder, Alan Doyle, The Sadies, Sarah Harmer, Terra Lightfoot, and Daniel Lanois. Of note: Renowned sports broadcaster Dave Hodge (Hockey Night in Canada and TSN) has been a host/adviser on the series since the beginning and is credited as a co-presenter in 2024. As many in the Canadian music industry know, Hodge is a true hardcore music lover.
– 100 Collective Records has announced the Do It For The Culture Conference and Festival, to be held June 14-16 in Kelowna, British Columbia. Headliners include Shad, Nonso Amadi, and John Vinal, with additional artists to be announced. Conference components include panelists representing Atlantic Records, Def Jam, A3C, and more. Tickets for the entire weekend start at just $60 and can be purchased online here.
– Stony Plain Records, Canada’s prestigious independent roots music label, announces big news: the signing of legendary Texas blues-based band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The group will celebrate their 50th anniversary on June 28th by releasing their first studio album in eight years, “Struck Down.'' The album's first single, “Payback Time”, featuring Billy Gibbons, is out now.
This record features major contributions from Hamilton's top blues guitarist/songwriter Steve Strongman. Strongman co-wrote nine of the album's 10 songs with Thunderbirds leader Kim Wilson, and is credited as the album's co-producer along with Wilson and Glenn Parrish. He features guest appearances on the album, along with stars such as Elvin Bishop, Terrence Simien, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo'o, Taj Mahal, and Mick Fleetwood. “In the first three days, we wrote five songs,” Wilson said of working with Strongman. “He came back for three more days and we wrote 12 songs. You could tell there was chemistry there.”
Strongman told Billboard Canada, “Kim and I wrote all the songs in California and recorded all the tracks in New Jersey. We did some guitar overdubs at Rob Szabo's studio in Toronto and… “Some vocal work was done on Hamilton at Katherine North Studios.”
– Music Nova Scotia holds annual elections for its Board of Directors. A total of three seats will be filled, with two incumbents re-proposing and one vacant seat. He is accepting nominations until May 17th. Please see here for the detail.
– Billboard Canada has learned that Vancouver record label president Don Grant recently passed away. Don Oates, former senior vice president of CBS Records, said, “Don began his career in the music industry in the retail industry in Winnipeg, working at GRT Records and then joining CBS, where he served as a sales representative in the Vancouver branch. “I have had a career spanning nearly 10 years,” he said. in her 80's. Although he later quit his job, Oates said, “For the past three years, during our annual lunch, he said his favorite time was when he was doing music.'' ing. Geoff Burns, vice president of A&R for GRT Records, told Billboard Canada, “Don Grant promoted GRT in Vancouver while I was there, and worked with the label's artists such as Dan Hill, Prism, and Lighthouse. He helped me,” he said.
artist news
– Twin Fang Records has added post-punk band Chinese Medicine to its roster. The group's new EP, Die Aspora, has just been re-released and boasts production by Wade McNeil (Alexonfire) and engineering by Ian Romano (City & Color, Attack In Black). They will play a show at Toronto's Bovine Sex Club on May 10th.
– Canada’s mighty triple bill goes to court on May 10 at Toronto’s Concert Hall. The bill consists of the Paul Langlois Band, the Skydiggers, and the Sadies. Click here for tickets.
– Toronto’s Mad Ones, a self-described “trash pop/garage rock band,” recently released their fifth album, “What It Takes,” on Fortune Stella Records. The group played eight shows in the UK last month.
– For the past seven years, Ontario country singer-songwriter Marshall Dane has been mastering American Sign Language (ASL), an experience that informs his new single and video “No Need To Speak.” A press release states, “'No Need to Speak' was written out of Dane's bond and love for the Deaf community. It's about seeing them for who they are. This song expresses to people that their voices can be heard through their hearts and eyes. . ” The song was co-written and co-produced with acclaimed veteran Roseanne Baker Thornley.