Another collection of the absurd, absurdly noteworthy and fittingly appropriate news, views and fabrications....

RIP: Stanley Burke, former anchor of CBC’s The National  News from 1966 to 1969, died at 93 in Kingston on Saturday. -- Toronto Star, CBC

-- Jeff Healey was celebrated at Massey Hall on May 27th at what would have been a 50th birthday bash were he alive today. The blind jazz and blues vocalist and guitarist died of cancer at age 41 on March 2, 2008--but his contributions to music, his general camaraderie with other musicians and deep knowledge and respect for music's roots has empowered a legacy of love and admiration that in large part was the reason for an all-star line-up coming together at the famed Toronto concert hall on Friday night. While the house wasn't full, the audience was both attentive and enthusiastic. Among the performers: Philip Sayce, Joe Rockman, Rob Quail, Pat Rush, Jerome Godboo (JHB Alumni), Dean Carl Glover, Shakura S'Aida, Chris Caddell, Stan Miczek, Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh, The Trews, Sonny Landreth- Official, Walter Trout, Randy Bachman, and Albert Lee. Pictured to the right is the entire cast for the finale.

Ontario roots outfit Elliott Brood has decided to capture its signature live energy with a live album. The recordings take place over a three-night run at the Dakota Tavern in Toronto, June 21-23.  Paper Bag Records has the release scheduled later in the year.

-- The Calgary Stampede has unveiled the list of acts to perform on the Coca-Cola Stage during the 10 days event July 8-17. It is an eclectic grouping, heavy on the Canadian content.  Included are Mother Mother, Coleman Hell, Shawn Hook, Dear Rouge, The Sheepdogs, Simple Plan, Gord Bamford, Classified, US imports X Ambassadors, and locals such as The Dudes, J.J. Shiplett and Jocelyn Alice.

-- The Toronto Urban Roots Festival (TURF) is now an annual summer fest highlight in Toronto. The initial list of this year’s performers has been announced. Headliners include James Bay and Death Cab for Cutie, with a third headliner tba. Other performers include Barenaked Ladies, Dropkick Murphys, Explosions in the Sky, Jake Bugg, Matthew Good, Lush, The Sheepdogs, The Hives, Matt Andersen, Guided By Voices, Rheostatics, Matt Mays, Drive By Truckers, the Felice Brothers, Okkervil River, Corb Lund,Tthe Mekons, and Marlon Williams. The fest, at Fort York Garrison Common, runs Sept. 16-18.

--Two eloquent singer/songwriters, Ron Sexsmith and John K. Samson (The Weakerthans), have just been named headliners of this year’s Brandon Folk, Music and Art Festival. It runs July 22-24 at the Keystone Centre. More acts tba.

-- BreakOut West showcased some Western Canadian talent in the UK in the past week. Performances were held at The Great Escape fest in Brighton (May 21), The Forge in London, and The Cavern Stage in Liverpool (May 29). Artists featured were Joe Nolan, The Velveteins, Queen City Stoop Kids. Surf Dads, Living Hour, Yes We Mystic, The Zolas and We A

-- A few hours' drive from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpor lies the eco-resort The Dusun. Popular with tourists, it has also, since 2010, been an unlikely retreat for electronic musicians, that have included Kode9 and Modeselektor. Now a new class of Dusunists from Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand & Germany are gearing up to put out an album of electronic music crafted during their jungle residency. -- Thump

-- About 600 enthusiastic fans attended a tribute to Keith Emerson on Saturday night at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles. Among the musicians were Brian Auger, Eddie Jobson, Philippe Saisse, Ed Roth, Steve Porcaro, and Michelle Moog-Koussa--the daughter of Moog synthesizer inventor Dr. Robert Moog. -- Billboard

-- Singer-songwriter Shari Ulrich says in an elated post of Facebook that her precious violins and a mandolin have been found by Vancouver police after they were reported stolen on May 25, 2016. "I am SO SO SO happy and so grateful to all for your support and concern," she wrote on her Facebook page. "And wildly appreciative of the Vancouver Police department!!! I'm over the moon!!!!"  The instruments were burgled from her car, along with a bicycle that has not been retrieved. The Bowen Island resident teams up with Valdy and The Hometown Band for a select number of shows later this summer.  

-- Justin Bieber and Skrillex have been sued for copyright infringement by singer-songwriter Casey Dienel for the multi-platinum song "Sorry". Dienel, who performs as White Hinterland, filed suit against the two performers and their publishing companies, Universal Music and co-writers in federal court in Nashville on Wednesday of last week.

-- In the coming week, Chile’s Senate will vote on a proposed policy that could eliminate Internet users’ abilities to share videos and music online. The policy would amend Chile’s existing law on audiovisual artworks by forcing their creators to place all works under copyright and seek compensation in exchange for their use. -- Global Voices

-- Spotify is under scrutiny for salaries it pays its employees. The music streaming company released its annual report last week, which indicated that since business began booming back in 2010, employee pay checks have increased 152 percent while Spotify itself has reportedly lost $188.7 million. The average salary at the Stockholm-based company is $168,747 a year, with average executive salaries pegged at US1.3 million.