RIP: Pádraig Duggan, one of the founding members of Irish folk group Clannad, has died aged 67 in Dublin. Clannad, formed in 1970 through regular performances in the family owned Leo’s Tavern, in Gweedore, County Donegal.  The original band included siblings Moya, Enya, Ciarán and Pól Brennan and their twin uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. Enya left the group in 1981 to pursue a highly successful solo career. – Obit: The Irish Times

RIP: Ricci Martin, the youngest son of Dean Martin, died on Wednesday at his home in Kamas, Utah. He was 62. In the 1970s he released a single, “Stop, Look Around”, and an album, Beached, produced by Beach Boy Carl Wilson. He replaced his brother Dean Paul in the band Dino, Desi and Billy in the 1990s. – NY Times

-- David Gilmore has been an announcer and a musician, and for the past five years has made his income exclusively making guitars from his workshop in Red Deer, AB and he tweeted Thursday that he’s just launched his new Gilmore Guitars website.

-- Doctor James Perry is a member of a medical team that's following the Tragically Hip in order to make sure 52-year-old frontman Gord Downie is well enough to perform. The fact is reported by Canadian Press. Perry says his patient is not currently receiving any treatment.

-- Expect to hear a lot of noise about ArtsGames in the coming while. Structured and using the same model as the IOC and its International Sports Federations, the founders have built a global platform gathering more than 1000 arts competitions. Held every two years, ArtsGames provides opportunities for artists in five art forms that include dance, media arts, visual arts, literature and music, to represent their countries in this international medaled competition. The head office is based in Montreal, which will be the Host City for the inaugural ArtsGames in 2018. More about this via Planet3 Communications or here 

-- The bands at Richwood High School and Richwood Middle School in Nicholas County, VA will play on after the June flood thanks to a US$108k donation in the form of instruments from Music Rising, the music industry’s disaster relief fund created after Hurricane Katrina. The charity was co-founded by Canadian record producer Bob Ezrin, U2’s The Edge and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005.

-- Dream Serenade, a star-studded annual charity concert to support services for children with developmental disabilities and celebrate their caregivers, stages its third edition at Massey Hall on Oct. 22. Announced yesterday, the lineup features the MH debut of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene, in addition to sets by Amy Millan (Stars, BSS)), Barenaked Ladies, Dan Mangan, Hayden, Lou Canon, and the legendary Brooklyn-based a cappella group The Persuasions. The benefit is produced by Hayden Desser and his wife Christie Greyerbiehl. Tickets here

-- If you haven’t seen Lisa LeBlanc playing banjo you haven’t lived. The following footage is part of the Live at Massey Hall concert series.

-- For those who enjoy sparking Brit folk with a nod to folklore tales, you will love “The Grayhound” by Cornwall quintet The Changing Room. It’s included on Picking Up the Pieces that comes out today. The footage was shot aboard Erin off the coast from the small fishing port of Looe near Plymouth in the UK.

-- Christopher Cross -- the San Antonio singer-songwriter who swept the Grammy Awards with his debut album that included such hits as “Ride Like the Wind", "Sailing", and "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" – is prepping his new album. It includes a track entitled “Roberta” that he describes as a tribute to Joni Mitchell. Its title of course acknowledges the prairie singer’s Christian name and her Hejira-era influence is all over his instrumental that can be streamed from her official webpage.  

-- The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival in BC runs Aug. 19-21. This year's line-up includes Steve Earle and Shawn Colvin, David Gogo, Linda McRae, Amy Helm, and Great Lake Swimmers. Information here 

--The 8th annual Closer to the Heart concert is set for tomorrow (Aug. 13) at the Hard Rock Café in Toronto. Raising money for the Regent Park School of Music, it features Canadian stars covering CanCon hits. The lineup includes Dave Diamond (The Kings), Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath), Tara Slone (Joydrop), Justin Nozuka, Steve Stanley (Lowest of the Low), Julian Taylor, Sean Cullen and Joel Thomas Hynes. Tickets here 

--The lineup for the Huron County FanFest was announced yesterday. The shindig is part of Country Music Week in London, ON, and is held Sept. 20 (11am to 3pm). It features back-to-back performances by 10 Canadian country stars plus meet and greet opportunities. Those scheduled to appear are Chad Brownlee, Lindsay Ell, Tim Hicks, Kira Isabella, Brett Kissel, Wes Mack, Madeline Merlo, Jess Moskaluke, The Road Hammers, and Deric Ruttan.

-- Time is running out! Enter ole’s ‘on the spot’ contest by this Sunday. You could earn a chance to perform during Country Music Week in London, ON in front of some of Country Music’s top A&Rs. And one lucky finalist will be awarded a deal with ole worth up to $40K. Get the details and sign up at majorlyindie.com/onthespot.