Music News Digest, March 2, 2018

By Kerry Doole

Canadian Music Week (CMW) has announced the 18^th Canadian Independent Music Awards, presented by Jim Beam with Indie88. It takes place at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto on May 12, featuring performances by The Rural Alberta Advantage, Said the Whale, Sam Coffey and the Iron Lungs and the winner of the Jim Beam talent search.

Nominations are now open for the awards, with a March 16 deadline. Submissions completed before March 5th will receive discounted pricing.  Submit here 

–  MusiCounts, Canada's leading music education charity, has announced that Laura Lee Matthie of Orillia Secondary School in Ontario is the 2018 recipient of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. A press release stated that the honour is "is for her "outstanding dedication to inspiring the musical growth of her students, with some going on to become music teachers themselves. "

A music teacher for 22 years, Matthie will receive $10K plus a significant contribution to her school's music program. Also, she will attend Juno Week, receiving her Award at the Chairman's Reception.

–  The lineup for the 2018 edition of BC music fest FVDED in the Park has just been announced, set for three stages at Surrey’s Holland Park July 6-7. Headliners include A$AP Ferg, Atlanta rapper Future, Norwegian super-producer Kygo, and Chicago house kingpin Kaskade. Last year's fest attracted over 40K concertgoers. More info here.

– A free SOCAN workshop will be hosted at the Music BC offices at 100-938 Howe St. in Vancouver on March 20. Songwriters, composers, and music publishers can learn more about SOCAN and how they can maximize their performance royalties. RSVP to racquel.villagante@socan.com to reserve your spot.

–  Airbnb has just launched a new venture, Airbnb Concerts that offers fans a range of "intimate, bespoke live music events in unconventional venues, ranging from recording studios to cathedrals to wine cellars." Over the past year, music has become one of Airbnb's most popular booking categories with around 100 concerts held worldwide every month, all with a deliberately small audience of around 50-100 people per show. That is expected to increase with the new platform. Source: Billboard

–  The Tyler Effect is a new community charity event in Toronto dedicated to raising money for victims of gun violence. It will debut on March 23 at Love Child Social House (formerly the Hoxton), with support from dozens of local DJs and artists, including dance music DJs Mikey Palermo and Gary Flux, and hip-hop DJ Josephine Cruz (Jayemkayem). All proceeds are to be donated to Ontario Victim Services via the Victims' Justice Fund. The event is named after Tyler McLean, a dance music fan and promoter killed in a shooting outside Rebel nightclub last October. Source: NOW

– The Halifax Pop Explosion 2018 is now accepting artist applications to perform at the event, Oct. 17-20. Earlybird fee is $20 until March 31; then it is $25 until the May 18 deadline. 

–  Soundset in Minneapolis is recognised as one of the largest one-day Hip-Hop festivals in the world.” The lineup for the 11th annual features Logic, Migos, Atmosphere, Erykah Badu, Tyler The Creator, Wu-Tang Clan, Brockhampton, Ice-T, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Prof, Jaden Smith, Grieves, and DJ Jazzy Jeff, with Skratch Bastid repping Canada. The fest takes place at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on May 27. Tix go on sale today.

– Eyebrows have been raised by a story this week in The Eye Opener reporting that the installation of the famed Sam the Record Man sign atop the Victoria Public Health building at Yonge Dundas Square in Toronto cost Ryerson University $841,510. Estimates are of annual maintenance costs of $13,200 per year to keep the neon sign lit.

– The Saskatchewan Country Music Association has announced that 2017 Juno winner and platinum-selling country artist Jess Moskaluke will be this year’s host for the 29th Annual SCMA Awards show. It takes place April 28th at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre in Prince Albert. Moskaluke will also host a keynote address that afternoon.

– The opening of a new music venue in Toronto is always cause for celebration. On March 15, Senator Winebar opens atop the famed Senator diner, one door south of the late and lamented jazz club Top o’ the Senator. The intimate (capacity estimated at 40) new space in a building owned by Bobby Sniderman will focus on acoustic music and is booked by journalist/author/music historian Nicholas Jennings. Look for blues pianist Julian Fauth to perform there regularly. Source: Toronto Star

–  Hotly-tipped young Hamilton singer/songwriter Avery Raquel will release a third full-length album, My Heart Away, in the spring. Produced by Greg Kavanagh, it will showcase her transition from jazz and pop to soul stylings. A first single, "Come Right Back To You" has just been released.