Music News Digest, Sept. 27, 2019

By FYI Staff

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival  has announced a series of Special Events in celebration of its milestone 20th Festival running Oct. 22-27, 2019 in Toronto. imagineNATIVE's music showcase The Beat, co-presented by Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), returns Oct. 25 at the Horseshoe Tavern with live performances and the $10K iN Bullseye Prize award presentation, in partnership with Slaight Music. The Beat features live performances by Boogey The Beat, Drmngnow, Piqsiq, Sebastian Gaskin, and Sufyvn. More programming for the fest TBA.

– Canadian hip-hop pioneer Kardinal Offishall is hosting this year’s TEDxToronto, held Oct. 26 at the Evergreen Brick Works. In addition to other speakers, the daylong event (now in its 11th year) will also feature entertainment from a range of performers, including DATU, Liza, Futura Collective, and comedy duo She's All That. Tix available here 

– Blue World, a previously unreleased 1964 album byJohn Coltrane, comes out via Universal Music Canada today (Sept. 27). The album was originally recorded as the soundtrack to NFB film director Gilles Groulx's Le Chat Dans Le Sac. To help promote the historic release, UMC and the NFB hosted a preview listening event in Toronto Tuesday that featured a screening of the film and a panel discussion with Terry Clarke, Kirk McDonald, and the NFB's Frederic Savard and Jennifer Mair.

– The upcoming Mirvish season of theatrical productions in Toronto leans heavily on musicals, old and new. Such audience faves as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera and Cats return, alongside such new entries as Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, the debut Toronto run of hip-hop musical Hamilton, The Simon and Garfunkel Story, and Girl From the North Country.

–  Céline Dion is postponing four Montreal shows due to a throat virus. The Bell Centre shows were set for Sept. 26, 27, 30 and Oct. 1 but have been moved to Nov. 18, 19, 21 and 22. CBC reports Dion is under "strict orders from her doctor" to rest for a week so she can make her scheduled appearances at the Bell Centre on Oct. 4 and 5.

– Author, rocker (Rheostatics) and publisher (West End Phoenix)Dave Bidini adds to his impressive resume with the news that he's set to become Toronto Public Library's first-ever Musician-In-Residence starting Oct 15. On Facebook he posts, "Come let's write songs, listen to stuff and hear people like Paul Linklater, Michie Mee and others do their thing. Totally free."

– JenniferLopez and Shakira are teaming up to perform on Feb. 2 at the Super Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Jay-Z's Roc Nation company is co-producing the halftime show, which will air live on Fox. It will be the first collaboration between the two chart-toppers. Expect some fireworks on the show as the playdate also marks Shakira's 43rd birthday. 

– The Canadian Football League (CFL) has announced that Grammy-winning country star Keith Urban will perform at the 2019 Freedom Mobile Halftime Show at the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw on Nov. 24, in Calgary.

– Members of the music industry in Ontario have one last chance to participate in the OMF Survey. It closes today (Sept. 27). This survey is designed to obtain feedback to ensure that the fund continues to provide Ontario’s music companies and organizations with relevant support while targeting the investment towards the government’s priorities. 

– ArtsCan Circle is a well-respected charity with a mission to work with community partners and schools to create workshops that address the needs of Indigenous youth, community and curriculum. In its most ambitious programming to date, it has planned five trips within two months and enlisted some talented singer/songwriters and filmmakers. The first stop was Attawapiskat, from Sept. 15-21, featuring Indigenous hip-hop group Mob Bounce. Other stops feature Mimi O’Bonsawin, Cindy Pau,l Randy Brethour, Ryan Ainsworth, Tina Keeper, and more. Further info and a link to donate here 

– Jann Wenner will retire Jan. 1 as chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in New York. The co-founder and publisher of Rolling Stone magazine is one of the founding members and is credited with recruiting the late architect I.M. Pei to create its Cleveland museum. Taking over as chair is John Sykes, president of entertainment enterprises for iHeartMedia and a co-founder of MTV. Wenner, 73, will remain on the board of directors. Source: AP

– From Nov. 7-10, Nova Scotia Music Week will host delegates from around the world in Truro, NS, leading panels, round tables, and discussions about the current state of the industry, training, business development, and international export. Delegates also offer showcasing artists peer-to-peer support, one-on-one meetings, mentorships, and more. This year's delegates include Ed Lilo, the music talent buyer for Latitude Festival; Fanny Lambotte of Those Dammed Artists; Phat Phillie from Croatia's only hip-hop festival Fresh Island; and other industry professionals. More info here

– Cœur de pirate has announced a new acoustic tour next spring. The concert series will take the artist and her musicians through Quebec and the US, followed by more Canadian and European dates. Itinerary here.

– For the second year in a row, P.E.I.'s Cavendish Beach Music Festival has won a national award from the CCMA for staging Canada's best country music festival, over such high-profile events as the Calgary Stampede, the Big Valley Jamboree, and the Boots And Hearts Music Festival. Festival organizers in Cavendish say 75 percent of those who attended this year's event in July came from outside the province. The event generated about $10M in visitor spending and $1.2M in wages. Source: CP

– Toronto-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Suzanne Jarvie is this year’s recipient of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC)’s Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award for her song All In Place. The award (worth $1K) will be presented on Sept. 29 at Folk Music Ontario (FMO)’s annual conference. The Colleen Peterson Songwriting Fund was established in 2003. 

– The next deadline to apply to the Music BC Travel Grant program is Nov. 1. More info here 

– Just in time for Global Climate Strike Day, Guelph art-folk combo The Lifers, led by sisters Liv and Anita Cazzola, release a new single, Tip, today. They describe it as "an enviro-political outcry in the face of the current Global Climate Emergency." All proceeds from downloads, airplay and streams of Tip will go to Extinction Rebellion.