Music Biz Headlines, Sept. 8, 2022

By Kerry Doole

Justin Bieber postpones remaining ‘Justice’ tour dates

The pop star will be cutting his rescheduled world tour short due to his ongoing health issues, according to a post in TMZ that was confirmed to Variety by his reps. On Tuesday, the singer said that he needed to take a break from performing “to make my health the priority right now.” He has been battling Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome and facial paralysis. – Variety

Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On shows an artist out of step and ahead of her time at TIFF

A new film examines the paradox that is Buffy Sainte-Marie. On one hand, the activist/recording artist should probably be more of a household name, especially in the United States. On the other, any success and fame she has achieved could easily be seen as a wild surprise. – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

Original-Cin Interview: Buffy Sainte-Marie comes to TIFF where she belongs

It is a busy doc that squeezes, into 90 minutes, a life of activism, flashbacks to the folkie era, self-discovery, hard life-lessons, sometimes absurd controversy (did you know she was the first person to nurse on U.S. TV, when she breast-fed her son on Sesame Street?). Add to that the stories behind the hits (Universal Soldier, Until It’s Time for You to Go, Up Where We Belong, etc. – Jim Slotek, Original-Cin

Avril Lavigne channels teenage self as she receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Avril Lavigne tapped into her trademark teenage angst last week as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. – David Friend, CP

The Weeknd concert halted mid-performance as he loses his voice

The musician’s voice gave out during the first song at the sold-out Saturday night concert in Inglewood, Calif. He apologized to the audience for not being able to give them the concert he wanted to and told them they would be refunded for their tickets. The singer tweeted following the concert that his heart dropped when his voice “went out” during the first song. – CP

Sama’ Abdulhadi is bringing the sounds of Palestine’s underground techno scene to Electric Island in Toronto

Abdulhadi is one of the most celebrated DJs to emerge from the Middle East, but her journey from Palestine’s underground electronic scene to international fame has been winding, tumultuous and politically charged. – Richie Assaly, Toronto Star

Arcade Fire opener Feist exits tour after Win Butler accused of sexual misconduct

Feist had been booked as the opening act on the European leg of the Montreal-based band’s “We” tour, which kicked off in Dublin last week. – CP

Halifax band Washing Machine's latest will have you hitting rinse and repeat

Any non-believers you encounter will soon be among the converted as they hear Washing Machine’s latest, Cheating The Pattern. Released  with an album launch party slated for September 17 at New Scotland Brewing—the effort is a defibrillator to your indie rock fatigue, a pulse quickening reminder of why you liked music like this in the first place. – Morgan Mullin, The Coast

Shakespeare or Bieber? This Canadian city draws devotees of both

For nearly 70 years, Stratford, Ontario, has attracted legions of theater fanatics to its Shakespeare festival. About a dozen years ago, a very different type of pilgrim began arriving: Beliebers. – New York Times

With Win Butler in the cancel-culture crosshairs, it's obvious the rock-star rules have changed

At the risk of stating the obvious, man has the landscape changed for anyone who goes into rock and roll thinking that it’s going to be all about no-strings sex and endless debauchery.nConsider the current cancel-culture furor surrounding Arcade Fire’s Win Butler. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

How a 1988 folk album kick-started the modern N.L. music industry

All The Best: Folk Music of St. John's, Newfoundland is the all-time best seller at a St. John's record store. – CBC

Just days before landing at Rogers Arena, Gorillaz announce release of a crazily star-studded Cracker Island

Please let there be an appearance by Mick Jones. – Georgia Straight

The master of Métis fiddling's cherished festival takes a bow

"To me, It's like turning a page in a book. I've been there and done that. You can have all the memories you want." – Nick Pearce, Star-Phoenix

Chixdiggit rip north for Punk in Drublic's massive one-day festival

"We started this thing as a joke and now decades later we’re playing Punk in Drublic with The Descendents and NOFX. These are the bands that made me want to pick up a guitar."  –Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal

Hot fall album releases

Beyonce, Jesse Reyes, The Sadies, Maggie Rogers, Headstones, Partner, Sinzere, Panic! At the Disco, Ian Blurton’s Future Now, Logic, Kiwi Jr. and many more. – NEXT

Toronto man uncovers hidden talent for writing Covid-19 parody songs

In his YouTube video, Gary Kapelus’s friends play piano and sing his lyrics to the tune of Simon and Garfunkel’s emotive Bridge Over Troubled Water: “They are teeeesting the sewwwage water/Virus can be fouuuund ...”The earnestness of the singer’s voice and the sweet piano, combined with Mr. Kapelus’s deadpan lyrics about Covid wastewater testing, make for an absurd and comical number. – Wendy Leung, Globe and Mail

Country superstar Jade Eagleson returns to Calgary with six CCMA nominations

A glance at the song titles on Jade Eagleson’s sophomore album, Honkytonk Revival, suggests there is a strong theme running throughout. – Eric Volmers, Calgary Herald

International

Taylor Hawkins tribute concert review – stars unite to honour the late Foo Fighters drummer

An eclectic lineup of musicians makes this a curious bombardment of music – but Dave Grohl, his voice cracking with emotion, is the real star of the show. – Alexis Petridis, The Guardian

Music festivals hit harder times in crowded concert market

Fans become choosier and costs rise for promoters due to Covid-19, inflation, labor shortages and supply issues. – Wall Street Journal

Kane Brown didn't fit the country mold, so he made his own

Brown played sports and worked a steady string of retail jobs but stayed focused on music. Inspired by his middle-school friend Lauren Alaina — with whom he’d later notch his first country No. 1, the 2017 duet “What Ifs” — he tried out for singing shows. – The New York Times

Emmys 2022: Sir Peter Jackson's Get Back wins all five nominated categories

Sir Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary, Get Back, has won all five categories it was nominated for in the 2022 Emmys. Jackson has also won the Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a documentary/Nonfiction Program. The eight-hour, three-part doco was nominated in five categories at the Creative Arts Emmys, announced over two days ahead of the full Emmy ceremony. – Kylie Klein-Nixon, Stuff

Megan Thee Stallion confirms she’s joining the MCU in ‘She-Hulk’

The 27-year-old rapper has been cast in “She-Hulk: Attorney-at-Law,” Disney’s newest Marvel Cinematic Universe show. – Kate Feldman, New York Daily News

On my radar: Rhian Teasdale from Wet Leg’s cultural highlights

The musician on the artistic commitment of Mitski, the lasting value of Peep Show and her new favourite snacks. – The Guardian

Joey DeFrancesco 1971 — 2022

In his teens, he was already the leading jazz organist of his generation—and he remained so for nearly 40 years. – Michael West, JazzTimes

‘I’ve been trying to play Mozart for 60 years. On this recording, I think I’ve finally cracked it’

Mozart’s sublime music is deceptively difficult to play. Conductor Roger Norrington explains how the composer’s own father helped rewire brains and eradicate wobble. – The Guardian

Taylor Hawkins’ 16-year-old son shreds the drums during tribute to his dad

Following in his late father’s footsteps, Shane Hawkins passionately shredded the drums while Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl belted the lyrics along with the crowd. – Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times

Maren Morris embraces Fox News calling her a 'lunatic country music person' 

Brittany Aldean's anti-trans comments kicked off the social media spat—and also got her on Tucker Carlson's show. – Audra Heinrichs, Jezebel

Tank defies hearing loss for ‘R&B Money,’ his final album

R&B star Tank began contemplating his final album after considering pursuing other endeavors. However, that timeline was accelerated after losing one of his most essential tools: his hearing.  –Gary Gerard Hamilton, AP