By Kerry Doole
Awards news
At an Awards gala in Corner Brook on Oct. 29, MusicNL announced the winners of its Music Awards. Taking home two awards each: Rachel Cousins, Nick Earle & The Reckless Hearts, Deantha Edmunds, Rosemary Lawton, and Florian Hoefner. See the full list of winners here. The Awards closed out Music Celebration Week 2022, featuring awards, shows, conference sessions, and events from Oct. 25 - 29.
– The Five And Ten and Wayling James are the winners of the annual Amy Louie / Grossman's Music Scholarship, which returned to Toronto’s famed Grossman’s Tavern after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Created in memory of the late Amy Louie — a member of the family that has owned Grossman’s Tavern since 1975 — the ALGMS is an artist development bursary that provides two musicians or bands from the Greater Toronto Area $2K and $1K to help with career development. The winner of the $2K was The Five And Tens, with the $1K runner-up prize going to Wayling James. The fundraiser segment of the event raised $1005.
Industry news
– The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, a show devoted to the Anglo prog rock legends, opens Nov. 4 at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal, a Canadian premiere. The show had its première at the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2017 and has since touched down in Italy, Germany, Spain and the US, pulling in over 500,000 people. Aubrey ‘Po’ Powell, the curator of the exhibit, says a portion of the local show “is especially for Montreal,” including artifacts and never-before-seen photos of the famed 1973 Forum concert. It runs to Dec. 31. Tix here. Source: Montreal Gazette
– The celebration of life for Teenage Head guitarist Gord Lewis takes place on Nov. 5, at FirstOntario Concert Hall in Hamilton. Those paying homage musically will include his Teenage Head comrades, members of The Trews, Luke Bentham (The Dirty Nil), Scott McCulloch (Rusty), Tim Gibbons, John Kastner (The Doughboys), Lou Molinaro, Chris Houston, Sammy Squid, and more. Tix here. All proceeds after expenses will go to the Good Shepherd centre in Hamilton. It will be quite the send-off for a genuine Canadian rock 'n roll legend.
– Last Sunday, a relief concert to benefit those affected by Hurricane Fiona was held in St. John's. Brian Button, mayor of Channel-Port aux Basques — one of the towns devastated by the storm — was welcomed to the stage between performances, including sets by such local faves as Tim Baker, Kellie Loder, the Kubasonics and Shanneyganock (who helped organise) and a video message from Alan Doyle to keep spirits up and donations rolling in throughout the evening. The result was phenomenal, with just over $847K raised for the Canadian Red Cross's post-tropical storm Fiona relief effort. That money will be matched by the feds, raising the total going to battered Newfoundland and Labrador communities to more than $1.6 million. Source: CBC News
– Last week, Universal Music Canada and Tuff Gong Collective announced the signing of Canadian-Jamaican MC and lyricist King Cruff (Solomon Marley-Spence). Owner of an eclectic sound, he launches his UMC/Tuff Gong Collective recording career with the single Samurai Chop.
– Rock of Ages, one of Broadway’s longest-running hit musicals, will hit the Toronto stage at the Elgin Theatre from Feb. 23 to May 20, 2023. It is described as "a gnarly concoction of power rock and hilarious comedy. This reimagined version of the iconic ‘80s-inspired production promises top-tier talent and a night that won’t be forgotten. "
– The Riverdale Share Concert takes place at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, on Dec. 4, at 3 pm. The talent-heavy lineup includes Kathryn Rose, Julian Taylor, Mia Sheard, Julie Michels, Suzy Wilde, Dala, and Tim Bovaconti. More info here.
Artists news
– Montreal rock band Your ex and I has just released a debut single, For all the Loves, the first track is taken from an upcoming EP that is to be released early in 2023. The self-produced track was mixed by top producer/engineer Pierre Duchesne (Richard Desjardins, Richard Séguin, Kevin Parent). Streaming links here
– Juno and SOCAN Award-winning electro-pop powerhouse Dragonette (led by singer/songwriter Martina Sorbara) returns with her new full-length album Twennies, available via BMG. A video for the album cut T-Shirt is now out. Dragonette plays Toronto’s The Axis Club on Nov. 16 for the official Twennies album release party.
– Hamilton music promoter Lou Molinaro used to bring the Ottawa band The Soul Motivators into his club, This Ain't Hollywood. He now brings them back to The Hammer with a show at The Corktown Pub (an earlier Molinaro haunt) tomorrow (Nov. 4), with Lost Soul Caravan supporting. Recommended. Tix here
– Set for Nov. 5 at Parkdale Hall Toronto, the West Queen West Punk Fest features such noted scene veterans as The Forgotten Rebels, Ripcordz, Random Killing, GFU, and Liquor Pigs, plus Atomic Tomb and Johnny Nocash.
– Canadian country superstar Shania Twain will release a new album, Queen of Me, in Feb., before embarking on a world tour in April. This is her first release since 2017's Now, and follows her Let’s Go! Las Vegas residency. A world tour is slated to begin next April. Source: CP
– Newfoundland’s Fortunate Ones play Toronto tomorrow (Nov. 4) at Paradise Theatre as part of their Anchor’s Up tour. The tour will see them play across Canada with Old Man Luedecke and The Once.
– Duncan Fremlin's veteran country band Whiskey Jack brings a new show, Canadian Country Music Legends, into Toronto's Redwood Theatre on Nov. 4, with guests including Brian and Susie Good and Marie Bottrell. This is followed by shows at Parry Sound's Stockey Centre (Nov. 5), and Gibson Centre in Alliston, Nov. 6. Info and tix here.
– Pop twin hitmakers Tegan and Sara had to cancel their planned Nov. 1 Toronto show at short notice, due to illness. A social media post stated "Tegan has laryngitis. The doctor said she needs a few days of vocal rest. We'll see you in Detroit. And between now and then Tegan promises not to say a word."
