By Kerry Doole
Awards news
The CCMA Awards has added pop hitmaker Tyler Shaw and Ontario country singer Sacha to the performance lineup for the big gala in Hamilton on Sept. 16. Look for the pair to perform their single Confident. Others taking the stage will include Brett Kissel, High Valley, Josh Ross, Tenille Townes and Train, and brother-sister duo The Reklaws, who double as hosts of the CCMA Awards.
– Also just announced is The 2023 CCMA Red Carpet Pre-Show, in partnership with Pure Country. It takes place at Hamilton’s The Studio on Sept. 16 (3:30 - 5:30 pm) and is the final lead-up to Country Music Week 2023’s marquee event – the 2023 CCMA Awards. The Pre-Show features performances from Cancountry notables Shawn Austin, Nate Haller, JoJo Mason, Jess Moskaluke, Steven Lee Olsen, and Robyn Ottolini, and unique meet & greet/photo opportunities. A free event but RSVPs here are required.
– Submissions for awards and showcasing at the 36th East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, May 1 - 5, 2024, are now open, with an Oct. 3 deadline. Submit here.
Festivals news
– Recognised as one of the biggest and best free street festivals in the country, Supercrawl returns to James St. North in Hamilton, Sept. 8-10. The typically eclectic lineup features headliners Broken Social Scene, BadBadNotGood, and Raine Maida & Chantal Kreviazuk alongside the likes of The Flatliners, Boy Golden, Suzie Vinnick, Rita Chiarelli, Adrian Sutherland, Mikhail Laxton, Lacey Hill, HPO w LTtheMonk, Ryan Langdon, New Friends, and The East Pointers. Check the full schedule here. Highly recommended.
– Music PEI’s signature export program, Showcase PEI, returns Sept. 25 - 27, presenting local artists to industry professionals from home and abroad. Notable showcasing artists selected by a jury of industry professionals include Aaron Comeau, Absolute Losers, Alicia Toner, Catherine MacLellan, Dylan Menzie, Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys, Irish Mythen, Tara MacLean, and Logan Richard. See the full list here. Music PEI’s artist exchange program returns this year during Showcase PEI 2023 for the first time since 2019. The trade org partners with the English Folk Expo and Westside Music Sweden to bring two artists to PEI, Lizzy Hardingham (partnered with PEI’s Joce Reyome) and Simon Alexander (paired with Alicia Toner). More info here.
Industry news
– There have been major changes at much-respected media relations and music marketing firm Take Aim Media. Paul Brooks is taking the reins of CEO from company founder Kim Juneja, who will serve as an Advisor. The staff directory now reads: Paul Brooks - CEO & Director of Publicity; Jess Arcand - National Publicist; Cam Litchmore - National Publicist; Kim Juneja - Founder & Advisor.
– That irrepressible impresario Jaymz Bee and Vesuvius Music present A Night of Film and Live Music @ The Paradise Theatre in Toronto on Sept. 12 (doors 6:30 pm). The principal screening is the feature Wild Music, alongside some short films and offbeat videos from Bee. There will be a short Q&A after the film, then a music revue of some of VMI’s artists including John Finley, Genevieve Marentette, Irene Torres, Serafin LaRiviere, Robert Priest and Queen Pepper - backed up by an all-star band. Tix here.
– The Breaking Down Racial Barriers (BDRB) initiative focuses on anti-Black racism in British Columbia’s music and entertainment industry. The series, presented by Music BC and supported by BreakOut West, CIMA and ADVANCE, Canada’s new Black Music Business Collective, features two virtual roundtable panel discussions on Sept. 14 and 21, featuring industry professionals. Register (free) here
– Manitoba Music is launching the 2nd Edition of Sound Waves Music Meeting + Showcase this month. This creative conference on industry development and community connection is hosted by the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg and features music professionals as mentors. with a free local showcase set for The Beer Can on Sept. 15, with Mitchell Makoons, Syd Bomek, Koziithegoat, and Tyler Del Pino & The Brasstronautz taking the stage. Find out more about SWMM here.
– A Celebration of Life honouring Toronto musician and record industry guy Andrew Lindsay will be held at the El Mocambo in Toronto on Sept. 8, 2-6 pm. RSVP to shelleybelly@gmail.com. The FYI obit here.
–On Sept. 5, Beckett Fine Art in Hamilton opened a new exhibit entitled A Celebration of Hamilton Art & Music (it runs to Sept. 23). It features the visual art of renowned local rockers TomWilson, Daniel Lanois, and Teenage Head's Steve Mahon, who is showing new silk-screened work. Teenage Head memorabilia is also on display. More info here.
Artists news
– Roots music favourites Great Lake Swimmers debut a new video Promise Of Spring today (taken from the new album Uncertain Country), in advance of extensive national touring over the next two months. The tour begins at Oshawa's The Biltmore Theatre on Sept. 13, closing out at London's Aeolian Hall on Nov. 17. Full itinerary here.
– Juno-nominated pop-rock singer-songwriter Suzie McNeil will be inducted into the Mississauga Walk of Fame on Sept. 10th, followed by a mainstage performance at Port Credit's annual Southside Shuffle that afternoon, accompanied by her band The Chain Reaction. Her latest musical project is a cover of The Tragically Hip's classic track, Bobcaygeon. Rounding out the year for McNeil will be the release of a second full-length Christmas album on Nov. 24.
– BC-based jazz and blues pianist and singer/songwriter Michael Kaeshammer has a busy fall lined up. Premiering on Sept. 9, his new TV show, Kaeshammer's Kitchen is a hybrid cooking and music show with an impressive lineup of guests that includes Randy Bachman, Marc Jordan, Andy Kim, Jim Byrnes, Santana lead vocalist Curtis Salgado, and Dee Daniels. The celebrities will help make a meal before sharing a performance. It is set to air nationally on Yes TV and on CHEK TV. Check out the trailer here. Kaeshammer has also announced a fall Canadian tour, running from Oct. 1-28, with Western shows following a concert in Campbellford, ON. He then plays shows in China and Germany. Dates here.
– Vancouver’s power-pop meets '90s punk combo The Get Arounds have just released a new video single, Black and White, in support of their new and debut album I Wanna Live. Check it out here.
– On three consecutive Friday nights this month, Caliban Arts Theatre in Toronto is paying homage to three jazz trumpet greats, Dizzy Gillespie (Sept. 15), Freddie Hubbard (Sept. 22), and Miles Davis (Sept. 29). All three concerts feature award-winning trumpeter Brownman Ali and keyboardist Nick McLean, plus a rhythm section. Highly recommended. Info and tix here.
