Sunday, June 28, 2009

For my birthday? Anyone?


Virgin Festival Vancouver
July 25-26 (Sat/Sun)

Line-up:
(*my personal picks)

July 25

*THE ROOTS
OUR LADY PEACE
*BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE
*K-OS
MUTEMATH
SPINNERETTE
*PLANTS AND ANIMALS
CHRIS VELAN

July 26
BEN HARPER & RELENTLESS7
*METRIC
SONIC YOUTH
JARVIS COCKER
DE LA SOUL
GOMEZ
FUTURE OF THE LEFT
AWESOME COLOR
CARLY RAE JEPSEN
EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

Tickets are on sale here, for $73/night or $135/weekend.

If only Metric was on the first night's bill... :\

The comprehensive list of Canadian independent artists


Dear friends and silent readers,

A couple of you had asked me for a comprehensive list of the Canadian independent artists/bands worth listening to. Well, after over a month of compilation, I realized that the task is just too-
1. daunting
2. endless
3. questionably objective/subjective
4. time-consuming
5. in its nature, incomplete-able.

But I'm glad to say that I contribute to a blog that has done the task superbly. With links to band websites, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and CBC Radio 3 New Music Canada profiles, NxEW has the list that music pack rats will no doubt salivate over. Thanks team, or in Twitter-speak, #whewthanks!

(click the happy Canada goose to get to the list!)

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Some international love for JPE

Exciting news for fans of Joel Plaskett Emergency, and rock fans all over:
they are opening for Sir Paul fricking McCartney on July 11th at the Halifax Commons!



Tweeted by Dave Marsh, drummer for the Emergency.

According to CBC Radio 3,
Plaskett says he's "pretty damn excited". The show will be full-on "guys and dolls" Plaskett... the Emergency and the current 3 touring line-up of Rose Cousins, Anna Egge, and Joel's father Bill.
In related news, it's always nice when one of our lovely Canadian gems gets recognized beyond our borders. Perez Hilton has nothing but nice things to say about Joel Plaskett (& the Emergency).

And now for some local love,

In case anyone can't tell from my previous fan girl posts (... and this current one), I'm rooting for Mr. Plaskett to go all the way for the 2009 Polaris Prize.

Below is his playful video for the first single off Three, "Through & Through & Through," which showcases the coast and sceneries of his lovely hometown of Halifax. True patriot/Plaskett love, ah la la la la la!




P.S. (Two days later) -- Total side note, but MGMT is opening for Paul McCartney as well in Boston's Fenway Park for two shows. Maybe I should start listening to more Wings & Beatles.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

God is not only alive and well, but loves Canadian music


PLUS


PLUS

EQUALS

=D

Sam Roberts, Mother Mother and Arkells play Deer Lake Park on BC Day (Aug. 3). Mini implosion. Commence break dancing.


Tickets go on sale via LiveNation and Ticketmaster this Friday at 10:00 am for the general public.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Oh Canada!

Seeing the lineup for Canada Day celebrations on the hill makes me feel quite patriotic.

From the CBC:
Ottawa's National Capital Commission announced the musical lineup Thursday
for the city's July 1, 2009 Canada Day celebrations.

At the top of the bill for the Parliament Hill show are Juno winner
Sarah McLachlan, country singer Shane Yellowbird, and rapper K'Naan. ...

Here's a list of when the musicians from across the country will perform in Ottawa:
(a few notable indie acts will be in bold)

Parliament Hill — noon show (begins at 12 p.m. ET)
Sarah McLachlan (British Columbia).
Shane Yellowbird (Alberta).
Gregory Charles (Quebec).
Les Respectables (Quebec) with Gordie Johnson (Manitoba).
Marie-Jo Therio (New Brunswick).
Marie-Mai (Quebec).
Hannah Georgas (Ontario) and Said the Whale (British Columbia).
DRUM! (Nova Scotia).

Parliament Hill — evening show (begins at 7:30 p.m. ET)
Sarah McLachlan (British Columbia) — pop.
Chic Gamine (Manitoba).
Shane Yellowbird (Alberta) and Cassiopee (Quebec) — country.
Les Respectables (Quebec) with Gordie Johnson (Manitoba) — rock.
Marie-Jo Therio (New Brunswick) — pop.
Marie-Mai (Quebec) — rock.
K'Naan (Ontario) — hip hop/world music.
Said the Whale (British Columbia) with Hannah Georgas (Ontario) — indie pop.
Cirque Fantastic Concept (Quebec) — circus arts.
Nico Archambault (Quebec) — dance.
Alex Wells (British Columbia) — hoop dancer.
CassiopĂ©e (Quebec) — soprano soloist.
Chic Gamine (Man.) — Roots.
The Canadian Tenors (Ontario) — Classical and contemporary pop.

Major's Hill Park — noon show (from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET)
Caridad Cruz (Quebec).
David Myles (New Brunswick).
DRUM! (Nova Scotia) – world rhythms.
The CBC Songwriter Circle featuring the Six String Nation Guitar.
Julie Doiron (New Brunswick).
Justin Rutledge (Ontario).
The Sojourners (British Columbia).
Maybe Smith (Saskatchewan).

Major's Hill Park — evening show (from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET)
The Sojourners (British Columbia) — roots.
Dominique Reynolds (Manitoba) — pop.
Alex Cuba (British Columbia) — Latin, pop, soul.
Ellen McIlwain (Alberta) — blues.
DRUM! (Nova Scotia) — world rhythms.

Jacques-Cartier Park (from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET)
IMA (Quebec) — pop.
Radio Radio (New Brunswick) — Acadian hip hop.
David Jalbert (Quebec) folk, pop.
Beast (Quebec) — electronic.
Julie Doiron (New Brunswick) — folk, pop.
Marie-Pierre Arthur (Quebec) — folk, rock.

Confederation Park (Ottawa Jazz Festival) (daytime)
Amanda Tosoff (British Columbia).
Michael Kaeshammer (Alberta).
Bell Orchestre (Quebec).
Gypsophilia (Nova Scotia).
Carmen Souza (Ontario).
Coeur de Pirate (Quebec).
The Worst Pop Band Ever (Ontario and Quebec).
Jazz Youth Summit.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Complete devotion, is that the cost of love's commotion?


Personal favourite- "Up"

Just one of a few lovely, intimate photos with Joel Plaskett, the Emergency, friends and family as they sound checked at Massey Hall in Toronto for the Three tour-- arguably the biggest show of their careers thus far. For more photos, as well as their tour blog, click the above photo.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

An end and a beginning

Matt Mays posted a note on his website declaring the end of his band of 7 years, El Torpedo. May explain why they cancelled all those US tour dates and their scheduled appearance at JunoFest back in March... Sad face.

&

Stars singer Torquil Campbell and wife Moya welcomes new baby girl** Ellington Beatrice Pepper Campbell!


**Editor's note: Boy, is my face red. "Beatrice Pepper" should have given that away.