FREE DOWNLOAD : D-Sisive - Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye

Last I heard, Toronto rapper Derek Christoff was hard at work trying to decide on a new moniker. In the meanwhile, you can enjoy the latest offering under his most commonly known name D-Sisive -- Jonestown 2: Jimmy Go Bye Bye. Jonestown 2 follows the format of the excellent 2009's Jonestown, which was also released free online.

Go to D-Sisive's Bandcamp page for the free download!

NEW VIDEO : The Besnard Lakes - "And This Is What We Call Progress"

Courtesy of Pitchfork, here's the video for The Besnard Lakes' "And This Is What We Call Progress" from their second full-length album The Besnard Lakes Are the Roaring Night.

NEW VIDEO : Foo Fighters - "White Limo"

This new video by the Foo Fighters for a song off their yet unnamed record is cracking me up. Along with Arcade Fire's Win Butler's neon kitten sweater, this makes for a good week in rock apparel.

So far, there's been few details about FF's upcoming album. However, you can watch them play it in its entirety over at Consequence of Sound.

Congratulations to Grammy winning Arcade Fire!

What else is there to say? Congratulations on winning the Best Album of the Year Grammy Arcade Fire!!! Here's the triumphant video below.

LIVE VIDEOS : Arcade Fire acoustic at KROQ

Arcade Fire are currently in Los Angeles preparing for their performance at the Grammys telecast (tomorrow morning for me), where they've been nominated for Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Performance by a group or duo for "Ready to Start."

While in LA, they dropped by the station KROQ and played "Month of May" and "Ready to Start" live on air, acoustically. But you'd never believe that they weren't amplified. Watch the two videos and tell me honestly if you would've guessed that they weren't plugged in if I hadn't told you!

Utopia Festival: Women in Digital Culture ft. Peaches, Tanya Tagaq, Isis

W2 Storyeum in Vancouver will host Utopia Festival on March 5, 2011 to coincide with the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. Proceeds to support W2's Second Annual Girls Creative Tech Summer Camps.

The event will feature Peaches as keynote speaker, and showcases by Isis and Tanya Tagaq and many others. You won't want to miss this if you're a lover of beats!

Here's a quick description of the event from its organizers:

"For women interested in electronic music and media, Utopia Unconference wristbands provide all-access and 3 meals: Breakfast, Music Maker Workshops, Lunch, Mobile Dance Party, Unconference, Dinner Reception, Concert, and Showcase. We are anticipating 150 women participating in five creative streams: electro, hip hop, bass, electro-acoustic and live cinema."

For scheduling and further information, check out Utopia Festival's event page.

NEW VIDEO : Hilary Grist wishes you a happy Valentine's day

Cynical laments about Valentine's Day are dime a dozen. This video by Vancouver's Hilary Grist, however, shows that sometimes it's nice to embrace the emotionality of this spring holiday and see what it inspires. In this case, a lovely little ditty with a video that will make you smile. If you like the song, you can download it for free from Grist's website. While you're there, you can also send the video as an e-card.

So happy Valentine's Day, and remember, earbuds & ticket stubs loves you! xo

NEW VIDEO : Dan Mangan - "Sold"

From his sophomore album Nice, Nice, Very Nice... Dan Mangan overcomes functional fixedness. A young alcoholic is born. Video below!

NEW ALBUM : Peter Elkas - Repeat Offender

The incredibly dreamy Toronto crooner/rocker Peter Elkas is set to release his third solo album on February 22 named Repeat Offender (New Scotland Records). If you head over to Exclaim!, they've got the lead single "Cool Thing to Do" for free download.

The album cover above alludes to Elkas' day job as a dog walker-- seriously, can this story get any better? Watch an R3TV episode featuring Peter and his dogs below.

Repeat Offender track list:

1. "Anticipation"
2. "Cruel Thing to Do"
3. "Blue Of You"
4. "Tiny Valentine"
5. "Misery"
6. "Melody"
7. "Repeat Offender"
8. "Hummingbirds"
9. "Atlas"
10. "Cool Thing to Do"

Arcade Fire presents "Scenes from the Suburbs," by Spike Jonze

(for more details, click the poster)

NEW VIDEO : Shad - "Keep Shining"

Vancouver emcee Shad has released his latest video for "Keep Shining" off his Polaris short-listed album TSOL. I'm thrilled that one of my favourite tracks from my favourite album of 2010 has received the video treatment... but does anyone else find it ironic that the video still denotes Shad speaking for these women? What do you think?

NEW VIDEO : James Blake - "The Wilhelm Scream"

I have a confession to make. I once listened to UK DJ James Blake's cover of Feist's "Limit to Your Love" 16 times in a row. It's fair to say that I'm enthralled by his voice and restrained but pulsating style.

Blake has just released his self-titled debut full-length after a string of heralded EPs and singles. One of the only downsides about my extended vacation abroad is not being able to get my hands on a lot of new music, like this one. If you're in a similar position as me, or just want to check out more of his music before heading to the record store, check out four tracks from the album streaming at NPR.

As for Blake's latest single, "The Wilhelm Scream"? I'm on play #4. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

NEW VIDEO : Armistice - "Mission Bells"

Armistice is the brand-spanking new project of Beatrice Martin (Coeur de Pirate), and Jay Malinowski (Bedouin Soundclash). Enjoy their first, Mexican-infused single "Mission Bells."


Armistice || Mission Bells from Dare To Care Records on Vimeo.

CBC Radio 3 Searchlight Contest : Best Music Website in Canada

A big thank you to you kind readers who have nominated earbuds & ticket stubs for the long list of CBC Radio 3's Searchlight contest for the best music website in Canada! I'm overwhelmed and very grateful. You can vote for your favourite music websites here. You can vote once per day. I know I will be using that opportunity to vote for the many great sites that support Canadian music. Like Justin noted on my other musical project North by East West, we're all aiming for the same thing-- the exposure of the Canadian music scene.

Please support the good folks who love to bring you Canadian music-- vote, donate some money and spread the good word! (on twitter, please use hashtag #Searchlight)

To reiterate for those who may be coming across the blog for the first time, earbuds & ticket stubs is a Vancouver-based music blog by Brenda Lee. It's currently not at full capacity as I'm currently abroad visiting family in Taiwan... but I can't resist when something good lands in my inbox! For more information about myself and the blog, check out the About Me page.

So thanks again! It's all up to your votes! What should I do if I win? Donate my accolades to charity? Throw a Skype party? Feel free to suggest anything in the comments!

2011 XM Verge Music Awards Finalists

[edit March 1: Congratulations to winners Zeus (Album of the Year), Hannah Georgas (Emerging Artist of the Year) and Michou (Artist of the Year)!]

In non-Juno Awards related news, the 2011 finalists for the XM Verge Music Awards have been announced. Among them are earbuds & ticket stubs favourites Zeus, Hannah Georgas, Tegan and Sara, Arcade Fire, and more in the three categories: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year. The former two awards will net the winner a cool $25,000, while the latter winner will go home with $5000. Which is pretty sweet, and you know that anything makes more sense than the "best new artist" category of the Junos.

For the full list of finalists, as well as details on attending the show in Toronto on March 1st, click here.

Here's a pretty cool video of Toronto band Make Your Exit covering nominee Zeus' "River by the Garden":

2011 Juno Awards Nominations

Live presenters of the 2011 JUNO Awards nominees press conference pose for a group photo (L-R): Tanya Kim (ETALK), Ed Robinson (CARAS), Susanne Boyce (CTV Inc.), Melanie Berry (CARAS/The JUNO Awards), Johnny Reid, Keshia Chante; Bottom Row, members of Karkwa and Broken Social Scene

The 2011 Juno Awards nominations were released Tuesday morning and include many of earbuds & ticket stubs favourites including Hannah Georgas for best new artist and songwriter of the year; Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene going head to head for group of the year and alternative album of the year; Karkwa and Radio Radio duking it out for Francophone album of the year; Shad is up for rap/hip-hop album of the year, against Drake, and many, many more. Other notable nominees include Basia Bulat, Chromeo, Caribou, Hollerado, Said the Whale, Royal Wood, Luke Doucet, D-Sisive... The entire list of nominees can be found here.

The live broadcast will be happening Sunday, March 27. Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene will perform live, amongst others. Drake hosts.