NEW VIDEOS : Live from the 2010 Vancouver Folk Music Festival!

Bahamas performs "Sobering Love," which is as of yet unreleased.



Bahamas, Calexico and Alex Cuba cover Prince's "Purple Rain." It was glorious.



Matt Epp melts a few hearts with his lovely ballad "This Old House."



The Deep Dark Woods perform their hit from CBC Radio 2's SongQuest, "Charlie's (Is Coming Down)."



For more live recordings like these, check out my Youtube channel.

FREE CONCERT : Canada Day Celebration with Joel Plaskett & Friends

Lucky Nova Scotians. On July 1st, at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth, NS, Dartmouth Crossing presents a free show for Canada Day. It’ll be filled to the brim with great music, fireworks... and did I mention it's free?

There will be events all over the Halifax Regional Municipality. Wear your best 'red & white', and enjoy a pancake breakfast, sing Oh Canada from the top of Citadel Hill, watch the Tattoo Parade in Downtown Halifax or go for the Family Picnic on the Commons. Gather the whole family and attend the outdoor concert on the Dartmouth Waterfront featuring Joel Plaskett Emergency and a line-up selected by the Juno award winner himself.

Here's the line-up:

3:45-4:20 Rose Cousins from PEI/ Halifax
4:30-5:05 Steve Poltz from San Diego
5:20-6:00 David Myles from Fredericton/ Halifax
6:20-7:00 English Words from PEI
7:20-8:00 Deep Dark Woods from Saskatchewan
8:30-10:00 Joel Plaskett Emergency from Shannon/Clayton/Creighton/Point Pleasant Park
The fireworks and later show by Telfer will follow.

To get you in the spirit to celebrate Canada's 143rd birthday, here's a little tune called "True Patriot Love" by headliners Joel Plaskett Emergency:

WCMA 2009 Nominees

The Westrn Canadian Music Awards, which will take place in Brandon MB, have announced their nominees for 2009. The following is a selection of categories and those nominated, and personal notables are italicized.

Blues Recording of the Year
The Twisters - Come Out Swingin' (BC)
Big Dave McLean - Acoustic Blues-Got 'Em From the Bottom (MB)
John Lee Sanders - Bucket Full of Blues (BC)
Amos Garrett - Get Way Back - A Tribute to Percy Mayfield (AB)
Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir - Ten Thousand (AB)

Independent Album of the Year
The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is (MB)
Shout Out Out Out Out - Reintegration Time (AB)
Hot Panda - Volcano… Bloody Volcano (AB)
Library Voices - Hunting Ghosts (and other collected shorts) (SK)
the Sheepdogs - The Sheepdogs' Big Stand (SK)

Pop Recording of the Year
Marianas Trench - Masterpiece Theatre (BC)
Hey Ocean - It's Easier to be Somebody Else (BC)
The Awkward Stage - Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (BC)
JP Hoe -The Dear John Letters (MB)
Carly Rae Jepsen - Tug Of War (BC)
Record of the Week Club - Record of the Week Club (MB)

Rap and Hip Hop Album
Moka Only - Carrots and Eggs (BC)
Grand Analog - Touch Your Toes (MB)
Sweatshop Union - Water Street (BC)
Dragon Fli Empire – Redefine (AB)
The Mavericks Team - Election Year (AB)

Rock Recording of the Year
The Waking Eyes - Holding On To Whatever It Is (MB)
Theory of a Deadman - Scars and Souvenirs (BC)
Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (AB)
54-40 - Northern Soul (BC)
The Pack A.D. - Funeral Mix Tape (BC)

Roots Duo/Group Recording of the Year
Chic Gamine - Chic Gamine (MB)
The Deep Dark Woods - Winter Hours (SK)
The Duhks - Fast Paced world (MB)
Scott Nolan - Receiver/Reflector (MB)
Oh My Darling - Oh My Darling (MB)

Roots Solo Recording of the Year
Steve Dawson - Waiting For The Lights To Come Up (BC)
Dan Mangan – Roboteering (BC)
Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones (MB)
Geoff Berner - Klezmer Mongrels (BC)
Ndidi Onukwulu - The Contradictor (BC)

Songwriter of the Year
Romi Mayes - Achin In Yer Bones (MB)
The Duhks - Fast Paced World (MB)
Scott Nolan - Receiver/Reflector (MB)
Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane (AB)
JP Hoe - The Dear John Letters (MB)