It’s that time of year again. ECMA time!! This year the musicians and industry professionals from the East Coast of Canada will all descend upon Moncton, NB. There will be showcases, lobby jams, conference panels, workshops and meetings. There will be late nights and early mornings. There will be awards handed out. There will be exciting times! Up for an award this year is our boys In-Flight Safety. They, along with a bunch of other pretty great East Coast acts, were nominated for the Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year. Fun times ahead!
This is a very exciting week. In case you haven’t heard Kirk Caouette’s beautiful and amazing film Hit n Strum will be having it’s world premiere at the Canadian Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario on Saturday March 31st.
The boys from English Words are locked away in a not-so-secret location (Confidence Lodge) recording the long awaited and eagerly anticipated follow up to their 2009 release Healing Power of Injury. I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to hear what they walk away with!
In a couple of days 2012 Music PEI Week will kick off. It has to be said it is probably one of my favourite times of the year on the Island! So. Much. Music.
This year will mark the realization of over 3 years of planning for ‘Just Bidin’ My Time: A Tribute to Gene MacLellan’! I am so excited. This concert, which is being captured for broadcast on CBC later in 2012, will feature performances by Catherine MacLellan, Ron Hynes, Lennie Gallant, Meaghan Blanchard, Haunted Hearts, John Connolly (who is also acting as Musical Director! - the dude is charming AND talented) and Scott Parsons. The show has been sold-out for weeks, which is pretty darn cool. Look out Charlottetown. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Here’s the schedule for the week:
Friday January 13th - Coffee Art Crawl (formerly known as Art for Music)
Saturday January 14th - Just Bidin’ My Time: A Tribute to Gene MacLellan
Wednesday January 18th - Music Mosaic
Thursday January 19th - SAC Songwriter’s Circle
Friday January 20th - Friday Night Live!
Saturday January 21st - 2012 Music PEI Awards Gala
If you click on over to Facebook you can get all of the details HERE.
PEI has an incredible music community and an amazing scene. Don’t miss out on these great shows. It doesn’t get much better than this!
I can still remember the very first time that I saw In-Flight Safety play. It was during the ECMA conference in Corner Brook and they were the only non-Island band that I made a point of seeing that entire weekend. It was truly musical love at first sight. Every since that showcase in a dingy little bar I have been a huge fan of this band, taking every opportunity to see them play.
Imagine how pumped I am to now be working with In-Flight Safety! There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon for this fantastic band and I currently have no words for how thrilled I am to be a part of their journey.
Check them out at: http://www.inflightsafety.ca/
The boys from English Words have been hard at work for the last few months writing new songs, recording (and re-recording) demos all in preparation for their return to the studio to begin recording their follow up to their first full length release Healing Power of Injury. Fans of the band will agree that this is long overdue. How do you make songs available to your friends, fans and family when they are still demos and not ready to be released? Well, if you’re English Words you put together a few fun videos and post ‘em up on youtube. To listen to three new songs (and see the videos) head on over to: http://www.youtube.com/englishwordsband
It looks like we’ll be making a return trip Yarmouth, NS this weekend for Music Nova Scotia’s annual event: Nova Scotia Music Week. Stay tuned for some stories…
Don’t forget November 11th English Words and Colour Code are joining forces to take over Baba’s in Charlottetown. It’s the first time these two bands have ever played together. Not to be missed!
Counting down to Halifax Pop Explosion!!
English Words will be following up their awesome set opening for The Hold Steady last year at HPX10 by pairing up with Toronto’s indie pop veteran Spookey Ruben! Check out the Facebook event page HERE!
Thanks to Kevin Molyneaux for taking this wicked shot of the boys a few months ago at Baba’s Lounge in Charlottetown.
It’s been a great summer for music here on the Island. Last Friday marked the final concert in the AFTER DARK series at The Guild. Big thanks to the staff at The Guild and all of the artists who performed: Nudie & The Turks, Meaghan Blanchard, Saddle River String Band, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Katie McGarry, Racoon Bandit, Rose Cousins, Haunted Hearts, North Lakes, Boxer the Horse, Cynthia MacLeod and Colette Cheverie.
Other summer highlights for the luck productions family include Colette Cheverie’s appearance at Goderich Celtic Roots Festival and English Words triumphant return to Halifax as a part of the Collagen Rock Weekend.
Coming up this fall look for English Words to start recording their highly anticipated full length follow up to Healing Power of Injury and Customer Appreciation. Watch for the boys at East Coast Affair at Hunter’s in Charlottetown, PEI and returning to Halifax Pop Explosion in October!
If you are in Halifax in September be sure to check out our good friends Racoon Bandit at Atlantic Film Festival - Music & Image. They’ll be showcasing at The Carleton this year. AND if you’re headed to OCFF (Ontario Council of Folk Festivals) this fall there’s a pretty strong chance you’ll be crossing paths with the always impressive Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys! Exciting stuff!!
ONLY 2 AFTER DARK SHOWS LEFT THIS SUMMER!
This week Boxer the Horse and North Lakes. The show starts at 10pm and end at Midnight. Tickets are only $10!
tickets: 902.620.3333 or boxoffice@theguildpei.com
BOXER THE HORSE
Prince Edward Island’s Boxer the Horse is Jeremy Gaudet (guitar/vocals), Andrew Woods (guitar/drums), Isaac Neily (keys/drums) and Christian Ledwell (bass).
The past year saw Boxer the Horse release their debut full length, Would You Please, to widespread critical acclaim. They were named the Best New Band of 2010 by CBC Radio 3 — who shortlisted lead single “Mary Meets the Pilot” for 2010 Song of the Year — and won Best Rock Album of the Year at the MusicPEI Awards. They were also nominated for 3 ECMA awards including Group of the Year. Would You Please was produced by Two Hours Traffic guitarist Alec O’Hanley, and builds on the 60’s-influenced jangle-pop of The Late Show EP to find their modern spin on the Kinks’ signature sound becoming infused with Malkmusesque self-awareness and honest Modern Lovers-style protopunk.
Boxer the Horse are a member of their hometown label Collagen Rock Records (The Danks, Mardeen, English Words). While balancing music with their university classes, the band has performed at Pop Montreal, NXNE, Halifax Pop Explosion, East Coast Music Awards and the Atlantic Film Festival Gala, and have appeared in support of such nationally heralded acts as the New Pornographers, labelmates Two Hours Traffic, In-Flight Safety, Dog Day, and Hey Rosetta. They have also toured as the back-up band for up-and-coming artist Molly Rankin.
With the band receiving their university degrees in April 2011, these Bachelors of Art are prepared to face the real world.
“…exhibits more potential and vivacious know-how than most bands can fathom.” – Wolves, Hawks and Kites
“…a terrific display of what is missing from Indie rock these days.” - Herohill
“These guys are way too young (barely into university) to be creating music that’s this engaging.” - Chart Attack
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THE NORTH LAKES are a six-piece indie rocknroll band from Charlottetown, PEI.
The North Lakes’ first album Cobra has recently won the 2011 Music PEI award for Best Alternative Recording of the Year. 2011 Saw North Lakes showcase at Music PEI stages, CMW in Toronto, and extensively at ECMAs.
The album’s single, “Bravado” has been climbing the CBC Radio 3 R3-30 charts since the beginning of January.
Taking inspiration from ’60s garage-rock and a reinterpretation of the Chicago blues, The North Lakes are a group of bold youths with swaggering voices based out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Their debut, Cobra, was produced by Charles Austin (Superfriendz, Buck 65) at Echo Chamber Studios, with post-production by Adam Gallant.
The album also features several guest appearances from noteworthy artists such as PEI music warlord Pat Deighan (In-Flight Safety, Love Junkies) who plays on”All Over You” and Kinley Dowling (Jenn Grant, Hey! Rosetta) who appears on “Isabella (Save Me From Your Brother)” and “Gimme Mercury.” Roger Carter, a vintage door-to-door sales-person, also plays the organ on all tracks.
In the past year, the band has performed as direct support of acts such as Cuff The Duke, Matt Mays, The Novaks, Said The Whale, Apollo Ghosts, Paper Lions, and Boxer The Horse.
Next week AFTER DARK will wrap up with two of the Island’s best: fiddling phenom Cynthia MacLeod and traditional folk singer Colette Cheverie.
In the past few weeks, audiences at The Guild have been treated to some incredible performances from local favourites Meaghan Blanchard, Nudie & The Turks, Saddle River String Band, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Katie McGarry and Racoon Bandit. These shows have included some magical duets between Meaghan & Nudie, Katie & the Bandits as well as a crazy on stage jam with Saddle River String Band and Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys. What’s going to happen next week when two of the Island’s best, Rose Cousins and Haunted Hearts, come together on Friday August 12th?
This past year Rose Cousins was the recipient of Music PEI’s inaugural ‘Rooted to the Island’ award and Haunted Hearts walked away with four Music PEI awards including Songwriter of the Year. Rose has also won multiple awards from CFMA, ECMA, Music Nova Scotia as well as the prestigious Mountain Stage New Song Contest.
“A true original with the power to steal your heart Every once in awhile—if you’re extremely lucky—you may encounter a voice capable of making you stop whatever you’re doing to concentrate on what you’re hearing.” This…is Rose Cousins.
“The songs ease and haunt with beauty, and might sound something like a cry from the dark side of the soul, an old time honky-tonk howler, a tear stained whiskey ballad, or straight ahead loose country groove. Whatever it is, it is captivating.” This…is Haunted Hearts.
Upcoming shows include: Haunted Hearts with Rose Cousins August 12, The North Lakes with Boxer the Horse August 19 and Colette Cheverie with Cynthia MacLeod August 26. After Dark will finish off on September 2nd with The Danks and EnglishWords.
Shows start at 10pm and tickets are only $10! After Dark is presented by luck productions.
This Friday kick off your night at The Guild!
Saddle River String Band, in their only Charlottetown show this summer, will join Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys for a night full of foot stompin, toe tapping…and probably a bit of beer (* moonshine*) drinking!
Tickets are ONLY $10!! You can get them in advance by calling The Guild box office 620-3333 or you can take your chance and wait to get them at the door.
About the bands…
Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys
http://www.gordiemackeeman.com/
Risen from the ashes of popular PEI band Grass Mountain Hobos, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys give down east fiddle music a sincere and energetic reshaping. Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys are winners of the 2011 Music PEI Awards for Roots/Traditional Group Recording of the Year and Instrumental Recording of the Year!.They were also nominated for Roots/Traditional Group Recording of the Year at the 2011 ECMAs!
Saddle River String Band
http://saddleriverstringband.com/
Prince Edward Island’s Saddle River String Band began life as a ‘party’ band essentially: playing get-togethers and informal jams, and quickly became a working act. Saddle River draws on a rich heritage of North American songs and styles ranging from Bluegrass, Old-Time Country, Prewar Blues, and even the more modern ‘folkies’. Winners of multiple Music PEI awards and the 2008 ECMA for Bluegrass Recording of the Year.
What happens in Charlottetown after the sun goes down? Starting July 15th at The Guild a new concert series on Friday nights! After Dark will feature the very best Island musicians doing what they do best. Pairing up artists who don’t normally play together in a venue they don’t normally get to play. What could be better than that?
Kicking it off this Friday, July 15th, will be Nudie & The Turks with Meaghan Blanchard!
How many girls can say that they played 47 times in 15 days during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, performed on the broadcasted ECMA awards gala in 2009, 2010 and 2011 as well as the opening ceremonies for the 2009 Canada Summer Games? How about that they’ve been nominated for and won a bunch of Music PEI and East Coast Music Awards, including the 2011 ECMA for Country Recording of the Year? How many girls can say that they’ve played on the same stage as country icons Tanya Tucker and Brad Paisley? How many girls at the age of 22 can say that they played for the future king and queen? Only one name comes to mind: Meaghan Blanchard.
An Island sensation for years, Nudie and the Turks have not only released two independent albums, (the self-titled “Nudie and the Turks” and “Looking For a Good Time”) they have toured long and far and played in venues of all sizes across North America. They play traditional country music the way Hank Williams would have liked it; great songwriting, minimal instrumentation, a strong voice and an everyman attitude.
Upcoming shows include: Saddle River String Band with Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys July 22, Katie McGarry with Racoon Bandit July 29, Haunted Hearts with Rose Cousins August 12, The North Lakes with Boxer the Horse August 19 and Colette Cheverie with Cynthia MacLeod August 26. After Dark will finish off on September 2nd with The Danks and EnglishWords.
Shows will start at 10pm and tickets will be $10! After Dark is presented by luck productions.
What happens in Charlottetown after the sun goes down? Starting July 15th at The Guild a new concert series on Friday nights! After Dark will feature the very best Island musicians doing what they do best. Pairing up artists who don’t normally play together in a venue they don’t normally get to play. What could be better than that? Watch for Meaghan Blanchard with Nudie & The Turks to kick things off on July 15th! Other upcoming shows include Saddle River String Band with Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys July 22, Racoon Bandit and Friends July 29, Katie McGarry with Haunted Hearts August 12, North Lakes with Boxer the Horse August 19 and Colette Cheverie with Cynthia MacLeod August 26. The series will be ending on September 2nd with a bang when The Danks and English Words return to The Guild for the first time since their sold out appearances during ECMA 2011.
Shows will start at 10pm and tickets will be $10! After Dark is presented by luck productions.
While recently out in Vancouver, on what could only be referred to as one of the quickest trips ever, I had the good fortune to be introduced to this incredible gem of a movie. Expect to be hearing a lot about Hit & Strum, as well as it’s writer/director/songwriter/musician/lead actor Kirk Caouette, in the coming days and weeks. I saw a rough cut of the movie and it is, simply put: beautiful.
Check out this little snippet…
