Music News Digest: Arkells' Max Kerman Turns Author, An East Coast Classic Enters the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame
In other stories this week, the late Dave Bookman inspires a talent-studded benefit in Toronto, Brodie Schwendiman returns to the Hamilton club scene and international stars pay tribute to Triumph.
Max Kerman
Max Kerman, frontman of Arkells, has turned author. Published this week by Penguin Random House, Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress is a memoir that is also a motivational look at the creative process. In an interview with The Globe & Mail's Josh O'Kane, Kerman states "I make no claim to be good. The only claim I make is that I try hard.”
Spotify Audiobooks partnered with Kerman on an invite-only release last night (April 21) at Morning Parade Coffee Bar in Toronto, the coffee shop where he wrote most of the book. Kerman told stories about always being the guy to shoot his shot, including a night spent asking Shania Twain about her creative process (including how much she sleeps), and shared behind-the-scenes details about recording the audiobook.
He is now out on a book launch tour that begins in Toronto with an event on April 22 at Kerman's old high school Harbord Collegiate, followed by Calgary Word Fest (April 24), McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg (April 25) and ODDS Bar in Hamilton, April 27.
Awards News
Described as one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most beloved songs, "Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s," will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) at the 37th East Coast Music Awards Gala, in St. John’s on Thursday, May 8. As part of the ceremony, the song will be performed by the famed Newfoundland Celtic folk group, The Irish Descendants,
The ballad was written by native son Otto Kelland in 1947, and Con O’Brien, lead singer of The Irish Descendants, describes it as "the quintessential NL folk song. It embodies all the elements of this place that we cherish and hold dear. Of all the songs we have sung there is none more powerful than what we affectionately call The Cape. And I’m proud to say that Otto Kelland always said that The Irish Descendants version of his song was his favourite.”
The Irish Descendants’ version was a duet with Con O’Brien and best-selling vocalist John McDermott and was included on the 1997 gold-selling, Juno-winning recording, Gypsies and Lovers. Tickets for the 37th East Coast Music Awards Gala are on sale now at ECMA.com. The gala will also be livestreamed worldwide at ECMA.com.
– The Canadian Sync Awards are approaching rapidly, set for May 6 at Annabel’s Music Hall in Toronto, as part of The Departure Festival + Conference. The Guild of Music Supervisors, Canada (GMSC) have now announced the nominees and revealed that the 2025 Impact Award will be presented to Broken Social Scene. This award is bestowed upon an individual or group to celebrate a lifetime of contributions and influence on music, culture, community, self-expression and vision, as well as their profound prominence in the sync world. See a full nominees list here.
– On April 13, the 14th edition of the Niagara Music Awards were held in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Leading the winners list with two trophies apiece were blues artist Spencer MacKenzie and roots singer-songwriter Spencer Burton. Winner of the two global achievement awards were was pianist/composer Stephan Moccio and EDM star Rezz. See the full list of winners here.
Festivals News
The Misty City Music Festival is a new rock and country fest, set to take place Sept. 5 and 6 outside Niagara Falls Convention Centre on Stanley Avenue. Icelandic blues-rockers Kaleo will headline the first night, with emerging U.S. country star Riley Green topping the bill on Sept. 6. An extra nine 9 acts will play each day, with their details TBA.
– An impressive lineup of Canadian talent has been booked by Noisemaker Presents for the summer concert series at Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) in Burlington, Ontario. It will be launched by Allison Russell on July 2, followed by AHI and Logan Staats (July 9), Matt Andersen & Terra Lightfoot (July 17), The Strumbellas & Serena Ryder (July 31), Jeremie Albino (Aug. 14), Begonia (Aug. 20) and a potent double bill of Kathleen Edwards and Sloan on Aug. 28. Tickets here.
– Of note: Noisemaker, headed by Tim Des Islets, turns 10 this year and a June 12th celebratory concert at the Paris Presbyterian Church in its home base of Paris, Ontario, will feature Terra Lightfoot, Danny Michel, Digging Roots, Great Lake Swimmers, Joel Plaskett, Skydiggers, Splash'N Boots, Revive the Rose and The East Pointers. Tix here.
– The Harvest Music Festival in downtown Fredericton, P.E.I., turns 35 this year. The milestone anniversary edition runs Sept. 9-14, with a mix of some big U.S. headliners and plenty of East Coast and Canadian talent. Sat. Sept 13 features Melissa Etheridge & Indigo Girls in an early show, followed by Portugal. The Man with Karina Rykman in the evening. Other acts include punk veterans Gob, bluesmen Keith Hallett & Garrett Mason, Goose with The Big Fun Duo, The Head and The Heart, The Revivalists, Grace Bowers, Conor Fox, David Shaw and Jah’Mila. Tickets and passes here.
Industry News
The premature passing of Toronto radio personality, musician and concert promoter Dave 'Bookie' Bookman in 2019 left a large hole in the city's music scene, and he has certainly not been forgotten. That is shown in the star-studded lineup recently announced to play a benefit concert in Bookman's honour, at The Garrison on May 9. Last year, theLeft Of The Dial benefit raised money for The Daily Bread Food Bank and saw local luminaries covering The Replacements. This year sees the same charity benefit, with The Tragically Hip as the featured band. Let's Get Friendship Right will see performances by members of U.S. Girls, July Talk, Billy Talent, Hollerado, Great Lake Swimmers, Ace of Wands, Nicolette & the Nobodies and Skydiggers — as well as Talia Schlanger, Skye Wallace, John Borra, Shakura S'Aida, Ryan Wayne, Brendan Canning & Cynthia Tauro, Justin Rutledge, Kevin Hearn, Miss Emily, Hugh Christopher Brown, Kevin Hearn and more. Admission is free with a non-perishable food item.
– Welcome word on the street in Hamilton is that club booker Brodie Schwendiman is returning to action following the recent closure of The Casbah, long one of the city's most beloved club venues. He tells Billboard Canada that he has begun booking shows at The Bright Room, situated in the Staircase Cafe Theatre, with an emphasis on bands serving up adventurous 'outer sounds.' Initial bookings include post-rock band Ocean Monument (May 1), Toronto avant-country combo The Western Slang (May 9) and an album release show by local pop-rockers Slow Reader, launching Soft Eviction there on May 24. Check the show calendar here.
On Saturday (April 26), Schwendiman is bringing a talent-packed lineup to cafe Selo (13 Hess Street S.). Friends of Justine features local star bassist Justine 'The Bass Machine' Fischer, joined by noted area roots and blues artists Mary Simon, Matty Simpson and Spencer MacKenzie. Tickets here.
Artists News
On June 6, a star-studded tribute album to Canadian hard rock legends Triumph, Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph, will be released. The project was conceived by renowned producer Mike Clink (Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue and Whitesnake), and guest vocalists include Dee Snider, Dorothy, Sebastian Bach, Nancy Wilson, Joey Belladonna and Jeff Keith. Twisted Sister frontman Snider tackles Triumph classic "Lay It On The Line," and you can hear a preview of that cut here. Of note: On May 5, Coalition for Music Education's Music Monday cross-country sing-along will see thousands of Canadians join in singing and performing this year's anthem, Triumph's "Hold On," at their schools and other community events.
