Music News Digest: Canadian Country Singer Lindi Ortega Launches U.S. Label, Trooper and Colin James Honoured In B.C.

Awards news

Veteran Canadian rock band Trooper was inducted into B.C.’s Entertainment Hall of Fame on Sept. 6 at a public ceremony outside the famed Commodore Ballroom on Granville Street in Vancouver. On hand were lead singer Ra McGuire and bandmates Brian Smith, Tommy Stewart, Doni Underhill, Frank Ludwig, and Harry Kalensky, alongside other Trooper members from past and present. The Hall of Fame honours high-profile individuals and groups who have left an impact on B.C.’s entertainment industry, and has recognized more than 300 talents.

– Last month, veteran Canadian blues-rocker Colin James was awarded the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest civilian honour. The career of the platinum-selling and 8x Juno-winning star is now in its fifth decade and still going strong (he released a new album, Chasing The Sun, on Aug. 23). James has a reputation for volunteering his guitar and voice for benefit shows assisting communities impacted by wildfires and artists facing dire medical situations. In announcing the honour, the lieutenant-governor noted that "Whether through his music or community service, Colin exemplifies excellence and generosity, making a profound impact on the cultural and social fabric of B.C.”

– The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) and Amazon Music have announced the winners of the 2024 Breakthrough Songwriter Award; Aaron Paris (Anglophone Winner) and Fredz (Francophone Winner). Paris is a 3-time Grammy-nominated producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, string arranger and artist from Toronto who has worked with such major artists as Ariana Grande, Kanye West, Drake, DJ Khaled, Kali Uchis, NAV and more. Fredz is a 22-year-old hip-hop based artist from Quebec, known his polymorphic approach to music. Both will be recognized at the 2024 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sept. 28 at Massey Hall in Toronto.

Festivals news

–Now in its 16th year, Hamilton's Supercrawl (Sept. 13) is well-established as one of Canada’s biggest and best free music festivals. This year, there is one international headliner, Texan post-rock favourites Explosions In The Sky, and the lineup of over 30 acts neatly balances well-established names with new and emerging talents in a variety of genres. The list comprises the likes of Toronto roots-rock heroes The Sadies, Juno-winning locals Elliott BROOD, indie rock veterans The Dears, Danko Jones and Zeus, east coast blues/soul powerhouse Matt Andersen and party-starter Rich Aucoin, critically-touted folk/roots singer-songwriters iskwē, Charlotte Cornfield, and Kaia Kater, and buzz-worthy newer acts, including avant-folk combo MOONRIIVR, Maritime singer-songwriter Mia Kelly, and rockers The Wild High, led by Monster Truck’s Jon Harvey. Check the full schedule here.

–Held in Kitchener, Ontario, the Belmont Village Bestival is a free music and arts festival running Sept 13 and 14. Headliners are Matt Weidinger and Danny Michel, with the list of other performers at the roots and blues-accented event including Steve Strongman, Shawn Kellerman, Cheryl Lescom, John Orpheus, The Weber Brothers and Rob Szabo. More info here.

Industry news

– Music Nova Scotia has announced that the Nova Scotia Music Week Conference will take place November 7-10 in Wolfville/Mtapan, Nova Scotia. Schedule and more info here.

– Montreal-based record company Audiogram has been called the most “major” of Québec’s independent labels, and it is undeniably one of the longest-lived. It recently celebrated its 40th anniversary with a reception in its new offices in downtown Montréal, with label founders Michel Bélanger, Rosaire Archambault and Alain Simard highlighting for those in attendance Audiogram's current strengths and continued relevance. On hand was Paul Piché, the first artist signed by the label, and an office meeting room will now bear his name.

A recent story in SOCAN's Words & Music included these impressive stats on Audiogram: 513 albums released, over 12 million albums sold in Canada and abroad, over 1.5 billion stream, 88 artist tours, totaling more than 3,500 shows and nearly 250,000 tickets sold, 58 gold, 23 platinum and 6 double-platinum album certifications, 203 Félix (ADISQ) Awards, 60 SOCAN Awards, 9 JUNO Awards, 1 Polaris Music Prize, 6 Félix-Leclerc Song Awards and 18 GAMIQ Awards.

– A few months back, we noted the return of Canadian honkytonk singer-songwriter Lindi Ortega, after a long hiatus, via the release of a couple of Tom Waits cover duets with rising young U.S. artist Jack Barksdale. News breaking this week is that the highly-regarded Ortega has signed to U.S. indie label, Truly Handmade Records, a brand new imprint set up by Guy Clark LLC, the estate of legendary country/folk songsmith Clark. She has the honour of the label's very first release, From The Ether, coming out next month, followed by albums from Barksdale, Jedd Hughes and Mike Delevante. Now based in B.C. after a stint in Nashville, Ortega recorded the album in Austin with renowned musician/producer Mike Meadows, eventually resulted in From The Ether. The album is set for release on Truly Handmade in October.

– The deadline to apply for Music PEI’s RBC Golden Ticket and Diverse Voices programs is Sept. 12. For more info or assistance with applications, reach out to Andy at programs@musicpei.com.

– The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) has announced the launch of Uncharted Country, a three-part podcast series available now. Hosted by Morgan “MJ” James, Uncharted Country explores the roots, evolution, and future of country music through conversations with Grammy nominees The War and Treaty, Steven Lee Olsen, and CCMA Award winner SACHA. During Country Music Week 2023, ADVANCE, Canada’s Black Music Business Collective, and the CCMA produced the seminar series “Country Music: Past, Present, Future,” and its success spawned the podcast. The themes of diversity and inclusivity will be addressed.

Artists news

– Legendary Toronto rock 'n roll band Luke & The Apostles will celebrate their 60th Anniversary with an Oct. 5 show at Hugh's Room in Toronto. The group was big on the Yorkville scene in Toronto in the '60s, and shared bills with The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. Current core members Mike McKenna and Luke Gibson later played with, respectively, McKenna Mendelson Mainline and Kensington Market, as well as together in various Apostles reunions over the years. They are joined by drummer Ed Hamm and bassist Jeff Ham for the upcoming show. Tickets here.

– Guelph-based singer-songwriter Richard Laviolette wrote, rehearsed, and recorded All Wild Things Are Shyduring the last five years of his life, in the time between his mother’s death from Huntington’s Disease and his own, from the same disease. The album was released posthumously on Sept. 5, exactly a year after Laviolette's death, and his bandmates and other musical friends are gathering to launch it with a performance in Guelph at the Royal City Mission on Sept. 15. The list of performers includes Scott Merritt, Jessy Bell Smith, Rich Burnett, Lisa Bozikovic & Naomi Dyon, Nate Coles, Ally Corbett, Bry Webb & Steph Yates, Jenny Mitchell, Jessica Rampling, Wax Mannequin and Claire Whitehead. Tickets here. There is also another album launch planned, in Owen Sound on Oct. 10. It will feature Laviolette's band (Jessy Bell Smith, Rich Burnett, Ally Corbett, Jordan Howard, Matt Reeves and Dave Snider) plus guest vocaists TBA. Tix for that show here.

– Almost one year since the release of her highly-acclaimed album Inuktitut, Inuk singer/songwriter Elisapie returns with “Quviasukkuvit (If It Makes You Happy),” her cover of the Sheryl Crow hit song that impacted her as a teenager and sung in Elisapie's native tongue. Elisapie is currently in the running for the Polaris Music Prize and has upcoming shows booked in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, New York City and more, followed by extensive touring in Quebec. Itinerary here.

– Highly-lauded East Coast singer-songwriter Mo Kenney has just released a new album, From Nowhere, produced by Joel Plaskett. She has now started a cross-Canada tour, taking place in two stages until closing out in Vancouver on Nov. 23. Dates here.