Music Biz Headlines, Aug. 14, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Police in Canada intercept large supply of drugs headed for a music festival

Police in Central Saanich recently arrested the driver of a truck and trailer who allegedly was carrying a supply of illegal drugs they believe was bound for the 22nd annual Shambhala music festival in Salmo BC. – Ian Courtney, Celebrity Access

David Clayton-Thomas says anger over gun violence could launch another Woodstock

David Clayton-Thomas thinks another Woodstock could be on the horizon. The former member of Blood, Sweat and Tears says many have tried to replicate the iconic music festival for its 50th anniversary, but they’ve all missed a key element. Outrage over US gun violence may provide that. – David Friend, CP

Review: Toronto R&B singer Amaal's Black Dove EP is a multi-faceted introduction

Her debut, though short, is well-rounded, exploring her identity as a woman coming into her own. – Sumiko Wilson, NOW

Decision-Makers: Shauna de Cartier of Six Shooter

For Shauna de Cartier, founder of the independent record label Six Shooter Records, an intuitive approach to business suits her best. De Cartier, originally from Edmonton, started the label almost 20 years ago, with one artist on the roster: Luke Doucet. – Sarah MacDonald, Words & Music

Review: Exuberant voices testify to help close Edmonton Folk Fest 40 in style

"This is what the human race sounds like right here." – Michael Trotter, The War and Treaty.  – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal

Terry Wickham — the friendly face behind the music on the hill

After a rough patch in the early years for Terry Wickham — “we were $60,000 in debt … we owed money everywhere” — the Edmonton Folk Music Festival has grown threefold alone since 1989. “What we’ve tried to do is get big, but retain our sense of community, our sense of friendship,” said Wickham. – Shaughn Butts, Edmonton Journal

What's In Your Fridge: Adrian Chalifour

The indie artist from Victoria BC talks about his first concert and love of Leonard Cohen and Hawksley Workman. – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight

Queen approves of Calgary's revamp of iconic We Will Rock You musical

When Stuart Morley arrived in Calgary from London on July 29, he was a man with a mission. The musical director had been asked, by none other than Queen co-founder and guitarist Brian May, to oversee the first week of rehearsals for a Calgary version of the band musical We Will Rock You that is being mounted by Jeff Parry’s Annerin Productions. – Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Herald

International

Lollapalooza 2019: Inside guest-focused brand activations from brands like Pepsi and Cupcake Winery

From air-conditioned lounges to digital artwork to festival-friendly swag, here's how brands engaged fans at the Chicago music festival. – Jenny Berg, BizBash

Blinded By The Light creators needed Springsteen ‘on our side'

After Yesterday, Danny Boyle’s fantasy about a suddenly Beatles-free world, it's the second movie this year featuring a racialized Briton whose life is changed by the transcendence of music. – Sarah Lyall, NYT

Willie Nelson cancels tour due to ‘breathing problem’

The country legend has cancelled his tour because of a “breathing problem.” The 86-year-old singer apologized on Twitter last week, writing “I need to have my doctor check it out.” Nelson had just finished performing with Alison Krauss in Toledo, Ohio, and he was next scheduled to appear Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He wrote, “I’ll be back.” – AP

Teenage Fanclub: how we made Bandwagonesque

‘I was on the phone to lawyers and labels in New York while still living in a council flat and unable to afford the bus fare to rehearsals.’ – Tim Jonze The Guardian

Apple transforms Central Park into an augmented reality gallery

Works by Nick Cave, Nathalie Djurberg, John Giorno and others have been choreographed into the landscape for an Apple-New Museum walking tour.  – Sophie Haigney, NYTimes

Spotify is still adding more users in North America and Europe than in Asia, the Middle East and Africa combined

We break down Spotify’s Q2 performance around the world – with some surprising results. –  Tim Ingham, MBW

Review: Khalid's Free Spirit tour felt like a dance party at a friend's house

Khalid's latest release, Free Spirit, is a string of songs you'd have on as the background to a balmy summer night, which is what his show felt like despite being indoors. – Katelyn Thomas, Montreal Gazette

To rock the charts in 2019, bands need a little help from concert goers

In the streaming era, rock albums that reach No. 1 on the charts tend to be offered as an add-on with a concert ticket. –  Ethan Millman, WSJ

Review: Garth Brooks puts on epic show, post-storm, at Mosaic Stadium

“If you’ve ever been to a Garth show…” Here's one experience of Friday night's concert at Mosaic Stadium in Regina. – Ashley Martin, Regina Leader-Post

Chuck Berry’s family, famous fans remember guitarist in new documentary trailer

The new film will premiere at Nashville Film Festival and features first-interview with Themetta Suggs, the late guitarist’s wife of 68 years.–  Patrick Doyle, Rolling Stone

Rock's 20 most far-out concept albums

The entire notion of the concept album is often a slippery grab even for the most hardcore fans. While Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is considered to be a concept album, it came across more like high-concept pop art, because there was never any universal theme or story tying it all together. – Ultimate Classic Rock

Unleash the sesh gremlins! Sunset Campout, California's clubbing paradise

With its mix of hippies, techno heads and hikers, this party deep in California’s gold rush country has resisted creeping commercialisation.  – Jemayel Khawaja, The Guardian

This multi-billionaire media tycoon is pumping $500M into a new LA-based music company. Why?

Haim Saban has a well-trained antennae for making big money by spotting big opportunities in media. – Murray Stassen, MBW