Music Biz Headlines, Dec. 15, 2017

By Kerry Doole

David Byrne announces ambitious 2018 solo tour

While he's announced just six shows, he's describing his new stage setup as "the most ambitious show I’ve done since the shows that were filmed for Stop Making Sense" – Deborah Filcman  diffuserfm

New Constellations tour builds community and camaraderie among Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians

"It’s the first time I’ve been on a reserve performing my work for the people I made it for,” says musician and writer Leanne Betasamosake Simpson – Michael Rancic, NOW

Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2017: Critics' Picks

Canadians on the list include Daniel Caesar, Arcade Fire, Alessia Cara, Shawn Mendes, Drake, The Weeknd and Bieber  – Billboard

Falcons create EDM with dancing in mind

Vancouver-based producer Falcons credits his groove-laden tracks to his deep understanding of how music makes people move – Kate Wilson, Georgia Straight

The year in music 

The list of 2017’s most memorable shows, records and videos include Anderson .Paak, Not You, and The Courtneys – Jonathan Briggins, The Coast

Can radio producers mine the silver age of audio storytelling?

The success of podcasting is breathing new life into an old form – Julia Cooper, The Globe and Mail

Onyx Collective's New York City jazz odyssey

This fresh-faced ensemble of young musicians drew an unusual assortment of folks — downtown art types, hip-hop heads from the outer boroughs, hype beasts, straightlaced jazz dudes Amara Thomas, Village Voice

Calgary singer finds it all in love songs

"I'm starting to understand what I like and what I want to embody in recordings or on the live shows" - Michael Bernard Fitzgerald  –  Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal

Wildlife: Brett Kissel Day, Colter Wall plays Starlite, and more Big Valley Jamboree acts

As hard to get close to as a bride on her wedding night, Brett Kissel was all smiles and hugs at his VIP CD release party Tuesday night – Fish Griwkowsky, Postmedia

Alvvays aren't flashy, but they put on a solid show at the Mod Club

What the Toronto-based band lacked in theatrics, they more than made up for in stellar songwriting  – Sarah Greene, NOW

The Curmudgeon: The problem with ranking music in 2017

In an era when musicians are putting their emphasis on live music and downplaying LPs, shouldn’t critics do the same?   Geoffrey Himes, Paste

Opera plucked from today’s public-safety issues

Against the Grain’s Bound explores modern concerns in workshops – John Terauds, Toronto Star

Fact or myth? Five things you may not know about Hotel California

There’s a lot more to the 40-year-old classic Eagles album than its radio staples – Ron Hart, LA Weekly