Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 12, 2018
Ian Tyson opens up to fellow cowboy poet Corb Lund, and notorious rock critic Lester Bangs inspires a play. Also in the headlines are Paul McCartney, Whitney Rose, Moog, opera singers, female rockers, and British reggae.
By Kerry Doole
Singer Ian Tyson on his early folk days and being inspired by Bob Dylan
The Canadian folk great opens up in conversation with roots-rocker Corb Lund – The Globe and Mail
Lester Bangs play 'How To Be A Rock Critic' captures writer's wild spirit
The new Off-Broadway production starring Erik Jensen invites the audience into the world of the notorious music scribe – David Browne, Rolling Stone
Sir Paul McCartney among musicians lobbying for change in law to save venues
Macca joins Brian Eno, Nick Mason, Ray Davies and a bench full of politicians and campaigners in backing a plan to stop the closure of grassroots venues – Belfast Telegraph
Toronto musicians to watch in 2018: singer/songwriter edition
From Girls Rock Camp alumni to Hey Rosetta!'s former frontman to punk-inflected “Native Americana,” these artists are making folk and country music exciting – Sarah Greene, NOW
2500 miles later, Whitney Rose is making country music gold
The singer-songwriter moved from Nova Scotia to Texas sight unseen. Her new music is just as bold – Lee Zimmerman, The Fader
Terrified Swan builds a creative community
Laura Reznek and Carolyn Deady created the Vancouver indie label to help deconstruct stereotypes about female performers – Kate Wilson, Georgia Straight
Moog's newest instrument is an ultra-funky drum synth
The Drummer From Another Mother, or DFAM for short, is a very cute little percussion synthesizer. It goes on sale this week for $599 – Michael Calore, Wired
Advocacy group keeps score of gender balance at Canadian music festivals
Candace Shaw's goal is to have fests book 50-percent female artists in 2018 – Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail
Lisette Oropesa says operas won’t let the fat ladies sing
A leading soprano says that although her voice lent itself to “pretty bel canto roles” she had been ruled out because she was “too fat” – David Sanderson, The Times
The Women of Rock Project documents interviews for deserved recognition
Tanya Pearson's idea was to conduct and collect a comprehensive series of conversations with female rock and rollers, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the same recognition and place in rock history available to men is also up for grabs for women – Brett Callwood, LA Weekly
The Curmudgeon: Music for an empire in decline
If 2017 felt like the year that a great empire fell into decline, our best songwriters exposed the ugliness—and lit the way forward – Geoffrey Himes, Paste
Trio leaves the audience with that lighter than AYR feeling
The acclaimed chamber music group performs at First Unitarian on Saturday – Leonard Turnevicius, Hamilton Spectator
‘Partying runs through everything’: the roots of Manchester’s reggae scene
In the late 70s, sound systems began blasting out dub in dancehalls around Moss Side, Old Trafford and Hulme, providing a cultural cornerstone for the city’s black community. Now a reggae scene which rivalled London’s is inspiring a new generation – Jack Needham, The Guardian