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FYI

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.

Music Biz Headlines, Jan. 12, 2018

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

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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

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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

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Grae performing at Riverfest Elora on August 17, 2025.
Mariah Hamilton

Grae performing at Riverfest Elora on August 17, 2025.

Touring

‘This Moment Must Serve as a Call to Action’: Riverfest Elora Speaks After Closing Due to Financial Strain

Last month, the Ontario music festival called it quits after 15 years. Now, they’re asking the nation to pour into the country’s live music scene.

Riverfest Elora is calling on Canadians to support the local live music scene.

Today (Dec. 19), organizers for the Ontario music festival submitted a call to action through Elora's local newspaper, Elora Fergus Today. It’s addressed to Canadian businesses, citizens and policymakers, advising them to invest in live music before more local organizations continue to dissipate.

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