Music Biz Headlines, June 27, 2018
Gordon Lightfoot discusses his love affair with Massey Hall, audiobooks attract emotional engagement, and those annoying concert loudmouths. Also in the headlines are Anita Baker, a new Canadian opera, crazy rap, Partner, Poptone, David Clayton-Thomas, Tom Cochrane, Ian Hampton, Tona, Supersonic, MorMor, and Ottawa Bluesfest.
By Kerry Doole
For Gordon Lightfoot, Massey Hall ‘breathes when you’re up there’
The 79-year-old singer plays three concerts — Friday, Saturday and Sunday —before the venue undergoes renovations that are expected to last two years. He has performed there more than any other artist – David Friend, CP
Listen and weep: 'Audiobooks outdo films in emotional engagement'
A UCL study backed by Audible finds unconscious responses to the same book scenes, witnessed in adaptations across different media, are strongest in the auditory format – Alison Flood, The Guardian
The loudmouth at the concert: Why can’t people stop talking and listen to the music?
Buying a ticket to a show doesn’t give you a free pass to act however you want, everyone else be damned – Annie Zaleski, Salon
Yolanda Adams, Ledisi honour singer Anita Baker at BET Awards
The legendary singer Anita Baker was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards with impressive performances that nearly brought the eight-time Grammy winner to tears – Mesfin Fekadu, AP
New Canadian opera recalls wartime tragedy at sea
Chance encounters can turn into deep experiences. That’s been the case for Toronto composer Stephanie Martin – John Terauds, Toronto Star
Eastern European rap acts prove conclusively that provocative, over-the-top lunacy is a universal language
Eastern European artists seem determined to give everyone's favourite South African zef crew Die Antwoord's some competition in the what-the-fuck-did-I-just-watch department – John Lucas, Georgia Straight
Going with Partner’s flow
Josée Caron and Lucy Niles returned to Halifax with more riffs, more jokes and more awards – Brenna McCracken, The Coast
David Clayton-Thomas discusses his new album Mobius
David Clayton-Thomas and Blood Sweat & Tears – two names that will always be in a musical marriage. But there is so much more to the name, the man and his music – Sandy Graham, Cashbox
Review: Ex-Love and Rockets/Bauhaus members subvert the reunion tour
Poptone played a set at the Opera House packed with 80s goth classics, but there's a good chance a lot of people who loved those songs missed out – Liisa Ladouceur, NOW
'Prairie boy' Tom Cochrane rocks the riverbank, honours Humboldt Broncos
Tom Cochrane and his reunited Red Rider bandmates rocked the Bessborough Gardens at the jazz festival – Phil Tank, Star-Phoenix
Classical music: Ian Hampton pens an insider's guide to the profession
Jan in 35 Pieces: A Memoir in Music is an unorthodox book addressing the profession of music from the perspective of an ultimate insider – D.G. Duke, Vancouver Sun
Tona talks Black Mirror album, new Naturally Born Strangers project & more
Juno-winning rapper Tona recently released a highly anticipated 12-track album in collaboration with Toronto producer Memorecks. Black Mirror is based on revealing the side of ourselves that we’re least comfortable with – Dutch Unkle, hiphopcanada
Supersonic review – genre-melting festival metes out glorious chaos
This shindig for ‘curious audiences’ ran the gamut from Moor Mother’s fierce spoken word to Yves Tumor’s nihilist punk to soothing folk from Shirley Collins – The Guardian
MorMor: Heaven’s Only Wishful EP
Toronto musician Seth Nyquist’s versatile voice soars on every track of an inviting debut that spans a surprising array of genres and techniques – Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork
A small bird, nest and four eggs hold up major Ottawa music festival
The bird and the four eggs — which enjoy protected status in Canada — are nestled on a cobblestone patch that would normally be directly underneath the main stage of Ottawa Bluesfest – CP
