Music Biz Headlines, March 12, 2018
The 20th anniversary of a Canadian hip-hop anthem, a leaner Toronto festival summer, and the musical passions of Stephen King. Also in the headlines are OLP, Peaches, Steely Dan, Perla Batalla, Rusty, Emmylou Harris, Ensign Broderick, Steve Winwood, Royal Wood, and Earthless.
By Kerry Doole
Why Northern Touch still matters
Twenty years later, the Canadian hip-hop anthem means more than just beats and rhymes – Del F. Cowie, NOW
Life after WayHome — summer music festivals get leaner in 2018
Goodbye WayHome, Bestival, Riot Fest and TURF. Now that the festival boom is over, smaller, more focused events are taking their place – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
Music is the connection between Stephen King’s real and fictional worlds
Music plays an integral role in the books and films by Stephen King. Outside his fictional worlds, King is a real-life fan — and not just in a casual way. He plays in a rock band, the Rock Bottom Remainders, a former group of published writers, and he owns three local radio stations – Emily Burnham, Bangor Daily News
Show review: Our Lady Peace and Matthew Good at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax
Hello, nostalgia time bomb. The late 90s/00s CanCon stalwarts held a full and enthusiastic crowd close for a combined two-and-a-half hours – Tara Thorne, The Coast
Peaches: 'We smoked a joint, started screaming and suddenly had some songs'
In 2000, recovering from cancer and heartbreak, Merrill Nisker bought a synth, renamed herself Peaches and made a scorching album that became a feminist classic. In this extract from our Start podcast, she relives the sex, pain and pillow talk that fuelled The Teaches of Peaches – The Guardian
Donald Fagen, Steely Dan’s last member, is left to do the Dirty Work
Steely Dan co-founders Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were as fussy with contractual arrangements as they were with musical ones, as evidenced by the formation of Steely Dan Inc. Now there is a legal battle for ownership of the group – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
Perla Batalla honours Leonard Cohen’s legacy
The Grammy-winning singer was a long-time backing vocalist for Cohen. She now performs the songs of her late mentor – Mike Usinger, Georgia Straight
Rusty returns with Now Is When
The band's 1995 debut album, Fluke, was a Canadian alt-rock hit. The Toronto rockers recently announced their new album, Now Is When, their first in 20 years, is nearing completion – Jacqueline Howell, Disarm
It's taken 47 years, but Ensign Broderick's debut album is here
Jason Sniderman invented his musical persona when he was 12 years old. Now 59, the Toronto musician is ready to share it with the world – Luke Ottenhof, NOW
Brantley Gilbert salutes Daisy Dukes, pickup trucks, Lynyrd Skynyrd at Rogers Place
The US country star has made a pile of money presenting his hard rock/hillbilly version of the Beach Boys promise of Endless Summer, one that embraces mandolin, dirt roads, distorted guitar and a creek for skinny dipping – Tom Murray, Edmonton Journal
Emmylou Harris: ‘There are things I don't think we'll ever know the answers to’
The musician, 70, on rethinking her career, laughing with Dolly Parton and shopping with Neil Young – James McMahon, The Guardian
Steve Winwood: “I always felt the need to work with the people with crazy ideas”
The talented Winwood takes us through his work with the Spencer Davis Group, Hendrix, Traffic, Blind Faith and more – Tom Pinnock, Uncut
Royal Wood's muse both dark and bright
Ever After the Farewell, the Canadian singer-songwriter’s new album was inspired by his lowest low and his highest high – Cam Fuller, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Fewer epics as heavy rockers Earthless find their voice
Riff-stuffed, sprawling tunes of veteran San Diego band coming to Lee’s Palace in Toronto next week – Ben Rayner, Toronto Star
