Music Biz Headlines, May 7, 2018
Drake runs afoul of the NBA, Ryan Hemsworth connects with hip-hop, and Scottish bands ranked. Also in the headlines are M.I.A., Beams, Ben Caplan, Kinley, Jessie Ware, Gryphon Trio, Zarin Mehta, music critics, and Rosie & The Riveters.
By Kerry Doole
Drake warned by NBA over bad language at basketball game
Canadian rapper claims ‘I just said I liked the hem on his capris’ after a verbal tussle with Cleveland Cavaliers player Kendrick Perkins – Ben Thomas, The Guardian
Ryan Hemsworth connects with the hip-hop world
For feted Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth, the progression from Juno-winning electronic star to bona fide hip-hop producer was a happy accident – Kate Wilson, Georgia Straight
Five things we learned from M.I.A.'s Hot Docs Q&A
The British-Tamil musician talked Netflix, Ghomeshi and Chinese investment in Sri Lanka at the Canadian premiere of her documentary – Kevin Ritchie, NOW
The greatest Scottish indie bands – ranked!
With five beloved Teenage Fanclub albums coming back around on vinyl this summer, we look at the best of the band’s Scottish indie brethren – Alex Petridis, The Guardian
Toronto band Beams goes beyond straight folk
Local ensemble playing Lee’s Palace on May 9 adds a proggy feel and dark lyrics to a traditional genre – Ben Rayner, The Star
How musician Ben Caplan found the ‘way in’ to the songs and concept of Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story
Last week it was announced that Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, starring Ben Caplan, had earned six nominations for the Drama Desk Awards, which are arrived upon by New York theatre writers and editors – Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail
After 10 steady years playing downstage in Hey Rosetta!, Kinley Dowling moves into her own light with Letters Never Sent, a collection of songs that put voice to what she couldn’t say –Rebecca Dingwell, The Coast
Jessie Ware connected deeply with the audience at Danforth Music Hall
The English soul star has always been a powerhouse singer and mesmerizing performer, but she continues to grow and evolve with every show – RR Kaur, NOW
Gryphon Trio and students from St. Mary's team up to make sweet music
Students and staff from St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre teamed up with the acclaimed Gryphon Trio and the SSO to participate in the Kitohcikewin/Listen Up! program – Jeff Losie, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Zarin Mehta brings his experience back to Montreal as CMIM jury chief
The former OSM managing director discusses the upcoming competition, the search for Kent Nagano's successor and the Charles Dutoit scandal Arthur Kaptainis – Montreal Gazette
Singers put a contemporary, subversive spin on older traditions
“Women really embraced the original Rosie the Riveter to make necessary changes at that time and we felt if we could do the same, that's great." — Allyson Reigh, Rosie & The Riveters – Roger Levesque, Edmonton Journal
The story of L.A. club Jewel's Catch One and its pioneering owner finds its way to Netflix
n 1973, it transformed from the kind of venue where Ella Fitzgerald had to enter through the back to not offend white patrons into a spot where disco titan Sylvester could bring a full band out to play odes to black queer love – LA Times
When Critics Could Kill
What was it like when a review could end a career? Most musicians still don’t want to talk about it – Amos Barshad, Slate
Following the music highway from Nashville
Take a road trip to Memphis — the heartland of blues and rock’n’roll is alive and kicking – Aaron Millar, The Times