Music News Digest, April 27, 2023

By Kerry Doole

Awards news

The 2023 Muriel Sherrin Award, presented by the Toronto Arts Foundation, has been won by artist, composer and educator Joy Lapps. The other finalists were acclaimed jazz pianist/composer Hilario Duran and opera singer Measha Brueggergosman-Lee. Lapps receives a $10K cash prize and a complimentary week-long stay at Valleyview Artist Retreat. More info here. 

Festivals news

– The much-loved Hillside Summer Festival at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area turns 40 this year. It runs July 28-30, and its recently announced lineup is typically solid. Notable names include Bedouin Soundclash, Begonia, Catherine MacLellan, Hayden, Martha Wainwright, U.S. Girls, Daniel Romano's Outfit, Adrian Sutherland, Golden Feather, Zoon, Owen Pallett, Nico Paulo, Luna Li, Tami Neilson, Witch Prophet, and Sultans of String. Lineup and ticket info here.

– London, ON's major summer festival, the Home County Music & Art Festival has revealed an impressive lineup for its 2023 edition. The July 14-16 event at Victoria Park features headliners Terra Lightfoot (July 14), Ashley MacIsaac (July 15), and Stephen Fearing (July 16), alongside such other performers as The Pairs, Aysanabee, Allison Brown, Mia Kelly,  Eamon McGrath, T. Nile, Sultans of String, Mike Trebilcock, and Lindy Vopnfjord. More info and tix here 

Industry news

– CIMA reminds us it is accepting submissions to showcase at its Canada House events at AmericanaFest 2023 and Reeperbahn 2023. The deadlines are, respectively, May 26 and June 16. More info here

– As part of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on April 29 (5:45 pm), TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto presents the world premiere ofEcho Of Everything, a film written and directed by award-winning Canadian director Cam Christiansen. The documentary is described as "following the source of music’s power explored through science, history, and philosophy. Filmed globally (Spain, Senegal, Paris, New York, Minneapolis, Calgary and the UK) and during the pandemic, Echo of Everything is packed with interviews, music, and dance performances." A second screening is set for May 5 (2.15 pm) at Scotiabank Theatre 6.

– Indigenous singer-songwriter and activist iskwē is sure to grab attention with her new single, I Get High, as it features veteran German punk diva Nina Hagen as a guest. "I grew up smoking weed, listening to Nina Hagen, and singing loudly when I knew no one was listening; always self-conscious, always self-aware. Inspired by the freedom of letting go of what others think, I Get High isn't just a song to spark up to," iskwē explained in a press release. 

–  Multi-award-winning Toronto artist and performer Eliana Cuevas releases a new album, Seré Libre, on May 12 on Alma Records. It is being launched with a worldwide album premiere and video performance on May 11 at Cineplex Yorkdale in Toronto. Cuevas has just shared this new single, Llegó.

–Two of the brightest lights on the Canadian jazz scene, Laila Biali and recent Juno winner Caity Gyorgy team up on Pennies From Heaven, Biali's latest single and video. Joining in the fun are A-list Toronto players Kelly Jefferson, Michael Davidson, George Koller, and Larnell Lewis.

– Songwriter/producer/recording artist Chin Injeti (Bass Is Base) has released a new track, Expensive ( feat. Jarrel The Young). He explains that "Even though I’m an R&B singer, I wanted to channel David Bowie and the over-the-topness of 80s pop culture. After all, Bowie is timeless, and his influence on art can’t be denied." Streaming links here.  

– Good news from the camp of criminally-under-rated singer/songwriter Lily Frost is that she has signed on with prominent New York/L.A.-based music publishing company The Royalty Network Inc. The deal is for Frost’s last two albums, 2019’s Retro-Moderne and 2022’s Decompression, for which she owns the masters. The Royalty Network will work to place Frost’s songs in TV and film, building on her past placements in the 2001 film Crazy/Beautiful, Grey’s Anatomy, and other notable programs and ads. Frost credits her venture capitalist brother, Matt Davis, for making it happen. Davis wrote this track that appears on Decompression.

– Blue-eyed soul survivor John Finley has released a new single, Well You Needn't. Produced by Lou Pomanti (Michael Buble), the funky cut features guitar work by rock legend Danny Weis (Iron Butterfly). Finley and Weis were bandmates in Rhinoceros back in the late '60s.

– On May 25, Toronto rock 'n roll favourite and Juno winner Paul James celebrates Bob Dylan's 82nd birthday with a tribute to Dylan concert at 3030 Dundas St. West, Toronto, a Hugh's Room Live presentation. James explains that "I met and played with Dylan for the first time in 1986 and have performed with him about 10 times over the last 35 years." Recommended. Tix here.

– For the third year in a row, acclaimed pianist and recording artist Christina Petrowska Quilico is being honoured with a Research Award from Toronto's York University where she has taught for 35 years. She is one of two President's Research Awards recipients given Distinguished Honours as "outstanding contributors to their fields and beyond." Two Centrediscs recordings are being released, featuring her performances: On Blaze (released April 21), Quilico performs the solo piano music of Alice Ping Ye Ho, and on Shadow & Light (coming on May 21) she performs double concertos by Ho, Larysa Kuzmenko and Christos Hatzis with violinist Marc Djokic, Sinfonia Toronto and conductor Nurhan Arman,

– Noted veteran singer/songwriter Rosanne Baker Thornley (RBT) has just released an acoustic 'live off the floor' version of her track Because of Me, a single earlier taken from her current album released album Sorry I’m Late. Check it out here.