Music News Digest, Aug. 12, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Canadian R &B star Daniel Caesar continues to make moves on the international stage. On Friday evening (Aug. 9) he performed at Apple Convent Garden in London as part of Apple Music's Up Next Live, a series of intimate performances from past and present Apple Music, Up Next artists. Additional artists participating in Up Next Live include Bad Bunny, Omar Apollo, King Princess, Lewis Capaldi, Ashley McBryde, and Khalid. 

– Ready For War, a film on which Drake served as exec producer (along with Future and David Ayer), will screen at TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival) next month, as part of the non-fiction slate at the fest, Directed by Andrew Renzi, it profiles immigrants who served in the US armed forces only to be deported.

– In other TIFF news, the fest will present a free screening of famed 1978 concert film The Last Waltz, a document of The Band's star-studded farewell concert. Director Martin Scorsese and Robbie Robertson will be on hand to introduce the film.

– The roots-oriented Summerfolk 44 in Owen Sound, ON, runs Aug. 16-18. Notable performers include Willlam Prince, Kathleen Edwards, The Paperboys, Gangstagrass, The Once, Pharis and Jason Romero, Union Duke, Garnet Rogers, and Alysha Brilla.

– Awarded “Top 100 Festival” by Festivals & Events Ontario, Dundas Cactus Festival is a free three-day event (Aug. 16-18), featuring music, contests, a parade, and over 100 street vendors. The eclectic music bill is headlined by Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), local (Hamilton) rock heroes Junkhouse, headed by Tom Wilson, and Canada’s Polka King and Grammy Award winner, Walter Ostanek.

– United by Song, a project of The United Way of PEI, is seeking the participation of local artists. Four individuals will share their empowering personal stories with four artists, each of whom will write and debut an original song inspired by the strength and resiliency of the storyteller. The results will be showcased at an Oct. 16 event at Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown. You can apply to participate as an artist here by Aug. 22.

– MusicOntario Communities Connect aims to bridge the gaps between Ontario’s vibrant music markets based on consultations with local artists, music professionals and creative organizations. On Oct. 1, Communities Connect Brampton presents a free panel session on Music Publishing, Sync & Licensing, with industry experts Mikaila Simmons, Everton Lewis Jr., Kaya Pino, Kim Temple, and Vince DeGiorgio. Register here

– Toronto psych-rock trio Mimico announces its upcoming album Hi-Action, comes out Oct. 25 on Hand Drawn Dracula. Here's new single New Haze.

–The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra working together with NSO musicians and Canadian Federation of Musicians Local 820 have signed their first collective agreement following negotiations over the last six months. The three-year deal includes enhancements to compensation, pension contributions to the Musicians’ Pension Fund of Canada, leave and tenure provisions. The contract will come into effect Sept. 1, 2019, and will run until Aug. 31, 2022. Source: MusicNL

– The Canada Council's Arts Abroad program helps fund travel linked to international presentation, exhibition, artistic collaboration, networking and new market opportunities for Canadian artists and arts professionals, artistic groups and arts organizations. Grants provide support to attend significant events outside of Canada and build an international presence. The next deadline for applications is Sept. 10. Learn more here 

RiP

Paul Grace, a former member of Juno-nominated dance production team and songwriters The Boomtang Boys, died in Toronto on Aug. 7, age 63. No cause of death has been reported.

Grace was a Toronto DJ who had a small indie label Fun Wow with brother Tony Grace and another partner when they met Rob DeBoer and created Boomtang Records in 1991 and their working name The Boomtang Boys.

The dance production crew did dozens of remixes for artists including Ashley MacIsaac, Corey Hart, Bif Naked, The Philosopher Kings, Amanda Marshall and Econoline Crush, as well as writing and recording original material.

Geoff Kulawick signed The Boomtang Boys to Virgin Music Canada, and the group's 1999 debut album, Greatest Hits Volume One, went gold in Canada, boosted by original hits Pictures and Squeeze Toy, both featuring singer Kim Esty, and a cover of Hot Butter's Popcorn. Squeeze Toy won the Best Dance Music Video category at the 1999 MMVAs.

Grace left The Boomtang Boys in 2000, prior to their second album, Wet. He continued to DJ for a time, but had been musically inactive for a long period.

A memorial is being planned, with details to be announced on Aug. 26. Source: Billboard