Music News Digest, Dec. 20, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Here's a charity campaign that is certainly not D.O.A. BC punk legend turned Burnaby councillor Joe Keithley recently asked the community to donate musical instruments for his program Harmony for All, one that assists Burnaby children who want to play music but cannot afford instruments or lessons. He has been thrilled at the response. "I was expecting 50 and we're now over 250 donations," he told Burnaby Now.  If you have something to donate, contact him at joe.keithley@burnaby.ca

— Toronto’s annual Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival  turns 18 in 2020, and has made a major change. Long based in a cluster of venues in the Danforth and Broadvew area, it is now moving to The Annex. Five stages will be set up at The Tranzac Club and its neighbour, The Annex Hotel, with over 100 artists performing, Feb. 21-23. Notable performers include Lynn Miles, Jack de Keyzer, Swamperella, Wendell Ferguson, Barbara Lynch, Ben Sures, Brian Blain, Clela Errington, Danny Marks, Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, Donné Roberts, Faith Nolan, Howard Gladstone, James Gordon, Jon Brooks, Kevin Breit, Kyp Harness, Laura Fernandez, Lynn Harrison, Mike McKenna, Mr. Rick, Noah Zacharin, Ori Dagan, Sam Broverman, and Sebastian Agnello. More info here.

— Edmonton's Royalty Records has signed veteran roots singer-songwriter Mike Plume. The label will release Plume's album Lonesome Stretch Of Highway in May 2020, preceded by two singles in Feb.

—Yesterday (Dec. 19), the Recording Academy announced that Iggy Pop, Public Enemy, Chicago, John Prine, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe will receive Lifetime Achievement Grammy Awards. Ken Ehrlich, Philip Glass, and Frank Walker will be honored with the Trustees Award. The presentation ceremony takes place April 18 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

— Toronto world music faves Lemon Bucket Orchestra presents two hometown "Lemon-Aid" shows at the Opera House , Dec. 27 and 28, with guests Balaklava Blues, Bangerz Brass, and Moneka Arabic Jazz. The gigs support worthy causes, with LBO donating to Regent Park School of Music, Balaklava Blues to Help Us Help, Bangerz Brass to RISE Edutainment, and Moneka Arabic Jazz  to TukTuk4Freedom.

— The seventh edition of Hamilton's Something Else fest will run from June 18-21, 2020 at The Rock on Locke, plus other city venues. Domestic and international artists in the new music and avant-garde jazz spheres will be featured. An advance Blind Faith Pass is on sale now for $70 (price increases in the New Year). More info here

— FACTOR is accepting submissions for its Artist Feature, one telling the success stories of projects it has funded. Apply here

—  Long Winter has announced that the third event of its 2019-2020 series will take place at the Gladstone Hotel on Jan. 11.  The multi-media night includes music from Korea Town Acid, Boosie Fade,  Kiwi jr., Joseph Shabason, BBQ Pope and more.  

Obit

Kenny Lynch, English singer, songwriter and actor, died on Dec. 18, age 81.

He was one of the few people of Caribbean origin prominent in the British entertainment world of the 1960s and 70s. A talented singer and songwriter, with Top 10 hits to his name in both guises, he became a familiar television presence via his frequent appearances on variety shows, sitcoms and quiz programmes.

Lynch worked with The Beatles in 1963 on the song Misery which featured on their self-titled debut album. He had top 10 hts wth the songs s Up On The Roof and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You, and composed songs for the likes of Cilla Black, Small Faces and Linda Thorson.

His '60s and '70s films ranged from the pop music feature Just for Fun through comedies such as Carry on Loving and The Alf Garnett Saga, to horror (Dr Terror’s House of Horrors) and sexploitation movies such as The Playbirds and Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair.

Lynch received an OBE for his career in entertainment. Sources: The Guardian, Metro