Music News Digest, July 27, 2023

By Kerry Doole

Festivals news

With under two weeks to go before Sappyfest 18, the Sackville, NB festival has announced additions to its lineup of musicians, performers, artists, writers, and experiences. Cluttered, Écarlate Musique, Flacko Finesse, He/She/They, Jing Xia, Joce Reyome, Piner, Tea 4 Three, and XIA-3 join Sappy's musical lineup alongside Aquakultre, By Divine Right, Caged Animals, Fiver and the Atlanticks Official, Flour, Love Language, and others. Art exhibits and author readings are also featured. Tix here and more info here. The fest runs Aug. 4-6.

– Music Nova Scotia has shared the next 30 artists that will be performing at Nova Scotia Music Week 2023, happening from Nov. 2-5 in Yarmouth/Kespukwitk, NS. Check the list here. More artists will be announced this fall. Delegate Passes and Festival Wristbands are on sale now here.

Industry news

– Released via Hidden Pony/UMC, Changing – A Lunar Studio Project is described as ”a new policy-driven anthem that hopes to ignite a widespread movement and become a vehicle for social change. It debuts alongside the framework for the ground-breaking research and solutions-based project HeARTwork: Advancing Women in Leadership; it was co-written and recorded by Lunar Studios’ Artists in Residence, Jay “Your Hunni” Galluccio, Madelyn Kirby, and Meagan De Lima and was produced by Serena Ryder, alongside Brian Kobayakawa. Lunar Studios is a subsidiary of Conscious Economics – a national not-for-profit organization and global social enterprise.

– As reported here recently, Hugh's Room Live in Toronto is now moving into its newly purchased home at 296 Broadview Avenue. On Sept. 20, the venue's first official show will be Grace Petrie followed the next evening by Aleksi Campagne. HRL's Coco Montoya show will still take place at Revival on Oct. 3. Those interested in booking the new venue for an event can contact Executive Director Michael Booth at: ed@hughsoomlive.com.

–  CIMA's Business & Showcase Mission to UK Americana Music Week 2024 (running Jan. 22-25) in Hackney, London, is now accepting applications, with an Aug. 25 deadline. UK Americana Music Week is a conference, awards show and music festival with live Americana music from the US, Austria, Spain, Denmark, the UK and more. The day conference consists of 200+ international promoters, artists and festival owners.  Apply here.

– Individual tickets to all Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) performances in its 2023/24 concert season went on sale to the general public yesterday (July 26). The TSO also announced the addition of six new programs to its previously announced Year 101 lineup, including five Special Performances and a first-ever collaboration between the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra (COYO) in celebration of the TSYO’s landmark 50th season. Tix and info here.

– Orillia, ON, is well-known as the original hometown of Gordon Lightfoot, and a local group is planning a winter event to celebrate the legacy of the late folk great. John Winchester, a lifelong Lightfoot fan, has been working with a group of residents to bring Orillia Lightfoot Days, three days' worth of Lightfoot music and festivities to the city from Nov. 3-5. The original event began 10 years ago following the success of Gordon Lightfoot’s 75th birthday celebrations but had since ceased. It is returning now to coincide with Lightfoot's 85th birthday. Source: Orillia Times

– Kevin Drew, a co-founding member of the famed indie rock collective Broken Social Scene, has contributed a musical score to a new documentary film, The Movie Man. The Canadian feature profiles colourful entrepreneur Keith Stata and his bizarre multiplex set deep in the forest of small-town Ontario. Also of note: Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies is the doc's executive producer. It will hit the fest circuit soon. More info here.

– The late Gary 17 was a very important supporter of live music in Toronto, and he is being remembered via a tribute concert on July 30 at one of his haunts, The Swan on the Danforth. An impressive artist lineup includes Brian Gladstone, Carmen Toth, Roger Zuraw, Nicola Vaughan, Rob Minderman, Lynn Harrison, Michael Bär, and Laura Fernandez. More info here

–  In partnership with the Pat and  Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts, Toronto's JAZZ.FM91 is presenting the third season of Discover Women in Jazz. This concert series promotes, champions and highlights women’s contributions to jazz as musicians, composers, lyricists and bandleaders. It features five artists from the Greater Toronto Area selected by an informed panel.  Concerts will be broadcast live to air and live-streamed to YouTube each Thursday during Aug. between 7 and 8 p.m. ET. This year's lineup comprises Lauren Falls, Sabine Ndalamba, Emma Cava, Jen Lo, and Virginia MacDonald. 

– The Hatch Gallery in Bloomfield, Prince Edward County, presents a new exhibition, Both Sides Now, opening on Aug. 6. It showcases the visual art created by four notable Canadian musicians, Sarah Slean, Tom Wilson, Kevin Hearn, and Kurt Swinghammer, and is launched at an Aug. 6 event that will also feature their music. A charity fundraiser, it has quickly sold out. More info on the gallery here.

Artists news

– Canadian indie rock stalwarts By Divine Right and Shotgun Jimmie are currently touring together. They play The Casbah in Hamilton tonight (July 27- tix here), followed by shows in Toronto, Prince Edward County, Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal. Highly recommended. Itinerary details here.

– Truth (Brandon Hack) is a Canadian indie dance-pop artist who had a 2021 EDM hit with the track All Night. Here's his brand-new cut.

– Victoria, BC-based singer-songwriter Heather Ferguson is bringing her eclectic sound to Ontario for two shows next month. She plays Montgomery Scotch Lounge in Ottawa on Aug. 18 and The Stealth Lounge at The Pilot Tavern in Toronto on Aug. 31. Expect material from her 2022 debut album, Lush Life. More info here.