Music News Digest, June 21, 2019

By FYI Staff

Cadence Grace, a solo artist and singer with country trio Runaway Angel based out of Toronto, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) on February 12, 2018, and received a bone marrow transplant 64 days ago. The good news is that she’s in recovery. You can read about her courageous journey here.

Even though it hasn’t been an easy journey, Grace has been relentless in her advocacy of encouraging people to join the transplant registry and for stem cell treatment. She's also decided to be selfless with a generous musical gesture: before she received her transplant, she recorded a new single called I’m Not, available on iTunes, with all proceeds earmarked for the Cadence Grace Support Fund, newly launched to provide financial support for those going through transplants.

This past weekend, she was healthy enough to make a trip to two conferences to be recognized for her efforts. Nominated for her advocacy in raising awareness of CML, the need for stem cell donors and transplant support, Cadence was awarded the Extraordinary CML Story Award at the CML Network Conference in Toronto. On Sunday, she attended the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards and won the CMAO’s inaugural Holly and Steve Kassay Generous Spirit Award for the time and effort she spent on the CMAO board of directors during the organization’s formative years.  Congratulations Cadence Grace - you are an inspiration!

– Now in its 33rd year, the TD Toronto Jazz Festival runs from June 21 - 30. Opening weekend at this year's event will see Bloor Street shut down for a free Saturday show featuring blues heroes Downchild Blues Band with Dan Aykroyd, along with the Queen of Gospel Shirley Caesar, Shad and more. Other notables in action include Hilario Duran, Amanda Martinez with Donné Roberts and Kellylee Evans (Martinez is launching her new album), OKAN, Heavyweights Brass Band, Heather Bambrick, Elizabeth Shepherd, and Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats. More lineup details here

– The Indspire Awards honour Indigenous people who have made significant contributions to Indigenous education, arts, culture, business, health, law, sports and public service in Canada as well as presenting three youth awards to First Nations, Inuit and Métis role models. The 2019 Indspire Awards ceremony will be broadcast on APTN, CBC, CBC Radio and the CBC Gemstreaming service on June 23 at 8 pm EST. Performers include Pat Vegas of Redbone, PJ Vegas, the Northern Cree Singers, Jeremy Dutcher, Moe Clark, Derek Miller, Carsen Grey, Shakti Hayes, Beatrice Love, Wolf Saga, and Joey Stylez.

– Tomorrow (June 22), US rock band The National headlines a big outdoor show at Hamilton's Pier 8. A very strong supporting cast including Alvvays, Hayden, Jennifer Castle and The Angels of Death Band, and Hannah Georgas is on the bill for the show, co-presented by Collective Concerts and Supercrawl. Tix here. Interesting fact: The National is managed by Hamilton-based Straight & Narrow.

– Back-to-back CCMA Female Artist of the Year winner Meghan Patrick is on a real roll these days. Last Sunday she took home five trophies from the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards in Ottawa, and has now released a new single, Wild as Me. The single, co-written by Patrick, in her new home of Nashville, is the follow up to her #1 hit single, Walls Come Down. Produced by Jeremy Stover, Wild as Me features backup vocals by Mitchell Tenpenny. She plays plenty of Canadian country fests over the summer. Dates here

– Edmonton International Airport (EIA) has announced its official partnership with the #NotInMyCity movement – an anti-human trafficking initiative founded by Canadian humanitarian and country music star, Paul Brandt. #NotInMyCity serves to educate the public about the realities of child sexual exploitation and trafficking while simultaneously uniting Canadians in the fight to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens. EIA becomes the second major airport in Canada to partner with #NotInMyCity, following the Calgary International Airport. Source: Global Newswire

– The 2019 TD Halifax Jazz Festival is partnering with Stingray to present the Stingray Rising Stars program at this year's festival. The program offers cash awards and showcase opportunities to emerging Canadian artists, and the finalists perform on the Waterfront TD Main Stage every afternoon, July 10-14. This year’s finalists include Sam Wilson Quintet, Malleus Trio, Ethan Ardelli Quartet, Audrey Ochoa, and Zamani.

– Toronto blues artist Lindsay Beaveris amongst the nominees for the 2019 Blues Blast Music Awards, for the Sean Costello Rising Blues Star Award. Fan voting to determine the winners runs July 1 - Aug. 16 here.  Awards will be announced Sept. 13 at ceremonies to be held in Rockford, Illinois.

– The free TD IRIE Music Festival, now in its 17th year, runs June 21 and 22 at Celebration Square, next door to Square One in Mississauga. International headliners include Grammy-nominated reggae and dancehall singer Junior Reid, performing with DJ Power, and Farmer Nappy. Canadian talents include Level Exodus featuring Jaxx, Flex, D’Enforcas Sound Crew, DJ Carl Allen and more. Sked here

– Submissions for the Amy Louie Grossman Music Scholarship are now being accepted, until Sept. 13. Now in its eighth year, this artist development bursary, backed by a yearly fundraiser, presents a musician from the Greater Toronto Area $2K to help advance their career. Info here 

– Penelope Stevens has been elected president of Music•Musique NB (MNB)'s Board of Directors, taking over from Véronique Wade. Stevens is a member of Fredericton avant-punk trio Motherhood, and she also works for non-profit arts orgs Feels Good Community and Capital Arts Support. Four new board members were elected during the 2019 Annual General Meeting, on June 15.

– Submissions for the 15th edition of the Canadian Folk Music Awards close on June 28. The 2020 CFMAs take place April 3-4, 2020, in Charlottetown, PEI.

– Music PEI is currently accepting applications for new board members, with a June 28 deadline. The org's AGM will take place on July 24. Apply here

RIP

Philippe Cerboneschi (also known as "Zdar"), one half of French dance duo Cassius, died in Paris on June 19, age 52. "He made an accidental fall, through the window of a high floor of a Parisian building," said his agent, Sebastien Farran, without giving further details.

Cerboneschi formed Cassius with Hubert Blanc-Francard (aka Boom Bass) in 1996. They produced and remixed for bands such as Phoenix, Air, Beastie Boys, Franz Ferdinand, and French hip hop star MC Solaar.

Zdar’s solo production for other artists earned him a reputation in his own right. He worked on Phoenix’s 2000 debut album, United, and then on their 2009 breakout album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, which won the Grammy award for best alternative music album in 2010.

The band's first album in three years, Dreems, is due to be released today (June 21).

Tributes from the music world started pouring in on Thursday morning as news of his death filtered through, including messages from Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, DJ Calvin Harris and Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend. Source: The Guardian