Music News Digest, June 5, 2019
The CFC/Slaight Music Residency Showcase (pictured) is approaching, the 2019 SOCAN Songwriting Prize finalists are announced, and a new book on Massey Hall seeks your input. Also in the news are the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class, Paul McCartney, Emma Stevens, Taylor Knox, Laurie Brown, The Trews, CFMAs, Adam Levine, and Audrey Ochoa. Videos added for your enjoyment.
By Kerry Doole
The CFC/Slaight Music Residency Showcase takes place on June 10 at 7 p.m. at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. The invite-only industry event marks the end of the Canadian Film Centre's 2018 Slaight Music Residency and celebrates the talent and accomplishments of six Slaight Music Residents – Ashley Jane & Timon Wientzek, Antonio Naranjo, Jason Couse, Steve Krecklo, and Suad Bushnaq.
The evening includes the screening of five short demos featuring original music and the premiere of five short cinematic pieces featuring original scores and songs created by the residents, who will also contribute a musical performance. The program’s patron and Slaight Communications Inc. President & CEO, Gary Slaight, and CFC's Composer Chair, Lesley Barber, will present the residents with their CFC certificates of achievement at the event.
– The finalists for the 2019 SOCAN Songwriting Prize have been announced, and this year's nominated songs, released in 2018, span a wide range of genres, Winners of the Prize, and the equivalent Prix de la chanson SOCAN for francophone songwriters, are determined by fan voting. Each winner receives $10K, a Yamaha PSR-S975 keyboard and a $500 gift card from Long & McQuade.
Artists performing the nominated songs include Dilly Dally, Grandson, Kaytranada feat. Shay Lia, So Loki, Bad Child, Anemone, Just John + Dom Dias, Clairmont the Second, and MorMor. From now until June 17, music fans can vote for their favourite song from the nominees by visiting socansongwritingprize.ca. The winning songs will be announced the week of June 17.
– CARAS and Slaight Music have announced that submissions for the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class are officially open. Now in its fifth year, the program offers emerging artists opportunities to hone their craft and develop their music careers, including an intensive week of mentorship from music industry professionals and a trip to Saskatoon, SK to be a part of the 2020 Junos. The Allan Slaight Juno Master Class was created hand-in-hand with Canada's Music Incubator at Coalition Music. Each year three artists are selected, and they will be joined by 2019 CBC Music Searchlight winner, Shopé. Apply here until June 28.
– That Night at Massey Hall is a limited-edition new book set to celebrate and chronicle the history of the historic venue through the eyes and memories of fans and artists by gathering stories, photos and memorabilia. With a foreword written by Grammy award-winning musicologist Rob Bowman, the book will look to relive the great experiences of the past. Publisher David Binks is asking fans, artists and friends for accounts of their memories of seeing concerts, performing and working at the Hall. The resulting unique collection of personal stories, experiences, and original photos and memorabilia will tell the fascinating history of "The Old Lady of Shuter Street". Visit here to learn more about contributing.
– At a recent concert, Paul McCartney praised a version of Beatles song Blackbird that is sung in Mi'kmaq by Emma Stevens from the Eskasoni First Nation in Nova Scotia. A video of her version has gone viral, with 525K YouTube views. Source: Chronicle-Herald
– Toronto power popster Taylor Knox returns with his second full-length album, Here Tonight, on Friday (out on Cadence). It features production work from Rob Schnapf (Foo Fighters, Dilly Dally, Kurt Vile) and Josh Korody, while Peter Dreimanis from July Talk co-wrote and produced the track Everybody Knows.
– The Board of Directors of the Association of Country Music in Alberta (ACMA) has announced Laurie Brown as the new Executive Director of the ACMA. Brown brings 10 years of music industry experience to the position as the owner of Porch Swing Entertainment, an Alberta based artist management and consulting company.
– The Trews will perform the halftime show at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats season opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The official CFL kick-off game is on June 13 at Tim Hortons Field. The gig is fitting in that some Trews members now live in the Hammer. The band is touring Canada over the summer in support of current album Civilianaires. Dates here.
– Submissions for the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards are open until June 28. Canadian artists who have released recordings between May 1, 2018, and June 28, 2019, are eligible to submit. The 15th edition of the CFMAs takes place April 3-4, 2020, in Charlottetown, PE.
– Adam Levine of Maroon 5 fame, and his wife, model Behati Prinsloo, recently sold their estate in Beverly Hills for US$45M. The Traditional-style two-story home, behind gates on more than an acre, was previously owned by Will & Grace creator Max Mutchnick and, before him, tennis star Pete Sampras. Built in 1933 and recently renovated, the house has over 10,000 square feet of living space, multiple wet bars, a screening room and a gym. Including the guest house, there are five bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. Source: LA Times' Hot Property
– Trombonist/composer/bandleader Audrey Ochoa won the 2018 Edmonton Music Prize (and $10K) for her second album, the trio recording Afterthought. This month she is playing jazz fests across Canada, beginning with the Vancouver International Jazz Festival on June 22, and closing at the Halifax Jazz Festival on July 13.
