Music News Digest, Nov. 26, 2018

By Kerry Doole

On Friday, City and Colour (aka singer/songwriter Dallas Green) released a live album, Guide Me Back Home, on all formats. The album is the first official release on Still Records, the new label Green recently launched as an imprint of Dine Alone Records. Guide Me Back Home has been available digitally since October 5 and has already surpassed 4M streams. The album was recorded during 2017’s sold-out “An Evening with City and Colour - Solo” Canadian tour which covered 25 cities from coast-to-coast. $1 from the sale of each album worldwide will be donated to MusiCounts.

– Fans of Canadian garage/punk U.I.C. have reason to celebrate. Warner Music Canada / Like 90 Records have just re-released the Southern Ontario group's first two albums, 1986's OurGarage  and 1989's Live Like Ninety. Both now debut on all streaming as well as being re-issued on CD and vinyl. U.I.C. was first active from 1982 to 1995, then morphed into The Chickens (active until 2006). They reunited as U.I.C. a couple of years ago, and now play shows sporadically, including one at This  Ain't Hollywood last Saturday. On FB, WMC head Steve Kane posted " Tried to get my boss to sign them all those years ago ...now I’m happy to help make the reissues happen."

– Due to the popularity of its new Travel Assistance Program, the SOCAN Foundation has announced that all available funds for 2018 have been distributed, and the program has been temporarily suspended. The application portal will reopen by Feb. 1, 2019, for activities taking place after that date.

– PASSPORT: Music Export Summit is a collaborative professional development program developed and delivered by Manitoba Music, Music Nova Scotia and Canada’s Music Incubator, supported by FACTOR and the Government of Canada. The deadline for applications is extended to Nov. 30. Details here

– Psych-rock outfit Lost Cousins is gearing up to release their debut full-length In Scenery on Feb. 1, and have just released a track from it, "Trails." The group opens for Busty and The Bass on shows at Maxwell's in Waterloo (Dec. 6), and Toronto's Mod Club (Dec. 15).

– The 41 piece Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is featured in the world premiere of a production entitled The Mozart Effect - Live!. High definition large format immersive video and visual effects are also employed in this dive into the works of the classical genius. The concert takes place on Jan. 26 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Tix here

– Tim McGraw, Jake Owen and Dallas Smith will be joining Chris Stapleton as headliners for Country Thunder 2019 in Craven, SK. Other acts include Steve Earle and The Dukes, Travis Tritt, Steve Earle and the Dukes, Lonestar, and top Canadians Terri Clark, Gord Bamford, The Reklaws, Meghan Patrick, The Road Hammers, JoJo Mason, and The Hunter Brothers The festival runs July 11-14.

– Toronto band The Autumn Stones has gained a loyal following for a melodic Anglo-accented sound one scribe described as "The Smiths meet Roxy Music." Of note: the lineup behind mainman Ciaran Megahey includes former Universal Music staffer Marcus Tamm and local writer/editor Gary Butler, whose sax playing has been a group signature. They released a new four-track EP, Into The Light, last week that you can check out here.

– On Dec. 13, 918 Bathurst in Toronto hosts the second concert in acclaimed pianist/composer Ron Davis' SymphRONica UpfRONt series, partnered with dancers from the Tap Dance Centre.  

–  In January, SOCAN is re-launching its “Song Camp Mondays” initiative, whereby SOCAN members are chosen to participate in a three-person, one-day writing session in the Sound Lounge at the SOCAN Toronto office, or Sound Lounges at the organisation's offices in either Vancouver or Los Angeles. Three applicants, who must be SOCAN members, will be selected at random, to come in for a co-writing session, held at least once a month. Apply here, for sessions starting in January.

– Last week a Toronto court found local rapper and alleged gang leader Jermaine Dunkley guilty of first-degree murder in a 2013 shooting. Police believe that Dunkley, who rapped under the name J Noble, was the one-time leader of a Rexdale street gang called Monstarz. Source: CBC News

– Toronto alt-pop trio Valleyhas released a new EP, Maybe: Side A, via Universal Music Canada. It is the first instalment from a larger comprehensive project set to roll out next year. Valley's 2016 EP This Room Is White amassed over 10M streams, as well as garnering radio and TV placements for indie pop hit “Swim”. The group has started a North American tour (including five more Canadian shows)  running Nov. 24 to Dec. 15. 

RIP

Nicolas Jack Roeg, one of Britain’s most admired and influential film-makers, died on Nov. 23, aged 90, his family has announced.

He is best known for a run of acclaimed movies in the 1970s and early 80s, including horror film, Don’t Look Now, Australian outback drama Walkabout, The Man Who Fell to Earth (starring David Bowie), and Performance (starring Mick Jagger).

He developed his distinctive film-making style, usually involving puzzle-like, non-linear storytelling, lyrical visual imagery and challenging themes such as sex, death, horror and mental breakdown.

Roeg established himself as a  world-class cinematographer in the '60s, working on Lawrence of Arabia, Fahrenheit 451, and Far From the Madding Crowd, before turning to directing. Sources: The Guardian, Variety