Music News Digest, Oct. 12, 2023

By Kerry Doole

Awards news

– The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Famehas just inducted four ground-breaking songs: Informer, Drinking in L.A., My Definition Of A Boombastic Jazz Style, and Echo Beach. These seminal songs were recorded by (in order) Snow, Bran Van 3000, Dream Warriors, and Martha and The Muffins. These song inductions will be honoured on Nov. 1 in Toronto with performances during CSHF’s Legends Series, supported by the RBC Foundation through RBC Emerging Artists.

– The Western Canadian Music Alliance announced the winners of the 2023 Western Canadian Music Artistic Awards last night (Oct. 11) during the BreakOut West Opening Reception in Downtown Kelowna, where BOW 2023 officially kicked off. Topping the list of victors with three awards were Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Other notable winners included William Prince, Begonia, and The Royal Foundry. Check the full list of winners here and watch the reveal video here. The winners of the 2023 WCMA Industry Awards will be revealed at the Industry Awards Brunch on Oct. 14 at the BOW host hotel – Delta Grand Okanagan.

– The ADISQ Premier Gala has announced a formidable list of performers, including Ariane Roy, Bleu Jeans Bleu, Jay Sc ø t t, Clay Scott, Les Shirley, The Boulay sisters, Matiu, Shauit, Shreez and Zach Zoya. Still live from MTelus in Montreal on Nov. 1 and presented on Télé-Québec, the Premier Gala will highlight all styles of music by awarding 22 Félix awards. For the first time, singer/songwriter Sarahmée serves as host. More info here.

– 2024 Music PEI Award Submissions are now open in 28 categories. The deadline to apply here is Nov. 13. The awards will be presented during the 2024 Music PEI Week from March 6 to 10, 2024 in Charlottetown, PEI. 

– Toronto punk rock faves Pup recently received the prestigious Road Gold Certification by CIMA for exceptional touring success. This recognition is bestowed upon artists and bands that have achieved the milestone of exceeding 25K ticket sales domestically within a single year. The presentation of the certification took place backstage at the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal. 

– The TD Indigenous Songwriter Award comes with a $10K prize, and entries submitted will be examined by a jury of prominent songwriters selected by the SOCAN Foundation. The deadline to apply here is Oct. 15.

Industry news

– Nickelback will perform during NHL’s Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Oct. 29. , will perform during the second intermission on Oct. 29, the Oilers announced Wednesday. This year’s Heritage Classic marks the 20th anniversary of the NHL’s first-ever regular-season outdoor game and features two Alberta rivals, the Oilers and Flames.  Source: CP

– The 2023 Edmonton Junos Host Committee is launching the Together YEG Concert series taking place between Oct. 2023 and March 2024. The ten-show series begins at SOHO on Oct. 25, with an eclectic bill comprising St Arnaud,  AV & The Inner City, Audrey Ochoa and Lyle Bell performing solo. Artists performing at later events include The Royal Foundry, Celeigh Cardinal, Mallory Chipman, Electric Audrey 2, Sammy Volkov, and Nuela Charles. More info here.

– Returning for its 12th season, Hamilton Music Collective showcases top Canadian and international musicians in jazz, blues, and improvised music at The Gasworks in downtown Hamilton. All proceeds from ticket sales support the An Instrument For Every Child (AIFEC) program. On Oct. 12, the new fall series is launched by the acclaimed Elizabeth Shepherd & Michael Occhipinti Quartet (ES:MO), followed by Kind of Blue Revisited (Oct. 26), the Tony Monaco Organ Trio (Nov. 9), and Darcy Hepner & Friends (Nov. 30). Info and tix here.

– Music NL's Music Celebration Week 2023 is getting ready to roll in St. John's, Oct. 18-21. It features an industry conference, workshops, keynote speakers, one-on-one meetings, and the Music NL Awards show. Check a list of nominees here. More info on the Week here.

– Music BC has launched a Business Envelope Travel Grant to provide assistance to B.C.-based, for-profit music companies and entrepreneurs undertaking travel activities in support of the growth and development of their business and/or their B.C.-based artist clients. Applications are now open until Nov. 3 to support initiatives that take place between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. Info here.

– Music BC's 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held virtually on Oct. 25, at 5:00 PM (PST). During the meeting, Music BC members will have the opportunity to help shape the Board of Directors, as well as learn about the organization's vision for 2024 and beyond. More info here. Members interested in running for a seat on the Board of Directors should reach out to emily@musicbc.org.

MusicOntario is presenting 3 days of showcasing at this year's Folk Music Ontario Conference this weekend (Oct. 12-14),  at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in London. Notable names featured include Barbra Lica, Adrian Sutherland, Lonesome Ace, Brooke Blackburn, Twin Flames, and Sarah Jane Scouten. More info here.

On Nov. 18, the CMAOntario presents CrossRoads at The Music Room in Haliburton, ON. This features songwriters in the round performance with The Good Brothers, Marshall Dane, and Ryan Van Lee. Tix here.

Artists news

– Now based in BC, acclaimed veteran singer/songwriter Ray Materick is reuniting with his original '70s band for a concert at Hamilton's Westdale Theatre on Nov. 28 (billed as Ray Materick & Midnight Matinee). Joining him onstage will be Ed Roth, Bill Cymbala, Bob Doidge, Mike McCurlie, and Mike Alonzo, with Caroline Wiles adding backup vocals and opening the concert. Of note: Bob Doidge, the longtime owner of Grant Avenue studio, is the catalyst of this keenly anticipated and highly recommended show. Tix here

– It has been a while since we've heard from Corey Hart, but the veteran star has now returned with a new single, Dinosaurs. In a label press release, he explains that the song was spawned from his ongoing trouble with severe back pain and inspired by  Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thích Nhất Hạnh. Says Hart: "I’m very grateful to still have the opportunity of sharing my music with the world. I’ve battled against debilitating chronic back pain since injuring myself in a sports trauma eighteen years ago. In plain talk — my spine has been fucked ever since."

– Hamilton blues-rockers Lowdown Dirty Mojos are hosting a hometown CD release party for the new album Down'n'Dirty at Stonewalls Restaurant on Oct. 13, with Alfie Smith opening.  Though composed of scene veterans from such outfits as Crawling Kingsnakes, The Lowdown Dirty Mojos recently won a Maple Blues Award in the Best New Group category. Recommended. 

– Platinum-selling country star Dallas Smith has landed a leading role (as a rock star) in the upcoming film Soul's Road, marking his acting debut. CP reports that principal photography began earlier this month in Edmonton and the film is a fully financed Canadian project. Soul's Road is the first feature from director Joel Stewart, who has worked on various TV music specials with Smith and such country artists as Gord Bamford and Tim Hicks.

– Out tomorrow (Oct. 13), in time for Halloween, is a cover of Ramones' classic Pet Sematary by Canadian synthpop project, Church of Trees. The track is co-produced by band leader Bernard Frazer and studio auteur Jordon Zadorozny (Blinker the Star), who played guitar and drums and mixed and mastered it at his Skylark Park studio in Pembroke, ON. Pet Sematary is the lead single from the forthcoming album Transience and will be available at churchoftrees.bandcamp.com and on most streaming services.

–  Monster Truck vocalist/bassist Jon Harvey has been working on solo material that he will showcase with a hometown residency at Hamilton's Corktown, beginning tonight (Oct. 12). He'll have a few musical guests in tow.

– Texas-based, Canadian-bred, blues singer/songwriter/guitarslinger  Sue Foley releases her Sue Foley Live in Austin Vol 1 CD on Oct. 27 via her Guitar Woman Records, with a vinyl LP release to follow on Dec. 8. Recorded on May 19 this year bat Austin’s legendary Continental Club, it captures Foley at the top of her game. Earlier this year, she was awarded the Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Female Artist (Koko Taylor Award) in Memphis - an award she also won in 2022 and 2020. On Oct. 27, Foley plays a show at The Mule Spinner in Hamilton. Tix here.