By Kerry Doole
Awards news
This week, The Canadian Folk Music Awards announced the nominees for its 19th edition, with 110 nominees spanning over 20 categories. Leading the list with three nods apiece are Julian Taylor, Kaeley Jade, Steve Dawson, The East Pointers, and William Prince. Barbra Lica, Big Little Lions, The Bombadils, Dave Gunning, Don Ross, Jill Barber, Jackson Hollow, Kyle McKearney, La Déferlance, Mary Beth Carty, Mia Kelly, Moonfruits, Queen Kong, So Long Seven, Terra Spencer, Vinta, and Whitehorse all received two nominations each. In a two-stage jury process, more than 100 jurors help determine the official recipients in each category. The CFMA 2024 Awards Weekend takes place April 4 -7 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Check the full nominations list here.
– The 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards Industry Winners were announced last weekend at BreakOut West in Kelowna. Winners included Birthday Cake Media, the West End
Cultural Centre, and National Music Centre. All winners and nominees can be found here. The 21st year of BoW was reportedly a real success, attracting 550 registrants and 1200 plus attendees, and featuring 26 conference sessions and over 1100 one-on-one meetings, with 59 regional and international artists giving over 110 performances during the three-night music festival. Saskatoon was announced as the host city of BreakOutWest 2024.
– On Oct. 11 at Espace St-Denis in Montréal, Michel Rivard, Marjo, and Jean Millaire were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame through the Legends series supported by the RBC Foundation through RBC Emerging Artists. Performing tributes to the three inductees were Isabelle Boulay, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Martin Deschamps, Lulu Hughes, Laurence Jalbert, Martin Léon, Tina Leon, Elliot Maginot, Safia Nolin and Paul Piché.
– MusicNL's Board of Directors has announced the recipients of the trade org's honourary awards. They are as follows: Lifetime Achievement: Buddy Wasisname and The Other Fellers; Denis Parker Industry Builder: Robert Buck; Unsung Hero: Amy House & Marlene Cahill
Artist news
– Internationally renowned jazz pianist Dave Young and his Quartet are releasing a new album, June Night, on Modica Music, on Oct. 21. The night before, the group launches it with a performance at Toronto's Jazz Bistro. Young's all-star quartet features Brian Dickinson, Reg Schwager and Davide DiRenzo.
– Toronto skate-punk band Shiv and the Carvers have just released their debut EP Physical Capital,and last week it was promoted via a release show at Houndstooth in Toronto.
– Acclaimed composer/saxophonist Quinsin Nachoff merges physics, film and music in the world premiere of the multimedia Patterns from Nature. The innovative, ambitious new project debuts on Nov. 4 at Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. The free concert also features the Ontario premiere of Winding Tessellations, Nachoff’s Saxophone Concerto. More info here.
– Multi award-winning Maria Cherwick is a Newfoundland-based fiddler/violinist who is preparing to release a self-titled debut album with her band Jockey Special in the spring. Now coming out is an advance single, Murphy's, a spirited three-part medley.
– Vivienne Wilder returned to The Cameron House in Toronto on Tues. night, impressing in her early evening slot. She was accompanied by sax player Gordon Hyland and the combination of that instrument and Wilder’s guitar made for an intriguing sonic framework for her literate and artful indie rock-based compositions. Reflections on gangsters, groupies, and an ode to Trailer Park Boy Ricky were amongst the strong original tunes proffered. Spied enjoying the set was veteran man about town, Richard Flohil.
– Veteran jazz drummer Terry Clarke is leading Terry’s Jam at Hirut in Toronto on Oct. 25, Nov. 8 & 22, and Dec. 13. The core trio next week will be Clarke, David Occhipinti and Paul Novotny, and we're informed that ALL instruments are welcome at the jam. A great chance for young musicians to join with and learn from established pros on the bandstand.
– Acclaimed Canadian jazz trumpet player Brownman Ali celebrates Halloween with a 6-city Ontario tour exploring Michael Jackson's Thriller through the lens of electric jazz. The much-lauded Brownman Electric Trio + 1 (keyboardist Nick MacLean) will perform the entire Thriller album plus other MJ classics in a fresh manner. The fun begins in Newmarket, ON, on Oct. 26, followed by shows in Kitchener, Oshawa, Guelph, Toronto, and St Catharines. Check here for the itinerary and tix.
– Saxophonist, composer and arranger Jocelyn Ménard's current Caribbean Jazz Group project is heading out on tour shortly, beginning with a hometown Montreal show at Theatre Outrement tonight (Oct. 19). Tix here. The in-demand Menard plays with Alain Bédard's Auguste quartet, the Jazzlab Orchestra, Bernard Primeau Jazz Ensemble, Vic Vogel's Big Band, André Condouant, Happy Lewis, Charlie Chomereau-Lamotte, the Big Band Mavounzy, Gwadloup, and more.
