Music News Digest, Oct. 4, 2021

By Kerry Doole

The imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival, the world’s largest Indigenous festival showcasing film, video, audio, and digital + interactive media made by Indigenous screen-content creators, has announced a strong lineup of music programming for the 22nd Festival, running Oct. 19-24 in Toronto. The annual concert The Beat moves worldwide and online on Oct. 23 with virtual performances by Nimkish, Indigo, and DJ Shub. Presented in partnership with 50/50 Arts Collective, this evening also features some of the top Indigenous music videos and performances of 2021 and will name the 2021 Harmonize Mentorship recipient, winner of prizes including $10K cash from Slaight Music.

On Oct. 23, the music video program Reverberate showcases 11 music videos by emerging and established Indigenous musicians and filmmakers from around the globe including: Angela Gladue, Edzi'u, Zika, Ulannaq Ingemann and Berda Larsen, Divide and Dissolve, Shauna Seeteenak, Reneltta Arluk, Joel Ivany, Luna Red, Ancestress, Nova Weipert, Buffy Sainte-Marie and the Creative Native Project, and Raven Chacon. More info on the fest here.

– Top Canadian hard rockers Billy Talent recently announced a 10-date national tour for early 2022. The Western leg has Pup as support, with the second leg featuring Rise Against. Tix now on sale here. The tour will promote BT's forthcoming album Crisis Of Faith, set for a Jan. 21 release.

– After a successful launch early this year, the Jazz En Rafale -Live Cam webcast series returns this fall. The second instalment showcases seven female musician-composer-leaders of the Quebec jazz scene, all presenting their latest musical projects. The events, specially designed for webcast in HD, will also be in a VIP in-person format, directly from the Piccolo Studios. Bandleaders featured include Mireille Boily, Annie Dominique, Elisabeth Provencher, Emie R Roussel, Christine Jensen, Blanche Baillargeon, and Gentiane MG. More details and tix here.

– Indie Week 2021 (running online Nov. 9-13) is offering $20 off a Delegate Pass (full price- $60) until Oct. 4. The pass includes access to keynotres, panels, workshops, mentorship and networking opps. Info here.

– The NFL recently announced that a five-member hip-hop supergroup will perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl LVI, set for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Feb. 13. Joining forces are Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar. The LA Times reports that "the high-powered lineup marks the third halftime show produced in part by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation firm, following last year’s performance by The Weeknd and a 2020 collaboration between Jennifer Lopez and Shakira."

– Best known as bassist in The Watchmen, Ken Tizzard has long had a parallel career as a prolific roots singer/songwriter. His current band, entitled Music For Goats, has just released a new single, End Of The World, and Tizzard continues his well-received weekly podcast, Whiskey Wednesday. Check it out here. The group has an Oct. 23 show at the Grand Maple Event Centre in Hastings, ON. Tix here.

– A reminder that tonight (Oct. 4) The Glenn Gould Foundation will award the 13th Glenn Gould Prize Laureate (and $100K) to documentary filmmaker, singer/songwriter, artist, and activist Alanis Obomsawin at a presentation  at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Seeds: The Art of Alanis Obomsawin, a sound and light show, Seeds: The show runs at the ROM nightly, Oct. 4-17.

– The BIPOC hArt Music Series is a platform celebrating diverse representation in the performing arts and creative industries by showcasing emerging artists from across the Greater Hamilton Area and Six Nations of the Grand River. Hamilton Arts Council is accepting applications now here until Nov. 28. A panel of adjudicators from the music sector will select four musicians/groups to be professionally filmed in February 2022.

– Veteran Toronto rock band Chalk Circle plays two shows at Classic Bowl Mississauga on Dec. 19 (3 and 7 pm). Tix here.

– On Sept. 24, renowned world music star Loreena McKennitt released a deluxe edition 30th anniversary edition of her fourth album, The Visit. The first of her records to be released through a partnership with the Warner Music Group worldwide, it proved to be a career breakthrough. McKennitt has gone on to sell more than 14 million albums, earn two Juno awards and two Grammy nominations and perform countless world tours. The Visit: The Definitive Edition includes 4 CDs, one Blu-ray disc and a 32-page booklet, featuring the 2004 re-mastered album, live recordings, radio interviews and performances, and various re-mixes. There is also a 15-track version for streaming and downloading services. Read Roots Music Canada's recent profile of her and the pivotal album here.

– The Mavens are a Canadian folk "supertrio," comprising Shari Ulrich, Lynn Miles and Susan Crowe. In partnership with Home Routes, they present a live-stream on Oct. 24, with some details TBA. Check their FB page for further info.

– SaskMusic has obtained a grant from the Government of Canada via the Cultural Human Resources Council of Canada to bring on a student for a full-time 18-week internship this fall-winter, working in the Regina office. Apply here by Oct. 12.