Music News Digest, Sept. 20, 2019

By Kerry Doole

Drake's clout in Toronto has been proven once again. The rapper submitted a request to the city earlier this summer to be exempt from the bylaw that states no residential fence can exceed two metres in height. Citing security concerns, he wants a much higher fence for the mega-mansion he's building in the upscale Bridle Path hood, and this week the North York community council agreed.

– Montreal neo-classical pianist and film and TV composer (Sharp Objects) Alexandra Stréliski has announced an extensive tour schedule. She makes her NYC debut performance at Le Poisson Rouge on Sept. 30, followed by Euro shows, then 30 concert dates set in Quebec, from Nov. 22 to March 25.  Full itinerary here. Stréliski won Album of The Year at Canadian Music Week’s 2019 Indie Awards.

– The already talent-stacked lineup of the Women's Blues Revue set for Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on Nov. 29 just got stronger with the addition of Melissa McClelland of Whitehorse. She joins the previously announced Tanika Charles, Miss Emily, Angelique Francis, Raha Javanfar, Taborah Johnson, and Ellen McIlwaine. Tickets are on sale here

– The Polaris Music Prize and Music Canada have announced the return of the Polaris Community Development Program. Launched in 2018, the program partners with Canadian not-for-profit music organizations each year to support and develop the music community by eliminating barriers to access for engaged music creators, entrepreneurs and change-makers. The 2019 participants are made up of not-for-profit organizations that help improve equity and representation within the music community through their programming. More info here

– CIMA and the Conseil Quebecois De La Musique (CQM) present an information session, in anticipation of the 2020 edition of Jazzahead, on Sept. 23 at 1:30 pm at Lula Lounge, Toronto. Canada will be the Partner Country for this edition of Jazzahead, taking place from April 23-26, in Bremen, Germany.  RSVP here. As a partner country, an evening of showcases is reserved exclusively for Canadian artists. Apply here by Oct. 31.

–The Amy Louie/Grossman’s Music Scholarship (ALGMS) holds its annual fundraiser on Sept. 24 at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto. The ALGMS is an artist development bursary (worth $2K) created in honour of the late Amy Louie, whose family has been a mainstay in the Toronto music community and owned Grossman’s Tavern since 1975. The event features The Happy Pals, Frankie Foo, The Swinging Blackjacks, Donnie Walsh, Danny Marks, Dan McKinnon, Chloe Watkinson, Jerome Godboo, and Bad Luck Woman & Her Misfortunes.

– Music Canada welcomes Erica Meekes as Director, Public Relations and Events. In this newly created role, Meekes will report to Patrick Rogers, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, and will work in collaboration with Quentin Burgess, Director of Communications,

– Juno award-winning PEI songbird Catherine MacLellan releases her sixth album, Coyote, on Oct. 11. She previewed some of the new material in a somewhat short but very sweet concert at Mills Hardware in Hamilton on Wed night. Accompanied on most tunes by the always tasteful guitarist David Baxter, MacLellan impressed with the purity of her voice and poetic lyrics. She also covered two classics, Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi, and Snowbird, a song written by her father, Gene MacLellan. Her heart-rending rendition did him proud. Spied in the audience were two of The Hammer's best singer/songwriters, Lori Yates and Rae Billing.

– This week, neo-psych outfit Lost Cousins showcased at Reeperbahn in Hamburg and is gearing up to hit the road soon with The Royal Foundry on several October Western Canadian dates, followed by an own show at Toronto's Horseshoe on Nov. 29 The group has also shared new mixes of their track Stay. Tour dates here

– Music BC has invited Sönke Strauch and Mirca Lotz to host a how-to presentation and discussion on the German music industry. Gain valuable insight into the ins-and-outs of one of Europe’s largest music destinations from two music industry professionals based in Germany on topics such as booking, publicity, promotion, tour planning and marketing your music in Germany. The session is at Music BC HQ in Vancouver on Sept. 30, 6-8 pm. This event is $5 advance. Reserve your spot here 

– Music BC reports that Vancouver City Council has unanimously voted in favour of a 10-year initiative that will support further recommendations of the Vancouver Music Strategy. This new 10-year plan aims to increases support for the cultural sector, champion creators, and build on the City’s commitments to Reconciliation and equity.

RIP

Larry Wallis, an early guitarist for Motorhead, has died at the age of 70.

Before a short stint in Motorhead, he was a member of The Pink Fairies. Wallis left Motorhead in 1976, a year before the debut album (without him) was released. He co-wrote the song Vibrator.

Wallis went on to become a record producer at Stiff Records, working with Wreckless Eric, and releasing a solo single, Police Car. More background atNoise11.