advertisement
FYI

SamaritanMag Features Arkells On Eve Of Hometown Fest

Arkells host their own festival in Hamilton this Saturday with some of the proceeds benefitting Syrian refugees who have resettled in the city.

SamaritanMag Features Arkells On Eve Of Hometown Fest

By Aaron Brophy

Canadian rock act Arkells have become one of the country's biggest bands since forming a dozen years ago. So big, in fact, they've created their own music festival at a stadium in their hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, just outside Toronto, with some of the proceeds benefitting the thousand Syrian refugees the city has settled recently.


Taking place this Saturday, June 23, at Tim Hortons Field, The Rally, as it's being called, will feature Arkells, American band Cold War Kids, English singer Bishop Briggs and local act Ellevator.

Read the SamaritanMag interview with band member Max Kerman to find out more about Saturday’s show, and why the band chose this cause.

advertisement

advertisement
Val Blavatnik
Courtesy WMG

Val Blavatnik

Business News

Val Blavatnik to Oversee Warner Music Canada in New Role at Warner Music Group

Blavatnik will oversee Warner Music Canada as managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at WMG. As part of a slew of executive announcements, Simon Robson will be leaving the company, while Alejandro Duque takes the top international role.

Val Blavatnik, the 28-year-old son of Warner Music Group majority owner and vice chairman Len Blavatnik, has been named managing director of Warner Music North America, U.K. and Corporate Development at the Warner Music Group, the company announced Friday (Sept. 25). In his new role the younger Blavatnik, who has held several roles at the company in recent years, and has been a board member since 2023, expects to “unify and drive business and operational strategy across these markets while guiding the company’s investment strategy to support growth,” according to a press release.

The Blavatnik announcement is part of a flurry of new executive announcements that CEO Robert Kyncl made this morning. In addition, Atlantic Music Group chairman/CEO Elliot Grainge will take on ADA in the U.S. as its new chairman, while Alejandro Duque, who has held the dual roles of president of Warner Latin and president of ADA since last July, has been named president of Warner Music International, adding Asia-Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa under his oversight. (Duque will continue to oversee ADA outside the U.S.) Zach Friedman, currently COO at Atlantic Music Group, will add the title of vice chair of ADA U.S. to his resume.

keep readingShow less
advertisement