Music News Digest: K'naan, Drake, Arkells Win SOCAN 2024 Special Achievement Awards

Awards news

On September 24, at Toronto venue History, the 34^th SOCAN Awards will honour the outstanding achievements of Canada's most accomplished songwriters, composers and music publishers over the past 2 years. The SOCAN Awards kick-off the return of Song & Score Week in Toronto – a week-long program of celebration and education for emerging and established music creators and publishers.

The 2024 SOCAN Special Achievement Winners have just been announced in advance. Hit rock band Arkells will receive the SOCAN National Achievement Award, while K'naan will be presented with the SOCAN Cultural Impact Award for the lasting and global impact of his anthem, "Wavin' Flag." Grammy-winning songwriter, Tobias Jesso Jr. (Adele, Dua Lipa, Daniel Caesar) will be receiving the SOCAN International Achievement Award, Keith Power will be named SOCAN Screen Composer of the Year for the sixth time, and Drake will be honoured with the SOCAN Songwriter of the Year – Performer Award. Lauren Spencer Smith will receive the SOCAN Breakout Songwriter Award, and brothers Caleb and Brian Chan will share the SOCAN Breakout Composer Award.

The 2024 SOCAN Awards will feature live performances by Jade Eagleson, LU KALA, Nemahsis, Noeline Hofmann, Sebastian Gaskin, Strings From Paris, and a special performance of K’naan’s "Wavin’ Flag."

Festival News

– Near-perfect weather on the weekend helped ensure the success of this year's edition (the 16th) of Supercrawl in Hamilton, Sept. 13-15. One of Canada's biggest and best free summer music and arts festivals, it delivered the goods with a well-curated and diverse lineup of emerging talent alongside well-established and popular acts. I went crawling on two of the three days, catching bands at both main fest stages.

Playing typically crowd-pleasing sets were roots rock favourites Elliott BROOD (now Hamilton-based) and Toronto veterans The Sadies, thankfully soldiering on as a trio after the tragic loss of Dallas Good. Montreal indie rock favourites The Dears were able to bring their orchestral pop sound to vivid life via a nine-piece lineup, while acclaimed singer/songwriter Charlotte Cornfield and fast-rising horn-fuelled 12-piece band My Son The Hurricane were both well-received for their shows on the Main Stage.

The real revelations of this year's Crawl were two newer bands featuring some renowned vocalists and players. Folk-rock combo MOONRIIVR is based around singer/songwriter Gavin Gardiner (The Wooden Sky) and guitar ace Champagne James Robertson (Dwayne Gretzky, C & C Surf Factory) and the combination of Gardiner's dramatic voice and onstage charisma and CJR's fluent licks was mesmerizing. The Wild High is a new Hamilton band headed by former Monster Truck vocalist/bassist Jon D. Harvey, and its guitar-heavy sound covers both Southern rock and country/rock terrain. With Harvey's great rock voice and radio-friendly songs, expect labels to come sniffing.

Industry news

– After a lengthy period without a venue to call its own, non-profit Toronto music presenter Hugh's Room Live secured a building at 296 Broadview Ave in the east end in 2023, and has now been presenting performances there for a full year. Upcoming concerts include Dan Hill, Tom Paxton, Twin Flames, Luke and The Apostles, Tom Rush and Hilario Duran. This Friday (Sept. 20), HRL hosts a show by Tom Wilson's TEHÅHÀHAKE Trio, and our sources whisper that a major announcement regarding the venue's situation will be made that evening. Stay tuned.

– Her Royal Majesty’s Entertainment, in partnership with Georgie Jett Events, has announced that Bif Naked has officially signed with AMP Talent Group for exclusive representation across film, television, hosting, voiceover and commercials. Future plans for the rock singer include a documentary and film about her life story, two new albums and another ‘Best Of’ album.

– The South By Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW) is accepting applications to showcase at its 2025 edition in Austin, running March 10-15. The final deadline to submit here is Oct. 31.

– B.C.-based vocalist and piano star Michael Kaeshammer has just launched the second season of his food and music show, Kaeshammer’s Kitchen. Airing on CHEK TV, as well as nationally on YES TV and Channel Zero, it features him cooking with musical celebrity guests, followed by a joint performance. The premiere season featured such legendary stars as Andy Kim and Randy Bachman, and the impressive new lineup includes Colin James, Tyler Shaw, Katie Tupper, Donovan Wood, Chuck Leavell (The Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers Band), Jill Barber, Mike Farris, Matt Andersen and Aysanabee.

— Making it’s only Canadian stop at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, according to its press release, "tells the story of this multi-disciplinary and expressly creative culture, its philosophies and global impact. Opening December 4, 2024, The Culture includes Toronto content in the form of Caitlin Cronenberg’s famed photograph of the CN Tower for Drake's Views album cover; Craig Boyko’s portrait of a young Snoop Dogg; and some of Toronto’s hip hop pioneers immortalized through the lens of Patrick Nichols. The exhibition also highlights apparel from legendary Toronto Streetwear brand Too Black Guys. More info here.

– A post on Colin James'Facebook page on Sept. 16 informed that "Unfortunately Colin was involved in a motor vehicle accident yesterday afternoon. He’s recovering and doing well, but due to his injuries, he won’t be able to continue on the rest of his US tour. He’s sorry he won’t be able to play these shows, and looks forward to coming back another time soon. Please contact your point of purchase for ticket refunds. All the best, -Team CJ."

The veteran platinum-selling blues-rocker had begun touring in support of a new album, Chasing The Sun, released on Aug. 23. He headlined the Niagara Falls Blues Festival in New York on Sept. 14, and the accident has forced him to cancel scheduled shows in Portsmouth, NH, New York City and Cincinnati, OH. Last month James was awarded the Order of British Columbia.

Artists news

– Veteran Canadian art-popsters Stars are releasing a 25th anniversary deluxe edition of their breakthrough album Set Yourself On Fire on Sept. 30. A North American tour in support begins at the famed Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and runs through to Oct. 26, with a closing date in Denver. Many shows are already sold out, including three nights at The Concert Hall in Toronto (Oct. 3-5), an impressive feat. Support acts at different concerts include The Dears, Lydia Persaud, Gentleman Reg, Kevin Drew and Teen Ravine. Info and tickets at wearestars.com

– 0Stella (a.k.a. Liz Pomery) is an Edmonton-based Irish-Canadian alt-rock singer/songwriter committed to touring in the greenest way, ie by bicycle. She has had successful bicycle music tours across Canada, Ireland and Europe, and has just begun a trek across Ontario. This tour sees her play shows in Waterloo (Sept. 18), Owen Sound (Sept. 21), Napanee (Sept. 22), Perth (Sept. 24) and Toronto (27 & 28).The zero-waste advocate (thus the zero in her name) has accumulated some 8,500 kms of cycling in support of her two albums, Freefall (2022) and Skyward (2023). A full vinyl record, Pendulum State, is nearing completion. Itinerary and more info here.