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Music News Digest: Downchild Call It A Day, Project Nowhere & Mundial Montréal Announce Festival Lineups
Also in our weekly Canadian music news roundup: new additions to Nova Scotia Music Week, Music Managers Forum nominations and more.
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Festivals news
Mundial Montréal has just named 10 official showcase artists forming its first wave of announcements: JACE Carrillo, Jeremy Ledbetter Trio, Laura Low, Les Rats d'Swompe, Magdala, Misc, NUNNE, Rabie Houti Band, Ron Artis II and Soleil Launière. They will perform at MM's 14th edition, taking place at multiple venues, Nov. 19-22. Learn more about these artists here.
In all, nearly 30 artists will showcase, seeking to impress the more than 300 industry professionals, including international and Canadian delegates, expected to attend. Mundial Montréal also offers a full program of panels, meetings, workshops, curated networking sessions and more. MM passes here.
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– The second edition of the Project Nowhere festival returns to Toronto's west end on Oct. 3-5. It promises "a cosmic array of underground legends, modern vanguards, and exciting up-and-coming talent from Toronto and beyond," and the just-announced lineup validates that claim. Prominent names to appear in multiple club venues along Dundas Street West include many U.S. artists, from Providence noise rock duo Lightning Bolt to L.A. psych-prog groovers Frankie & The Witch Fingers, experimental duo Leah Singer and Sonic Youth co-founder Lee Ranaldo, post-punks Bambara and New York’s buzzy YHWH Nailgun.
Local and Canadian acts are also well-represented. That list includes Indigenous shoegaze outfit Zoon, critical darlings Badge Époque Ensemble, electronic duo God’s Mom featuring Bria Salmena (Bria, Frigs, Orville Peck), playful punk outfit Motherhood, explosive Montreal rock n roll trio Population II, Sam Jr. (of Broken Social Scene fame), Montreal art-punks La Sécurité and Toronto-based songwriter and cellist Eliza Niemi. A strong lineup of DJs includes Moon King, Afrique Like Me, Taifour, Austra, Milch, Époque Selector, Night Danger and more.
The first tier of 3-day passes go on sale this Friday, July 26, with individual show tickets and second tier of 3-day passes going on sale August 16. Tickets here.
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– Music Nova Scotia has named the next round of showcasing acts that will be performing at Nova Scotia Music Week in Wolfville/Mtapan, from Nov. 7-10. Notable names featured include Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers, Alana Yorke, Cameron Nickerson, Clever Hopes, Leanne Hoffman, Nicole Ariana, Norma MacDonald, Pillow Fite, Pretty Archie, Reeny, Rich Aucoin and Sam Wilson. Standard Price Delegate Passes and Festival Wristbands are on sale now here. More info here.
Industry news
– MMF Canada (Music Managers Forum) is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Trailblazer Award. Handed out for the first time at the 2023 Honour Roll Awards to Jeff Ojeda, this award recognizes Canadian managers or self-managed artists who are carving new paths within the industry landscape. Submit here by July 28.
– Acclaimed singer/songwriter and 3X Juno Award nominee Nuela Charles is the discussion facilitator for MMF Canada's self-management roundtable held via Zoom on July 31 (1-2 p.m.). Expect plenty of valuable information here. Register here.
Artists news
– Downchild, Canada's most popular blues band of the last six decades, is calling it a day. In a Facebook post yesterday, the group stated that "As we celebrate our 55th Anniversary this year and 55 years of performing around the world, the time has come to say so long to touring and our loyal fans, many of you who have followed us for the whole ride. We'll be performing our FAREWELL TOUR this fall, so stay tuned for show announcements. You guys are the best and we are so grateful for your many years of support, allowing us to do what we love to do....play the BLUES!!"
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Originally named The Downchild Blues Band, the group was co-founded in Toronto in 1969 by two brothers, Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh and Richard "Hock" Walsh. Following Hock's passing in 1999, guitarist/songwriter Donnie Walsh remained at the helm while the group went through extensive personnel changes (an estimated 120+ players) over the decades.
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The height of its success came in the '70s, when three of its songs, the originals "I've Got Everything I Need (Almost)" and "Shot Gun Blues" and its adaptation of "Flip, Flop and Fly," all from its 1973 album, Straight Up, were featured on the first Blues Brothers album, the smash hit Briefcase Full of Blues (1978). It is widely believed that the Walsh brothers were the inspiration for the characters played by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi in that film. Downchild released more than 20 albums and many more reissues, won a 2014 Juno Awards for Blues Album of the Year, and earned multiple Maple Blues Awards. Dogged road warriors, they have retained a large and loyal following across Canada to this day. Check here for upcoming concert dates.
– Earlier this month, acclaimed Toronto vocalist Amanda Martinez released a new album, Recuerdo. Co-produced by her long-time guitarist Kevin Laliberté and her husband, bassist Drew Birston, Recuerdo is described as Martinez's most adventurous album yet, fusing world music styles, Cuban rhythms, and English pop. She recently launched the record (her fifth) with a TD Toronto Jazz Festival show at Koerner Hall. Here's a video for one of the songs.
– Renowned Canadian harmonica player Mike Stevens often visits the North in his role as founder and leader of Artscan Circle, a charity that brings music and instruments to remote Indigenous communities across the country. He recently headed even further north, right to the North Pole, where he performed what is being dubbed "the northernmost concert ever." Word is that Stevens will qualify for a Guinness World Record for the feat.
– Canadian dance music producer-remixer Alex Hush (Alex Sowyrda) is best known for his work in Daybreakers with Ric Scott and Koishii & Hush, with Simon Langford. His credits include working on tracks by U2, Madonna, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, Duran Duran and more, and he recently sent us the latest Daybreakers cut, "Quarter To (Remix)’', a collaboration with Radio Company (Steven Carlson and actor/musician Jensen Ackles of The Boys, Supernatural).
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– Hotly-tipped Canadian folk duo Monet & Christian have just premiered a video for upcoming single “Homestead Heart.” The pair are also set for dates in Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta next month, including CFRU Live in Guelph on August 9, Flavors Fest in Grand Bay (near Saint John) on August 17, Vibestown Fest (near Edmonton) on August 24 and more. See the full tour itinerary here.
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