Music News Digest: Zoon, Music PEI Awards & More

Awards news

Music PEI has made some big changes to its flagship event; Music PEI Week 2024. These include a move back to an old model and combining its Awards Party with the Festival Finale concert into one big Awards Gala. Held at the Confederation Centre of the Arts’ Sobey Family theatre on March 10 and open to the public, this Gala, presented by Atlantic Lottery, will include an ECMA-sponsored red carpet, performances by Tara MacLean, Jenn Grant, Inn Echo, Sirène et Matelot and Noah Malcolm, and a 9-piece house band directed by Craig Fair. It will be hosted by Mathias Kom and Ariel Sharratt of The Burning Hell. Tickets are on sale now through the Confed Centre box office.

- The Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) and Alberta Music, in collaboration with the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Arts Council, have announced that nominations for the 2024 City of Edmonton Film & Music Prizes are now open, until Jan. 19. The Prizes recognize work published, created, or shown in 2023. One primary prize of $15,000 will be awarded, and two secondary prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to the runners-up. Info here.

Festivals news

- Produced by The Toronto Blues Society, Blues Summit 11 events and panels will be held at The Chelsea Hotel in downtown Toronto, Feb. 9-12, 2024. The artist showcases are open to the public, and a stellar list of Canadian blues artists will perform. That group includes Bobby Dean Blackburn, Maple Blues Band, Suzie Vinnick, Shakura S'Aida, Ken Whiteley, Raoul and The Big Time, The Blackburn Brothers, Miss Emily, Bywater Call, and Michael Jerome Browne. More info here.

Industry news

- The MMF (Music Managers Forum) presents an online MMF Connect event on Jan. 24, described as "a casual virtual networking event suitable for artist managers, industry professionals and self-managed artists who are looking to grow their networks." Registration is free here and non-members are welcome.

- The FACTOR Canada Company Envelope: Top-Tier program is now open for applications for activities taking place from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. Eligible applicants include record labels, music publishers and artist managers. The deadline to apply is January 18, 2024, 5:00pm ET.⁠ ⁠More info here.

- Amplify BC's Business Foundations Program is now open for applications. This new program invests in growing businesses owned by people from systemically excluded groups in B.C.’s music ecosystem, to expand and develop networks, capacity, and infrastructure. Businesses can apply for grants up to $10K to support business operations, funding up to 100% of expenses. The deadline to apply here is Feb. 15.

- The 2024 Western Canadian Music Awards are looking for experienced music industry professionals to volunteer as WCMA jurors. Apply here by March 5.

- Registration (free) is now open for the Evolution Youth Music Summit, held in Regina, Feb. 23 and 24. It is presented by SaskMusic, and the trade org terms it "an exciting opportunity for youth (age 14 to 25) to learn more about performing and professional music options." Register here by Feb. 10.

- On Jan. 11, a large group of Toronto roots music notables crammed into The Cameron House for a five-hour Celebration of Life of much-beloved local guitarist, singer/songwriter, and producer David Gavan Baxter. Just a partial list of those paying musical homage on the stage Baxter had graced countless times included Ron Sexsmith, Kevin Breit, Paul Reddick, Catherine MacLellan, Glen Milchem, Bazil Donovan, Lori Yates, Justin Rutledge, Michael Baxter, Treasa Levasseur, Nico Paulo, Soozi Schlanger, Blake Manning, Josh Cockerill, Victor Bateman, John Showman, Champagne James Robertson, Cleave Anderson, Burke Carroll, and more. Spied in the audience were plenty of other singer/songwriters and local music industry figures. The comment heard most often? "Bax would have loved this." Indeed. Read the Billboard Canada FYI obituary here.

Artists news

- Zoon, the acclaimed rock project fronted by Indigenous songwriter Daniel Monkman, is supporting Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew on U.S. dates, beginning with two shows at Public Records in Brooklyn, Jan. 19 and 20, followed by dates in Philadelphia, Evanston, and Los Angeles (two concerts at Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever, Jan. 26 and 27). Monkman will play a stripped down set, featuring cuts from the latest Zoon LP, Bekka Ma'iingan, and more favourites from the band's discography.

- East Coast roots singer/songwriter Old Man Luedecke is a double JUNO Award winner who recently took a break to work on a scallop boat. Thankfully, he found time to work with Afie Jurvanen (Bahamas), and the first fruits of that collaboration is this new song and video.

- In what has become a popular annual tradition, veteran Toronto rock 'n roller Paul James (Mink De Ville, Bob Dylan) is throwing a hometown birthday bash at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on Jan. 27. Admission is free with the password 'Hey Bo Diddley.'

- Indie rock combo Jane’s Party is on a North American tour this month that includes shows in Montreal, Ottawa, Peterborough, Toronto, and Vancouver. Check the itinerary here. The band is supporting the recent release of its The Best of Wild in the Woods Vol. 1 EP, and has just released this video.

-Isabel Fryszberg & the Uncommons (with Steve Briggs & Rebecca Campbell) team up with Shawna Caspi with Sarah Hiltz for a recommended double bill Acoustic Harvest concert at Sat. Jan 20 at St. Paul's United Church in Scarborough on Jan. 20. Tickets here.