Music News Digest: Billy Idol Rocks a Toronto Art Gallery, B.C. Rock Stars Unite To Fight Cancer
Billy Idol joined his bandmate Billy Morrison for a surprise performance at his art opening at Liss Gallery. Also: Vanity honoured by The Niagara Falls Arts & Culture Wall Of Fame, Reggae North Music Awards launches, and more.
Billy Idol joins his bandmate Billy Morrison for a performance at Liss Gallery in Toronto, August 8, 2024.
The Liss Gallery in Toronto (112 Cumberland Street) frequently exhibits work by rockers turned visual artists and famed rock photographers. Its current exhibit, Blood and Guts, includes paintings by Billy Morrison, a member of Billy Idol's band.
Attendees at its opening on Aug. 8 got a thrill when Morrison performed with the whole Billy Idol band. Billy Idol himself (in town for an arena concert) even joined in at one point. The show is open until Aug. 30.
See a clip of the performance below:
Awards news
The Niagara Falls Arts & Culture Wall Of Fame has announced its 2024 inductees. On the list is popular local hard rock band Brighton Rock, which made a splash with its 1986 album Young, Wild and Free and scored a hit with the power ballad "One More Try."
Another notable inductee is late singer/actress Denise Matthews — a.k.a. Vanity. She fronted the all-girl group Vanity 6, created by Prince, who produced their self-titled 1982 debut album, featuring the hit "Nasty Girl." Matthews went on to release two solo albums and take on some feature film roles. She died in 2016. An induction ceremony will take place at a Nov. 7 ceremony at the Wall of Fame’s new home, The Exchange.
– The inaugural Reggae North Music Awards are getting ready to launch on Sept. 29, with a gala show at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario. Presented by Reggae North Canada, the event aims to showcase the diverse talents within the country’s reggae and dancehall scene. The nominees include such prominent artists as Chester Miller, Fergus Hambleton, Ammoye, Exco Levi, Steele, Kirk Diamond, Jah Mila, Celena, Tonya P, Inoah, Human Rights and The Memberz. Check the full list of nominees and vote here.
Festivals news
– Boots In The Creek is a free country music festival that premiered in Stoney Creek, Ontario, last year. It returns this weekend (Friday, Aug. 16, evening, and all-day Saturday, Aug. 17), with a strong all-Canadian lineup featuring Tomi Swick, The Redhill Valleys, Carson Janik, Bree Taylor. Mississippi Bends, Nicole Rayy, Christina Hutt, Brad James, Andy Colonico, Hayley Verrall, The Wild High (featuring Monster Truck's Jon Harvey) and more. Check the full lineup here.
– The 15th edition of the Halifax Urban Folk Festival (HUFF) has announced an impressive lineup for the event, September 30 – October 6, one curated by the Artistic Director of HUFF, Mike Campbell (MuchMusic, The Carleton). Helping celebrate the milestone is Texas roots music legend Alejandro Escovedo, alongside such Canadian worthies as Jimmy Rankin, Leeroy Stagger, Cory Tetford, Reeny,Lucy MacNeil, Rose Cousins, Adam Baldwin, Mo Kenney, Rankin MacInnis and The Broken Reeds, SIGSOUR and NOBRO. Shows take place at The Carleton, The Basement, The Marquee and RadStorm. Tickets for all HUFF shows are on sale now here.
–The Cactus Festival in Dundas, Ontario, has lasted 50 years, testimony to its crowd-pleasing approach, and it is regularly named one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario. A wide range of events includes pro wrestling, gaming, air and car shows and kids entertainment, but music remains its core attraction. This year, the free fest (running Aug. 16-18) features headliners Jack De Keyzer, Freedom Train and The George Arnone Big Band, alongside such local favourites as Matty Simpson, Sammy and the Squids, The Trebletones, Lowdown Dirty Mojos and Rocket and The Renegades. A full schedule here.
Industry news
– Few Canadian benefit concerts have packed the punch of annual B.C. event Rock Beats Cancer. Launched by Prism drummer Rocket Norton and originally dubbed Fuck Cancer, it raised over $600K for the BC Cancer Foundation with its first two concerts, in 2022 and 2023. Norton died this past April (read the Billboard obituary here), buthis '80s-and-beyond rock star peers are continuing the tradition with a third fundraiser, set for October 17 at the Hard Rock Casino Theatre in Coquitlam. The star-studded lineup will feature members of Loverboy, Powder Blues Band, Chilliwack, Trooper, Streetheart and Seeds Of Time, plus Barney Bentall and Lee Aaron. Tickets here. Of note: Proceeds are matched dollar for dollar by the Federal Government of Canada.
– Toronto jazz broadcaster/impresario/bandleader Jaymz Bee recently left JAZZ.FM91 after 22 years to focus on a new career in film. As a final goodbye, Bee, in tandem with Vesuvius Music, will host a special concert at Koerner Hall on Oct. 16, with all proceeds going to this non-profit radio station, one facing financial challenges. The night opens with “Music For Secret Agents” (James Bond and Beyond) featuring singers Irene Torres, Adam James, Serafin LaRiviere, John Finley, Gavin Hope, Simon Denny & Queen Pepper. After an intermission, Genevieve Marentette celebrates her album Songs of ’69, with an ace band featuring Michael Shand, Eric St-Laurent, George Koller), Ben Wittman, Bill McBirnie and Alison Young. Tickets here.
– Music PEI has announced the launch of its 2024/2025 Artist Development Programs, designed to support and nurture emerging artists on PEI. Applications are now open for the RBC Golden Ticket Program and the Diverse Voices Program, with a Sept. 12 deadline. These six-month programs provide an opportunity for emerging artists to record and release a single while receiving career mentorship. Additionally, registration is available for the newly redesigned Takin’ Care of Business Program, which offers both Core and Advanced Sessions.
The upcoming deadline for the Investment Program is January 31, 2025. For artists invited to perform at showcase festivals or conferences and seeking financial support for travel expenses, Music PEI's new Market Access Fund is now available. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Music PEI’s Microgrant Program is open for applications, also on a rolling deadline, until the available funds are exhausted. For more info, contact Music PEI’s Program Officer, Andy, at programs@musicpei.com. Check here for application info and links.
Artists news
– Sunnsetter and Pony Girl, both acts on the roster of Paper Bag Records, play two shows together this week, at the Collective Arts Brewery locations in Toronto (Aug. 15) and Hamilton (Aug. 16). Of note: Sunnsetter is headed by multi-instrumentalist-composer Andrew McLeod, known for playing in acclaimed Indigenous rock outfits Zoon and OMBIIGIZI.
– Montreal-based singer-songwriter Arielle Soucy grabbed attention by making the 2024 Polaris Music Prize long list with debut album, Il n'y rien que je ne suis pas. This week, she released a Double A-Side entitled Two Hopeful Songs, comprising two new singles, “Future is Bright” and “Beautiful Sights.” Stream on Soundcloud here. Soucy makes her Toronto debut next month at Mirrorball at the Burdock Music Hall, as well as touring Quebec in October as part of the Route d’artistes microtour. Check dates here.
