Iconic singer and veteran songwriter Marc Jordan, whose remarkable career has spanned over four decades, has dropped a captivating new single, "Best Day of My Life," from his critically acclaimed album "Waiting for the Sun To Rise," released in April 2023. This soulful and mesmerizing track is a testament to Marc Jordan's exceptional talent and ability to evolve as an artist.

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/album/5E0CarVimmc8TWcIgcqZ4f

 In a significant milestone of his illustrious career, Jordan has been honoured with induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place on November 1, 2023, in Toronto, Ontario, recognizing Jordan as an acclaimed producer, jazz vocalist, and revered songwriter known as a "songwriter's songwriter" by his peers and industry icons. Alongside fellow inductee John Capek, with whom he co-wrote the hit "Rhythm of My Heart" for Rod Stewart, Jordan was celebrated for his immense contributions to the world of music.

Barb Keck of Music in Motion Canada has now extended the deadline for submissions for the MiMc Awards which will now close at midnight EST on November 15, 2023.

What inspired this music adjudication initiative?

Barb Keck has this to say of the new initiative, ”Singer-Songwriters Musicians are looking for opportunities to be heard by top-notch music professionals.
We’ve received requests from music creators to help get their music heard. This inspired us to create a break for undiscovered INDIE talent to gain connections, opportunities, and exposure to award-winning music industry professionals.

This event was initiated and designed to help musicians gain valuable feedback that will help them improve their music careers and be the catalyst for progress and success.

You may be asking ‘why is this so much more than the average fee of $25? Our event offers so much more. Personalized feedback to EVERY participant, from 3 music industry experts that specialize in music, artist management & publicity. Just for entering with $100, there is already a value of $400.

(It’s been over 40 years since The Legendary Downchild Blues Band have played the iconic El Mocambo in Toronto, so the band thought it would be fun to play the club one more time on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 8:00 pm with special guest Jeff Rogers.

Tickets for The Legendary Downchild Blues Band's show go ON SALE Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 10:00 am at elmocambo.com Tickets and Seating are very LIMITED, so get them while you can for this NOT TO BE MISSED performance!

Downchild has a long history with the “El Mo”, as it was known back then, as the house band for the club in the early ‘70’s and they recorded their live album But I’m On The Guest List there to a packed house in 1982.

In the early days, the El Mocambo was a lowdown joint on Spadina Avenue that hosted the likes of Downchild, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy. In later years bands like Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, Joan Jett and U2 graced the stage and of course The Rolling Stones surprise performance at the club with Margaret Trudeau in tow, is a thing of mystical legend.

African Women Acting (AWA), celebrating their 10^th anniversary this fall, is set to host The African-Canadian Fusion: a Cross-Cultural Celebration of Art, Music, and Poetry this fall. On Saturday, October 28 Daniel’s Spectrum, a cultural center on Dundas Street in Regent Park, Toronto, will be transformed into a home of music and other performing arts that celebrate the African diaspora in Canada.

Founded in 2011, AWA is a nonprofit focused on empowering, preserving and promoting women issues and the heritage of African culture through African art. And it’s known for its rocking events, including its long running annual Niagara Festival, which in the waning days of summer this year took over RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston. One donor paid for 300 tickets, too, so that fans could enjoy the full day, family-friendly program.

The Fall event, meanwhile, will feature Cameroonian Afropop singer Jbwai, spoken word artist and singer J Nichole Noel, Susan Heaten, and Nigerian vocalist Sonia Aimy, who founded AWA back in 2011.

Since its inception in 2014, Women in Music Canada has seen exponential growth in its membership and offerings, helping to foster gender equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of professionals and creatives at every stage of their career. Today, we are thrilled to announce the new expanded membership program, designed to provide greater engagement and a robust benefit package, created to better meet the needs of women and gender expansive folks in artistic and industry careers in Canada. You can now sign up or update your membership here. 

Chasing a dream isn't easy, but sometimes the right song can motivate you to keep going. Alongside singer Mariame, Indigenous Garden Hill First Nation Hip-Hop artist Mattmac inspires others to follow their dreams in his new single, "Find My Love" – check it out on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h08LSVYZ68

 The songs opens with a catchy chorus and sweet vocals sung by Mariame. The lyrics show how you smile through the pain and strife while trying your hardest to achieve your dreams. It hooks the listener and leads them into the song's first verse that is rapped by Mattmac.

''Everybody if you hear me time to wake up
Get your grind, get your coin, get your Cake up
Yeah just ride with the boy I’m on the way up
I’m feeling young, feeling free and Feeling dangerous
This for the haters
To all the brave ones
We just doing our thing can you Blame us
We on fire let’s Show em what the flame does
It’s a vibe yeah we on that New wave son
It’s a celebration"

Studio D'Lux, the Classic Rock/Yacht Rock musical powerhouse comprised of industry legends, led by singer-songwriter Doug Kistner is back with a newly released single, "Slow Burn." Check it out on YouTube here:

 Distinguished, long-time musician Doug Kistner gathered a talented ensemble of world-class artists to create the supergroup Studio D’Lux. Joining the New Jersey singer and songwriter are legendary vocalist, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and former Chicago lead singer Bill Champlin, the iconic Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto, Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington, Elliott Randall, known for his classic ‘Reelin in the Years’ solo, Whitesnake guitarist - Joel Hoekstra and Glen Burtnik, formerly of Styx, The Orchestra, and The Weeklings.

Black Winged Raven is the new single off the album Walking Through the Fire by Sultans of String. It is a foot-stomping barn burner of a song that celebrates the project with Ts’msyen artist Shannon Thunderbird, who is originally from the Pacific Northwest coast of British Columbia: Gilut'sau Band of the Royal House of Niis'gumiik, Gispudwada (Orca) Clan. The lyrics are sung in Sm'algyax, with the music beautifully arranged with Sultans of String and the epic strings of the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Raven is the culture hero of the Pacific Northwest Indigenous People” explains Shannon, whose fireside chats, lectures, and original music open the minds and hearts of audiences to the rich culture and history of Canada's Indigenous people. “My sister Kate and I grew up with the stories of Raven. He is a very robust character that our people, the Coast Ts’msyen love and respect – to this day we listen to these stories.”

Solo artist Paul Manchin, whose songs have charted on international radio, is ready to rock the airwaves again with the release of a new album inspired by a song that takes listeners on a nostalgic journey down memory lane. 

The indie singer and songwriter from Toronto announced he will officially unveil the album, Master, out now.

It will consist of 40 tracks, some of which have already been released in the past digitally. But it was when the musician was visiting his family and reflecting on his life that he thought to include them into the new double compilation CD album. 

Check it out on YouTube here:

 Manchin was transported back to his childhood and expressed that by picking up a pen and sitting down at his piano. Together, with Black Jack, they produced ‘First’, a powerful single which Manchin unveils in the upcoming album. 

As the universal accolades and extensive airplay continue to pour in for the 78-year-old Bruce Cockburn’s 38th album, O Sun O Moon, True North Records has announced the release of a new single, “Us All,” on September 26, along with a string of additional world tour dates. Check it out on YouTube here:

Bruce Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical diversity. His remarkable journey has seen him embrace folk, jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles while earning high praise as a prolific, inspired songwriter and accomplished guitarist. He remains deeply respected for his activism and humanist song lyrics that thread throughout his career. On all his albums Cockburn has deftly captured the joy, pain, fear, and faith of human experience in song.

JUNKHOUSE, the iconic alternative rock band that took the 90s by storm, is thrilled to announce the 30thanniversary celebration of their seminal album, "Strays." To mark this significant milestone, Sony Music Canada has released a limited-edition vinyl of "Strays" and JUNKHOUSE embarks on a special tour with four exclusive show dates.

"Strays" was a game-changer in the alternative rock scene when it was first released in 1993, catapulting JUNKHOUSE to the forefront of the music industry. The album quickly became a classic and has continued to influence generations of music lovers and artists. As vinyl had all but disappeared in the music marketplace in 1993, as a result, “Strays” was never released on vinyl until now.

This limited-edition release will feature the original album artwork, with additional mastered bonus tracks filling out Side 4, in this double disc deluxe package .It's a special treat for long-time fans and collectors.

Historic new issue coming on September 30th!

Fundraiser on Oct. 5th at Mildred’s Kitchen to Celebrate 7 Years in Existence with Sarah Polley and Ken Dryden in Conversation.

Tickets here: westendphoenix.com/shop/wep-fall-classic-fundraiser

A thriving community usually goes hand in hand with a healthy local media, and no one is more aware of that than musician, writer, filmmaker and publisher Dave Bidini. Over the past seven years, the Rheostatics guitarist has assembled a talented editorial staff and countless first-rate contributors to, against all odds, put out the non-profit West End Phoenix, whose readership stretches across Toronto and across the country. The newspaper nobly serves its community, and also aims to encourage local journalismthe world over.