The World at Hugh’s is a new series coming to Hugh’s Room Live that will feature some of the best music from around the planet. The host of CBC’s Big City Small World, Errol Nazareth, will be speaking to a few of the musicians on stage ahead of the performance. This intimate Q+A will be a perfect introduction to our World at Hugh’s. Errol will be taking the stage at 8PM along with his guests.

First up is Partow, Sunbeam in Persian. Partow is an international ensemble led by Iranian tar player and composer Padideh Ahrarnejad. Its roots are in Persian classical music but the sound encompasses diverse influences and draws its strength from the group’s members who come from Turkey, Greece, Peru and Brazil. Partow has recorded its first album, set to be released in early 2019. website: https://bit.ly/36tIsmL

Award-winning avant-garde electro-popstress Mauve has ushered in an electrifying “Brand New” era with the release of her newest video, available now! 

The Canadian singer/songwriter best known for infusing chill-bop pop tracks with distinctly infectious hints of tropical house and RnB, is quickly garnering recognition. Mauve was nominated for a 2018 Niagara Music Award for “Best New Artist” and her single “Come Around” won top honours at the 2019 InterContinental Music Awards for “Best of North America.” 

With tracks topping upwards of 450,000 streams across Spotify, she has also been featured by NBC-2, FOX40 News, ABC7 News, CBC Music, 107.3 Virgin Radio, Buzz Music LA, Talk About Pop Music, WFMZ-TV 69, Best Kept Montreal, Tinnitist, KOTV-TV CBS-6, IndieCan Radio on SiriusXM and many more. 

Everything about Danny Thomas says country singer, from his rich baritone voice to his Georgia roots, songwriting skills to his easy as Sunday morning way of interacting with folks

Danny grew up listening to is grandpa pickin’ on the front porch on Saturday nights in Alto, Georgia and was so enthralled by the music that felt the strong pull to the musician’s life. At 17 years old young, Danny picked up his guitar and began his journey. He started performing professionally about  5 years later, playing at Churches, on TV and WCON Radio. “I grew up listening to George Jones, Merle Haggard and Elvis and later on got into southern-rock with Lynrd Skynrd and bands similar to their sound.”

After more than a decade of playing gospel and country on the circuits, Danny decided to put a temporary hold on his dream in order to build up his business up and secure his future. “I wanted to be able to have something to fall back on.” But his passion was never far from his mind and heart and in 2018 he got back in the saddle. “I feel like God blessed me to sing songs and write them too. It’s so important to use the gifts God gave us and I’m now in a position to do just that.”

From November 29th through December 21st, popular seasonal harmonies trio Boreal will share their “Songs For The Snowy Season” concerts with nine communities across much of Ontario! Group members, award-winning Guelph singer-songwriters: Tannis Slimmon and Katherine Wheatley are pleased to introduce their talented new bandmate, Orillia's Angie Nussey.

As a member of the Bird Sisters Slimmons has sung harmony for many Canadian music stars including the Rheostatics, David Francey and Valdy and received the Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Vocalist of the Year. When not performing with Boreal, Wheatley performs as a solo artist with Betty and the Bobs, and in Wendell and Wheat with Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer, Wendell Ferguson. Wheatley’s song “Hallelujah” won a 2009 Golden Quill award, and 2 of her other songs were selected for the new Rise Again Songbook. Through her program Youthsongs, she has written over 200 songs with kids and produced over 25 school CDs.

You have every right to fail. I don’t know why failure is such a high thing in the music industry? Okay, it’s high in the rest of the market but still, I just find it very present that you must succeed. Inside the startup world in some cases, it’s a plus that you have done some failure missions. In the music industry, it’s that you changed the style and didn’t want to be a sellout!

It seems in the music industry or at least in artist sections it is like a taboo. Things like artists think it’s bad that they post videos when there is not much audience. It looks like failure to them that there is no audience and the numbers are low. That can also be a lack of marketing or other things. Same situation, when their last single didn’t go as planned, then they did this artistic thing to not be a sellout. If you have any critic against a song, well then you don’t get it, but my 25,000 spins on Spotify prove you wrong. In the music industry, you never fail. That is so wrong, this industry is full of failures.. So, come and join the party.

"My mom thinks the song is great!" Yes, most moms are proud when their babies even just fart so that the source is not that reliable. Sure, you want people to like what you are doing. When you do the hard work and put your heart and soul into it, then you want people to like it. Still, you need the critics to become your fans.

I see it too many times, artists surrounding themselves with yes-men. Sure, it feels great with people that instantly like what you have to offer. It’s easy when you don't need to change anything. At the same time, usually, these yes-men can't take you any further. Since they already like you, they already spread that in their network or either they lie to you to make you feel good. In either case, it won’t take you further.

Okay, all critics are not good either. Letting a metal fan judge a folksong might not get the right feedback for you.  But listening to your mom’s advice before the radio plugger can be a crucial mistake. The radio plugger has the knowledge of what the stations are looking for; your mom has no experience in that area.

You really should shout ‘cause Leahy band is coming to town. One of the country’s most highly regarded progressive folk-roots bands checks in at Hugh’s Room Live Nov.29/30. Music 8.30pm both nights.

The “Leahy sound” – a combination of strong stride piano, unique bass guitar and drumming styles along with driving rhythm guitar – was the foundation from which fiery fiddle led instrumentals and vocals were launched to mainstream music listeners. Leahy would go on to win three Juno awards and receive countless accolades for their dynamic and powerful performances. As well as touring extensively throughout Canada, the USA and Europe, the band had the enviable opportunity of opening for fellow Canadian, Shania Twain throughout the USA, Canada and the UK on her record-breaking Come On Over tour.

Cashbox Canada participated in our first Indie Week Canada and oh what a week it was!

Continuing our journey of the Cashbox Caravan, (recently performing in France and Sweden) we had two official showcases and both were met with resounding success. In addition, our acts performed at other venues throughout Indie Week, all to great reviews and accolades.

The first Cashbox Caravan Showcase was Thursday, November 14 at the B-Side Lounge, a cozy gem of a venue with a great stage and friendly staff. A cocktail hour show from 5-7pm featured Toronto’s newest shining star Ventresca, followed up by veteran singer-songwriters Barry Stagg and Don Graham.

Alex Pangman’s latest release is a catchy retro song “If I Don’t Mean It” written by the legendary Connee Boswell (of The Boswell Sisters).

The Boswell Sisters were a close harmony singing group, consisting of sisters Martha Boswell Lloyd, Connee Boswell and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell who were noted for intricate harmonies and rhythmic experimentation. They attained national prominence in the United States in the 1930s.. After a successful career as a trio recording with top jazz musicians in New York, sister Connie embarked on a solo career, eventually selling 75 million records and influencing generations of singers, Ella Fitzgerald included.

Back to explaining things from the industry again. I seem to come across this quite often, Today it's the urge to work with a producer. In every artist's career, they suddenly start to think that a producer is key to their success. Often with no knowledge what a producer the role really means.

To have a producer means that you hand all your material over to another person.

To have a producer is not that a genius comes into the studio and praises all your musical ideas. No, this person is here to take that stuff to another level. And in many cases, you will not agree on the things they actually change. Yes, they will take off that long nice drum solo that you like. Literally, they will come in and just change the look of your baby.

The artist thinks they need to spend a lot of money on a hotshot producer. This is also a cliché that you get really often. The more money or things they have done is better! In so many cases it's not.

Newfoundland-born, Toronto-based international superstar opera singer Tonia Evans Cianciulli and her new CD and book The Heart’s Obsession, celebrating the historical ripple effect of one woman's voice—Georgina Ann Stirling brings her astounding legacy into the twenty-first century.

Swedish Alt-rock artist YOHIO has released a new single “Defeating a Devil a Day”, the  5th single from the upcoming new album “Neon Light Orchestra” to be released in 2020.

Over 3 million views on his 2 latest music Videos has led to a fast increase of 100 000 New subs in 2019
on the official YouTube Channel to a total of over 160 000.

Watch Defeating a Devil a Day here:

With his extravagant way of expressing himself, the looks of a visual prince, a singing voice which can tackle English, Japanese, and Swedish, his naturally confident stage awareness, and his undoubtedly great fashion sense – YOHIO has captured the heart of thousands of fans all over the world.

Yes, the secret to success in the music industry is to understand that it works like any other financial market! No, don’t buy the repeated phrase that 'we all work in the music industry because we love music". We are here for the money like any other artist. And there is nothing wrong with that since we all need a salary to make our daily living. But that we work just because we love music well then, we could just have it as an extraordinary hobby.

So, for all you that just want to play for fun at the local bar or at your parent’s party, I’m not writing about that. That is cool that you are doing it. My story here is aimed at the ones that want to make it more than a hobby. They want a career.  And here it works like any other financial markets. I don't get how people think that someone would put in thousands of dollars in a project that clearly only will generate a hundred dollars.

Hailed in some quarters as the best touring band in the West, Edmonton-based rockers Altameda is hitting the road again. This fall, they’re out supporting critically-acclaimed soph album Time Hasn't Changed You.

Altameda has become a must-see live act, winning fans with each show and impressing audiences in North America and recently, Germany.

Since the release of Time Hasn't Changed You, the band performed live sessions for Toronto rock station The Edge, and a special set for SiriusXM's North Americana station. They also landed coveted opening slots with Sheepdogs and The Trewsearlier this year.

As prolific as they are melodic, Altameda also released More Time: B-Sides from Time Hasn’t Changed You as a companion to their full album. The EP included three unreleased B-Sides from the Time Hasn't Changed You recording sessions and was also produced by Aaron Goldstein.