“People Like You And Me”

The older audience magic hour seems to be Sundays two and six, the new Hugh’s Room Live was packed. It’s a classic neighborhood church 296 Broadview Avenue in Toronto.

Very simple stage , bar no food, chairs. Nice balcony.

Classic coffee house vibe with no coffee or tea?

Love the pews on the side, on the stage no place to hide.

Went to see my old friend Robert Priest, backed by some of the greatest musicians in the city to launch his new record “People like you and me!”

I have long since been a fan of Robert Priest poetry, he made poetry accessible to everyone who wanted to pick up a pen or perform poetry live.

Today at Hugh’s room backed two bands first a more traditional folk duo that changes into more jazz ensemble , including guitarists Bob Cohen ,David Hines and special guest Alison Young on saxophone and guitarist supreme Kevin Breit. The performance flowed well and Robert’s trumpet playing was a wonderful surprise addition to the jazz feel of his latest release.

The 2024 edition of the OSHEAGA Music and Arts Festival presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Light is fast approaching and this year’s wide array of performers is nothing short of exceptional - balancing legends with up-and-comers, high energy with intimacy, and all the bombast fans have come to expect from a leading-edge top-tier festival. For the 17th edition, the OSHEAGA booking team has curated the festival with the express mission of appealing to fans of every genre, style, and generation.

Starting with the three exceptional headliners on down, there is something for everyone, and discoveries galore! Green Day sets the tone for the rock and punk crowd, with plenty of punk rock fire to please the fans, courtesy of old school legends Rancid, LA rockers The Linda Lindas, 90’s indie favourites Sleater-Kinney, and grunge icons The Smashing Pumpkins, who haven’t graced the OSHEAGA stage since the festival's 2nd edition in back in 2007!

In the music business, few things are as helpful as an example. That’s the rationale behind Let That Music Out!—an independent, artist-driven FM radio show and podcast that offers an invaluable and enlightening look into the workings of the industry circa 2024.

Check it out here: thesingerscompany.com/let-that-music-out-radiopodcast

Based in Toronto and syndicated on Indie 101.5 and Philly Jamz 95.3 in the U.S.A., and CHHA 1610am back home, LTMO! features new music releases, interviews, discussions, and personal stories from industry leaders and recording artists. It’s analysis with an insider edge, crafted for anybody who wants to get in the game.

The show was made possible by the successes of The Singer’s Company, a record label, music-publishing operation and management firm founded by a dream team of music-biz pros—including highly pedigreed producer, songwriter and A&R executive Roy Hamilton III, for whom the program is both a passion project and the fulfillment of a personal vision.

Nearly 50 years after his untimely passing at the age of 27, Pete Ham is still giving the world beautiful music.

The iconic singer and guitarist for the beloved Welsh/English band Badfinger was a prolific songwriter. Released as a limited-edition CD from Y&T Music, “Gwent Gardens” includes 18 newly discovered home demos, many of them songs that were never recorded or released by either Badfinger or the group’s earlier incarnation, The Iveys. The album will also be available on all streaming services. 

Recorded between 1966 and 1972 with guitar or piano accompaniment, the songs on “Gwent Gardens” are remarkably tuneful blueprints for what might have been. Often double tracking his vocals, Pete also overdubbed additional instruments onto the tracks, fleshing out his vision for what the final Iveys or Badfinger tracks would sound like.

Mark the date and get ready to dig in! Flavours & Vibes will bring a sumptuous mix of uplifting sounds to Brampton’s The Rose Mainstage on February 22, 2024, in an evening of songs and sensations headlined by international roots, rock and reggae sensation Jesse Royal. With performances by The Human Rights, Omega Mighty, JUNO Award winner Kairo McLean and Joshua Lucas—and hosted by MC Bondé—the eagerly anticipated event will be a celebration of music in its truest form. Presented by Jones & Jones and Brampton On Stage, it’s a live-band experience that’ll have you rocking and swaying all night long.

This “Peace, Love, Unity Edition” of the crowd-pleasing pop-up has been engineered to, once again, connect worlds with a global blend of vibes that truly reflect the community. Positive energy will flow from a lineup that’s indicative of a diverse cultural mosaic, connecting listeners of all ages through the unifying power of music.

Let’s check out that overflowing buffet of skills:

Sault Ste. Marie native, musician and author M.D. Dunn is celebrating the release of his sixth book, You Get Bigger As You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution. The Sault Ste. Marie Museum will be hosting a book launch and listening party for the project this February 11th at 2:30pm.

Bruce Cockburn has enthralled audiences with his insightful lyrics and innovative guitar playing for over half a century. Hit songs like “Wondering Where the Lions Are,” “If I Had a Rocket Launcher,” and “Lovers in a Dangerous Time” are just part of the story. In You Get Bigger as You Go: Bruce Cockburn’s Influence and Evolution, musician and writer M.D. Dunn takes the reader on a humorous and obsessive quest to track Cockburn’s significant cultural footprint. Interviews with producers, musicians, activists, fans, as well as Bruce’s career-long manager, the legendary Bernie Finkelstein, and with the enigmatic Cockburn himself form the core of this critical assessment and appreciation. In these conversations, Cockburn and friends celebrate a life of music and social engagement.

This original lineup with their newest member, lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Andy Mauck, will perform selected songs from one of the world’s greatest songwriters. Featuring classics like Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind, Beautiful & Carefree Highway. The classic repertoire of songs will come to life through the live performance of the band that helped create the unforgettable ‘Lightfoot Sound”.

Featuring the Original Gordon Lightfoot Touring Band: Rick Haynes, Barry Keane, Mike Heffernan & Carter Lancaster

Thursday, March 28 / 8PM : Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd, Markham, ON. Tickets Available Here

This unique show has been built around The Band that was at Lightfoot’s side for thousands of shows for over a half century.

The show will feature all of the favorites as well as some deep cuts that will deliver the ultimate Gordon Lightfoot fan experience. This is a Must See for Gordon Lightfoot fans as well as music lovers who never saw him in person!

Official art book launch and exhibition opening February 2

Coming to Cultural Goods Gallery this February, Mohawk Warriors, Hunters & Chiefs will explore the personal story of Juno Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and performer, Tom Wilson Tehoháhake. This specially organized exhibition presents a selection of works created between 2015 and 2024, and celebrates the launch of Mohawk Warriors, Hunters & Chiefs, a ground-breaking bilingual book that explores the paintings and iconography of Tom Wilson. In his early fifties, Tehoháhake accidentally discovered that he was adopted and that he was Mohawk from Kahnawake.

“There's blood memory that happened in my art. I’ve been painting really simple images since 1997. Even with a lack of identity, I was still expressing myself as an Indigenous artist, or as a Mohawk. And sure enough, now that I know that I’m a Mohawk, that sense of identity that I was lacking is now coming completely into focus in the work that I do,” says Tom Wilson Tehoháhake.

Get them spurs shined up, because Canada’s most exciting country music festival, LASSO Montréal, presented by Bell in collaboration with Coors Original is coming back for an incredible third edition. This year, the massive previously-announced headliners Sam Hunt and Eric Church will be be joined by high-calibre artists: Dustin Lynch, Brett Young, Tyler Hubbard, Megan Moroney, Matt Lang, Kip Moore, Josh Ross, Laurence St-Martin and many more!

It’s clear, after two hugely successful editions of LASSO, that Montreal is becoming a hotbed for country music. For two days this summer, fans from all over will gather to witness the best in country on the iconic festival grounds of Parc Jean-Drapeau (celebrating 150 years in 2024), overlooking the gorgeous Montreal skyline.

Just twenty-five years ago, Bill Clinton had a scandalous affair, Teletubbies invaded American TV, and Viagra got the green light. Surprise, surprise – Bif Naked also dropped her second album, "I, Bificus," right in the midst of this wild ride! Let’s not forget Buffy lost her virginity to the Bif song “Lucky” as she performed on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. 

An infectious, eclectic blend of raucous power-pop hooks, emotive and raw lyricism, with old-school punk attitude-like Bif herself. It’s unrelenting charisma with hits like “Spaceman” “Moment of Weakness” and “Lucky” The album catapulted Bif to superstardom internationally, multiple gold records, followed by multiple platinum records, and set her on a course of global touring that still finds her doing year round concerts to this day. 

Through it all Bif remains true to her loyal fans and always gives them all of herself with every performance. What better way to celebrate the lasting power of this record it’s and, of course Bif herself, than to finally release a 25th anniversary edition I, BIFICUS XXV a completely remastered album including bonus tracks and a new version of Lucky (Orchestral)

Meta: Video game music is now such a serious art form that it has its own category at the Grammys. Find out why this might be right here.

Music in video games is extremely important and has helped shape the video game industry over the past few decades. It enhances the players' experience and takes gaming to the next level. It even has its own category at the Grammys.

Let's dive into discover why video game music (VGM) is now a serious art form and look at some of the most memorable video game soundtracks in recent years. 

The Black History Month Classical Music Series, was created by Joy Bullen, Culturepreneur, to introduce Canadians to young, Black, Canadian, musicians who shatter stereotypes and are themselves in the process of making history.

We hear so little about Canadian Black Classical artist, composers and musician, like William Leather Nashville Symphony trumpet, Measha Brueggergosman Diva and Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser Conductor/Composer.

Since 2015, they present performances featuring musicians who excel in areas where Black voices and presence have often been silenced or ignored. Each year they partner with cultural and not-for-profit organizations across Canada to entertain and educate diverse audiences.

This year’s Black History Month Concert Series features:

By Popular Demand:
Feb 14: Hugh’s Room, Toronto
March 30: Brampton Onstage -Cyril Clark Theatre

Tickets Available Here:
showpass.com/micahbarnes/
tickets.brampton.ca/Online/mapSelect.asp

Acclaimed singer Micah Barnes, renowned for his soulful voice and captivating stage presence, is set to enchant audiences with a series of performances celebrating the timeless melodies of the 60s with two shows in Toronto, ON and Brampton, ON.

The eagerly awaited shows will feature Barnes showcasing his vocal prowess through a repertoire that includes iconic hits from the golden era of pop music, including classic songs from his legendary a cappella group The Nylons, along with a few teasers focusing on his upcoming "2nd Great American Songbook” ( Alma / Universal Music Canada, out in Spring, 2024), with tunes by Carole King, Burt Bacharach, Smokey Robinson featuring a top-notch band of Michael Shand on piano, bassist Russ Boswell and Amhed Mitchel on drums.

Editor's Note: We received this press release just days before the passing of Melanie, on January 23, 2024, at the age of 76. We felt it was still deserving to announce the upcoming release as it truly is now a timeless album.

Melanie, the acclaimed folk-pop icon whose performance at the historic Woodstock Festival in 1969 launched her career, continued to captivate audiences long after the counterculture revolution came and went. She’s released 25+ studio albums throughout her multi-decade career alongside multiple compilations. But it’s always been her live performances that resonated the most with her audience. Now those fans have cause to celebrate as one of her best live recordings is set for release on both CD and, for the first time ever, vinyl!