Stay Groovy and Have Mercy!

Fri Jun 16, 2017

When Steve Clark introduced Chris “Travis” Townes, Pat Lalonde and Ted Lalonde to Shelley Buffitt and her daughter Alysha Carman in May 2016 to perform at a benefit concert in Marathon, Ontario in June, little did they know that nine months later they’d be Mercy The Band.

“Shortly after the June 2016 concert in Marathon, I became quite ill. Unfortunately, we had to cancel a couple of gigs that Steve booked for us in August and September, 2016. I also had to leave the Clay Williams “Canal Pursuit” marathon run, in which I was selected Crew Chief. I took the next few months to recover and in February 2017, I received a call from Chris “Travis” asking if I was able to perform for The 6th Annual Unplugged for Cancer Concert in Marathon in March,” explains Shelley. The group got together within days to start practicing and the performance went very well. On March 22nd they officially became Mercy The Band and began collaborating on original material. What followed was a recording session on April 29th at Pennock Studio in Thunder Bay, with Producer (Steve) Clark and Sound Engineer Bob Kovacs.

Eric Andersen Mingle With the Universe: The Worlds of Lord Byron

Fri Jun 09, 2017

Submitted by Don Graham

You’re Eric Andersen. You have iconic status, you have a Gold Membership card to the folk elite club with fellow members like Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Joni Mitchell. You were there when the great folk boom exploded. This is your time to bask in the golden light and soft glow of all you have accomplished in your music career. That’s what one would think.

BTW- Darcys, Astrocolor, Heather Bambrick, Hnry Flwr, The Smugglers, Heather Rankin, The Flatliners, Pokey LaFarge

Fri Jun 09 2017
Darcys

It's beginning to look a lot like Summer, so next week Darcys hit the pavement with tour dates across North America, and today they roam through the American West in an El Camino in the new video for "Arizona Hwy" courtesy of NPR. "We've always been taken with the kitschiness and heroism of the great American road trip," says Wes Marskell. "It's hard not to be seduced by the freedom and redemption of driving the American West. So, instead of staging a music video we filmed a joyride through the stunning natural backdrops, campy motels, and cheap roadside attractions that make the highways of Southern California so iconic. It's hard to tell where reality begins and ends in this buddy comedy, but it's clear that the aging blue Chevy El Camino slowly emerges as the films' true star.

"Arizona Hwy" single will also feature Jason Couse and Marsksell performing a cover of Prince's "Kiss" on the B-Side. The single is out now via Arts & Crafts.

Eagles To Soar Again

Fri Jun 09 2017
The Eagles 2017 Photo Credit Myriam Santos

When founding member and a large part of the songwriting and lead vocals Glenn Frey passed away it seemed that the end of Eagles was inevitable. Co-founder Don Henley said  “While I was still in shock during some interviews after Glenn passed away, I did say that I thought that was the end of the band  but I reserve the right to change my mind.”

The surviving members plus one family member and one long time friend of the band will help round out the new configuration which has  wrapped up rehearsals  for the upcoming festivals, set for July 15 and 16 at Dodger Stadium and July 29 and 30 at Citi Field in New York. Deacon Frey, the 24-year-old son of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey and country music star Vince Gill will divvy up lead vocals on the songs Glenn Frey sang with the Eagles. The  Southern California country rock  band formed in the early 1970s in Los Angeles and is set to headline a two-pronged, bicoastal festival: Classic West and Classic East, alongside Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, Earth Wind & Fire, the Doobie Brothers and Journey.

BTW- Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Ann Vriend, Oh Susanna, Jeffery Straker, TOPS, Lily Frost, The Silver Dollar's Last Shuffle

Fri Jun 02 2017
Lemon Bucket Orkestra

A guerilla-punk-Balkan-folk-brass band massive like no other, LBO traces their genesis back about 8 years to the streets of Toronto, where a quartet of energetic busking troubadours began to amass a battalion of like-minded musical travellers, and the dozen strong Orkestra was born. Since then they’ve been nominated for 2 Junos and won a Canadian Folk Music award, been heralded as a groundbreaking, genre-bending phenomenon by media and fans. They’ve toured in more than a dozen countries, leaving a trail of fiercely dedicated fans in their wake. Equal parts exhilarating precision and reckless abandon, their live shows are truly immersive experiences, ranging from the ecstatic to the cathartic.

Cashbox Magazine Television Debuts with the Legendary Bobby Curtola

Fri Jun 02, 2017

Last year, 2016, Cashbox Magazine Canada started the wheels turning on a new branch of the publication, Cashbox Canada Television. Cashbox CEO and Editor in Chief Sandy Graham, “I wanted to take Cashbox to a new dimension, take advantage of our digital capabilities and reach our growing audience in a different way. The idea of having video interviews seemed like the logical step and offered so many possibilities.”

BTW with Lenny Stoute Pee Wee Ellis & Jason Wilson, Declan O'Donovan, Avery Raquel, Kim Doolittle, Nick Pope, The Junction, Andy Shauf

Fri May 26 2017
Pee Wee Ellis & Jason Wilson

The ultimate OG saxman Pee Wee Ellis and Canadian global-roots visionary Jason Wilson are teaming up for a special night at Hugh's Room Live. Ellis was an essential part of James Brown's band and later served as Van Morrison's bandleader. Jason Wilson is a two-time Juno-Awards nominee who fuses reggae with jazz and folk. He has recorded with artists such as Dave Swarbrick, UB40, Jackie Mittoo and Ron Sexsmith. Together, Ellis and Wilson's funky-reggae mix has charmed audiences across Canada, the UK and Jamaica.

Singer-Songwriter Jessica Mitchell Drops Two New Singles, Chart Immediately

Fri May 26 2017
Jessica Mitchell Dont Love Me

Submitted to Cashbox Canada

Earlier this month, singer-songwriter Jessica Mitchell quietly dropped two incredible new singles digitally: "Don't Love Me" and "Tear It Down", co-written by Mitchell herself and produced by Karen Kosowski.

Less than two weeks later, "Don't Love Me" has already hit the Top 50 chart as the #5 Canadian release and has been included on the highly coveted "Wild Country" Spotify playlist with more than half a million followers. In true Mitchell fashion, both songs are moving, relatable and emotive, with "Don't Love Me" showing signs of a true heartbreak ballad and "Tear It Down" echoing tones of empowerment.

Celebrating the Life of Ritchie Yorke

Fri May 26 2017
Ritchie Yorke

A celebration of the life of Ritchie Yorke has been planned to honour a 50 year career of a music writer, author, journalist, cultural critic, broadcaster and media personality, Ritchie Yorke.

On Tuesday June 6, the music industry will gather together in Toronto, Ontario from 5 pm – 9 pm at Drums ‘N’ Flats located at 1980 Avenue Road (just below the 401).

Ritchie Yorke passed away on the night of Monday the 6th of February in Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital from complications with his struggle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ritchie’s career has been long and illustrious, and he will forever be remembered by his family and fellow lovers of music.

Sounds of Home at Toronto’s Harbourfront 2017

Fri May 26, 2017

Harbourfront Centre’s 2017 summer season celebrates Canada’s cultural heritage with Sounds of Home, a sonic tribute to the strength of the diversity found across the land known as Turtle Island. The season kicks off on June 27with Here in the 6ix: Celebrate Multiculturalism Day, a program offering a full day of free events reflecting Toronto’s rich cultural mosaic.

Four distinct weekend festivals in July form the core of a programming vision that gathers Canadian talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast for an array of evocative and entertaining events ranging from concerts, comedy shows, family activities, culinary events, and late-night afterparties. Audiences and visitors are invited to join us throughout the summer on Toronto’s waterfront to relax on our lakeside vista and enjoy these curated festivals, your favourite annual festivals, and season-long events, such as the Summer Music in the Garden classical music series, and our weekly Free Flicks outdoor film series and Dancing on the Pier events.

AMMARA to Release Debut EP Black Moon

Fri May 26 2017
AMMARA to Release Debut EP Black Moon

Submitted to Cashbox Canada 

AMAARA is the Ethereal Pop music and multi-media project of Kaelen Ohm. A musician, actor and award winning filmmaker, Ohm began AMAARA as a basement project in between tours as a guitarist and singer for Canadian band, Reuben and The Dark. Today, AMAARA shares the news of her forthcoming debut EP, Black Moon, set for release on June 22nd. For a taste of what is to come, see below for the video for the title track, and listen to new song, Dreamcatcher .

The six-track EP features guest appearances by Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene, L.A. Guitarist/Producer, Joel Shearer, and Grammy-winning Producer/Engineer, Shawn Everett. Recorded at OCL Studios in Calgary and at The Banff Centre, as well as pieces in Ohm's basement in Calgary and Shearer's home in Topanga Canyon, L.A., Ohm calls the album a practice in creative self-trust.

Here Comes the Sun!

Fri May 19, 2017

Every year around this time when winter has finally played itself out and summer is warming up for its annual residency, everything starts to change. The greens return, the sky becomes a deeper blue and the golden sun is once again the star of the show. And music on radio and playlists changes as well. Used to be you planned releases around the seasons and certain songs were held back as “great summer song” material. Some of these hits are still being played or covered today. Nothing says summer, even 60 years later like “Summertime Blues”, Lovin’ Spoonful’s “ Summer in the City”, and of course don’t we all feel better, practically or metaphorically, when it’s “ summertime and the livin’ is easy, fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high?”

Some of the following list is from last year’s informal poll and some are from today. Hopefully this will make you think of your favourite summer song.

BTW with Lenny Stoute The Wilderness Of Manitoba, Bombargo, Hermitess, Tin Pan North, Pokey LaFarge, Betty Moon, The Pistolwhips, The Blue Goose

Fri May 19 2017
The Wildern4ess of Manitoba Photo Credit Zuzana Hudackova

The current offering from The Wilderness Of Manitoba, The Tin Shop EP is something of a changeup for the band. The layers of anthemic folk rock it's known for have been stripped back to reveal the heart of Will Whitwham’s songwriting. Whitwham together with vocalist/guitarist Raven Shields will support the release with a string of tour dates throughout Spring with Jenny Berkel and Eamon McGrath.

Since its inception The Wilderness Of Manitoba has continued to grow and evolve with every new release. Throughout it all founding member Will Whitwham has left his imprint on each and every sound the band has produced - from the chamber folk debut, Hymns of Love and Spirits, to the cinematic indie pop of Between Colours.

Sean MacLean of Waves That Stray Releases New Single Brick by Brick

Fri May 19 2017
Sean MacLean

Toronto songwriter and musician Sean MacLean is launching his new project ‘Waves That Stray’ with the release of the video for his debut single “Brick By Brick” on June 1st, 2017. Training a lens on the colourful roots of his hometown, MacLean populated the video with a diverse cast, found through an open casting call put out just weeks before the shoot. The result is a cross-section of Toronto’s thriving culture, featuring actors, dancers, parents, professionals, and students alike. Filmed in an empty loft above now defunct Toronto venue The Hoxton, the video is a sometimes somber yet uplifting glimpse into the personalities of those who have built their lives in the ever-changing landscape of Toronto’s downtown core.

Acclaimed Supergroup Lunch At Allen's Returns with Dazzling New Album, If It Feels Right

Fri May 19 2017
Photo: Lunch at Allen's Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan

Destined to be the ideal soundtrack to glorious summer in its alternately spirited and languid days and always-convivial nights, If It Feels Right – the hotly anticipated new studio album from Canadian folk/pop giants Lunch At Allen’s – arrives June 16.

Featuring chart-topping musical veterans Murray McLauchlan, Cindy Church, Marc Jordan and Ian Thomas – who have collectively shifted a staggering 25,000,000 units as both solo artists and songwriters for stars like Chicago, Josh Groban, Bonnie Raitt, America, Santana, Cher and Rod Stewart – Lunch At Allen’s is that rarest of beasts: a genuine musical democracy.

If It Feels Right soars as a result.

BTW-Paul Kelly, Brainstory, Don't Think Twice, Imelda May, Figure Walking, Blair Packham, The Revolution, Catl, Boss Hog, Root Magic

Fri May 12 2017
Charlie Owen and Paul Kelly

Paul Kelly, arguably Australia’s preeminent songwriter, will spend the month of May performing intimate shows across North America — his first concerts on this continent since 2013 The tour is in support of Kelly’s 2016 release, the uniquely conceived Death’s Dateless Night , although he will also be playing songs from an award-winning career that has earned him induction into Australian Recording Industry Association’s Hall of Fame and, just earlier this year, being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his distinguished service to the performing arts.

Death’s Dateless Night, a collaboration with highly regarded Australian multi-instrumentalist Charlie Owen, contains songs that they have played at various funerals. Featuring a mix of covers, traditional tunes and a few Kelly originals, the album’s vibe is actually far from funereal. The spare, stirring set has been hailed as a “powerful meditation on life, death and the mess we make in-between.”

Norbert Putnam Music Lessons Vol. 1

Fri May 05, 2017

Norbert Putnam, bass player, arranger and record producer can now add author to his list of occupations. Actually more of a raconteur. The talented and well respected Putnam has a new book, Music Lessons Vol. 1, that just hit the shelves this month And oh the stories he can tell ! We asked Norbert from his home in Florence, Alabama, what prompted the writing of his memoirs? “My wife Sheryl and I were living in Hilton Head, North Carolina and going to these get togethers and parties with these moneyed people, non music folks, and they all wanted to talk about the music business and what I’d seen and done. They funny thing is most of them seemed more interested in the lesser known artists I had worked for and with. One night at an architect’s house they asked me about working with Jerry Jeff Walker. I explained that with Jerry Jeff we set up an actual bar in my studio. Then we’d sit around and drink and talk and then we’d record some. It was the atmosphere that Jerry Jeff was comfortable with.

CMW2017 ROUNDUP - Quivers, Eliza & The Delusionals, Bad Pony, Silver Love Club, Tasseomancy, Amelia Curran, Sebadoh, Tim Darcy, The Barberettes, Tangina Stone, K.Forest

Sun Apr 30 2017
 Eliza & The Delusionals

It was a year of many grassfires, upon occasion a decent brush fire or three but there weren't any roaring, all consuming forest fires at CMW this year.

The Aussie showcase came close to an all out blaze, especially as the night wore on at The Hideout's new home on College and the outdoors temp on the rise. Ducked in to catch Quivers, making their Canadian debut with a fistful of brisk pop songs, cheeky clever lyrics, lotsa chiming guitars and likeable frontman Sam J. Nicholson. The hard candy-coated Eliza & The Delusionals brought shades of The GoGos and flavours of KPop to their indie poprock with a skittery edge. There are decent hooks and the stirrings of something here but it didn't really get across to the room.

Come And Sing A Simple Song of Freedom

Fri Apr 28, 2017

“ Come and sing a simple song of freedom, sing like you’ve never sung before. Let it fill the air, tell the people everywhere, that we the people here don’t want a war.”

Those lyrics written by Bobby Darin are as relevant and true today as they were 48 years ago when Darin wrote them.

Don Graham
Don Graham

It’s true we’ve had wars since, the Gulf War and the Persian War and unrest in the Middle East but somehow, although we had military involved, it was never a threat in our own backyard. It always seemed far away. It’s a little different now. Now you have two unstable leaders with access to nuclear codes and  we can feel the breath of the threat on our necks. Nuclear war never seemed a possibility to me because level heads on both sides know that with each having the deadly weapons, nobody wins. But these are not level headed times.