Country singer Brad Paisley and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, have teamed with Belmont University to open The Store, a modern version of a food pantry that is set up like a free grocery store.

“This is a grocery store with dignity for people who have fallen on hard times,” said Paisley, president of The Store’s board of trustees. “All of us are one unforeseen disaster away from rock bottom. It’s nice to think about a place where when that happens to someone, they can use it to get back on their feet.”

Located at 2005 12th Ave. S. next to Belmont University’s Ministry Center, The Store will partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and other organizations to provide both fresh and nonperishable groceries to individuals and families in need for one year. Customers will be referred by nonprofit and government agencies. The nonprofit has an initial goal to serve 3,000 people per year.

There are legendary days in every band’s history, and nothing could be truer than Saturday, July 28th, 2018 and its resulting 12-hour ‘one-take’ recording session for New Jersey-based rap garage rock collective Foster & The Pranksters.

The results produced the group’s freshest single, “Live As It Gets [Prankster Remix featuring Royce Da 5’9]”, as well as their newest EP, La Honda — available now!

Equally influenced by hip-hop heavyweights like Kanye West and The Roots, and rock icons like The Strokes, Jimi Hendrix, and The White Stripes, Foster & The Pranksters — including Foster the Prankster (vocals), Mike Chowanec (guitar), Steve Padelski (bass), and Chris Stadler (drums) — create a sound that feels familiar, yet completely original, all at once.

Montreal producer, singer & songwriter, Genevieve Ryan Martel, who performs under the moniker, RYAN Playground, has released her highly-anticipated debut album titled, 16/17, today on Secret Songs/Last Gang Records. The album includes stunning singles, Pie In The Sky (feat. Robert Robert) and Empty Pool, featuring acclaimed New Zealand artist, Lontalius.

Toronto-based alt-rock outfit, Birds of Bellwoods, are thrilled to announce the release details of their highly-anticipated debut LP, Victoria. Out on October 19^th via eOne, Victoria invites listeners to join the band’s high-energy musical parade built on honest, emotive songwriting and laced with sweet, sticky hooks. Listeners can pre-order/pre-save the album digitally here. CD and Vinyl copies of the album will be available for purchase as well.

“In a lot of ways, when we finished Victoria we saw for the first time the combined weight of our lives so far,” the band reflects. “Years of love, fear, hope, and doubt made into a celebration. I'm moving on. I love you. I'm getting older and I'm scared. Some of these songs started more than five years ago. Some were created much faster, late in the recording process. Victoria is a time capsule, as all albums are. A span of youth. And we are excited to share it with you.”

“One amazing message: Empowering girls to become the best versions of themselves.”

The girls stuck to their Canadian roots with the video for“Stronger Than Yesterday” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UolYm0SnbH0). It was filmed in 6 different Ontario locations and the girls toldCeleb Secrets (http://celebsecrets.com/girl-pow-r-spreads-self-confidence-with-new-son…) exclusively; “Filming our music video was a very fun and amazing experience. We had multiple clothing changes, performed our choreography that we do when we are on tour, did a live performance where we played our instruments and sang, used this really cool white bridge that connects two parts of the city, and more!”

Today, Brooklyn indie-pop group, St. Lucia, has released their third album, Hyperion, via Columbia Records. The 11-track LP features previously released tracks, A Brighter Love, Paradise Is Waiting, and lead single, Walking Away. See full tracklisting below. Produced by Rob Kirwan (U2, Depeche Mode) and mixed by Dave Sardy (LCD Soundsystem, Oasis), Hyperion is available HERE.

“I just feel like so much of the music that’s ‘big’ these days is made in a very cynical way,” says frontman Jean-Philip Grobler, “I wanted to try and make something that aims high in every possible aspect of the music: it’s personal, it’s big, it’s ambitious, it’s very much ‘me’ and ‘us’, but it’s also made to connect with people.”

Peter Rowan is a genuine, modern country music great, a guy with one foot in the hallowed past shared with his days as a Bill Monroe Bluegrass Boy, and the other always poised to step ahead, with the likes of his remarkable forays into ‘Crucial Country,’ alongside Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Larry ATTAMATUIK, and the much- loved tracks, ‘Moonlight Midnight,’  ‘Free Mexican Airforce’ and ‘Panama Red,’ the latter a track he wrote way back when and which he laughs about when I suggest it must be a nice pension-pot to fall back on:

“I never made a dime from that song. It was just the way it worked at the time,” he shrugs with a shake of the head.

Submitted to Cashbox Canada

On September 10, ole, the world's fastest-growing independent music publishing and rights management company, is pleased to announce that it has been named ‘Music Publishing Company of the Year’ for an unprecedented twelfth consecutive time at the 2018 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Gala Dinner & Awards held Saturday Night in Hamilton, Ontario

“ole is proud of the accomplishments of our Staff, Songwriters and Artists, and thanks the CCMA community for their support,” commented Robert Ott, ole’s CEO.

During Sunday night’s televised awards show, ole songwriter, Meghan Patrick, repeated her 2017 win for ‘Female Artist of the Year’, and ole’s brother and sister songwriting duo, The Reklaws, received the ‘SiriusXM Rising Star’ award.

In addition, “Chills” by the James Barker Band and co-written by ole songwriter Gavin Slate was awarded both ‘Single of the Year’ and ‘Top Selling Canadian Single of the Year’ over the course of the two festive evenings.

Barney Bentall is taking The Cariboo Express back on the road, announcing 11 shows for November — including a three-night run at the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney, BC.

Recently nominated for a 2018 Western Canadian Music Alliance Community Excellence Award, Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express will continue to use this, their 13th annual tour, to benefit local charities. The initiative has raised more than $1.4 million over the years and counting. This year’s tour will benefit the Empress Theatre Society, Friends of Children, CKUA, Classroom Champions, Saanich Peninsula Lions, Salt Spring Community Services, Nanaimo Region John Howard Society, and the Potluck Café Society.

Singer-songwriter Megan Bonnell will be joining The Once for the Eastern leg of their upcoming Canadian tour (dates can be found below). This Thursday she joins Great Lake Swimmers on the Western leg of their Canadian tour, as both support and a backing vocalist. She'll be bringing her third full-length album, Separate Rooms, released April 6 on Cadence Music. Full details about the tour can be found below and at http://meganbonnellmusic.com/tour-dates/.

Stone Temple Pilots and Seether have announced a co-headline tour, along with special guests, Default and Age of Days, in Canada – kicking off October 23^rd in Penticton, BC.

With over 50 million albums sold, Stone Temple Pilots roared on to the scene in 1992 with their raucous debut, Core. A breakout success, the album peaked #3 on the Billboard 200 chart and dominated radio waves with hits like Sex Type Thing, Wicked Garden, and the Grammy-Award winning, Plush. STP founding members, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, Eric Kretz, along with new lead vocalist, Jeff Gutt, released their seventh studio album, Stone Temple Pilots (2018), and just wrapped the Rev 3 tour to rave reviews. The Atlanta Journal Constitution said, “STP made the comeback they’ve been trying for,” and DC Music Review stated, “The band was tighter than ever.”  

Civic Theatres Toronto today announced the return of Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me, from the internationally-renowned Montreal-based dance company BJM – Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, on Friday, March 1, 2019. Tickets go on sale this Friday, September 7.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Headstones' critically-acclaimed debut album Picture of Health and to celebrate, they will be re-issuing the album on October 26 via Cadence Recordings.

Headstones will also be heading on the road this fall for the official Picture of Health Tour, playing this seminal album from front to back live, as well as your favourite hits! They will be bringing along The Matchstick Skeletons to open each show. Fans will also have access to the VIP Fan Experience Upgrade Package at each show - learn more here.

It has been a whirlwind year for Ottawa’s Tribe Royal, the new band with a vintage sound.

Teaming up in early January with Toronto’s marketing and strategy company, EMG, was the beginning of what was to be several life-changing events. In February, Tribe Royal played to a full house at Babylon nightclub, a well-known music haunt, more than six months removed from their headline show in their hometown. In June of this year, they returned to the scene with an opening show with Australian reggae-rockers Ocean Alley at The 27 Club thanks to SpectraSonic.

A few months into the year, discussions started with the exciting news that the legendary producer Norbert Putnam (Joan Baez, Dan Fogelberg, Kris Kristofferson, Mickey Newbury and Jimmy Buffett to name a few) was interested in doing a two-song production in Muscle Shoals at the famous NuttHouse Recording Studio. 

Today, Platinum-selling Sony Music Entertainment Canada recording artist Gord Bamford, announced he is returning to his performing roots to celebrate the release of his latest single "Dive Bar", with the Honkytonks & Dive Bar Tour. Beginning in Calgary, AB on October 17 the tour will hit 29 Canadian cities from coast to coast, giving fans the chance to see one of Canada’s biggest Country music superstars in an intimate setting, at their favourite local bars and honkytonks.

"’Honkytonks and dive bars are where I cut my teeth in this business and fell in love with country music and performing. It’s where I feel right at home,” said Gord Bamford. “I'm looking forward to getting back to my roots where it all began. Make sure to grab your tickets fast cause it's gonna be a party!”

Current CCMA Fan’s Choice, 2-time Juno Award-winning artist and celebrated songwriter, Dean Brody will be hitting the road this fall for the Dirt Road Stories Tour, beginning October 20 in Truro and ending December 2 in Cranbrook, BC. Stopping in both small towns and larger markets, this compelling, intimate acoustic tour will showcase Brody’s depth as a songwriter, and his unparalleled ability to bring storytelling to the forefront of country music.

Manifesto Festival of Community and Culture presented by Aurora and Vancity Community Investment Bank, is pleased to announce the final schedule for the 2018 edition and this year’s Summit programming. Returning to its original form, with a free concert at Nathan Phillips Square, featuring Chronixx, Charlotte Day Wilson, Akala,Birthday Boy & Trish, the event will also showcase a number of vendors, a wellness area and the Toronto City Ball Out presenting a Dunk Contest, 3x3 Basketball tournament, prizes and more. This year’s packed program of multi-arts events will be splashed across downtown Toronto at various participating venues, to view our list of free events, the Discovery Series, Manifesto House and this year’s Summit see below or visit here. In an effort to ensure broader accessibility, Manifesto will be teaming up with community partners from around the GTA to provide shuttle bus programs that allow young people to attend the main events.

Florida five-piece, Wage War, are celebrating the one–year anniversary of their statement-making sophomore album, Deadweight (Fearless Records), by releasing a reworked acoustic version of the single, Gravity. It’s a beautiful rendering that shows the versatility of the track and is a striking testament to the band’s songwriting skill.

"To celebrate the one-year mark of Deadweight, we're pleased to release the stripped version of Gravity," said singer, Cody Quistad. "This record has changed our lives and we're so thankful for the love and support we've received. We were overwhelmed at the response to the stripped version of Johnny Cash, and it seemed to make sense to break down another one of our favorites. We're hard at work writing what we think will be the best Wage War record yet — making sure we give you nothing but our best."

The track was released on Saturday, August 4, which marked a year to the day that the album was released. It's available for purchase at the following DSPs.

Shred Kelly has released their latest music video for the track, Jupiter (Any Other Way), off their fourth album, Archipelago, which was released earlier this year via Devil Duck Records. Shot at Island Lodge in Fernie, BC, the video was filmed by Aere Films and Nick Nault Photography. Have a look here, and catch the band on tour as they travel across western Canada and Europe in the coming months.

“It was a pretty phenomenal opportunity to film this video at Island Lake Lodge in our hometown of Fernie, BC,” the band comments. “It is surreal that all of this beauty is in our backyard, and we were so excited to explore parts of the property we’d never even imagined, and create something within it.” The video was made possible by Island Lake Lodge and Tourism Fernie.

The Toronto Undergraduate Jazz Festival (TUJF) is hosting its fourth Annual jazz festival, T.U. Jazz Fest 2018 this September in downtown Toronto and North York regions. The goal and focus of T.U. Jazz Fest 2018 is to bring attention to the younger generation of musicians by providing a platform/outlet for which they can express themselves.

Through lack of opportunity, many young musicians don’t gain the experience or exposure they need to establish themselves properly. Being the only young musician-oriented jazz festival in Canada, T.U. Jazz Fest 2018 serves as a launching off point for many musician’s careers. Throughout September 4-8, musicians will play through a variety of venues through downtown Toronto and North York regions. The two days leading up to opening night will see bands play at the local venue, The Frog in North York where they can build working relationships with local business owners and play in front of new audiences.