Well known Riverview, N.B. fiddler Samantha Robichaud is planning her CD release show for her new album, A New Stage, to take place on Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Empress Theatre in Moncton, N.B., at 2 p.m.
Robichaud, only in her early 20s, has been playing and teaching fiddle for several years. A New Stage is her fifth album. The majority of the material is her own, and half of it features her singing while the other half is instrumental.
“I feel my music has really evolved on this album,” Robichaud told East Coast Noise. “I have grown as an artist. I was working on my Master’s certificate from Berklee (College of Music) when writing the material for this album and that really influenced my playing and composing. I found my self really going for it and pushing a little harder to get outside my comfort zone.”
The new record was produced by Chris Colepaugh, leader of Moncton-based blues rock trio Chris Colepaugh & The Cosmic Crew.
Robichaud says she wrote much of the disc’s material with Colepaugh.
“I wanted to bring a different sound to this record and appeal to a younger audience. I knew Chris could help me do that.”
After the album’s release, Robichaud is heading off to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Fransisco, CA, and she’ll play other shows stateside. She’s also planning on heading back to China and touring Asia.
Stolen Minks kick off national tour
As you’re reading this, Halifax-based garage rock trio The Stolen Minks have already embarked on a national tour in support of its forthcoming album, High Kicks (New Romance For Kids Records, Sept. 16). Kicking off this week in Halifax, the tour extends until the end of September, with dates all across the country.
The Stolen Minks’ previous album, Family Boycott (New Romance for Kids, 2006), hit number one twice on Canadian campus and community charts over the 12 weeks it charted.
The Trews come home
Juno-nominated Nova Scotia rockers The Trews are returning home to the East Coast for a short series of dates next month. The boys will perform at in Saint John and Moncton, N.B. along with Hubbards and Halifax, N.S. in September.
Back with their latest release, No Time For Later (2008), The Trews turned to Gus Van Go and Werner F (Priestess/The Stills) for production duties. The first single “Hold Me In Your Arms” hit number one on the MuchMusic Countdown and the video was nominated for the MuchLoud Best Rock Video at the 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards in June. Their latest single “Paranoid Freak” is currently charting on rock radio and is featured on the MuchMusic Countdown.
Hopefully, I’ll have more coming on the Trews in the near future.
Steven Bowers releases Homing
Newfoundland-born, Nova Scotia-based Steven Bowers recently released his latest disc, Homing. Bowers held a release show at The Carleton in Halifax, N.S.
The new disc showcases eleven folk-roots flavoured songs, most penned solely by Steven Bowers with the exception of Salesman (a co-write with Ron Hynes), Bury Me By the River (a co-write with band mates Kev Corbett and Keith Mullins) and Backroads of Heaven (a co-write with Kim Dunn).
Homing draws from the talents of several East Coast artists, including J.P. Cormier, Meaghan Smith, Carmen Townsend, Ed Woodsworth, Dave Gunning, Dale Murray and more. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Bowers and Dave Gunning at Gunning’s Wee House of Music.
Bowers has shows scheduled for Berwick, N.S. on Aug. 30 and Mount Stewart, P.E.I. on Sept. 5.
Sproll keeping busy
Moncton-based pop rockers Sproll have a lot on the go lately. The group, whose latest single, “Heights” is at radio now, recently signed a licensing deal with a Los Angeles-based firm called pigFACTORY for song placements in movies and television shows.
In addition, the four-piece (Thom Cooke, Glen Austin Farquhar, Corey Hachey, Neal MacLean) will showcase next month at the Atlantic Film Festival at The Marquee in Halifax. The band takes the stage at the festival on Thursday, Sept 18.
Lastly, the band has a video coming down the pipe (likely in fall) for “Heights.”
In the meantime, if you live in New Brunswick, you might be able to catch the band in your city soon. Over the next two months, the band will play a few theatre dates in Moncton, Bathurst and Fredericton.
Getting a crowd into a bar one thing, getting them into a theatre is another. Sproll is hoping to gather an audience that doesn’t always get out to see their late-night bar shows. Each show starts at 7:30 p.m., and Halifax band Mir (who have a new album on the way) will open each show.
The Peter Parkers release We Were All Born On A Burial Ground
Speaking of Moncton bands, The Peter Parkers will launch its new disc, We Were All Born On A Burial Ground, in Halifax next Friday, Aug. 29, at The Marquee. The show will also feature performances from Tomcat Combat & Share.
We Were All Born on a Burial Ground is The Peter Parkers’ first release in five years.
Tickets for the show are $8.00 at the door. Doors open at 10 p.m.
Quiet Parade release debut album
Halifax based pop-rock collective Quiet Parade will be releasing its debut album, Labour Day, at Ginger’s Tavern on Saturday, Aug. 23 in Halifax. The show will also feature performances from York Redoubt and Jon McKiel.
Quiet Parade is fronted by Trevor Murphy (Sleepless Nights, The Establishment) and it also features Jeff Pineau, Jason Methot, Richard Lann, Megan Hennigar, Megan MacDonald, Kristen Baker and Becky Murrary.
Doors for tomorrow’s show open at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $6.
Join the Barra MacNeils at sea
If you have a load of money to spend and you would like to spend some time with one of the East Coast’s best loved bands, The Barra MacNeils have a deal for you.
The band is pairing up with Cruises in Paradise cruise line for a week-long Caribbean cruise to celebrate the band’s 20th anniversary.
The price (in U.S. dollars) is $880.55 per person, and it’s based on an inside cabin with double-occupancy.
If you’re interested, go here.
