(In-Flight Safety by Aaron McKenzie Fraser)

Halifax indie rockers In-Flight Safety will celebrate the release of their new album, we are an empire, my dear (released this week on the band’s own Night Danger records) at The Marquee on Friday, Feb. 6. The show will also feature performances from Dog Day and Boxer The Horse.

With songs of failing hope and the struggle against complacency, we are an empire, my dear, finds In-Flight Safety stepping into darker corners than they have ventured in the past.

The album was produced by Laurence Currie (Sloan, Buck 65, Wintersleep) in April of last year. During this time, the band stationed themselves in an empty school house in rural Nova Scotia, where they focused on the task at hand.

Over the following month, they pieced together the songs, using the studio to strip down and rebuild each track.

The band is currently planned an East Coast tour for next month and a national tour throughout March and April.

Tickets for next Friday’s show are $10 and will be available at the venue. Doors open at 10 p.m.

Julie Doiron prepares album release

Celebrated New Brunswick songwriter and member of the legendary Eric’s Trip, Sackville, N.B.’s Julie Doiron is preparing for the release of her next album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, on March 24.

Reportedly, Doiron’s new release is a more upbeat, more electric album than much of her previous work.

“I keep saying that it’s a change in a positive direction,” Doiron said in a press release. “I’ve started to love life most of the time, and I’m happy, and I’m having a great time raising my kids.”

The past couple of years have seen Eric’s Trip regroup for triumphant reunion tours, and a rekindling of her work with Trip mainstay Rick White (who produced her 2007 Polaris Prize nominated album Woke Myself Up, and returned for this album).

I Can Wonder was recorded at White’s isolated home studio, northwest of Toronto. Doiron handled the electric and acoustic guitar parts, White played all the bass and keyboards, and Fred Squire performed all the drums and some lead guitar. Squire, who is also from Sackville, is Doiron’s bandmate in another of her projects, Calm Down It’s Monday.

Bouchard comes out of the cabin

Moncton singer-songwriter Tim Bouchard recently released a solo effort, Cabin Fever.

Bouchard originally fronted Moncton band Gibbous. After the band called it quits, Bouchard travelled the country writing poetry based on Canada’s rural and urban communities.

In an e-mail to East Coast Noise, he explains the evolution of his album.

“With the world most reliable and portable instrument (the harmonica) I began jamming with other musicians and busking for change on the streets,” he says. “Piano also came in to the mix as I played and wrote songs daily on any piano I could find on my journeys.”

Eventually, Bouchard returned home and one night as a snow storm raged outside a cabin he was staying in, Bouchard wrote five tunes that became his EP, Cabin Fever.

“The objective was to create an album that represented the emotional state I was bargaining with,” he says. “Ultimately trapped out in Albert County as a snow storm raged on, closing roads and civilization, I picked up my guitar and wrote five tunes that represented my evolution from cabin fever, the passing of a friend and ultimately acceptance.”

The album was recorded lo-fi to capture the feel he was going for. All the takes were recorded in one take.

Cabin Fever is available at Frank’s Music and Spin-it in Moncton.

Bouchard’s next gig is Feb. 19 at Doc Dylans in Moncton.

Music PEI hosts awards show

On Saturday, Jan. 17, 16 nominees for the 2009 Music PEI Awards gathered at the Confederation Centre of the Arts for the annual awards show. Throughout the event, 22 awards were handed out in front of a sold out house.

Top award winners this year were Meaghan Blanchard with four, John Connolly with three and newcomers The Grass Mountain Hobos with three.

This year marked an interesting turn of events when there was not one, but two ties for awards in the Alternative and Pop Recording of the Year categories.

Below is the list of award winners:

Male Vocalist of the Year - John Connolly
Female Vocalist of the Year - Meaghan Blanchard
Group of the Year - Vishtèn
Urban Recording of the Year - Eric Broadbent & Mike Amelia
Songwriter of the Year - Meaghan Blanchard
Album of the Year - John Connolly
Alternative Recording of the Year – TIED between John Connolly / Pat Deighan and The Orb Weavers
Rock Recording of the Year - Battery Point
Folk Recording of the Year- Meaghan Blanchard
New Artist Recording of the Year- Meaghan Blanchard
Roots Traditional - Group of the Year- Vishtèn
Roots Traditional - Solo of the Year- Colette Cheverie
Instrumental Recording of the Year - JJ Chaisson
Bluegrass/Country Recording of the Year - Grass Mountain Hobos
Pop Recording of the Year – TIED between Kris Taylor / New Royalty
Studio of the Year - Big Grey Sound Studios
Venue of the Year – Hunter’s Ale House
Weekend Warrior – Grass Mountain Hobos
Entertainer of the Year – Grass Mountain Hobos
Lifetime Achievement – Ken MacCaull (given posthumously)
Lifetime Achievement – Scott MacAulay (given posthumously)
Industry Person of the Year – Steve Horne

Two Hours Traffic’s “Stuck For The Summer” will be used as the theme to MTV’s Camped Out television series.

The reality series, which only airs south of the border right now, chronicles life at six summer camps — including a sleep-away camp, a cheerleading camp and an arts camp.

Two Hours Traffic plans to begin recording the follow-up to its last LP Little Jabs at the end of February.

CMW festival performers revealed

Canadian Music Week has announced the confirmed lineup for the March 12 to 14 Festival that will feature 500 artists at 45 Toronto venues.

Among the Atlantic Canadians confirmed for the fest are Age Of Daze, Ghost Bees, Hey Rosetta!, Jenn Grant, Matt Mays & El Torpedo and Rebekah Higgs.

Congrats to all the bands.

Moncton to host monthly songwriters’ series

The lovely and talented Robin Anne Ettles, solo performer, session musician and mind behind rae, whose album we spoke of a few months back, will begin hosting an open-mic night, featuring original music only, next month.

The event will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at St. James’ Gate in Moncton, starting Feb. 3, from 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. It is open to the public.

The open mic night will be hosted by Ettles.

“Moncton has a strong culture of performance. We also have many talented songwriters, but we don’t have a ‘culture’ of songwriting,” she explained in a press release. “This will provide another opportunity for songwriting to be a part of public life here.

“In other cities, the open mic songwriter night is an important event for the community. Many major label songwriters first tested out their new material at open mic nights, and even met other songwriters with whom they could collaborate.

“Some songwriters want to share something they wrote;  some want to hear how others are writing. Some want to talk about the craft with other songwriters. This event allows for all of these things. It also provides a venue for people who want to go out and enjoy live original music, early enough in the evening.”

This open mic is patterned after SongStage, an original music event branded by the Songwriters’ Association of Canada. Application has been made to the SAC for formal endorsement of the Moncton series.

Registration will be required for performing each night. Songwriters can register in advance via e-mail at monctonsong@gmail.com, or with Ettles upon arrival at the event. It is expected that each participant will be able to perform approximately three songs, depending on availability. Participants must bring their own instrument. Songs can be performed in any language.

St. James’ Gate is located at 14 Church St. The second event is already scheduled for March 3.

Rankin Family signs with MapleMusic

MapleMusic Recordings announced recently that The Rankin Family will join the label for the release of their new album These Are The Moments.

The debut single from the album “Breathe Dream Pray Love” has just been serviced to AC radio stations across Canada. These Are The Moments will be released on Feb. 3 on Longview Music/MapleMusic Recordings.

The album is comprised of six new songs, reworked and remixed versions of two of their biggest hits,  “Fare Thee Well Love” and “Rise Again,” and four songs from The Rankin Family’s reunion tour.

The new songs were produced by Steve MacKinnon (Serena Ryder, Molly Johnson, Marc Jordan).

The Rankin Family’s 2009 concert tour begins in British Columbia on Feb. 4, and it includes two east coast dates thus far: Feb. 27 at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S. and Feb. 28 at the Metro Centre in Halifax.

Since their 1992 debut The Rankin Family have sold over 1.25 million albums.

Opportunity for artists

Contact East is currently looking for artists to showcase for provincial, national and international presenters and buyers of talent.

You can log onto www.contacteast.ca and download the artist submission form and send it in.

March 15, 2009 is the deadline for submissions.

Cape Breton to host ECMAs in 2010

The East Coast Music Association announced today that Cape Breton will play host to the 2010 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference from March 4-7.

This year’s ECMAs are only a month away, taking place in Corner Brook, NL Feb. 26-March 1.

ECMA seeks executive director

The association is also currently seeking a full-time ECMA executive director. The association plays a vital role in developing and promoting East Coast music, and it is led by the executive director and a voluntary board of directors.

In a news release announcing the job opportunity, the association wrote:

“The executive director provides leadership and direction in managing the long-term and daily affairs of the East Coast Music Association and its annual event, the East Coast Music Awards, Festival and Conference. As one of the country’s premiere music events and Atlantic Canada’s musical jewel, the ECMA attracts 2,000 delegates from home and around the world. The annual awards, festival and conference is showcases, industry conference international delegate program, community festival, school shows, industry awards, and culminates with a nationally televised awards show.”

Qualifications for this position would include the following:

- Experience managing a budget of $2 million
- Strong human resource management skills and experience
- Working knowledge of the music business and non-profit organizations
- Ability and/or experience to work with non-profit boards and volunteers
- Leadership and vision
- Strategic vision and change management
- Working with the board, to ensure proper implementation of policies and direction.
- Strong interpersonal skills/the ability to build and foster relations (corporate /government /industry)

This position is based in Charlottetown P.E.I.

Qualified candidates will have (or equivalent experience) a university degree with a specialization in Business Administration, Public Administration or Public Relations, and five year’s related work experience in successful event management or related  business activity. A proven track record in motivating, and supervising others is required. Experience working within the music and culture industry is an asset. Bilingualism is an asset.

All qualified candidates are requested to submit their resumes to the following address:

1206-5251 Duke St.
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 1P3

Or, you may fax your resume to (902)425-8559 or e-mail it to resumes@peabell.ca

The deadline is Jan. 31.

Halifax electro rockers Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees will release its debut recording tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 13 on Youth Club Records. The Halifax release party will be held on Friday at The Marquee Club.

To celebrate the occasion, Woodhands from Toronto will open the show along with Tomcat Combat (Halifax, Noyes Records).

The first 500 copies of the Thoughtful Bees record are contained in a limited edition hand-cut, hand-illustrated and hand-screened 4-fold paper jacket by the Laura Dawe and Chris Foster.

You can RSVP for the show at the Facebook page for the event.

Ryan MacGrath launches debut EP

It’s a busy week in Halifax, it seems. Singer/songwriter Ryan MacGrath will release his debut EP, In My Own Company, on Friday, Jan. 16 at The Seahorse Tavern in Halifax. The show will also feature an opening set from Caledonia.

The six-track EP was co-produced with Don MacKay (Amelia Curran, Tanya Davis, Don Brownrigg) at Spaces Between Sound Studio. The album grew from sparse demo tracks into its current form over the spring and summer of 2008.

Tickets for the show are $10. Doors open at 9:30pm.

Indie Pop Night travels

Moncton DJ Marc Xavier ‘Bones’ LeBlanc is taking his Indie Pop Night on another jaunt through the Maritimes this month. Here are the remaining dates:

- January 17th @ Baba’s Lounge (Charlottetown)
- January 24th @ Gus’ Pub (Halifax)
- January 30th @ Paramount Lounge (Moncton) - Indie Pop 80’s Night

Album reviews I promised months ago finally here. More to come, sooner than later and another update later in the week.

Cheers,

Eric

Matt Mays & El Torpedo Terminal Romance Sonic Records / Warner Music Canada If you like Matt Mays, and maybe even if you don’t, you should check this disc out. On Terminal Romance, the band’s second album (technically, Mays’ self-

titled release and soundtrack album When The Angels Make Contact are solo records), the rockers rock harder than before, the ballads evoke more emotion than his earlier work and the band is tighter than ever. Perhaps it’s Jay Smith of Rock Ranger joining the group that gave it a kick in the ass, perhaps it’s just a band and its chief songwriter maturing – whatever the reason, it works. The first half of Terminal Romance is just about as a flawless piece of rock music as you could ask for. The opening track “Building A Boat” is a catchy, tight rocker. “Digital Eyes” blends catchy rock n’ roll with cool effects that gives the song an extra kick. “Tall Trees” picks up where “Boat” left off, a rocker that will have everyone in the bar dancing. The irresistible “Rock Ranger Record” is a perfect slice of Ramones-esque punk rock that ends far sooner than you wish it would. Then comes the title track, a beautiful, tender ballad of heartache that sounds as if it were written the morning after a bad breakup. Honestly, if the record stopped there, it would still be among my favourites of 2008. The rest of the album is quite good as well, especially the power-pop of “Stand and Deliver” and ballad “Long Since Gone.” “Laser-Guided Love” and “Shining Eyes” don’t quite stand up to the rest, but I guess it’s the difference between good and great, so I’m not complaining. It’s been several months since Terminal Romance came out and I’m still surprised how much I dig it every time I turn it on.

Gallactus Nine Mile Woods Diminished Fifth Records Like a big angry train barreling down on you, Gallactus’ 2008 record Nine Mile Woods is stoner rock at its finest. The 12 tracks on Nine Mile Woods are heavy, gritty and played with a furious passion.

Don’t be turned off by the “stoner” label though – it’s not all gloom and doom. In fact, many of the tracks on Nine Mile Woods are quite catchy; there’s a rock n’ roll groove underneath the fog of distortion and the throat-splitting roar from Dan Hodgson. “DeathsHeadMoth” and “Solar Eyes” in particular have a swampy rock groove to them. It’s great to hear the band mix things up a bit. Gallactus (also including Shaun Crawford, Chris Crawford and Jason McAllister) also serves up some furious metal on “Kilmister,” “The Fury” and “Scars of the Axe Handle” and some heavy doom on “Skin Job” and the title track. A big heavy punch to the stomach, this is well worth checking out.

Dave Marsh The True Love Rules New Scotland Records The Joel Plaskett Emergency’s Dave Marsh releases his quirky debut solo effort, the first release on Plaskett’s new label, New Scotland Records.

The record is interesting. It comes across almost like a scrapbook of songs that weren’t necessarily written or recorded together with the intent of releasing them as an album. They range in length from a minute and a half up to nearly four minutes and they run the gamut from the punk-leaning “The Way We Live Today” and garage rock of “Move You Around” to the mellow, funky title track, the dreamy pop of “I Know Nothing Anymore”, moody acoustic number “Got No Kids Of Our Own” and the just plain odd “Nav Com Tav.” Marsh has quirky lyrics, a diverse batch of songs and sound that overall isn’t too removed from the Emergency’s own material. A few of the songs here could have been pulled from Emergency albums, such as “Backstreet Thread” and the excellent ‘70s pop of “Forsaken By The Beautiful People” and “The Smoke Easy.” The record was produced by Marsh and Plaskett and the Emergency frontman plays a lot of the instruments on the record. This is a thoroughly enjoyable record by a talented songwriter stepping out from the shadows of his full-time gig.

A quick update today and at least one more coming this week as 2009 gets rolling. Hope everyone had a decent holiday!

Cheers,

Eric

Forward Music artists head overseas

Fredericton label/collective Forward Music Group is sending three of its acts overseas for a European tour scheduled to begin late this month. Share, the Olympic Symphonium and Grand Theft Bus are heading to London while Share will venture out on its own for a more extensive tour of Ireland, northern England, Scotland and Germany.

In  addition, the Olympic Symphonium will be taping a BBC session, which is a huge deal for any band.

Here are the dates right now. More are expected to be added.

Jan. 28 - Share (solo) @ London, The Slaughtered Lamb
Jan. 29 - Share (solo) @ London, Bush Hall w/ Madame and Magic and Fur
Feb. 01 - Share (solo) @ Dublin, Thomas Reads
Feb. 03 - Share (solo) @ Dublin, Ruby Sessions
Feb. 02 - GTB @ London, Barfly (to be confirmed)
Feb. 03 - OS @ London, Big Chill w/ Rod Thomas
Feb. 05 - GTB @ London, Dublin Castle (not yet confirmed)
Feb. 07 - Share (fullband) @ London, Sheepwalk Inn
Feb. 09 - Share (trio) @ York, Duchess w/ Peter Broderick
Feb. 10 - Share (trio) @ Leeds, Primrose Pub
Feb. 11 - Share (fullband) @ Newcastle, End Bar w/ Mumford and Sons
Feb. 14 - Share (fullband) @ Glasgow, Captains Rest w/ Women
Feb. 15 - Share (trio) @ Berlin, Intersoup w/ Emmy Moll

Slate Pacific plan album release

More news from the Forward Music folks – Slate Pacific is planning a release for its debut EP. Safe Passage, a five-track EP will be released on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day. We’ll have more on the album’s release as it gets closer.

Register now for ECMA 2009

Registration for the 2009 East Coast Music Awards, Festival & Conference in Corner Brook, NL, is up and running now. The process is online once again for artists, delegates and non-members to purchase tickets for the upcoming event. Visit ECMA’s website for more info.

ECMA industry nominees announced

Just before Christmas, the ECMA industry nominees were announced. Here is the list of nominees:

Broadcast of the Year
Cape Breton Christmas Daddies Telethon (CB)
East Coast Countdown (NS)
East Coast Road Trip (NS)
Route 104-Q104 (NS)
That East Coast Show (NS)

Event of the Year
Festival of Small Halls (PE)
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival (NB)
Libertango (NS)
Riverfest 2008 (NS)
The Indian River Festival (PE)

Graphic Designer of the Year
Cheryl Smith - OutFront Productions Inc. (CB)
CHR!S SM!TH – funkfactor (NS)
evul design (NS)
Jessica Rhaye Design (NB)
Shehab Illyas ( NS)
Sheppy/Blazed Media Designs (CB)

Independent Company of the Year
Company House Records Inc. (CB)
MMS Atlantic (NL)
Music Marketing International Inc “MMII” (NS)
Sonic Entertainment Group (NS)
SONG HUT Digital Media Distribution Service (NS)

CARAS Industry Professional of the Year
Bruce Morel (NS)
Darren Gallop (CB)
Fred Lavery (CB)
Lynn Daigle (NB)
Robert Buck (NL)

Live Sound Technician of the Year
Carl Gosine (NS)
Dennis Field (NS)
Stéphane Déraspe (NS)

Delta Hotels Manager of the Year
Bruce Morel (NS)
Darren Gallop (CB)
James Steel (NB)
Jason Burns (NS)
Jeff Liberty (NB)

Media Person of the Year
Doug Gallant (PE)
Jimmie Inch (NS)
Marc Xavier LeBlanc (NB)
Tom Bedell (NS)

Photographer of the Year
CHR!S SM!TH – funkfactor (NS)
kelly clark fotography (NS)
Marc Xavier LeBlanc / Studiograph (NB)
Sarah DeVenne (NS)
Shehab Illyas Photography (NS)

FACTOR Radio Station of the Year - Major Market
Q104 Halifax (NS)
XL96 Moncton (NB)
Z103.5 The Beat of Halifax (CKHZ-FM) (NS)

FACTOR Radio Station of the Year - Small Market
CKEC - East Coast FM 94.1 (NS)
CKOA-FM The Coast 89.7 Cape Breton (CB)
Seaside FM (NS)

Record Company / Distributor / Independent Label of the Year
Company House Records Inc. (CB)
Forward Music Group (NB)
Halflife Records (NS)
Sonic Records (NS)
Warner Music Canada (NS)

Retailer of the Year
Back Alley Music, Charlottetown (PE)
CD Plus (NS)
Taz Records, Halifax (NS)

Studio of the Year
Big Grey Sound Studio (PE)
Denmark Productions Recording Studio (NS)
Guernsey Cove Parlour Productions ( PE)
Lakewind Sound Studios (CB)
The Sonic Temple (NS)

Studio Engineer of the Year
Dennis Field (NS)
Jon Matthews (PE)
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd (CB)
Stéphane Déraspe (NS)

Venue of the Year
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre (CB)
St. Mary’s Church, Indian River (PE)
The Fredericton Playhouse (NB)
The Guild, Charlottetown (PE)

Website of the Year
www.bette-wallet.com (NS)
www.dav-net.com (NL)
www.gordiesampson.com (CB)
www.jessicarhaye.com (NB)
www.kimberleyfraser.com (CB)