Moncton’s Colonial Quarrels released its debut album, The End Was An Honest Mistake, a few weeks back. The album, a mix of folk, alt-country and rock, is in local stores now.
I caught the band’s CD release show in early February. It was a fantastic set by the six-member group.
The band initially formed in 2003 as a side project for Remi Cormier, frontman of the The Peter Parkers.
“It all started with one little sentence – ‘I like the tune but it doesn’t sound like a Peter Parkers song,’” says Cormier.
So he started a new band.
Rounded out by fellow Parkers Chasity Alward (piano/vocals), Cameron Murphy (drums/vocals) and Stephane Doucet (keyboard), the band also features acclaimed guitarist Denis Surette of Les Paiens (guitar/slide) and David Gregory (bass) of Mario Poupettes and the
The album was released via Superbob Records. The band’s debut single “BD’s Shoes” can be found on radio now.
Dog Day hits the road
Dog Day is performed last night at The Capital in Fredericton, and now the band is heading out on a one-week tour through Quebec and Ontario.
At the end of the road, the band will spend two days recording with legendary Eric’s Trip front man Rick White, including tracking one song that White has written specifically for Dog Day.
The band has also released “Rome,” a first glimpse of its forthcoming album, Concentration, via its website. The album will be released in late April by Outside Music with a special vinyl edition from Black Mountain Music in Canada and Tomlab in Europe.
The album will feature 11 songs. It was mixed by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr).
Great Big Sea frontman tapped for film
Alan Doyle from the multi-platinum selling Newfoundland band Great Big Sea has just been tapped to appear in the upcoming Ridley Scott/Brian Grazer Universal Pictures production of Robin Hood. The film, which doesn’t have a proper name just yet, is set to star Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. Doyle will appear as Allan A’Dayle in the film.
Crowe has been a longtime supporter of Great Big Sea, having penned the song “Company of Fools,” from their critically acclaimed 2008 CD Fortune’s Favour. In addition, Doyle produced and co-wrote several songs on Crowe’s own album My Hand, My Heart, and has played several shows with Crowe’s band, The Ordinary Fear Of God.
Meanwhile, Great Big Sea will be touring in Canada this month, with their final stop in Vancouver on March 29 where they will perform live on the CTV broadcast of the 2009 JUNO AWARDS. The band received its tenth Juno nomination this year, in the category Group of the Year for their gold-certified album Fortune’s Favour.
The band’s east coast dates include March 11 at the Moncton Coliseum, March 12 at the Halifax Metro Centre and March 14 at St. John’s Mile One Stadium.
Bower named finalist in songwriting competition
Nova Scotia-based, Newfoundland-born Steven Bowers has been named a finalist the International Songwriting Competition (Folk/Singer Songwriter category) for his song “Bees In Jars.”
The song is from his current CD “Homing”, which was nominated for 2009 ECMA Folk Recording of The Year.
The International Songwriting Competition received 15, 500 entries from 100 countries. Winners will be announced in April.
Moncton songwriter night endorsed by SAC
Moncton’s latest open mic night, featuring original music only, is now officially endorsed by the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC).
This event, occurring on the first Tuesday of each month at Moncton’s St. James Gate, kicked off its first edition last month. It was patterned after the SAC’s branded open mic called SongStage and has now received formal endorsement.
Many things remain the same: pre-registration is required, each songwriter will have the chance to perform three songs and the event is free of charge to the public. Changes apply to the name of the event, which is now called the SAC Moncton SongStage. For registration, priority will now be given to SAC members.
Songwriters can register in advance for the April 7 edition via e-mail at monctonsong@gmail.com. Participants must bring their own instrument. All languages of performance are welcome. St. James’ Gate is located at 14 Church St. in Moncton.
