Sydney, N.S. band Carleton Stone Drives the Big Wheel is releasing its debut record tonight with a show at Smooth Hermans in their hometown.
The new record was recorded at Gordie Sampson’s Lakewind Sound Studios and was produced by Mike Sheppard and Stone. The band won a Battle of the Bands in their hometown last summer, which helped fund the debut release.
In the last year, the band has played local shows with Hedley, Matt Mays, Hey Rosetta!, Slowcoaster, Tom Fun Orchestra, In-Flight Safety and Gordie Sampson.
Buck & Kitch will open the show tonight, which starts at 9 p.m.
Joey Kitson releases debut solo CD
Joey Kitson, lead singer of seven-time East Coast Music Award-winning and JUNO Award nominated Celtic rock group Rawlins Cross, released his debut solo album STAN (Ground Swell/Warner), a tribute to folk legend Stan Rogers, in stores nationally this week.
STAN offers 10 of Rogers’ best known songs, including “The Field Behind the Plow,” “45 Years” and “Fogarty’s Cove.” The CD was produced by Chris Corrigan and features “A-list” Maritime musicians, including Brian Bourne (bass), Dave Burton (drums, percussion), Chris Corrigan (guitars), Kim Dunn (keyboards), Ray Legere (fiddle, mandolin) and Vishten members Emmanuelle LeBlanc (bodhran, tin whistles, backing vocals) and Pastelle LeBlanc (accordion, backing vocals).
Kitson will launch the CD with a special performance at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival in Canso, N.S. this Sunday at 4 p.m.
He will also be performing in the Charlottetown Festival’s production Stan Rogers: A Matter of Heart this summer. The theatrical celebration, honouring Rogers’ body of work, has a 72-show run throughout July, August and September at The Mack in Charlottetown, PEI.
Stan Rogers Folk Festival goes this weekend
Speaking of the legendary musician, The Stan Rogers Folk Festival is set for this weekend in Canso, N.S., July 3-5.
The 2009 Stan Rogers Folk Festival, an award-winning festival of songwriters, is once again set to showcase a stellar line up of international, national and regional talent. This year’s headliners include legendary “American Pie” songwriter and national Academy of Popular Music Songwriters’ Hall of Fame inductee Don McLean, Canadian Country Music Award winner Corb Lund, and JUNO Award-winning songstress Sarah Harmer.
Other artists performing include multi-award-winning Canadian songwriters Bruce Guthro, Jimmy Rankin, Lennie Gallant, James Keelaghan, Bill Bourne, Thom Swift and Dave Gunning; Nova Scotia’s ECMA award-winning pop artists Christina Martin and Melanie Doane; Canadian female folk veterans Cindy Church, Susan Crowe and Raylene Rankin; Newfoundland multi-instrumentalist Allan Ricketts; Halifax-based songstress Amelia Curran; New Brunswick bluesman Matt Anderson and many more.
Weekend passes are $80, Friday tickets are $32, Saturday tickets are $36 and Sunday tickets are $36 (plus tax). Tickets are available at all Ticketpro outlets, by phone at 1-866-311-9090 and online at www.ticketpro.ca. Major credit cards are accepted and services charges apply.
Songwriter night returns in Moncton
The next edition of Songwriters Association of Canada Moncton Songstage, Moncton’s open mic night for original music by singer-songwriters, takes place on Tuesday, July 7, 9:30-11:30 p.m. at St. James’ Gate.
This show features a line-up of talented singer-songwriters of various genres and language of performance. Registered artists include S.A.C. member Robin Anne Ettles, Lisa LeBlanc, Julien Simon, Rob Comeau, Ashley Bernard and André Saulnier. Each performer showcases 3 – 5 songs in an environment friendly to original music.
One performance spot remains open for July 7. Pre-registration is required via e-mail to monctonsong@gmail.com, with demo or link to a site where your music can be auditioned. Songwriters are also welcome to register for the Aug. 4 show. Participants must bring their own instrument. All languages of performance are welcome.
This event, occurring on the first Tuesday of each month, is officially endorsed by the Songwriters’ Association of Canada. They are put together by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Robin Anne Ettles.
St. James’ Gate is located at 14 Church St. in Moncton.
Black Moor signs with DFR
Diminished Fifth Records has announced that Nova Scotian thrashers Black Moor will be joining their growing roster and releasing their debut album ‘The Conquering’ on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
The long overdue album almost didn’t see the light of day after the band was in a near fatal automobile accident in June 2008. Now fully recovered, Black Moor have been continuing to impress audiences with their stunning live performances which most recently led them to be crowned the winner of the Molson Canadian Rocks Battle of the Bands in Nova Scotia and a finalist in the regional contest to open for rock legends KISS.
The band’s upcoming album will be released by DFR and distributed across the country by Sonic Unyon/Universal Music Canada.
Formed in 2005, Black Moor are quickly becoming one of the fastest up and coming names in the Canadian underground metal scene, having shared the stage with such titans as Anthrax frontman Joey Belladonna, Martyr, Toxic Holocaust, Rammer, Goat Horn, Cauldron and Priestess.
Congrats to MMVA winners
Congratulations to Classified and Wintersleep who took home MuchMusic Video Awards recently in Toronto.
Classified won Best Hip Hop Video for “Anybody Listening” and Wintersleep won VideoFACT’s Best Independent Video award for “Weighty Ghost.”
