The East Coast Music Awards were handed out tonight in Sydney, N.S. The winners are:

Sennhesier Entertainer of the Year
Joel Plaskett (NS)

Female Solo Recording of the Year
Catherine MacLellan (PE) – Water In The Ground

Group Recording of the Year
In-Flight Safety (NS) – We Are an Empire, My Dear

Konica Minolta Male Solo Recording of the Year
Joel Plaskett (NS) – Three

FACTOR Recording of the Year
Joel Plaskett (NS) – Three

Rising Star Recording of the Year
Kim Wempe (NS) – Where I Need To Be

Vibe Creative Group Single of the Year

Joel Plaskett (NS) – Through & Through & Through

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year

Joel Plaskett (NS) – “Through & Through & Through” (Performed by: Joel Plaskett)

Video of the Year

The Tom Fun Orchestra (CB) – Throw Me to the Rats (Directed by: Alasdair Brotherston & Jock Mooney)

MB2/Joint Venture Aboriginal Recording of the Year

Forever (CB) – Reborn

Alternative Recording of the Year

In-Flight Safety (NS) – We Are an Empire, My Dear

Bluegrass Recording of the Year

The Grass Mountain Hobos (PE) – ZOOT!

Blues Recording of the Year

The Hupman Brothers (NS) – Countin’ Quarters

Country Recording of the Year

The Divorcees (NB) – Last of the Free Men

Folk Recording of the Year

Catherine MacLellan (PE) – Water In The Ground

Francophone Recording of the Year

BLOU (NS) – Noël Blou

Gospel Recording of the Year

The Ascensions (NB) – No Greater Love

Instrumental Recording of the Year

Andrea Beaton (CB) – Branches

Jazz Recording of the Year

Gypsophilia (NS) – Sa-ba-da-OW!

Loud Recording of the Year
The Motorleague (NB) – Black Noise

MapleMusic Pop Recording of the Year

Joel Plaskett (NS) – Three

Rap / Hip-Hop Single Track Recording of the Year

Classified (NS) – Anybody Listening

Sirius Satellite Radio Rock Recording of the Year

The Novaks (NL) – Things Fall Apart

Roots / Traditional Solo Recording of the Year

Lennie Gallant (PE) – If We Had a Fire

Roots / Traditional Group Recording of the Year

Dawn and Margie Beaton (CB) – Taste of Gaelic

R&B/Soul Single Track Recoding of the Year

Jamie Sparks (NS) – All I Need – Remix

Bell Aliant Fan’s Choice Video of the Year
The Motorleague (NB)

Cape Breton Credit Unions Fan’s Choice Artist/Group of the Year
Samantha Robichaud (NB)

Director’s Special Achievement Award
The Rankin Family

Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award
Scotty Turner

The East Coast Music Association announced its 2010 industry award winners Friday morning at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, with a total of 15 awards being feted.

Halifax-based Sonic Entertainment Group walked away the big winners, picking up a trio of awards. Sonic Entertainment Group won Independent Company of the Year, Sonic Records won Record Company/Distributor /Independent Label of the Year, and The Sonic Temple won Recording Studio of the Year.

Four honourary awards were presented, highlighted by Cape Breton’s Billy and Cornelia MacLeod receiving the Stompin’ Tom Award. Volunteer co-chairs Marie Doyle and Margie MacNeil took home Volunteer of the Year for their efforts, while Stephen “Beak” MacDonald won the Industry Builder award. Dave McKeough was given the Musician’s Achievement award.

ECMA 2010 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS

Broadcast of the Year presented by Atlantic Tractors
Atlantic Airwaves

Event of the Year
Halifax Pop Explosion

Independent Company of the Year
Sonic Entertainment Group

Industry Professional of the Year
Darren Gallop

Manager of the Year
Heather Gibson

Media Person of the Year
Doug Gallant

Producer of the Year
Joel Plaskett

Record Company/Distributor/Independent Label of the Year
Sonic Records

Studio of the Year
The Sonic Temple

Studio Engineer of the Year
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd

Venue of the Year
The Company House

Visual Artist of the Year
Chr!s Sm!th

Stompin’ Tom Award
Billy and Cornelia MacLeod

FACTOR Industry Builder Award
Stephen “Beak” MacDonald

Musician’s Achievement Award
Dave McKeough

Volunteer of the Year Award
Marie Doyle and Margie MacNeil

Construction & Destruction will embark on an east coast tour this week in support of their recently released album, Video et Taceo. They will be joined on the tour by Shotgun Jimmie and The Burning Hell. Dates are as follows:

Feb. 25 - Saint John, NB @ Jaco’s Bar Grill
Feb. 26 - Fredericton, NB @ The Capital
Feb. 27 - Halifax, NS @ Gus’ Pub
Feb. 28 - Sackville, NB @ The Legion
Mar. 2 - Charlottetown, PEI @ The Ampersand
Mar. 2 - Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba’s Lounge
Mar. 5 - St. John’s, NL @ CBTG’s
Mar. 6 - St. John’s, NL @ The Ship
Mar. 7 - St. John’s, NL @ The Ship

Construction & Destruction is made-up of partners Colleen Collins and David Trenaman. The duo live seaside in the rural wilds of Nova Scotia, where they record most of their work in a studio called The Quarantine.

Since the album’s release, Construction & Destruction toured the United Kingdom with Julie Doiron in September, and have played the Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and Sappy Records festivals in Canada and the Glasgow DIY Festival in the U.K. Following their upcoming east coast dates, the band will perform throughout Europe with Shotgun Jimmie and The Burning Hell for the majority of April and May.

Mike Bochoff tours east coast

Singer/songwriter Mike Bochoff will perform a series of dates throughout the east coast this March in support of his new album, Horror Culture. The album’s first single, “Everything Burns,” was recently added into rotation on MuchMusic. Dates are as follows:

Mar. 06  - Sydney, NS @The Crown and Moose
Mar. 11  - Fredericton, NB @ The Capitol
Mar. 12  - Woodstock, NB @ Fusion Café
Mar. 13  - Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan
Apr. 9  - Halifax, NS @ The Foggy Goggle

Since its release in August, the video for Horror Culture’s single “Everything Burns,” showcased at the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was awarded Best Music Video at the Arizona Underground Film Festival in Tucson, Arizona, and the Silver Wave Film Festival in Fredericton.

Bochoff started writing songs and playing drums in Pasty Felix, a punk band based out of Hartland, NB, when he was 15 years old. It wasn’t until halfway through his first year of university that he was introduced to the acoustic guitar. Six months after picking up the instrument he wrote the first of 10 songs for what would later become his debut independent release, …In the Service of Madness. The debut was released in August 2007.

Gravel Chewer release free download

New Brunswick based metal band Gravel Chewer has just released a free download of “Filth Angel,” a tune from an upcoming to-be-named EP that will be released in April 2010.  The single can be down loaded here.

Formed in Oct. 2008, Gravel Chewer is planning a Canadian tour in support of the EP. The band is also working on what will be a full-length album.

The Olympic Symphonium release new videos

Fredericton three-piece The Olympic Symphonium have released three new live videos from their Feb. 2 performance at the Rebecca Cohn Theatre in Halifax. CBC taped the show for Canada Live and Concerts On Demand and it will be available soon.

The videos can be viewed here, here and here.

Rusted Dawn prep for The Black Tides of War

New Brunswick thrash band Rusted Dawn, recent signees to Diminished Fifth Records, have announced that their debut, full-length The Black Tides of War will be released in North America on Tuesday, March 30 (distributed in Canada by Sonic Unyon and in the USA by Relapse Records).

The band has been releasing a handful of tracks from the album on their myspace to build anticipation.

The final touches are being added to ‘The Black Tides Of War - Canadian Tour’ which will launch on March 25 and run through May 16.

Maritimers are getting some shows in the next few weeks however. Check the band out at the following dates:

Saturday, February 20 @ Gus’ Pub in Halifax
Saturday, March 6 - ECMA Loud Showcase @ Maxwell’s in Sydney, NS
Saturday, March 13 @ Sunstar Lounge w/ Cauldron in Saint John, NB
Sunday, March 14 @ Nicky Zee’s w/Cauldron in Fredericton, NB

Gordon Gets Lost in New Brunswick

Fredericton/Halifax band Gordon Gets Lost will be making three stops in New Brunswick over the weekend, bringing their unique mixture of funk, jazz, bluegrass and world music to audiences.

Joining new bass player Mike Glaze are Jason Merrill (guitar, vocals) Tyler McGee (drums, vocals) and Mike Humble on Percussion.

You can catch Gordon Gets Lost at the following shows:

Thursday, Feb. 25 @ The Capital in Fredericton
Friday, Feb. 26 @ Paul’s Wharf, St George, NB
Saturday, Feb. 27 @ The Mason Jar, Sussex, NB

MIMEfest seeks bands

Moncton music festival MIMEFest has opened submissions for bands to play at this year’s festival. The festival set to take place over the weekend of April 1-4 and the deadline for submission is March 10. Submissions are open to artists of all music styles from acoustic to metal to hip-hop. Check out the website to sign up.

MIMEFest is Moncton’s Integrated Music and Education Festival. This weekend long series of concerts takes place in downtown Moncton and showcases bands from every genre of music - both French and English alike. MIMEFest 2010 will mark the festival’s 7th year but only its third under the MIMEFest moniker. Originally starting off as Monctonlocals’ Birthday Parties, the festival has grown to draw in over 1,000 people in attendance and as well as an educational panel to help support the growth of the music industry.

“I am really excited to see what bands apply for the festival this year,” commented MIMEFest organizer Don Levandier and guitarist for Moncton’s own The Motorleague. “Previous years we had a great variety of genres and managed to get some really great and talented bands like The Monoxides, The Divorcees and Les Paiens. I expect that this year the festival will grow to be better and bigger.”

Moncton open mic night takes place next week

The next monthly edition of Songwriters Association of Canada Moncton Songstage, Moncton’s open mic night for original music by singer-songwriters, will take place on Tuesday, March 2, 9:30–11:30 p.m.  at St. James’ Gate.

Performers for March 2 include Robin Anne Ettles, Guillaume Aubé, Steve Long and Mel Keith of Mel Keith & The Strombachs (2010 East Coast Music Award nominee for Pop Recording of the Year). Each performer showcases 3-5 songs in an environment that is friendly to original music.

There are still a couple of spots available for March 2, and pre-registration is open for the April 6 show. Pre-registration is required via e-mail to monctonsong@gmail.com, with demo or link to a site where your music can be auditioned. Participants must bring their own instrument. All languages of performance are welcome.

A new band from Moncton, Sunset Industry, will launch its debut album tomorrow (Tuesday) night at Café Aberdeen in the Aberdeen Cultural Centre in Moncton, at 7 p.m.

Sunset Industry features Dano LeBlanc (Godspeed! You Black Emperor, The Great Balancing Act), creator of Acadieman, the first Acadian Superhero, and his partner-in-crime, Léandre Bourgeois (Cathare-6, Kaméléon).

Tomorrow’s launch will be a listening party open to the public. Beverages will be available in addition to an Acadieman cake. Admission is free.

The duo’s debut record features the single Rhapsodie délinquante.

Sunset Industry is the first complete album to be released by La Menuiserie, a new record label founded by LeBlanc and Bourgegois. The album, co-produced by the two artists, will be part of the Distribution Plages’ catalog at www.plages.net

(Old Man Luedecke. Photo: Killbeat Music.)

Nova Scotia banjo picker Old Man (Chris) Luedecke is releasing his latest effort, My Hands are on Fire and Other Love Songs, on March 30.

The album follows up his Juno-award winning (Roots Album) Proof of Love. Joining Luedecke again at the production helm is Steve Dawson. The album was recorded over three dates with Keith Lowe (Fiona Apple, Bill Frisell) on bass, John Raham (Be Good Tanyas, Po’ Girl) on drums and Grammy award-winning Tim O’Brien (Hot Rize, Steve Earle) on fiddle, mandolin and vocals.

“Good music is honest to its time,” Luedecke says in a press release. “The old blues and country artists I love were singing about the world they lived in. When they sang about trains and telephones, they weren’t being ironic. It was new and what they saw around them.

“I want the songs I write to be catchy, but not at the cost of being true. I hear so many songs that have beautiful melodies, but I don’t know what they’re about and I can’t feel them. I try to write about my life in a way that I’d like to read about somebody else’s life.”

Luedecke has two east coast shows lined up in the coming months:

April 30 – Halifax @ Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
May 1 – Fredericton @ The Charlotte Street Arts Center

Ruth Minnikin releases new record

The press release for Ruth Minnikin and Her Bandwagon’s latest effort, Depend on This (Songmill Music) says the record was finished “27 months, two weeks, five days and 11 hours after its noble beginnings.”

It took some time, but the follow-up to acclaimed 2006 album Folk Art is in stores now. Divided into two halves, the album explores two sides of Minnikin’s creativity. She describes the completed album as, “a conceptually dramatized exaggeration of an avant-garde jalapeno pepper on a life raft.”

Minnikin’s first band, Booming Airplanes, was signed to EMI during the Halifax pop explosion of the 1990’s. Her chamber-pop side project, The Heavy Blinkers, developed a cult following all over the world, and at the turn of the millenium, Ruth made two albums and toured the UK and the US with alt-country quintet, The Guthries.

She’s appeared on over 50 recordings throughout her career.

Depend On This track list:

01. The Theme Song I
02. Sleeping and Dreaming I
03. Four Churches I
04. Depend On This I
05. Animals of Bremen I
06. Finale I
07. The Theme Song II
08. Sleeping and Dreaming II
09. Four Churches II
10. Depend On This II
11. Animals of Bremen II
12. Finale II

Minnikin has showcases planned during ECMA weekend in Sydney. She also has the following date planned for this weekend:

Feb. 13 – Wolfville, N.S. @ Al Whittle Theatre

Mullane unleashes Shift

Nova Scotia’s Jon Mullane is releasing his latest album, Shift, this month.

He’ll debut the album with a show on Friday, Feb. 26 in Halifax from 5-8 p.m. at the Pogue Fado. The launch is being held in conjunction with Molsen’s monthly Give ‘Er’ event. The $5 admission is in support of the 2011 Canada Winter Games

Mullane worked with producer Creighton Doane on Shift. Mullane describes the collaboration as “…two ‘80’s boys channeling their inner synth-rock gods!!”

“Shift continues where my last album, The Source, left off – a shift in momentum, a shift in direction, and a shift in energy,” he says.

The single Make You Move saw heavy chart action and was featured in NBC’s international promotional campaign for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and was the official theme for the World Canoe ’09 Championships.

Andrew Watt and the Glory Glory make debut

Nova Scotia’s Andrew Watt and the Glory Glory will celebrate the release of its debut album, First Day of Summer Life, on Feb. 19 at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax.

The band became the new musical outlet for former The Heavy Blinkers co-frontman Andrew Watt last year when he enlisted the aid of three complete strangers to help make his debut solo record.

Recruiting Halifax rock trio Glory Glory Man United as his backing band was a leap of faith for Watt, he says: “I decided to blindly invite these strangers to come over to the studio and rehearse my album. It was a real gamble that has paid off.”

Robert Drisdelle (Poison Percy Rufus) was soon brought in to record horn and string arrangements and finally Dreamsploitation’s Charles Blazevic to help work on the final mixes.

As a member of the internationally renowned Halifax pop outfit The Heavy Blinkers, Watt received critical acclaim from magazines such as Mojo, Q, Uncut and Rolling Stone. Recently, The Heavy Blinkers were named one of the “greatest bands you probably never heard of” by Spin.

Smothered in Hugs drop name

P.E.I. band Smothered in Hugs is now English Words. The band announced the name change last month at a gig to release the new 4-song EP Customer Appreciation.

The band says it’ll have a new website up shortly branded with the new name.

In the meantime, check out the band on tour with In-Flight Safety.

And with that …

In-Flight Safety tours Maritimes

In-Flight Safety is embarking on a Maritime tour this winter in support of its latest album, We Are An Empire, My Dear. The band was recently nominated for six East Coast Music Awards and had a song featured on NBC’s Chuck.

The band will perform two shows in Vancouver during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games before returning to the Maritimes for their tour.

The Maritime dates are:

Feb. 25 – Moncton @ The Paramount w/ English Words, John Jerome and Great 88
Feb. 26 – Halifax @ The Seahorse w/ Rich Aucoin & The Stance
Feb. 27 – Charlottetown @ Baba’s Lounge w/ English Words & The Orb Weavers
Mar. 4 – Sydney @ Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion (ECMA Concert Series Stage)

The Cottars bounce back with new album

Cape Breton Celtic four-piece The Cottars are back with a new album, Feast, on Rounder Records this month. Featuring traditional songs as well as tunes by founding band member Fiona MacGillivray, the album is the band’s first since 2006’s Forerunner.

The new album may come as a surprise to some, for The Cottars, originally made up of two sets of siblings, Fiona and Ciarán MacGillivray and Roseanne and Jimmy MacKenzie, split up some time ago.

However, the MacGillivrays are back, this time with new members Claire Pettit and Bruce Timmons.

Feast was released this week, and its track listing is as follows:

1.       Overture
2.       Fare Thee Well, Northumberland
3.       Seagull
4.       The Munster Suite
5.       Song For Stephen Foster
6.       Young Munro
7.       The Contradiction Set
8.       Leave Tomorrow Till It Comes
9.       On A Pier
10.    The 23rd of June
11.    Hymn For N
12.    Goodnight To You (Oidhche Mhath Leibh)

The band will perform on March 5 at Cruise Pavillion in Sydney, N.S. as part of the ECMA concert series.

(Tireless Sedans)

Moncton’s Tireless Sedans released its latest effort, Score One For The Underdog, this week. The full-length sophomore release follows up on the band’s 2009 EP Parts & Labour.

The album is released on indie label Superbob Records.

Featuring singer/guitarist Dave Rahmer, drummer Mark McGinnis, bassist Chad Lifford and keyboardist Jenna Gallant, the band blends alt-country, folk and rock sounds.

Check them out over the next few weeks at the following shows:

Friday, Feb. 12 – Moncton @ The Manhattan
Friday, Feb. 19 – Fredericton @ The Capital
Saturday, Feb. 20 – Sussex, N.B. @ The Mason Jar

Swift tours for new record

Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Swift is touring throughout the winter and spring in support of his new sophomore recording Blue Sky Day (GroundSwell/Warner), in stores Feb. 16.

Swift, a member of ECMA-award-winning trio Hot Toddy, released his debut solo recording Into the Dirt in 2007.  It won an East Coast Music Award, a Maple Blues Award, a Galaxie Rising Star prize and two Music Nova Scotia Awards in 2008.  Swift was also selected by CBC’s Song Quest in 2009 as one of Canada’s top songwriters.

Like his first recording, Blue Sky Day was produced by Swift and Halifax-based engineer/producer Charles Austin (Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, Matt Mays). The album features 11 original songs and a cover of No Depression In Heaven.

Dates include:

Feb. 8 - Halifax, NS - Metro Centre (Halifax for Haiti Benefit)
Mar. 4 - Sydney, NS - Cruise Pavilion/ECMA Concert Series*
Mar. 6 - Sydney, NS - Delta Sydney Crown & Moose
Mar. 19 - Fredericton, NB - The Playhouse*
Mar. 20 - New Glasgow, NS - Glasgow Square*
Mar. 25 - Riverview, NB - Riverview Arts Centre*
Mar. 26 - Saint John, NB - The Blue Olive*
Mar. 27 - Charlottetown, PEI - The Mack*
Mar. 31 - Halifax, NS - Casino Nova Scotia’s Compass Room*
May 7 - East Margaretsville, NS - Evergreen Theatre

*Album release concerts with full band

Songwriters’ Circle tours Nova Scotia

In addition to his upcoming solo tour, Thom Swift will join award-winning singer-songwriters Dave Gunning, Lennie Gallant and Steven Bowers for the Music From The Heart Songwriters’ Circle, which will hit five Nova Scotia communities over the next week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

Hosted by Gallant, Music From The Heart will visit:

Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Mabou @ Strathspey Place
Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Port Hawkesbury @ Shannon Studio, Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre
Thursday, Feb. 11 – New Glasgow @ Glasgow Square
Friday, Feb. 12 – Liverpool @ Astor Theatre
Saturday, Feb. 13 – Yarmouth @ Th’YARC Playhouse and Arts Centre

Spend Valentine’s Day with the blues

New Brunswick blues singer Theresa Malenfant, a three-time Female Artist of the Year winner at the East Coast Music Awards, will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Riverview Arts Centre in Riverview, N.B.

Tickets are $15 advance or $18 at the door and they are available at the Sobeys smoke shop in Riverview, Jean Coutu in Riverview, Frank’s Music in Moncton and online here.

Malenfant has several more gigs lined up for the coming months, including:

Feb. 19 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
Feb. 26 - Halifax @ Bearly’s
Feb. 27 - Truro @ Roadside Willie’s
March 5 - Fredericton @ Gordie’s Pub
March 12 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
March 18 - Moncton @ Millenium Lounge in Colonial Inn
March 19 - Saint John @ Blue Olive
April 16 - Moncton @ The Old Cosmo
April 23 - Saint John @ Blue Olive
April 24 - Petite Riviere @ The Firehall
April 25 - Truro @ Marigold Theatre
April 30 - Sussex @ Broadway Café
May 1 - Sussex @ Broadway Café

The Motorleague preps second video, tour

The video for The Motorleague’s You Wear Me Down is nearing completion and should be released late this month. The band will be playing a series of loud showcase shows leading up to ECMA 2010 in Sydney, N.S. alongside Big Game Hunt, Black Moor, Shelter With Thieves, Uncooperative Death and We, The Undersigned.

The tour is organized by Hogan Media Relations and MIMEfest 2010.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 – Fredericton @ Nicky Zees
Thursday, Feb. 25 – Halifax @ Gus’ Pub
Friday, Feb. 26 – Moncton @ The Manhattan
Saturday, Feb. 27 – Saint John @ Sun Star Lounge
Friday, March 5 – Sydney @ Maxwells

D5R plans another compilation

Halifax-based metal label Diminished Fifth Records has opened submissions for the third compilation album in The Music of Artisanship & War series.  In addition to accepting submissions for bands to appear on the compilation album, for the first time ever the label will be opening up submissions to graphic designers giving them an opportunity to submit a piece of art to be used for the album’s cover.

“We really wanted to further the ‘Art & War’ premise with the third compilation,” says D5R mainman Josh Hogan in a press release. “With the previous two compilations we’ve helped unearth so much unknown and up-and-coming talent in Atlantic Canada and I expect this compilation to not only continue to pave the way for east coast metal but also enable some graphic designers in the region to help gain some extra exposure as well.”

The Music of Artisanship & War series began in March 2007 as a way to help expose the seedy underbelly of the east coast music scene. The albums feature tracks from artists on the Diminished Fifth roster as well as a variety of heavy bands in the region.

The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume III is tentatively planned for a May 2010 release.  Submissions will be open until Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11:59pm EST. Visit the label’s website for more information.

The Pinecones release Sage

About this time last year, Halifax’s Brent Randall & his Pinecones released their debut album, We Were Strangers in Paddington Green. The acclaimed piano-based orchestral pop of the album brought the group attention and accolades. Now, they’re back with a new name, a new lineup and a new album, Sage.

Following a move from Halifax to Toronto, and a new line-up consisting of Brent Randall, Brian O’Reilly (Their Majesties, Meligrove Band), Joel Goguen (Laura Peek & The Winning Hearts) and Paul Linklater (Bidiniband) the band reformed simply as The Pinecones. With all members contributing and singing their own songs, Sage is a fully collaborative effort produced and recorded by Paul Linklater.

The band’s only dates at this point are in Toronto, but check out their myspace page for more information.

New Art Records release Juvenalia

New Art Records released Juvenalia this week, a compilation of recordings from students of the Shambala School.

New Art Records started in 2009 in the attempt to aid developing artists. The label has since built a collective of young talent from the Maritimes who are creating original music with the help of the label’s production team. The label’s first release, Juvenalia, was helmed by Dave Christensen (Jenn Grant, The Heavy Blinkers) and features the students contributing songs in a vast array of styles and genres. This ranges from the hushed folk of Olivia Fader to the off-beat rock delivery of Lampshades and Offlights.

During the sessions for Juvenalia, the New Art artists received support and guidance from several renowned acts, such as Stars’ Amy Milan and Evan Cranley, Juno-award winner Serena Ryder and Joel Plaskett. Each artist visited the New Art studio and gave the students guidance on their recordings.

For more information, visit their website.

Cape Breton’s Slowcoaster recently took a break from criss-crossing the country to record its first live album. Acoustic Live takes a look back at the last nine years of the band, delivering an acoustic slant on some of the group’s earliest work including tracks like Moth Caught, Washing Machine, Violent Sister and 420/421.

Acoustic Live was recorded in November at Riverview Rural High School in Coxheath, N.S. The performance was recorded by Jamie Foulds and Albert Lionais and mastered at Soundpark Studios.

Acoustic Live is available for digital purchase in a variety of formats here.

Jon Mullane releases new video

Halifax rock singer Jon Mullane recently released his new music video for upcoming single Sin City. The single and video are included on his new album Shift, due for release this month.

Haligonians are sure to recognize many of the downtown locales in the video. The video can be seen here.

Last Call Chernobyl join Warped Tour

Halifax-based metal band Last Call Chernobyl recently announced the tour dates they will be playing for the 2010 Vans Warped Tour.

After having won the Warped Tour Battle of the Bands at Nova Scotia Music Week in November, the band initially believed they would be performing at four dates in the northeast with the Warped Tour, but have recently found out they will be playing 12 dates all across the U.S. and Canada with such established acts as Every Time I Die, The All-American Rejects, Reel Big Fish, and Andrew W.K. throughout June and July.

Set to release its debut album in time for the tour, Last Call Chernobyl will be taking to the stage with some of the loudest and heaviest acts from across the continent and intend to prove that they can stand alongside of the best of them this summer.

Formed in late 2007, Last Call Chernobyl has shared the stage with such acts as Means, Orchidʼs Curse, We The Undersigned and others.

D5R keeps on growing

Ever-growing heavy music label Diminished Fifth Records out of Nova Scotia (which is nominated for an East Coast Music Award for Record Label of the Year) has signed two more acts to its roster of bands. Late in 2009, the label signed New Brunswick thrash band Rusted Dawn. Just this week, the label announced the signing of The.Daisy.Anthesis.

Rusted Dawn emerged in 2004, releasing two independent EPs and touring Canada since. The band’s debut full-length The Black Tides of War is scheduled for a spring release via D5R.

Meanwhile, The.Daisy.Anthesis is also planning a spring album release. The band released a free download of the track Quietness to Pacify, a tune from the upcoming album Surface and the Sky, due in March.

Scott “Stooly” Miller from the band issued the following statement in a press release: “We’re really excited to be working with D5R for our debut album. It’s nice to work with someone who believes in us as much as we do. Surface and the Sky was recorded at The Recordio Studium and was done 100 per cent on our own, so we feel very strongly about our final product and we’re pumped that we have D5R to get it the attention it deserves.”

Atlantic rappers featured on compilation

This news comes out of Ottawa, but it features five east coast acts. Brockway Entertainment (run by east coaster Troy “Brockway Biggs” Neilson) has compiled its 23 favourite Canadian rap tracks of 2009 and packed them all onto one album. The ‘2010 Canadian Rap Future Superstars’ compilation is non-profit initiative aimed at providing exposure for up-and-coming Canadian rap artists.

The album can be downloaded for free here.

It features the following artists and tunes from the east coast:

Monark (Fredericton & Saint John) - Playground feat. Phakt
Hellafactz (Halifax) - Thought Of U feat Yvette Jarvis & Michael Beals
Ricca Razor Sharp (Calgary & Clarks Harbour, N.S.) - Rampage
Joe Buck (Halifax) - Who We Are feat Jay Bizzy
Ghettosocks (Halifax) - R. Kelly’s Ghostwriter Skit feat. Jordan Croucher

The diverse 2010 compilation features 34 Canadian artists and 24 Canadian beatmakers, spanning 11 Canadian cities.

The compilation idea began in 2003 as a handful of burnt CDs made by executive producer Troy Neilson for friends and family during the winter holidays. In 2005, Neilson made extra copies, which were sent to campus radio and other media outlets. Since then, the success of the compilation has continued to grow, while annually topping the campus radio rap charts.

Anyone interested in getting involved with next year’s compilation is encouraged to contact troy@brockwayent.com Artists wishing to be considered for next year’s compilation are encouraged to submit their music via SonicBids ( SonicBids.com/CanadianRapFutureSuperstars ) or by sending full CD to Brockway Ent., PO Box 90014, Ottawa, ON, K1V 1J8.

(Gloryhound, left-right, Shaun Hanlon, Evan Meisner,  Jeremy MacPherson and David Casey.)

Recording its sophomore album Leave It Alone was a learning experience for the members of Halifax-based Gloryhound.

A year in the making, Leave It Alone was produced by former Matt Mays & El Torpedo member Robbie Crowell, who guided the band as it changed its sound from a roots-rock sound to more of a straight ahead, “four-on-the-floor” rock sound, as singer/guitarist Evan Meisner describes it.

Meisner spoke with EastCoastNoise recently around the same time the band  was launching the album with a show at The Seahorse in Halifax.

“It was a huge learning experience, more so than the (the band’s debut album),” he explains. “The other one we actually learned about recording and stuff, but this one was just about actually making a product that we really believed in, that we weren’t going to look back on and want to change anything.

“We actually learned to play a lot better, we learned to play together a lot better and we learned what kind of music we can make as a group a lot better.”

It was a year in the making, and while Meisner is happy to have it off the band’s shoulders, he describes the making of Leave It Alone as the best experience he’s ever had.

Gloryhound, also featuring David Casey on guitar and vocals, Shaun Hanton on drums and Jeremy MacPherson on bass, formed when the members were still in high school. Initially named Gloryhound & The Skyhawks, the band also featured Adam Baldwin (now a member of El Torpedo).

Once Baldwin left the group, they dropped the second half of the band’s name and set out to tweak their sound.

Meisner says they wanted to develop a more focused rock sound.

“I think for us it was more finding where we had to be,” he explains. “I think we were always a rock band, it just took a while for us to all work out in the band all our different parts. We all listen to rock music, and it kind of coincided with what we were listening to at the time. It’s the funnest kind of music to play, really.”

Crowell, producer of Leave It Alone, had a big hand in helping Gloryhound fine tune its music.

“He brought a very similar viewpoint, he just knew how to put everything into action,” Meisner says. “His ears are incredible. And his experience in music is far beyond ours. He was kind of like a mentor, really.”

The album was recorded in The Sonic Temple and Echo Chamber, both in Halifax, and it was engineered by Charles Austin, Dave Ewenson and Darren Van Niekerk and mixed by Lil Thomas.

The album was released late last month and track Best I Can is the single currently at radio.

The band is planning a Maritime tour in January, before it heads back to Toronto in spring.

MNB holds membership drive Thursday

Music New Brunswick will hold its first ever membership drive this week. In the spirit of this campaign, MNB will present a night of local music with the goal of educating New Brunswick-based musicians about the role the organization plays, as well as its 2010 educational component line-up.

Since May, the association, under the leadership of executive director Jean Surette, has developed an educational component that offers free seminars on music industry related topics. For the past year, MNB has also helped artists showcase at the 2009’s East Coast Music Awards & Festival, as well as Contact East and Francofête.

MNB is a non-profit association that works to foster and support the New Brunswick music industry and relies on the support of its membership to run these programs and events.

The membership drive and concert featuring Escola de Samba Acadia, Fayo, Phil Flowers, Morse Code Alphabet and Les Païens takes place this Thursday at The Manhattan Bar & Grill, 125 Westmorland St., Moncton.

People interested in the association will have the opportunity to sign up as members or simply receive information regarding its events and activities. Admission to the event is $8.

My buddy Ken Kelley recently spoke with Surette regarding this event and more for his own website, so check that out here.

Hey all,

I know there’s been a long delay since the last update. It’s been a crazy month, but I promise more news is coming soon, plus I have an interview with Halifax rockers Gloryhound in the bank, so stay tuned over the next week or so.

In the meantime, the East Coast Music Association announced the 2010 nominees for the ECMAs, which take place in Sydney, N.S., March 4-7, 2010.

Below is the complete list. Congrats to all nominees!

Cheers,

Eric

ECMA 2010 MUSIC & INDUSTRY AWARD NOMINEES

MUSIC AWARDS:

Entertainer of the Year

Classified (NS)
Dave Carroll (NS)
David Myles (NB)
Gypsophilia (NS)
In-Flight Safety (NS)
Joel Plaskett (NS)
The Divorcees (NB)

Female Solo Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) - Hunter, Hunter
Catherine MacLellan (PE) - Water In The Ground
Coco Love Alcorn (NS) - Joyful
Erin Costelo (NS) – Fire and Fuss
Jenn Grant (NS) - Echoes
Jessica Rhaye (NB) – Good Things
Kim Wempe (NS) – Where I Need to Be

Group Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) - We Are America
In-Flight Safety (NS) - we are an empire, my dear
Madison Violet (CB) – No Fool for Trying
The Motorleague (NB) – Black Noise
The Novaks (NL) - Things Fall Apart
Two Hours Traffic (PE) – Territory

Konica Minolta Male Solo Recording of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Classified (NS) – Self-Explanatory
Dave Gunning (NS) – We’re All Leaving
Dave Marsh (NS) – The True Love Rules
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three
Lennie Gallant (PE) – If We Had A Fire
Pascal Lejeune (NB) - Adélaïde

FACTOR Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – Hunter, Hunter
Classified (NS) – Self-Explanatory
Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Dave Gunning (NS) – We’re All Leaving
Duane Andrews (NL) - Raindrops
Jenn Grant (NS) - Echoes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three

Rising Star Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) – We Are America
Haunted Hearts (PE) – Thank You, Goodnight
Kim Wempe (NS) – Where I Need To Be
Share (NS) – Slumping in Your Murals
Sleepy Driver (NB) – Steady Now
The Danks (PE) – Are You Afraid Of The Danks

Vibe Creative Group Single of the Year

Alert the Medic (NS) – Atlas
Caledonia (NS) – Scott’s House
Classified (NS) - Anybody Listening
In-Flight Safety (NS) – Model Homes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Through & Through & Through
Joel Plaskett (NS) - You Let Me Down

SOCAN Songwriter of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – “The Mistress”
(Performed by: Amelia Curran)
Brenley MacEachern & Lisa MacIsaac (CB) – “Small of My Heart”
(Performed by: Madison Violet)
Catherine MacLellan (PE) – “Take A Break”
(Performed by: Catherine MacLellan)
Coco Love Alcorn/Chris Hockey (NS) – “Revolution”
(Performed by: Coco Love Alcorn)
Dave Gunning/Jamie Robinson (NS) – “Made On A Monday”
(Performed by: Dave Gunning)
Joel Plaskett (NS) – “Through & Through & Through”
(Performed by: Joel Plaskett)
Mullane, Goodsell, Nicholson, Ledwell (NS) –“Model Homes”
(Performed by: In-Flight Safety)

Video of the Year

Classified (NS) – Anybody Listening
(Directed by: Harv)
Down with the Butterfly (NS) – Tanks
(Directed by: Aram Kouyoumdjian)
George Canyon (NS) - Just Like You
(Directed by: Colin Minihan)
In-Flight Safety (NS) – Model Homes
(Directed by: Drew Lightfoot)
Joel Plaskett (NS) – Through & Through & Through
(Directed by: RT!)
The Motorleague (NB) – Hymn For the Newly Departed
(Directed by: Marc Savoie)
The Tom Fun Orchestra (CB) – Throw Me to the Rats
(Directed by: Alasdair Brotherston & Jock Mooney)

Alternative Recording of the Year

Caledonia (NS) – We Are America
In-Flight Safety (NS) – we are an empire, my dear
Sleepy Driver (NB) – Steady Now
The Danks (PE) – Are You Afraid Of The Danks
The Easy Bleeders (CB) – The Easy Bleeders
The Slate Pacific (NB) – Safe Passage

Bluegrass Recording of the Year

Catherine Lawrence (NS) – Sweet Memories
Cousin Cletus and the Six-Fingered Stringband (PE) - DISCOGRASS
Ryan Roberts (NS) – Ryan Roberts
Smokin’ Contra Band (NS) – Slim Pickins
The Grass Mountain Hobos (PE) – ZOOT!
The Spinney Brothers (NS) - When The Golden Leaves Begin To Fall

Blues Recording of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) – Vampire Hotel
Easley Stevenson Arsenault (NS) – Nine Steps
Rick Jeffery (NS) – 13 Vultures
The Hupman Brothers (NS) - Countin’ Quarters
The Terry Whalen Band (NB) – A Wicked Driving Rain

Country Recording of the Year

George Canyon (NS) – What I Do
JD Clarke (NS) – Satisfied
Karla Pilgrim (NL) – I’ll Think of You
Melanie Morgan (NB) – Goodbye Birmingham
Rik Reese & Neon Highway (NB) – Mama Raised a Good Boy
The Divorcees (NB) – Last of the Free Men
The Keats (NL) - Good to be Home

Folk Recording of the Year

Amelia Curran (NL) – Hunter, Hunter
Andrew White (NS) – Walk in Light
Catherine MacLellan (PE) – Water In The Ground
Jessica Rhaye (NB) – Good Things
Joey Kitson (PE) - STAN
JP Cormier (CB) – The Messenger

Instrumental Recording of the Year

Andrea Beaton (CB) – Branches
Curtis Andrews (NL) – The Offering of Curtis Andrews
Darren McMullen (NS) - Decade
Ian Foster (NL) – Found: Music from the Unmade Film
Spanner (NL) – Dark Boat
The Dardanelles (NL) – The Dardanelles

Jazz Recording of the Year

Bill Brennan (NL) – After Hours
Gypsophilia (NS) - Sa-ba-da-OW!
Jeff Torbert (NS) – This Weather Honest
Les Paiens (NB) – PYRAMYD
Paul Tynan (NS) - BiCoastal Collective: Chapter One
Swingology (NS) – Swingology

Loud Recording of the Year

Big Game Hunt (NS) – Goliath
Black Moor (NS) – The Conquering
Shelter with Thieves (NS) - Confessions of a Toxic Generation
The Motorleague (NB) – Black Noise
Uncooperative Death (NS) – Uncooperative Death
We, the Undersigned (NB) - Bleed the Constants

Pop Recording of the Year

Jenn Grant (NS) – Echoes
Joel Plaskett (NS) - Three
Mel Keith & The Strombachs (NB) – Mel Keith & The Strombachs
Stephanie Mainville (NB) - Out of Nowhere
Tim Chaisson and Morning Fold (PE) - Broken Hearted Beat
Two Hours Traffic (PE) – Territory

Sirius Satellite Radio Rock Recording of the Year

Alert the Medic (NS) – We, The Weapon
Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers (NS) – Andrew Hunter & The Gatherers
Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel (CB) – Carleton Stone Drives The Big Wheel
Dave Marsh (NS) – The True Loves Rules
Smothered in Hugs (PE) - The Healing Power Of Injury
The Novaks (NL) – Things Fall Apart

Roots / Traditional Solo Recording of the Year

Allan Ricketts (NL) - Rivers
Anna Ludlow (NS) – Reel To Reel
Colette Cheverie (PE) – Hours Before Dawn
Gillian Boucher (CB) – Elemental
Lennie Gallant (PE) – If We Had a Fire
Samantha Robichaud (NB) – Collected

Roots / Traditional Group Recording of the Year

Dawn and Margie Beaton (CB) – Taste of Gaelic
Lazy Jacks (PE) – East Coast Live
Shanneyganock (NL) – Volume VII
The Navigators (NL) – Sea Miner
The Once (NL) – The Once

Aboriginal Recording of the Year

Forever (CB) - Reborn
Gary Sappier Experience (NB) – Project III
Lone Cloud (NS) – Live at North Street Church
Richard Poulette (CB) – Let Go, Let God

Francophone Recording of the Year

BLOU (NS) - Noël Blou
George Belliveau (NB) - Prise 2
Joseph Edgar (NS) - Y’a un train qui s’en vient…
Nathalie Renault (NB) - La chance
Pascal Lejeune (NB) - Adélaïde
Soleil (NS) – Soleil

Gospel Recording of the Year

David John Hensman (NL) – Find Me
Elizabeth and Scott Rhyno (NS) – Something Beautiful
Evangeline Inman & Women Who Worship (NB) - Evangeline Inman and Women Who Worship
Matt Brouwer (NS) – Where’s Our Revolution
The Ascensions (NB) – No Greater Love
Tim Milner (NS) – Kiss the Son

Rap / Hip-Hop Single Track Recording of the Year

Classified (NS) - Anybody Listening
Hotbox (NB) - Knowledge is Wealth feat. Radar
Mischif (CB) - C.B. Summer
Mista Mack (CB) - Gone with the Breeze feat. Mischif
Shiest (NL) - Nuttin New
Three Sheet (NS) - How it Goes

R&B/Soul Single Track Recoding of the Year

Chris Kirby (NL) - Come Clean
Gary Beals (NS) - Jump Off feat. Blessed
Jamie Sparks (NS) - All I Need – Remix
Mark Duggan (NS) – Sambaiosis

INDUSTRY AWARDS:

Broadcast of the Year

Atlantic Airwaves
Cape Breton Christmas Daddies
East Coast Countdown
East Coast Music Show
East Coast Road Trip
That East Coast Show

Event of the Year

24th Annual Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival
Celtic Colours International Festival
Festival acadien de Caraquet
Halifax Pop Explosion
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
New Glasgow Riverfront Jubilee

Independent Company of the Year

Malkin Music
Marcato Digital Solutions
Music Marketing International
SpinCount
Sonic Entertainment Group
The Joseph Scott Entertainment Agency

Industry Professional of the Year

Bruce Morel
Darren Gallop
Eirinn Fraser
John Poirier
Lyle Drake
Tony Murray

Manager of the Year

Bruce Morel
Christopher K Daw
Heather Gibson
Jeff Liberty

Media Person of the Year

Doug Gallant
Kurt Fawthrop
Jeff Liberty
Jimmie Inch
Marc Xavier LeBlanc
Tom Bedell

Record Company/Distributor/Independent Label of the Year

Avondale Music
Diminished Fifth Records
Forward Music Group
Sonic Records
Sound of Pop Records
Warner Music Canada

Studio of the Year

Big Grey Sound Studio
Denmark Productions
Ferguson Music Productions
Lakewind Sound Studios
Soundpark Studios
The Sonic Temple

Studio Engineer of the Year

Dennis G. Field
Jamie Foulds
Jon Matthews
Mike “Sheppy” Shepherd
Scott Ferguson
Tim Feswick

Venue of the Year

Fredericton Playhouse
Harmony House Theatre
Membertou Trade & Convention Centre
St. Mary’s Church, Indian River
The Company House
The Oxygen Complex

Visual Artist of the Year

Cheryl Smith
Chr!s Sm!th
Jessica Rhaye Design
Jocelyne Vautour
Kelly Clark
Mat Dunlap

We try to keep up with all the news happening along the east coast, but we’re bound to miss some things. In the last few months, a handful of albums have been released by east coast artists we’ve yet to talk about on East Coast Noise, so here’s some updates on some new tunes for your listening pleasure.

ENNIS celebrate Lessons Learned CD release

Popular Newfoundland-based duo ENNIS will celebrate the release of its new album Lessons Learned CD with a concert tour through the Maritimes beginning this week. The eight-stop tour will be a double-bill with The MacKenzie Project, featuring fiddler Rosie MacKenzie (formerly of The Cottars).

The Juno-Award winning ENNIS, which features Maureen and Karen Ennis, have seven albums out to date and they’ve shared the stage with everyone from The Chieftains and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to Jann Arden and Colin Linden.

The MacKenzie Project grew out of Rosie MacKenzie’s desire to continue her career, following her departure from The Cottars in the summer of 2006. A dynamic fiddler, stepdancer, and harmony vocalist, Rosie has recruited singer Pauline Scanlon (former vocalist for Ireland’s Sharon Shannon Band), Pauline’s frequent producer, arranger and guitarist Donogh Hennessy, formerly of Irish band Lúnasa, and young piano/fiddle/stepdance wiz Robbie Fraser.

ENNIS and The MacKenzie Project will take the stage at the following venues:

Nov. 6 - deCoste Centre, Pictou, NS
Nov. 7 - Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay, NS
Nov. 8 - Strathspey Place, Mabou, NS
Nov. 10 - The Carleton, Halifax, NS
Nov. 11 - The MacKay Room, St. FX U, Antigonish, NS
Nov. 13 - The Playhouse, Fredericton, NB
Nov. 14 - Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre, Summerside, PEI
Nov. 15 - Kings Theatre, Annapolis Royal, NS

11 Afternoons Early release album

Fredericton, N.B.’s 11 Afternoons Early might be a new name for most of us, but the band has been around for a few years.

Led by James Tanner, the group has recorded six full-length albums since 2001, and it released its most recent – Lysithea – this past summer.

Tanner, originally from Nova Scotia, grew up playing drums in a variety of bands. During his tenure in these bands, Tanner learned to play guitar and bass from his fellow musicians, which set him on the path he’s on now.

In 2007, he graduated from The Centre of Arts and Technology for Audio Engineering, which has given him the knowledge to not only play every instrument on his band’s albums, but he’s also engineered everything himself.

“I love having the option of being on both sides of the glass,” he tells East Coast Noise. “Having the idea for a song, and then having the knowledge to experiment with recording techniques and sounds in the studio. And it’s an asset to the band to record anytime we desire and the cost is zero. We aren’t staring at the clock, we are just having fun … which seems the way it should be!”

Live, Tanner is joined by Sean Keenan (Buried Beside Her) on drums and new bassist Matt McDonald.

Currently, the band is rehearsing for a spring tour. A new website is set to be launched in the next few weeks. The band’s latest album is available in Fredericton at Backstreet Records, but you can sample it on their myspace page.

Grassmarket release debut album

Halifax folk act Grassmarket released its debut album Port City earlier this month. The trio of singer/songwriters created a collection of 10 songs that capture the group intimately exploring their love of songwriting.

The band features Penelope Jackon on clawhammer banjo, guitar and vocals, Dan MacCormack on three-finger banjo, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, standup bass and vocals and David Bradshaw on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, harmonica and vocals.

Grassmarket’s first release Waiting, a seven song EP, was nominated for a 2008 Nova Scotia Music Award for Best Country/Bluegrass Album.

Cousins release debut record

Another debut from Halifax was recently launched by quartet Cousins. Formed by singer/guitarist Aaron Mangle (A Helpful Diagram), the band features Andy March (Museum Pieces/Ghost Bees) on drums, Dallin Ursenbach on guitar and Pat Ryan (Room Doom) on bass.

After self-producing his debut Out On Town, Mangle formed Cousins, and penned a joint deal with Halifax imprints Youth Club Records and Musical Chair Music.

The band will perform at Gus’s Pub in Halifax on Nov. 11.

Corbett releases new solo record

Known for performing with an eclectic group of musicians in Halifax, including Old Man Luedecke, Steven Bowers and Norma MacDonald, Kev Corbett recently released his latest solo effort, Son of a Rudderless Boat.

The album features a who’s who of east coasters, including: Luedecke, Don Brownrigg, Thom Swift, Christina Martin, Meaghan Smith, Erin Costelo and others.

Corbett is currently on tour in Germany with Jennifer Roland’s band. You can follow Corbett on Twitter.

Samantha Robichaud releases another

Riverview, N.B. fiddler Samantha Robichaud is releasing her sixth album in the next few weeks. Collected is a traditional album featuring several new tunes including one French vocal.

The album also features the tune A Song For Daniel, composed and performed by Robichaud, and originally released on the CD This is My America which also included artists Dolly Parton, Mark O’Connor, Charlie Pride, Billy Dean and others.

Collected was produced and engineered by Paul Mills.

Robichaud also recently launched a new website.

To order CDs you can email Samantha at sam@samantharobichaud.ca The album will be in stores sometime in the next few weeks.

Gravel Chewer working on new album

Fredericton metal band Gravel Chewer is working on its next album to be released in December.

The band has been hard at work since its inception in mid-2008. Featuring Gregg “Shawz” O’Donnell, Jonny “Twothumbs” Malley and Bruce LeGrow, the band jumped right into the scene and started playing shows without a bass player or full-time vocalist. The band self-produced its first EP, Eating The Earth.

This past summer, Gravel Chewer completed its lineup, adding PJ Jacques on 8-string bass and Conor Doyle on vocals. The group is in the process of recording a new 5-song EP, which will serve as a teaser for its first full-length album, to be released next year.

The band plans to tour in support of the upcoming EP and hopes to line up label support in the near future.

Open mic in Moncton goes tomorrow

The next monthly edition of Songwriters Association of Canada Moncton Songstage, Moncton’s open mic night for original music by singer-songwriters, will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. at St. James’ Gate on Church Street.

Performers already registered include Robin Anne Ettles, Sarah Cormier,  Andre Saulnier,  Anna-Marie Weir,  Ian Lawrence  and Jason LeBlanc. Each performer showcases four songs in an environment that is friendly to original music.

Open mic organizers are currently seeking talent for the Dec. 1 event. Pre-registration is required via e-mail to monctonsong@gmail.com, with demo or link to a site where your music can be auditioned. Participants must bring their own instrument. All languages of performance are welcome.

St. James’ Gate is located at 14 Church St. There is no cover charge.