Just back from a successful 16-date tour through Australia with Aussie label mates The Dead Letter Chorus to support the release of Territory down under, Charlottetown’s Two Hours Traffic has returned to Canada to find its new video in rotation on MuchMusic.

Directed by Ritchie Mitchell, who also helmed the band’s video for Noisemaker, the Happiness Burns video is “spring time innocence lost and fall time innocence found” as two teams of youngsters battle against each other armed with neon paint-filled balloons, a press release for the video says.

The band is now preparing to hit the U.S. to support the Sept. 7 U.S release of Territory.

THT plans to announce U.S. and Canadian tour dates soon.

D5R to release third compilation

East coast metal label Diminished Fifth Records will release its third compilation album of the best of Atlantic Canadian metal and hard rock on Sept. 21. The Music of Artisanship & War: Volume III features 21 tracks.

Not only did the label have submissions open to east coast bands for a chance to be on the album but it also had a competition for east coast artists to have their design used for the album artwork, which hundreds of fans voted on. The winning submission was designed by Nathan Collupy.

Jerry Granelli celebrates the release of 1313

Legendary Halifax-based musician Jerry Granelli will celebrate the release of debut solo record 1313 at 1313 Hollis St., Halifax on Sept. 11. Featuring a mixture of solo drums and electronics, the show starts at 8 p.m.

A press release for the new record reads:

“Jerry Granelli has lived a mythic life. He drummed in some of the biggest jazz outfits of the ‘50s-‘60s, including the Vince Guaraldi Trio and the Denny Zeitlin Trio. Like many of his peers, Granelli could have played it safe and made a comfortable career doing traditional jazz into his old age, but instead he dove into the new worlds of free and psychedelic music that were opening up around him during the hippie era in San Francisco.

“In the early ’60s he led one of the first free jazz bands in America. They did a three-month opening spot for Lenny Bruce and toured extensively through Europe with the Grateful Dead, playing completely wild and spontaneous sets night after night, often to the scorn of unsuspecting audiences. A few years later he joined Light Sound Dimension (LSD), an outfit that paired marathons of free, amplified jazz with projection painting, effectively launching the first ever psychedelic light and sound event at the San Francisco Art Museum in 1967. LSD was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since those early years, Jerry has played with an impressive list of innovators including Bruce Frisell, Ornette Coleman, Jamie Saft, and Anthony Braxton to name just a few. And at 70 he still travels the world playing and teaching new music.”

Recently, Divorce Records asked Granelli to make a solo drum record. All the tracks on 1313 except one were played with no overdubs, and most were done in a single take.

Admission to the Sept. 11 show is $10 at door ($20 for LP + admission).

Kyle Cunjak announces portrait series opening

It’s not music, but it involves a musician and another form of art.

Photographer Kyle Cunjak (also a musician with Olympic Symphonium, Force Fields, David Myles, etc.), best known for his landscape and live music work, has been slowly working on a portrait project over the last five years studying carnival characters. He travelled to carnivals in Coney Island, Las Vegas, Vietnam, Mexico, and all around Canada to talk to carnival workers and take their portraits.  Last year, with the help of a New Brunswick Arts Board Creation Grant, he began printing the series and preparing for exhibitions.

According to a press release for his exhibit, “Each photograph represents an attempt to question, re-introduce and hopefully re-define individual and cultural assumptions about these people, their work and most importantly, their past.”

Cunjak chose to print these photos in a large format — 30″ x 30” — to render the portraits life-sized and also to re-enforce the validity of the dying medium.

“I wanted these prints to redefine the stereotypes we have about these people (Carnies) but to also show folks what you can do with a nicely exposed negative,” Cunjak says. “The tonal range, the sharpness at that size, and the look of the grain are all things you can’t get with consumer digital cameras.  I can see film disappearing more and more everyday and it depresses the hell out of me. The local labs aren’t fixing their broken C-41 machines and are sending black and white film thousands of miles away for processing. People need to realize that film is still superior in many ways to digital and simply shouldn’t be dismissed.”

You can see samples of Cunjak’s work here.

Carny will open in Fredericton at Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts on Sept. 9. Reception is from 5-7 p.m. with musical entertainment by Petunia & the Minimalist Jugband.

Upcoming exhibits:

Sept. 9-23 – Fredericton, N.B.: Ingrid Mueller Art + Concepts
Feb. 18-March 20, 2011 – Quebec City, Que: VU Photo
April 1-26, 2011 – Saint John, N.B.: Saint John Arts Centre

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The event features natural, organic and local products coupled with eco-friendly energy saving items and suppliers, with music and entertainment from around the east coast.

The event’s loud stage kicks off tomorrow (Friday) with a ton of the east coast’s best, including: The Hooch, The Bricklands, Regulator, Shakedown Combo, Dead for Days, Razor Red, Bord on Sunday and Diablo Strange, We Are Action, Bomarc, The Nuclear and more.

There’s a ton of stuff going on. here magazine profiled the event, which you can check out … umm … here.

For more on the event, check out the festival site with ticket info, etc.

Orchid’s Curse to release new album

Dartmouth-based metal band Orchid’s Curse will release its sophomore effort Voices: The Tales of Broken Men (Diminished Fifth Records ) on Sept. 21 in stores and on iTunes.

The album release marks nearly four years to the day after the band’s debut EP Goodbye is when the Casket Closes was released.

“It’s funny to think that our debut album Goodbye was released way back in September ‘06 and was the label’s very first release,” reflects singer and D5R head Josh Hogan. “Now nearly four years later it looks as though our follow up will be the label’s 15th release!”

The new album was engineered and mixed by Rob Corrigan at Soundmarket Studios and was mastered by Dwight D’eon at Spectrum Mastering. Iron Giant vocalist Chris Lewis has a guest spot on the album.

The band will be hosting its official Halifax CD release party on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Coconut Grove alongside labelmates Black Moor and Last Call Chernobyl.

More information on the show can be found here.

The album’s track list:

1. Above Moyobamba {euphoria}
2. The Delicate Art of Dying {despair}
3. The Workhorse Walks Alone {regret}
4. Rites of Sacrifice {hope}
5. It Was the Darkest Day We’d Never See {mourning}
6. Let the Ashes Bury this Life {anger}
7. Shadows of Imitation {envy}
8. …of the Flesh {ecstasy}
9. The Animal {contempt}
10. The Voice:
i. Into the Beyond {apathy}
ii. The Cold Whisper {empathy}

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Christina Martin. (Photo by Mat Dunlap)

Folk/rock singer-songwriter Christina Martin will release her highly anticipated third album, I Can Too (Come Undone Records/EMI) on Sept. 7. (Listen to the title track here.)

It’s a follow-up to the Halifax singer-songwriter’s 2008 record Two Hearts, which won her Pop Recording of the Year at the 2009 East Coast Music Awards, as well as two Nova Scotia Music Awards for Female Artist of the Year and Pop Recording of the Year in 2008.

For nearly a decade, Martin has been recording and touring. She recorded her debut album Pretty Things (2002) in Austin, Texas and later returned home to Halifax, where she started playing the café/bar circuit and met fellow musician Dale Murray (Cuff the Duke). On a whim they recorded Two Hearts.

Martin and Murray teamed up once again to produce I Can Too which features guest appearances by Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor and Cuff the Duke’s Wayne Petti.

Since the release of Two Hearts, Martin has toured extensively, making the long trek across Canada and throughout the United States, as well as crossing the Atlantic touring in Ireland.

Following is the new album’s track list:

01. Hello
02. Daisy
03. I Can Too
04. Picture of a Sad Man
05. Subject to Change
06. Take
07. Stole Something
08. Lit Cigarette
09. They Say
10. I Fear I Am
11. I’m Gonna Die

Upcoming tour dates:

Friday, Sept. 3 – Hampton, NB – The Vintage Bistro
Saturday, Sept. 4 – Charlottetown, PEI – Hunters
Thursday, Sept. 9 – Liverpool, NS – Lanes Privateer Inn
Friday, Sept. 10 – Halifax NS – The Seahorse Tavern
Saturday, Sept. 11 – Sackville, NB – George’s Fabulous Roadhouse
Thursday, Sept. 16 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret*
Friday, Sept. 17 – Victoria, BC – Sugar Nightclub*
Saturday, Sept. 18 – Kelowna, BC – Habitat*
Monday, Sept. 20 – Nelson, BC – The Royal*
Wednesday, Sept. 22 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice*
Thursday, Sept. 23 – Canmore, AB – Communitea Cafe*
Friday, Sept. 24 – Calgary, AB – Dicken’s Pub*
Saturday, Sept. 25 – Edmonton, AB – Pawnshop*
Sunday, Sept. 26 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigo’s*
Monday, Sept. 27 – Regina, SK – Exchange*
Tuesday, Sept. 28 – Gimli, MB – Gimli Theater*
Wednesday, Sept. 29 – Winnipeg, MB – The Lo Pub*
Thursday, Sept. 30 – Thunder Bay, ON – Crocks*
Friday, Oct. 1 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Loplop Lounge & Gallery*
Saturday, Oct. 2 – Sudbury, ON – The Townehouse*
* w/ Cuff The Duke

Messtival goes this weekend

Arts festival Messtival takes place this weekend. Presented by TBA Collective, the event brings together music, art, camping and other activities. It takes place tomorrow on the outskirts of Moncton, in McQuade, N.B.

Advanced tickets are available at Spin-It Records (467A Main St., Moncton) for $15, while remaining tickets will be $20 at the door.

Messtival 2010 is the third edition of the Moncton-based art and music collective’s benchmark event. The event focuses on showcasing emerging and established musicians and artists, while staying true to a do-it-yourself mantra.

Headlining this year’s event are The Divorcees, The Nuclear and Dissectional (Tool tribute band), while DJ duo Jedis of Funk will be providing entertainment between bands.

Other acts performing include: The Turning, The Grass, Tireless Sedans, Age of Tyranny, Speakerscam, Numbered Head, The Caravan, Ernie Coombs, The Trick, Static in Action, The Swiftkicks and The Rhythm Section.

The event will also showcase live art from artists Andrew Robson and Pascal Léo Cormier who will perform alongside the bands throughout the event.

This year the collective expects their best and most musically eclectic event to date.

A canteen and barbecue will cater to vegetarian and non-vegetarian needs alike, and on-site camping as well as valet parking will also be offered; however, carpooling is encouraged as parking space is limited.

1755 to perform at Casino N.B.

Legendary Acadian act 1755 is set to perform at Casino New Brunswick’s Entertainment Centre on Friday, Oct. 8 at 8:30 p.m.

Instrumental in putting Acadian music on the map, the 2008 recipients of the East Coast Music Associations’ Lifetime Achievement Award have been touring again in recent years after lying dormant for some time

The group, including Pierre Robichaud, Roland Gauvin, Ronald Dupuis, Donald Boudreau and Kenneth Saulnier, joined forces in 1977 and toured successfully in Canada, the United States and France.  After disbanding in 1984, each band member went on to achieve success in solo careers or with other bands.

Tickets for the show go on sale today at 10 a.m.  Tickets for the show are $29.50 (plus tax and applicable surcharge) and are available at the Casino Gift Shop (located at 21 Casino Drive in Moncton, exit #450 off the Trans-Canada Highway), by calling 1-866-9-GET-TIX/ 1-866- 943-8849 and online here.

Gamma Gamma Rays plan release

Later this month, Halifax’s Gamma Gamma Rays will release their debut LP, Beeps.

The release show will be held at The Bus Stop Theatre on Aug. 27. The show also features performances from Jon McKiel and Mighty Northumberland.

Beeps is the band’s follow-up to The World, Le Monde EP.

Fridays with … returns next week

Hey all. My apologies, but there will be no Fridays with … interview this week. I’m lining up several more interviews now, so expect it to return next week.

Cheers,

Eric

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Nova Scotia’s The Light Brights (profiled here in June) have released a ‘making-of’ documentary for their music video The World’s A Changin’. You can check that out above. The band also tossed some new tunes from their upcoming album on their MySpace.

Slate Pacific release ‘Eccentrics and Young Professionals’

Slate Pacific released their ECMA-nominated debut, Safe Passage (Forward Music), in 2009.

Since the album’s release, the group has toured throughout eastern and central Canada, fine-tuning their live set, and cultivating a more focused sound.

On Tuesday, the band will release a 10″ vinyl EP, Eccentrics and Young Professionals. The EP features just two tracks, Eccentrics (side A) and Artist Syndrome (side B).

The band is hitting the road throughout the east over the next couple of weeks to celebrate:

Tuesday, Aug. 3 – Reneu Boutique, Fredericton, N.B. w/Dog Day and Apollo Ghosts
Thursday, Aug. 5 – Baba’s Lounge, Charlottetown, P.E.I. w/ Racoon Bandit & The North Lakes
Friday, Aug. 6 – The Seahorse, Halifax, N.S. w/ The Grass and Quiet Parade
Saturday, Aug. 7 – The Capital Complex, Fredericton, N.B. w/The Elephant & The North Lakes
Friday, Aug. 20 – The Manhattan, Moncton, N.B. w/ Grand Theft Bus

Foul & Fair Records releases 7” compilation

Moncton-based Foul & Fair Records is releasing a new collection of four tracks from four east coast Canadian bands. East Infection features Sydney, N.S. band Mess Folk, Halifax, N.S. group Meat Curtains, Albert County, N.B.’s Strawmen and Moncton’s The Shats.

The record is $6 and is available at Spin-It Records in Moncton. If you’d like to order by mail, it costs an extra $2. But if you’re interested, over half of the 300 records pressed are spoken for.

For more information, or to order via PayPal, e-mail tjgmartin@gmail.com

COP SHADES prepares to hit the road

Moncton psych-rock trio COP SHADES (profiled here in June) are about to hit the road on an extensive cross-Canada tour. Consisting of The Peter Parkers frontman Remi Cormier, The Woods frontman Kyle McDonald and current Micro Organs/ex-The Funeral Suits drummer Mathieu Blanchard, COP SHADES will be embarking on a 18-date Canadian tour throughout August 2010 in support of their first full length album featuring artwork by The Doers frontman and Vancouver native, Sean Maxey.

The band released a video in March for their single North Korean Arts Degree from their debut EP which was released free online via Superbob Records in January, 2010.

COP SHADES’ debut full-length will hit stores via Superbob Records on Tuesday, Aug. 10.

Track list:

1. Someone’s Gonna Get A Punch
2. I Shit Ponies
3. The Pyramid
4. Puke City
5. Gentleman’s Concentration Camp
6. The Sorority
7. Hell
8. I Am A Mexicant
9. Whitey’s With ‘Tude
10. North Korean Arts Degree
11. He’s A Secretor
12. Escape & Evade

COP SHADES 2010 Tour Dates -

Aug. 5 – Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo /w Drunk Dial & The Dry Heaves
Aug. 6 – Ottawa, ON @ The Cajun Attic /w Flying Fortress
Aug. 7 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dees /w Cauldron, Ash Lee Blade & Flying Fortress
Aug. 9 – Thunder Bay, ON @ The Apollo /w Shadow Box
Aug. 10 – Winnipeg, ON @ Royal Albert Arms /w Breath Grenades & This Hisses
Aug. 11 – Regina, SK @ The Club /w Wax Mannequin
Aug. 12 – Saskatoon, SK @ Walker’s Nightclub /w Feral Children & Shooting Guns
Aug. 13 – Edmonton, AB @ Wunderbar /w Falklands, Bike Month & Energic Action
Aug. 14 – Calgary, AB @ The Palomino
Aug. 18 – Vancouver, BC @ The Astoria (Fake Jazz Wednesdays) /w Stamina Mantis
Aug. 19 – Vancouver, BC @ Honey Lounge /w Previous Tenants & Special Noise
Aug. 20 – Vancouver, BC @ Brandiz /w Falklands, The Parallels & The Slates
Aug. 20 – Vancouver, BC @ TBA /w Shearing Pinx & Fortress
Aug. 21 – Victoria, BC @ Logan’s Pub /w High Arctic
Aug. 25 – Sudbury, ON @ Millard’s Garage
Aug. 26 – London, ON @ Call The Office
Aug. 27 – Toronto, ON @ The Bovine Sex Club /w Red Bastard Brewery & Requiem
Sep. 10 – Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan /w Les Paiens

Rich Aucoin to release ‘Public Publication’

Halifax recording artist Rich Aucoin will release a new EP, Public Publication, on Aug. 17. It’s a four-song sneak peak at the Public Publication LP slated for release early next year.

According to a press release, the focus of Public Publication is simply to contain as much of the country as possible. Featuring more than 500 musicians and recorded locally from Victoria, B.C. to St. John’s, N.L. (and as far north as Dawson City, YK.), the album was made in professional studios, bedrooms and churches. Performers range from members of some of Canada’s biggest bands to fans with little to no musical training.

It took over two years of traveling to schedule and record all these individuals.

Rich Aucoin will be touring coast to coast both to support the release of the Public Publication EP and to prepare for the 2011 release of the Public Publication LP.

Here are the dates:

Aug. 6 – Saint John, N.B. @ Fort La Tour w/ Wintersleep
Aug. 7 – St. John’s, N.L. @ Ship Inn
Aug. 14 – Halifax, N.S. @ Gus Pub
Aug. 26 – Toronto, O.N. @ The Piston
Sept. 17 – Fredericton, N.B. @ Harvest Festival
Sept. 18 – Charlottetown, P.E.I. @ Hunter’s Alehouse
Sept. 23 – Whistler, B.C. @ Garibaldi Lift Company w/Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Sept. 24 – Vancouver, B.C. @ The Commodore w/Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Sept. 25 – Victoria, B.C. – Rifflandia @ Market Square w/Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Sept. 27 – Kelowna, B.C. @ The Habitat w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Sept. 29 – Calgary, A.B. @ Republik w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 2 – Winnipeg, M.B. @ The Pyramid w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 4 – North Bay, ON. @ The Wall at Nippising University w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 6 – Hamilton, ON. @ The Studio at Hamilton Place w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 7 – London, ON. @ Norma Jeans w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 10 – Ottawa, ON. @ Capital Music Hall w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 15 – Quebec City, QC @ Dagobert w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!
Oct. 16 – Montreal, QC @ Belmont w/ Hot Hot Heat and Hey Rosetta!

Rusted Dawn call it quits

Also announced recently, New Brunswick metal band Rusted Dawn have announced that they are disbanding.

Lead singer Jeremy Goddard sent out the following message to all their fans:

Hey dudes, Jerm Warfare here with some news for ya… not of the ‘good’ variety. Sorry folks, but Rusted Dawn are gonna be hanging up the gloves and moving on. We’ve had a great run, and as they say, ‘all good things are probably bad for you’.

Adios.

We, The Undersigned need a drummer

A bad time for New Brunswick metal outfits. While Rusted Dawn have broken up, We, The Undersigned has announced that the band has parted ways with drummer Chris Gatza and are currently looking for a new drummer to join the band.

“Unfortunately it didn’t end the way we had envisioned, but as everyone in the band is well accustomed to, things change, responsibilities and expectations change, and the direction of the music changes,” commented bass player Jai Sadler.

“We’re at a point in the band’s career were every member needs to be fully committed to helping the band/business as a whole, so I feel like we made the right decision for both parties involved.”

Anyone who’s interested in filling the position can contact the band via email – jai@wetheundersigned.ca or on MySpace.

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Knife Party, a Moncton band we profiled here in late 2008, has been dormant for some time due to band members’ various obligations.

Tonight, they’ll get together to perform again at The Manhattan in Moncton with The Blackrats.

Drummer Eric Bourque says Knife Party never really split up, they’ve just been busy with other things.

“I don’t think we will ever really break up, rather, we go through periods we don’t play, but odds are you can count on another show down the road (specifically when we release our 2nd album, still tied up in post production),” he tells East Coast Noise. “We use the term reunion loosely. I moved away to Toronto to study audio engineering. Now I’ve graduated and am taking time for a vacation home. Figured, we’re going to jam out some tunes anyway, might as well throw a show together, too!”

While Knife Party might not be the most active band, most of the band members are active with other projects.

“Musically, Danny Whoremoan is keeping the dream alive with his new band, Impulse Items and I’ve got a post punk act in Toronto called Careers In Science. Davey Romance romanced his lady so much they had a beautiful baby daughter and Rudy, The Belgian Berzerker, fights crime via vigilante justice by night, while being a handsome truck mechanic by day,” Bourque explains.

Admission to tonight’s show is $7. Show is set to get underway 10 p.m.

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The Once has signed with Borealis Records. (Mark Bennett photo)

Borealis Records announced this week that Newfoundland trio The Once is joining its roster of artists with their self-titled debut.

The Once (Andrew Dale, Geraldine Hollett and Phil Churchill) is a band armed with bouzouki, banjo and guitar who deliver ballads, shanties and original songs stemming from the rich traditions of their Island home.

Winners of four Music Newfoundland and Labrador awards in 2009 and nominated for an East Coast Music Award in 2010, The Once appeared with Stuart McLean on CBC Radio’s Vinyl Café, and this summer the band will be appearing at a number of festivals across Canada before embarking on a fall tour of Ireland.

Tom Fun Orchestra makes big return

The renowned Tom Fun Orchestra is returning to the stage for a national tour this July and August. The band has also made “Miles Davis,” their first offering since 2008’s You Will Land With a Thud, available for free download.

Upcoming tour dates:

July 27 – Toronto, ON Sound Academy
July 29 – Midland, ON Atlantic Challenge Tent
July 31 – Sudbury, ON Townhouse Tavern
Aug. 05 – Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre
Aug. 06 – Saskatoon, SK Amigo’s Café
Aug. 07 – Calgary, AB Marquee Room
Aug. 08 – Lethbridge, AB The Slice Bar & Grill
Aug. 10 – Victoria, BC Hermann’s Jazz Club
Aug. 12 – Vancouver, BC The Shark Club
Aug. 13 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 14 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 15 – Salmon Arm, BC Salmon Arm Fairgrounds
Aug. 19 – Thunder Bay, ON Black Pirates Pub
Aug. 21 – Montreal, QC Il Motore

ECMA seeking music submissions

The East Coast Music Association announced a call for submissions for the third edition of the “Canadian Music. East Coast Style” compilation CDs. Distributed to 2,000 international and Canadian delegates, as well as sold exclusively at ECMA events and an online store, the two promotional CDs will be used to market and promote Atlantic Canadian artists at upcoming Canadian and international music industry.

ECMA will be producing two-genre themed promotional compilation CDs: “Canadian Music. East Coast Style Roots” and “Canadian Music. East Coast Style Rocks.”

Sonicbids has partnered with ECMA to reserve 30 slots for Sonicbids artists on the two compilations.

Criteria for inclusion:

- Artist (s) must be a member in good standing of the ECMA
- Artist (s) must have released at least one professionally manufactured CD (or single) released between June 1, 2009 – October 1, 2010
- Artist (s) must own and control master (track/song usage)
- Artist (s) must control publishing

Submissions are open to all genres including but not limited to: pop, rock, alternative, indie, urban, electronica, hip-hop Roots, folk, traditional, country, jazz, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, instrumental, world, singer-songwriter.

For more information and to submit, click here. The deadline is July 30.

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Brockway Biggs will perform at a hip hop show in Fredericton on July 2.

News from my old pal Brockway Biggs …

“From 2003-2006, Fredericton rappers and DJs developed their skill in front of friends and fans every Wednesday at Hip-Hop Night. The weekly night started out at The Capital, and later moved to Nicky Zees.

“There were cyphers, out-of-town performers, $2.25 drink cards for emcees (I still have mine) and a whole lot of good times & memories. Seven years later, Black Ice Entertainment brings you the Freddy Beach Hip Hop Reunion Show …”

The show takes place Friday, July 2 at 9 p.m. at Nicky Zees, 375 King St, Fredericton, N.B.

There will be music by DJ Scout, Loc Dog, STV and Baby Grand and performances by Mick D, Phakt, Monark, First Words, Socially Exceptable, Brockway Biggs aka Pimp Tea, Jed Nice, Al Boogie, Miracle and KNO.

For more on the event, visit the Facebook page.

Wintersleep announces summer/fall tour dates

Halifax indie rockers Wintersleep are on the road right now and will be touring non-stop through November. Dates are as follows:

July 9 – Ottawa, ON @ Ottawa Bluesfest @ Pop Life Stage (York Street)
July 10 – Montreal, QC @ Live From Montreal @ The Apple Store
Aug. 6 – Saint John, NB @ Fort La Tour
Aug. 28 – Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Sept. 4 – Edmonton, AB @ SONiC BOOM Festival @ Northlands Grounds
Sept. 6 – Koln, Germany @ Luxor
Sept. 7 – Utrecht, Netherlands @ Ekko
Sept. 8 – London, United Kingdom @ Cargo
Sept. 9 – Glasgow, SL (United Kingdom) @ Stereo
Sept. 10 – Dublin, Ireland @ Academy 2
Sept. 11 – North Dorset, United Kingdom @ End of The Road Festival @ Larmer Tree Gardens
Sept. 12 – Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix
Sept. 14 – Heidelberg, Germany @ Kulturhaus Kastorbahnhof
Sept. 15 – Munich, Germany @ 59 to 1
Sept. 16 – Berlin, Germany @ Lido
Sept. 17 – Hamburg, Germany @ Molotow
Sept. 18 – Aarau Switzerland @ Kiff
Oct. 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Oct. 7 – New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
Oct. 19 – Waterloo, ON @ Starlight
Oct. 20 – Hamilton, ON @ Studio Theatre
Oct. 23 – London, ON @ The London Music Hall
Oct. 30 – Montreal, QC @ Cabaret Mile End
Nov. 3 – Fredericton, NB @ The Market
Nov. 4 – Halifax, NS @ The New Palace
Nov. 12 – Victoria, BC @ Alix Goolden Hall
Nov. 13 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
Nov. 17 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
Nov. 19 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub
Nov. 20 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick

Celebrate beer, art and music

FeelsGood.ca, in partnership with North Hampton Brewing Company (Picaroons) and Bullfrog Renewable Energy are taking over the Village of Gagetown FairGrounds on July 9 and 10.

Over 30 acts will grace two stages this year over the two days, including All of Green, Grand Theft Bus, Jimmy Swift Band and Tom Fun Orchestra.

Other notable acts include Isaac & Blewett, Thom Swift, The Olympic Symphonium, Gordon Gets Lost, Weak Size Fish, Owen Steel, Babette Hayward, Andy Brown, Sleepy Driver and many, many more.

For a complete schedule of performances here.

Folly Fest is striving to be a “green” festival using only Picaroon’s 100 per cent compostable beer cups, locally sourced food and a “green team” that will be on guard all weekend to ensure that everything gets put in the correct refuse barrel.

The original Folly Fest, held last year on Crabbe Mountain, was a celebration of the collaboration between FeelsGood.ca and Picaroons. The end result was the FeelsGood Imperial Pilsner, Picaroons first and only contract brew. This year will not only celebrate the FeelsGood Pilsner, but all of Picaroon’s award-winning traditional ales.

D5R announces A Weekend of Noise

Diminished Fifth Records and Morbid Entertainment have announced that they have partnered to present ‘A Weekend Of Noise: The Halifax Metal Festival’ set to take place July 30-31.

The festival is set to include the likes of Ottawa Grindcore band Fuck the Facts, Necronomicon, local stars Iron Giant and The.Daisy.Anthesis with various other local acts, including Napalm Raid and Orchids Curse.

The festival is set to include door prizes which include T-shirts from Pro-Skates, a CD give away by Diminished Fifth Records, free tickets to the upcoming Black Label Society concert by Sonic Concerts and various other prizes.

Tickets can be purchased in advance from CD Heaven and Random Play in Halifax. The cost is $20 in advance and $15 at the door for the first night and $10 for the second night.

The festival is set to take place at The Paragon Theatre for the first night and Gus’ Pub for the second night.

For more details about the show and a full line up, go here.

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It Kills will release its debut on July 20. (Mat Dunlap photo)

It Kills is the latest project from Halifax-based musicians Lisa Lipton, William Robinson and Solomon Vromans, the longtime collaborators behind the acclaimed I See Rowboats. The album will be released on July 20.

Track list for It Kills:

01. Dragons
02. No Ice
03. Le Coup
04. Jump Kid
05. Sinners
06. Sailors
07. Night Mayor
08. Vamps
09. Salt
10. Smoker
11. Old Song

Check out a track from the album here: Sailors by It Kills

Glory Glory Man United to release Zombies!!!

Comprised of music school friends Adam Warren (vocals, guitar), Gavin Maclean (bass, vocals) and Ryan Brown (drums, vocals), Glory Glory Man United (GGMU) released their self-titled demo in 2007.

The release caught the attention of Jon Epworth (The Dean Malenkos, The Improvements), who went on to produce the band’s 2008 EP, Friends of the Seen (From Here to There Records).

The Coast described it as, “what would happen if Q and Not U, circa 1999, covered Thrush Hermit’s Smart Bomb EP.”  Herohill said the EP, “Strikes the right balance between heavy and melodic to have me listening to it repeatedly for days.”

GGMU recently finished recording its upcoming full-length debut, Zombies!!! (July 13, Out Of Sound Records). While the band produced and recorded the LP themselves, it was mixed by renowned producer and Heavy Blinkers frontman, Andrew Watt (who the group acted as a backing band for on his solo debut, First Day of Summer Life).

Below is the track list for the upcoming album and tour dates. The band will be joining us for a Fridays with … feature in the coming weeks.

Zombies!!! track list:
01. Pop Song Automaton
02. Zombies
03. First Monkey Shot Into Space
04. Sun Don’t Come Out
05. Loud, Quiet, Loud
06. Mountain Town
07. Maintain Your Composure
08. Congratulations On Your Latest Engagement
09. Repeat, Dull
10. Fish in the Water

Upcoming tour dates:
June 29 – Peterborough, Ont. @ The Spill
June 30 – Toronto, Ont. @ Rancho Relaxo
July 01 – Guelph, Ont. @ Jimmy Jazz
July 02 – Hamilton, Ont. @ The Casbah Lounge
July 03 – London, Ont. @ East Village Arts Co-op
July 08 – Halifax, N.S. @ Gus’ Pub
July 09 – Moncton, N.B. @ Plan B
July 10 – Fredericton, N.B. @ The Capital Bar

Check out the first track on the album here:

Pop Song Automation by Glory Glory Man United

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It’s been months since these bands have performed in their home province, but with all three groups currently writing and recording new material, these performances will be a rare chance to hear some new material.

Catch the bands in Moncton at The Paramount on June 23 and in Fredericton at The Capital on June 24.

Grand Theft Bus and Share will be performing select east coast dates throughout the summer months, and you can find more information on that here.

Great Big Sea to release 10th album

Embarking on their 18th year as a band, platinum-selling Canadian folk rockers Great Big Sea voyage a little further from their signature Newfoundland-inspired sound to land Safe Upon The Shore with their 10th album due July 13 on Warner Music Canada.

Recorded in “fits and starts” over a six-month period, the album was produced by Los Lobos’ Steve Berlin and Great Big Sea in New Orleans, L.A., St. John’s, N.L. and anywhere that inspiration struck, including tour buses and various dressing rooms along their tour.

“A lot of this was recorded straight onto Alan’s laptop, as soon as we had the ideas,” explains Sean McCann, singer and bodhran player. “As for the rest, for a long time we wanted to record somewhere with a vibe, somewhere with an atmosphere that might seep into the songs themselves. There is nowhere on the continent, really, that has more of a vibe than New Orleans.”

Aside from Great Big Sea co-founders and songwriters Alan Doyle, Bob Hallett and Sean McCann, Safe Upon The Shore also includes co-writes and various acclaimed artists including Russell Crowe and Canadian singer-songwriters Randy Bachman, Jeremy Fisher and Joel Plaskett.

“At this stage, we sometimes all kind of know each other’s ideas too well,” explains multi-instrumentalist and singer Bob Hallett. “It’s too easy to do the obvious. Writing with a big group of people pushed everything into different directions. Of the songs we started there, we ended up using a bunch of them on the album.”

“Some of these songs took a long time to grow up, some of them came to us ready to head out into the world,” added McCann.

Fans can preview 3 new tracks from the album on the band’s website and expect tour news in the not-too-distant future.

Moncton hosts Fête de la musique 2010

On Monday, June 21st, Moncton will host more than 25 musical artists, singer-songwriter and groups for a variety of free performances in Fête de la musique 2010.

From 10:30 a.m., solo performers will wake up the crowds in Oak Park, Robinson Court and Café Clementine Deli. Westcut, Caroline Savoie, Glen Burg, Zax Hackett, Kendra Gale, Andre Saulnier, Denis Michel Haché and Sarah Cormier will offer to passers-by their finest tunes.

At 11:30 a.m., the official opening will take place outside the Moncton City Hall on Main Street. Upbeat musicians will entertain the crowds on their lunch breaks:  Craig Wright (bagpipes), the Harmony de l’Odyssée, Lisa LeBlanc, Kendra Gale and ALCAZ.

The main stage is located in Riverfront Park, next to the Petitcodiac River, behind the Blue Cross building. The line-up consists of experienced and emerging artists: Codiac Concert Band, Mario Lebreton, Natasha Richard, Xeno, Adam LeBlanc, Double Vision, Sarah Cormier, Lisa Leblanc, Caroline Savoie, Great Balancing Act, Julie Aubé, Melanie D, Robin Anne Ettles, Mel Keith & the Strombachs and Something Delicious. From traditional music to funk metal by way of folk and jazz singers, there will be something for everyone.

Find out more about the event here and here.

The Stanfields hit the road

Nova Scotia’s The Stanfields will tour Toronto and The Maritimes this summer to support the release their debut album Vanguard of the Young & Reckless (GroundSwell/Warner) on June 15.

The band (Jon Landry, Jason MacIsaac, Jason Wright, Craig Eugene Harris and Mark Murphy) formed in 2008. In March, they were voted by readers of The Coast Magazine in Halifax, “Best Band”, “Band Most Likely to Make it Big” and for the second consecutive year “Best Band to Get Trashed To.”

Upcoming performances include:

June 15 – Toronto @ The Horseshoe (NXNE Festival)
June 18 – Toronto @ The Mod Club (NXNE Festival)
June 19 – Toronto @ The Horseshoe (NXNE Festival)
June 30 – Charlottetown @ Hunter’s Alehouse
July 2 – Liverpool @ Privateer Days
July 4 – Canso @ The Stan Rogers Folk Festival
July 9 – Port Hawkesbury @ Festival of the Strait
July 23 – Halifax @ Halifax Common, Halifax Rocks 2010
August 6 – New Glasgow @ Glasgow Square Theatre, Dragon Boat Festival
August 18 – Quispamsis @ Quispamsis Concert Series
August 20 – Fredericton @ The Capital Bar
August 21 – Perth-Andover @ Hullabaloo Festival

Two Hours Traffic head down under

Charlottetown’s Two Hours Traffic has embarked on a 17-date Australian tour to celebrate the release of its album Territory down under on ABC Music, distributed by Universal. The release includes Heroes Of The Sidewalk, Jezebel, Nighthawks and Backseat Sweetheart from the 2007 album Little Jabs as bonus tracks.

The band is also preparing for the U.S release of Territory on Sept. 7 via Red Eye Distribution and will be announcing U.S. tour dates soon.

Remaining Australia dates include:

June 16 – Canberra – The Front Café
June 17 – Wollongong – The Harp
June 18 – Katoomba – The Clarendon
June 19 – Cronulla (Sydney) – Brass Monkey
June 20 – Sydney- Song Summit  Showcase
June 24 – Newcastle – The Cambridge
June 25 – Gold Coast – Sound Exchange
June 26 – Toowoomba – Bon Amici
June 27 – Brisbane – The Toubadour
June 30 – Coffs Harbour – Hoey Moey
July 1 – Central Coast – Lizottes
July 2 – Cronulla (Sydney) – Brass Monkey Headline
July 3 – Newton (Sydney) – Sandringham Hotel

The Sidewalks run into a Detour

Charlottetown’s The Sidewalks are taking a short break from the studio to head out on the road again for the second time since the East Coast Music Awards earlier this year.

Dates on The Detour consist of:

July 15th – Fredericton, NB @ The Capital
July 16th – Montreal, QC @ Hemisphere Gauche w/K-Man & The 45s, The Fundamentals
July 17th – Kingston, ON @ The Merchant Tap House w/Cody Allen
July 20th – Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo
July 21st – Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell’s Music House w/Cody Allen
July 22nd – London, ON @ The Black Shire Pub
July 23rd – Ottawa, ON @ The Rainbow
July 24th – Ottawa, ON @ The Avant Garde Bar
July 27th – TBA, ON
July 28th – Peterborough, ON @ The Spill
July 29th – Oshawa, ON @ The Atria
July 30th – Hamilton, ON @ Club Absinthe
July 31st – TBA, QC
Aug 6th – Charlottetown, PE @ Hunter’s Ale House
Aug 7th – Halifax, NS @ The Seahorse

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The Fridays with … feature is a little delayed this week. My apologies. We’ll get it up over the weekend, I hope.

Cheers,

Eric

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