P.E.I.'s The Robots recently released Hey Buddy, Dummy.

Prince Edward Island’s The Robots released Hey Buddy, Dummy (Night Danger) this month.

The four-piece is made up of Peter Rankin (guitar, vocals),  Keith Baglole (keyboards), Chris Doiron (bass)  and Phil MacIssac (drums). They recorded Hey Buddy, Dummy with Charles Austin (Superfriendz, Buck 65) at Echo Chamber in Halifax, NS.

Hey Buddy, Dummy track list:

1. Are You Mine
2. I Didn’t Know What I Was Saying
3. Drunk Uncles
4. Prester John
5. ShudderBoxin
6. RIS
7. The Cape
8. Tiny Paws
9. Houses Singin
10. King John

Wintersleep plans album release

Halifax rockers Wintersleep will release new album New Inheritors on May 18. On the band’s website now are a couple new tunes for your listening pleasure, including Black Camera, the album’s first single.

Milk & Rectangles release EP

Troubleshooters is the follow-up to Milks & Rectangles‘ acclaimed 2009 debut release, Civic Virtues (Night Danger). Produced by Adam Gallant (English Words, Haunted Hearts), the new EP is available as a free download on the band’s website.

Milks & Rectangles is a four-piece indie-pop band from Charlottetown, P.E.I. The group formed in 2005 and rehearsed in a barn in their formative years. Since then, they have performed with In-Flight Safety, Library Voices, The Novaks, English Words, The Danks and Boxer the Horse. The band is signed to Night Danger, a sub-label of Outside Music run by In-Flight Safety.

Troubleshooter track list:

1. Wink and a Gun (The Jury’s Hung)
2. Unring a Bell
3. Cakewalk
4. Don’t Fall into the Wrong Hands
5. Long Haired Hater

D5R signs Last Call Chernobyl

As Josh Hogan mentioned last week, Diminished Fifth Records recently signed Halifax metal band Last Call Chernobyl and will be releasing the band’s album Drowning Beneath the Sound of Change in summer.

The band recorded the album in Halifax’s Soundmarket Studio in January.

“D5R is incredibly excited to be working with LCC,” commented label-head Hogan. “In addition to being to youngest addition to our growing family, they will be the first band to wave the D5R banner in the USA.”

“We are stoked to be working with Diminished Fifth Records. It’s nothing short of amazing to be able to work with this label considering the amount of credit and respect that D5R has garnered over the years,” said guitarist Matt Moulton.

Last Call Chernobyl will perform on a variety of dates on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour, which you can check out on their website.

Drowning Beneath the Sound of Change track list:

1. This City
2. For Fear of Falling
3. Beneath the Veil
4. Drowning Beneath the Sound of Change
5. Eris
6. Level 7
7. Burden of Dreams

Rusted Dawn tours Canada

New Brunswick’s Rusted Dawn is a few weeks into the band’s six-week cross-Canada tour in support of new album The Black Tides of War (Diminished Fifth Records).

“After having to cancel our Canadian tour last year, it’s time for sweet, sweet redemption,” commented Jeremy Goddard, singer/guitarist, prior to hitting the road. “We’ve all been waiting for this for a very long time, and all the months of slaving at shitty jobs in preparation for this moment are finally going to be worth it. I can’t wait to get out there and show the country what this band is capable of on a large-scale assault.”

The Black Tides of Tour wraps up back on the east coast with the following dates:

May 3 – Fredericton, NB – The Capital Bar (w/ Striver)
May 5 – Charlottetown, PEI – TBA (w/ Striver)
May 6 – Moncton, NB – The Paramount (w/ Striver)
May 8 – Halifax, NS – Gus’ Pub (w/ Striver)
May 12 – Sydney, NS – Maxwell’s
May 15 – St. John’s, NFLD – Distortion

Saxby’s hosts autism benefit show

Riverview, N.B. bar Saxby’s is hosting a show this Saturday to benefit The Autism Resource Centre Moncton.

Featuring talent such as Regulator, Robin Anne Ettles, My New Tattoo, Deafchild, Red Savannah, Justin & Friends and Keyra Dal’osto, admission is only a $6-minimum donation, and you’ll even get a free drink. The show also includes a silent auction.

All money raised goes to the Autism Resource Centre. Saxby’s is located at 121 Pine Glen Rd., Riverview. The show starts at 7 p.m.

SaltyJam seeks bands

Interested in playing Saint John, N.B.’s SaltyJam this year? The festival is planning for another year, using SonicBids this year to help facilitate the application process, and organizers are now accepting submissions.

The festival runs from July 8-10. East Coast acts from various genres will be considered for the weekend.

SaltyJam, Saint John’s Festival of Music, dates back to 1995 as the Saint John Jazz & Blues Festival. SaltyJam is non-profit and 100% volunteer run.

Submissions can be posted here.

Halifax Pop Explosion names new director

Jonny Stevens has been named the new executive director of the Halifax Pop Explosion (HPX). Now in its 18th year, the five-day music, culture and media festival and conference is one of Canada’s most renowned.

First presented in 1993, HPX has become an annual fixture on the local, national and international music industry calendar. Heralded as “one of the best, most well-programmed Canadian musical festivals going” by The National Post, HPX has presented performances by such renowned acts as Arcade Fire, Cat Power, Eric’s Trip, Sloan, GZA, and Japandroids.

Jonny Stevens has spent the past three years as the education and events co-ordinator with Music Nova Scotia. A self-proclaimed music nerd, he has sailed around the world on a tall ship, toured throughout North America in a van with his band, and released five albums. Stevens is also an instructor at the Nova Scotia Community College Music Business program.

“I am very excited to start this new challenge with the Halifax Pop Explosion Association,” says Stevens. “I’m proud to be a part of HPX’s 18-year history and can’t wait to work with everyone.”

Stepping down after 10 years as HPX’s executive director and 14 years with the event, Waye Mason is enthusiastic about Stevens’ future with the festival.

“Jonny Stevens has participated in the festival as an artist, volunteer, partner and board member over the last decade,” claims Mason. “I have absolute confidence that Jonny will bring the energy and vision that HPX requires to continue to grow. I am leaving the festival in the best of hands.”

Information on early bird passes and initial performers for the 2010 Halifax Pop Explosion will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Last June, Newfoundland’s The Novaks released Things Fall Apart, its East Coast Music Award-winning sophomore album (the album won for Rock Recording of the Year).

On April 20, the band will follow it up with a three-song EP, Big World. You can stream the whole EP at The Novaks website.

Big World track list:

1. Big World
2. Sooner or Later
3. It’s Just a Dream

Catch the band at the following east coast dates:

April 15 – St. John’s, NL @ The Delta Ballroom
April 16 – St. John’s, NL @ The Ship
April 29 – Fredericton, NB @ The Capital
April 30 – Charlottetown, PEI @ Hunter’s Ale House
May 01 – Halifax, NS @ The Seahorse
May 02 – Moncton, NB @ The Paramount

Daniel, Fred & Julie embark on tour

Daniel, Fred & Julie are embarking on an eastern Canadian tour this week. Made up of Daniel Romano (Attack in Black), Fred Squires (Shotgun & Jaybird) and Julie Doiron (Eric’s Trip), the trio released their highly acclaimed, self-titled album earlier in the year.

The album was born last year when Romano took the train to Sackville, N.B. armed with a couple of acoustic guitars and a couple of folk songbooks.

A press release for the record reads: “A tape machine was set up in Squire’s garage. A microphone was placed on the floor in front of a semi-circle of folding chairs. The weather was good that week, the garage door was open, cars would pass, as would kids on bicycles. Arrangements were made up quickly, harmonies worked out, lyrics written on long scraps of paper, verses picked and chosen. The songs were put down quickly, with no overdubs or edits, and the record was finished in a couple of days.”

Comprised primarily of songs in the public domain, the tracks range from tales of romance, justice, murder, loafing, complaint, horses and gambling. Daniel, Fred & Julie also features two new compositions by Romano; Runner, a song about the eternal doomed rambling of a man, sung here Squire, and the lamenting Your Love.

Daniel, Fred and Julie is available on LP, CD and digital download via You’ve Changed Records. The record in all formats is in mono.

Dates are as follows (all shows are with Baby Eagle):

April 07  Fredericton, N.B. @ Charlotte Street Arts Centre
April 08  Charlottetown, P.E.I. @ Baba’s Lounge
April 09  Halifax, N.S. @ North End Church
April 10  Sackville, N.B. @ Mount Allison Chapel

TBA Collective hosts variety night

At 10 p.m. this Saturday at Plan B Lounge in Moncton, TBA Collective will be hosting a variety night filled with musical performances, live art and an art exhibit.

Visual artists will include Cat Arseneault, Guy Gautreau, Andrew Robson, Pascal Léo Cormier and Mario Landry. There will also be live art by Oso Osorio and Andrew Robson.

The night includes musical performances by Denis Surette (Les Païens), Shawn Chiasson & Francis Landry (of Speakerscam), Wescut, Phil Flowers & Amy Stone, Kiera Dall’Osto & Erik Arsenault, Josué Goguen and an acoustic performance by Something Delicious, as well as poetry readings from Mario Landry and Mario Gautreau.

Artist Pascal Léo Cormier will also be performing an acoustic set under his Eye Ocean moniker to display his influences behind his artistic approach.

TBA member Mario Gautreau says, “It’s been about six months since we’ve hosted an event, and I thought the best idea was to dive right in with a welcome back variety show to showcase the amazing array of local talent.”

He added that the event will serve as a springboard for the Collective’s efforts throughout the year.

Recently, the TBA Collective have been working on two separate projects: a “How To Organize Events: A Tutorial” (Moncton Edition) and an arts and music zine called L.A.M.E. (a.k.a. Local Art Music and Eccentricities) which features artists, photographers and creative folks as well as articles describing DYI techniques and How-To’s for the artistic and musical community.

Saturday’s show is free, but donations for a local charity will be accepted.

The Slate Pacific release digital remix EP

From the boys and girls at Forward Music Group and Fredericton’s The Slate Pacific: “The Safe Passage Remix EP is an absurd idea that somehow works. It’s probably because we’ve got remixes from the likes of Paranerd, Professor Undressor, Senor Citizen & more.”

Download the free EP here.

GTB and JSB tour the east

Fredericton’s Grand Theft Bus and Halifax’s Jimmy Swift Band are in Moncton tonight at the Manhattan, at Saint John’s The Blue Olive tomorrow and Fredericton’s UNB Ballroom Saturday night.Big World by The Novaks

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(David Myles. Photo by Mat Dunlap.) 

Next month, Fredericton/Halifax’s David Myles will release his fourth album. Produced by Joel Plaskett, Turn Time Off will be released April 20 on Little Tiny Records.

Turn Time Off was recorded in Plaskett’s Dartmouth, N.S. studio, Scotland Yard.  Myles worked closely with his backing musicians on the album, aiming for a soulful pop record this time out.

Once Myles had the songs written, he and Plaskett then worked to build a strong record with catchy hooks and memorable melodies. Turn Time Off was recorded on a 16-track, two-inch tape machine, to give the record a warm analog sound.

Myles’ last album, On the Line, won Folk Recording of the Year at the 2009 East Coast Music Awards, where he was also nominated as Male Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. He also won the Folk/Roots Recording of the Year for Music Nova Scotia in 2007.

Check out Myles at the following dates:

April 16 – Halifax, N.S. @ Rebecca Cohn w/ Symphony Nova Scotia
April 17 – Saint John, N.B. @ Imperial Theatre
April 22 – Fredericton, N.B. @ The Playhouse

Share releases free digital EP

Halifax’s Share recently released a free digital EP for all to enjoy, Coco & Co, only six months after the band’s critically acclaimed Slumping In Your Murals.

Recorded at home, it captures yet another incarnation of the band – a duet. With songwriter Andrew Sisk and Miranda Durka (vibraphone, organ and vocals) performing the majority of the arrangements, guests include Snailhouse members, Mike Feuerstack (lap steel) and Mike Belyea (drums) who contribute to the single Pause.

Share’s last record was a band recording featuring Sisk, Nick Cobham, Kyle Cunjak, Dennis Goodwin and Zach Atkinson.

Currently, Sisk and Durka are touring Canada by train. This week, they’re in British Columbia and they’ll soon make their way through Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario.

Recently, Sisk participated in EastCoastNoise’s Friday’s with feature, so watch out for that in the coming weeks.

Lost Intransit tours Maritimes

Saint John rock group Lost Intransit is heading out for a couple shows across the east coast this week.

The four-piece featuring veteran musicians Stu MacDougall (guitars, vocals), Huey Lord (keys, vocals), Shawn Lester (bass) and Greg Melanson (drums, vocals) recently released its debut album, a blend of classic rock and psychedelic, bluesy sounds.

Check out the band at the following dates:

March 20 – Sussex, N.B. @ The Mason Jar
April 10 – Saint John, N.B. @ The Blue Olive
April 16 – Halifax, N.S. @ The Foggy Goggle

Séan McCann has Lullabies For Bloodshot Eyes

Inspired by the birth of his sons, Great Big Sea’s Séan McCann chronicles the beginnings of his journey through fatherhood on the solo debut Lullabies For Bloodshot Eyes.

“The arrival of my two sons prompted a fundamental change in my disposition,” confides McCann in a press release, “for the first time in my life, someone else mattered more to me than I did…and I was terrified.”

The responsibility for a new life can be overwhelming for many parents, but not many choose to chronicle their experiences in a disc of dreamy lullabies and late night elegies.

“These songs were born of the simple fears of a new father; failure, loss, and living up to the hopes and dreams of brand new eyes,” he says. “When I was a boy the world seemed brighter…and it’s good to feel that light once again…even though it scares me.”

When he’s not on the road, McCann returns home to his native St. John’s to write and spend time with his family. He is currently working on the upcoming Great Big Sea release, due out this summer.

The Bad Arts perform in support of debut EP

Halifax’s The Bad Arts will perform a series of dates throughout the Maritimes this month in support of its debut self-titled, four-song EP. The shows also feature performances from First Aid Kit and Wildlife. Dates are as follows:

March 25 – Halifax, N.S. @ Gus’ Pub
March 26 – Fredericton, N.B. @ The Capital
March 27 – Sackville, N.B. @ George’s Roadhouse

The Bad Arts formed in the summer of 2008 as a two-piece: guitarist Paul Conrod, a recent Saint John transplant, and Halifax drummer Andrew Patterson. The two met through a mutual friend.

The duo recruited Corbett Hancey to play bass and the Rhythm Method’s Kristin Findley to provide vocals. Findley later departed and Conrod took over on vocals, and the band has been touring the Maritimes since.

Evolve Festival named Canada’s best

The Evolve Music and Awareness Festival, held in Antigonish, N.S., serves as one of the highlights of the summer in the Maritimes, and it’s now being recognized for just that.

The festival was voted CBC Radio 3 Searchlight’s Best Festival in Canada. CBC Radio 3 will travel to Evolve on July 23, 24 and 25 for a special live on-site broadcast and to present the winning trophy and plaque, declaring Evolve the Best Music Festival in Canada.  This is Evolve’s second such honour recently, having already been named in the 15 Best Outdoor Music Festivals in North America list in 2009 by Santa Fe-based Outside Magazine.

“I’m delighted just to get noticed,” says Evolve Festival artistic and executive director Jonas Colter. “Evolve has always aspired to offer the best possible fan experience, and we are humbled to be in the good company of festivals like Hillside, Ottawa Blues Fest, Shambhala, Shelter Valley, Stan Rogers Folk Festival and Vancouver Island MusicFest which in my mind are some of the best festivals in the world. We are incredibly grateful for this honour from the CBC, our national broadcaster that does so much to nurture Canadian culture and talent.”

Some of the first confirmed artists for Evolve 2010 include San Francisco’s one-man show That 1 Guy, Vancouver traditional/electronica fusionists Delihi 2 Dublin, Juno Award-winning roots artist Old Man Luedecke and Rich Aucoin.

Early bird tickets are now available at Ticketpro.ca and all Ticketpro locations across Canada.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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(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.

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(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.

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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.

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