Monthly Archive for August, 2008

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Olivier Jarda @ Mercury Lounge (Ottawa) Sept. 2

Published on August 20, 2008 in Live Music and Update. 1 Comment Tags: Alberta, Bar Bar, Black Pirates Club, Edmonton, Halifax, Manitoba, Mercury Lounge, Mondragon Bookstore, Music Trader, New City Likwid Lounge, Olivier Jarda, Ottawa, Remedy Cafe, Saskatchewan, Winnipeg.

Olivier Jarda was born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1984 to Haitian immigrants. He began playing piano when he was five, and picked up a few more instruments before settling on the guitar.

After high school, Olivier moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia to attend Saint Mary’s University. There he co-hosted the student open mic for a few years with Jon Mckiel (of Jon Mckiel fame) and Matt Whiston, playing mostly originals but covering artists including Elliott Smith, Neil Young, Bob Marley, Feist, Wyclef, Ryan Adams, and Wilco.

Throughout university, the band released the first LP in 2006, Thirteen Telephone Towers. The band toured the country from coast to coast and has gone as far north as Whitehorse, Yukon, and can be heard on Canadian radio from time to time.

Upcoming concert listings for Olivier Jarda

Kestrels @ Maxwell’s (Sydney), Sept 13

Published on August 20, 2008 in Live Music. 2 Comments Tags: Kestrels, Nova Scotia, Truro.

Kestrels

Goaltender Chad Peck and centerman Marcus Fiddes met 15 years ago while playing with Atom hockey in the West Colchester Minor Hockey Association. Fourteen years later, along with defense man Adam Hartling, the three now known as Kestrels are set to release their first 7″ single on Noyes Records this September.

Marrying catchy pop melodies with dissonant guitars and sometimes blistering drums, this trio is on pace to finish first place in their division and should make a strong run for the cup. The Kestrels’ new album is to be released September 16, 2008

Upcoming concert listings for Kestrels

A gift from Mark Berube!

Published on August 20, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: Calgary, Cervejaria, Edmonton, London, Mark Berube, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg.

Mark Berube

Mark Berube – Flowers On The Stone

Alright all you Mark Berube fans – I’ve got a special treat for you: a previously unreleased track! That’s right – Mark Berube’s given me a copy of his soon-to-be-released album, What The Boat Gave The River, and I’m going to give you a sneak peek!

Don’t thank me… buy the album on September 16th!

Upcoming Mark Berube concert listings

Peterborough’s Sweet Homewreckers

Published on August 19, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: Peterborough, Sweet Homewreckers.

If it’s true that there is a tendency for young bands to wear their influences on their sleeves, the Sweet Homewreckers evidently can’t decide which shirt to throw on. Formed in the small university town of Peterborough, ON, the Sweet Homewreckers are six-piece rock and roll outfit. They’re tight enough to show the contours, but loose enough to let you move around. Take your basic two guitars, bass and drums, and throw in some horns for added appeal. As for the contents of their closet, the ensemble is quite eclectic. Their music has been described as harkening to the days of “Halifax East-coast pop, with a long awaited nod to early Beulah” and “a fine mix of soft pop influences with hints of sweet 60s styles.” Truth be told, it’s hard to peg this band down, and as fans of anything-goes independent rock and/or roll, these young players couldn’t be happier.

More on Peterborough’s Sweet Homewreckers

That’s the Spirit CD release party ‘Staying Places’ (Ottawa), Oct 4

Published on August 19, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: New York City, Ottawa, That's the Spirit.

That’s the Spirit is the latest incarnation of Ottawa’s Ben Wilson – a multi-instrumentalist and well-known staple of the local scene – releasing his own brand of haunting, catchy space-folk on his debut L.P., Staying Places on September 23, 2008 (CD and digital).

More on Ottawa’s That’s the Spirit including upcoming concert dates

Mark Berube @ The Mercury Lounge (Ottawa) Aug 18

Published on August 14, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: Cervejaria, Divan Orange, Just for Laughs, L'inspecteur Epingle, La Sala Rossa, Mercury Lounge, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto.

TransCanada Radio reader favourite Mark Berube has got some newly listed concert dates! But, if you’re in the Ottawa area on August 18th, he’ll be playing at Ottawa’s own Mercury Lounge with special guest Ritalin! Should be an awesome show. TransCanada Radio will be there. Will you?

18 Aug 2008 20:00 Mercury Lounge – w/ Ritallin Ottawa, ON
19 Aug 2008 20:00 Cervejaria – fundraiser for the Toronto Slam Team Toronto, ON
21 Aug 2008 21:00 L’inspecteur Epingle – Solo Monreal, Qc
26 Aug 2008 21:00 Divan Orange Montreal, Qc
29 Aug 2008 21:00 Sala Rossa – Broadcast Radio CD Release party Montreal, Qc
25 Sep 2008 17:00 Cabaret Just For Laughs Montreal
25 Sep 2008 21:00 Cabaret Just For Laughs Montreal

Gypsophilia @ The Mercury Lounge (Ottawa), Aug 24

Published on August 14, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments Tags: Blacksheep Inn, Fredericton, Ginger's Tavern, Guelph, Halifax, Hamilton, L'escalier, Lane's, Mercury Lounge, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Rancho Relaxo, The Ashkenaz Festival, The Boat, The E Bar, The Pepperjack Cafe, Toronto, Wakefield.

Taking inspiration from the music of the legendary French jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, Halifax’s Gypsophilia combines hot jazz and European gypsy music, adding their own modern edge and fusing elements of tango, klezmer, funk, and classical in their original music. Admired by listening and dancing audiences young and old, the group’s passionate, exciting and sophisticated sound has quickly catapulted them to unprecedented jazz popularity in Nova Scotia. Not simply a Gypsy-jazz cover band, Gypsophilia’s unique voice comes from the fusion of the members’ diverse musical and artistic backgrounds, as well as from their innovative and eclectic original repertoire. Initially formed for an appearance at the 2004 TD Canada Trust Atlantic Jazz Festival, the band was impressed with the immediate and passionate audience response.

More on Gypsophilia including upcoming concert dates

Laura Barrett @ Hugh’s Room (Toronto) Aug 14

Published on August 12, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: Hugh's Room, Laura Barrett, London, Royal Wood, Toronto.

Don’t forget to check out Laura Barrett this Thursday at Hugh’s Room in Toronto! It promises to be a really awesome show.

If you don’t remember much about Laura Barrett (as, of course, you should), check out our previous profile of her here. (As a side note, she’ll be playing with Royal Wood. So here’s your chance to check him out as well.)

14 Aug 2008 20:00 Hugh’s Room Toronto
16 Aug 2008 20:00 Summerworks @ Theatre Centre Toronto
20 Sep 2008 20:00 LOLA festival London

Spiral Beach wants YOU to design their bonus album cover!

Published on August 11, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: CREATE, Festivals, Ottawa, Ottawa Folk Festival, Spiral Beach.

Some exciting news for fans and friends of Spiral Beach: They are releasing a disc of brand new recordings (unofficially) entitled Bonus! EP. And the even-better news? They’re holding a contest for anyone who’d like to create the artwork for this brand new bonus material disc!

The disc will be only be available in stores attached to copies of their newest album BALL, but the artwork you create will appear online as a downloadable CD sleeve and they’re offering to send the winner some physical copies as well as a few T-shirts with their design printed on them.

More on how to submit artwork to the Spiral Beach contests as well as upcoming concert dates

Emma-Lee @ Irene’s Pub (Ottawa) Aug. 15

Published on August 11, 2008 in Live Music. 0 Comments Tags: Emma-Lee, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto.

Emma-Lee – That Sinking Feeling

Emma-Lee, a beautiful little songbird out of Toronto, has just released a new album called Never Just A Dream. The above track, ‘That Sinking Feeling’, for your listening pleasure, is off of this new album. I certainly hope it inspires you to go check her out live – absolutely worth your while!

The foundation of Never Just A Dream is built on a collection of songs inspired by the sort of heartache that is universal to anyone who has lived a life worth living. The sound is at times swingin’ jazz, at others dreamy 50’s pop, with hints of folk and blues all delivered by a voice rich and sweet as a red velvet cupcake. In the years penning Never Just a Dream she listened to a lot of AM oldies radio, drawing on the power of disguising the complex with the kind of familiarity that warms you up like an episode of Leave it to Beaver on a snow day.

More on Emma-Lee and her newest album ‘Never Just A Dream’ including upcoming concert dates