Update – Chad VanGaalen’s next show will be at Richards on Richards in Vancouver on October 9th!

Be sure to check it out! And if you can’t make it to this show, be sure the check out his latest concert listings right here.

This is the music video for ‘Little Black Dress’ by previously mentioned Toronto jazz diva Dione Taylor. The video was directed by Cylla Von Tiedemann, produced by Riddle Films, and funded by Bravo!FACT.

Stay tuned to TransCanada Radio for upcoming concert dates for the fabulous Dione Taylor.

Julie Ann Bertram has posted her first and second albums, Jab and Ecstatic Songs respectively, on her website. She’s a fantastic musician, as I’ve mentioned before, so be sure to check out the albums while you can!

Julie Ann Bertram is right here: http://www.julieannbertram.com/

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.

21 Aug 2008 20:00 Black Pirates Club Thunder Bay, Ontario
22 Aug 2008 18:30 Music Trader Winnipeg, Manitoba
22 Aug 2008 22:00 Mondragon Bookstore Winnipeg, Manitoba
23 Aug 2008 20:00 Remedy Cafe (all ages) Edmonton, Alberta
28 Aug 2008 22:00 New City Likwid Lounge w/ Doug Hoyer Edmonton, Alberta
30 Aug 2008 20:00 Bar Bar Kenosee Lake, Saskatchewan
2 Sept 2008 20:00 Mercury Lounge Ottawa JUST ADDED!

Toronto based band Tokyo Police Club have made their cover of The Rentals’ “Friends Of P” available to stream and download at friendsofp.org. The song was previously only available on the bonus disc to the U.K. version of Elephant Shell, but the band have teamed up with the Lupus Foundation Of America to give more people a chance to hear it. All money raised from donations made on the site will go to lupus research. The first 50 people who donate $15 or more will receive a free “Friends Of P” tote bag.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body attacks and destroys its own tissue and cells. It has no cure, can be fatal, and can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, liver, skin, lungs, brain and other body parts.

Tokyo Police Club recently remixed The Coast’s “Tightrope” for a seven-inch single that’s out now on Toronto’s Magnificent Sevens Records.

Tokyo Police Club are currently in Europe, but will return to Canada for these July festival dates:

July 8 Ottawa, ON @ Lebreton Flats (Ottawa Bluesfest)
July 9 Quebec City, QC @ Espace 400 — La Grande Scene
July 19 Halifax, NS @ Garrison Grounds on Citadel Hill (Summersonic Festival)
July 20 Toronto, ON @ Fort York (Rogers Picnic)
(ChartAttack, June 2008)

That’s right, the wild and crazy boys will be hopping across the pond for some awesome shows to share awesome Canadian talent with the UK!

Also, on the eve of their third European Tour, “Tow Truck” has been chosen as CD of the month of June by The Netherlands’ Blues Meets Rock radio show.

Jul 5, 2008 9:00 PM Bluesgarage w/ Jason Plumb Hannover, Germany

Jul 7, 2008 10:00 PM Spirit of 66 w/ Jason Plumb Verviers, Belgium

Jul 8, 2008 9:00 PM Blues Cafe w/ Jason Plumb Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Jul 9, 2008 9:00 PM Blues Cafe w/ Jason Plumb Apeldoorn, Netherlands

Jul 10, 2008 10:00 PM Bourbon Street Blues Club Amsterdam, Netherlands

Jul 11, 2008 All Day Belgium Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Festival Peer, Belgium

Jul 17, 2008 9:00 PM Tapas Schweinfurt, Germany

Jul 18, 2008 9:00 PM Kaiserkellar w/ Jason Plumb Detmold, Germany

Jul 19, 2008 All Day Blues & Jazz Rallye Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Jul 20, 2008 9:00 PM FZW w/Eddie Kirkland Dortmund, Germany

Mark Berube is an artist that has proven to be very popular among our readers time after time so I’ve listed upcoming concert dates so that you can be sure to check him out in your area soon!

11 Jul 2008 20:00 Winnipeg Folk Festival with The Fugitives Winnipeg, MB
17 Jul 2008 21:00 Maxwells Music House Waterloo, ON
18 Jul 2008 21:00 Tranzac – Fundraiser for Toronto Slam Team Toronto, ON
19 Jul 2008 19:00 Mercury Lounge Ottawa, ON

And…

Mark Berube will be touring across Canada to promote the release of “What The River Gave The Boat!” He had this to say about the upcoming tour and album:

“The band and I started recording What the Boat Gave the River in early April after my tour with The Fugitives. We kept it intense, lots of sessions, lots of jams with different musicians and now we’re just over 2 weeks away from finishing it. I have to admit that this album is somewhat of a milestone. It’s been about 8/9 years of recording, touring, sluggin’ away…etc. This album makes me feel that it’s all paying off. I recently signed with Redux Records, headed up by Keith Brown. He’s the vice-president of Aquarius Records of the DKD Label Group ( Arts and Crafts, Last Gang Records, Tacca Music, Aquarius) and he’s started up his own label kind of specifically for us. So far, we’re happy with how everything is going. Keith is good people and willing to work hard along side us. Now the real work starts… It’s looking like What the Boat Gave the River will be released in Quebec in August, and the rest of Canada in September. The road has been good thus far, hopefully it will continue to bear fruits.”

Be sure to check him out!

Aug. 21 Victoria, BC @ The Solstice Cafe – Victoria Release Party
Aug. 23 Vancouver, BC @ The Wise Hall w/ Dan Mangan – Cd Release Party
Aug. 25 Penticton, BC @ Voodoo’s
Aug. 26 Edmonton, AB @ Hulbert’s
Aug. 28 Calgary, AB @ The Soda
Aug. 29 Regina, SK @ The Club
Sept. 2 Onanole, MB @ Earthrhythms House Concert
Sept. 4 Brandon, MB @ Lady Of The Lake
Sept. 6 Winnipeg, MB @ The Academy Bar And Eatery with Ann Walton
Sept. 7 Thunder Bay, ON @ Definitely Superior Art Gallery
Sept. 8 Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ Loplops
Sept. 12 Guelph, ON @ E-Bar w/Royal Wood and Nathan Coles
Sept. 13 London, ON @ London Music Club w/ Alex Krakus and Kaya Fraser
Sept. 14 Toronto, ON @ Tranzac with Claire Jenkins Trio
Sept. 16 Ottawa, ON @ Shanghai Restaurant
Sept. 20 Montreal, Qc @ Epingle

And then he’ll be playing at Pop Montreal!
Oct. 3-7 POP MONTREAL, Montreal, Qc