Toronto-based new-wave rock band THE FRAMEWORK’s highly anticipated sophomore album ‘Before Tonight’ will be released August 4th.

THE FRAMEWORK formed in late 2006. At barely 3 months old, the band garnered national attention as a result of winning runner-up in the Toronto Mix 99.9’s 2007 RadioStar Songwriting Contest, for the song, “She Thinks I’m Famous”. The combination of buzz from the contest and the band’s catchy synth-rock epics instantly set The Framework up with an extensive online international fan base and sparked the interest of media outlets such as Metro and InsideE Magazine who describes the band’s new record ‘Before Tonight’ as “A confidently cool synth-rock assault that strikes a nonchalant medium between happy pop and stadium rock”. International attention has ensued with the band scoring invites to perform at the coveted Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, packed shows in New York City at the Canal Room and the North by North East music Festival in Toronto (being named one of 5 top acts at NXNE 2007).

The Framework – Upcoming Dates ::
June 13th School of Rock – Molson Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON
June 19th The Rivoli – Toronto, ON
June 25th London Music Club – London, ON
June 26th Seventy Three – St. Catherines, ON

If you’re still unaware, Sway, an upcoming media figure and musician from Toronto, launched a youth music program called Outside The Box to encourage and facilitate free music lessons for underprivileged children in Toronto aged 7-13 in response to cuts in arts funding. The program has been highly successful and it is the aim of everyone involved to make it a national campaign by 2010.

The first season of classes is about to end and there will be a wrap party with a media presence on Saturday 13-December. It’d be awesome if you could help promote this event and the wonderful program. You are also, of course, invited to attend and support the event.

Join the FaceBook group here.

Full details:
Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre
220 Cowan Avenue
Toronto, ON
M6H 3Y1
11am-4pm
*All activities and recording will take place on the 2nd floor.

Neferiu is a record label driven on supporting fresh, unique music within the hip hop & electronic spectrum.

Based in Calgary, Canada, Neferiu consistently release cutting edge music & throw quality live shows. Neferiu also offers free monthly album downloads via their website.

Neferiu’s active talent roster includes Mantrakid, Ricca Razor Sharp, Cinister Cee & Tetrix. In addition, Audible Intelligence, Dirty Sample, Pete Meadows, Impirical, Shep, Sense & others have released material through Neferiu.

For a full release history complete with audio samples – and in some cases, complete album downloads – check out www.neferiu.com

Although he’s known for his remixing, his non-mix debut, 2000’s Under The Sun, was a huge success with critics and fans alike and he has appeared on more than 100 compilations worldwide. Fred Everything has remixed popular artists such as KemeticJust, Random Factor, AtJazz, Joeski, Bran Van 3000 and Roy Davis Jr.’s classic track “Watch Them Come”. But, by far, one of the coolest things I found out when trying to get the scoop on Fred Everything is that his record label, Lazy Days Recordings, throws a monthly party at one of my favourite Montreal hangouts le Salon Daomé. This place is super chill– it looks and feels like an apartment but it’s a musical civil uprising at night (and a working studio during the day, believe it or not).

Fred Everything gets a huge thumbs up from me but hey, if you need more convincing pick up an album or two or, better yet, check him out live at a musical civil uprising near you (or, you know, follow him from venue to venue, city to city until you run out of gas or you burn out the soles of your dancing shoes):

28 Feb 2008, 8:00pm – Mercury Lounge (Ottawa, Ontario)
29 Feb 2008, 8:00pm – Lazy Days @ Jupiter Room (Montreal, Quebec)
1 Mar 2008, 8:00pm – Nuits Blanches @ Montreal CAC (Montreal, Quebec)
25 Mar 2008, 8:00pm – Nightlyfe Magazine Party WMC (Miami, Florida)
26 Mar 2008, 8:00pm – Amenti/Solid Tokyo/Lazy Days @ Beach Plaza Hotel (Miami, Florida)
27 Mar 2008, 8:00pm – Om Miami (Miami, Florida)
5 Apr 2008, 8:00pm – Ohm, Portland (Portland, Oregon)

Bambi Blue

EHE’s smooth and crisp tracks paired with bright and lively, emotional saxophone, trumpet and percussion are innovative and startlingly fresh. They explore the continuum of African and African-American traditions of music. And their newest live recording Hot ‘n’ Heavy is an ode to the spirit of freedom and jazz. But don’t just take my word for it, check them out for yourself! Much of their discography,available on CD & DVD from Delmark Record, can be found for purchase through Amazon.com here.

And for those of you seeking instantaneous musical gratification, here’s a sneak peak at the Hot ‘n’ Spicy DVD trailer filmed live from Chicago’s Ascension Loft!

Bambi Blue

For those who have never had the fortune to drive it, the Trans-Canada highway is a long, slow and detailed journey. This route is rarely the fastest, but can be the most memorable way to traverse Canada.

I recently had the fortune to take the wrong turn driving from Toronto to Ottawa and landed myself on this highway. Listening to a CD of an Ottawa afro-funk band, I quickly drew the parallel between Canada’s music industry and one of the worlds longest highways. Relaxed and natural, yet constant and strong! Canada’s artists are bred to know that there is a long road that lie ahead.

TRANS CANADA RADIO is proud to celebrate Canada’s Current Cultural artists and their locations! Traveling across Canada’s vast surface and finding the best of the under and above-ground artists who are rooted in, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Beats, House, Breaks and all that afro-Jazz… and where to check them out in your favorite Canadian city!
Pack your bags! We’re going on a road trip!

Sara Ainslie (editor)