Crown Lands win City of Oshawa Emerging Artist award

Crown Lands FB page

ShwaRockCity is alive and well and walking tall on four skinny legs; Crown Lands (Kevin Comeau and Cody Bowles) are the latest in a fine line of rockers from Oshawa, a line that roars from Steppenwolf to The Standstills. The 'Lands lads recently received the inaugural Culture Counts award for Emerging Artist from Mayor John Henry at a ceremony before council. Abstract artist Ron Lambert won the Professional Artist award and Mary Kronert won the Culture Champion award. The winners will be lauded Mar 2 at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

Crown Lands' EP "Rise Over Run" continues to rise; the duo are running with the Headstones to Casino Rama Apr 6 and into the States with Sun K. Hometown fans can celebrate with the band March 17 when they perform along with The Standstills at the Oshawa Music Club.

St Marks Gospel reading by actor Kenneth Welsh Sunday Mar 4

Noted Canadian actor Kenneth Welsh will read "The Gospel according to St. Mark" Sunday, March 4, 2018 at St. Paul's Anglian Church in Uxbridge, ON. The event will take place 3 - 4:30 p.m. amid the art works of Lynne McIlvride, including her 'Cross' and others which draw on biblical iconography.

Welsh tells Slowcity.ca he is drawn to St. Mark for its inherent theatricality and poetry. The King James' version was translated and published in Shakespearean times and is considered one of the finest written works in the English canon. Of the four books, (Matthew, Luke and John being the other three), St. Mark is considered the most elegant in style. Welsh says he has performed the work before and each reading brings something new to his understanding and appreciation of St. Mark's Gospel.

McIlvride will also be bringing something new to the reading; new pieces including "Postcard from Salvation Mountain", seen below. The event is free but donations will be accepted.

Country star Meghan Patrick to perform at Boots & Hearts 2018

Clarington songbird Meghan Patrick is among the country music stars appearing at the 2018 Boots & Hearts. This year the line-up includes Alan Jackson, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Dallas Smith, Washboard Union, Kira Isabella Jason Blaine and more. Tragically Hip tribute band, The Wheat Kings, will also be playing. Patrick had played Boots & Hearts previously when it took place in Bowmanville, ON.,  but she returns now with four 2017 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards and yet another single on the rise, just like her star.

Urban cowboys Johnson Crook play the Moustache Club Wednesday Mar 14

Life is a highway but not every highway is grit 'n gravel, some run smooth like the proverbial passenger seat. Toronto based four-piece Johnson Crook drive on well paved country roads with radio-hummable melodies, inviting harmonies and steering wheel tapping beats.  Ol' Mr. Life Is A Highway, Tom Cochrane, joins them on the track "Mr. Nobody", from their 2017 album, 'The Album' on Coalition. A record is a journey and 'The Album' is worth the drive. Take it all the way through to "Desert Rose". Its a great place to end, (I'm a sucker for fat twang-y solos), and maybe a great place to begin again. Johnson Crook and Joey Landreth play the Moustache Club Mar 14. Patrick Dorie is also on the bill. 

Native American producer David Strickland readies his debut album, 'Spirit of Hip Hop'

Grammy and Juno winner David Strickland, who has worked with Drake, Sade and Method Man, will release his debut album, "Spirit of Hip Hop", on eONE later in 2018. He has directed a new video for the previously track, "Rez Life" featuring Que Rock, Drezus, Violent Ground, Joey Stylez and Hellnback. There's something of the cream of the Wu-Tang Clan and a shaker of Buck 65 to it, something of the spirit of hip hop nation and the Halluci-nation.

Charlotte Day Wilson's 'Stone Woman' available Feb 23, plays Danforth Music Hall Apr 6 and 7

The smooth grooves of Charlotte Day Wilson continue with the release of  her new single, "Stone Woman", also the title of her EP, out Friday Feb 23 2018. The track winds its way into a conclusion Feist would be proud off, (guessing here, don't know her, but I am confident in the guess). 

Its a 'Beautiful Thing', new track from Alexis Taylor

Hot Chip Alexis Taylor digs deep into the heady daze of 90's House on the titular "Beautiful Things" from his new solo album on Domino. Can you dig it, can you feel the fingers?

Iskwe drops 'The Unforgotten ft. Tanya Tagaq'

Iskwe sent SlowCity.ca this track and we are happy to share it with you all. We are at a crossroads in this country and the question is not which direction do we take but if we take it together. We hope we take it together, in particular if the phenomenal Tanya Tagaq is onside.

"I'm proud of who we are as Indigenous people. I'm proud of what we've fought for, and how we continue to fight for our culture, our languages, our children, our women, our men, our earth and our water. But I'm also proud of all my non-Indigenous family and friends who continue to fight alongside us. This song is for all of us. Let's dance together!," says Iskwe, a resident now of Hamilton but originally from Winnipeg. 

Lets dance.

Punk folkie Skye Wallace to release 'Swing Batter' on International Women's Day

Toronto-based Skye Wallace will release her new single, "Swing Batter," on International Women's Day (March 8 2018). The track is a determined march against domestic abuse and for women's rights, highlighting the 1911 case of Angelina Napolitano. It has a seven nation army stomp with Annie Lennox leading the charge vibe. The single will be launched with a show at Array Music in TO. Lydia Persaud, Winona Wilde, Merival, and jes sachse are also on that bill. Part of the proceeds will go to Sistering, a multi-service agency for at-risk, precariously housed women. Wallace will also be striding into the Whitby Curling Club March 14 with The Blank Ends.

While we are waiting for March here's a couple of tracks to get your pogo on to.

Warm up with the nice as ice folks of Shiver & Sky,

Our pals at River 'n Sky have launched a new festival, Shiver 'n Sky, to be held Monday Feb 19 2018 at Field, West Nipissing. Our pals (we have a lot of pals) Dany and Jeannette (of The Looks) are among the musical guests. Also performing Rose-Erin Stokes, Lazy Daisies and Little Junior. In true River 'n Sky style it will be family friendly and fun. Ice skating, saunas, hamburgers from Daylew Farms, vegan chili, cob oven bannock, as well as baked goods and free hot chocolate and coffee. Tickets are $20, $10 for 2017 R&S volunteers and children under 16 get in free if they bring a parent.

For Valentine's Day - two love songs from Valerie June

For the lovers - Valerie June offers a double track bundle, a new track "For the Loved & Loveless" sided with "Two Hearts' from her album, 'The Order of Time'. Its a digital release so check the site.

For Valentine's Day - a love song from Donovan Woods

“The conversation of kisses. Subtle, engrossing, fearless, transforming.”
― Alice Munro - Runaway

Indie trailblazers Rusty go straight to the fans for new album, 'Now Is When'

'Now Is When' is the title of the new album from 90's skate thrashers Rusty who closed up shop in 2000, made a brief appearance a decade later and now is when they make another album drop but only if you want it. The band have a PledgeMusic campaign for the album and there are lots of goodies available; from a private show to one of the test pressings to T-shirts and vinyl bundles. The band have a couple of gigs lined up, Mar 1 at This Ain't Hollywood in Hamilton and Mar 3 at Call The Office in London.