Slowcity.ca Open Mic: By Divine Right, Sam Jr., Louie Short, Niall Mutter, Les Cooper, Dan Brownrigg, and Simon Ward with Armin van Bururen with R3HAB

By Will McGuirk

"True story. Dream quest. Later that day, in Calgary, Lysh sprained her ankle. The van died the next day. It was magical." - Jose Contreras

“When I was young, I was often rushing to experience everything as fast as possible without thinking of the consequences. Just looking for thrills. Burning away my innocence. I probably should have slowed down a little because sometimes I feel like a cranky 95 year old that never wants to do anything.” - Sam Jr.

“Things in the middle of life tend to be neglected,” he said. “I think that this forgotten middle space is exciting and uncharted. It holds a certain poignancy because it doesn’t have the manipulative magnetism of creation and destruction, birth and death, to grab your attention. It just has itself existing.” - Louie Short

“This song came out of a feeling of helplessness as I recognized my instinct to shield and protect them but struggled with the reality that that wasn't my role,” - Les Cooper

“‘Pass Me By’ is about finding levity in a period of transition. It’s about pain and self assessment, and submitting to things being a bit wacky and out of my control.” - Niall Mutter

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Jones & Co · The Same Time - Don Brownrigg

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Local Edition with The Standstills, Sonny Hendrixx, Rory Taillon, Jadea Kelly, Jacob Henley, and Lennon Stella

By Will McGuirk

New tunes from the locals, locals spread out all over, getting back at and we wish them all well. Listen in.

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Stouffville steps out for Wintersong festival 2022

By Will McGuirk

Is this the first? A music festival? Just over the border of Durham Region, in the, I do have to say, lovely town of Stouffville Wintersong takes place Mar 25 and 26. The festival features Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene and Stephen Stanley, formerly of Lowest of the Low, as well as Bif Naked, and The Darcys, in almost a dozen venues throughout the downtown.

There are several Durham Region artists performing, among them 2020 OMA winners Hollow Sage and the Three Mile Islanders, and Tania Joy, plus Cassie Noble, Chalk Lake, EDITH, Hunter Sheridan, and Matt Gunn. Mattie Leon as well as Jitensha, both acts are friends of Slowcity.ca are also performing.

The festival is organised by the good folks at Epidemic Music Group, whom you may recall were behind the Guinness Book of Records Longest Concert by Multiple Artists attempt.

For more information and tickets go here ->

Meghan Patrick, Robyn Ottolini join Shania Twain, Florida Georgia Line for 2022 Boots and Hearts

By Will McGuirk

End to end representation for Durham Region at the 2022 Boots and Hearts. Meghan Patrick from Bowmanville and Robyn Ottolini from Uxbridge are featured in the country festival’s lineup joining megastar Shania Twain in Burl’s Creek, August 4, 5, 6, and 7.

For more details and ticket information go here ->

Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Ghost, Weather Station, Jordan Klassen, Miloe, Pup, Anyway Gang, Alex Izenberg, and Jacob Henley

By Will McGuirk

“I wanted the video to capture the feeling of surrender the song has; a feeling of surrendering to emotion at the expense of everything else, within a world that is not necessarily conducive to that softness. I wanted the video to be overtly emotional and sensual, and so I turned to the stereotypical signifiers of these things; beaches, sunsets, the colour red, a sort of operatic performance of emotion. I think the video is an evocation of the feeling of being in love; obsessed with someone or something regardless of your surroundings, where you are, what is happening. Reaching towards softness and touch, even from within aloneness.” - The Weather Station

“Ash Wednesday” is really “a song about redemption and hope, and I love how Wayne contrasted that with a horroresque video,” - Jordan Klassen

“I’m getting closer to making the unconscious conscious with this song and the others. It is difficult to just write when you are constantly bombarded with what is right or wrong, I’ve started looking within more so than before.” - Alex Izenberg

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Miss Emily, Terra Lightfoot, Sister Ray, Lydia Persaud, Tennyson King, Pierre Kwenders, Tirzah, Miles Francis, and Chin injeti

By Will McGuirk

“The main goal of this song is to help families affected by this epidemic feel like they aren’t alone. Their stories and the stories of their loved ones are important and that the current opioid abuse crisis is one worth drawing more attention to.” - Miss Emily

“I think bringing music back into the world is important not only for me but for everyone right now. We all need to start feeling the sense of community, joy and human connection that has been missing."  - Tennyson King

“Love can manifest itself in many and the most unexpected ways. I've been a fan of anaiis' for a while now. The tenderness that breathes through her voice was the perfect match to this story. While our hearts are beating hard, we're surrounded by the beauty of nature which keeps us calm and happy. All in tenderness, on a farm of love!”  - Pierre Kwenders

"Music is non-binary. It is above language and labels. . . When I'm in my studio, it feels like being completely free of the outside world."  - Miles Francis

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Chin Injeti · YUH (feat. Iman Wamboi)

Spoons dish out the rock Apr 16 at the Biltmore Theatre Oshawa

By Will McGuirk

Burlington’s best will be bringing the arias and the symphonies to downtown Oshawa April 16 2022. The Spoons, known for such New Wave hits as “Romantic Traffic”, “Nova Heart” and “Old Emotions” are touring to celebrate their 2019 album, ‘New Day New World’, as well touring to celebrate the release of a ‘Repeatable 1980-2020”; a greatest hits to celebrate 40 years, and to celebrate touring in general because, well, are you even paying attention? Anyway its a celebration.

Tickets on sale Monday Feb 21 at 10 a.m. here ->

and ‘Repeatable 1980-2020’ is available at Kops Records in Oshawa.

Blue Rodeo, Sarah Harmer, Cowboy Junkies, BSS; Canadian acts lining up for new Massey Hall debuts

By Will McGuirk

Ah the Massey Hall. The old lady loves local. She’s been fostering her kin since inception, and no matter how far they roam she welcomes them home.

And they are coming home, to see what she’s done to the place in the absence. She’s been busy and the listings of the shows is getting busy, and no less than the cream of the Cancon crop is coming, although to be fair she has no favourites, they is all cream, they is all top crop, well maybe Gordo, he been’s around the longest. Anyhoo. . .

Blackie & the Rodeo Kings swing in Wednesday Mar 2; Serena Ryder and the remarkable William Prince pair up on Friday Apr 1; Blue Rodeo like Massey so much they’re playing twice, Monday Apr 4 and Tuesday Apr 5; the beauty and stillness of the Hall can only be equaled by the beauty and stillness of the Cowboy Junkies, Tuesday Apr 7; Broken Social Scene are fixed for the double too, Wednesday Apr 20 and Thursday Apr 21; the rocket that is Bruce Cockburn launches Friday Apr 22; and Rufus Wainwright is going to eat up the occasion of Monday May 16. 

Mother Mother May 19, Sarah Harmer (swoooon) May 20, Jann Arden May 24 and 25, and Donovan Woods does a well deserved takeover of the stage May 27.

Tickets here ->

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Propagandhi, Wet, Parquet Courts all gots Toronto gigs, presented by Collective Concerts

By Will McGuirk

The anything goes, then everything blows up, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion take their racked up rock ’n’ roll to Lee’s Palace Tuesday April 12.

Propagandhi, nuff said, do the double at Lee’s May 24 and 25

Brit speakeasies Wet hit up the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern June 8.

And how and who put the Parquet Courts with Mdou Moctar at the QET on St Paddy’s Day has a lot to answer for - that’s one culture clash on so many levels its gonna go down in the annals of TO lore. Sign up now. For those not in the know St Paddy’s is March 17.

And Beyries is doing a FREE show at the Shoe Feb 23 so sign in for that too.

Tickets on sale from Feb 18 2022 here ->

Oh the Boss is coming. . . Arkells, Big Wreck, Dayglo Abortions, rocking into Downtown Oshawa

By Will McGuirk

Slowly, slowly, openings , capacity restrictions lifting. . . still a way to go but as Frank Turner sings on The Gathering, “the first time that the beat drops in the bar is going to be biblical!”

The punkest of biblical punk legends Dayglo Abortions make one more trip to Shwarawk City, scene of a majestic iconic show back in the day and if you were there then you know. The DGA from B.C. will be at the Atria, Friday, April 15. Joining them will be TO punk survivors, Random Killing, and, The Nasties,  from the Royal City. 
Tickets here -> 

MOBO-LIVE, a new production company with ShwaKat Justin Kwan on the bridge, is booking gigs across the land, and yes into ye olde hometowne also, with Laura Jane Grace Tuesday March 8 at Stage 44,  and the “Ooooo I love that song”-iness Big Wreck at the Biltmore April 12. Our good pals Excuses Excuses at the Baby G in Toronto  Mar 18,

April 16 sees the Hammertime kids the Arkells roll in on a make-up date for the postponed Feb gig. The mighty Haviah Mighty opens. Its been years in the making as those Ar-kats sing so yah gather all that of the past two years and gather your tickets for the gatherings. . . “the second after the singalong starts it will be  sensational”

Tickets here ->

Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Jerry Leger, Georgia Harmer, Abigail Lapell, Deanna Petcoff, Sam Jr., Ghostkeeper, Niall Mutter, Allegories, and JIMBO

By Will McGuirk

“There's no smoke and mirrors in what I do and that can be rewarding for both the creator and the listener. Are we not all just trying to survive in some way?" - Jerry Leger

“I wrote it during a long period of emotional manipulation that made me question my own reality. I had enough sad songs and I just wanted to rock out.” - Georgia Harmer

“Make it sound like you're driving a stolen car at night after you've robbed a bank and you pull over to a bar at the side of the road for a drink to contemplate your next move. While you've been sipping your drink you've been also locking eyes with someone across the room. On your way out the door you stop by their table and after a few words you both make a run for it!’” - Sam Jr.

“It’s about yearning to return to that powerful spot: that piece of land where I have played in wonderment with the Creator as it engaged as Mother Earth and Grandmother Sun; that place in time when spirituality was simple, concise and magical…and I felt safe, inspired, and grateful." - Ghostkeeper

“I found myself having one foot caught in the past and the other in the future. I wrote this song from a place of acceptance, being ok with the duality of the two, and finding peace somewhere in between." - Niall Mutter

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Radio Zeitgeist: Best upcoming vinyls include Slow Crush, Etran de L’Air, Hurray for the Riff Raff

By Will McGuirk

Oh man I could listen to this Belgian metalgaze act, Slow Crush, new album “Hush” all day long, and all night. Pummelling Thor hammer like beats stomp and swashes of ethereal guitars, its a bloodied My Bloody Valentine, a deafening Deafheaven, a Portishead smashed in. Powerful stuff. Dig out their debut ‘Aurora.’

Mdou Moctar, Altin Gun, Orions Belte, Somali Yacht Club, and of course Khruangbin, are some of the bands bringing some width to the rock ’n roll. Etran de L’Air are another act I’m digging into. Such celebration and optimism to their sound, known as it is as ‘Desert Blues’. Etran de L’Air (the Stars of the Air) are from Northern Niger and the music they play is strongly associated with weddings, baptisms etc, all occasions of joy and the tunes bring it all. 

A working class hero is something to be so Hurray for the Riff Raff. The HRR aka Alynda Segarra are a collage of influences, nips and tucks of references, some Bowie, some New Order, some Leonard Cohen, some Kate Bush, but as is the way with fragments, step further away not closer to see the picture, and you get all of this. Go macro not micro. 

Chastity with Badflower, Born Ruffians, Ellevator, plus more announced for Stage 44

By Will McGuirk

Stage 44 has begun announcing shows for the coming months which is all great news as there have been construction delays as well as the fallout of Covid-19 guidelines. The building, located at 44 Bond Street in Oshawa, was once home to the infamous Dungeon but has been converted in the past year or so into two venues; one on the main floor and one back in the basement.

 Indie rockers Born Ruffians are booked for March 24, 2022 and indie folksters The Franklin Electric are coming in April 22. Hamilton trio Ellevator are scheduled in for May 20. In between on May 7 Los Angelenos Badflower with opener, local lad Chastity, who spent some formative years in that building down in the Dungeon.

Get Tickets here ->