Kiwi Jr, photo by Ben Rayner
By Will McGuirk
Fade Awaays at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Thursday June 23 2022. Tickets here.
Kiwi Jr at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Saturday June 25 2022. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
Our Lady Peace at Massy Hall Friday June 24 2022. Tickets here.
nêhiyawak
By Will McGuirk
“There are many important ideas and teachings that we were raised with in our lives, but few more important than water. It’s a modern conversation with complex meanings and understandings.” - nêhiyawak
“Sometime back in December 2020, in between endless rounds of chess and dominos, my dad looked up at me and said, ‘If I die when I’m high I’ll be halfway to heaven’. It took me a second to process, but I said , ‘Dad, that's the best song title I ever heard. You better write the rest of it quick.’ He said. ‘Why don’t you write it?’ So I did. That night I wrote it for him, about him. It’s really just a love letter to him. A tribute. - Particle Kid
“feeling lonely despite being surrounded by constant stimulation,” - the Secret Beach
Tami Neilson plays the Biltmore Theatre, Oshawa Thursday July 14 2022. Tickets here.
Julia Jacklin plays the Phoenix Theatre, Toronto Wednesday Sept 21.
By Will McGuirk
Multi-dimensional musician Harkness will be performing at Kops Records in Oshawa Saturday June 18 2022. The performance is a special Record Store Day celebration and features the Toronto artist full show on display in the early afternoon. Seating is limited.
Born in Toronto, Canada, Harkness is the 2nd in a brood of 5. Both his parents were talented musicians. His father fronted The Al Harkness Orchestra a band consisting of horns and winds along with a traditional rhythm section. His mother was a top French horn player at North Toronto Collegiate, a high school known for their music curriculum, as well as a beautiful piano player, who taught the local kids, including her own while they were growing up.
As a child, in order to listen to his Dad's vast record collection, Harkness would often fake sick and spend full days at home hanging out listening to John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, The Carpenters, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis.
Playing piano since the age of four, it wasn't until Harkness was shown his first guitar chords by a friend at age 12 that the fire to pursue music was lit. Recalling that moment he says, "It was almost eerie how easily it came to me, hearing the music come straight out of my hands felt so powerful, it was an immediate high that I knew I couldn't live without. Right away I started writing my own songs."
He dropped out of school at age 17 to go on tour, and never looked back. He played all over Canada, U.S., U.K. and Europe, with a number of musicians and bands including Paul Humphrey, Sara Craig, Nicolette, Chunk o’ Funk, The Stars, The Suns, Creature, Kong, Snipejoint.
"I was shown what appeared to be the blissful advantages of leading an imageless life," says Harkness when asked why he wears the gown and visor. “In the age of ‘look-at-me selfies’, I choose to go in quite a different direction.”
To facilitate the expense of maintaining his studio and paying other musicians to play on his songs, Harkness has spent many years in the restaurant industry serving tables, during which time his love of cooking flourished alongside passionate discussions with Chefs encountered along the way. Don't be surprised if one day you see the Harkness Psychedelic Rock and Roll Cooking Show. He’s already packaged and is selling his famous Harkness Hot Sauce.
Harkness doesn’t rely on machines or music samples, he works with real people playing real instruments to create lush evocative, deeply human sonic-scapes, all with a fresh, modern Pop aesthetic.
"I really do believe that deep down we are all the same and feel compelled to share what we've created,” notes Harkness. “Hopefully as others experience these songs I’ve created, they'll recognize miraculous things about themselves, just as I have about myself."
Despite all of the warm 3 to 5 part vocal harmony and sophisticated hooks, there is a dark undercurrent brewing underneath the surface of much of this music. A reflection of the chaotic division expressed throughout the world around us.
"Ultimately though,” adds Harkness, "I hope that while listening to these songs, people at once feel the urgency and desperation of our time but are inspired and emotionally moved enough to take steps in their own life to help improve our collective world."
By Will McGuirk
A hometown show for The Standstills when they play the Tribute Communities Centre opening for Three Days Grace. The Warning is also on the Canadian leg of the TDG tour. The Standstills have just released a new track, ‘Get RIght’, hence that fab headline.
By Will McGuirk
Well well Springtide Music Fest just gets better and bigger. And lets not forget the community of Uxbridge, host to the fest, has been hit hard by the recent tornado touchdown, including a key venue, the Second Wedge Brewery, . But as befits the trail capital of Canada the music community et al are blazing a trail out of the destruction with the power of creation.
The three day festival taking place July 21, 22, and 23, has moved the main outdoor area from the Wedge to Centennial Park. While the fest features the return of Bedouin Soundclash, as well as other notables, Elliott Brood, Julian Taylor, Danny Michel, among them, there is also a very broad selection of acts from the area, many of whom were regular players at the brewery, including Rory Taillon, Matt Gunn, Mattie Leon, Brooklyn Doran, Tania Joy, EDITH, Hollowsage and the Three Mile Islanders, Wooly, and Cassie Noble.
By Will McGuirk
Country singer Meghan Patrick has released the track ‘My Left Hand” and with a very personal video accompaniment. Patrick’s beau appears in the role of the suitor, easy enough gig as he’s the actual dude in RL.
Meghan is on a bit of a Canadian tour with dates in Sask., and Alberta with a stop at Boots and Hearts August 6 2022.
By Will McGuirk
Last Demand, Crawl, Valyear, and Judgement, at the Biltmore Theatre Saturday June 18 2022. FREE SHOW!
By Will McGuirk
D.O.A. at Lee’s Palace Thursday June 16 2022. Tickets here.
Forgotten Rebels at Lee’s Palace June 18 2022. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
Honest Heart Collective at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Wednesday June 15 2022. Tickets here.
I, The Mountain at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Friday June 17 2022. Tickets here.
Charlotte Day Wilson
By Will McGuirk
Leif Vollebekk at Massey Hall Friday, June 17 2022. Tickets here.
Charlotte Day Wilson at Massey Hall Saturday, June 18 2022. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
Riding on the purple reign of his latest single ‘The King” Vancity-based trap-hop artist Mauvey will feature at the Paquin Showcase Saturday at the Dakota Tavern.
Mauvey has a global reach and influence in his tracks, being born in Ghana, but growing up in Britain, and now based in Vancouver. There are tinges of high-life, hiphop, EDM, a Tyler The Creator alt-popness, with a subtle but intense anger along the lines of the grime rapper Bob Vylan. His ‘The Florist’ mixtape dropped in 2021 is available for a listen below the visualizer for ‘The King’.
By Will McGuirk
Oshawa’s post-prog duo Crown Lands lead the line-up at this week’s celebration of forty years of the Canadian Music Week. The CMW takes place in various locations across Toronto, with Crown Lands playing tonight (Tues Jun 7 2022) at the Phoenix, along with openers BRKN Love, and Sam Coffey and the Iron Lung.
Over the course of the week scores of acts will perform at twenty venues including Bif Naked, Birds of Bellwoods, Bran Van 3000, Coeur de Pirate, Excuses Excuses, The Glorious Sons, Haviah Mighty, Mauve, Protest The Hero, Sam Jr. (featuring members of Broken Social Scene and the Sam Roberts Band), SATE, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Texas King, and The Watchmen.
CMW will also host award shows at the El Mocambo: The Canadian Sync Awards on June 9: the Live Music Industry Awards on June 10; The INDIES on June 11.
