By Will McGuirk
Sunset Rubdown at Lee’s Palace Friday May 26 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Grievous Angels at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Grievous Angels at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Sunday May 28 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Hayden at Massey Hall
By Will McGuirk
Hayden at Massey Hall Saturday May 27 2023. Tickets here.
Duke Redbird, Elisapie, Mumu Fresh announced for International Indigenous Music Summit opening gala May 31
By Will McGuirk
The 2023 International Indigenous Music Summit will take place May 31 through June 4 at several venues across Toronto with the TD Music Hall at Massey Hall as main host. This year, the summit’s second, will feature an opening gala for the first time. The gala, taking place on May 31 will feature poet/educator/artist Duke Redbird; award-winning artist and broadcaster Elisapie; and Grammy-nominated songwriter, rapper and activist Mumu Fresh, plus more.
This year’s Keynote brings Alfredo Caxaj, Founder and Artistic Director of London, ON’s SunFest in conversation with Sara Curruchich, a Mayan Kaqchikel singer-songwriter from Guatemala.
There will also daytime panels, international artist spotlights, as well as evening showcases Venues include the Rivoli, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and The Tranzac. Performers include Aysanabe, Beatrice Deer Band, Fawn Wood, Quanah Style, Drezus, Ombiigizi, Wolf Castle and more.
For full details, tickets and more see indigenousmusicsummit.com
Aysanabee and Snotty Nose Rez Kids lead SSIMAs nominations, awards handed out Jun 6
By Will McGuirk
Aysanabee and Snotty Nose Rez Kids are among the nominees for the 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAs). Aysanabee leads with six nominations and the Kids have five.
Presented by TD Bank the National Indigenous Music Awards Show will take place at The National Arts Centre in Ottawa Tuesday, June 6th, 2023.
The SSIMAs span 16 categories, celebrating solo artists, duos and groups from across Canada as well as showcasing the diverse music and culture within the Indigenous community. Nominees were selected from 250 Canada-wide submissions by an invited panel of jurors comprising Indigenous and music industry professionals.
“Presenting and promoting Indigenous music is a cornerstone of our Festival," says Trina Mather Simard, CEO and Producer of Ottawa’s Summer Solstice Festival which runs June 21 - 25. “We’re celebrating Indigenous voices” adds Advisory Committee Chair Elaine Bomberry, adding “These Awards, in Canada’s capital city, provide an excellent platform for artists to be recognized for their hard work”.
The award ceremony will be hosted by Anishinaabe activist, broadcaster and content creator Sarain Fox. Performers have yet to be announced. Tickets are on sale Friday May 19th at 10AM, starting at $20.00 (including tax plus fees).
This SSIMAs presentation kicks off Indigenous History Month and is a prelude to the Annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (SSIF), June 21st-25th at Madahoki Farm in Ottawa. The free festival coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) on June 21.
MOONRiiVR, photo by Colin Medley
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Half Moon Run, MOONRiiVR, JJ Shiplett, John Hewitt, Chris Velan, Amon Tobin, Vanity Mirror, and Jerry Sereda
"No matter how hard we try, you’ve got to adapt, you've got to grow, you’ve got to evolve, you’ve got to adjust. But in the end, you just gotta ride the wave because you never really know where you’re gonna go until you’re already there." - JJ Shiplett
Chastity, Queen Victoria, and why Oshawa is closed this weekend.
Hmmm a bit slow this weekend, bit slow indeed. Social Strife is at the Atria Saturday May 20 and . . .
Ah it's May 24 isn’t it - ah yes - sure what’s the point of gigs, everyone’s away yes. Up North, yes? If ever there was a time for this city to check itself it's this 2023 May 24 weekend coming up. I recall speaking with some promoters who factor in the city’s traditional schedule into their bookings. Winter everyone goes South, summer everyone goes North. Interesting, like its 1983 or something, but it is their money, so I get it.
It never applied to me, this schedule. Maybe because I never had the dollars, maybe because I never had the inclination, maybe because I had no family cottage to hang at or inherit. Maybe yes, maybe no but nevertheless the Regent Theatre is dark this Long Weekend and the Biltmore Theatre only has what they are billing an Old School Dance Night - I don’t know what old school they are talking about, maybe Donovan? Not my old school I hope, gak!
And my old school, as will be the way with many others, is not in this town anyway, not even in this country. Sure the private sector is based on profit so one has to be cautious. Its said fortune favours the brave but let's not be foolhardy etc. Reality is, the population in this town and this province is changing and so are the summer habits, and within those changes there are real business opportunities
But I do understand the risk to private enterprise, booking shows on this holiday weekend. But what I have never understood is why the public sector has never stepped in. It may be politicians and staff tow the line that they are stewards of the public purse and also need to be not foolhardy with the hard-earned dollars of their constituents. But they also need to be cognizance of these constituents and their asks, and it maybe not always on such a conservative track. Anyway I kinda think City Hall et al shuts down because many if not all, have cottages to go to as well, yards to spruce up, pools to open etc, so why make extra work with a festival or some community event. And even for those without an actual place up north there’s still lots of reasons I’m sure, big one being of course winter is over so let's get “Straight Outta Dodge” as my new fave band, the jangly just this side of out of control Small Faces ish trio, Spirit Josh, sings.
What about the people who are just getting outta Dodge, just a road trip to shake off the winter webs, and get some air between them or you and their or your routine. Ask yourself where is this mythical Dodge you are leaving from- is it Picton, Peterborough, Papineau? Probably not.
And so ask yourself why isn’t Oshawa on the map for those road trips? Why is Oshawa Dodge? And not Picton or Peterborough or Papineau? Why isn’t Oshawa the destination for people in Picton who want to get outta their Dodge? Why isn’t Oshawa the place for people in Oshawa who just want to take their Dodge out for a run to the Lake and see some entertainment there or even downtown for a stroll and some on street buskers’ buzz.
I understand the risk to the private sector but maybe some research on demographics might be in order, maybe an expanded roster of booking agencies who see opportunity in diversity, maybe see what other businesses in other cities are doing to attract people to their downtowns 24/7 365 - and maybe the public sector should step up and fill the gap, make the investment for economic reasons, (Ec. Dev. Class 101 - Events attract people, people attract business) and to encourage those who also want a break but don’t do the “traditional Canadian” constellations in Bobcaygeon thing, who want to take that break in their own city, or drive from other cities to Oshawa and spend some $$ here, and maybe the public sector could create that break with a food truck event at the Lake or community park picnics, or bands in the Bandshell (that last one is easy, I mean it’s right there in the name) you know it can’t be rocket surgery to get this happening. Man I can see why people want a break from this City - it's maddening at the very least.
And of course the long weekend means nothing to me so I, like the mad man I am, booked a band into the new Kops location at 34 King Street East, yes the bit of King downtown!! So hopefully if there are people who like live music still in the city reading this column to find out what they can possibly do, then hi to those folks and yes you are welcome on Saturday May 20 evening at least to Kops to see Chastity. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Eric Hutchinson at Dakota Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Eric Hutchinson at Dakota Tavern Friday May 19 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Shame at Lee's Palace
By Will McGuirk
Shame at Lee's Palace Saturday May 20 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: Ichi-Bons at the Horseshoe Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Ichi-Bons at the Legendary Horseshoe Tavern Saturday May 20 2023. Tickets here.
Tami Neilson, photo by Mary Ellen Matthews
alt image - Killer Mike
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Killer Mike, Pierre Kwenders, Tami Neilson, Grace Potter, summersets, The Matinee, Victoria Monét, and Big Little Lions
By Will McGuirk
This is a celebration of a BAD ASS BLACK GIRL from the westside of Atlanta. She’s been affectionately called OG Mama Niecy by the many people she helped stay on their path.” - Killer Mike
“Reminding us that curiosity killed the cat, everything requires moderation, and that, in love, no one wants to walk on eggshells.” - Pierre Kwenders
“I wanted ‘Kingmaker’ to feel like a movie theme that plays as the opening credits unfold so that the songs take the listener through the highs and lows of a story unfolding, more like a movie soundtrack than adhering to one genre or style.” - Tami Neilson
“In Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck called Route 66 the ‘The Mother of all roads...the road of flight.’ As I zeroed out my odometer and started west on my road trip across the US, I hoped that driving the road of flight would give me a bird’s eye view of my life. But it didn’t take long to realize that I was not flying; I was running away.” - Grace Potter
Gigs This Week: Lives Like Skyscrapers at the Dakota Tavern
By Will McGuirk
Lives Like Skyscrapers at the Dakota Tavern Friday May 12 2023. Tickets here.
Gigs This Week: The Legendary Downchild Blues Band at Massey Hall
By Will McGuirk
The Legendary Downchild Blues Band at Massey Hall Saturday May 13 2023. Tickets here.
Special guests include 7x Grammy Award winner Daniel Lanois, world renowned Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster and legendary boogie woogie piano master Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne.