Dizzy
By Will McGuirk
“It’s a lesson in letting something dissolve without resistance, knowing when to let the finch out of the cage because you know it’s right thing to do.” - Dizzy
"Deadweight is about believing in yourself and finding the strength to let go of what happened. It's only you that can determine who you are." - Jade Turner
At a certain point I have to give up the words and leave it at please see and enjoy this northern Ontario festival for yourself. You will have a ball, and a 15th anniversary ball to boot!
And now the ball has broadened to include even more acts. R&S had previously announced The Sadies, Dan Romano’s Outfit, Julie Doiron and others (link here for our story) and the lineup has been expanded to include Status/ Non Status, Pantayo, Tess Roby, Mother Tongues, Dilettante, and so many many more. The fest is four days long; four days, four nights, northern nights with a river and skies and trees and sauna and pizza and art and coffee and hanging out and lounging and chilling and swimming and more music under the stars than one should rightfully expect.
Haviah Mighty
Alt image: Kasador
By Will McGuirk
“I use music to try to figure myself out and to think about my identity.” - Katie Tupper
“The song is a defiant anthem about the importance of being skeptical and critical in an age where information and opinions can be easily manipulated and distorted.” - Alex Exists
The Revivalists
By Will McGuirk
“I remember in the studio we were really influenced by this more obscure Wilco song ‘Black Moon’ and it was our attempt at doing big CSNY style vocal harmonies throughout. Lyrically, in the sequence of the album, it falls right after the two characters breakup and fast forwards the timeline many years. A tricky, yet important song to set up their eventual reconciliation and the latter third of the album/story. One of my favourites we’ve made as summersets.” - Kalle Matheson, summersets
By Will McGuirk
CMW Showcase: Hunter Sheridan at the Paddock Saturday June 10 2023. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
SRE at Bar Cathedral Friday June 9 2023. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
CMW Showcase: X. ARI at the Paddock Thursday June 8 2023. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
CMW Showcase: Najjah Calibur at the Baby G Wednesday June 7 2023. Tickets here.
By Will McGuirk
CMW showcase - Judgement at the Horseshoe Tavern Tuesday Jun 6 2023 - Free
Mumu Fresh
L-R: Amanda Rheaume, Louise Lahache, Banakonda Kennedy-Kish Bell, ShoShona Kish
By Will McGuirk
Photos by Mirijana Simenunovich
Erykah Badu, Gil Scott-Heron, Bob Marley, Kendrik Lamar, Beyonce. Mumu Fresh is all of them over the course of her performance as the final act of the International Indigenous Music Summit gala held at the TD Music Hall Wednesday May 31 2023.
Mumu Fresh aka Maimouna Youssef is one of the most exciting artists I have seen in quite some time; that statement speaks to the channels we find ourselves in these days. Mumu Fresh has been nominated for a Grammy, has two solo albums, two group albums, one sole EP, a mixtape, singles; has worked with DJ Jazzy Jeff, played alongside Common, the Roots, Femi Kuit, Bruno Mars, and Ed Sheeran. She has been on Broadway, Netflix and her Tiny Desk showcase has over 1 m views, and yet new to me. So it’s not her, it's me and maybe you too. Mumu is blowing up. . . over there.
“I am my ancestors wildest dreams.”
At one point maybe the mainstream was more an ocean with all streams leading to it - acts on the margins crossover into the mainstream or music from the margins was adopted by those in the mainstream opening up new audiences - Elvis, Clapton covering Marley, Beastie Boys but these days the streams flow parallel, there is no crossover, you have to be the crossover now, you have to seek, you have to leave, you have to make the effort, and I am so happy I made the effort to meet Indigenous artists from around the globe on their own terms, their own territory. I haven’t been so excited about a new musical direction in decades; I said to my pal there I was tossing all my records to make room for these artists, turning the world upside down to right it up. I make room for politics in my music, I make more for human rights, I will make room for marginalised peoples, and if you’re talking politics you can dance too - well hello all day long.
The gala was the launch of the four day celebration of Indigenous Music from across the world, featuring showcases and panels, at venues in Toronto, including the RIvoli, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Tranzac, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, and the TD Music Hall at Massey Hall. The more than 40 artists include Andrina Turenne, Aysanabee, Garret T Willie, Miesha and the Spanks, Ombiigizi.
“Songs became safe spaces for our people”
The gala also featured Inuk singer/songwriter Elisapie, Goombine of the Yuin Wodi Wodi Nation in Australia, Sebastian Gaskin from Split Lake Manitoba, poet and elder Duke Redbird, and the Eagleheart Drummers and Singers led by Jimmy Dick of the Moose Cree First Nation.
The International Indigenous Music Summit continues through to June 4. If you have time go, if you can make time do, if you can take time to listen to the artists do so, and if you can make room on your playlist for Indigenous artists then do that too. Yah you will hear some difficult truths, but with such love and passion and sounds - clearly that is the path out.
Follow the path, uncover the secrets, reach for the summit, look up and around and out. . .
Sebastian Gaskin
Goombine
Duke Redbird
alt image: Wreckno
By Will McGuirk
It is always important, particularly so in these polarizing times, to clearly state which side you are on - first lets say clearly we are on the side of There is no Them there is only Us. But also lets not be naive, the 2SLGBTQ+ community is under pressure thus here we stand as allies. So we are happy here to hear of a new festival celebrating 2SLGBTQ+ community, Lavender Wild - and lavender happens to one of our fave plants to boot!
Lavender Wild takes place June 4 at RBC Echo Beach in Toronto and was founded by Alex Simpson, Festival Manager at Live Nation Canada. The day long fest is headlined by Norwegian singer/songwriter girl in red ( so great, we are fans as well), Hayley Kiyoko, Daya, The Aces, G Flip, Wreckno and many more.
More information, tickets etc here - and we wish them well in this new fest.
Robyn Ottolini
By Will McGuirk
We’re a lot of country round here in the Durham Region so we at Slowcity.ca are always happy to check in on the crew, see how they’re doing, and what, and they’re doing a lot and getting a lot of attention. Much of it at this year’s Country Music Association of Ontario awards taking place in Hamilton this June 2 to 4 2023 (ticket info here).
Robyn Ottolini from Uxbridge is nominated for five awards, and will perform twice during the weekend. Meghan Patrick from Bowmanville is nominated for Fan's Choice, and recently had her debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville where she now lives. Jeff Dalziel from Oshawa is nominated for Record Producer of the Year, an award he has won several times.
Robyn also has a new track just out, in time for the awards yes, but also for Pride Month, the track is called ‘Katie’s Song’ a tribute to her sister. We reached out to Robyn, with whom we have chatted many times, ( one of the first airings I had of ‘F150’ was when she came in for a quick show at the Kops Records Upstairs Basement) and she very graciously, within a very busy schedule, took the time.
All the best to the nominees but obv best of the best to our homies.
Slowcity.ca: Since we last chatted you have achieved what I would imagine are many of your dreams. But dreams happen because of hustle and hardwork - what have you learned about your journey and could pass on to anyone younger looking to do something similar?
Robyn Ottolini: Biggest thing I’d say to someone younger is trust your gut and keep your head down. It’s easy to question yourself when more opinions find their way to you but keep your head down, be nice to everyone & yourself and let your work speak for itself.
SC: " I'm a hard worker just like my father" Hard work and resilience is key to getting it all done, I know your community of course, and its resilience in the wake of that tornado - talk to me about growing up there and how it shaped you and your work ethic, if at all?
RO: Growing up in Uxbridge was amazing. I was a big nerd in high school but I also loved the music scene after high school. There were tons of bars & breweries to play music at where I was able to put all my hard work and practice to the test. My work ethic definitely stems from my parents though. They just kept their heads down & hustled and made a beautiful life for me and my sister.
SC: There's such a lightness in your songs, a great sense of fun but also honesty - how do the songs come about for you - do you notice things and then songs are how you communicate thoughts on those experiences - or do you create characters and build songs for them?
RO: A little of both. Songwriting is my way of processing emotions & communicate my thoughts to people. Speaking about my thoughts is definitely a lot harder for me but when I have a few hours to put my feelings to a melody, I feel way more secure putting them out in the world. Sometimes, someone does say something random though and it’ll trigger a song.
SC: 'You can't call in sad to work" - what a great phrase - it's true but of course depression is real, and post-Covid people's relationship with mental health is so much more informed - what prompted this song, it's such a brave track too?
RO: I used to go to work very sad & found it especially hard after a breakup. I find people talk about breakups all the time but never that life goes on? That’s the hardest part is that when you’re down in the depths, you still have to provide for yourself. There’s still bills to pay & responsibilities to complete so unfortunately, and hopefully this will change over time… you can’t call in sad to work.
By Will McGuirk
Oh man who doesn’t love Kingston? What a great city, and a great music scene, and sure you know all the names from the past, Sarah Harmer, the Hip, Glorious Sons, but even today our pals in Kasador are continuing on with the goods - anyway this is the time to get out of Dodge and get thee to Kingston.
The Spring Reverb by KPP Concerts is happening June 1 to 4 and it's got some great bands and great panels, and dollars from sponsors such the city itself, the city’s Arts Council which obv then gets a budget, SOCAN, Factor, the Ontario Arts Council, and Ontario Creates (note to anyone planning fests or award shows !!)
Headlining is Dizzy, who are really kicking it up this year, great to see and looking forward to the new record which drops in August; Gord Sinclair, of the aforementioned Canada’s five band, who has a new album out; Status/Non-Status, a project by Adam Sturgeon, no stranger to us; as well as Fucked Up the progy punky act from TO, plus so much more, Zoon, Hotel Mira, Texas King, and then some more - its packed.
One of the things to Kingston is its ability to retain talent - (not something the great city of Oshawa is any good at) and thus better known names are in the area, working, living, and involved
Thus a panel such as Album Art and Music Marketing features Rob Baker also of Canada’s fave band.
“Our guests will share insights on the significance of album art in capturing the listener's attention, and how social media, NFTs, and other technologies can be leveraged to promote music and create unique experiences for fans.” - interesting stuff, how tech and tunes converge.
And there’s one titled Local Music x Local Film which features Paul Langlois also of Canada’s fave band. Paul also has an album out and is playing some gigs, Mariposa being one of them.
There are panels on touring, including to Australia, mental health challenges, income opportunities, innovation, climate change, and more, plus more. It's packed.
Many of the panels have members of the bands playing the festival onstage as well as moderators of experience, some academic, some industry.
There are multiple venues involved, including my fave spot the legendary Toucan Pub where Wolfe Island records has a couple of free showcases.
So yes get outta Dodge, get thee to Kingston!!
