By Will McGuirk
Joseph at Opera House Friday June 16 2023. Tickets here.
Indie pop trio released their new album The Sun on April 28th (via ATO Records).
“Fireworks” is top-tier singer/songwriter architecture infused with chart-topping bliss, as JOSEPH meditates on the expectations of success in thoughtful ways that fight against self-doubt." - Paste Magazine
By Will McGuirk
Temples at Lee’s Palace Tuesday June 13 2023. Tickets here.
British psych-rockers released their new album Exotico on April 14th (via ATO Records). It was produced by Sean Ono Lennon and mixed by GRAMMY® Award-winner Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, MGMT).
A stunning effort all-around, it is a pleasure to have Temples back, the prospect of where they can go from here is one of excitement and thrill." - CLASH (8/10)
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.