Keith Glass Band – Different World
Released: February 18, 2022
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The first single from Keith Glass Band, “Different World” released on Stump Records, is available anywhere you listen to music! Ever look around you and wonder how we got here? In “Different World”, Glass acknowledges that the times we are living in are always a-changing but with a positive outlook, that leaves you with a grooving glimmer of hope. As the song goes, “Instead of all this pushin’ and shove, how ‘bout a little more love we’d have a different world.”

“Different World” was recorded in Ottawa, ON at Audio Valley Recording with Steve Foley. Through technology and ingenuity, the band was able to get the tracks recorded and mixed both in-studio and remotely in the midst of provincial lockdowns.

Keith Glass Band is Alistair Dennett on drums & vocals, Steve Trecarten on organ & vocals, Mike Turenne on bass & vocals and Keith Glass on guitar & lead vocals. Keith Glass Band is gearing up for their upcoming full album release in Spring 2022.

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Amy Bishop – Perfect and Broken
Released: February 11, 2022
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Watson Entertainment is pleased to present a brand new release from Alberta-based artist Amy Bishop. Having jumped into the spotlight as one of the contestants on season one of CTV’s The Launch, Amy Bishop has continued to develop and grow as a songwriter and performer. Perfect & Broken takes a deep dive into Amy’s life and includes themes of abuse and the process of rebuilding her life. The new album, produced by Aaron Young is a collection of 10 songs – originals, a cover of Gretchen Peters “5 Minutes” and co-writes with the likes of Dave McEathron, Lisa Jacobs and Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue).

“Amy Bishop’s voice is a combination of smooth pavement and rough gravel, with the ability to charm listeners with her sweet tones; yet stun audiences with the ability to hit any high note.”

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Folk Music Ontario Announces 2022 Conference in London, Canada’s First UNESCO City of Music

Folk Music Ontario has announced that the 2022 Conference will take place Thursday, October 13 through Sunday, October 16, 2022 in London, Ontario.

The Folk Music Ontario (FMO) Conference is Canada’s largest provincial networking event devoted to the folk, roots, and traditional music community. For over three decades, FMO and its membership have supported the growth and development of the folk music community and industry across Ontario and Canada.

“After 2 years of gathering our community online, we are overjoyed that Folk Music Ontario will be presenting an in-person conference this year in London, ON, Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music. This year is a celebration of the resilience of our industry. Get ready for 4 days of Spectacular music, new and rekindled connections, as well as expanded opportunities for artists and presenters.”
– Rosalyn Dennett, Interim Executive Director, Folk Music Ontario

“London’s UNESCO City of Music designation continues to deliver by welcoming Folk Music Ontario to London. Organizations like Folk Music Ontario play an integral role in the professional development of Ontario and London’s music sector. Please join me in celebrating the incredible Ontario folk music community this October 13-16th in London. Music will play an important role in London’s social and economic resiliency.”
– Ed Holder, Mayor of London

“Folk Music Ontario’s vision of a thriving, inclusive folk music community with a local and international impact closely aligns with London’s UNESCO City of Music plan. FMO will bring an exciting and fresh take to their traditional conference and award show this year in London.”
– Cory Crossman, Music Industry Development Officer, City of London

The Folk Music Ontario conference was held virtually in 2021, and the last in-person conference was held in Mississauga in 2019. The conference offers professional development, showcasing, and networking opportunities for artists and music industry professionals in Canada and the international Folk community.

Dates for Early Bird Registration, Award Applications, and Official Showcase Applications will be announced in the coming weeks. For the latest information, please visit the Folk Music Ontario website, or subscribe to the FMO E-newsletter.

Brampton Folk Club – “Four Strong Winds”
March 4-5, 2022
Rose Studio Theatre, Brampton, Ontario
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The Brampton Folk Club will be debuting their musical revue “Four Strong Winds” at the Rose Studio Theatre on March 4th and 5th starting at 7:30 p.m. Enjoy some of the greatest music ever to come from Canada, as the Brampton Folk Club pays tribute to iconic folk songs. We’ll be singing songs spanning Canada’s vast geography and musical history, made famous by singers such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, and many others.

Bring your voices! Tickets are only $25 and are available through Rose Theatre Box Office (4SW Ticket Purchase or 905-974-2800).

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Shawna Caspi w/Amanda Lowe Warnakulasuriya
February 26, 2022 at 8:00pm, Almonte Old Town Hall, Almonte, Ontario
Part of the Folkus Concert Series

Toronto singer-songwriter Shawna Caspi’s first indoor, in-person, live concert since the pandemic is also Folkus Almonte’s first show of 2022! Shawna’s solo performance pairs her powerful voice with intricate fingerstyle acoustic guitar accompaniment for an intimate and engaging experience that makes an authentic human connection, that conveys a sense of closeness, of being understood, of feeling less alone.

Shawna Caspi takes her time crafting lyrics that are poetic and meaningful, often using unusual rhymes and surprising turns of phrase. She spent years on the road playing shows at festivals and in concert halls, train cars, backyards, and living rooms across Canada and the United States. After taking a break from the road to rest, reflect, and write, Shawna released her fifth album, Hurricane Coming, in 2021. It’s a collection of raw, deeply personal songs set against a backdrop of colourful cinematic soundscapes. Shawna also created a series of paintings inspired by the songs on the album, seamlessly combining her work as a musician and visual artist. Shawna will have copies of her new album and some of her original artwork for sale at the show.

Opening for Shawna will be Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Amanda Lowe Warnakulasuriya.

For those who can’t join in person, the concert will be streamed live with high-quality video and sound production. When purchasing tickets, please choose either the “Regular In Person” or “Streaming” option on the Folkus website!
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The MacQueens – Live Performance Videos
Starting Jan. 15, 2022 (Monthly releases, ongoing)

The MacQueens are releasing at least one new performance video per month to YouTube and social media. These videos will include original songs and favourite covers.

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The Co-Conspirators, The Unreliable Narrators
Released January 5, 2022

In keeping with how the best and most enduring folk songs oblige audiences to take a closer look at history, society, and ourselves, Canadian duo The Co-Conspirators deliver their poignant and riveting new album, The Unreliable Narrators, and its pull-no-punches first single, “The Lonesome Death of Elijah McClain” — available now.

Training a modern-day lens on folk’s deeply rooted tradition of storytelling through song, the Quebec-based band’s sophomore album offers 12 ‘chapters’ of compelling stories — whether fictional or real — that orbit around hardscrabble characters, troubled lives, social injustices, personal struggle, and more.

With 11 of the 12 songs on The Unreliable Narrators written by the duo’s multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and principal songwriter, Will Richards, they are all brought to full fruition with vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Katherine Simons’ voice intertwining with Richards’ — like a pilot and copilot deftly navigating over a varied terrain.

The first single, “The Lonesome Death of Elijah McClain”, strikes at the heart of our most sharply drawn social divides along racial lines. McClain was walking home with an iced-tea for his brother, and had committed no crime. Spotted and tackled by police, he was put in a carotid hold cutting off his oxygen, and was injected with ketamine. McClain suffered a heart attack and later died in hospital.

“The tragedy of it is unbearable,” Richards notes. “It took over two years of relentless social pressure to bring charges against the officers — and his is just one of countless stories of police violence against visible minorities.”

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Canada’s official theme for Black History Month 2022 is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day.

Thanks to our colleagues at MMF for collecting this list below. These events celebrate Black creators, and offer resources and learning opportunities for anti-oppression and anti-racism in the workplace and beyond.

• “10 Defining Moments in Canadian Music History by Black Artists” compiled by the JUNO Awards. Click here to view.
• Before the 6ix, a series that connects the dots from Toronto’s present-day internationally recognized hip-hop influence to the rich and vitally important roots of its past, is presenting a special event tomorrow. “Before the 6ix – Behind The Beat” will discuss the evolution of the sound of Toronto hip-hop from the past to the present. | Online, Wed. Feb 9, 6PM EST. Learn more and register here.
• Explore Toronto History Museum’s Black History Month YouTube Playlist. The Awakenings short films and conversations featured are from Black, Indigenous and artists of colour, operating under the principles of anti-oppression, anti-colonialism, and anti-racism.
• Perspectives LIVE Show of Colleges and Institutes Canada – Amplifying BIPOC voices: representation, visibility, and opportunity | Online on Feb.10, 12PM-1PM EST
• The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a Roundtable on the topic of Black Lives Matter in the workplace | Online on Feb. 11, 1PM – 2PM EST
• The University of Calgary is hosting a discussion about understanding anti-Black racism and Black health and wellness | Online on Feb. 17, 4:30PM – 6PM CST// 6:30 – 8PM EST
• The Calgary Folk Music Festival’s Block Heater series is putting on a special Black History Month panel discussion | YouTube on Feb. 17, 9PM EST
• The University of Calgary is hosting Black Excellence in the Time of EDI: Celebration or Tokenism | Online on March 3, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
• February also celebrates Nova Scotia African Heritage Month, and there is a live and online events calendar that is being regularly updated with information. Click here to view.

Karen Morand – Ghost Hotel
Release Date: February 1, 2022

Award-winning singer-songerwriter, Karen Morand backed by her acoustic band, The Bosco Boys, took time with this latest project. Teaming up with Juno nominated producer, Brett Humber, the album explores haunting questions of identity, longing, loneliness, and addiction with a hopeful eye toward the unseen. Inspired by influences like Tedesci Trucks, Ruthie Foster and Linda McRae, Morand leans into her soulful roots, with echos of Motown and Southern rock. Together with an impressive roster of Canadian co-writers and guest artists, this project is a true collaboration celebrating this beautiful and broken life.

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The Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11)
From Canadian Heritage

On February 2, 2022, The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, introduced the Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11), which would require online streaming services to contribute to the creation and availability of Canadian stories and music.

The bill does not apply to individual Canadians, but to streaming platforms that broadcast commercial programs. It would require those platforms to contribute to the creation of Canadian series, music and movies, bringing online broadcasters under similar rules and requirements as our traditional broadcasters.

“Canada’s strong culture is no accident. We chose to be different. We care about our cultural sovereignty, and we believe diversity makes us stronger. Our culture is who we are. It is our past, our present and our future, it is how we tell our stories. The Online Streaming Act will help make sure that our cultural sector works for Canadians and supports the next generation of artists and creators in this country.”
—The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Click here for more info from Canadian Heritage