Back in 2009, I used the week leading up to Canada Day as an opportunity to post 7 different live performances of songs that, were there ever a "Canadiana Cannon," could easily make a case to belong to it. Songs from a range of artists including The Weakterhans, Paul Brandt, Stompin’ Tom, Buck 65, and others were posted and I think I may do the same thing this year, starting tomorrow.

I’ll be predictable with the first and post Classified’s "O, Canada" (it’s a fun song no matter how you slice it), but from there, we’ll grab some other examples of tunes that celebrate their nationalism that might be a bit more "out there." All in good fun.

Oh, and on that note, check out the National Parks Project. Until tomorrow, Stay Classy…

Many bands try their damnedest to capture the essence of a sound from another era, while wrapping it up in a bright and shiny modern wrapping paper.

The majority of these bands will not gain much credibility. Even if they do acquire some instant indie success via the bandwagon kids, their staying power is fairly marginal. The reason for this is rather simple: it’s a facade. You can’t just decide to be a band with a retro sound because a particular throwback style is all the rage. You have to actually be retro at heart and in love with, if not raised on, the genre you’re attempting to emulate.

This is why Toronto’s own Bella Clava are garnering such buzz and exposure- they sweat out a blend of female-fronted, blues infused, psychedelic tinged classic rock (with a modern twist, mind you) that could only be perfected by those with a true passion and knowledge for that musical style.

Continue reading “Bella Clava @ NXNE”

CM held a targeted email contest in conjunction with S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival. The five winners each won a pair of tickets to S.C.E.N.E., happening Sunday, June 6, in St. Catharines, ON.

S.C.E.N.E. is one of the largest annual, one-day, all-ages music festivals in Canada, celebrating the spirit of independent music. Attracting 6,000+ fans to downtown St. Catharines each year, S.C.E.N.E. has been a hotbed for up-and-coming musical talent across all genres, featuring both Canadian and international talent.

This year

If you haven’t already, DJs and electronic music fans should check out the first of two Digital Music columns from Sara Simms in the May/June 2011 issue of CM. The piece discusses the advantages of incorporating a controller into your DJ rig, and what’s exciting is that Part 2 is coming up in our July/August 2011 issue, so keep an eye out. We’re thrilled to have such a talented and reputable figure in Canada’s DJ scene contributing, and I hope you’re reaping the rewards. www.sarasimms.com.

Greetings from Toronto!

In the warm city air there hangs an unmistakable buzz and energetic anticipation for this week’s coming festivities. Yes, music lovers, it’s time for North by Northeast (NXNE) 2011, and with a killer lineup of up-and-comers (Kidstreet, Land of Talk), seasoned indie greats (Chad VanGaalen, Stars), reunions (Rusty, anyone?), and downright legends (Brian Wilson, Evan Dando), just to name a mere few, 2011 is promising to be a huge year for Toronto’s biggest summer music festival.

NXNE has always prided itself on featuring a smorgasbord of great music, striking a balance between propping up our own Canadian artists and playing host to the finest musical international imports. This year is definitely no exception.

Continue reading “Let The Party Begin! NXNE Blog, Pt. 1”