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Gorrilaz Release 4 New Songs On Damon Albarn’s Birthday

Mar 24, 2017

In October 2015, Damon Albarn revealed that both he and Jamie Hewlett are working on a new Gorillaz album. Albarn said: “I’m in the very early days on a new Gorillaz record. So far, it’s really fast, and it’s got quite a lot of energy. I’ve been stuck on piano, somewhere off Broadway, for years now. I want to go somewhere completely opposite of that.”

Welcome to that day.

Gorillaz revealed that they are returning later this year with a new album, titled Humanz, scheduled for release on April 28th, 2017. They also released four new songs — “Saturnz Barz,” “Andromeda,” “Ascension,” and “We Got The Power” — off of their new album that are available to stream on multiple platforms. Humanz is available to preorder from Amazon and the Gorillaz website.

They also released an interactive 360-degree reimagination of their “Saturnz Barz” music video.

State Farm Is Hooking Up With DJ Khaled To Give Back In The Community

Mar 24, 2017

On February 18th, L.A. Clippers star Chris Paul hosted a special State Farm Neighborhood Sessions in New Orleans, following State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night. The concert featured hip-hop artist DJ Khaled along with Jon Batiste, musician and bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and other special guests.

Neighborhood Sessions gives some of today’s biggest stars a chance to thank the neighbors who helped make them who they are today, and who continue to help life go right in their communities. Paul, Khaled and Batiste celebrated the community members who volunteered at State Farm-led community service projects in the New Orleans area leading up to the event, earning exclusive access to the invite-only live concert.

https://youtu.be/MLUny8mouwY

Jimmy Fallon and The Roots perform “Bad and Boujee” with Migos and office supplies

Mar 24, 2017

Hip hop group Migos made an appearance on a recent episode of The Tonight Show, where they performed their hit song Bad and Boujee, with host Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, with the help of office supplies.

2017 TD Ottawa Jazz Festival Revealed! Feist, Joss Stone, Serena Ryder, and more!

Mar 24, 2017

From the world’s greatest jazz improvisers, jazz piano trios, to big band extravaganzas and a remarkable assemblage of the finest female vocalists in the world today, this year’s 37th edition of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival from June 22 – July 2 has it all! Programming Manager Petr Cancura guides us through a remarkable gathering of jazz genres and musicians.

This year’s Discovery Series presented both at the National Arts Centre Backstage and La Nouvelle Scène’s ‘Studio A’ features several envelope pushing avant-garde jazz improvisation shows with a pronounced international flair. South Korea’s virtuosic vocalist Youn Sun Nah (June 27) “has a remarkably mesmerizing range that is incredible to watch. This is a unique opportunity to catch her performance since she doesn’t often travel,” explains Cancura.

Drummer Mark Guiliana (Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet on July 2) plays with the who’s who of Jazz. “When you close your eyes he sounds like an electronic drum machine, except he’s doing it live, it’s incredibly impressive,” says Cancura. Guiliana is also the drummer in Donny McCaslin’s Group (part of the Jazz Warriors Series at the National Arts Centre on June 29 in two back-to-back performances). The Donny McCaslin Group is the band that performed on David Bowie’s last album, Blackstar. The Blackstar group accepted the 2017 Rock Performance of the year award at the GRAMMY’s (view video) posthumously on behalf of David Bowie.

Several piano trios (made up of piano, double bass and drums) are performing at this year’s Festival. grünen (June 22) is an ‘out there’ improv piano trio from Germany that will leave the audience breathless. The Neil Cowley Trio (June 29) is an improv piano trio ‘that performs with a minimalist modern repetitive approach that builds its themes with a lot of energy.’

The Bad Plus (June 28) is one of the world’s most famous piano trios ‘performing thought provoking themed interpretations of famous classical pieces.’ Britain’s Phronesis (June 30) is one of Europe’s busiest and most inspiring bands playing non-stop.’ Pianist, record producer and arranger from Houston Texas, Robert Glasper has worked with many of the greats in the neo-soul, R&B and hip-hop world including Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Maxwell, Jay-Z, Bilal, Common, Mos Def, J Dilla and many others. Robert Glasper and his bandmates were personally invited to perform at the White House by President Barak Obama. The multiple GRAMMY award-winner is bringing his project the Robert Glasper Experiment to the OLG After Dark Series on June 26.

The Jazz Warriors Series (at the NAC Studio and Theatre) features such luminaries as Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan, Kenny Barron, Hudson: Jack DeJohnette / Larry Grenadier / John Medeski / John Scofield, and the Donny McCaslin Group.

Honoured by The National Endowment for the Arts as a 2010 Jazz Master, Kenny Barron has played with jazz heavies like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins to name just a few. Barron has an unmatched ability to mesmerize audiences with his elegant playing, sensitive melodies and infectious rhythms. The great Jazz Master will be playing a solo piano performance on June 24.

Hudson: Jack DeJohnette, Larry Grenadier, John Medeski, John Scofield (June 24) are an all-star Jazz group. John Scofield just won a GRAMMY. John Medeski is part of Medeski Martin and Wood who play very funky and groovy jazz. Larry Grenadier is the bassist in Brad Mehldau’s Trio. Jack DeJohnette has played with everyone significant in the jazz world including Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and others.

Long active in the civil rights movement, Mavis Staples (June 26) began her career performing traditional spiritual gospel work with her family as part of the legendary Staples Singers. She progressed into an R&B solo career in 1969, while continuing her work with the Staples Singers. The legendary vocalist was recently recognized, this past December, by the Kennedy Centre Honors for her lifetime achievement in the performing arts and for her contributions to American culture.

An homage to the big band genre makes a giant appearance this year! To Ray, With Love; Maceo Parker & The Ray Charles Orchestra featuring the Raelettes (June 26) is a big band experience performed on the Tek Savvy Main Stage Concerts Under the Stars Series led by alto saxophone player Maceo Parker. Parker was part of the James Brown band and collaborated with Prince on many records. Known for being one of the funkiest saxophone players in the world, he is on tour with The Ray Charles Orchestra, including original members of the Ray Charles Orchestra and featuring the original Raelettes (Ray Charles’ famous backup singers). “This is a pretty stacked band and a must see act if you enjoy Motown, Funk and Jazz,” muses Cancura.

Charlie Haden was the legendary jazz bassist who’s played with Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and anyone and everyone throughout the 60’s and 70’s. After passing away in 2014, Haden’s collaborator, Carla Bley, a renowned jazz pianist/arranger took up Charlie’s work in his honour in Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra, featuring Carla Bley (June 28).

Igor Butman and The Moscow Jazz Orchestra (part of the OLG After Dark Series on June 25) are known as some of the best musicians from Russia. Known as Russia’s Number One Jazz Personality, Igor Butman was invited by Wynton Marsalis, a close friend, on stage last summer at the Festival to play with the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra to great acclaim.

Also performing on the TekSavvy Main Stage Concerts Under the Stars Series are a remarkable array of headlining women including Canada’s Serena Ryder (June 23), Feist (July 2) – whose music was featured in an Apple commercial, and British R&B vocalist Joss Stone (June25).

The country legend Kenny Rogers, includes the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival as a stop on his final world tour on June 24, Kenny Rogers’ Final World Tour: The Gambler’s Last Deal with Special Guest Linda Davis.

Festival Passes and tickets are now on sale at ottawajazzfestival.com/tickets, by phone at 613-241-2633 and in person at the Festival Box Office at 602-294 Albert St.

Toronto’s The Horseshoe Tavern Celebrates Its 70th Birthday…With A Book

Mar 24, 2017

Like the Queen Street strip that has been its home for seven decades, the Horseshoe Tavern continues to evolve. It remains as relevant today as it did when Jack Starr founded the country club on the site of a former blacksmith shop. From country and rockabilly to rock ‘n’ roll, punk, alt/country, and back to roots music, the venerable live music venue has evolved with the times and trends — always keeping pace with the music.

Over its seventy-year history, the Horseshoe has seen a flood of talent pass through. From Willie Nelson to Loretta Lynn, Stompin’ Tom Connors to the Band, and MC-5 to the Ramones, the Horseshoe has attracted premier acts from all eras of music. In The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, David McPherson captures the turbulent life of the bar, and of Canadian rock in a new book, set to be published on September 23 by Dundurn Press and will be an absolute must-read for anyone interested in music and the history, Canadian or not.

You can pre-order the book here.

iHeartRadio Announces Major Milestone – 100 Million Registered Users

Mar 24, 2017

iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service, today announced it has surpassed 100 million registered users and continues to reach user milestones at a rate faster than any other digital music service. This digital listening is additive to the quarter of a billion listeners iHeartMedia reaches monthly on its 850 broadcast stations across the country.

With more than a billion downloads, iHeartRadio continues to experience tremendous momentum — reaching 85 percent brand awareness among consumers in less than 5 years. In addition, this past January iHeartMedia launched another feature for its users — its new on demand subscription services, iHeartRadio Plus and iHeartRadio All Access powered by Napster, which are the first fully differentiated streaming music services to provide listeners with the best of live radio combined with easy-to-use on-demand functionality that makes radio truly interactive. These services connect radio listeners directly to their music collection — unlike others, which can only approach on demand as a music collection offering.
“100 million registered users is an amazing milestone, and we are thrilled to see such great momentum and traction for iHeartRadio,” said Darren Davis, President of iHeartRadio. “We are committed to continuing to provide an exceptional listening experience for our millions of fans and listeners, and with the official launch of our new on demand services, we are able to offer even more iHeartRadio features for our listeners who want to enhance their radio experience.”

As a multiplatform company which includes broadcast radio, digital, mobile, social and live events, iHeartMedia continues to announce numerous new partnerships and explore innovative ways to expand its content offerings. In addition to its new on demand features, iHeartRadio continues to expand its podcast offerings. Last year alone, iHeartRadio saw a 30 percent increase in podcast listenership, and the platform currently features more than 5,000 podcasts across 15 different categories – from business and finance to comedy and entertainment. The company also partnered with podcast technology company ART19 to provide first-of-its-kind listener data to podcast publishers and advertisers, and has several other partnerships with leaders in the podcast space including Radiotopia from PRX, WNYC, All Things Comedy, Audioboom and Libsyn.

With iHeartRadio, the company has the ability to extend its brands and franchises across multiple devices and is currently available on more than 90 unique platforms spanning in-home, wearables, gaming, mobile, auto and more that allow users to listen anywhere they are on the products they use most. To see all available platforms and to download the app, visit iHeartRadio.com/apps.

How music affects our choices

Mar 24, 2017

From the moment we begin to exist, we are surrounded by music. Even inside the womb, we react to bass tones and it’s likely there will be a car radio on as we are driven home from hospital. As we grow, music becomes something we actively seek out to enjoy, as well as becoming ubiquitous background noise that barely registers in our brains as we go around our daily lives. The truth is, we consciously and subconsciously react to music in extremely different ways, often with results that can help outside parties to manipulate our choices.

The science behind music dictates that certain melodies, tones and even beats help us to release dopamine, a natural, self-produced drug which helps us attain feelings of happiness and well-being. Whether this is because music has mystical properties which stimulate dopamine production or because we associate certain parts of a composition with good times is up for debate, but there is certainty that our brains will tell us to ‘feel good’ if our favourite song is played. It isn’t all about the sound of the music however and there other factors which contribute to our overall outlook on certain sounds.

How we choose out favourite acts and artists isn’t always based on how much we like their music. Musicians don’t just focus on how they sound; they are surrounded by stylists, fashion experts, marketing and PR gurus and many other middle men looking to squeeze every penny out of successful acts. This means musicians have a certain image from day one, which can be used in other ways to help the artists make more money.

Head into any high street fashion retailer and you can guarantee the music being played will be something ‘cool’, whether it’s a pop song or obscure European dance track. When people are buying clothes, they want to be inspired, maybe copying a famous person known for looking good or piecing together an outfit. This background music helps to create an atmosphere in store, making shoppers move around faster by playing a song with a fast tempo, or take their time and make better decisions with a slower, more relaxing tune.

The same technique can be used in advertising. Try closing your eyes the next time you are watching adverts on TV and you’ll start noticing trends. Happy, uplifting music features heavily for almost every consumable imaginable. However, some advertisers will try and be more deep a meaningful; choosing a slow, sombre piece when deciding on life insurance or leaving a will for example. This association to life situations dictates to us how the product will make us feel. A pop song in a major key advertising an energy drink will make that consumer want to replicate that situation in their lives, which could mean a sale the next time they see that particular product.

Music is also used to pad out empty spaces. We’ve all been in that frankly depressing warehouse that is filled with discount clothes, but the experience is made more bearable if we are listening to some comforting music as we hunt down a bargain. Large venues like casinos spend endless amounts of time and effort when making their music choices.

Casinos are highly dependent on an atmosphere that people don’t want to leave, so making sure the music volume, choice and tempo is right. If you want your players to spend more time at the tables, make it sound like it’s the place to be. Playing slow or even boring music at the bar or in seating areas will drive some people away from these ‘dead areas’ and into the places where the action is happening. Loud and confusing music near the exit may cause people to seek assistance to leave, where they can be retained by properly trained staff if required. These techniques are even used online, with the best online slot games from the likes of 888casino relying on famous artists and professionally created backing music to keep players interested and engaged.

No matter where you are or what you are doing, music will be having a profound effect on your, even if you realise it or not. Try and remember this article the next time you hear a piece of music in public. You’re guaranteed to forget to pay attention when that soothing track comes on however…

Barenaked Ladies How EXACTLY How To Do A Merch Campaign For Your New Album

Mar 23, 2017

Barenaked Ladies have partnered with PledgeMusic in support of their forthcoming album, Ladies And Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies And The Persuasions, a collaboration between BNL and the legendary “Kings of A capella”. As part of their pre-order campaign, the band is offering a collection of exclusive merchandise, available today. Ladies And Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies And The Persuasions is set for release on April 14, 2017.

Pledgers can pre-order the album in digital, CD, and vinyl form now on the Barenaked Ladies campaign page. The leaders in direct-to-fan platforms, PledgeMusic allows artists to get more personal with their fans, offering pledgers updates straight from the band and items not available anywhere else including BNL kitchenware, custom hockey jerseys, and more. Everyone who pre-orders will get instant access to a special part of the site via the ‘AccessPass’ where you will not only receive 4x tracks from the new album delivered instantly. But you will also have access to see some full-length performances, interviews, and behind the scenes moments filmed during the making of this album by the video streaming app, Sessions X.

Produced by Gavin Brown, Ladies And Gentlemen: Barenaked Ladies And The Persuasions was recorded live off the floor with The Persuasions. Before hitting the studio together, and after running through about 25 songs from BNL’s extensive award-winning catalogue, both BNL and the Persuasions’s excitement grew and the songs were narrowed down to the final 15 tracks featured on the LP.The album marks the groups’ first collaborative recording project, an idea that was sparked when BNL invited The Persuasions onstage during their 2016 Last Summer On Earth tour. The album will feature BNL tracks including: “One Week”, “When I Fall”, “The Old Apartment”, and more.

Fans who pre-order from the album will receive an AccessPass, which will give them early access to the project; plus updates, streams of the tracks, behind-the-scenes studio footage, sneak peeks into the collaboration, and more, through PledgeMusic. Fans will also be able to pledge on exclusive merchandise bundles and one-of-a-kind items from the band. These include: a special package featuring a signed drumhead, BNL beanie, vinyl, and T-shirt; a BNL kitchen kit including a signed apron, oven gloves, and spatula and a signed CD; a bundle including your very own signed BNL hockey jersey, beanie, limited-edition Kleen Kanteen with BNL artwork, vinyl, and exclusive T-Shirt; and much more.

Catch the Barenaked Ladies and The Persuasions (select dates only) on tour this spring:

4/21/17 Albany, NY The Egg w/ The Persuasions
4/22/17 Valley Forge, PA Valley Forge Casino
4/25/17 Huntington, NY Paramount Theatre w/ The Persuasions
4/27/17 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
4/28/17 Englewood, NJ Bergen PAC w/ The Persuasions
4/29/17 Burlington, VT Flynn Theatre
4/30/17 Ithaca, NY State Theatre
5/2/17 Rocky Mount, VA Harvester Center
5/4/17 Catoosa, OK The Joint at the Hard Rock
5/5/17 Tunica, MS Bluesville at Horseshoe Casino
5/10/17 Des Moines, IA Hoyt Sherman Palace
5/12/17 Deadwood, SD Deadwood Mountain Grand
5/13/17 Colorado Springs, CO Pikes Peak Center
5/15/17 St.Louis, MO Peabody Opera House
5/16/17 Waukegan, IL Genesee Theater

Ride Reveal Details On “Weather Diaries” And Share “Charm Assult” Video

Mar 23, 2017

Ride today reveal details of their first album in over twenty years, Weather Diaries to be released on June 16th via Wichita Recordings. Produced by legendary DJ, producer and remixer Erol Alkan, Weather Diaries is packed with all the classic elements that made Ride one of the defining bands of the early ‘90s. Trembling distortion, beautiful harmonies, pounding rhythms, shimmering soundscapes and great songwriting all combine to make an album that’s ambitious in scope, timeless and thoroughly addictive. The album will be released through Wichita Recordings and sees the band reunited with label co-founders Mark Bowen and Dick Green, who worked with Ride during the band’s early years on Creation Records. It also brings the band back together with mixer Alan Moulder (Arctic Monkeys, Smashing Pumpkins, The Killers) who mixed their seminal 1990 album Nowhere and produced the follow up Going Blank Again.

Ride have today also unveiled the video for the album’s lead single “Charm Assault.” The video’s visceral palette is the perfect accompaniment to the swirling psychedelic rhythms of the song, which was unveiled in February to a flurry of acclaim from media and fans alike. Marrying the psychedelic muscle of Tame Impala’s “Elephant” with the rhythmic twists and turns of My Bloody Valentine’s “Feed Me With Your Kiss”, Bell and Gardeners’ harmonies evoke The Who playing “A Quick One” at the Rolling Stones “Rock and Roll Circus.” The lyrics see Ride railing at the “focused, raw, reptilian ambition” of certain unspecified people in power, who “set fire to your world, and let it burn.” The song effortlessly flits from section to section, taking in influences ranging from Sonic Youth’s dungeon circa “Death Valley ’69” through to a jarring, repetitive chord sequence reminiscent of David Bowie’s “Chant of the ever circling Skeletal Family” – one of the songs Bowie wrote for a musical based on Orwell’s “1984.”

The second taster from the new album revealed last month was “Home Is A Feeling,” a widescreen, sonically, layered, slowed motion warm wash hinting at the breadth and ambition of the new material on Weather Diaries. From the huge sonic storm at the end of the eponymous title track “Weather Diaries” to the addictive verses of “Cali,” the material is as unmistakably Ride as ever, yet written from the vantage point of men who have experienced life’s trials and tribulations. There’s an anger at society that comes out in the sprawling opening track “Lannoy Point” and in “All I Want,” the latter exploring the idea of Britain aping 1930s Germany over cascading drums and multi-layered vocals.

The revitalised four piece – comprising of Andy Bell, Mark Gardener, Laurence Colbert, and Steve Queralt – reformed and returned to the live scene in 2014, selling out headline tours around the world to a plethora of critical acclaim, as well as show stopping turns at festivals including Coachella, Primavera and Field Day.

Weather Diaries Tracklisting:
1. Lannoy Point
2. Charm Assault
3. All I Want
4. Home Is A Feeling
5. Weather Diaries
6. Rocket Silver Symphony
7. Lateral Alice
8. Cali
9. Integration Tape
10. Impermanence
11. White Sands

Bob and Jan Ezrin Inaugural Recipients of MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award

Mar 23, 2017

Canada’s leading music education charity, MusiCounts announced that Bob Ezrin and Jan Ezrin will be the inaugural recipients of the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award, presented by The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. The award recognizes individuals who have had an extraordinary impact on education and MusiCounts over the course of its 20-year history.

“We are thrilled to present Bob and Jan Ezrin with the inaugural MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Awards, through the generous support of the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation,” said Kristy Fletcher, Director, MusiCounts. “Over the past fifteen years they have volunteered their time, lent their expertise, championed our programs and have been instrumental in increasing awareness of the work we do.”

“The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation has been dedicated to bringing higher education within reach for Canadian families for over 50 years,” said Sherry MacDonald, President and CEO, Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. “We believe that a music education can enrich the human experience and that our true heroes lie in those who inspire young Canadians to reach their dreams. We are excited to be presenting this Award to two such heroes alongside MusiCounts at the JUNOs this year.”

Legendary music and entertainment producer, Bob Ezrin first became associated with MusiCounts in 2004 after his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2005, he proposed that music education should not only be supported but also celebrated, leading to the creation of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. Through award sponsorship by internationally-renowned artists such as The Rolling Stones, Rush and Michael Bublé, the award program has since elevated MusiCounts’ status in the industry, while bringing attention to the heroes of education. As President of the Ezrin Company, Jan Ezrin manages the company’s production efforts in Canada in music and television. A true partnership, working hand in hand in business, in philanthropy, and in life, the Ezrins are also founding donors of the MusiCounts Leadership Circle.

In recognition of the Award Recipients, three Band Aid Grants will be awarded to Canadian schools. Bob and Jan Ezrin will each receive a solid crystal statuette based on the JUNO Award design created by Canadian glass artist, the late Shirley Elford. The Ezrins will be presented with their awards at the 2017 JUNO Awards Chairman’s Reception on March 31 in Ottawa during the JUNO weekend.

“We are truly honoured to receive this award, but we do so on behalf of all the MusiCounts ambassadors who have worked so hard to grow this amazing initiative over its 20-year history,” said Jan Ezrin. “All of us share the belief that music should be a fundamental part of every child’s education, which is why it is so important to support MusiCounts in its efforts to make music accessible to all children through their schools and community centres, no matter what their circumstances are. And so all of us share in this award.”

2017 will mark the 20th Anniversary of MusiCounts, which provides musical instruments to schools and communities in need. Since 1997, MusiCounts has grown significantly and by the end of 2017 will have awarded over $10,000,000 through its programs. These funds will have benefitted over 950 schools and community organizations, supported over 350 post-secondary music program graduates and honoured 12 extraordinary music teachers.

In 1960, the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation (CSTF) was established as a non-profit, grassroots organization with one role, the advancement of education in Canada including carrying on charitable projects in the educational field and helping families save for their child’s post-secondary education. For over 56 years we have focused on this mission and have been key enablers through our advocacy work of programs such as the Registered Education Savings Plan program, the Canada Learning Bond, the Canada Education Savings Grant, as well as the Saskatchewan Grant for Education Savings and the BC Training and Education Savings Grant among others. Most recently, we developed a new community program called CST Inspired Minds™ Learning Project. Since 2014, CST Inspired Minds™ has provided $700,000 to support innovative learning programs in Canada.

MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with CARAS and the JUNO Awards is keeping music alive in schools and communities across Canada by putting musical instruments into the hands of children that need them most. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada have access to music programs through their schools and communities. MusiCounts achieves its mission through its Band Aid Program, the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by many of Canada’s most dedicated corporate citizens including and especially TD Bank Group, Bell Media, SiriusXM Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, Music Canada, Vista Radio, and The Hot Topic Foundation. MusiCounts has been supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., Universal Music Canada, Warner Music Canada Ltd., JUNO Songwriters’ Circle and JUNO Cup. Since MusiCounts’ establishment in 1997, over $9,000,000 has been awarded in support of music education in Canada. These funds have benefitted over 850 school and communities from coast to coast, supported over 350 post-secondary music program graduates and honoured 12 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award.