Sally Meadows released her children’s picture book “Beneath That Star” (2015), based on an original song of the same name she wrote for her national award-nominated Christmas CD, “Red & White” (2013). Beneath That Star is about a young Jewish girl who longs to be a shepherd, and whose life changes forever when she sees who is beneath the star (www.sallymeadows.com).
Esterhazy singer/songwriter Katie Miller proudly released her first official music video, “Little Brother,” in September; it was filmed by Brad Scheier, also from Esterhazy, who recently completed studies at Vancouver Film School. Little Brother is dedicated to anyone that has been affected by depression. Katie feels blessed by the great response to this video and the connection she has been able to make with her audience through this song. A second video release came in “Silverflower” in November, the title track from Katie’s debut album; it features choreography by Belva Wade Zentner and filming and production by Brad Scheier (www.katiemiller.ca).
JJ Voss opened up for Emerson Drive on the third annual “Boots on the Beach” destination concert event presented by Marlin Travel and Big Dog 92.7. It took place January 23-30 in Riviera Nayarit outside of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (www.jjvoss.com).
Propagate Records was pleased to announce that Pimpton joined an 80-show North American tour with Canadian rap veteran Madchild from September 11-December 25, 2015. to the CJE Carnival Pimpton dropped new video “Buck Up!” in November, teaming with Vancity director/visionary Stuey Kubrick, filming in various Vancouver locations. The track was produced by Kholebeatz and comes from Pimpton’s most recent album, “KCMKV2” (www.facebook.com/thepimpton)
Codie Prevost took his “All Kinds Of Crazy” acoustic tour on the road this winter with great stops in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. He also enjoyed playing Australia’s Plantation Music Festival in November alongside acts like John Stone, the Viper Creek Band, Dozzi and Will Day. Codie hits the road again with OSAC tour dates in February in Indian Head, Leader, Luseland, Wynyard, and Hudson Bay, accompanied by Hal Schrenk on percussion and Todd Peters on guitar/vocals/lead kazoo. Work has also begun on a new album! (www.codieprevost.com).
Friends of Foes have been busy: November saw them heading to Eastern Canada on tour; they released new EP “Faults” in February; and they organized a Western Canadian tour with dates in SK, AB, and MB in support of the new album. Following the band’s 2013 debut “Chronophobic” and subsequent 2014 single “Winter,” Faults was recorded by long-time collaborator Jordan Smith. FOF guitarist Matt Stinn teamed up with Smith to co-produce the album. Recording of the EP was made possible thanks to a grant from Creative Saskatchewan. The announcement of Faults was accompanied by an album teaser video made by Saskatoon filmmaker Morgan Carter. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/fdWYjlX9Zuw. Having shared the stage with some of Canada’s best bands, topping numerous “Best Of” lists with their debut and drawing comparisons to Death Cab for Cutie and Stars, FOF is a relentlessly hard-working band dead set on carving a name for themselves in the Canadian music scene through endless touring and a powerful press presence (www.facebook.com/friendsoffoesmusic).
Congratulations to The Sheepdogs on releasing their latest album, “Future Nostalgia,” which is doing really well (see charts section); and for their 2016 JUNO Award nomination for Rock Album of the Year! (www.thesheepdogs.com).
Jeffery Straker’s been writing like a madman; in addition to songs for his next recording, he’s been working on a new collaboration with playwright Kelley Jo Burke. The story and songs will be presented March 11 at the Artesian in Regina, and following that they’ll be in full scale work on the upcoming musical. New video, “‘Step into the Fire”, from 2015’s “North Star Falling” has been released featuring Erika Nielsen on cello, and Dustin Olyan on electric guitar. Other highlights from the end of 2015 for Jeffery include performing 3 dates at Koerner Hall in Toronto for 1000 people nightly, singing the songs of Simon & Garfunkel; performing at the Canadian Folk Music Awards gala at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton AB; crossing the Maritimes with 4 shows, performing in Mexico, and more. Jeffery was proud to be inducted into the Wall of Fame by his hometown Horizon School Division. He’ll be joining the cast of Telemiracle once again this year (March 5-6) and has a busy live schedule lined up (www.jefferystraker.com).
DJ Charly Hustle, who travelled to Tokyo in September to represent Canada in the Red Bull Thre3style world DJ competition. There, he competed against DJs from Albania, Azerbaijan and Latvia to proceed to the final. The competition is judged on originality, creativity, technicality, stage presence and crowd response.
Praised for her “sensitive and passionate artistic interpretation,”
Dr. Christine Vanderkooy performs extensively as a solo pianist and collaborative artist. Her new album, “Schubert and Schumann,” is receiving positive reviews and airplay on radio stations across North America, with one of her pieces airing recently on the CBC Radio network. Dr. Vanderkooy completed a Master of Music degree as well as a Doctor of Music at McGill University. She’s been teaching at the University of Regina since 2007 (www.christinevanderkooy.com).
Regina-born Amy Hillis is one of 21 artists to receive a rare instrument loan from the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank, following a week of intense competition for the honour. Hillis will receive the use of an 1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin that holds a value of $400,000, until 2018. Hillis is currently pursuing a Doctor of Music in Violin Performance at McGill University, studying with Axel Strauss. She completed her Master of Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with renowned pedagogue and performer, Ian Swensen, and earned her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from McGill University under Denise Lupien. Amy is the recipient of numerous scholarships including the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award, the Graduate Excellence Fellowship from McGill and the Presidential Scholarship from SFCM. Amy was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition and regularly performs as a soloist across Canada and abroad. She is also lead violinist of the Horizon String Quartet, an ensemble that has performed over 100 concerts in 30 different Canadian cities.
Andy Shauf signed a record deal with Arts and Crafts in Canada and Anti Records in the U.S. in October, having signed with the Windish Agency for bookings in March of 2015. While working on a new album, Andy released new cut “Jenny Come Home,” which quickly garnered attention including hitting #2 on the CBC R3-30 charts, #2 on the CBC Radio 3’s “top 103 Canadian indie songs of 2015”, and #8 on CBC Radio 2. The multi-instrumentalist has been turning ears with his thoughtful lyrics, soft-spoken humour and inventive melodies for the past few years while performing key dates in Canada, the U.S. and overseas. A major European tour is underway this spring (www.andyshauf.com).
Colter Wall performed at the Recording Academy’s 9th annual Producers & Engineers Wing celebration honouring Rick Rubin with the President’s Merit Award, February 12 at The Village studio in Los Angeles. Those present talked about the eight-time Grammy winner’s ‘magical command of bringing the best out of artists.’ Rubin co-founded Def Jam Records with Russell Simmons and produced such artists as Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, Adele and Black Sabbath. The evening was also used to announce Wall’s signing to Rubin’s American Recordings label. Notables present included Macy Gray and Lindsey Stirling, Columbia Records Chairman/CEO Rob Stringer, producers Jake Gosling, Dave Aude, Peter Asher and Ed Stasium (https://soundcloud.com/colterwall).
