Doug Amell is a songwriter who markets his music for TV, film and other media uses, as well as for other artists to sing and perform. He was the runner-up in the 2015 International Broadjam 6-Pack/Steinberg Finals Songwriting Competition and has had 26 charting in the Broadjam Earth Top Ten chart,with eight of them having reached #1 (www.douglasamell.com).
Born in a snowstorm in a pickup truck somewhere near Anaheim SK, it was destiny that singer/songwriter Sammy Rose would end up on the road. After a local talent search and a recording contract with Royalty Records, Sammy put a band together and hit the road running. She ran smack into awesome guitar/steel guitar player Jack Hollenberg who became her life and musical partner. After a few years playing in Western and Central Canada and six months in Nashville, the pair was off to Europe for 8 1/2 years of adventure. During that time they wrote, recorded, and entertained for festivals and parties over the mainland, then they headed back home to Canada. They lived in Alberta for a while and are now are settled in Lanbenberg SK. Sammy and Jack have recorded six albums and are working on number seven, “Life’s Kaleidoscope”, in their Silk & Steel studios; it’s due for release February 2017. Local musicians Charlotte Neyedley on bass/background vocals, and Adam Keough on percussion are helping out (www.sammyrosehollenberg.com).
Codie Prevost and wife Ashley will be adding to their family, with second child due in May. To ring in the New Year, Codie and band performed at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park. 2016 was an exciting year for the country artist with highlights including his third Australian tour, with performances at the Gympie Music Muster; a feature in Outdoor Canada Magazine, along with Paul Brandt; cover stories in Bridges and QC newspapers; a 2016 OSAC tour; performing for the 2016 Sask. Country Music Awards; and more. 2017 will also see the arrival of his fifth studio album, funded with assistance from Rawlco 10K20 (www.codieprevost.com).
Due to the recent departure of Nono Ryan to pursue solo work, DGS Samurai Champs is now continuing as a duo consisting of rapper Jeah and R&B singer Merv xx Gotti. The split was amicable and the three will be collaborating and touring together in the future as artists in the Trifecta Artist Collective. Ryan’s solo album “Flow Tank” premiered on Exclaim!, December 12. DGS is the recipient of a $10,000 Rawlco 10K20 Program grant for their next album, and showcased at 2016’s BreakOut West Festival, Reeperbahn, and Canadian Music Week. Their official music video for title single “Crayons” premiered on VICE Noisey in May (http://samuraichamps.com).
The Regina Jazz Society kicked off 2017 introducing a new group, the University of Regina’s
.7 Quintet led by trombonist Dominic Ghiglione with Chris Buchan (tenor sax), John Ackerley (bass), Jon Neher (piano), Tanner Wilhelm-Hale (drums) and WIlliam Rivers (percussion). The RJS is presenting a Valentine’s Concert on February 10 - Lyndon Bray with his Lucy Brown Orchestra delivering a big band sound, then Jon McCaslin on March 25 with an All Star Sextet bringing an Oliver Nelson Tribute. The association’s annual fundraiser and silent auction on April 27 will see JUNO and Gemini Award-nominated Dione Taylor return for a hometown concert accompanied by the Backsliderz
Eliza Doyle has had a 15-year career as a solo artist and in groups (The Cracker Cats, The Hard Ramblers, The Midnight Roses), playing banjo, singing, and on instruments like dobro and mandolin. She has altogether released nine full-length albums, won numerous awards, and toured North America and Europe. In May 2016 she started a Bridging Communities program in which she goes into communities to do workshops in schools, and under her own name is now teaching music lessons, doing recording sessions, school workshops, and performing. Her new album is featured in Releases, and she’s also featured in this years “Banjo Babes Calendar,” a collection of 12 women from around the world, and accompanying compilation CD. Eliza also filled in with The Dead South for their Western Canadian CD release tour for “Illusions and Doubts” and a number of dates into 2017 (www.elizamarydoyle.com).
2016 Moose Jaw Scotiabank Songwriter’s Showcase winner Emily Orescanin is a 16 year old pop/rock songwriter. She grew up writing songs on a piano and has since gone on to learn many instruments. “LaDiDah,” recorded at Nebulus Entertainment with producer Jared Robinson, is her first single, and an anthem for people who pursue what they want in life especially when others try to bring them down. She writes with influences old and new, from The Beatles and Carole King to Joan Jett and Paramore. Emily is preparing to release her debut EP in late March (http://emilyorescanin.com).
Brodie Moniker, a 15-year music veteran (PandaCorn, Brain Sauce, Fancy Diamonds), is a diverse musical talent with sophisticated songwriting, artistic arrangements, and progressive-pop presentations, also well-established as a side musician and recording engineer. His debut album “Nowhere Left to Ghost” is due March 25; first single “Push Play DJ” has just come out. Accompanied by Drake Mark (Lords Kitchner) on drums and Steve Leidal (Johnny 2 Fingers) on bass, Moniker is touring Midwestern Canada and preparing the roads, Oregon Trail style, for his upcoming debut album tour (www.brodiemoniker.com).
Born and raised prairie girl from Saskatoon, Kathi Lewis has played in countless musical groups and venues across the province playing pop, rock, country, reggae, jazz and more. Her recent single, “Time,” was recorded at Audio Art Recording Studio in Saskatoon and produced by Glenn Ens. Kathi is also involved in the duo Lewis & Salkeld and cover band To The Max (www.kathilewis.com).
Saskatoon-born Samuel Deason, currently living in Baltimore while completing a Masters degree in Piano Performance at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, was home recently to perform concerts in Estevan, Weyburn, Moose Jaw, and Prince Albert. The virtuoso pianist is preparing for his upcoming performance in the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Forth Worth TX, beginning on February 17. He’s one of 100 performers invited from around the world to compete. Deason is a prizewinner in the Aram Khachaturian International Piano Competition, received 2nd in the 2016 Hastings International Piano Competition, and first prize in the Lyell Gustin, Gordon Wallis, and Florence Bowes competitions, with further awards in the TSO National Piano Competition, Shean Piano Competition, Wideman Piano Competition, and the Minnesota Orchestra’s WAMSO Concerto Competition, where he received the distinction of “best pianist.” Good luck Samuel!
Sheryl Kimbley has been named Prince Albert Citizen of the Year. Kimbley was honoured, in part, for her work with the Northern Spirits program, which she started a decade ago. It brings up to 90 teenagers from northern Saskatchewan to Prince Albert for a weekend in November, where they fine-tune musical abilities and learn skills such as set design, stage management and production. Many of the youth then participate in the Voices of the North Abooriginal showcase in February as part of the Prince Albert Winter Festival.
Friends of Foes recently underwent some lineup changes and released new single “4Walls” featuring new lead vocalist Danielle Huot. It was was recorded at Full Color Music & Recording and produced by S.J. Kardash with the band (www.friendsoffoes.com).
K-Anthony’s early musical experiences were in the church in which he grew up in Falmouth, Jamaica. Not happy to just sing traditional hymns, he spent time rearranging them to make them sound more like the contemporary and youthful music he heard around him. Influenced by the island, you can hear his love of reggae, R&B and the sounds of the bands he loved as a teen such as Boyz II Men. K-Anthony now resides in Yorkton SK and his latest single “I’m Alive” was recorded in Saskatoon with producer Dwain “Wiya” Campbell of Barbwiya Music. He has signed to U.S. management/publishing company G.Favored Entertainment Group LLC based in Nashville TN, whose roster includes gospel acts Ashley Brooks, Cara Mia, Andale, Nate Bean, and more, with distribution through Capitol Records (www.kanthonymusic.com).
With a showcase at Reeperbahn 2016, Poor Nameless Boy’s “Leave Myself Behind” was added to the Winter Chilloud playlist on Spotify Deutschland, and has achieved 425,000+ streams! (www.poornamelessboy.com)
