From Luminato to NXNE
Toronto’s Sultans of String — from left, Drew Birston, Chris McKhool, Kevin Laliberte and Eddie Paton (percussionist Chendy Leon, not show) — performed at David Pecaut Square last night as part of the festival’s daily free concert series. The talented instrumental crew jumps from one festival to another when it steps out at The 918 on Friday as part of NXNE. The 17th annual indie music fest is storming Toronto stages all week (through June 19) with an astonishing 650 bands; a 5-day wrist band is yours for $50.
Wildlife Strikes Hard
Toronto rock outfit Wildlife pulls into Sneaky Dee’s Thursday (May 26) for one last local show before hitting the road for points south and west. The indie alt-rock quintet is touring behind Strike Hard, Young Diamond, a 12-track collection that’s being favourably compared to Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade, among others.
In fact, the comparisons are so pervasive I couldn’t not bring them up when I sat down for coffee with frontman Dean Povinsky, above centre, yesterday. But the singer and songwriter took the grilling in stride: “Sonically I don’t think we sound like Arcade Fire,” he says, “but the emotional space a lot of our songs fill is similar to the space their music fills.”
“We’re just so close to our music that I don’t really hear the similarity. I love Arcade Fire, everybody loves that band, they’re incredible. They write wicked songs and they sound really BIG, which is something we aspire to. I don’t always see or hear it but I’ll take it as a compliment, we could do a lot worse.” READ MORE
JUNO Cornocopia
Canada’s annual celebration of music excellence, the JUNO Awards, are coming home to Toronto’s Air Canada Centre on Sunday, March 27 (tickets available through Ticketmaster).
Leading up to the big show there are several genre-specific music events around town beginning tonight and March 17 with reggae showcases at Lula Lounge (1535 Dundas Street West) featuring former JUNO winners. Tonight’s lineup includes Lazo, Liberty Silver and Lillian Allen, and next Thursday it’s Humble, Korexion, Sonia Collymore (left) and Lazah Current, all backed by the Mountain Edge band. Tickets are $20 at the door with proceeds supporting the music program at Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary School.
Did you know there are nearly half a million francophones in Ontario? And Toronto has a strong French music scene, which will be showcased March 18 in the City Hall Rotunda (7 pm). Melanie E. is a French jazz ensemble featuring the vocal talents of Melanie Hartshorn-Walton (below left), and a highly talented group of musicians offering funky interpretations of traditional French and Quebecois songs. Also performing is Paul Demers (below right), a well-known Franco-Ontarian who co-wrote the community’s unofficial anthem “Notre Place” with François Dubé.
JUNO Musicians Find Soul at AGO
Canada’s annual celebration of recorded music, the JUNO Awards, is back in Toronto for 2011 and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Canada’s answer to the Grammys, a complementary series of events has been developed. From fancy footwear exhibits – JUNO Sole at Bata Shoe Museum to artistically themed gardens – JUNO Rocks at Canada Blooms and sporting competitions (musicians vs. ex-Leafs at the JUNO Cup Hockey Game and a basketball tournament with members of the Arkells, Skratch Bastid and former world champion Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey at JUNO Hoops), there is something for everyone.
Last week, I went to the opening of the JUNO Tour of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario and I was tremendously inspired by the passion of the musicians explaining what particular artworks mean to them. Eight Canadian musicians chose their favourite pieces then recorded short videos explaining their inspiration. It’s like taking a journey deep into their artistic minds and underscores the idea that art is not just for the eyes, but really for the soul.
Listening to four-time JUNO winner Jane Bunnett, above, as she enthuses about her favourite piece – Chevreuse by Jean-Paul Rioppelle – I could almost hear the jazz music come alive in the multi-coloured painting. READ MORE
Larra Skye Makes A Wish
Toronto-based singer/songwriter Larra Skye has the looks, the talent and the tenacity to make a play for stardom but what she really needs is some money. To that end, Skye has embarked on a fundraising campaign to finance the recording of her next CD, a collection of original material she hopes to record this spring and release in the fall.
Skye, who performs this Saturday at the Brenda Carol Renaissance Jazz Fair on the Danforth, has a long way to go to reach her target of $15,000. According to her online pre-sale and donation-meter, she’s raised just one-tenth of her goal amount. FACTOR funding would certainly help and she’s expecting to hear yay or nay from the funding body any day now.
“Everyone is competing for FACTOR’s limited resources,” she acknowledges, “but I’m hopeful. The $15,000 target is a best case scenario; if I don’t get that far, I’ll just scale back my ambitions, but I’m still confident I can make a great record.”
