Music

A screenshot from the City of Kitchener webpage with a 2x2 grid of pictures of musicians TALK, Reve, Hildago Negro, and Born Ruffians , one per cell. There is a purple block next to each photo with the musicians' name written in white text.

Kitchener’s inaugural Endless Summer music festival aims to “keep the summer vibes rolling”

September 6, 2024 by Dan Kellar

With shifting demographics in the downtown, and the return of thousands of college and university students to the region, the city of Kitchener is hosting the inaugural Endless Summer music festival on Saturday.

Featuring Canadian artists such as Rêve, Helado Negro, Born Ruffians, and I, the Mountain, the festival is free to attend and is headlined by Juno award winner TALK. DJ Joanna Magik will be performing a set and filling the silence between sets. In a press release the city described Endless Summer as an event which will “keep the summer vibes rolling”.

This show features an interview with the Manager of special events for the city of Kitchener, Steve Roth, who speaks about the inaugural Endless Summer music festival taking place in the Victoria Park Commons on Saturday the 7th. The free event runs from 2-11pm.

Blue Moon Marquee performing on a stage at Bluesfest with blue lighting.

Final night of Bluesfest interrupted by power outage

July 15, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

Bluesfest’s final night took place yesterday, Sunday the 14th, and the festival went out with a bang.

A power outage in the west Centretown area affected parts of LeBreton Flats where the festival was taking place. From about 5:45pm to 9:00pm, Bluesfest lost power but quickly set up generators to handle performances from “Blues in Schools” and “Be in the Band” programs.

Power was restored in under four hours, allowing main headliner, Nas, to perform the final show without any hiccups.

To hear more information about Bluesfest’s final night and other stories in the Ottawa region, listen to the 95.7 ELMNT FM news brief.

A covered stage with a lone musician with a guitar and people sitting on the ground watching.

Midsummer Music Festival a homecoming for local talents making it big in the city

July 10, 2024 by Dan Mesec

The Midsummer Music Festival celebrated its 41st birthday in Smithers this past weekend, with acts and audience members coming from all over BC, Canada and the world.

This year’s line-up had lots of home-grown talent on the bill, musicians that started off their careers and formed their musical foundations in the Bulkley Valley, only to move away and make it big. Local musicians such as Theresa Bromley from Pony Gold, Toby Moisey from Major Funk and Juno award winner Dan Mangan, all hail from Smithers.

The Midsummer Music Festival, which began in 1983, has grown from a small local gathering into a provincial, and even national event. Over the years, the festival has expanded both in size and scope. It now features a diverse array of musical genres, from folk and country, rock to electronic and everything in between.

*Toby Moisey and Adrian Burrill from Major Funk performing at the 41st Midsummer Music Festival at the Smithers fairgrounds. Photo: Daniel Mesec*

A man with brown hair and a beard wearing a graphic t-shirt holds up a panel of multicolour guitar pedals.

Supercool Pedals: Peterborough-based guitar effects pedals receive international recognition

July 2, 2024 by Edward Sweeney

Peterborough-based musician Jamie Muir owns and operates Supercool Pedals, a guitar effects pedal business. Muir started Supercool Pedals in 2019 but recently received international recognition when his newest pedal was featured in Premier Guitar magazine.

“They awarded it the eponymous ‘Premier Gear’ award,” says Muir; an award given to a single piece of “gear” in each issue.

Muir describes guitar effects pedals as devices that help “musicians and guitarists find their own sound.” But Muir also thinks of his pedals as “little pieces of art,” including unique and memorable designs inspired by pop-culture.

Muir hopes Supercool Pedals can grow and become his primary source of income within the year. For now, his products can be found on his website and at a local music store, Maar’s Music.

Listen to CFFF’s story to learn more.

a woman sits at her desk facing the camera in her office at School District 54.

The power of collaboration explored through a Reconciliation songwriting project

June 28, 2024 by Pamela Haasen

A group of musicians have created a song to tell the story of the Wet’suwet’en peoples resilience in overcoming colonial laws that restricted celebrations, pot latches, hunts, and land sovereignty.

On Friday June 21st, the song was presented publicly during a National Indigenous Peoples Day ceremony. The final piece will be completed in time for Truth and Reconciliations Day on September 30th, 2024 where it will be available online.

The Wet’suwet’en word for the title – ‘Trail of Song’ – is ‘kenga’. A music teacher at Telkwa Elementary school, Brennan Anderson, wrote a proposal to School District 54 about this collaboration between Cree Nehiyawak Metis hip-hop artist Travis Hiebert, Lisa Conway (Montreal music producer), local musicians and producers, three school choirs, and Wet’suwet’ten drummers.

Jana Fox, SD 54’s Assistant Superintendent said this project was granted “because it focused on reconciliation, but also because it is not limited to one school.”

A man with a reddish beard wearing a black Tshirt and ball cap stands with his arms crossed in front of him smiling at the camera.

Alderville First Nation musician Cale Crowe releasing new music

June 27, 2024 by Jeff Gard

Cale Crowe says his new music coming out at the end of the summer is “the most in tune with the vision that I’ve had for my music from the beginning.”

CFWN caught up with Alderville First Nation musician Cale Crowe to talk about his new single, Only, and other new music he expects to release later this summer.

Crowe also spoke about the inspiration for his music as well as his Indigenous background, how he previously tried to keep that separate from his music. He also talks about his busy schedule this summer.

He will perform at the Cobourg Waterfront Festival this Sunday at 2:45 p.m. at the bandshell and will open for Aysanabee on Wednesday at Peterborough Music Fest.

Check out his full schedule at calecrowe.com and find his music on all platforms.

Nine people stand together on a wooden stage behind a red ribbon which they are cutting. There are amplifiers, microphones and a guitar on the stage.

Derelict WW II training base becomes new cultural destination

June 19, 2024 by Brenda Little

A new cultural centre and neighbourhood is rising out of the ruins of a World War 2 military base just outside of Picton in Prince Edward County.

The site of the air training base was known as Camp Picton and was an operational military base until 1969. It was purchased by PEC Community Partners in 2021, and since then it has been undergoing an extensive and ambitious revitalization of many of the heritage buildings. Its new name is Base 31.

Led by CEO and Order of Canada recipient Tim Jones and Chief Placemaker Assaf Weisz, Base 31 will be the heart of a 750 acre future development which will include a range of housing to form neighbourhoods with retail, restaurants, parks and places to work and create.

Last Saturday was the grand opening of The Commissary, an open air food and drink market at Base 31. CJPE attended the opening.

man standing on the street infront of a nightclub, with background blurred in fastforward photography

José Ortega de Lula Music y LulaWorld Festival, Fomentando el Desarrollo Artístico Local

June 7, 2024 by Paula Videla-Rodriguez

Lulaworld Festival celebra su 18º aniversario y ha evolucionado para incluir una mayor participación de diversas comunidades étnicas. Este año, el festival destaca por sus colaboraciones interculturales y mezclas únicas, reflejando el crecimiento continuo y la integración de diferentes culturas en la escena artística de Toronto.

En la siguente historia, el co-fundador de Lula Lounge, José Ortega, nos ofrece una entrevista que da una mirada profunda al historial de Lula, desde sus modestos inicios con la idea de compartir la cultura, hasta convertirse en un próspero centro de expresión artística y diversidad, con el festival, Lula Lounge y su sello discográfico.

José ve a Lula como parte integral de la historia de la inmigración y la cultura en Canadá, contribuyendo a la riqueza cultural del país y ofreciendo un espacio inclusivo donde todas las culturas pueden converger y florecer.

A man and a woman stand in a room with art on the walls. They are holding a colourful painting. The man on the left has salt and pepper hair with tinted glasses. The woman on the right has long blond hair.

Gallery 244’s Carnival showcases creative community

June 6, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Sue and Chres Jensen moved to Nova Scotia from Alberta three years ago. Since then, they’ve carved out a distinctive space for the creative community at their gallery in Brooklyn.

They are the owners of an art gallery, Gallery 244, just outside Liverpool, and they are bringing together creative types of all kinds for an event they’re calling Carnival on Saturday.

The couple – Sue is a musician, Chres is a visual artist – wanted the event to be as individual as their gallery and the other artists they’ve met.

They opened the gallery a couple of years ago, turning a building that used to be a gas station into a space that now features work from half a dozen local artists. It also has a cozy music room in the old service station’s attached garage.

The free event at Gallery 244 will showcase art, music, poetry, henna body art, laser engraving, hula hooping and even some osteopathy.

Dozens of of people outside at a festival. There is a main stage, tents and vendors and people on camping chairs and towels.

Backyard Fest plays on in Nanaimo

May 15, 2024 by Lauryn Mackenzie

After almost cancelling for the year, downtown Nanaimo music festival Backyard Fest is once again rocking out over the May long weekend.

This is the fifth year running for the festival, which takes place in the backyard of the vintage music and stereo store Sound Heritage.

The festival originally started in 2017 as “Festival Lemieux” in memory of Anton Lemieux, son of the then Sound Heritage owner. Those who knew Anton decided to put on the festival in Anton’s honour and to raise awareness about drug use.

CHLY talks with Dave Read, an organizer for the festival along with being a downtown record shop owner and performer. CHLY speaks with him about this year’s festival and the hard work put in by festival organizers and City of Nanaimo staff to keep it going.

A man stands in front of a podium under the lights in a dark room. A band is behind him watching him talk. A graphic on the stage behind the musicians says "Capital Music Awards 2023"

Ottawa music industry facing ‘boom’ of new musicians according to local music coalition

April 30, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is seeing more musicians joining their coalition since the pandemic provided a period of creativity to aspiring artists.

Melanie Brulée, executive director of the OMIC is encouraged to see this level of growth.

The City of Ottawa is well known for its love of music, Brulée said, and that the love has grown more intense since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This growth within Ottawa allows for the Capital Music Awards to shine a spotlight on all Ottawa musicians, which will be held this year on May 16.

To hear more about the OMIC’s mission to grow a healthy music industry in Ottawa and the Capital Music Awards, listen to the 95.7 ELMNT FM interview with Melanie Brulée.

Mikhail Laxton sitting on a white three seater couch holding a guitar. A hat is face up beside him.

Mikhail Laxton’s debut album nominated for Capital Music Awards

April 30, 2024 by Vanessa Landriault

Mikhail Laxton, an Ottawa based singer songwriter, has been nominated for the Capital Music Awards (CMA) after releasing his debut album in the summer of 2023.

The album, inspired by the loss of his loved ones, was created as a coping mechanism to help him get through his grief and songs dating back to 2020, when his grief was new and fresh, are featured on this album.

ELMNT FM had the chance to interview Mikhail Laxton regarding his recent nomination and how his loss affected his album. To hear what he had to say, listen to the 95.7 ELMNT FM interview.

Kitchener’s inaugural Endless Summer music festival aims to “keep the summer vibes rolling”

Final night of Bluesfest interrupted by power outage

Midsummer Music Festival a homecoming for local talents making it big in the city

Supercool Pedals: Peterborough-based guitar effects pedals receive international recognition

The power of collaboration explored through a Reconciliation songwriting project

Alderville First Nation musician Cale Crowe releasing new music

Derelict WW II training base becomes new cultural destination

José Ortega de Lula Music y LulaWorld Festival, Fomentando el Desarrollo Artístico Local

Gallery 244’s Carnival showcases creative community

Backyard Fest plays on in Nanaimo

Ottawa music industry facing ‘boom’ of new musicians according to local music coalition

Mikhail Laxton’s debut album nominated for Capital Music Awards

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