Crooked Still are, according to the Boston Globe, “the most important folk group to emerge from Boston since the early ’60s”.

Watch Crooked Still video - Shrewsbury Folk festival in England:

The group has received invitations from huge events like the historic Newport and Telluride Festivals in addition to numerous rave reviews from such publications as USA Today and Interview Magazine.

The group performs one of the most compelling forms of alternative bluegrass and string band music today.

Originally a quartet they lost their cellist over a year ago and the remaining members augmented with two new members bringing the number to five. The current incarnation has proven to be a great success and their latest recording, Still Crooked has been received with critical and public acclaim.

The music remains impossible to pigeonhole – inspired and adventurous while honouring Crooked Still’s folk roots.

Crooked Still
Sunday, March 15, 2009
8:30PM
@ Hugh’s Room
2261, Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada
$16adv./$18 door
For reservations call 416.531.6604
www.hughsroom.com

Crooked Still Official Website

“Tom Russell’s not famous, but his songs are. Russell could care less about fame. He’s all about strong songs – and his work has been recorded by Johnny Cash, Ian Tyson and k.d. lang among others”.

So begins an interview with Canwest News Service in advance of a Canadian tour that brings this tremendous artist to Hugh’s Room in Toronto next Friday.

This native Californian has lived in many countries on several continents and his songs reflect the diverse people he has met along the way who are dealing with day to day struggles – particularly the plight of immigrants.

Make this a very lucky Friday 13th and hear a master wordsmith at work!

Friday, March 13, 2009
8:30pm
Tom Russell @ Hugh’s Room
2261, Dundas Street West, Toronto
$28.50 adv./$32.50 door
For reservations call 416.531.6604
www.hughsroom.com

Tom Russell Official Website

Songwriter/Producer/Engineer and Mixer Sarah Shafey has created something unique in her hometown of Toronto that has her working with indie musicians from all walks of life.

She started out by studying classical piano at the Royal Conservatory for nine years and continued on to take up the guitar, harmonica, vocals, song-writing, engineering, and producing, “the second I downloaded my first demo of Fruity Loops my mind opened up into new dimensions.” She quickly became hungry to learn more about composition and how to infuse new technology with classic live instrumentation.

Shafey spent her life living across the globe and this is clearly evident in her song-writing and production. She flawlessly takes her love of all genres and fuses them together to create her own sound.

Her first self-titled demo was released on Feb 4th, 2007. It is an infusion of rich electronic and pop textures with conscious lyrics that stem from her love for politically savvy music and artists such as Ani Difranco, Ben Harper, Cat Stevens, Radiohead, and Zero 7. On Dec 15th, 2008 Sarah Shafey digitally released her first full-length album ‘Tiny Music Box’ through new technology DropCards.com.

Fully produced by Shafey, this album emphasizes her skillful piano playing but also shows off her knack for picking up any instrument and making it her own unique sound. All fourteen tracks explore various genres seamlessly and take her listeners around the globe with songs such as arabic “Be Shweesh” and “C’est Demain” a French track that can be compared to the likes of famed storyteller Edith Piaf.

This coming January 28th, 2009 you can catch Sarah Shafey performing songs from her album for her CD Release party.

Opening act: Mike Celia

Where: The Rivoli (334 Queen st. w)
Time: Doors @ 9pm/ Showtime @ 9:30pm
Cost: $8 in advance/$10 at the door
Tickets can be purchased at Soundscapes (572 College st.)

Sarah Shafey MySpace
Sarah Shafey Official Website

Following the success of their debut EP, ‘Met a Man on Top of the Hill’, Toronto’s The Midway State is back with their debut LP ‘Holes’.

Due out in the US in 2009 via Remedy/Interscope, ‘Holes’ is already turning a lot of heads in Canada. Both “Never Again” and “Change For You” are currently on the Billboard Canadian Emerging Artist Chart, repectively at #8 and #20. The Midway State has also made it up to #14 on the MySpace Canada Top Artists Chart.

Download “Never Again” MP3

Recorded in the outskirts of Toronto at the legendary Metalworks Studios, ‘Holes’ is a piano-driven pop/rock album that glistens with refined melodies, raw emotion, and massive sing-a-long hooks. Although frequently compared to Ben Folds, their sound is truly a unique concoction of assured songwriting built on keyboardist/singer Nathan Ferraro’s admiration of classic, gimmick-free artists.

Watch “Never Again” video:

Currently #18 on the Much Music Weekly Countdown, the video’s high-level energy and developing story are keeping people coming back for more.

For more information, please visit:

The Midway State Official Website
MySpace
Facebook

“It’s colourful” says drummer Daniel Woodhead. “It jumps out at you, catches you off guard and takes you to other places.”

Toronto’s Spiral Beach have been drawing much attention lately to their strange and dynamic energy, and will certainly be catching the ears of many with the release of their album ‘Ball’ this October on Sparks Music. Their debut single “Voodoo” is set for release June 2nd, 2008.

“We’ve been together with these four members the whole way so far, and have made every decision ourselves, so why throw that power away? There’s a whole lot more we can do together.”

Daniel and his brother Airick form the songwriting core of the band, which formed backstage at folk festivals around Ontario where bassist David Woodhead was a constant presence. At their parent’s annual New Years Day party they befriended fellow folkie offspring Maddy Wilde, and in February 2003 a permanent lineup was solidified with bassist Dorian Wolf, a transplant from New York City and school friend of Daniel’s.

Ball’s release comes on the heels of the band’s first cross-Canada tour, a journey that Daniel describes as “mind-expanding”. However, this isn’t the band’s first major outing, as they’ve already toured in the United States with fellow Torontonians the Hidden Cameras last November, and again with Sloan this past spring.

These successes on the road haven’t kept the band from finding a place for itself in Toronto’s thriving music community though, where their shows have become notorious for the raw energy and surprising musical ability that seems to draw both young and old crowds.

“Definitely playing Elvis Mondays was a really important step for us” Daniel recalls, referring to the free Monday nights at the Drake held by longtime Toronto music maverick William New. The band played his shows weekly surrounding the release of their 2005 independant self-titled debut, drawing bigger and more energized crowds with each successive gig.

During that time they experimented with the visuals that now form an important part of their stage show, as well as introducing chaotic improvised sections into their sets, a move that never ceases to startle audiences into further appreciation for these young players’ natural charisma and enthusiasm onstage.

In December of 2006, the band was featured on the cover of NOW Magazine, and has enjoyed the favour of music critics across Canada, with feature reviews in Exclaim, Eye Weekly, the Ottawa Express and popular music BLOG I(heart)music. A last-minute appearance on MTV Canada Live in July 2007 received praise for the band’s apparent disregard for the show’s sterile aesthetic, bringing a vibrant and much-needed splash of excitement to the typically tame studio taping.

After spending much of the fall and winter on the road, Spiral Beach relocated to a converted barn outside Hamilton in February 2007 to record the material they had been touring, recruiting Hidden Cameras cellist Mike Olsen to co-produce and engineer.

The well-rehearsed songs were recorded live off the floor. “It was like a document of what the band actually sounded like at that moment – we just wanted to perfect the sound we already had” says Daniel. After a week in New York City mixing with Medeski Martin & Wood producer Scotty Hard, the band literally went broke, returning to Toronto to let Airick and Daniel finish the project themselves.

‘BALL’ is a collection of songs that musically reflect the kaleidoscopic live show that Spiral Beach puts on, full of ideas and textures that the band translates to the stage with expertise, where the visual and sonic elements complement each other perfectly. A genuine air of excitement surrounds this band, and their ambition and potential seems limitless.

Spiral Beach band members are: Daniel and Airick Woodhead, Maddy Wilde, and Dorian Wolf.

Listen to the “Voodoo” single:

Download: Voodoo-rm-128.rm
Stream: Voodoo-rm-128.rm

Download: Voodoo-wm-128.wma
Stream: Voodoo-wm-128.wma

Spiral Beach tour dates:

Dates could change! Go to Spiral Beach’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

14 March 2008 SXSW at Chain Drive, Austin, Texas
15 March 2008 SXSW Showcase at Momo’s, Austin, Texas
27 March 2008 The Montreal House, Peterborough, Ontario
3 April 2008 The Phog Lounge, Windsor, Ontario
4 April 2008 Barrymore’s Music Hall, Ottawa, Ontario
25 July 2008 HILLSIDE FESTIVAL, Guelph, Ontario

Spiral Beach on Myspace
Spiral Beach Official Website

“These polished professionals bring an album to the table that not only possesses superior lyrics but infectious calypso/reggae beats that will have you shaking your shins and jumping up for an impromptu dance no matter where your cubicle may be located” – Silverfish Magazine

Since the November release of their much-acclaimed debut album ‘Independence’, Kobo Town has been performing at venues and festivals throughout Canada, most recently and they are currently preparing for a busy summer of touring throughout Canada and the United States. They were recently joined by the Mexican-Canadian collaboration The People Project for a nationwide broadcast on CBC Radio One’s worldly, genre-bending program “Fuse.”

Founded by singer-songwriter, Drew Gonsalves, Kobo Town is a six- piece outfit which explores the rich musical heritage of Trinidad and the Anglo-Caribbean. In their music, bottle and spoon rhythms, syncopated flute melodies, strumming cuatros, and heavy reggae bass lines engage and underscore the tradition of satirical storytelling that lies at the center of Trinidad’s foremost lyrical art.

Kobo Town is a member of the MusicDish Network, a complete artist development program, leveraging brand development, saturated and relationship marketing, digital distribution and industry outreach to support emerging artists’ and bands’ careers.

Montreal Jazz Festival
Kobo Town on Myspace

Mavis Drive recently won 3rd place in 97.7 HtzFM Rocksearch 2007. They are quickly growing in popularity and have developed a fan base in Toronto. Ready to hit the world with their new CD, the band recently traveled to Los Angeles, CA to record with Mike K (a studio-guitar player and producer who worked with Edwin, J. Englishman, Nelly Furtado, and others as well as composing for several Network TV shows) to produce their latest CD.

The current line-up of Mavis Drive is Mass Chiantia (Lead Vocals), Mike Perfetti(Drums/Background Vocals), and brothers – Peter Macukic (Guitar/Background Vocals), and Chris Macukic (Bass) has been together since the summer of 2002. In that same year they recorded their first EP consisting of 6 songs with John Pacheco. In the following year that same 6 song EP got them attention from singer/songwriter Raine Maida of the established Canadian act Our Lady Peace. They opened for Our Lady Peace in 2003. The band also performed with Big Collapse. By 2005, Mavis Drive have written many songs which is when they started working with Mike K which lead them recording their current album.

Mavis Drive is currently unsigned and is co-managed by Chris Free and Susie Hu of Freebird Management. Freebird Management is currently shopping them around to record labels and is currently booking gigs and for film/TV soundtracks. Mavis Drive can be found at http://www.myspace.com/mavisdrive ,http://www.mavisdrive.com/ or their EPK at http://www.sonicbids.com/mavisdriveband

Contact:

Freebird Management
Chris Free
615-866-1325
info@freebirdmanagement.com

To begin, the 80’s rock band Toronto released 4 Gold and Platinum albums in the late 70’s/early 80’s that sold 660,000 units in Canada and resulted in seven Top 40 hits in Canada and the US. It was, in a nutshell, a Canadian success story.

Then things changed. In 1985, Toronto’s label, Solid Gold Records, went into receivership which forced the band into splitting up. Not only were band members scattered around the country in the midst of a tour, but 30,000 copies of their latest album, Assault and Flattery, were immediately pulled from the shelves.

Two of the members, Holly Woods and Scott Kreyer, regrouped and continued on to a studio in Atlanta to record new tracks with famed producer Sonny Limbo. The album was shopped around but labels shied away fearing repercussions from Solid Gold. With the unexpected death of Sonny a few years later, any hope of finding a home for the recordings died with him. It would have appeared that fate was against them and the material would never see the light of day. The tapes were shelved for over twenty years in a climate controlled warehouse.

Today, twenty-one years later, these “lost masters” have been resurrected and with it, the most powerful recorded performance of Holly Woods’ career. Featuring eight soulful and hard rocking hits, and the undeniable signature vocals of Holly Woods, the album is sure to satisfy any fans of Holly Woods and Toronto.

In a recent interview Holly says: “I appreciate the Toronto experience we had, but Scott and I have been writing partners and friends long before there was Toronto so we moved on into our own songwriting/production team effort without a ripple. This CD represents the roots and sound of our songwriting for over 20 years. The songs we write are still in the same groove as the way we wrote them back then…. rock, R&B and blues in every note, with no expiration date included!!”

Set to be released in spring 2007, “Live It Up!” will again put Holly Woods back in the forefront of great Canadian rock.

www.cyclonerecords.ca

In 1985, Toronto’s label, Solid Gold Records, went into receivership which forced the band into splitting up. Two of the members, Holly Woods and Scott Kreyer, regrouped and continued on to a studio in Atlanta to record new tracks however, before the sessions were complete their producer, Sonny Limbo, also died suddenly. The album was shopped around but labels shied away fearing repercussions from Solid Gold. It would have appeared that fate was against them and the material would never see the light of day. The tapes were shelved for over twenty years in a climate controlled warehouse.

Just recently, Cyclone Records acquired the rights to the “lost” master and is now releasing it as an 8 song album entitled “Holly Woods-Live It Up!” in Spring 2007.

You can access tracks on the Podsafe Music Network page here.

You can also find more information on the band here:

Holly Woods on CycloneRecords.ca
Holly Woods on MySpace
Holly Woods on Podsafe Music Network
Holly Woods on Wikipedia.org
Toronto on Wikipedia.org

http://www.musicdish.net/nmw/
http://www.newmusicwest.com

MusicDish founder Eric de Fontenay will also be presenting his seminar “Are You Ready To Innovate In The Digital Marketplace?” at NewMusicWest 2007, the largest and most influential new music festival on the West Coast, attracting businesses and individuals from all over North America.

The ‘10th Anniversary’ Showcase Series represent a determined effort by MusicDish to increase its Canadian presence and support emerging talent. The series inaugural event during Canadian Music Week created some buzz in Toronto, in addition to packing the Trane Studio where it was held, with a feature on the cover of the April Toronto Star Life Section and coverage by Live Music Report. The series will make a comeback to Toronto in June for NXNE, with more cities and dates to be announced.

MUSICDISH ‘10TH ANNIVERSARY’ VANCOUVER SHOWCASE
Official New Music West 2007 Showcase
WHERE: Library Square
300 W. Georgia St., Vancouver
tel: 604 633-9644
http://www.librarysquare.ca
LINE-UP: Blue Venus, Greenlaw, Rose Beach

ROSE BEACH
Rose Beach’s debut CD “Family Love” boasts mature songs that blend a folk singer’s lyrical depth, a pop singer’s catchy melodies, and a hip hop diva’s sultry yet raw vocal power into a unique sound. Starting in the underground – the streets of Vancouver and Tokyo – she is rising into the musical mainstream. She has sold more than  50,000 records in Japan, where she has performs weekly at many of Tokyo’s famous clubs, including the world renown Club Asia, as well as events for companies ranging from Lush and Diesel to Asahi and Mac. Rose started her career In Vancouver where she fronted a trip hop band called The Loxley Project. At the same time, she began to build a love affair with Japan, developing on her solo work in the  energy of the Tokyo music scene.
Rose Beach:
http://www.musicdish.net/rosebeach/

GREENLAW
Gracing stages from St Petersburgh, Russia to Toronto, Canada’s Greenlaw is paving the way for their much anticipated debut album with Formation Records due for International release Oct 2007. Greenlaw’s earthy soul sound is a new direction for the UK based DnB label but is one that is definitely turning heads. Front woman Skyla J comes with powerful thought provoking lyrics presented with an angelic molasses like voice that is sweet enough to be compared to an early Jill Scott meets Indie Irie by UK’s F magazine. Winners of the “most memorable show of 2004″(Monday Mag Victoria B.C) the band released their full length studio album in 2005  entitled Time and  Energy that was quickly hailed by CBC Radio 1 as one of the “top albums of 2005″. Recently the band has been nominated for an Indy  Award in London England. Greenlaw has also been featured at top festivals, showcases and venues throughout North America, Europe and the UK.
Greenlaw:
http://www.greenlawave.com

BLUEVENUS
Founded in 1998 by singer/songwriter and violinist Andrea de Boer,  blueVenus developed into a unique musical experience with influences  ranging from Indie Pop/Rock to Jazz, Latin and Electronica. After releasing their debut EP, which was co-produced by L. Stu Young (Prince) and Iain McNally (Amanda Marshall), they toured Germany and Turkey, with a core following already established in Toronto and  Boston. Receiving regular ariplay in Canada on CBC and internet radio stations, blueVenus is also highly regarded as a noteworthy live act, achieving two nominations at the 2006 Toronto Independent Musicians Awards (TIMA) for “Best Jazz” and “Best Live Acoustic Act”. Their song “Get It Now” won honourable mention at Billboard Song Contest in 2005 and continues to get airplay in Canada and Europe. Currently, blueVenus is working on new material for their next full-length album.
blueVenus:
http://www.bluevenusmusic.com

Brent Hagermank of Canada’s Exclaim! magazine took note of Kobo Town’s lyrical prowess when he wrote, “Like the great Calypsonians of his birthplace in Port-of-Spain (Lord Kitchener, the Mighty Sparrow), Toronto-based songwriter Drew Gonsalves constructs incisive social commentary with humour, panache and unforgettable rhythm/melody combinations.”

Trinidadian-born Nick “The Brownman” Ali, one of Canada’s most critically acclaimed jazz trumpet players, says, “I couldn’t help but be struck with the sparse and languid vibrations, yet layered in vocal poignancy with lyrics embodying the best in the Trinidadian spirit of storytelling.”

The Indie Acoustic Project Award’s purpose is to raise awareness of indie artists and to recognize excellence in independent acoustic music from around the world.  For more information, please visit www.indieacoustic.com

Named after the vibrant and turbulent neighborhood in old Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where calypso was born, Kobo Town strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. For members of the eight-piece outfit, the name suggests an origin as well as a destination. Founded in 2006 by bandleader Drew Gonsalves, Kobo Town has received acclaim from the media (Blogcritics Best International Album of 2006) and radio airplay across Canada (CBC Radio One’s “Fresh Air”), as well as being called on to perform at clubs and Festivals all over North America (Soul Jazz Festival in San Francisco).

Kobo Town’s debut CD, ‘Independence’ draws heavily upon the sounds of traditional calypso, roots reggae and dub poetry. The album is a collection of stories which offer a running commentary on a wide variety of social and political themes including domestic violence, homelessness, globalization, the war on Iraq, and the various frustrations and betrayals of the post-colonial era. The music on ‘Independence’ showcases bottle and spoon rhythms, syncopated flute and violin melodies, strumming cuatros, and heavy reggae bass lines which indicate a marriage between West Indian music’s old and new – a dialogue between a fading folkloric tradition and the sounds that prevail in our time.

For more information on Kobo Town, visit: http://www.kobotown.com or http://www.myspace.com/kobotown

Kobo Town produced and self-released their debut album “Independence” in November 2006. It was named by Blogcritics as the best International album of the last year. CBC Radio One’s “Fresh Air” and “Big City Small World” radio shows also chose the record among their Top 10 lists for 2006. Finally, The Live Music Report had this to say about the record after placing it on their Top 10 list of outstanding 2006 discoveries:

“It is daunting to attempt to describe a CD created by a poet with the eloquence of Trinidadian-born Drew Gonsalves. His ‘St. James’ would fit nicely in an anthology of Caribbean and Caribbean-born poets that would also include the works of Linton Kwesi Johnson. Some heavy material, but there is levity too — and rhythm! Lots of sounds to savour.”

“Intoxicating calypso rhythms held straight with a reggae backbone is the best way to describe this Toronto based group’s sound… “Independence” shows how music can be the voice of the people and that the message always rises from ashes. One of the most beautifully intelligent releases…ever!” – IndependentsOnly

Drawing heavily upon the sounds of traditional calypso, roots reggae and dub poetry, the album is a collection of stories which offer a running commentary on a wide variety of social and political themes including domestic violence, homelessness, globalization, the war on Iraq, and the various frustrations and betrayals of the post-colonial era. Named after the vibrant and turbulent neighborhood in old Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, where calypso was born, the group strives to recover the social conscience, satirical storytelling and strong acoustic/organic rhythms that characterized Trinidadian music in the past. For members of the eight-piece outfit, the name suggests an origin as well as a destination.

Independence was co-produced by Lyndon Livingstone (David Rudder, Andre Tanker, Mighty Scrunter) and Drew Gonsalves at the Razorshop in Maraval, Trinidad. Independence will be available for download through CD Baby, iTunes, Music Discovery Network, Calabash Music and select online retailers. For more information or to hear advance tracks from the album, please visit, http://www.kobotown.com.

Eric recently returned from MIDEM music conference in Cannes, France, where he gave a seminar entitled ‘Are You Ready To Innovate in the Digital Marketplace?’ “The music industry is moving faster than it ever has before,” Eric was quoted in MIDEM ‘The News’ magazine. “You know need to innovate on a continuous basis, and not all music industry professionals are wired to do that. Music has been at the forefront of being challenged by technological change. It’s like a game of chess: you always need to be two steps ahead.”

MusicDish will also be hosting it’s “10th Anniversary” official CMW showcase on March 8th at the Trane Studio, (964 Bathurst street – 2 blocks North of Bloor St. – Toronto). The line-up includes an impressive array of Canadian acts, including Kobo Town, Souljazz Orchestra, Rich Brown & rinsethealgorithm, Melissa Laveaux and Caroline Glass. Information and online tracks will be available shortly at http://www.musicdish.net/cmw

About “The New Gold Rush: How To Make Money In The Digital Age”
Sure, the “new economy” looks like peaches ready to be picked. Ringtones, video games, advertising commercials, record download sales, motion picture/TV song licensing, webcasting, music boxes, dolls, toys… the market for your music seems almost limitless. But our embrace of the digital music marketplace has stirred a hornet’s nest of issues regarding pricing, royalties and mechanisms for licensing and payment. To a large extent, copyright law and contract language have become anachronistic. This panel will assess how digital revenue streams work now (or don’t), and how they might in the future.

Moderator
David Basskin – President, CMRRA, Toronto
Panelist
Mario Bouchard – General Council, The Copyright Board of Canada, Ottawa, ON
Eric De Fontenay – Founder, MusicDish, Astoria, NY
Bob Kohn – Chairman & CEO, RoyaltyShare Inc.,
Kelli Richards – President, The All Access Group, Saratoga, CA
John Simson – Executive Director, SoundExchange, Washing DC
Darryl Ballantyne – President & CEO, LyricFind, Toronto

About Eric de Fontenay
Eric de Fontenay has spent his career steeped in what has been called the “digital revolution.” As a telecom consultant, he worked on some of the most pressing regulatory & policy issues confronting major stakeholders from Europe to Australia/NZ. Making an early bet on the music sector, he built in 1997 what has become some of the leading voices in the growing debates shaping the entertainment industry through its trade e-publications MusicDish and Mi2N. He later expanded the company into brand development and artist management, while himself diving into management with World Calypso band Kobo Town. Eric is a regular speaker at forums ranging from MIDEM to the Harvard Law School and has been hosting showcases in New York city under the ‘Listen Liberally’ brand.

About MusicDish, LLC
MusicDish, LLC (http://www.musicdish.com) has been at the forefront of the digital music sector, publishing some of the industry’s leading music magazine, including MusicDish.com and Mi2N.com. Through the MusicDish Network (http://www.musicdish.net), it supports the development of artists and labels through saturated marketing and online brand development, whether online street teams or p2p viral distribution.

About Canadian Music Week (CMW) International
Celebrating 25 years, Canadian Music Week International is Canada’s largest annual entertainment event attracting music, media and entertainment professionals from across the globe. Combining two information-intensive conferences; a cutting-edge trade exposition, five awards shows and Canada’s biggest New Music Festival, CMW is the official meeting ground for those who shape the industry. March 7 – 10, 2007 in Toronto, Canada.

www.cmw.net