Shwarock City two piece Crown Lands are going from strength to strength. Kevin Comeau and Cody Bowles are heading east from VanCity with Protest The Hero and Coheed and Cambria through Canada and then heading through the States with Primus. Just before all of this kicked off I had a chance to hang out with the Crown Lands as part of a TV show on the arts in Oshawa. Its called Renaissance Man and was produced by Empty Cup Media. It is now available on Bell Media Fibe TV1. Curiously one of the bands discussed was Protest The Hero.
A Tribe Called Red to close out Hillside 2018
By Will McGuirk
No skipping out early at Hillside this year, nope, phone in something on Monday because the Halluci-Nation are taking over Sunday evening and it is going to be a spectacular celebration not to be missed.
A Tribe Called Red have been announced as the closer for the Guelph-based music festival taking place on Guelph Island July 13-15.
And thats in addition to one of the most exciting and varied line-up in some time with Destroyer, Lido Pimienta, Hollerado, Plants and Animals, U.S. Girls, Cadence Weapon, Tamarack, Chad VanGaalen as well as Slowcity.ca pals Mappe Of, Annie Sumi and Crown Lands. Plus of course so much more, three days of so much more!
Canadian Music Week: Where the Oshawa/Durham bands at?
By Will McGuirk
CMW kicked off Monday May 7 and continues right through until Sunday. Among the hundreds of acts playing there are a few well known acts but thats the key to CMW; its a showcase of the new, the emerging, the bubbling under. With scores of venues, affordable ticketing and a slew of activities and events such as panel discussions, award shows, trade shows, an international showcase focus on the USA for 2018, a hackathon, summits, and a film festival there's no excuse to not get out and enjoy the week. Go see the next big thing now and get the bragging rights. Some of the existing big things involved or performing include Mudhoney, Sloan, Nile Rodgers, Bob Lefsetz, Steve Horowitz and Denise Donlon.
Some of the Oshawa/Durham kats involved include
May 9 Beams @ Lee Palace, Lindi Ortega @ Mod Club
May 10 Jaunt @ Garrison, Do Good Badlies @ Dakota Tavern, West Hammock @ Adelaide Hall
May 11 Crown Lands @ Phoenix
May 12 Sarah Fazackerley @ Paddock, The Standstills @ Horseshoe
Crown Lands, Mappe Off and Annie Sumi announced for Hillside, runs July 13-15 2018
By Will McGuirk
Hillside 2018 is going to be a lot of fun. The annual music fest in Guelph always is really but with three of my fave Durham Region acts on the bill its going to be even more so. All three, Crown Lands, Mappe Of and Annie Sumi are doing fine work, building and garnering even more attention as the days go by.
Crown Lands retro-psyche rawk, Mappe Of's prog-folk ramblings and Sumi's darling meditations are just a few of the great acts coming outta the Region, count Dizzy, Chastity, West Hammock, Matlock Expressway, Rory Taillon among those you will see and hear more of at festivals this year.
Its a good time in the D-Rawk however its odd I am also engaged in a FB conversation about how the Oshawa city staff are failing local acts by not booking them for their city-run events. Lot of work to do yet I guess but at least other communities are digging our kats and giving them a stage.
Hillside announced its full line up for its stages today and as per usual its as much on the edge as it ever was. Destroyer!! Yes!! Adrian Underhill, Chad Van Gaalen, U.S. Girls, Partner, Walrus and Cancon classy folk trio Tamarack. Too many for me to bother typing but reality is Hillside is one of the highlights of the summer and more so when spent seeing pals get the accolades so justly deserved. Get your tickets, get your camping sites, get on it.
Crown Lands release video for 'Mountain' on Global Citizen
By Will McGuirk
Crown Lands will perform Saturday Apr 12 in Vancouver for Global Citizen Live along with Sam Roberts Band, the Elwins, and Horsepower. The concert takes place at the Commodore Ballroom. Its the launch for the Be The Generation campaign by Global Citizen, a movement to end extreme poverty by 2030. It also celebrates the legacy of Nelson Mandela who would have turned 100 this year.
Crown Lands have debuted their new video for the track "Mountain' from their EP, 'Rise Over Ruin' on Global Citizen's website. The song speaks to the plight of indigenous people in Canada and there is also an interview with the band on the site so go check that out and go sign up and be that generation because, lord knows, my generation and the previous one are leaving yours one fucked planet.
Although some of us did try to fix it up a bit.
Celebrate St. Pats day in Downtown Oshawa with wild local music
Oshawa digs deep into its own scene to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. If overpriced green beer, squeaky reels and sad songs about the old sod are not your bag step away from the bar and get to the clubs for some sounds of the city, Shwarock style.
Its been a while since the Standstills have rocked this town. They are in tonight for a hometown gig at the Oshawa Music Hall. They have a new single out at the end of the month. The next gen Crown Lands are also on the bill. Don't be fooled by each act only having two members - this is going to be loud.
We suggest you get to the Moustache Club early as the bad lads in Tijuana Jesus are quite likely to drink all of the beer tonight. Its a full bill with four acts; Fish Head Phil, Bad Waitress and Thrash Eater are also in the house. There will be a selection of local breweries onsite too so this one goes deep deep in to the culture of the D-Rock.
There's a somewhat softer twanginess to the tunes from GT Harris and the Gunslingers who are playing at the Atria. There's a fiddle so if you are going to seek out fiddle music tonight then this is where you want to be. They shall be joined by Terry Savage and the Wonky Honkys so there's that.
All venues are within walking distance of each, staggering if late in the evening. Enjoy and don't do stupid.