Juno nominee Jack De Keyzer plays Simcoe Jazz 'n Blues Feb 15

Whitby-based blues guitar maestro, Jack de Keyzer, has been nominated for Blues Album of the Year at the 2019 Junos for his album “Checkmate”. Its not his first rodeo as the country players say, Jack has won two already in 2003 and 2013 and has a total of six nominations overall. Bob Dylan has noticed Jack and is quoted as saying if the dude was a Yank and not a Canuck he’s be world class famous. As it is Jack is a world class player and he is playing Simcoe Jazz ‘n Blues Friday Feb 15.
Information here ->

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See you in the Spring: Juno nominees Dizzy to play Oshawa in April

By Will McGuirk

Juno nominees Dizzy, have had a head spinning ride since signing to Royal Mountain Records in 2015 and releasing their debut album ‘Baby Teeth’ last year. It has been a giddy giddy-up for Katie Munshaw and the Spencer brothers, Alex, Charlie and Mackenzie, taking them in a matter of months from their north Oshawa basement rehearsals to the international festival circuit and now two nominations in the 2019 Junos. It also means they have been busy touring Canada, the USA and Europe and away from playing any sort of homecoming gig for quite a while. But Munshaw has told me Dizzy will be home in the Spring, playing the Oshawa Music Hall Tuesday Apr 23 as part of their tour with fellow Juno nominees, Tokyo Police Club.

TPC are also named in the same Juno Alternative Album of the Year category as Dizzy but Munshaw isn’t thinking of awards or competitors as of yet. She is more just in awe of the opportunity to play with one of her fave bands she says.

“I've loved Tokyo Police Club before Dizzy existed,” she says. “To be nominated alongside them and to be going on tour with them through Ontario in April is a lot for me to wrap my head around. It gives you the sort of feeling of ‘How did we trick everyone into thinking we belong up there with people that we've looked up to for years?’”

Two nominations however indicates this is no trick; Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, as the all-knowing They say. Munshaw’s modesty may be honest but it is misplaced. The band have been gaining critical acclaim since the Royal Mountain record deal. Britain’s NME gave the ‘Baby Teeth’ record 3/5 Stars and they have been building fans the old-fashioned way, playing their indie aired bed-sit blues tunes live. Performing at Britain’s Great Escape fest, billed as Europe’s festival for new music, helps.

As well as the Alternative Album nod they have been nominated in the Breakthrough Album of the Year category. The awards will be handed out March 16 and 17 in London, ON. with Canadian superstar and founder of the all-female line-up Lilith Fair Sarah McLachlan hosting. For a young woman such as Munshaw working in the music business, McLachlan’s trail blazing career has been an inspiration.

“I think Sarah McLachlan is a huge part of any Canadian music lovers family. Her songs were played at every wedding, graduation, funeral I’ve ever been to,” says Munshaw. “I remember seeing her at a show in Toronto in 2003. I would have been 8 or 9 at the time. Getting to see a woman on stage slamming on the piano and singing words that came straight from her own brain- and not a group full of male writers- it flips a light switch in your head. Seeing that kind of representation confirms to the writer and to the listener that girls can write and perform their own stories and people will listen.”

Folks are clearly listening to Katie Munshaw and her band of brothers and one can expect we will continue to hear more and more from Dizzy. And fingers crossed they will have some hardware to share with their hometown fans come April.

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Dizzy and Meghan Patrick breakthrough; 2019 Juno nominations announced

By Will McGuirk

So yay to the dreamers. This year’s Junos included nominations for some kats from the DRock’s music scene who have doubled-down and gone for it, got their grind on, did the work, got stuck in and stayed through to their vision and their promise.

Meghan Patrick was nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Country Album of the Year. Congrats Meghan.

Dizzy got the nod for Breakthrough Group of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year. Yay Dizzy.

Congrats too to Thom D’Arcy for Producer of the Year. D’Arcy is an incredible songwriter and part of the Bowmanville late 90’s scene which gave rise to Diableros, Another Blue Door and Pseudonym/ Carnations ( wish I still had that Pseudonym cassette!!) He was nominated for The Sheepdogs’ album Changing Colours and “Love The Way You Are” by Yukon Blonde. Also check back into his band, Small Sins, and be educated.

Blues guitarist Jack De Keyzer received a nomination for Blues Album of the Year.

So yes to the keepers keeping on the keeping on, pushing through the barriers and digging in to deliver on their dreams. The awards are nice to get, nice to be nominated but the real rewards lie in believing in your self and making your own future.

The Junos take place in 2019 in London, ON March 11 - 17. The big show (on the 17) will be aired on CBC.

Cosmic Canadiana duo, Whitehorse at the Oshawa Music Hall Apr 21

There's a deep sonic seam running from one end of Canada to the other. It's termed American but its in reality its Canadiana and Whitehorse are one those acts which mine that sound. Think in terms of Gram Parson and Emmylou Harris sure but Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland are their own couple, one of Canada's great guitarist's and one of the country's great voices, all partnered up. They have moved the Cosmic American Music of the Flying Burrito Brothers deeper into the cosmos on their latest, "Panther in the Dollhouse," out on Six Shooter and nominated for Adult Alternative Album at the 2018 Junos. Whitehorse are touring, making at stop at the Oshawa Music Hall Saturday Apr 21. Dan Edmonds is opening, get there early.