By Will McGuirk
Jenn Grant at Danforth Music Hall Saturday June 24 2023. Tickets here.
With special guests Tim Baker, Kevin Drew, Aquakultre, Amy Millan, Hannah Georgas, and Kim Harris singing songs from Champagne Problems
With Support by Georgia Harmer
By Will McGuirk
As we prepare to repeat, we can see the repetition, with the addition of time, as stasis. Yes you are here. . . again.
"'. . . it’s just me, centered in the whirlwind of my own creation. “The Top” represents change, and the struggle in making peace with oneself." - Sarah Neufeld
“I would not be where I am today without women like Rita, and my mother, who taught me that the power of strength to rise up and be strong is within us all. This recording and video are a tribute to them, and to any human who has felt the fight and is still fighting.” - Jenn Grant
“The lyrics of “Mantra” describe a certain relationship to satori, meditation, focus/flow, repetition, mind/no mind, of being in the zone. - director Shayne Ehman
Donovan Woods, photo by Justin Broadbent
By Will McGuirk
In a world in which the centre will not hold, in a world where division is norm, fragments of shattered orders realign along old ideas on a global scale, so too the artists realign themselves. Look for them. Stand with them. Connect with them.
“We can always be in touch. So heartache must be getting harder.” - Donovan Woods
“The Party is a story about a woman, filled with anticipation in those moments while getting ready for the party, which sometimes feels like the best part,” says Grant. “It’s about the evening to come, of dancing and love and loneliness and gathering. And something that resonates with this time of year, under all the sparkling lights.”
Iskwe
It seems the Fall is the start of much, rather than the end; modern society seems to work in opposition. Perhaps its the school year or municipal budgets that evoke such an impression. Or perhaps all of this is the culmination of work submitted, quietly, anonymously, slowly, diligently, one seed at a time. I may perhaps never sync with this rhythm but there are those who do.
Deanna Petcoff
Yes its not warming up and yes its summer and no you are not supposed to be worrying about frost on your plants when the solstice is nigh but get used to it. Climate’s achanging and change is a foot but magic too is afoot with a double hit from Bon Iver plus tracks from Jenn Grant, Deanna Petcoff, Sara Gougeon, Cat Clyde, Language Arts, Electric Youth, The Strangemakers, Altered By Mom and Absolutely Free. Worry less, act more, cover your flowers.
Snotty Nose Rez Kids
By Will McGuirk
So I’m leaving this here because it runs parallel to the way we think here at Slowcity.ca. Its from the Snotty Nose Rez Kids’ press release; “Boujee Natives stems from our belief that everyone is an artist in one way shape or form and that we were all created to create but it’s up to us as individuals to find out what that is for ourselves. We wanted to showcase all the badass First Nations artists that have welcomed us into their worlds as we were coming into ourselves and developing our artistry into what it is today. We are the creators, we are inspired natives, not native inspired, and we like to rock our shit, we dem Boujee Natives.”
So yes its up to us, you, me, to find our creative selves within and build our own future. Music helps so here is today’s open mic which you can air while you woodshed ideas this rainy week. Dig into Esperanza Spalding, Jenn Grant, Tamino, Rhye, Rich Aucoin, Black Mountain and Ada Lea. Dig into the future, unearth yourself.